MOUSE OF COMMONS. MOUSE OF LORDS.: PART 1 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE HULLABALLO DIMENSION...

Monday, October 20, 2008

PART 1 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE HULLABALLO DIMENSION...

GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE HULLABALOO DIMENSION...
- PART ONE

Welcome to the 1st part of our new internet-exclusive, 15 part, mini-adventure by Paul Chandler, once again set in Spain, which is a sequel to GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE PHANTOM PIE-CRAWL and GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE LOST CITY OF BEARCELONA.

Although the story refers back to some elements from the previous two stories it can be read on its own and below is a brief summary of the events of the two stories so far. The three stories will be published, along with other stories from this site in a collection called POSTCARDS FROM MCWHISKERS, due in Spring/Summer 2009.

The story so far…

During a visit to Barcelona; Glad, Oliver and Charlie meet a cat waiter called Claud and embark on a pie-crawl around the city. During their adventures they stumble on secret goings-on under a pie factory and discover a map that leads them to The Lost City Of Bearcelona - which just happens to be somewhere on the island of Majorca. The only person who can understand the map is Charlie's father Augustus; who is imprisoned inside a cocoon where he can't cause any further trouble. He isn't dead - and yet he isn't really alive in any proper sense; although he is able to communicate with Charlie psychically and during their visit to Barcelona he escapes and Charlie and he fall through a portal that may or may not lead to the lost city… The portal closes behind them and there is no sign of them for months. As our new story begins, a whole year has passed and Gladstone and his team have not heard anything from either bear...

This story features the same team of Gladstone, Ollie, Claud, Charlie and Augustus from the previous stories, with the addition of Laura Dust-mite, fabulous dust-mite scene queen and general all round glamour-puss.

Barcelona, Almost a year after Charlie's vanishing. Early Autumn.

Laura Dust-mite gave a long sigh as she took in the long line of shops in front of her; marvelling at all the bargains that she might possibly be able to buy if she got the chance. "It's like heaven…" she muttered under her breath. "In fact it's better than heaven - it's ALMOST as gorgeous as Paris; this is GOOD, but nowhere beats Paris for chictastic shopping trips…"

Oliver Louse held her tiny dust-mite purse tight against his chest, so that Laura couldn't grab it; he was beginning to wonder if bringing Laura on this trip was quite such a wise idea as he'd first thought; although, to be fair - she had never been his first choice. He simply hadn't wanted to travel alone; but neither Granny Ernestina (Charlie's former house-keeper - still awaiting the return of her master!), Bell (one of Gladstone's former assistants), Charlie Junior (Charlie's loyal and recently very sorrowful son) nor even Auntie Astrid (guinea pig guru, agony aunt and journalist), had been available to join him. But when Laura had heard that Ollie was looking for a travelling companion she had jumped at the chance; or, at least, she had fluttered about crazily a bit.

"We didn't come here to shop, Laura - you know that…" Ollie reminded her, as they both sat sipping heir appropriately sized lattes at a popular insect bar just off La Rambla…

They were in Barcelona, on a warm October afternoon and they were there on top secret business too; even Gladstone McWhiskers didn't know they were there - trailing his every move around the city…

"I know exactly why we're here, honey pie…" Laura replied, rather snootily. "But I'm sure I'll have a moment or two for a quick spot of shopping; the autumn collection of Jasper Growl's new range of moth gowns is just the wow of the season and it was launched here in Barcelona only two weeks ago…" she informed Oliver, as if he cared one iota, which he really didn't. "I have contacts, you know…" she added. "I have been promised a wonderful discount…"

"There may be some brief moments, Laura…" Oliver conceded. "But they will be extremely brief indeed and I can assure you that I won't be by your side to carry any of your bags - so don't even dare suggest it, lady…"

"It never even occurred to me, silly!" insisted the dust-mite but, of course, it had been on her mind; and it had to be said that it was rapidly slipping her mind why exactly they were actually there.

It was Gladstone's fault, of course - it always was - although more precisely it was Charlie Grrr's fault - or even his evil father; Augustus's fault…

It was nearly a year now since Charlie and Augustus had vanished during their search for The Lost City of Bearcelona on the isle of Majorca. This had ended up with a lot of odd chanting and the sudden opening of a portal between dimensions; which father and son had ended up falling through, before the gateway between the dimensions had been sealed again. There had been no sign of either bear since and at the time there had been rather a lot of speculation as to whether the portal had even lead to the lost city; it could have been anywhere - it didn't really bear thinking about, to be perfectly honest…

Anyway, all of a sudden Gladstone McWhiskers had suddenly announced that he had to return to Barcelona to meet Claud, a former cat waiter - who had ended up running Charlie's business in Barcelona whilst he had been away. It seemed obvious that Claud must have received some kind of lead as to Charlie's vanishing; but Gladstone had forbidden Ollie to accompany him on his trip. Perhaps he was concerned for what Claud had to tell Glad - or maybe they were going to travel somewhere which might put them in some kind of danger and Gladstone had been worried that Ollie might also be put in whatever dangerous situation that this might be and preferred that Ollie remained in London as his Deputy…

But whatever his reasoning, Oliver was cross that Gladstone hadn't confided in him and had simply up and left and given him no idea what was going on; other than that he was going back to Barcelona. Ollie was generally a very loyal kind of woodlouse, but when he felt that people were being disrespectful - even his boss, who he cared a great deal for, he wouldn't be forced to simply accept the situation. He wasn't going to accept Gladstone putting himself in danger - it simply wouldn't do…
It had been MP Clifford Dunn's secretary, Alena, who had helped out with organising all his travel arrangements and she had quite happily managed to arrange Laura's tickets too when she had agreed to tag along at short notice.

"I'm just sorry I'm not able to come along and help out too - are you sure you wouldn't rather I went along rather than Laura…" Alena had sighed; Ollie had agreed - but Alena would never have fitted aboard the louse-sized plane. "I'm just so jealous of you lot sometimes..." she had added affectionately. "You lead such exciting lives - but who knows maybe it'll happen one day - I'm planning on being the first female James Bond before I'm 25…" she had teased.

So now, there they were - Ollie and Laura - out in Barcelona at a café near La Rambla, wearing typically stupid disguises opposite a restaurant where Gladstone and Claud were dining, deep in some top secret conversation...

"Are we going to eat soon, Ollie?" Laura whispered, but Oliver didn't seem to be listening. It didn't help that his false grey louse beard seemed to be blocking his ears rather and made him look rather like Santa Claus. He also seemed to be very much distracted - his mind full of plans of his own that he didn't seem to wish to share with Laura right at that moment and he kept stopping to scribble notes into a pad that he kept safely in his coat pocket. "Is that a no, then dear?" Laura asked, admiring his reflection in a shop window and thinking that she made quite a good red admiral butterfly; even though her costume made her feel quite heavily laiden down; at least it stopped her from blowing away - and the weather did seem to be turning from sunny to slightly overcast and blustery - so she reasoned that the heavy wings might actually prove to be a blessing. "You know, darling - I really am famished…" she continued…

…But just as Laura spoke, Oliver suddenly rose from his seat and without a word he strode from their table outside the café and across the busy La Rambla, amongst all the tourist-folk and locals; he seemed to be heading directly towards the restaurant where Claud and Gladstone sat discussing their future plans…

"Whatever is that louse up to now!?" Laura wondered - she had a nasty suspicion that Ollie meant trouble...

Next episode Laura learns exactly what Ollie is planning, unearths further secrets and also pays the cost of not eating regular meals...

GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE HULLABALOO DIMENSION WILL (HOPEFULLY) BE POSTED THRICE-WEEKLY: ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY - UNLESS STATED ELSEWHERE…

This installment of GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE HULLABALOO DIMENSION was originally written on the flight to Spain and in Girona, Spain between Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th of October 2008.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE HULLABALOO DIMENSION...

The first two or three chapters of this story are based in Barcelona again - but I wasn't actually in Barcelona at the time; I was in Girona - an hour or so away up the road towards France. However I did return to Barcelona between Friday 17th and Sunday 19th October - which is when these photos were taken. The weather wasn't half as nice as the weather we had when Calum, Quint and I made our trip for my 34th birthday in November 2007, which is why I referred to the weather as being a bit overcast when I typed up this chapter from my notes; as when these chapters were written the weather was good. Dear, oh dear… Far too much information there… Anyway - enjoy some more photos of my second trip to Barcelona over the next few chapters - today I'm covering some of the sights, sounds and foods of the area, to go with the cafe setting. I managed to visit a few new areas and some old haunts too, as you will see - before we begin our tour beyond the city and into the Spanish countryside…

TUNE IN AGAIN, ON WEDNESDAY FOR PART 2 OF THIS ADVENTURE!!