MOUSE OF COMMONS. MOUSE OF LORDS.: PART 2 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA...

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

PART 2 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA...

GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA... - PART 2

The 2nd 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.

Barcelona, Late Autumn.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the building - Gladstone's trusty assistant Oliver Louse and Charlie's right hand man; former cat waiter, Claud - were busy overseeing the arrival of Augustus Grrr into the building. Claud was quite proud to have been offered the post as Charlie's helper - what with Granny Ernestina and Junior busy elsewhere arranging other projects - Charlie was dearly in need of a sidekick to fetch pies and answer phonecalls. Claud was also quite a fan of both Gladstone McWhiskers and Oliver and so to suddenly be working alongside them was the biggest compliment ever. Ollie suspected that Charlie probably was taking advantage of this situation by not paying the poor cat a very good wage; but he seemed happy enough, for now...

Down in the bunker beneath Charlie's offices it was quite chilly, as the autumn days dragged on. Barcelona was warmer than London; although on that particular day Ollie was hard pressed to tell the difference. As the lorry pulled into the chamber to deliver the suspended figure of Augustus Grrr the two colleagues watched as the evil former-dicator was wheeled into a secure, yet transparent reinforced perspex cell deep within the bunker; that Charlie had taken great care to have installed before the arrival of his father.

"Ollie..." Claud whispered as they watched the workmen going about their business. "How do we know that one of these workmen isn't our friend the boiler suited bear from the pie factory!?"

"Actually, we really don't know that..." Ollie observed, rather bleakly. "We don't know who that was - we never even saw his face. It could be any of them..."

"Well, now we have the ultimate bait - that's probably why Charlie brought him here..." Claud commented and then shivered at the very idea.

"It never occurred to me until now..." Ollie admitted.

"You just wait - they'll be some press leak next..." Claud chuckled. "He'll be advertising tickets! Come and see the psychobear..."

"Oh my goodness!!" exclaimed Ollie. "So that what those t-shirts were for; I thought they were to advertise one of his tours..." Claud looked worried, but Oliver suddenly burst out laughing. "I'm joking..." he assured him, although the cat didn't look too sure.

Another person who had definitely had a sense of humour failure about the whole matter was Gladstone, who having discussed the bear's plans with him had gotten himself into quite a state about what Charlie was planning on doing and what this might involve for them all.

"So, if the lost city wasn't under Barcelona - then where WAS it?!"

"I'm not sure..." admitted Charlie. "But as I was saying before, Augustus may well do - especially once he's seen the map... It could be anywhere - under a mountain, at the bottom of the sea - perched on the edge of a cloud - who knows..." he continued, sounding quite flippant about the whole situation. "All I do know is that all this digging that was going on under the pie factory was all about finding the map in the first place and not actually unearthing the city itself... All we do know for sure is that Augustus; my father - was involved from the very start..."

"And you intend to do what!?"

"I intend to spend some time with him tonight in that cell and I intend to show him the map and see if I can get any inspiration as what it all might mean..."

"But I can't allow you to do that..." Gladstone insisted. "I've thought about it and it's far too dangerous... What if he tries to take you over!?"

"He won't - he can't... Anyway - a little possession never hurt anyone - if he wants to share a little knowledge with me then that's just fine... I can try and read his mind just the same as he can try and read mine..."

"But I forbid..."

"Forbid me nothing, McWhiskers - this is my building and my bunker and cell and whatsmore - it's my evil father to boot - so you have no say in the matter..."

Ollie and Claud watched the argument from a distance, not wishing to get too closely involved. They were close enough, however, to observe the suspended Augustus in all his melted glory; even though he now was installed on the other side of the reinforced perspex prison. Claud turned to look at him and nearly jumped back in fear.

"Ollie!" he exclaimed. "Did you see that - I'm sure he moved... Do you see his face? It looks as if he's smiling..."

Oliver took a look and had to agree - although he didn't remember his expression being that was when he'd come in; he definitely did appear to be smiling now; less a smile though than a mocking leer...

It was as if Augustus knew what was to come and held a deadly secret inside of him and was just waiting - waiting for the sinister events to unfold...

What will happen when Charlie approaches Augustus in the cell? Will his father help him to unravel the secrets of the map - or will the reunion prove to be a fatal mistake?!?

This instalment of GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA was originally written on a plane heading for Spain on Friday 30th November 2007.

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

In today's photos I reveal a little more of our secret destination - but you'll have to wait until part 4 for the answer... Any guesses, yet?