Polly Pippin and The Tunnel of Death (10 page)

'Oh, come on! This is ridiculous. I want to
go home.'

'We'll talk about that later Captain Pippin.
Right now, I am your only friend.'

Back at the film studio

Piers and Miles had been told Hamish was no
longer objecting to making the movie in Byzantine Crescent, so it
was on. Brad seemed very happy. He had not been kidnapped of
course, but was relaxing in the Bahamas. The press release stated:
'Brad Capriole took a much-needed rest. He will soon be back on
board for his new blockbuster. The movie is about a war of the
universes and is set in a possessed house in London. It seems Brad
has chosen his leading lady, and she is an unknown. No folks, we do
not know her name but are waiting with baited breath.'

'What time are we meeting the girls at Brown
Sugar Piers?' a voice echoed from the bathroom.

'In ten minutes, so hurry up Miles. You've
been in there for ages. I'll go on and grab a table. I don't think
we should both be late.'

'Okay, don't panic. I'm nearly ready.'
Bloody dictator, Miles thought. Still, I should get a move on. He
got out of the bath, dried his curly locks, scrubbed on a T-shirt
and board shorts and rushed out.

Piers kicked on the bike stand, took off his
crash helmet, and walked into Brown Sugar. 'Hi Lily. I'm first, I
see. Look sharp and bring me a coffee,' he ordered, 'or off with
your head.'

'Yes, at once, Your Majesty,' Lily said and
curtseyed low. 'And how many of your entourage will be here
today?'

'Probably all of them, so you had better get
a move on, or I will throw you in my deepest dungeon or feed you to
my crocodiles.'

Lily bowed and walked out backwards,
laughing as she did. 'Well, of course Your Majesty. Anything you
say Your Majesty.' And within two seconds, a cup of the best
steaming-hot coffee you could buy anywhere was placed in front of
Piers.

'Seriously, how's the movie going?' Lily
enquired.

'Well, much to our surprise, not only has
Hamish totally backed down, he wants to be in it.'

'That's impossible,' Lily said. 'Staid old
Hamish wants to be in it? You must be kidding?'

'It's true. Miles and I nearly fell over
backwards when we got his call from Iceland. He said he was on his
way back and would do all he could to help.'

'Brad Capriole must be in his element, and
Polly must be over the moon. Apparently he wants her in it. Want
anything to eat?' Lily asked.

'Not at the moment, thanks, Lily, and I'm
not sure she is over the moon. She thinks it's because he wanted
the house so badly he offered her the part as leading lady. But we
will see. Is she a good actress, do you know?'

'She's a natural. She's had plenty of
classes and has been in a few things. So with the studio showing
her the ropes, she'll be great. Hang on, here she comes.'

Polly walked in on Brad Capriole's arm, and
Piers tried not to show how he felt, which was murderous!

Alison, who was following Polly, said. 'Hi
Piers! Where's Miles? I've never seen you two apart.'

'Oh, he'll be here in a tick Alison… He was
still languishing in the bath when I left. Good morning Polly.
Ready for our ride in the country today?' Piers said, deliberately
ignoring Brad.

'Not today, old chap, our little star is
busy rehearsing,' Brad said and gave Polly a hug.

Before Piers could retaliate, Alison, ever
the peacemaker, said. 'We can't let the boys down Polly.'

Piers stood. He was taller than the other
man by a good couple of inches. Brad stepped back and stood behind
Polly.

'Sorry Piers,' Polly said. 'I was looking
forward to it, but, as they say, business before…'

'That's fine Polly,' Piers cut in sharply.
'Gemma and her friend Marilyn are here. They will love to come with
us, if that's okay with you, Alison.'

This did not impress Polly at all, she felt
severely threatened. Marilyn was a beautiful blonde and came from a
very wealthy family. She'd just got back from America and really
liked Piers so would be dressed to kill.

'As you said Polly, business before
pleasure,' Piers said. 'So enjoy your day. I certainly intend to
enjoy mine.'

~

At that moment, Miles burst in. 'Sorry, I'm
late… Fell asleep in the bath. Lily, dying for a cup of coffee and
one of your fabulous breakfasts.' Miles pushed past Brad and Polly.
He grabbed Alison's hand on the way through and plonked her down at
the table next to him. As Miles had walked in, he had heard what
had been said and glared at Brad. He had no intention of letting
that bastard Capriole spoil their day out. If Piers was a big lad,
Miles was even bigger, and Brad backed right down.

'I'm sorry lads. Of course Polly can have
the day off, it will do her good,' Brad hurriedly said, and he
relinquished his hold on Polly and took two more steps
backwards.

But Piers was hurt and very jealous. 'No.
Wouldn't think of it old chap,' he said.

Lily appeared at the table. 'Ready to
order?' she asked, pencil in hand.

Piers walked to the door. 'No thanks Lily.
Put it on my account please,' he said. 'Miles, I'll ring Gemma and
Marilyn and tell them to get ready. See you at home, and don't be
long, I'm anxious to get going.' He looked long and hard at Polly.
'Don't work her too hard, Mr Capriole,' he drawled with a distinct
touch of sarcasm, and he was on his bike and gone.

Polly was a bit miffed, she did not expect
Piers to react that way, she just wanted to make him a little bit
jealous. Alison was furious, and she shot Polly and Brad a filthy
look. 'Miles when you've finished your breakfast, would you mind
giving me a lift home?' she said. 'I'll wait outside.'

'Oops! I think you have upset all your
friends Polly,' Brad said.

'Not at all,' Miles answered for Polly. 'I
would like to spend some time with you, Ali.' He took her hand. 'It
was probably time for Piers and Marilyn to catch up, after all he
is very fond of her. So Ali, can we catch up later for dinner?'

'Of course. Any time Miles, just let me
know.'

'Sorry Lily, is it too late to cancel my
order?' Miles said apologetically.

Lily poked her head out of the kitchen. 'No,
of course not Miles. I'll just heat it up for you next time you
come in.'

But Miles was gone, and he was not happy
with Piers. Brad Capriole was their client - one of the biggest.
What was Piers thinking, letting his jealously overcome his common
sense? If Polly had to work, she had to work. Behaving like a
thwarted suitor was pushing her into bad Brad's arms. He secretly
smiled to himself it was so like Piers. He was standing on high
moral ground, as far as he was concerned Polly had slighted him.
They had been extraordinarily busy getting Brad's film organised,
but that was no excuse.

Piers was stubborn, he was not going to give
Polly another chance to hurt him, so he decided to forget about her
and throw himself into his work.

The Rebel base on Earth

Commander Rekrap decided it was too hot to
fight in outback Australia, and after he had run away from the
fight with Aboriginal Freeflyers, he left the outback as quickly as
he had arrived. He was told there was going to be a meeting inside
the Sacred Cave, and because they always served a great morning
tea, so he decided at least to attend that. Despite the fact it was
so important all Rebel Commanders on Earth had been called to
attend. But Commander Rekrap wanted to have a camel ride and
decided that was more important.

After the traitors Event and Salute arrived,
the Commander invited them to sit. 'Gentlemen, so far, we have not
had a great deal of success,' Event said.

'What are you talking about, Event? A good
percentage of the world is in chaos without our help,' Commander
Pope said.

'That does not do much good till we get
access to Zenithal via Byzantine Crescent, and that seems to be
nearly impossible.'

'You got in, Event.'

'Yes but as a Freeflyer. Now things have
changed. However, there is good news. As we speak, Zack and Knox
have infiltrated the Freeflyers' inner circle. But it could still
take time.'

'How long is it going to take?' The Supreme
Commander was getting a little impatient, to say the least.
'Shush,' he said, as he raised his hand for silence. 'What was
that?'

Clank, clank! The noise that came from
outside the cave was getting louder. Salute and Event jumped up, it
could be Freeflyers, and the last thing they wanted was to be found
by them in the company of Rebels. They rushed to the cave entrance
to see Commander Rekrap, followed by Captain Bean laden down with
bags and boxes noisily struggling up the hill.

'Bean!' Commander Rekrap shouted. 'It's your
fault the camel threw me off and ran away. And if you fall over one
more time or drop one of my boxes again, I will have you sent to
the outer limits.' As he got to the Sacred Cave, he looked up. A
bevy of Rebels was watching him with smiles on their faces. 'Oh for
damnation's sake! Where are the chairs? I'm exhausted. Bean, get
over here and find me a chair.'

Commander Rekrap sank into the most
comfortable chair in the cave, and instructed Captain Bean to get
everyone a drink. 'But get mine first.' He looked around beaming.
'Oh, sorry I'm late everybody. It's what happens when you have
clumsy staff. Event, Salute, happy to see you, and you too,
Nitty.'

The reply came back abruptly. 'Commander
Rekrap, where have you been, do you realise you are late for a
crucial meeting, and what have you been doing? I have heard some
disturbing things about you. '

'Well Nitty, you will be pleased to know, I
am the principal financier for Brad Capriole's new movie. I may
even get a part in it.'

The Commanders looked at each other.
'So?'

'So, the movie is being made in Byzantine
Crescent. See Commander? I am not as useless as you think I am. And
I did not have to use any of your toys… Well, except one…'

Everyone in the cave was horrified and at
the same time said, 'What did you use?'

'Tee hee,' laughed Rekrap. 'I used the love
ray.'

'The Love Ray? On what?'

'Not what, but whom.'

'Rekrap, get to the point, what have you
done?' Event and Salute panicked. 'Commander Rekrap, wait before
you show us what you have done, I hope it does not involve us. It
would not be a good idea for us to be exposed to Freeflyers' eyes
at this time.'

Commander Rekrap patted his chest. 'Hang on
Event. Now which pocket did I put it in Captain?'

'Do not touch a thing Rekrap,' Event
ordered. 'Jump to it, Bean. Stop him.'

'Yes Sir, I have it here.' As Captain Bean
took out the love ray, it spat out and hit Event and Salute, who
disappeared in a puff of smoke. Commander Rekrap had left it on,
once again.

'You had better get them back, you bloody
fool Rekrap.' But before Commander Pope could say another word,
Captain Bean and Commander Rekrap also disappeared.

'So what happened to the Rebels who are
regrouping in the outback?' Pope said. 'What the hellfire has
Rekrap done with them?'

The rehearsals

'Brad, this is becoming farcical. I can tell
you Piers and Miles are becoming distinctly suspicious!' Steve
Smith paced up and down as he raved and shouted.

'Oh, settle down Steve. They have been paid,
and that's all they care about.'

'And are you stupid as well as blind Brad?
No one can believe you picked Polly as your leading lady. You are
either an actor or a Rebel. Make your choice. The High Commander is
getting fed up with the delays.'

'Shut up Steve. An Honorary Rebel I may be.
But - and it's a big but - I am an actor first and foremost. I will
not compromise. The movie must take its normal course.'

'Brad, the movie was a means to an end. We
are pretending to make the movie to get into Byzantine Crescent and
find out what the invisible secret is. It will never be finished.
It wasn't meant to be finished.'

'Steve, we have an investor. The wheels are
rolling. The movie will be finished and will break all box office
expectations. And whilst I'm making the movie, the crew, which will
be Rebels, of course, can do some sleuthing in the house.'

'I don't believe it. Brad you can talk with
the film studio, they won't listen to my excuses and me
anymore.

'Yes, you're right. No more excuses, let's
get on with the film. And talking about the film, here comes my
lovely leading lady.'

~

Polly heard the shouting and heard Steve and
Brad arguing again. It was probably over her, she knew Steve didn't
like her. Everything she did was either wrong or not good enough.
Brad was over her like a rash, and as much as she was enamoured
with him as an actor, she did not really like it. It wasn't much
fun telling her how much he loved her while he was looking in a
mirror.

'Polly my love,' Brad oozed, 'we were just
talking about getting this show on the road. Steve thinks we should
start at the end and work backwards. It works, you know. By the
time we get to the beginning, it will be perfect.'

'How does it end?' Polly asked.

'That's a secret,' Steve butted in, he knew
there was no end.

'That's ridiculous Steve. I'm in it,' Polly
retorted. Steve started to speak, but Polly put up her hand for
silence. 'Steve, I know you don't like me,' she said, ' and if you
keep putting me down and being mean to me, I promise you, I'll pull
the pin.'

'That's right! You tell him, sis.' The Rebel
disguised as Hamish walked in. 'But I thought you were a
professional Polly. Everyone in the business knows all stars
perform the best when they hate the director.'

'That's true, and I'm sorry Polly.' Steve
bit back his first response - to slap her down and say, 'Pull the
pin, Polly, and I'll get you de-pneumaed.' However he mumbled, 'I
was under a fair bit of pressure from the big boss. But, the best
news ever we now have a sponsor, and he's loaded. The film studio
is all systems go, and we will start filming again by the end of
the week.' And that was all the grovelling Steve could manage
before he felt physically sick. He turned on his heel, called Brad
and left the room.