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.

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Chapter 25: Escape

"What's that?" said Bill, stumbling into something in the dusty, dark tunnel. Jack put his arm out and touched something cold and smooth.

"Of course," he shouted. "It's a train. We're in the train tunnel. We can use this to get us to the hangar and get out that way."

The three of them felt their way along the side of the train and found the cab. They jumped up onto the footplate.

"Wilson, do you know how to run this thing?" asked Bill, feeling around for the controls. But Wilson didn't.

"I do," said Jack, his hand finding the throttle. "Bill, feel down there for a lever; it's the brake. Lift it and then push it down." Bill found the lever and did as Jack instructed. Jack found the power switch and pushed down on the lever and the train moved back up the tunnel towards the hangar. He then pushed down further on the lever. His hand brushed over another switch that Jack remembered should work the lights. He threw the switch and a bright floodlight shone out in front of the train.

Bill and Peter hung on as the train hurtled through the tunnel, the rocky roof just inches from their heads. They felt another explosion as the train continued on through the winding tunnel.

Jack had no idea how far the hangar was and kept a constant look out for the side tunnel they had used before. He pushed down on the lever as far as he dared, again hoping there wouldn't be another train on the single track. The tunnel widened and Jack realised they had come to a passing place. He slowed the train, scared that it might derail on the points. But no, it kept going, the wheels sparking as it crossed.

Back on the single track, Jack pressed on the lever as much as he dared. As they passed the tunnel that led up to the lamp on top of the hill, Jack nudged Bill and pointed it out to him. Bill nodded in the reflected light of the train engine. The train hurtled on and Jack began to feel better.

Suddenly a huge explosion somewhere in a distant tunnel rocked the train. The engine's headlight went out and the train coasted to a halt.

Bill cursed below his breath. "The power has been cut off, I'm afraid. That last explosion must have damaged the generator. We'll have to run."

In the pitch dark, Jack, Bill and Peter Wilson felt their way off the train and started to run as fast as they could up the tunnel. It really was difficult as none of them could see a thing. Jack kept one hand on the wall, the other on Bill's shoulder. Peter Wilson had a hand on Jack's shoulder and the other on the wall. In this way they made their way up the tunnel.

"It's not too far," said Jack to Bill. "At least I don't remember it being very far."

Another explosion shook the tunnel and a few small rocks could be heard falling in the tunnel behind them.

Bill's foot hit something. "What's this?" he said, bending down and picking up a small object. "It's a torch!" He tried the switch and a welcoming light shone out. "It works," said Bill in surprise.

"Bill, I bet that's Philip's torch," said Jack. "He dropped it when we were on the train last time. Well, I'm glad he lost his torch – now we can move faster."

They really did make better time after that, and soon found themselves in the hangar cave. Bill switched off the torch and the three of them stood silently, listening. But there didn't seem to be anybody in the cave.

"Bill, the cave doors are over there," said Jack. "Philip says there's a little door set in the big one, that leads to a space between the doors and the rocky wall, which must open somehow. Once we're in there, he said there's a small tunnel that you can crawl through and it takes you outside."

Bill nodded. "Let's keep close to the cave walls just in case," he whispered to Jack and the scientist.

Jack and Peter Wilson nodded in the darkness. "Okay Bill, you lead," said Peter.

Bill led them around the cave wall. Just as they left the train tunnel, a huge explosion threw them off their feet. Jack found himself sprawling on the cave floor. He could hear the thunderous roar of rocks pouring down in the train tunnel. Dust swirled around him.

He coughed and heard Bill's anxious voice. "Jack, Peter, are you all right?" Bill had switched the torch on.

"I think I'm fine," said Jack, testing his ankle. "What about Dr. Wilson?"

Peter Wilson had been knocked down by the force of the blast. Jack and Bill helped him to his feet. The old man was a little shaky so Jack helped him to limp across the cave floor. Bill shone the torch on the train tunnel. It was gone. Large boulders had fallen in, completely blocking the tunnel entrance. Jack suddenly felt weak. A couple of minutes earlier and they would have been in that tunnel! He looked at the roof of the cave, half expecting it to come tumbling down on him.

"Come on," said Bill, recovering first. "Let's get out of here." He shone the light in front and they made their way to the big doors and the remains of a burnt-out aircraft. Bill's torch soon picked out the little door and, one by one, they crawled through into the space between the door and the rock. Then they made their way through the small tunnel and into the night air.

Jack gulped in huge breaths of the sweet fresh air. He could not remember being so glad to see the stars and the moon in his life. The three of them made their way through the tall grass and onto the airstrip. Jack heard a rustle in the trees and nudged Bill. To his intense relief he heard Philip's voice calling his name and Bill's. Philip ran over to them.

"I say," said Philip, out of breath. "I'm so glad to see you. I was really worried when I heard those explosions."

"Philip," said Bill. "I'm glad to see you too. Are you all right? And could you really hear those explosions? My word, they really are blowing up the island."

"The island will blow when Big Bertha goes off," said Peter grimly.

"You mean that last explosion wasn't Bertha?" asked Jack.

"Oh no," said Peter. "You'll know when Big Bertha blows. It'll be like an explosion you've never heard or want to hear again."

Bill looked at his watch. "Still another thirty minutes until the paratroopers arrive. Do we have time to wait for them?" Bill looked at the old scientist, who thought for a moment then shook his head. "In that case," said Bill, "we have to get off the island. Philip, where's Wainwright?"

"Oh, Bill," said Philip in distress, "some of the gang came out of the hangar, and captured Wainwright. I was hiding in the trees so they didn't see me. There were too many of them and I couldn't do anything. They tied him up and put him on an aeroplane. The men all got into the aeroplanes and then they flew off. They didn't fly off in your aeroplane though, Bill, because they couldn't get the engine started."

"Blow," said Bill, annoyed. "They must have been tipped off. How else would Arnold have known to set Big Bertha to go early. Now, how are we going to get off this island?"

Continues tomorrow...

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