MOUSE OF COMMONS. MOUSE OF LORDS.: PART 7 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA...

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

PART 7 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA...

GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA... - PART 7

The 7th part of our new internet-exclusive mini-adventure by Paul Chandler, set in Spain and the Islands, which is a sequel to GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE PHANTOM PIE-CRAWL.

Majorca, Late Autumn.

"Charlie!!!" Ollie was quite furious right at that very moment. "Charlie - I can't believe that we're going to find paella for your evil insane father - especially when he is covered in a cocoon and all that can be seen of him are his eyes and the bottom of his legs. How's he supposed to eat the paella? Are you sure it's not just for you - because you've got a sudden hunger on?"

"Oliver Louse - how dare you!! I can't believe that you'd think such a thing... Obviously I'll have a little bit - but..."

"But how is Augustus meant to actually EAT the paella, in the first place?"

"He'll manage..." replied Charlie stubbornly. "Anyway - the scent of it he needs, as much as anything - to revitalise his psychic presense..."

"His what, Charlie!?" Ollie really was finding this all very difficult to understand.

"Listen, Oliver.... I know you disapprove of this whole thing; Gladstone is the same and I'm sympathetic - but the only way we're ever going to find the lost city is by harrassing my father's knowledge and that means that I have to engage his telepathic discussion with him..."

"It sounds extremely dangerous, Charlie - you were driving that car and you weren't even aware that I was there..." Charlie said nothing, just made a sort of scoffing noise of distain. "What about Gladstone?" continued the louse. "Why have we left him behind?"

"Ah well... Better safe than sorry!!" the bear exclaimed, still driving them around the streets of Soller town as he spoke. "This is dangerous work; bear's work - not work for mice or cats..."

"But I'm a wood louse!"

"Ah, but you're plucky - you have spunk and what's more you're easier to boss around! That Gladstone can get terribly prissy at times..." the bear continued and then added. "I like to think we're friends, Ollie - you know... I hope you feel the same..." Oliver just nodded, rather gob-smacked at Charlie's last speech. "Aha!" he exclaimed. "A paella restaurant!! Perfect... Father - paella here we come and then, after that I expect you to get directing us again..."

But only time would tell whether this would be the case...

Meanwhile, not so far behind, Gladstone was beginning to have some doubts about their driver. They had eventually caught up with Charlie's van - but Kob seemed to deliberately hold back some way behind them; as if not wanting to be seen.

"Something's up..." Glad hissed to Claud. "I'm pretty much certain that this cub doesn't actually work for Charlie - or else why wouldn't he have spoken to him - why would he be skulking about in the background like this - trying not to be seen... If anything he seems to be trailing the van; like he's some kind of detective..."

"You think he's with the police?" Claud whispered back, a little nervously.

"I'm not sure about that either; I think it could be something even more serious - more serious for us, I mean... Well - potentially..."

Claud looked even more pale than he had before. "Something MORE serious; Gladstone?" he repeated in alarm. "Like what!?"

Gladstone wasn't even sure, but he'd begun to rearrange a word in his mind; Kobab - the cub had said his name was; it was quite an obvious anagram once you thought of it; almost too obvious.

K.O.B.A.B. or B.A.B.O.K?

Babok; or so Charlie had told him - was the name of the ancient bear god who had rowed away with the island of Bearcelona; the one who he'd been telling him about on the boat earlier.

"I rather suspect him to be a follower of Babok - so he's probably a little dangerous..." Glad hissed. "He must be - and he's either working with Augustus against Charlie - or perhaps he's working for himself because he wants to gain acces to the lost city for his own devices..."

It all made sense - the more Gladstone thought about it; and it probably explained the cub's limp...

Kob was the bear from the cavern back in Barcelona - the one who'd escaped the destruction of the pie factory; back here on Majorca looking for the lost city and also for revenge...

"Oh my..."

Next episode Gladstone and Claud discuss what to do about Kob; whilst Charlie and Oliver go in search of paella for a meglomaniac...

TUNE IN AGAIN, TOMORROW FOR PART 8 OF THIS ADVENTURE...

This instalment of GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA was originally written in Majorca on Sunday 2nd December 2007.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA...

Further pictures from my recent visit to Majorca - these ones specifically from the town of Soller; where the events of the next few episodes take place... Tomorrow's photos are from the same town and also from the nearby port.