Polly Pippin and The Tunnel of Death (20 page)

Piers knew he was probably miles from
civilisation and suddenly felt incredibly lonely. The short
brightness of the day gave out an eerie light and absolute
tranquility - nothing like what he was used to in London. It was
bitterly cold outside, so he again reasoned that the bear, even
though it was young, would know the way better than he would. But
the way to where? So while Daphne was licking the final plate
clean, he rifled through the cupboard.

'First snowshoes. I'll take a spare pair
just in case. I will have to make you a toboggan, Daph.' There were
lots of spare bits of wood, so making a snow sled was easy for him,
and he thanked his luck there were still lots of long bits of rope
around. After packing as much as he thought he could pull along -
and that was mostly porridge for the little bear - he was ready to
go.

'Well, Daph old girl, this could lead me
directly to my death, but hopefully, with any luck, the
continuation of yours. He decided to sleep till first light so
snuggled up to the bear cub till they both fell asleep.

~

The next day, with the sled fully packed and
a securely strapped bear cub on top, Piers set off. He was pretty
sure it would be his death, but what choice did he have? He put on
everything he could find in the shack, and he still felt cold. He
left the hut and walked south for approximately three hours. The
sun what there was of it told him it was time to stop and feed
Daphne.

"Why don't you kill the
bear? You could eat the meat and wear its lovely warm
coat."

A little voice in his head said. Where did
that come from? Piers thought. I care for this small bear cub, and
I'm a vegetarian, so how could I think such a dreadful thing? But
the voice persisted.

“
It’s you or that animal. Be
reasonable. There are hundreds of bears out there and only one of
you. The bears would kill you if they had the
chance.”

I must be hallucinating, Piers thought, and
I don’t like it.

“
You are not hallucinating. What
you want is taking over. You want to survive. You care about
yourself more than you care about that stupid little
bear."

The voice wheedled its way further into
Piers mind.

'That's it! It's the bloody snow. I'm going
to stop and make some food for Daphne and me! So as Miles would
say.’ he shouted. ‘Sod off!'

He lifted the bear cub off the sled. 'Time
to eat, little girl,' he said and gave the little bear a big hug.
He started to open the package he had labelled food. Suddenly, he
began to feel dizzy.

'Daphne,' he called and collapsed in the
snow, unconscious.

~

The little bear ran around Piers and nudged
him. It padded around him a few times, nudging and mewing. Then the
little bear lay on top of Piers and fell asleep. He came to a few
hours later, it was nearly dark, and he was freezing cold. The
little bear was gone, but under his coat, he was still warm where
the bear had lain, so he assumed Daphne had not been gone long. He
had to find her, she would die if she were on her own. He managed
to lift himself on one elbow, but that was as far as he got. He
could feel the darkness overcoming him, and although he was warmly
wrapped up, he knew he was heading to hypothermia, and that meant
certain death. Just after he finally closed his eyes, he was aware
something or someone nudging him, trying to lift him up. His last
conscious thought was a bear - I'm going to be eaten alive.

Miles fights back

Miles woke, sat up and looked round. He was
in a jungle in the sweltering heat. His last memory was of being in
Brown Sugar Café with Alison.

'What? Where the hell am I?' he said. He
scrambled to his feet, he was in the middle of nowhere. 'Help!
Help!' he yelled. The sound of a lion growling nearby stopped him
in mid-scream. He dropped to the ground face down and tried to
cover himself with the bulrushes he had been lying in. He lay still
like he was dead. Minutes went by, and nothing happened - no
movement no sound. Slowly, he raised his head.

'Miles, you should have seen your face when
you thought you were going to be a lion's dinner.'

Standing in front of him was Piers… no… It
was Zack, Piers wouldn't pull a nasty trick like that. He jumped to
his feet. 'You bloody bastard! Where am I? I'm bloody well dying of
thirst and heat exposure!'

'Well, I can help with that,' said Zack, and
he disappeared.

'So much for your help,' Miles said. He was
having odd feelings time seemed to mean nothing. He felt he was
weightless and floating. I must be dead, and it's because of those
bloody Rebels, what a waste. It was quite a pleasant feeling, as he
found he could move quite easily. He spun round saw a door and
kicked his way over, it was locked, of course. He kicked to a
window, looked in and did not like what he saw. Polly, Alison, Lily
and Lucy were sitting round the table in the kitchen in Byzantine
Crescent looking very frightened. Sitting with them was an ancient
woman, and standing behind her was a strange, menacing man. He
looked like a cartoon drawing. On the table was a black basket, it
was pulsating and glowing.

~

Suddenly a voice spoke. 'Would you like to
hear what they are saying Miles? The door is open. Come and join
us, and we can all watch together.'

Miles was about to say, 'sod off' which was
his favourite saying, but he held his temper and moved to the door.
When he got there, he was suddenly no longer weightless, so he
dropped heavily to the floor. The door opened, and sitting in the
airy room was Zack, Knox, Mr Rekrap and his dopy assistant Captain
Bean.

'Ah, Miles! Come in. We are just about to
enjoy the show.'

Miles stood in the doorway. 'Where am I?' he
said. 'I thought Hell was fire and brimstone, not warm and
comfortable where one could have afternoon tea.'

'That's funny. He's very funny Commander,
isn't he?' Zack said and slapped Rekrap on the back a little too
hard.

'Why does everyone take every chance there
is to slap me on the back? Desist, sir,' he said. 'And yes, hi is
very funny. Bean, rearrange my cushions, I'm not comfortable. And
get me a drink, and anyone else who wants one. Hurry up, Bean. I'm
dying of thirst here and serve me first.'

Miles walked into the room and sat down next
to Knox. 'Hi, bro,' he said. He put his arm round the Rebel's neck
and squeezed tightly. 'Where have you been recently? I was worried
about you.' Miles insincerity showed, and Knox stiffened.

'Hi Miles. How are things?' Knox was
obviously very uncomfortable.

'This looks impressive. What's happening? Do
you have a camera in Byzantine Crescent?' Miles questioned.

Commander Rekrap burst out laughing,
dribbling his hot chocolate down his chin as he did. 'A camera? Oh
dear Knox, did you get all the brains?'

Miles swallowed his anger and smiled.
'Probably,' he said. 'After all I got the all the looks.'

Again Rekrap laughed. 'That's funny,' he
said. 'He's very funny Knox. Look, I can't afford to stay here any
longer, we have to get that movie up and running again. Your studio
still available, Miles?'

Miles stood. 'It could be Sir, if we go to
the studio now, I could prioritise your movie. I'll start the
wheels moving straight away.'

Zack jumped up. The last thing he wanted was
to lose Miles to Rekrap. But he did not have to worry, because
before another word was spoken, Rekrap and Bean were gone. Miles
was shattered he had been left behind, he had missed his one chance
to get away. But the odds had fallen his way, only two against one
now.

'Where are we?' he demanded angrily.

Zack and Knox totally ignored him.

'Hello! I did speak,' Miles said. 'Knox, do
you have to be so bloody rude?'

Miles grabbed his arm and swung him round.
'Knox.'

'Shut up, Miles. We're deciding what to do
next.' Knox replied.

'Don't tell me to shut up,' Miles answered.
'I have just about had enough of you and your highfalutin ways. We
are supposed to be twins remember.'

'De-pneuma him, Knox,' Zack said. 'And can
we get going?'

'No, wait,' Knox said, trying a delay
tactic. 'Miles, would you give your life to save Piers?'

Miles answered immediately. 'I would do
anything for him.'

'I asked would you give your life?'

'HaHa,' laughed Zack. 'D'you want to know
something Miles? We asked Piers if he would die for you, and he
burst out laughing. And do you know what he said? He said, who
would want to die for that drop kick? You must be joking.'

And Miles lost it and struck out. He grabbed
Zack by the arm, swung him round and smashed his head against the
wall. Zack dropped to the floor as if he had been shot. Knox was so
surprised all that moved was his bottom jaw as it dropped.

'Okay Knox,' Miles said, advancing, fists
up. 'Where is Piers?'

Knox backed up. 'How the hell would I
know?'

'Because you are one of Commander Rekrap's
right-hand men, that's how.'

'Miles join us. Life is great. Come on!
After all, we are twins.'

'I'm beginning to doubt that,' said Miles.
'We're not alike. Everyone I know is either missing or presumed
dead. And according to that film screen,' he pointed to the wall
behind him, 'all the girls are in big trouble. Have I missed
anything?'

A moan came from the floor. Zack was coming
round. 'It's now or never Knox, and I know you more than liked
Lucy.'

Knox looked from Zack to Miles, strangely he
felt a family tug. We're not related, so why do I feel this way? He
thought.

Zack was rubbing his head and struggling to
his feet. 'Knox, hold him down. I'm going to pull his eyes out of
his head before I de-pneuma him.'

Knox looked from one to the other. He knew
what he must do, and he made his move.

The gypsy curse

Gypsy Zola instructed Igor to make
breakfast, she was famished. 'Make enough for everyone,' she
instructed. And in what seemed no time, breakfast was merrily
bubbling on the stove.

'I am here as your friend,' she said.

'It doesn't seem like it,' Polly
mumbled.

'I heard that,' said Zola, and she also
heard the doorbell as it jangled loudly on the porch.

'Who could that be? Get rid of them Polly.'
Polly did not move. 'Do it Polly or I hurt Lucy.'

Polly jumped up and ran to the front
door.

'I'm coming,' she said, and was surprised to
see her little sister India and Gemma, Piers sister standing on the
doorstep with a man whom she did not know. Before Polly could say,
"you can't come in", Gemma had swept past and followed her nose and
ears to the kitchen.

'Hi. I'm Jamie Brummell, known as JB, a
friend of Gemma… oh and Sreip,' he said to Polly and rushed down
the hall after Gemma.

Polly wasn't sure what to do. She could
escape and run to get help. But I should go back in case the gypsy
carries out her threat and hurts Lucy. The sound of laughter came
to her ears. Now she wasn't sure what to do. Never before had she
felt she needed her brother as she did now. 'Hamish!' she screamed.
'Hamish, I need you.' Suddenly, she felt as if the world had
started to spin in the opposite direction faster and faster. Day
and night flashed before her eyes. I'm going to pass out, she
thought, and just before she fell to the floor, she was gone.

~

'Hi India. What are you doing in London? And
what a bit of luck you Gemma coming as well. I can't believe it as
soon as the gypsy woman saw you Jamie, she disappeared. It was so
fast, I did not even see her go,' Lucy said.

'Yes, and she took the paper man with her,'
added Lily.

'But she left her black basket,' said Ali.
'Go and get Polly India, and we will have a look what's in it. I'm
so excited.'

'It's probably full of wooden pegs,' Lily
said.

'Polly! Polly!' India called. 'Where are
you? Everything's fine. JB is the hero of the day.' India ran out
into the hall. 'Polly? Polly?' she sounded concerned. 'She's not
here,' India said as she ran back into the kitchen.

'Maybe she's gone upstairs to get changed,'
said Gemma.

'Yes probably. Come and sit here with me
India,' Lily said. 'So, Gemma, where did you two meet?'

'Well, I was visiting Dad, and JB here
arrived with Sreip. He'll be here soon I'm sure.'

'I can't wait. But shall we open the basket
now?' Alison butted in.

'Yes, yes,' said India and Lucy.

'I don't think so,' Sreip's voice answered
as he careered into the kitchen. 'How long has it been since Polly
disappeared?'

'Minutes,' JB answered. 'We arrived here
about four minutes ago.'

'Where was she standing?'

'In the hall, probably close to the front
door.'

Sreip felt in his pocket and took out the
little dog. 'Fifi, search and find.'

Fifi was a pretty little Chihuahua. She was
a lovely honey colour and a dog genius. She sniffed round. She did
not like some of the smells and growled. Eventually, she sat and
wagged her tail. This was where Polly had last been.

'Listen, girls, we are going to find Polly.
I will leave Fifi to look after you.' He smiled. 'She seems to have
taken a liking to you Gemma.'

Gemma bent down and picked her up. 'She's so
cute,' she said.

'I'm coming with you,' Alison said. 'Polly
and I are always together.'

'Not this time Alison, sorry,' Sreip said.
'Come on, JB.'

Captain Jamie turned for one last look at
Gemma, and Alison saw this as an opportunity. As he said his
goodbyes, she silently followed him to the front door. As JB went
out, she grabbed his cloak and was gone with him.

'Oh no! Alison's gone with Sreip,' Lily
said.

'She'll be okay,' Gemma said. JB and Sreip
are very capable and brave, and they have Fifi to help.' Hearing
her name, the little dog yapped. 'Oh dear, she's still here.'