Olivia and the Great Escape (5 page)

Chapter Ten

The buzz in the auditorium at Campion’s Palace of Varieties was growing louder and more excited. The space was full of journalists and camera crews. One of the sponsors had laid on free fizzy wine and sandwiches, which were disappearing fast. It was lunchtime and, with Alicia’s permission, Olivia, Eel and their friends had left school so they could be at Jack’s press conference. Two large screens on either side of the stage were showing some of both men’s previous exploits. There was film of Jack crossing Niagara Falls and Snake Canyon, and the other screen showed Viktor doing a complicated stunt on the top of a moving train in a low -budget Russian movie and jumping a tank of sharks on a motor bike.

“Hmm,” said Eel. “The sharks are the ones looking scared silly.”

“So,” said Aeysha, watching the films, “has this guy actually done any high-wire walking?”

Olivia and Tom nodded. “He’s a jack of all trades. He’s scaled some of Moscow’s highest buildings without climbing aids, and he’s done some dangerous stunts with fireworks. He’s even been a human canon ball, and yes, he’s done some high-wire stuff, too,” said Tom. “We looked at some of it on YouTube.”

“His tricking is pretty good, but not as good as Jack’s,” said Olivia. “The main thing is that it’s all high performance, short duration stuff. What he and Jack are trying to do now isn’t just about stunts, it’s about real endurance. And Dad’s got plenty of experience of that.”

A triumphant march started to play over the loud speakers. The screen at the back of the stage was flashing “Clash of the Titans” and the words “Day Zero”. The compère was more used to introducing boxers and darts players, and he spoke in the odd whoopy way that was typical of such MCs.

The music changed, and the compère shouted loudly: “Put your hands together for
the man on my right, the Great Marvello, action hero and man of courage, the amazing, the peerless, the unsurpassed, the supreme stunt man and high-wire walker … Jack Marvell!” He made the last syllable of Marvell sound like a long drawn-out war cry.

Jack walked on to the stage. His hands were raised above his head but his broad smile seemed a little bashful as he acknowledged the applause and the cheers of the audience. He was wearing the slightly battered dark-blue cloak covered in tiny silver stars that he had worn as Prospero in the Swan Circus show
Enchantment
at the Edinburgh Festival the previous summer. Mixed in amongst the cheers were a few boos. Olivia’s head whipped round to see where they were coming from, but Tom put a restraining hand on her arm.

“Don’t worry about it, Liv. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just part of the show.”

“Well,” said Olivia indignantly, “it all seems a bit of a circus to me.” She burst out laughing when she realised what she’d said, and Tom and the others joined in.

New music started playing, booming and jubilant. The compère began to speak again.

“And on my left, the unparalleled stuntman phenomenon that is the extraordinary, the
lion-hearted
, the incredible, the death-defying, shark-jumping prodigy and challenger all the way from the icy Russian Steppes, Viktor the Viktorious!” As the final words died away the music built to a crescendo and Viktor walked on stage with a swagger. He was an extraordinary sight. He was dressed in a silver jumpsuit with a thick belt around his waist studded with gems. His shoulders were padded like an American footballer, his cloak was made of lush, red velvet and as he turned round, the words “Viktor the Viktorious” could be spotted picked out in diamante on the back.

Olivia thought he looked completely daft, but saw that his eyes were wary despite the big smile on his face. The crowd went crazy and the camera men pushed each other out of the way to get a better position for their shots. Viktor played to the crowd much more than Jack and it took a full couple of minutes before everyone settled.

The compère turned to Jack.

“Are you ready for the Clash of the Titans?”

“Raring to go,” said Jack. The Swans cheered.

“What do you say to those who think you’re over the hill and won’t last the distance?”

“I say they are very wrong,” said Jack. “I’m not even in my prime! It’s going to be tough. But I’ll still be there at the end.”

Some people at the back started to chant. “Has-been. Has-been. Has-been.”

“How rude!” said Aeysha. Olivia saw Pablo’s face. He looked horrified.

The compère turned to Viktor. “What about you – the newcomer. Do you have the experience to make it to the end of this mighty feat of endurance?”

Viktor did a little shuffle and a twirl. “What do you think?” he said, his words tinged with a slight accent. “Look at me, I can take anything that old man throws at me. I’m going to win!”

“Don’t be so sure of that,” said Jack, with a grin.

“Bring it on, daddy,” said Viktor. “Don’t worry about me, old man.” He skipped about like a spring lamb and pretended to box Jack.

“Oh well, as they say, getting old is
obligatory but growing up is optional,” retorted Jack.

Viktor drew himself up to his full height, and raised his arms. “Viktor will be victorious!” The people at the back cheered wildly and Jack looked increasingly uncomfortable as the chant of “Viktor! Viktor!” grew louder and louder.

After it was all over, the Swans sat in one of the dressing rooms with Jack and Pablo. They all looked gloomy.

“I’m sorry, Jack,” said Pablo. “I
underestimated
Ethan Rees’ bloodlust.” Then he added, darkly, “And the depth of his pockets. He obviously paid those people to boo you and cheer Viktor.”

“It doesn’t matter,” said Jack, stoically. “What matters is what happens out on the wire.”

Olivia knew that her dad was right, but she couldn’t help thinking that not only had Rees and Viktor won the first round, they had scored a convincing win in the second bout, too.

In the little dressing room on the other side of the stage, Viktor was miserably biting his fingernails.

“I can’t bear it, Ethan. Jack Marvell has always been a real hero to me. He’s no
has-been
.”

“Listen, my boy,” said Ethan, “in this business you’ve got to grab any advantage that you can. There is no such thing as rules, only winning. And you are going to win, Viktor. And when you do, the world will be your oyster. Hollywood movies, the works. You want that, don’t you?”

Viktor nodded.

“That’s my boy,” said Ethan. “I’ve invested a lot in you, Viktor, and you’re going to triumph. I’m going to make sure that you do. And if that means bringing Jack Marvell down, so be it. I’ve nothing against the man but there can only be one winner and my job is to make sure that winner is you.”

Ethan’s phone began to chirp. He looked at it. “Ah,” he said. “One of the favours I’m calling in on your behalf.” He put the phone to his ear and headed out of the door.

Viktor watched him disappear and sighed loudly. Of course he wanted to win. But he wanted to do it fair and square. He wanted to do it the way that he knew Jack Marvell would do
it, with grace and honour. He was beginning to realise that wasn’t how Ethan Rees saw things. But he couldn’t back out now.

Chapter Eleven

There was a carnival atmosphere down by the river, where even a band was playing. Although it was still early, several thousand people had gathered to watch Jack take his first steps on to the wire that would be his home for the next thirty days. Tower Bridge was crammed with people. Even the London mayor had stopped by, and he had delighted the onlookers when, with Pablo’s help and wearing a fetching harness, he had tottered a couple of steps on to the wire that extended over the Thames at a height slightly higher than a double-decker bus. In truth, the crowd was all rather hoping that the accident-prone mayor would fall in, but he retreated safely off the wire and made a little speech saying that he hoped the best man would win.

Olivia glanced around. All her friends were here with her and Eel and Alicia. But she could see some other Swans in the crowd too. She could see Emmy and her whole family, as well as Connor and Kylie who were heading their way.

Further back she was a little surprised to spot Alex Parks, standing talking to a man about Jack’s age and build, who she guessed must be his dad. A woman in a wheelchair was with them and Olivia remembered that Alex had said his mum was sick. The man was talking very intently to Alex, who kept shaking his head as if he was disagreeing strongly with his dad about something.

After a few minutes, Alex stormed away from his dad and started working his way through the crowd towards Olivia’s group. Georgia saw him coming and gave him a welcoming smile, but just at that moment Connor slipped into the space beside her, so Alex had to hover on the edge of the group.

A news helicopter was hovering overhead and several boats laden with journalists and photographers were circling directly under the wire stretching across the river. Hanging from
it were several large pouches containing the things that Jack would need over the coming days: food and cooking equipment, extra
wet-weather
gear and some of the equipment he wanted for stunts. He would restock during his toilet breaks.

A blonde TV reporter was doing a piece to camera. “There is great excitement here by Tower Bridge as Jack Marvell, also known as the Great Marvello, prepares to step out on to the high-wire. He will be spending thirty days and nights suspended over the Thames in a feat of endurance described by some experts as impossible. Interest in the stunt has been made all the greater because, just a mile down the river, the Russian stuntman who goes by the name Viktor Viktorious is attempting an identical feat. A joint press conference held yesterday suggested that the rivalry between the two men is intense. Which will endure – youth or experience?”

The reporter signed off and handed over to her colleague who was on the river at Waterloo, waiting for the moment when Viktor would also step out on to the wire for the very first time.

Jack turned to Olivia, Eel and Alicia.

“Right then,” he said. “Time to say goodbye for the next month or so.”

Alicia stepped forward and gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek. “Good luck, Jack. You know my views on this mad stunt. But I know you can’t be stopped so just make sure you take good care of yourself out on that wire.” She stepped back to allow Olivia and Eel a chance to have a quiet moment with their dad.

Jack hugged both the girls. “Now you be good for your grandmother,” he said.

“I’m going to come down every day to see you,” said Olivia fiercely.

“That would be lovely, chick,” said Jack. “But I won’t hold you to it. I’m going to be out there for a month and you’ll both be busy with your lives.”

Eel gulped. “You will take care, Dad, won’t you?”

“No risks,” said Jack. “I promise.”

“Not even if this Viktor takes them,” said Olivia anxiously. “It doesn’t matter if he gets more attention than you. Even if he does succeed in staying on the wire for the full time and you don’t, we won’t love you any the less.”

“I know that, Liv, of course. I always know
that whatever I do. But I’m not worried about Viktor. I’m not sure he’s got the stamina to last thirty days.”

“Me neither,” said Pablo. “Come on, Jack, time to get this show on the road.”

Jack gave Olivia and Eel one last hug and walked towards the wire. When he got to the end he clipped on a safety harness. He then produced a unicycle and a bowler hat and, instead of just stepping out on to the wire as everyone expected, he cycled across the river. The crowd cheered.

There was an electronic screen at the side of the river that read “Day One”, and underneath it ticked away to show how many days and hours and seconds were yet to go. When Jack reached the middle of the wire he bent down to one of the pouches, produced a copy of the
Guardian
and sat nonchalantly on the unicycle reading it as if it was the most relaxing thing in the world to hang out on a wire reading the paper. The crowd cheered again.

“Pablo,” said Olivia, “what makes you think that Viktor won’t be able to go the distance?”

“Well,” said Pablo, “I reckon he might
have underestimated quite how exhausting being out there on the river night and day will be, particularly as…” Pablo stopped as if he felt he was saying too much.

“Particularly as what?” asked Olivia.

“Look, Livy, I don’t want to worry you, but the long-range weather forecast is dreadful. High winds and bitterly cold conditions. Maybe even hail and snow.” Olivia stared at him, her eyes anxious. Pablo tried to smile reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Livy, your dad is as tough as old boots.”