Polly Pippin and The Tunnel of Death (28 page)

Another strange sound came down the
hall.

'Shhh! Someone or something was following
you. Were you aware of that?'

'No, sir,' JB whispered.

They all crouched in the dark corner.
Obviously, it wasn't a Freeflyer, so it would have to be a Rebel,
and from the sound of it, an injured one.

'Let's get out of here now we have the
chance,' Hamish said.

'No. It could be an injured Rebel, and even
though unlikely, it could be an injured Freeflyer. We must wait,'
Sreip insisted.

They stood still and waited, as the sound
got closer.

'I think we should leave,' said Steve. He
stood. 'Come on Hamish. That noise could be a monster.'

'Don't be stupid, Steve.' Sreip pulled him
down.

The sound stopped, and two Rebels looked up
to see five Freeflyers, standing, prepared for battle.

'Commander Sreip, Selim my good wishes. But
I surrender to no one.' And no one moved faster than Commander Pope
when things look bad or who knew the tunnel better. One earth
second was all it took, and both Pope, and Bean were back to where
they had come - the church steps. One more earth second and the
tunnel started to collapse behind them.

'Selim, grab Steve! JB, grab Hamish and
follow me! Quick to the dining room.'

If the Rebels could move fast, the
Freeflyers could move faster. They left the Crypt and landed in the
dining room just before the tunnel collapsed and in time to stop
Piers and Miles from leaving.

'And where do you think you are going, Zack
and Knox?' Sreip said, knowing full well it was Piers and
Miles.

'No, you're wrong! It's us! Piers and Miles
we arrived here with Polly.'

'We know that idiot. Shhh,' said Sreip and
put his arms around the boys.

Commander Rekrap turned in his chair, put
down his third cup of tea and stood.

'Gentlemen, I know it too, so I bid you
farewell.' He bowed low and was gone. On the way through, he waved
to Commander Pope and Captain Bean. It was unanimous, within a
split second they joined Commander Rekrap on the way to the Dark
Universe.

Polly, India, Alison, Lily and Gemma ran out
of the kitchen. Event and Salute smiled. The day was won.

'Time to leave, I think,' Sreip said.

'Sir, can you give me a few moments?' Piers
asked.

'Well, if it's important.'

~

Piers took Polly's hand and walked to the
front door of the church. He opened the door and called Kyssa and
Elska, and from out of the wilderness came an aurora of bears.
Elska and Kyssa ran to Piers, the little cub mewing with delight.
She threw herself at Piers, nearly knocking him off his feet. She
had grown quite a bit in the short time that Piers had been
away.

'I just wanted to say goodbye,' Piers said
as all the Freeflyers joined him. 'All the bears crowded round him.
I will miss you, my bear friends, and I promise you, I will be
back.'

Lord Knightly tapped Sreip on the shoulder.
'I think it's time, Sreip.'

Piers and Miles turned to the smiling face
of Lord Knightly. 'Goodbye, my beautiful children,' he said. And in
the blink of an eye, all the Earthbeings were back in their
respective beds.

'Will they remember anything, Lord
Knightly?' Selim said.

'No, not the Rebels decide to attack again.
Which according to the past, will come round when they have
re-grouped, and the earth has travelled round the sun. So we have a
break. Come round for one of Mrs Hart's famous desserts.'

'Love to,' said Sreip and Selim. 'Love
to.'

(To Be Continued)