MOUSE OF COMMONS. MOUSE OF LORDS.: PART 4 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA...

Thursday, December 06, 2007

PART 4 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA...

GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA... - PART 4

The 4th 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.

The Ocean, Off Barcelona, Late Autumn.

"I can't believe I'm letting you do this, Charlie Grrr..." grumbled Gladstone under his breath, knowing that strictly he had no say in the matter, at all.

Things had moved on somewhat - it was now the next day and they were on a boat and heading out to sea. Ollie and Claud seemed to have adapted to the change quite quickly, as they involved drinking gravy cocktails on the back of a posh yacht on a sunny, warm autumn afternoon.

Gladstone, on the other hand, hadn't quite gotten used to having watched Charlie on the monitor screen; talking in a series of short grrrs and growls to his semi-mummified father. Once the bear had shown him the map there had been a number of further growls before Charlie had casually folded up the map and given his father a quick wave goodbye and emerged from the chamber.

"I know where the lost city of Bearcelona is..." he had announced, once he had returned to the office. "It was once here in Barcelona itslef - or so tradition has it - but that was many thousands of years ago..." Gladstone and the others really hadn't understood, but Charlie had explained. "Once upon a time the city of Bearcelona had been part of the coastline of Spain which was ruled over by the growliest of the bear gods; Bear Babok. However, the other bear gods wanted to steal back the land - but Bear Babok caused an earthwuake and separated the city of Bearcelona from the coast and rowed away with it..."

"He rowed away with the whole city!?" Claud had exclaimed incredulously, quite awestruck by the thought.

"That must have been quite a tough thing to manage..." Ollie had observed. "You know; for just one bear god to manage on his own..."

"I don't believe a word of it..." Gladstone had declared; he still didn't - it was just one of those silly stories that bears told their cubs at bedtime - to distract them from wanting to eat yet another pie.

Anyway, now they were on the yacht and heading out to sea. "So..." sighed Gladstone, relaxing for a moment. "What is this supposed lost island now - I've never heard of any island called Bearcelona..."

Charlie grinned. "It's not called Bearcelona now; no - it's called Majorca - you may have heard of it..."

"Majorca!!" exclaimed Gladstone in surprise. "Of course, I've heard of Majorca..."

"Well, over the years - like many places that once belonged to bears, it has been taken over and renamed..."

Gladstone fell silent; not sure what to think about everything Charlie had told him, so far. "Som it the lost city underground!?" he enquired, trying to be as civil as possible.

The bear looked a little unsure. "Well, that's a difficult one... It's neither above, nor below - or even anywhere in the middle... It's just there - waiting to be discovered; but you need to know the magic word!" he explained, with an excited and yet quite unbeary giggle. "This is why we had to bring him..." he explained, indicating the crate that contained his father at the far end of the yacht. "He knows the magic words and he knows where the portal to the lost city is - he's going to guide us on our way..."

This was another thing that was making Gladstone furious. "I really don't think this is safe, at all... Carting your father around Majorca like he's so much baggage..."

But all Charlie did was grin in a way that made Glad uneasy; before glancing almost affectionately at Augustus and staring out to sea at the island ahead of them. It was getting closer and closer by the minute and whilst Gladstone was nervous about their arrival; Charlie on the other hand was getting increasingly excited about the prospect.

"Oh..." he chuckled. "My dear, McWhiskers - just you wait and see! You'll soon understand - none of this would be possible if it wasn't for my dear papa..."

This was really the last thing Gladstone wanted to hear...

Next episode the travellers arrive on Majorca to begin their search for the lost city of Bearcelona. What problems await them? Whatever it is - the going is never going to be easy...

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...

The truth is out!!! Yes... This story is to be set on the lovely Spanish Island of Majorca. Did anyone guess? I don't think so - because nobody is actually reading, are they? Are they?! *cries* It's very lonely here... hehe. *sobs*