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| The way to the harbour in Kalkan | It |
But it was not Miss London in the lead rushing down the hill, snorkel in hand. She still hadn't finished her cocktail. It wasn't Emma either - she was clearing up the glasses and putting them in bags.
Nor was it Alison - she was travelling in style, by tahtirevan - a sedan chair, supported by some
Mrs C had gone back to get her glasses, so it couldn't be her and Kate was talking to hoards of mikes and tv cameras that had suddenly appeared.
Was it Gayle. Oh no - she was keeping a careful, moderate pace, guarding her precious stash of gold tokens, mingling with the multitudes.
Maybe Natalie? Hmm, no she was playing safe and putting on her leg warmers.
Could it be Lyn? Ah yes. It was Lyn indeed. And what a fantastic job she was doing. The narrow streets of Kalkan were packed full of locals and tourists wondering what was going on. There was no clear passage for the PH crew and there was clearly the potential for their curiosity to hamper the search for the missing Equilibrium. But Lyn had come up with such a cunning plan! LIke confetti she threw the pages of Jane Eyre up into the air. Who can resist Jane Eyre? Thirsty for literature the good folk of Kalkan gathered up the pages and settled down in a quiet nook, cranny or bar to have a little sob as Jane told the story of her hard, hard life....
And so they reached the harbour and the good ship Dilaro and headed out on a calm blue sea.
Soon, the PH crew had left Kalkan behind and were drawing close to Mouse Island. The sun was low in the sky and time was short. Silence reigned on board. All that could be heard was the drone of the engine.
When Mrs C spoke it was in short sharp sentences - to add to the feeling of tension. Every so often she would throw in a long convoluted phrase - to keep everyone on their toes.
"Today we are serving the world." she started. "If we can find the missing flash pen, with the incredibly important document stored on it, we can save the world." There was a pause and everyone turned to look at the beautiful sunset.
"It's time PH. Go now and return when you hear the strains of Titanic, the only music ever played on these boats..."
One by one the PH crew leapt overboard into the darkening sea. Each carefully adapted snorkel mask with radar pinged every few seconds as it guided each crew member to a possible spot where the missing equilibrium flash pen may have been located.
It seemed a huge task. Mrs C felt a sense of hopelessness swim over her - then realised it was actually a rubber dinghy full of ice buckets that Emma had brought along for the ride.
She gazed at the sea floor that looked so close - but was really fathoms away. So clear, so beautiful - but hey! What was that. Someone had chucked their rubbish in the sea? A bit of black plastic was wedged into a rock crevice.... or was it? Yes it was a rock crevice. But, dear reader - you're already there aren't you. Ah ha! It was no ordinary bit of plastic - it was the flash drive belonging to the man from the ministry. The secret equilibrium documents were found and everyone would now live happily ever after!
Oh, joy of joys. PH could go back to Brighton. But, strangely there was an air of sadness amongst the good people from the school. Life had been different in Kalkan, and change can be difficult, we know, but perhaps it was a rather nice way of life there. Perhaps Mrs C might even have to return there again.... pretty soon...
