The Aeroplane of Adventure

©2009 David Marlor

This novel is based on the characters created by Enid Bylton in the Adventure Series. In this regard, it is the ninth adventure and follows The River of Adventure.

Back | Index | Next

Chapter 24: The Rescue

While Philip was having his adventure, what had happened to Jack? The boy had shown one of the MI6 agents how to open the underground entrance. The men all stood around with their guns drawn and ready as the water level dropped. Then came the familiar grinding noise as the cave wall opened before them. Then, silently, the metal conveyor belt skimmed across the bottom of the pool and into the salt lagoon.

Bill was most impressed with the operation. "No wonder we never spotted this entrance," he said to Mike. "The water would continually cover any marks or tracks left by the gang. It's very clever." Mike nodded in agreement. He too was very impressed with this operation.

"Jack," cautioned Bill. "Stay back and let these men make sure it is safe before we enter." Jack nodded and obediently stayed out of the way. The MI6 agents entered the cave cautiously. Seeing nothing of concern, they beckoned to Bill and Jack. In the cave, Jack pointed out the stores to Bill. One of the MI6 agents examined them.

"It all checks out," the agent reported to Bill. "No doubt about it that this is the stuff stolen from the Harmington Facility. There's also some stuff that looks like it's from the Americans. They reported some missing a few months ago."

"Jack, where is that passage?" asked one of the men who had been exploring with the aid of a map he had drawn based on Jack and Philip's description.

Jack showed him. "It's flooded," he said puzzled. "That's strange, I felt sure it would open with the lever outside."

"Nothing for it but to swim," said Bill. The MI6 men each waded into the water after waterproofing their guns. Jack and Bill stripped off again and put their clothes into the water proof bag. With a deep breath, Jack and Bill followed the MI6 men through the flooded tunnel and emerged in the large cave. But this time the floodlights were on and the MI6 men were already in a battle with members of the gang.

"Jack, get down, over here," said Bill and pointed to a rock. Jack crouched behind as he watched the M16 men round up the gang members. Jack shivered and remembered his clothes. He reached into the bag and got dressed as he watched the action from behind the rocks. Bill did the same. Jack counted the gang members. There were ten men. Jack looked towards the lake in the cave. There were no submarines. Good. That means the gang wouldn't be able to escape that way.

The gang had been taken by surprise and the MI6 men soon had them tied up. Bill and Jack were just going to get out from behind the rock when each of them felt a strong hand grab them from behind and cover their mouths. Bill tried to yelled, but felt his arm being twisted behind his back painfully. Jack kicked out and received the same treatment. Soon, both Bill and Jack were tied up and gagged. Two strong men pulled them to their feet and walked them out of the cave by a passage that Jack didn't recognise. Really, this island was full of underground tunnels!

Bill and Jack were marched some distance into the hill. They stopped outside a stout metal door that was unlocked by one of their unseen captors. Roughly, the men pushed Jack and Bill into the room and slammed the door shut. Jack and Bill looked around them in surprise. A lamp hung from the ceiling, giving off a dim light. Sitting in the corner, also tied up and gagged, was the scientist Peter Wilson. His eyes were wide with surprise and he tried to speak through the gag, but ended up making a low moaning sound.

Bill nodded and gestured to make it clear that he wanted Jack to reach into his pocket. Jack finally realised what he was trying to say and, with his back to Bill, pushed his two free fingers into Bill's back pocket. Jack wiggled his fingers and touched a small knife. He soon fished it out of Bill's pocket. It fell to the floor. Bill let himself fall to the floor and managed to grab the knife. His two free fingers searched for the button that opened the knife. There! It opened with a click.

Bill sat up and silently began working at Jack's rope with his knife.

There came a noise at the door. Bill quickly stopped what he was doing and sat quietly. A man entered the room. He was rather large and somewhat sweaty, and was wearing a white suit that was too small for him. Jack recognised him – it was the man that the gang members had called Mr. Arnold.

"Mr. Wilson," said Mr. Arnold in a refined British accent. "I'm am terribly disappointed in you." He turned his fat puffy face towards Bill. "And Detective Inspector Cunningham. Well, this is a pleasure. Sorry, what did you say? Oh, it is a pity you have a nasty gag in your mouth. Here, let me help you." The fat man reached out a sweaty hand and crudely yanked Bill's gag off.

Bill spluttered, his mouth dry from the gag. "Arnold. I should have known you'd be behind all this. Now, untie us and let us out."

Mr. Arnold laughed a nasty laugh that reverberated around the small, stuffy cave. Jack shuddered.

"Let you out?" said Arnold, laughing as if Bill had told him a good joke. "No, no, Mr. Cunningham. You're not leaving. None of you are! I can't afford to let you out now."

"You won't get away with this, Arnold," shouted Bill. "His Majesty's paratroopers are on their way, and they'll find us, and then we'll find you."

"Oh no you won't, Cunningham." Mr. Arnold's voice had turned to a sneer. "Oh no you won't. You see, I'm going to launch Big Bertha early." He checked his watch. "In twenty minutes, to be exact. Once Bertha has launched, I will no longer have any use for this island, so I'm going to blow it up." He finished with a light air as if blowing up an island was like going for a walk in the park. Jack felt a lump in his throat. Blow up the island? No, he wouldn't do that, would he?

Bill forced a laugh. "Do your worse, Arnold. You won't get away with it. But take the boy with you. He's only young. Leave me if you like, but take the boy off the island."

"Sorry, Cunningham, but your time is up." He turned to go, but then stopped. "You were getting too powerful in the police force, Cunningham, and you too, Wilson – well, as far as the world is concerned, you're already dead. I'm sorry about the boy, but it can't be helped." With that Arnold stepped out of the room and locked the door behind him.

Bill set to work once more on Jack's ropes and soon had him free. Jack pulled his gag off and rubbed his sore wrists, and then untied Bill. The knots were really tight, but Jack managed. As Bill rubbed his wrists and set to work on the door, Jack went over to untie Peter Wilson. Soon Peter was free and had pulled his gag off.

"Wilson, am I glad to see you," said Bill. "Can Arnold really launch Bertha early and blow up this island?"

Peter Wilson nodded soberly. "Yes, I designed the mines and the launch mechanism for Bertha. But if we're quick, I can probably stop Bertha from going. Although," he added, "I think it's too late to do anything about the mines."

Bill worked fast on the lock with his multipurpose knife. After a few more twists, the door lock clicked. Bill pushed it open cautiously in case anybody was left to guard the door. But there was nobody there.

Bill looked at his watch – ten minutes to launch. "Which way?" he asked Wilson.

"This way," said the old scientist, pushing past Bill in a panic and setting off to the left. Bill and Jack followed the scientist along the dark tunnels, occasionally bumping their heads on the rough roof.

Peter Wilson knew the tunnels well and after five minutes led them into the room in which Big Bertha was sitting. The room was in darkness, except for an eerie glow that was coming from Big Bertha herself.

The scientist ran over to a console and started fiddling with switches. Bill ran over to help him. Jack watched, wondering if they really could stop Big Bertha from launching. He looked over at it. More steam than ever was coming from the bottom of it and, as the countdown clock moved closer to zero, Jack could feel a rumble increasing in the hill. He looked up and saw the whole roof, hundreds of feet above, starting to open up.

Peter Wilson threw a switch and exclaimed in triumph. "We've done it. We've done it!" he yelled. Jack felt a sudden surge of relief. Suddenly Peter yelled, "No! No!" Jack's heart skipped a beat.

"What?" asked Bill. "What's wrong?"

"We've gotta get out of here," said the old scientist in a panic. "That Arnold, he's done something, but I don't know what. I've only stopped the launch, but the missile is now on another countdown. It's going to blow."

"Come on, let's go," yelled Bill. "Now!" He grabbed at Jack and Peter and half pulled them at a run into the tunnel. Jack stumbled, his head bumping the roof of the tunnel and his arms getting scratched on the rocky sides.

They ran and ran until Jack was completely out of breath. Jack could see the lights of the large cave tunnel with the submarine lake when the first explosion shook the rocky tunnel. A shower of dust settled on them. Was that –?

"That wasn't Big Bertha," said the scientist reading Bill and Jack's thoughts. "It must be the mines Arnold talked about."

Another explosion rocked them, and this time the lights in the cave went out and Jack felt a cold rush of wind and then the thudding and clattering of rocks falling.

"Bill, Bill," said Jack pulling on Bill's arm. "We have to go back. The cave's been blown up."

Bill saw that Jack was right. But they would never make it back now. Time had run out!

Continues tomorrow...

Back | Index | Next