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Post by sparacus on Jul 16, 2020 17:44:17 GMT -5
Ok folks, here is the much anticipated new Ben Chatham adventure:
The Armageddon Children
Part 1: The Waves of Time
The warm, summer breeze blew into the face of Jim Durrant as he walked along the beach. He sat down for a while on the sand, not caring that it was wet, and threw pebbles into the waves. He gazed out to sea and then at the cliffs to the east. Seagulls flew overhead. Jim felt content. He had used to come on holiday to Staithes as a child with his parents and sister Jackie. Now they were all dead, swept away by the relentless waves of time. His parents killed by cancer and heart disease and his sister of a drug overdose at age twenty-five. Jim was fifty-two now and decades of marriage to the joyless Maxine had brought three children who despised him and a work-life of drudgery in a timber-merchant’s office. Since he had lost his job and his marriage to the bottle, he was living in a small flat in Sheffield. However with his pay-off money from the job he had decided to treat himself to a holiday in the one place that had brought him joy as a child.
As Jim gazed out to sea, he realised that he was surrounded by a group of children. They stared at him.
“Hello kids. You glad to be out of lockdown then?”, he said with a grin. The children stared at him. A girl approached him:
“Go away. We don’t want you here. You don’t belong here.”
Jim laughed:
“Oh come on kids. I’m just sitting here, I’m not bothering you or anything”.
The girl was joined by a boy who spoke:
“Go away. They are coming to give us more power. You are nothing, a useless old thing. Go away or die.”
Jim stood up:
“Okay, I came here for peace and quiet, but I’ll go back to town for a beer. Have the beach to yourselves”.
As he spoke a shape emerged from the sea. Jim could smell the rotten, pungent smell of death as the thing approached him. He just had time to scream before all became darkness.
Ben Chatham gazed into his glass languidly as he sat at the bar of the Blue Angel Jazz Café. Miles Davis’ ‘Kind of Blue’ was playing softly in the background. He gestured towards Kian, the young barman:
“Another brandy please Kian. It’s so good to be back here after lockdown that I feel like getting rather drunk tonight. Besides I need to drown my sorrows”.
Kian smiled and poured Ben a brandy:
“Would you like to try one of my special cocktails later Mr Chatham? And maybe some special services as well *winks*.” Ben laughed:
“Now you know that I cannot resist those dark eyes of yours Kian. However tonight I simply must. I’m in enough trouble already.”
Kian brought the brandy over and put his hand on Ben’s shoulder:
“Maybe you just want to tell me all about it.” Ben sighed:
“I had a fling with a young gas fitter last week. I know I shouldn’t have as I’m very happy in my steady relationship with Julian. But the lockdown was so tedious that I couldn’t resist the excitement. The problem is that he now keeps pestering me to help him solve his father’s disappearance up in Yorkshire. He knows that I run Operation Delta as I foolishly told him so. He rang again this morning and I sensed the insinuation that he will tell Julian if I don’t help him. He may do so anyway as he seems emotionally unstable. He has a pregnant girlfriend. I really don’t know if Julian is mature enough to cope with all this either if he found out.”
Kian stroked Ben’s hand:
“I’m very sorry to hear about this. What exactly does this blackmailing gas man want from you?”
“Jeff his name is. He wants me to travel up to Yorkshire with the team and look into whether his father’s disappearance has anything to do with strange reports of possibly alien creatures emerging from the sea.”
Kian looked puzzled:
“So why not just go now the lockdown has been eased? Then if you help him and he carries on giving you grief then at least you’ll know he’s trouble for certain.”
Ben downed the brandy in one:
“Kian you’re probably right. I just couldn’t face starting on another case, but it does make sense. Now I think I will have one of your special cocktails”. Kian smiled:
“And the special services?”
Ben laughed; however, his amusement was cut short as he saw a familiar figure sat at the table in the small snug at the far side of the bar room. It was Martha Jones, sipping a cocktail and sifting through some papers. Ben frowned:
“Oh no, what the hell is she doing in here?” Kian gazed over at Martha and then back to Ben:
“You know her? She’s been in a few times since we re-opened. Says she likes the cool jazz. She doesn’t seem to take the hint that we are a gentlemen’s venue.” Ben sighed:
“She wouldn’t. Martha doesn’t understand subtle hints. Oh damn, she’s seen me. I’m now obliged to go over and have a word I suppose. Wish me luck Kian, I may return ripped to shreds”. Kian laughed and kissed Ben’s cheek.
Ben approached Martha who stared at him coldly:
“Hello Martha. I didn’t know you were still in Cambridge.”
“Sit down Ben, I want to talk to you. Why have you been ignoring my phone calls? I asked you months ago for information and help from your organisation.” Ben sighed, despairingly:
“Martha I’ve been busy and stressed, with the lockdown and everything.” Martha glared angrily:
“What rubbish. I was phoning you before the lockdown began. Don’t try to fob me off.”
“Ok Martha, I apologise. The real reason that I didn’t respond is that I don’t like you, your breath smells, you have a horrible, abrasive personality and a depressing voice. Please don’t take that the wrong way.” Martha shook her head:
“Unbelievable. Grow up, you self-absorbed overgrown child. I am investigating a very important case. If I am successful, we could get government funding for our own organisation. I need the work, given that UNIT has been disbanded. Now tell me all you know about Nate Wood and Jeff Ardley.” Ben stared at her in consternation:
“How the hell do you know about Jeff?” Martha glared at him:
“I’ve been watching your apartment. I saw him go in and stay for hours. His father runs a gas fitting business in Yorkshire and has vanished. We believe that he discovered something about the alien sightings in Staithes. Also, Nate Wood, the boy you have in your holding facility, is we believe extremely dangerous. We know that he can project suicidal thoughts into the minds of others. But he can do more than that. There are other children like that, in Yorkshire.” Ben held his head in his hands and then lifted it up, his face glazed with worry:
“Who is this we? Who are you working for?”
Martha scowled:
“Katie Ryan”.
Ben was staggered and gestured towards Kian who approached:
“Everything alright Mr Chatham?
“Bring me another brandy Kian, make it a double. I’ve just had an awful shock.” Kian caressed Ben’s shoulder:
“I’m sorry to hear that. Should I ask this woman to leave?”
“No, its ok, just bring me the brandy please.”
Kian went to the bar and Martha shot Ben an annoyed look:
“What the hell? He literally just called me ‘this woman’. Right I’m complaining. And why does he keep pawing you? He’s clearly one of them as well as rude.”
Ben sighed:
“Please calm down Martha. Look this is a gentleman’s jazz club that’s all, you know. For the discerning. Anyway, how the hell did you start working with Katie?”
“Don’t you tell me to calm down. Act your damned age Ben. That bar boy was rude. Oh and for your information, me and Katie have been corresponding by text and phone calls for months. She is rightly fed up with your organisation and your incompetent management and wants to branch out on her own with her team.”
Ben smiled to himself:
“Tell me Martha, have you met Katie, face to face? And has she met you?”
“No. What of it?”
Ben laughed:
“I think you may be better off working with me, let me put it that way. Not that I want you to work with me as I don’t like you, I never did and you really do have the most awful foul breath. However I am prepared to put all that aside and carry my cross. I suppose we could go to Yorkshire tomorrow and work together on this case.”
……….to be continued
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Post by sparacus on Jul 18, 2020 16:31:19 GMT -5
Ok people: here is part 2 of this chiller:
2) Part 2: Sea Legends
Ben, Martha, Kyle and Julian were letting the summer breeze blow through their hair with all windows down as Ben drove them up to Yorkshire. Ben felt alive and surprisingly exhilarated to be driving away from Cambridgeshire after months of confinement:
“I’m enjoying the drive far more than I anticipated. I just wish this trip wasn’t just for work. Perhaps we can solve this mystery quickly and then me and Julian can stay on for a holiday by the coast.”
Martha frowned:
“So how the hell are me and Kyle here expected to get home?”
Julian grinned:
“There are such things as trains you know”.
“Oh stop showing off, it doesn’t impress me”, Martha retorted.
Julian yawned:
“So why are we going up here again Ben? After all the north of England is just a backwater that civilised man must pass through to get to his estates in Scotland, is it not?”
Ben laughed:
“Well yes, I think you’re on to something there Julian. But Yorkshire has its discerning charms, so long as you don’t converse with the locals. No, we are investigating the disappearance of the father of the gas fitter who came around to service the boiler the other day. Martha believes it is connected to the psychic boy, Nate Wood, whom we have in our holding facility.”
Martha turned to Ben:
“I was watching your apartment and the gas fitter was in there a long time for just a service.”
Ben felt himself going red and started coughing to disguise it:
“Well there was a problem with it. Air in the pipes. Really annoying as its only three years old.”
Kyle looked out of the window:
“Ere I’m starving, let’s pull into the next diner, I need a brekkie”.
Martha frowned:
“You should have eaten before we left. It is unhygienic to eat in such places given the current pandemic. We should not be stopping.”
Kyle was bemused:
“What if I need a ¤¤¤¤?”
Martha leant back and thwacked Kyle around the head.
“Ow, that hurt”.
“Act your age then”, Martha retorted angrily. She fumbled in her bag and pulled out a CD: “Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of War of the Worlds”.
*to Ben* I’m putting this on. We are not having any more of your awful Bowie music on in here.”
Ben sighed:
“I thought you liked jazz not seventies commercial prog type stuff.”
Martha gave him an exasperated look:
“I like lots of different music. A former boyfriend of mine was into 70s prog and it rubbed off.”
“It’s like not surprising he’s a former boyfriend”, Kyle muttered under his breath.
Martha gave him another thwack as ‘Eve of the War’ started with Richard Burton’s spoken intro.
Eventually the landscape changed around them, and they could see the dark green hills and dales of Yorkshire. The roads became narrow and steep as they drove towards the coastal town of Staithes. Ben saw a farmer walking beside the lane with a sheep dog and he slowed the car:
“Excuse me, we are interested in staying in Staithes. Do you know if there are any quality hotels open for business again, good ones?”
The farmer frowned:
“Aye lad there bloody well are. Damn near ruining us this lockdown. Bloody idiots in London. We need the tourists. I know you’re a southerner by your accent, I hope you’ve come here to spend.”
Ben was irritated by the farmer’s manner:
“Look are there any good hotels you recommend or not?”
“Don’t take that tone with me boy. Here we say what we mean and we mean what we bloody well say. You’re not in bloody London now. Old Sam has lots of room as all his bookings had to be cancelled and the namby-pamby bloody tourists are still too frightened to travel. You’ll find his place just down this road not far from the sea. First turning on the right. Town centre and sea are just a short walk down the hill.”
They drove on for half a mile then turned right down a muddy track leading to a large house with a long row of outbuildings behind. A sign on the gate read: “Sea View Hostel”. Ben stopped the car and got out as an old man and a woman in her forties approached.
“Hey up, are you looking to camp. Main field’s over there, £10 a night. No hanky panky in the tent and no drugs or you’re owt”.
Ben frowned:
“Look I was told that this was a hotel, not a campsite”.
The woman stared at him:
“We do that as well. £40 a night.”
Julian winced:
“It can’t be much good for £40 a night and by the look at these grubby people I imagine the rooms are rank. Let’s go Ben”.
The old man lent into the car:
“If you leave ‘ere havin’ insulted me an’ my lass Kath, I’ll be on the phone to every pub an’ hotel in town an’ none’ll take yer. They all loves old Sam round ‘ere so they do. Now give us your £40 each.”
Martha scowled:
“Look Ben just give him the money and let’s go in. We haven’t got time to mess around we have a disappearance to investigate. *To old Sam* I apologise for Julian here. He’s a self-important overgrown child and one of them as well, so preening and immature.”
Julian was annoyed:
“Ben was right. Your breath is disgusting. That’s why we had the windows open all through the journey.”
Ben paid for them all out of Operation Delta expenses and they were shown to some converted farm building which were now tiny motel-type rooms. They smelt damp and had no washbasins.
“The lavvy’s over there an’ the shower room’s there”, said Old Sam, pointing across the yard at other buildings. We’ve got a bar at the side of the ‘ouse where the grub is served as well”.
Ben smiled:
“Well at least that’s something good. But these rooms smell mouldy.”
“If yer want Buckingham Palace you’ll ‘ave to pay for it lad, and not ‘ere in Staithes”, Old Sam replied.
They each put their bags in their separate rooms then followed Old Sam to the café bar. Ben sat himself down and shouted across to Kath:
“I’d like a green salad with smoked salmon and an absinthe.” The woman scowled:
“What the ‘eck is an apseenth when its at home? An we ain’t got salad. I can do you fish and chips or a cheese and onion cob. Drinks are Yorkshire bitter, scotch whisky or I can do you teas.”
“Cob?” Julian stated, utterly perplexed. Ben frowned:
“I believe that it is some form of bread roll Julian. Frankly this is appalling. I cannot drink ‘Yorkshire bitter”.
Kyle laughed:
“Oh stop bein’ such a snob Ben. *To Kath* I’ll ‘ave a big plate of fish and chips with bread and butter and a pint of Yorkshire’s finest please misses”.
A short time later Kyle was tucking into his fish and chips and he took a large swig of beer and belched loudly. Martha scowled:
“You have the manners of a dog. And why do you have to chew so loudly.”
Julian stared at the cheese and onion cob in front of him:
“This artifact really should be in a museum dedicated to the life of early man. *Prodding the cob* its rock hard.”
Martha frowned:
“Oh stop complaining and eat your food.”
Ben stared at Martha:
“So why exactly are you working for Katie? I will need to phone her about this. She is still officially an Operation Delta employee”. Martha sipped her beer:
“Katie is angry with you and searched me out. She didn’t tell me why you’d fallen out but I imagine it was down to you. Its strange you know, sometimes I get this strange feeling that I have met her before. But I can’t remember. Everything is so hazy since the Newgrange incident, you know our last adventure together. The last time I saw the Doctor too.”
“I know, we were lucky to survive that and I do think it did something to our minds.”
As Ben spoke Old Sam approached their table and sat down, smoking a pipe:
“You should not be smoking in a café”, Ben stated. Old Sam blew smoke into the air:
“I does what I bloody well likes in my own hostel lad. Now didn’t I hear you say you were ‘ere to investigate them disappearances?”
“Yes we are. But I thought it was only one disappearance?”, Ben replied.
“No lad, there’s been three now. All men as like. On the beach and by them huts were the last time they were seen. Aye there’s some as say the selkie’s back.”
“Selkie?”, Ben asked. Kath stared at him:
“Aye lad, the selkie. Don’t you know owt. They come from the sea to lure men out to drown. Seals that turn into young women with long flowing hair an’ the like. The men can’t resist them. They follows them out to sea until they drown from exhaustion.”
Ben scowled:
“Look we are not interested in silly local superstitions and legends; we are serious investigators. Are there any witnesses to these disappearances?”
“Aye there’s Bill Hickock. He owns the fishing boats near Heel Cove. He saw the selkie, he did”.
“Well that’s a useful lead at least. Anyway I will lower myself to try some of your whisky. Please don’t be offended, but I imagine its cheap supermarket blended stuff given the general cheap and nasty nature of this grotty place”.
Meanwhile out at Heel Cove, Bill Hickock was drinking coffee in the wooden hut that was his office as his son Jim helped tie up the returned boat. Rab Higgins and Jim shared a dirty joke as they finished unloading the catch as Bill watched them out the window. Times were hard for the fishing industry however Bill reminded himself to thank the good lord that Jim wanted to stay in the business. His other son, Joe, had moved to London to work in a bookshop. Bill spat on the floor at the thought of Joe:
“Never understood that damn boy. Too much like his mother”, he muttered to himself. As he did so, he saw a dark shape emerge from the sea and move towards the two young men.
“What is that…..Oh God”, Bill muttered to himself and he ran to the door, flinging it open.
“Run lads, run. It’s comin’for ya”. The young men saw the thing and ran, however Rab Higgins stumbled and fell over some rope. Jim made it to the door however Rab let out a piercing scream, like a tortured cat.
Up on the cliffs overlooking the cove were a row of around ten children. They smiled.
……………. To be continued.
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Post by sparacus on Jul 19, 2020 6:11:12 GMT -5
Ok folks, here is part three of this major story:
Part 3: Child of Destiny
Paul Farraday and Corinne Shaw arrived at Operation Delta’s holding facility on Flat Holm Island in the Bristol channel. They were taken across on a boat by Jack Hobbs, the ferryman.
“Aye they’re a strange, close lot on Flat Holm. Can never get to the bottom of what they do there. I suppose you ain’t gonna tell me”, Jack mused. Corinne smiled:
“No we aren’t. But rest assured that the work is important, and government approved.”
Arriving on the island, they were met by Jenna Wilkin and Rob Bryan, the onsite managers and Paul’s subordinates.
“Ok any updates for me?” Paul quipped, businesslike. Jenna waved a file full of printed sheets:
“There’s a full update in here. Jake has managed to stabilise the boy’s condition with medication and there have been no more mind-attacks on our staff.”
“And have we found any connection with Yorkshire”? Corinne asked.
“Yes we believe so. It seems that the parents were not being entirely honest when they said that Nate had never been to Yorkshire. It seems that before lockdown they left the boy with his teenage sister while they went on holiday to Spain and she took him up to Yorkshire with her boyfriend. The parents were embarrassed as it seems that the sister’s boyfriend has form for drugs activity,” Jenna replied.
“Ridiculous and irresponsible. It’s a shame we can’t charge them for wasting our time”, Paul responded angrily, “Most parents today of my generation cannot bring up children properly. It veers from neglect to self-indugence where they pander to immature whims and tell them that they’re ‘special’, when really they should be setting bounderies.”
They arrived at the facility and were met by Shakey Jake:
“Hi you guys, like how are you both? Hey things are groovy here man, the kid is talking at last.” Paul smiled:
“Hello Jake. Good to see you. Hey do you fancy a spot of fishing this weekend coming? I’ve got a trip lined up to the Nene to go after the big tench and chub at Milford Ferry?” Jake grinned:
“Hey man, that’s all happening man. Yeah I’ll come along. It’s a real bummer that all the rock festivals are off this year. It’s really fascist man.” Corinne frowned:
“Oh come on Jake, it is not fascist to want some basic social distancing at a time like this. I’m sure that Paul’s fishing trip will be safe though.”
They were led through to the lab by Jenna and Rob and to an office at the side, where Rob started preparing coffee and biscuits. Paul flicked through the file given to him by Jenna:
“So can you just give us a brief verbal update before we go to see the boy please.”
Jenna sipped her coffee:
“Yes well to summarise, Jake has managed to block Nate’s ability to reach into minds using a cocktail of hallucinogens which give him the illusion that he is directing his mind at a person when actually it is objects in his room. We also used a truth drug to get him to explain how he met a group of children while staying in Staithes. His sister and her boyfriend were picking up a consignment of illegal, smuggled goods which they were trading.”
“Have you passed that information to the police?” Paul asked.
“Sure, but of course we were completely discreet. Anyway, moving on, it seems that the children altered Nate in some way with the power of their minds. But also, it seems that something else is controlling the children, some force, some powerful entity”, Jenna concluded.
“Yeah man it’s really far out”, Jake added.
“Can we see the boy now?” Corinne asked.
“Sure babe”, Jake replied, munching a piece of flapjack with his coffee.
They were led through the lab by Rob and down a long, musty-smelling corridor with paint peeling off the walls and orange lighting.
“Any word on those decorators Rob?” Paul asked.
“Yes, they’re up and running again now lockdown has eased. They’ll be coming next week and also the electric guys to re-wire. Torchwood really left this in a terrible state”, Rob replied.
“Amateur organisation”, Paul quipped.
They arrived at Nate’s room which had a big card with his name on it hanging on the door. They knocked and went in. The boy was sitting on his bed with earphones on listening to music. He looked up:
“It’s like amazing. The stars are dancing round the room and the moon is with them. Like wow”.
Jake grinned and pointed to a pile of CDs:
“Hey I leant him all my Jefferson Airplane and Country Joe and the Fish CDs to keep him groovy. *To Nate* Hey kid, how ya doin’ man. These cats are here to ask you some questions.”
Corinne knelt by the boy’s bed:
“Tell us about your trip to Yorkshire with your sister”.
“It was great. Me and Jebbo, Kat, Luke, Billie and the gang, we sure had some fun making the oldies do things they didn’t want to with our minds. The ancestor came and gave them the power and they gave it to me.”
“The ancestor? What do you mean by that?” Corinne asked. Nate frowned:
“Not telling. I want more sweets.”
Suddenly Corinne felt the power of the boy’s suggestion entering her own mind. She felt a malign force willing her to bash her head against the wall hard. Rob noticed her trying to resist:
“Come on, we need to get out of here now, it’s starting again”.
Rob and Paul grabbed Corinne and they all ran out of the room, slamming the thick door shut.
“Hey guys, sorry like. I’ll need to stabilise him again.” Corinne leant against a wall, struggling to regain her breath.
“That power… it was so strong. If there are more kids like this out there, then who known what they’re capable of”.
“Yes, and Ben and the others could be in grave danger”, Paul added.
………… to be continued.
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Post by sparacus on Jul 21, 2020 16:23:05 GMT -5
Part 4: A Shadow Over Staithes
Having finished their drinks and food, Ben and the team set off for Heel Cove to interview the fisherman Bill Hickock about what he may have seen. As they approached the cliffs , the group of children passed them, heading down towards the town. The children had strange, blank expressions and Ben thought they looked malnourished as their eyes were glassy and their faces strangely similar and odd-looking. Two of the children bumped into Martha as they passed:
"Watch where you're going!" Martha snapped at them. A girl turned around and stared at her:
"You don't belong here. You will be taken. You will die". Martha glared at her:
"Watch your damn manners. You do not speak to an adult like that."
The girl turned and walked off with the other children.
"Did you hear that? She threatened us", Martha exclaimed. Ben gave a puzzled look:
"That girl clearly knows something. Did everyone notice how those children all looked similar and rather strange?"
"Ere they all looked like Gail Platt out of Coronation Street", Kyle observed. Ben let out a sigh:
"Kyle, please do not reference Coronation Street, you know I do not watch it. However if the character in question looks rather froglike in her facial features then you would be correct. Those children looked odd."
"Odd? They were ugly little trolls. I presume it's in-breeding", Julian observed.
Walking on, they made their way down a steep, uneven pathway to the cove.
"This pathway is in a terrible, unkempt state. I will complain to the local council about it tomorrow as this is completely unnacceptable", Ben commented.
"There should be a safety rail", Julian added.
"I presume Julian that Yourkshire people consider themselves to be too hard for safety rails. However they should think of the tourists that keep them in business", Ben replied.
Reaching the bottom, they spotted Bill Hickock's wooden hut and as they approached they saw bloodstains on the sand. Ben was concerned and inspected the stains:
"I find this suspicious. This is rather a lot of blood to have come from the fish catch".
"Ere maybe they just caught a lot of fish", Kyle observed, however as he did so Bill Hickock started shouting from the hut:
"Hey up, get in here now. Or the thing'll get yer. Come on run".
They ran to the hut and dashed in to see a terrified Bill and his son Jim. The latter was in tears and shaking:
"It got Rab.. It got Rab. It killed him, tore into him with it's jaws... killed Rab". Bill scowled:
"Pull thyself together lad, you're a Yorkhireman. It's yer useless brother that'd go blubbing in front of strangers." Martha frowned:
"Your father is correct. Stop crying and tell us what you saw, now!"
"It were like a big newt or summat. Scales and fins and teeth. It killed Rab.. Rab's gone..."
Ben frowned:
*To Bill* "I understand that you've seen this creature before Mr Hickock."
"Aye lad, that I have. There's some as say it's the selkie I saw, but that ain't no selkie. The selkie looks like a lass. That were no lass."
"Are you sure? This is Yorkshire after all", Julian commented. Bill grabbed him by the throat:
"What are you sayin' about Yorkshire lasses, you little arsewipe?" Ben intervened:
"I apologise Mr Hickock, Julian was just trying to lighten the mood. I'm really sorry now please could you release him."
Bill released Julian who coughed . Kyle looked out of the window:
"Ere whatever that creature was, it ain't there now. I recon we should all get back to Old Sam and Kath's place."
A short time later they were back in Old Sam's bar. Darkness had descended and a strong wind made the windows shudder. The night was cool however Kath had lit a large log fire and Jim sat beside it on a wooden chair, sobbing. Kath brought him a blanket:
"Aye you wrap thyself in that lad. *To the others*, He's in shock, poor lad".
"He's a bloody cry-baby. Stop blubbin', thy's showin' me right up. What the hell did I do to deserve such sons", Bill shouted, exasperated.
"Now you just pipe down Bill Hickock and stop pickin' on the lad. 'Ere, get this down thyself", Kath said giving him a pint. Kyle sat next to Jim and tried to comfort him.
Ben sipped a large whisky as he was texting Paul Farraday.
"Haven't you had enough of that for one day", Martha snapped at him.
"It's been a long day and I need to relax", Ben responded. Martha frowned:
"That's a pathetic excuse. You drink far too much and it's bad for your health as well as irresponsible, given that you are now running an organisation."
Julian looked up at her from his phone:
"Don't you ever loosen up?" Martha glared at him:
"We are here on a serious investigation. Do not tell me to loosen up", Martha snapped back. Ben sighed:
"Paul has just informed me that he and Corinne went to see the kid Nate and that he launched a psychic attack on Corinne. So he is still dangerous. I asked him about the kid's appearance and he confirmed that he looks normal and not froglike."
Martha bit into her cheese cob:
"That is interesting. So Nate cannot be the same as the other children or to put it the other way, those other children may not have his psychic powers, thankfully".
Kyle beckoned Kath over:
"Ere, do you watch Corrie?"
"Yes lad. Why do you ask?"
"'Ave you noticed any kids round 'ere that look like Gail Platt?" Kath laughed:
"Aye lad, lots of 'em. But don't go shoutin' that around these parts as they'll be a whole lot of dads who'll come after you with their fists. I thinks there might be a romeo around 'ere whose 'ad his way with some of our lasses and I'll bet a pound he looks like a male Gail. But don't tell anyone I told yer that."
Down on the beach, a group of teeenagers sat by a beach fire cooking sausages and drinking cans of lager. They were students from York who felt like a beach-party now that lockdown had eased.
"It's like really windy here and it's like blowing the fire about", one of the girls exclaimed.
"I'm like so drunk I feel like skinny dipping. Come on", one of the lads said. The girls frowned:
"I'm like not going in the sea tonight, it's too cold", one of them replied.
As they talked, they did not see the creature emerge slowly from the sea. At first all they noticed was the smell; a thick, pungent smell like rotting flesh and seaweed.
"Hey which one of you has let rip a massive fart", a thick-set youth exclaimed.
"That's really intimidating and triggering", a girl replied.
Suddenly the creature was upon them, tearing, ripping, biting. The teenagers screamed as large teeth sinking into flesh, blood spraying out in all directions.
A short distance away the children watched. And smiled.....
........... to be continued.
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Post by sparacus on Jul 31, 2020 3:18:52 GMT -5
Ok folks, here is part 5 of this classic story:
Part 5: Labyrinths of Horror
The team had retired to their rooms in Old Sam’s hostel when Ben heard the news. Julian had snuck into his room and they were lying in each other’s arms reading an Alan Hollinghurst novel together when there was a loud banging on the door:
‘Hey up, you in there?’
‘Oh hell it’s that woman. Hide benieth the blankets Julian’, Ben whispered.
He quickly put on his fine silk pyjamas and went to the door. Opening it he saw Kath in a panicked state:
‘Ah I was meaning to contact you. This room smells musty and the blankets are damp. Do you not have any proper duvets? And air fresheners?’ Ben stated. Kath was distressed:
‘These rooms are cleaned every day lad. Don’t you be all high and mighty here. I came here to tell you there’s been more killings on the beach. Oh my poor heart. It’s horrible it is. George Ward from the pub in Staithes just came down on his bike to tell us. Group of them teenagers all ripped apart. This time there’s bits left there is.’ Ben was concerned:
‘Ok I can see why that would distress you. I will rouse my team and we will investigate.’
A short time later, Ben and the team were walking down the cliff side path to the beach, where the blue-flashing lights of many police cars could be seen. It was dark and a drizzle blew into their faces from the direction of the sea.
‘This path really is dangerous’, Julian complained.
‘Oh stop complaining like a child and pick your feet up’, Martha said, sternly. Ben frowned:
‘Martha, please don’t speak to Julian like that. He is completely correct about this path and I will ring Staithes Council tomorrow.’
‘We have more important things to worry about than the state of paths. Get your priorities right!’, Martha replied, angrily.
They arrived at the beach and a Yorkshire policeman approached them:
‘You can’t come on here. Thar’s been an incident. Thar’ll ‘Ave to go back’.
Ben showed the policeman his ID:
‘We are from Operation Delta’ he stated. The policeman frowned:
‘What’s bloody Operation Delta when it’s at home? Thar’s in Yorkshire now lad’.
Fortunately a senior officer overheard this and approached:
‘I’ll deal with this constable. *To Ben* I’m Inspector Willetts and I’m delighted to meet you Mr Chatham. I’ve heard much about you. It really is horrific what has happened. There are several body parts lying around from several teenagers. An arm, three feet and various internal organs. The rest appears to have been removed, due to the fact that it isn’t there’.
Kyle had wandered over to have a look and came back:
‘Ere it’s really bad like. Guts all strewn everywhere and an arm all chewed like.’
‘I think we get the idea Kyle. We don’t need the full gory details’, Martha said firmly.
Ben frowned:
‘Is the pathologist here? What does he or she think?’ Ben asked.
‘Dr Ruben thinks it’s definitely an animal attack, although he’ll know more once he gets the bits in the lab. I’ve never seen anything like this in 30 years on the force. Turned my stomach’, Inspector Willetts replied.
Ben gazed at the scene from a distance and handed the Inspector his card:
‘Ok Inspector, there is nothing more we can do tonight. Phone me with any more information once the pathologist has fully analysed the remains.’
Inspector Willetts looked at the card and smiled:
‘I will call you, * whispering* I’m a lonely man Mr Chatham and I’d like to meet up with you to discuss the case over a drink *stroking Ben’s hand*.’
Later the team were back at Old Sam’s where Kath had reopened the cafe/bar and lit a big, roasting log fire. They sipped whisky and chatted:
‘Whatever is responsible for these deaths is getting more aggressive or more desperate. I wish we could get a UNIT patrol down on that beach. But sadly it’s gone.’ Ben stated.
‘And no use contacting the Doctor, she doesn’t reply’, Martha said tersely. Ben looked up:
‘I have the same problem with her’.
Martha frowned:
‘She has become really lazy since she regenerated. When she was the 10th Doctor and we travelled with him, he could be damn silly and childish but at least he did work. Therefore it is down to us to solve this. I do occasionally miss travelling with the Doctor. You?’
‘I don’t miss his cooking. Remember that soup he used to make? It gave Rose Tyler bowel problems’, Ben replied.
‘Oh yes, horrible stuff.’
Kyle was eating a cheese and onion cob and threw part of the hard crust into the fire.
‘Hey, don’t throw food into the fire. It’s bad luck’, Martha said sternly.
‘How comes?’ Kyle replied.
‘It feeds the devil’.
Kyle laughed:
‘What an’ you believe that superstitious crap?’ Martha thwacked him round the head:
‘Don’t mock my beliefs.’
‘Ok, ok I was only sayin’. Jeez. Anyhow, we need a plan of action like. I say we visit the town centre tomorrow and like talk to some kids’, Kyle proposed. Martha nodded:
‘He has a point. Children seem to be connected to these events and we need to acertain how.’
As she spoke, eyes were watching the group through the window from outside. The children nodded to each other and stared coldly.........
.......to be continued
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Post by sparacus on Aug 4, 2021 8:44:25 GMT -5
OK folks, here is the sixth part of this gripping story:
Part 6: Progeny of Evil
The following morning was bright and sunny, with a gentle, refreshing breeze blowing in from the sea. Ben and the team walked from Old Sam’s ‘Sea View Hostel’ into Staithes town centre and ordered breakfasts and coffee at ‘Tubby Isaac’s Café’ at the end of a hillside road leading down to the beach. They sat outside the café, enjoying the morning sunshine. Ben was impressed by the vegetarian breakfast he ordered:
“This has an excellent range of vegetables, including broccoli and Italian cabbage cooked in olive oil. I’m pleasantly shocked to find this in Yorkshire”.
Clearing some plates from a nearby table, Tubby Isaac overheard this and laughed:
"’Ay lad, we’re not all backward up ‘ere you know. I was trained by an Italian chef from Sicily”.
Kyle was tucking into his full English:
“’Ere the sausage ain’t bad either. Cheers mate”.
Martha frowned:
“I do wish you’d eat less noisily Kyle. And that café owner is hardly a good advert for his food, being the size that he is.”
As she spoke, they saw a group of children walking down the steep road, glazed expressions on their faces. They turned and stared at Ben and the team. Martha shouted to them:
“You lot, come here a minute. We want a word with you. Come on!”
The group walked slowly across the road, their froglike features hard and menacing. Ben stood up:
“My name is Ben Chatham. What are your names? I would like to know if you children know anything about the recent killings around here. Have you witnessed anything? Do you have any information to tell us?”
A boy grinned:
“I’m Jebbo and these are my friends Luke, Billie, Kate and Haz. We don’t like you. You don’t belong here”.
Martha frowned:
“Don’t be rude. Do your parents know that you speak to people like that?”
The children stared at her, sardonic grins on their faces. Tubby Isaac emerged from the café with a cloth to wipe the tables. He frowned at the children:
“’Ay are these kids annoying you? *To the children* clear off you lot!”
The boy Jebbo glared at him and Isaac froze. He dropped the cloth and grimaced as some powerful force reached into his mind and forced him to pick up a knife from a nearby table. He felt his other hand move and place itself on the table before he brought the knife down with full force onto it, stabbing his palm. He yelped with pain as the children turned and walked away. Kyle leapt up and helped Isaac into the café, wrapping his hand in the cloth. Ben was concerned:
“This is not good. Clearly these children are developing the same psychic powers as the boy Nate. I suspect that their abilities are only in an initial stage as they made no attempt to attack us. However we need to act before they get any stronger and also to locate and destroy the source of their power, whatever creature or creatures are behind this.”
Martha glared at him:
“Why don’t you get that Nate boy brought up here so that we can interrogate him directly ourselves and find out what precisely he knows?”
Julian shot her an angry look:
“Oh yes, so that he can join those other children and increase their power. What a great idea – not!”
Martha thwacked Julian round the head:
“Do not be sarcastic with me. Grow up. We are in an emergency and need to find out if this Nate knows anything more and if he could even help us out.”
A short time later, the team were back at Old Sam’s hostel discussing recent events in the bar. Ben had phoned Paul Farraday instructing him and Corinne to bring Nate up to Staithes. As they talked, a young man entered the bar and ordered a tea from Kath. He turned to Ben:
“Hi, I’m Joe Hickock. I understand that you guys helped my brother Jim after his mate was killed. I just want to say thanks.”
Ben felt an instant attraction to the newcomer, however he attempted to play this down as Julian was sat next to him:
"Hi Joe, I’m Ben Chatham and its good to meet you. I presume you drove here from London as soon as you heard what had happened. Your father was chuntering on last night about how you’d moved away to work in a bookshop and he was very uncaring towards your brother. I find your father to be a crude and obnoxious character however you and your brother are both very nice looking and presumably far more easy going.”
Joe smiled at Ben:
“My dad is a bully and he ruined my mother’s life. I despise him. I’d like to get Jim away from here but before that I hope I can help you and your team catch whatever did this to Rab. Jim says that it was some kind of sea creature with scales and a fish-like head with huge teeth. When I was a kid I heard the old folk talking about how there are legends about such creatures coming from the sea around here before, centuries ago”.
As he spoke, Bill Hickock entered the bar:
*To Joe* “Ain’t you gone yet? Waste of space you always were.”
Ben frowned:
“That is no way to speak to your son after he has come here to help you and his brother”.
Bill glared at him:
“Shut yer poncy mouth lad or you’ll get my fist in it”.
Later Ben and the others greeted Paul, Corinne and Nate on the drive of the hostel.
“The accommodation is rather basic here I’m afraid”, Ben said as Corinne got out of the car with Nate.
“This place is the worst backwater you could imagine. If I were you, I’d turn the car round and go home, indeed if you do so please take me with you”, Julian added.
Martha glared at him:
“Oh do grow up you whiny child! We are here on a serious case”.
Julian was annoyed and as the rest of the group briefed Paul and Corinne, he lad Nate to one side:
“Hey kid, you’d be doing me a great favour if you give us all a laugh by telling miserable Martha how much her breath stinks.”
“That’s mean”, Nate replied.
“Nate, if you maintain that straight-laced attitude you’ll never fit in with other kids. They’ll ostracise you.”
Meanwhile Ben explained the situation to Paul and Corinne:
“I suggest that we take Nate to meet the local children again and get him to report back to us. Presumably Jake has stabilised him with medication”.
As he spoke, Nate strode up to Martha and started singing, dancing around her:
“Stinky breath Martha, stinky breath Martha, skanky, skanky, stinky breath Martha….”
Martha glared at Ben who shrugged his shoulders:
“What? Nothing to do with me”.
As Corinne took hold of Nate and calmed him down Ben walked over to the grinning Julian:
“This is your doing. Remember we need to keep her from going back to working for Katie”.
Julian laughed:
“You must admit it was damn funny Ben”. They laughed.
Later that afternoon, Bill Hickock had returned to Heel Cove to check on his boat. He was checking the deck when a pungent smell wafted through the air, like rotten fish and mould combined. Turning he saw the thing lumbering towards him. Tripping over the side of the boat he crashed down onto the wet sand and felt the creature upon him, sinking its teeth into his face, claws tearing his flesh. Then all was darkness.
…. To be continued.
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Post by sparacus on Aug 15, 2021 15:26:58 GMT -5
Ok folks, here is part 7 of this classic tale:
Part 7: The Listeners
A short time later Ben is discussing recent events with Inspector Willets in Old Sam’s bar. Willets is tucking into a cheese and onion cob with a side salad of lettuce and spring onions, while Kath is consoling Joe and Jim and pouring them a whisky each.
‘My dear boy, have you any idea yet what is behind all of this?’ Willets asked. Ben shook his head:
‘I have some theories but as yet nothing concrete. Clearly there is a dangerous entity of some kind at work in this town and it has been here a long time, given that it has affected the look and appearance of a generation of local children’.
Willlets smiled:
‘Dear boy, I think that is more to do with local in-breeding and it’s best not to mention it. Folk round here get very prickly about that sort of thing.’
Ben frowned:
‘This is more than that; those children seem to share the same DNA and I do not summise that a local lothario is responsible. It is something stranger and much more sinister’.
Ben sipped his whisky as Willets smiled at him:
‘How about we continue this conversation later back at my place. You can stay the night if you want’.
Ben gave an embarrassed shrug:
‘I’m sorry but I need to stay focused on the case. Plus, please don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re old, a tad slovenly and obese. Joe over there is more to my liking’.
Meanwhile Kyle, Martha and Julian were down on the beach at Heel Cove watching Bill Hickock’s mangled remains being loaded into a coroner’s van. Kyle surveyed the bloodstained sand:
‘Whatever did this ain’t gonna stop unless we do something. We need to lure it out and catch it’.
Martha nodded:
‘Yes agreed and you can be the lure. There are armed officers over there. I suggest that tomorrow night we used you as bait and get the armed response officers to hide out behind that shed’.
As she spoke Paul Farraday arrived:
‘Hi guys, where is Ben’?
‘Back at the hostel with the police inspector’, Julian responded.
‘We gave the boy Nate some more of Jake’s medication to stabilise him then sent him off into town to find the other kids. He is under orders to find out what they know and report back’.
Martha shook her head:
‘And you didn’t accompany him? Did Corinne?’
‘No, why would she?’
‘Because you can’t trust a child on his own to act as a spy in this manner and what about his safety?’
‘Oh stop moaning’, Julian whispered under his breath. Martha shot him an angry look:
‘I still haven’t forgotten your silly behaviour teaching that boy to make fun of me. Stupid, childish and puerile’.
Back at the hostel, Inspector Willets got up to leave:
‘Well I need to get back to my colleagues. I am very disappointed on you Ben’, he stated before putting on his coat and hat and waving goodnight to Sam and Kath. Ben got up and went over to Joe and Jim who were upset and consoling each other. Jim looked up, years in his eyes:
‘He were a right old bastard who treated my ma like she were a doormat. But he were our dad’.
Ben patted him on the shoulder:
‘I understand that losing a parent however bad they were is an emotional experience. However your life will now improve and you may inherit property from him so every cloud has a silver lining’.
Jim started sobbing even more:
‘He were our dad however rotten he was’.
Ben looked at Joe:
‘I suggest that your brother needs an early night. Help him to his room and then come back here and we’ll have a drink together’.
Joe did as Ben suggested and shortly they were enjoying a drink together and discussing the case:
‘So what are you going to do now to stop these killings? Joe asked.
Ben shrugged:
‘Who knows. We’ve sent a boy out to garner information from the weird children around here. Hopefully we can discover their role in all of this and connection to the horrific events’.
Meanwhile in Staithes town centre, the last bus of the evening had arrived. Getting off the bus, rucksack in hand, was Jeff Ardley, the gas fitter. He was chatting to an old lady he had met on the bus:
‘So is there anywhere you know round here that could put me up for the night?’ He asked.
‘Aye lad, you could try Old Sam’s hostel. It be about a mile down that old lane *pointing*.What you here for?’
Jeff scowled:
‘I sent a guy up here to do a task for me and I haven’t heard anything. So I’ve come to find out what he’s been doing’.
Jeff said goodbye to the lady and set off down the narrow lane. After about half a mile the bushes either side the lane became increasingly overgrown, as if they were closing in on him. He thought he heard footsteps behind him however it was too dark to see if anyone was following. The trees and bushes became thicker and more oppressive, as if they were smothering him and a strange fear came over him suddenly. He began to run but stumbled on a pothole and fell down into the dank grass at the side of the lane, his hand landing in nettles. Then he saw the faces of the children as they closed in on him:
‘We were listening by the bus. We followed you’, the boy Jebbo said.
The children came closer, their froglike features intense and menacing.
‘What do you kids want?’ Jeff shouted.
‘We want you to feed the ancestor’ Jebbo said with a strange grin. Among the group of children was Nate... smiling menacingly. Something was approaching through the trees and bushes and a smell like rotten fish filled the air:
‘It’s in the trees, it’s coming......’ Jeff shouted.
...to be continued.
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Post by sparacus on Oct 2, 2021 11:21:25 GMT -5
Part 8: Ben In Danger
Ben and Julian were asleep in Ben's room in the Sea View Hostel when they heard the sound of loud voices coming from the bar. Ben stirred from his sleep and grimaced:
"Oh for pity's sake what now?"
Julian lifted his head up from Ben's smooth chest and sighed languidly:
"Can't we just pretend we haven't heard anything?"
Ben smiled and stroked Julian's hair:
"If only. No rest for Ben tonight it seems."
He rose up, quickly threw on some clothes and, still managing to look completely elegant, walked out towards the bar, followed by Julian. When he entered he was horrified to see Jeff Ardley in an agitated state being comforted by Kyle, Kath, Old Sam and Martha. Jeff was shouting:
"It was coming for me through the trees.... someone help me please...."
Old Sam handed him a large glass of Highland Black blended whiskey:
"Aye get this down yer neck lad, It'll calm yer nerves".
Jeff gulped the whisky and then noticed Ben:
"Ben, it was coming for me... is that what killed my dad? Have you found out what happened?"
Ben knelt beside him:
"*whispering* Remember to be discreet Jeff. *More loudly* So what did you see? Describe it to us?"
Jeff gulped down the rest of the whisky:
"It was like some reptilian thing... horrible fish-like eyes. Large and slimy like a giant frog and stank of rotting flesh. And there were these kids who seemed to be under its control. Is this what killed my dad?"
Ben frowned:
"I've no idea, we haven't found out what happened to him however with all that has been happening around here I do suspect that he has been brutally killed and ripped apart by that creature!."
Jeff began to shake and Old Sam handed him another glass of whisky. As he did so, the door opened and in walked the boy Nate. Jeff began to shout:
"He was one of them. It's coming, he's brought it here...."
Ben and Kyle lept up and ushered Nate outside:
"What did you do to that man? What do you know about the creature", Ben asked the boy. Nate rubbed his eyes:
"I managed to get away from it, it like had me in its power like Jebbo and the other kids. Its like got the power to reach into our minds. It needs to feed on human flesh. And breed with humans".
Ben frowned:
Just as I suspected. This is some alien entity that has been living in the sea around Staithes for some time, picking people off and impregnating the local women".
Kyle grimaced:
"Ere don't tell me the local birds would cop off with something like that?"
Ben grinned:
"No, I think that would be a tad too much even for Yorkshire lasses. No I think that this creature has the power to impregnate via some other means. I am aware of alien species that can emit spores".
Kyle grimaced again.
Meanwhile, back inside the cafe, Jeff had gone into shock and was mumbling uncontrollably. Kath had draped him in a blanket as it was a cold night, however he was shaking.
"That thing killed my dad... was coming at me, coming to kill me. Should've come up here before not tried to blackmail Ben .. I'm sorry but I just didn't know what to do.... that thing killed my dad.."
Martha frowned:
"I think we need to get you to bed".
Jeff grabbed her arm:
"Tell Ben I'm sorry I used our fling to get him to come here... that thing will come for us, we need to get away".
Julian overheard and glared at him:
"What fling? What the hell do you mean?"
Martha instructed Kath and Old Sam to get Jeff to bed in one of the rooms and then ushered Julian to the bar:
"Look, you may as well know. That guy is a gas fitter who Ben had a fling with. He then threatened to tell you about it if Ben didn't investigate his dad's disappearance."
Julian glared at her:
"No. Ben wouldn't do that, is this your idea of a joke?"
Martha shook her head:
"Oh just act your age. Of course Ben would do that. He's a man. Its what men do. I've been let down myself by them so I should know. Do you know what my last long-term boyfriend did to me? He went off with another man that's what. I was devastated at the time and disgusted. You have to be strong about it".
As Martha spoke, Ben and Kyle came back into the bar with Nate, who pointed at Martha:
"Hey its stinky breath Martha".
However no one laughed and Julian stormed out, glaring at Ben with tears in his eyes. Ben went cold:
*To Martha* "Who told him, was it you?"
Martha sighed:
"Don't blame me for this. Secrets will out".
Ben ran out into the cold night after Julian who she saw disappearing down the dimly lit lane which led down to the town. Ben ran after him:
"Hey Julian, wait please. Come on let me explain".
"**** off", Julian shouted.
Ben ran after him down the dark, dank lane, the smell of damp earth and rotting leaves all around. Suddenly he thought he heard something moving through the woods to the left of him. He stopped and smelt a foul odour like rotting flesh mixed with sea weed. Then he saw the creature step out into the road before him. Behind him stood the children..... grinning.....
........ to be continued.
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Post by sparacus on Oct 3, 2021 13:20:04 GMT -5
Part 9: Deliverance and Destiny
Ben stared in horror at the creature in front of him as it opened its mouth and let out a strange, unearthly growl, saliva dripping from its yellow fangs. It stank of the sea and rotting flesh and it seemed for a moment to be grinning at Ben. Then it began to run towards him. Ben ran back towards the menacing children, then he heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. He saw Joe Hickock behind the wheel of a land rover as it came at speed towards them. The children and Ben leapt to one side as the land rover sped past and ploughed into the creature, sending it hurtling into the air before crashing down into a tree. The creature let out a piercing shriek as it had fallen onto a partly severed branch which had pierced right through the creature, impaling it. The creature died as Joe jumped out of the land rover and spat at it:
"That's for my dad. 'E were a right bastard but 'e were my old man".
Ben got up from the bush into which he had fallen and stumbled over to Joe, shaken.
"You got here just in time. Thanks", he stated, dabbing a cut to his cheek with a tissue.
Joe put his arm around Ben:
"Its ok, its dead. Its ok now."
Ben let Joe hold him:
"Hold me, I feel safe in your strong arms", he murmured.
He moved away from Joe as he saw Julian running towards them:
"That thing, is it...."
"Yes its dead, thank God. Look Julian I just need to say how sorry I am about the Jeff business. Can we talk?"
Julian came over and hugged Ben, tears in his eyes:
"You could have been killed just then. Do you know how much I care about you?"
Later, back at old Sam's cafe, the team were discussing recent events with Paul and Corinne, who had arrived with a team from Operation Delta HQ. Kath arrived with a tray of cheese and onion cobs as Paul sipped his glass of scotch:
"We have apprehended all of the children, who seem to have gone into a state of psychological shock. That creature clearly excercised some form of mind control over them."
"'Ere what will happen to them?" Kyle asked.
Paul frowned:
"They will all be taken to our holding facility on Flat Holm Island. They may have alien DNA and we cannot allow that to spread among the population in years to come. Extensive tests will be carried out."
"Surely we can't like keep them kids locked up forever?" Kyle exclaimed.
"Hopefully not Kyle, however until we know what kind of creature we were dealing with and whether this was an isolated case we have to protect the public", Corinne stated.
Ben was at the bar, ordering more drinks when Jeff Ardley came in and approached him:
"Look Ben, I just want to apologise for dropping you in it. I was in shock. This has all been really tough". Ben sighed:
"You have caused real issues between me and Julian and this whole thing happened because you blackmailed me into coming here. It was utterly lowbrow and awful to abuse our brief relationship in that way. However my team have offered to continue to look for your dad and several other people who have vanished in this town recently. That creature has undoubtedly killed many times."
Jeff patted Ben on the shoulder:
"I'm sorry mate, I had to help my dad. Sorry."
The next morning, the sun was bright and the autumn air was refreshing and cool. Ben, Julian, Kyle and Martha enjoyed a final walk around Staithes before heading to Tubby Isaac's cafe for breakfast and coffee. Paul, Corinne and the Operation Delta team had left earlier with the children and the corpse of the creature, which was to be taken to the laboratory for analysis.
They say down on one of the tables outside the cafe and Julian saw Isaac emerge from the doorway:
"Hey Isaac. Come over here you fat bastard and take our order, I'm starving."
Isaac walked over frowning:
"Aye I'd rather you didn't call me a fat bastard outside my own cafe lad".
"Ok, we can move inside if you prefer me to call you a fat bastard indoors".
Martha thwacked Julian round the head:
"Don't be so damn childish, you're showing us up. Just because you're hurt at what Ben did to you".
Ben was annoyed:
"Martha I am trying to put things right with Julian and I really don't need you exacerbating it by hitting him".
Kyle tried so change the subject:
"So what will 'appen to that kid, Nate Wood?" Ben shrugged:
"Well he's disappeared. When he's caught he'll have to go back to Flat Holm Island for more tests. He's not like those other kids, not part-alien. However he does have strange abilities. Jake thinks he may be an evolutionary leap, a sort of homo-superior, the next stage in human evolution."
As Ben spoke he saw Joe Hickock walking up the hill towards them, with the boy, Nate. Ben got up and went to him:
"Hey, we were just talking about him", Ben said laughing.
"Aye I found the little fella hanging around on the beach. Thought he should be back with you."
Ben gazed into Joe's strong eyes.
"Look Joe, I'm really going to miss you. We're leaving here later today. Why don't you come with us to Cambridge? There's nothing much for you here."
Joe looked at him sadly:
"Sorry Ben, there's Jim to look after and I need to sort out dad's affairs. But keep in touch, yeah?"
Ben sighed:
"You bet I will. "
......................THE END
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