MOUSE OF COMMONS. MOUSE OF LORDS.: PART 13 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE PHANTOM PIE-CRAWL!!!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

PART 13 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE PHANTOM PIE-CRAWL!!!

GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE PHANTOM PIE-CRAWL!!! - PART 13

Part 13 of a 15 part internet-exclusive mini-adventure by Paul Chandler, set in Barcelona.

It had to be said that it was very dark where Gladstone and Claud now stood and there was really no room for error now in their plans and so Glad was keen to ensure that Claud knew exactly what he was meant to be doing. He felt a little bad for suspecting the cat of foul-play and wrong-doing, for even though he'd nearly knocked him off that ladder and had purred rather scarily at him when they'd first met - he really wasn't a bad cat at heart, just a trifle over-exciteable.

"So, you know what you're doing, Claud?" Gladstone hissed.

"Yes... Yes... I know..." There was an uncertain pause. "I think I know... No - no - I do know - there's no problem at all..."

"Okay then... Is there anything you need to know, Claud?"

"One last thing, Senor McWhiskers..."

"What is it, Claud?"

"When this whole business is all over and done with, can I please have your autograph?"

"Of course, Claud... It would be my pleasure..." Gladstone took a breath and hoped that the cat could be trusted not to mess up their plan. "Okay then..." he sighed. "Let's do this, shall we?" he exclaimed bravely, as he reached out into the darkness for the button that worked the lift - pressing it with a confidence that he really didn't feel. But it was done now and slowly, but steadily the lift cranked into action and steadily they began to sink down below the floorboards in gradual pursuit of the boiler suited stranger who they'd seen descend there no many minutes before...

Meanwhile, back in the pie factory, Charlie was just about to start tucking into his 13th ectoplasm pie when there suddenly came a gasp from a number of the cub waiters and the disturbing smashing of crockery close at hand.

"CAREFUL OVER THERE!!" cried the bear. "I HOPE THAT'S NOT MY NEXT COURSE THAT YOU'RE DROPPING ON THE FLOOR THERE..." he'd completely forgotten about Oliver and Gladstone and it had to be said that he was still a little intoxicated by the smell of the beef gravy.

*CRASH!!*SMASH!!*CRASH!!*

Charlie looked up again in dismay as he realised that all the smashing of plates was coming from all around him and that one of the plates had almost hit him on the head. "HEY!!" he cried - wondering what was up with the poltergueists - but this time he saw the truth; this time he saw the smashed plates and the chewed wires that were attached to them and the furious cub waiters who were pointing at the ceiling; enraged that the tricks of their trade were being exposed.

"I THINK I WANT TO SEE THE MANAGER!!!" he boomed, but none of the cub waiters appeared to be listening to their V.I.P. guest. "I SAID - I THINK I WANT TO SEE THE MANAGER!!!" he bellowed.

But still no-one was listening...

Meanwhile, back upstairs - Oliver Louse sat back and took a well earned rest; his teeth ached from all the nibbling - but he hoped that he had least exposed the crime behind the supposedly haunted pie factory...

"He'll be cross, though..." Ollie reasoned. "Charlie Grrr doesn't like to be proved wrong about ANYTHING!!"

Giving himself another few moments he finally rose to his feet and took a quick look around before heading back the way he had come on his way up...

Only this time his way was blocked; blocked by three bearcub waiters dressed as skeletons - each holding rolling pins and wearing expressions of fury...

There was no doubt about it - these cubs wanted their revenge...

TO BE CONTINUED, TOMORROW.

How will Oliver escape the revenge of the fury-filled bear cubs? What is the lesson that Gladstone has in store for the boiler suited stranger? All this and more in tomorrow's episode.

This instalment was originally written in Barcelona on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November 2007.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE PHANTOM PIE-CRAWL

More fun at the zoo!!