Post by dandare on Apr 4, 2017 7:08:47 GMT
Thanks to the efforts of Calum, we now have a fairly complete narrative:-
So, were are back to the world of 1920s/30s adventure!
Freshly returned from the Carribbean (Biggles Flies West), our heroes (I'll let them introduce themselves), are approached by Count Stanhauser to form an airforce in Maltovia (a small balkan country), which is being threatened by their northern Neighbour, Lovitzna (backed by the Bolos). Mulling this over, the lads are threatened by a Lovitznan diplomat, which makes up their mind for them!
So far our Biggles adventures have included:-
The Cruise of the Condor
Biggles, Charter Pilot (part)
Excerpts from the real life exploits of Colonel Percy Bailey, Captain Noel Major MacDonell and others in Transcaucasia.
Biggles flies South
Biggles, Foreign Legionaire (bits)
Biggles Flies West
91 books to go.........
Chapter 1: "A knife in the dark"
Our motley crew decide to take up Count Stanhauser's offer, and there follows 2 weeks of frenzied preparation and flying training. Except for Ken's character, who mysteriously disappears...........
a Snipe and 2 Bristol fighters are purchased, and arrangements made for fuel and spares to be ready in Maltovia. Since the flight cannot be done in one hop, refuelling arrangements are made in Weisheim, halfway to the destination.
The team get news from Count Stanhauser that the Lovitznans have penetrated the communications network, and assassinated the commander of the Maltovian army.
This leads to a rethink, and Von WIddler and Ken are sent off by train to Weisheim to arrange for an alternative refuelling stop. Sadly, they fail to notice the Lovitznan spy tailing them onto the boat train at Victoria Station. Things go well until they cross the German frontier, when the Lovitznan makes his move. Our heroes are ushered off at (silenced) gunpoint. Von W tries to pull the communication cord and misses, but the spy's shot does not, hitting him in the wooden leg. Ken bravely punches the spy, taking a couple of flesh wounds in the process (and riding his luck!). Von W bravely runs away, heading for the guards van to retrieve weapons from the luggage. Sadly for him, the Guard has been heavily bribed by the Lovitznan, and hits Von W with a shovel. As he lies whining on the floor, Von W lashes out with his good leg, hitting the Guard on the chin and breaking his neck. OOps....
Meanwhile Ken's character manages to overpower the spy, using his penknife.
The train has half an hour left before it arrives in Vienna, where the Guard will be missed......... Rolling Eyes
Alarums and (train) excursions.......
Von W is a bit slow getting the guard's trousers off, and has to dump the body in the sidings outside Vienna Central. Meanwhile McClusky hide sthe unconcious spy under a seat in their compartment Rolling Eyes . While our heroes manage to get on the Weisheim train without trouble , it is not long before they are aware of Police activity. The train they are on is stopped at a country staion, and the dynamic duo have to leg it into the woods (hop, in the case of Von W). Despairing of reaching the rendezvous in time, Laurel and Hardy try to steal bicycles from a village police station. McC shoots the chains off with the silenced Luger, but th esecons shot ricochets and makes a huge noise. Von W tries to blame McC when the Politzei sticks his head out of the window. Cue frantic pedalling. With relief the Pandemonium Pair sneak across the frontier and set up the refuelling with Tubby Fanshawe.
Meanwhile, back in Blighty, the gang is joined by Wally Fartnocker, Customs Officer. Receiving a telegram from Weisheim, the team take to the air, and arrive over the rendezvous as night is falling. A flare is fired from the ground, and Mick Adair is about to land, when our Polish friend spots wires stretched across the landing ground. It is only then that Von W and sidekick remember to fire their flare! Landing in the right field this time, with only minor damage , the pary is reunited, and start refuelling. There is a short interlude as 2 carloads of thugs arrive to interrupt, and are promptly mown down with concentrated Lewis gun fire. McC tried to shoot them from a cunning ambush position , but omitted to notice that he fired the last 2 bullets severing bicycle locks..........
As dawn breaks our intrepid heroes take off and head for Maltovia. As they cross the frontier, they become aware of 5 specks high above them. These resolve themselves into Lovitznan planes. In the ensuing dogfight, Adair shoots down the enemy leader, and the others manage to drive off the rest, but not before one of the Bristol Fighters has its rudder shot off.......
and it's the overloaded one as well......
Up the Garden Path......
A comparitively quiet episode. Wadislav manages to get the shot up Bristol down in a field safely , while the others carry on to Janovica. They are met by a reception comittee heade by General Bethstein who is not happy at them shooting down a Lovitznan plane. A nicer welcome is extended by Ludwig Stanhauser, who helps the lads out with a squad of Royal Gards to move the stores and ammo to the shelter of the woods. In the meantime the downed Bristol has been repaired.
The chums settle in at the Hotel Stadplatz, and are visited by Princess Mariana, who has to hide in a cupboard when general Bethstein and his sinister aide, Menkhoff appear. There follows a heated discussion between Adair and bethstein over who commands the Maltovian Airforce.
Returning to the airfield in the evening, the gang spot a shadowy figure in the act of setting fire to the marquee which had been supplied by General Bethstein. A volley of shots ring out on both sides, and the arsonist falls to the ground. This transpires to be Menkhoff, bleeding to death. Meanwhile Von W's wooden leg goes on fire as e tries to put the tent out.
Horatio McC takes the initiative by stuffing Menkhoff's body in his car and hiding the whole caboodle up an apparently disused drive a mile or so beyond the airfield, while the others deal with the anguished locals.
Shortly after this, General Bethstein's car passes, with him in the back with a face like fizz.
The team explain the events to Ludwig, and are horrified to learn that the disused drive, with the body, is part of Bethstein's hunting lodge........
I might also note that the gang have spotted the cover illustration , which depicts Biggles and Algy in front of a Maltovian firing squad. This seems to be worrying them
A shot in the dark...........
Mick decides to fly a recce mission in the dark to see if the Lovitznans are massing troops at the bridge (which does not seem to be the case), and on his return is greeted with a burst of machine gun fire from von W ,nervous and trigger happy.
Up again on a dawn patrol, the crew manage to force down and capture Lovitznan bomber, and then use it to demolish the bridge over the Neiper.
On returning, they are given the startling new that Count Stanhauser has been kidnapped by the Lovitznans, ans is being held in an Hotel in the capital, Shavos. Undaunted, our intrepid heroes prepare a rescue mission- dressed as peasants, they fly to a field near the enemy capital and use motor bikes for the rest of the trip. Von W takes the opportunity to dress up as a woman. Again. Surprised
Leaving Mick outside to steal a car, the gang bluff their way into the Hotel , and burst into the room where Stanhauser is being held.
Meanwhile, outside, something is happening.................. Shocked Wink
Falling at the first hurdle..........
a brief burst of gunfire settles the Lovitznan's hash, but alerts the police. This has unfortunate consequences outside, where Adair, in the snow, is holding up a chauffeur. Unwisely, he looses off a round to hurry the driver along , and so comes under fire from the police in door duty. He quickly drives round the corner, and parks under the window of the room that Count Stanhauser is being held in.
Meanwhile upstairs, the lads are trapped in the room by police gunfire, and have to use a rope to escape out of the window. Two of them managed to fall into the car, destroying it in the process. Adair guns the throttle, and skids off through the dark, pursued by a pair of motorcycle police. Von W shoots one (this third policeman of the night) and the other crashes. An hour later they discover that they have gone the wrong way and have to retrace their steps. Coming across a checkpoint, Adair rams the obstacle, destroying the car. The party have to flee on foot into a nearby house, pursued by a squad of soldiers. Escaping out the back door, Mick Adair tries to leap the gate, and fails by a large margin, catching himself squarely in the knackers. Disabled, he bravely holds the gate while the others leg it down a lane and into an unoccupied large house . Adair hops after them, having taken a bullet in the leg for his pains. Luckily there is an old Model T in the garage , so the gang set off in this. Arriving at the checkpoint again, now guarded by a scared recruit, our heroes force him to clear the road. Von W thanks him politely, then shoots him as they leave.............
Arriving at the landing ground in heavy snow, and finding that the plane has gone, the Brains Trust decide to make a bulldozer out of the Model T, using the boot lid. This works at the second attempt, but the wheels just spin........
Deaspairing of this the gang set out for the river, but the car packs in spectacularly, so they have to hoof it. But, oops, somebody blew up the bridge Embarassed . The lads make it to an abandoned timber mill where they cobble together a raft, just in time. Traipsing through the snow on the south bank, they are shot up by a Lovitznan fighter, but MacLusky puts a bullet through it's engine and it flies off , trailing smoke.
Backs to the wall.........
Our heroes return to Janovica, however they are not treated to the welcome they feel they deserve. The group is joined by a refugee German chemist, Claus Von Stauffenberg, on the run from the Roumanian Police (I'll let him tell you why!). Early next morning the gang are awakened by the arival of General Bethstein and a lorryload of troops, intent on arresting them. Wadislav, Von Stauffeberg, Wilson and Fartknocker escape out the back of the hotel, but Adiar tries to shoot it out, but is knocked out by a grenade (Fate point!). Von W surrenders as quickly as he can, despite MacLuskey putting up a fight (he managed to chuck the grenade back out of the window). The others manage to sneak away- Von S having made some molotovs out of slivovitz (sadly the birds had flown before they were ready).
Adair, MacLuskey and Von W are put before a military tribunal , Headed by General Bethstein- with predictable results- yes Von W tried to squeal on his mates! Sentence- Firing squad! Shocked
Meanwhile the others have gone to Bethstein's Hunting Lodge, and got hold of incriminating evidence that shows he is in the pay of the Lovitznans.
Hearing from Ludwig that the others are to be shot, the lads take off in the 2 Bristols, in a desperate race against time. The planes arrive just as the firing party are raising their rifles, and scatter them with MG fire. Von S manages to hit Bethstein with his Molotovs, spoiling his afternoon permanently.... Von S also manages to knock down the prison wall with 20lb Cooper bombs, and Von W, Adair and MacLuskie escape to a heroes welcome! The Lovitznan threat collapses in the face of the loss of Bethstein.......
The highlight is the presentation of the Maltovian Order of the Purple Pigeon to all of our gallant band, in a lavish cermony in the Royal Palace.
As a more tangible expression of gratitude, the Maltovians present the captured bomber to the team. This is handy, as Von S has persuaded the boys to go off on a jaunt to China...........
Next episode:- Adair "Hits the Trail"!
Not firing on all cylinders..........
Having established a base at Lhasa, our intrepid heroes set off north across Tibet, in search of the mysterious "Mountain of Light", which Von Stauffenberg has been wittering about. As they approach a range of mountaings, Adair (finally) notices that the revs are falling on all 3 engines. The compass has started spinning, just like his brain. The plane cannot maintain altitude, and so a landing is made. All surplus gear is unloaded and they take off for a test flight.Every time they fly towards the mountains the revs drop so there is nothing for it but to proceed on foot. Adair suggests returning to Lhasa for a mule train, despite triangulation suggesting that the objective is about 5 miles away.
A camp is set up, and Von S and McCluskey set off for water. By the stream McCluskey finds a bloated and very dead Centipede/maggot, which has a load of viscious teeth. This horror is about a foot long, and McC cannot resist poking it with a knife. Naturally it bursts, spraying a foul reddish ichor and releasing a hideous stench . There follows a bout of throwing up by the more delicate members of the party (yes, Von Widdler).
The next morning the party set off on foot, and eventually find a narrow boulder strewn gorge. Eventually they stumble accross a skeleton, then several more. The also notice that it is very difficult to move, and their bootsa are giving off blue sparks. Oddly, Von Widdler is unaffected, and to his horror finds himself isolated at the front. At this point he notices a flickering shadow in front of him. Ignoring this he continues to advance, until he is stabbed in the (wooden) leg. Lashing out, there is a sound like breaking glass, and eventually the body of a dead naked Chinaman becomes visible. Von Widdler runs away....
It becomes apparent that Von Widdler is wearing rubber soled boots, so he heads back to the camp to get the rubber groundsheets ..
Meanwile, a swarm of centipeded is advancing towards the rest of them, most of them manage to edge backwards, but McCluskey is rooted to the spot. It halts as it reaches the Chinaman, but after an interval begins to advance again..........
The dambusters.........
McCluskey is getting his toes nibbled when the centipededes mysteriously stop . Then the party notice a man on the cliff ahead of them shouting in English and apparently fighting thin air.Adair takes a snap shot, and another invisible Chinaman cops his whack. The mystery Scotsman shout to them to come up and help, so the gang plough through the centipdedes, and up a tunnel lined with mysterious electrical gear. Emerging onto a plateau, our heroes disperse the chungs who are attacking the Mystery Scotsman. He then blocks the doors, keeping the Chungs out , but trapping everyone in the process.
The man introduces himself as Angus MacAllister , and recounts a tale of how how he was kidnapped to build the machinery for the Chungs, so that they could conquer the world using paralysing ray guns and invisibility. He also reveals that there is a huge dam at the end of the gorge, and that he will be dead by tomorrow- the Chungs having injected him with a drug.
Osmond Bates climbs down the cliff and returns with the plane, landing under fire from ray guns, one of which punches a hole in the plane. They then fly off to the dam, where Adair and Wilson parachute down to the dam, where they use explosives to push a huge pinnacle of rock into the water, breaking the dam.
The others fly off to the camp, where they observe a flood laden with Chungs and centipedes. Meanwhile Adair and Wilson are picking their way back along the path, when they hear voices..........
A spanner in the works.........
The voices turn out to be the Chungs from the ray gun party, making their way down to the valley. Our intrepid heroes follow them as far as a narrow rock bridge over a chasm, where Adair's trousers become damp with terror, Wilson however strides across without trouble. Eventually Adair crawls across, leaving a damp trail like a slug.
Meanwhile, the others have made their way up the boulder and corpse strewn gorge.
Adair and Wilson split up, wilson to go down and fetch the others while the gallant, and damp trousered, one keeps an eyeon the Chungs.
As Wilson enters the gorge, he is confronted by a giant Chinaman weilding a huge spanner. This is a bad moment for Wilson's Webley to break....
The situation is stabilised by the timely arrival of the rest of the party, and a well aimed burst of Machine gun fire from Von Widdler, firing a Lewis from the hip. How he missed Wilson is a mystery..........
Pausing only to recover a few lumps of the glowing blue mineral, the party return to the aircraft ....
"When the pin is pulled, Mr Grenade is not your friend"
As the party emerge from the gorge some hours later, they discover that the plane has been surrounded by Chinese cavalry. In the distance is a column of infantry and an armoured car.
MG fire and sniping scatter the cavalry, although a return shot nearly ends Von Stauffenberg's career. The armoured car ( a twin turreted Austin) has by now arrived and is firing at the plane. Wilson and Von Widdler run forward and throw Mills Bombs at the vehicle. Wilson's bomb rolls under the car and explodes, causing the occupants to bail out. Von Widdler's bomb bounces off a rock and rolls under the tail of the aircraft............
The party hurriedly load their possessions onto the armoured car,and after spraying the Chinese with fire to keep them busy , set off for civilisation.
Eventually the come across a walled village, guarded buy more of the Warlord Chinese. The gates are opened (after all it is their armoured car!) , and an officer strides forward shouting in Chinese. In an understandable error, the turret gunners mow him down, presumably thinking that the Hotchkiss MGs are universal translators..........
...Is that petrol I smell?
AND Ninja McCluskey!
McCluskey, pulls teh gate fully open , and Adiar guns the carinto an open market square, scattering locals in all directions. There is only one narrow street which they drive down , occasional bullets bouncing off their armour. Finally, they reach a corner and emerge into another opern area , opposite the Warlord's "citadel" (3 storey, with a wall). Sadly, there is no way accross the ditch barring their route, the footbridge is too narrow. An hmg opens up from the roof of the citadel, so Adair backs up, quite successfully, until they reach a barricade of overturned carts etc, which the chinese have set up. They are taking heavy fire from the barricade, which is doing no damage, when they notice a strong petroly sort of aroma......
......maybe that would be the spare petrol stored on the back of the Austin? Adair is gutted, as he was just about to start throwing Molotovs about........
McCluskey, Jakey and the Pole bale out into the nearest building, and in due course come out behind the barricade, just in time to scatter a Chinese assault party, gearing up to attack the armoured car with grenades. A few moments suffice to drag the carts away and the party retires to a wood about a mile from the town to take stock. Much of the spare petrol has been lost, making stealing some more a priority.
Eventually, it is decided to sneak into the other side of the village, nerer the warlord's citadel. MCCluskey, sneaks forward "like a leaf on the wind", takes careful aim, and jams the silenced Luger. He has to return to the party "like a leaf on the wind", for Jakey to fix it. Back to the firing position again, "like a leaf on the wind", This time his aim is true and the 2 guards are disposed of, "like a leaf on the wind". Th gang scale the wall, the only incident of note being McC falling and getting his foot stuck in a bucket, "like a leaf on the wind". The party sneak along the wall and enter the citadel. At this point, the team think it is a good idea to have a leadership debate. Adiar goe in the huff......McC goes up to the roof- you've guessed it, "like a leaf on the wind", and shoots the two machine gunners. Adair and Von Widdler fire shots in the air, to alert the garrison, presumably. Jakey has to be dissuaded from trying to lug the 150lbs of water cooled Maxim around.........
Next, the gang investigate the 2nd floor room, finding it is the Warlord's bedroom, containing one very irate warlord's mistress........
Going to Hell on a handcart............
MacLuskey manages to subdue the concubine and ties her up. The party then decend to the next froor and break into the Warlord's office, finding a gun cabinet, which gets looted, and a strongbox concealed in a Ming Dynasty desk (reduced to firewood Shocked ). Proceeding down to ground level, a gunfight ensues, in which Jakey has a narrow escape from a Chinese cook with a meat cleaver.
Von S locates the petrol store, plus a handcart. Adair, Macluskey and Von S head off to the Austin with this, while Jakey and Von W climb up to the Maxim on the roof and deter pursuit. They are thus engaged when Ly Chee , the concubine , who has slipped her bonds, wallops Jakey over the head with a bottle. No damage ensues, due to the thickness of his skull.........
Von W is un-nerved by this (failed his cool) and decides to make a rope from his belt and braces to effect an escape from the roof.
Kung Fu Fightin'........
Ly Chi starts to lay about her with a number of well aimed kicks at Jakey and Von Widdler. McLuskey tries to give covering fire, but puts the bullets in the Hotchkiss the wring way. Adair decides to be of more practical use and searches for a rope and a hook. The first throw misses the parapet, but catches Von W a fourpenny one on the back of the Pickelhaube. The second throw is better and our Teutonic hero uses his trousers to slide down the rope towards safety. Sadly, the trousers, rotted by years of incontinence, give way and Von W plummets groundwards, rendering him more helpless than usual. Meanwhile Jakey, left to fight Ly Chi on his own, also make a dash for the rope. He is descending safely when the inventive concubine unfastens the hook........ Being made of stern stuff he bounces. The waifs and strays are all gathered in, and the Austin drives off into the sunset.
The new challenge is to get medical attention for the very dazed Widdler. This is handled adeptly at the next village by Adair's sign language and some Maria Theresa silver Dollars from the strongbox that was ripped from the Ming desk.
There then follows an epic trip through the mountains, including rafting and near death experiences with precipices and water buffalo, before the gang arrive at the railhead, and negotiate transport to Lanchaow........
Death Train......
The rail journey starts peacefully enough, whith splendid views of the scenery, however the tourist bit is rudely interrupted by the train screeching to a halt in a cloud of steam. Shots are heard when the driver disappears into the cloud of steam. Then a crowd of armed bandits appear at the head of the train, kill the driver's assistant and start to loot the first carriage (the passengers having fled).
Von S climbs onto the train roof, followed by McClusky (the whistling Ninja), and sneaks along the roof. He then lobs 2 grenades into the carriage and runs back, only to collide with McC. Both fall off, and Von S is immediately shot in the leg. Adair tries to give covering fire , but achieves the impossible and jams his Lee Enfield. Von W looks out of the other side of the train and opens fire on the bandits on that side, however the return fire wings him and he ducks bak. Jakey meanwhile is climbing onto the roof with the Lewis. Von S rolls under the train, while McC retires shooting his Webley. Von W makes a break for safety in the armoured car, chained to a flatcar at the rear of the train, an dlocks himself in.
All ends well , however, as Jakey methodically mows down the bandits with the Lewis, his cheeky homicidal grin playing on his lips.
There is a minor crisis when it is discovered in the aftermath that the first carriage is on fire- a result of the grenades, however Adir beats it out with a bloodied corpse.
McC quickly works out how to drive the train- much to everyone's astonishment. He is particularly good at whistling......
A couple of minor incidenst do not trouble our heroes too much, and in Lanchaow they are able to arrange a more comfortable trip to Shanghai. the sell their Austin to the International Volunteers, in return for passage to Singapore on the SS Griselda.
Next Episode: Aboard the Coffin Ship......
All at sea.......
As the Griselda chuggs it's way asthmatically down the Yangtse and into the South China Sea, the gang are disturbed to note the lack of basic safety equipment- like lifeboats. The trip proves to be uneventful for a whole week, other than McClusky's trip to see the golden rivet. Outbreak of outraged whistling.
Too good to last, as the lowering skies and greasy swell turn into a howling typhoon. The Griselda is forced to run before the wind. Adair takes to the bridge to take over the helm.This proves to be a titanic struggle, and soon a low atoll is sighted to windward. Strenous efforts, including repairing the rudder chain prove to no avail, and the Griselda is impaled on an outlying pinnacle of rock. Von Widdler takes this opportunity for an early bath. Adair leaps into the waves to save him and is promptly swept away. Eventually he and Von W are dragged back aboard.
It is at this point that the lads notice that the crew have abandoned ship, and have taken to rafts. Our heros bed down for the night, after releasing the steam from the boiler- loud hissing noise, although that could have been McCluskey...
The next morning Adair swims to the atoll, the storm having died out, and they set up a pope and pulley system to transfer gear. They set off towards the main part of the island, where palm trees are visible (cue Robinson Crusoe music), they have not gone far when they are attacked by a giant octopus. Things look dicey for a while- McCluskey is dragged in and Adair has a close shave. Finally settles thing with some well directed fire from the Lewis- everybody else's guns having jammed- perhaps seawater had affected them. At this point, attracted by octopus blood, frantic splashing and muffled whistling from McCluskey, two reef sharks arrive, narrowly missing reducing the whistling ninja's stock of appendages. A couple of .45s from Adair finish them off.
The higher part of the atoll proves quite comfortable, and the gang settle into a routine of watching for ships and raft building. Luck is with them, however and they are eventually picked up by HM destroyer Makepiece, en route to Darwin.
At Darwin they make friends with the locals, and find an old and dilapidated Vickers Vimy bomber at the airstrip. It is apparenly the property of one Jake Carriger , a gold digger, who has set off for the diggings at Broken Knob. Ascertaining that he would be likely to sell, the team decide to repair the plane and fly down to negotiate.
Next Episode:- Hotter than an Abo's armpit...........
....a spot of investigating
It doesn't take long to get the massive plane airworthy, and our gallant band set off on the long flight to Broken Knob. about a hunderd miles short of their destination, they spot something suspicious on the ground. There is a rocky moment when Adair bursts a tyre in landing. The scene soon resolves itself into a car, partly damaged by an explosion, towed by a truck (now empty), four bodies, three of which have been executed by being shot in the back of the head. There are also the wheel tracks of a gigantic aircraft.
Eventually, aafter a number of fantastic theories, some of which only just stopped short of involving aliens, tha lads work out that a gold shipment from Broken Knob has been ambushed. They fly on to Broken Knob, where they are offered a reward of shares in the mining company, if tey can recover the gold.
next episode: water, water all around, and not one drop of drink....
The team pursue the Friedriechsaven to Cape Town, where it has diverted due to petrol shortage. They arrive, just as it is taking off and a short dogfight ensues, during which McLuskey cops a bullet right on the whistle, and Von Widdler decides to do a spot of wing walking, in an attempt to board the other plane. Jake puts a burst through the enemy cockpit, and the plane rears up like a startled pheasant, a sure sign that the pilot is hit. Adair whips the Handley Page out of the wayy , and von Widdler falls off, unfotunately, he is tied on , and he is rescued. The giant bomber crashes, but the gold is recovered. Our heros return to blighty, each now a shareholder in the Broken Knob Mining Company. The cat is the first to greet them as they enter the flat. See above.
The room shimmers, and our heroes (sic) return from the strange dream that was Castle Drachenfels, leaving no outward sign, other than the fact that MacLuskey is wearing a negligee. Over breakfast, the chaps excitedly discuss their shared nightmare. There is a rattle at the letterbox, as the morning mail is delivered, the usual collection of circulars and bills. One letter stands out however, a bulky packet adorned with Canadian stamps, and adressed to Adair. "why chaps", he exclaims, " it's from old Wilks- you remember Captain Wilkinson of 187?".
The missive explains that Wilks is running an airline from Fort Beaver to the goldfields at Moose Creek, and that he is having trouble with a rival called "Brindle Jake" McBain and his gang.
Without further ado, the chaps decide to set of for the Northwest territories forthwith. A plane is bought by cable, ready to be picked up in Quebec. The first stage of the journey is by train to Liverpool. On the train, Von Widdler is alarmed by an old lady passing the compartment. Oddly, she appeared to have slant eyes. Alert to the danger of Li Chi having traced them from China, Von Widdler takes immediate action, and sends MacLuskey to investigate. There follows an embarassing scene when the whistling ninja alarms an elderly clergyman in the toilet. Arriving at Liverpool the lads try to buy Lewis guns- who doesn't? Frustrated in this endeavour, hunting rifles are obtained.
The Atlantic crossing is quiet enough, except for a glimpse of the elderly "chinese" lady on the boat deck. During the night, Von Widdler and Jakey are awakened by a tapping noise on their porthole. Von W hides under the bunk, while sending Jakey to investigate. It proves to be a rope tapping on the glass. Meanwhile Von W has had a n exciting time under the bed, as he opens his eyes to discover a horrible grimacing Chinese face close to his own. It takes some time, and a lot of mopping up, to determine that the face is emblazoned on a chamberpot.
On arrival at Quebec, the lads immediately search for machine guns, and therefore end up being questioned by Inspector Murdoch. Oh yes, who was that slipping into the Chines food store?
Moving back to the plot, The flight to Fort Beaver is uneventful, and they arrive just in time to stop Brindle Jake taking down Wilk's Arctic Airways sign. The resultant armed standoff is enlivened by Jake demanding landing fees. Bloodshed is avoided by the arrival of Sergeant Dalaney of the Mounties.
It transpires that Wilks is missing a land transfer document that proves he owns the airfield, and that Jake is claiming the ground. Wilks has gone missing on a flight to Moose Creek, and the lads set off to find him.
This is straightforward, and the boys find him on the grouns, with a bad leg and a bent plane- the result of sabotage. Leaving Jakey and Widdler to repair the plane, the chaps tranship the cargo so that they can fly up to Moose Creek with it in the morning, and retun to Fort Beaver. The landing is enlivened by the fact that someone has moved the flarepath, however Adair manages to land without damage.
Adair and MacLuskey head into the town for supplies, and meet old Mose in the saloon. It turns out he is the partner of Angus Stirling, the man Wilks bought the land from. mose informs them that Angus has found the documents , but that they will need to go to Muskeg Bend on Eskimo Island to get them. He is going there with the winter supplies - Adair offers to fly him up to save a long sled journey over the ice. They agree to meat at the aerodrome the next morning.
Adair is just finishing his drink when McBain shoots the glass out of his hand. Offended, Adair suggests a punch up outside. McBain batters lumps out of him, and he is only saved by the intervention of Sgt Delaney.
Later, back at the hanger, Mcluskey and Von Stauffenberg do some sneaking, and over hear McBain's gang doing some plotting.
Next Episode: - Li Chi's revenge! or Von Widdler's crabs have golden claws.
An evening of ups and downs....
It turns out old Mose has been murdered, but Adair decides to press on to Moose Creek and Muskeg Bend with supplies for Angus. On the way there , they are involved ina dogfight with one of McBain's aircraft, which Von S shoots down with a flare pistol. Their petrol tank is holed, and they are forced down in the snow. They complete the journey on foot and have a close shave with a polar bear, before meeting Angus. Jakey and Von W have meantime repaired Wilk's plane, and set off to find the , by now, overdue other half of the party.
They are atatcked by the other of Brindle Jake's aircraft and Jakey fluffs the forced landing.- Luckily they can transfer petrol, so set of in the first plan. Discovering that Brindle Jake has gone off with the gold shipment, they arrive back at Fort Beaver to find thet the baddies have not returned, so they get first dibs in "clyping " to Sgt Delaney. When McBain & Co return, and are challenged, there is a shoot out, in which Jakey takes out Brindle Jake with an elephant gun.
Now, as the heroes of the hour, they are presented with shares in the Moose Creek Mine. Now all they have to do is get Mose's "poke" of gold (which Angus gave them) to his daughter in Toronto.
Von W is troubled by finding a Maria Theresa Silver Dollar, and a prawn cracker.
Next Episode- "A nice Peaceful Train Journey"
"Brakes on a Train".....
The party board the train for Edmonton and Toronto. The carriage, which they have to themselves (except for the Chinese steward) is comfortable and hitched between freight wagons and the caboose, into which the gold shipment is being loaded. The gold is guarded by two stalwarts with rifles, and the Conductor.
The journey is uneventful as far as Macfarlane Creek, wher six wagons of cobalt ore and another caboose are hooked on. Things start to go amiss at Grizzly Junction, where the engine and freight cars are unhitched, and a they are pulled off west instead of east. A quick investigation determines that they have been hijacked by a Chinese gang ( wonder who is behind this???) .
Ever the men of action , Adair and Von Stauffenberg decide to screw the brakes on at the rear of the train, so that they can unhitch their bit. They manage to clamber over 2 ore wagons before they have to take cover from rifle fire from the other caboose.
MacLuskey gives covering fire from a precarious perch , as does Jakey. Unusually Mac's shooting is good and he keeps heads down long enough for Adair and Von S to screw the brakes on one wagon. Both losing their belts in the process, and nearly falling off.
A second wagon is braked , allowing the crew to detach the passenger car and caboose. Jakey lingers too long picking Chinese off with his rifle and has to make a deathdefying leap to get back.
The next morning, a train load of Mounties turns up and they are forwarded to Toronto.
They make arrangements to have Moses's poke delivered.
They are summoned to an inner room in the Toronto Mountie HQ, where a shadowy , grey suited figure intoduces himself as Major Compton -Smythe of MI5. He aske the lads to take on the task of finding out why the Chines have stolen the cobalt , and where they have taken it. The full resources of the Empire are at their disposal.
Next week: The Observer's Book of Automatic Weapons
You can always bomb a ship, but you can't torpedo a train" - Captain Michael William Adair, RAF
Supplied with 2 aircraft- a Blackburn Salamander torpedo bomber and a Moth floatplane, the party search tha rail rout from Pinnce George to Prince Rupert and Kitimat. They find a shot up southbound train, a beaten up signalman and cut telegraph wires. The clues lead to an abandoned mine with a recently used dock, foolowing a faint sheen of oil on the water, they see the lightd of a small steamer ahead. These are extinguished as they fly closer, and so the scene is illuminated by flares and petrol bombs. There follows a scene from "Malta Convoy" as the Wolfsburg is bombed and strafed. Several hits and damaging near misses are scored, and Adair is hit by a burst of fire from the ship. Running low on ammo, the chaps fly to Kitimat for resupply, leaving the steamer on fire.
Kitimat proves a disappointment , having no 250lb boms or .303. 3 Sticks of dynamite and a doctor for Adair is all the fishing village can supply.
Next week: shoving bamboo up MacLuskey's fingernails. Probably. Rolling Eyes
"shooting the messenger"
Back in Kitimat, a telegram is delivered to MacLuskey- from British Intelligence reporting the abduction of 3 top scientists from a research station on Vancouver Island. Von S takes umbrage at the telegraph man when he won't tell him the contents , and takes a shot at him, fortunately missing. This results in a bit of explaiining to the Mounties. The two Vons take a rail trolley to the mine to look for pipe to make bombs, and find the missing train and dead crew. much later, back in the hotel, a mysterious ticking is heard, which turns out to be an insect infestation in Von W's leg.
A flight to Vancouver follows, revealing a strong Chinese element to the abduction. A flurry of MI5 telegrams sends the gang up along the Aleutians to rendevous with a British "Q" ship. Following the trail to a burnt out American Met Station, they spot a steamer- the SS Whanghei, known to be carrying Hi Ho . Jakey and MacLuskey take a crack at bombing it, and the Whistling Ninja scores a direct hit. The plane is then hit by AA fire, wounding Mac and damaging the engine.
A conical Island is visible, but the Chinese ship has disappeared by the time the SS Londonderry gets into sight.........
Next Week:- Journey to the Centre of the Earth
"In war, truth is the first victim........"
Captain Leveson's inquiry fails to apportion blame for the sabotage, despite Von Widdler's convincing impersonation of Perry Mason. The ship is searched for a mysterious shadowy figure that allegedly attacked Von Kavanagh QC (4 pages of notes!) after the bombs went off. Thoughts then turn to the business at hand, which is locating the scientists and their abductors. Leaving Jakey to repair the planes, the party set off on an armed recce of the island, landing near a pine forest which has a strange discoloured patch. There is a considerable amount of blundering in the woods. A Chinese sentry is located, however he is out of his brain on opium, and falls easy prey to the Whistling ninja.
The lads make their way up a path he was guarding, only to be heard by another sentry. Von Rumpole of the Bailey engages this chap in a conversation in chinese, while the rest try to sneak up on him. He is not stoned, however, and opens fire with a Tommy gun. Von S and Von W engage fromthe front, while Adair and MacLuskey try an outflanking move . A burst catches Von S in the left arm, putting paid to his sniping, but a head shot fron Von W finishes the exchange. Reinforcements arrive, and the party beat a dscrete retreat.
Further down the path the find a camouflaged dock with a submarine parked. The guards are alert and fire on them . The gang decide to return to the boat, takingthe stoned guard with them. Sadly, a stray round from their pursuers takes his head off at the last moment, and he therefore won't answer any questions.
Back on the ship the boys launch an air raid , which catches the Whanghei in the sectret entrance, and a bomb hitting the bridge causes it to run aground blocking the hitherto secret channel. Another bomb wrecks the submarine dock.
The Royal Marines storm the front entrance, while Adair and co attack the tunnel on the other side.
The fighting is over when the lads arrive in the main base. Hi Ho and Li Chi are not among the prisoners, and the scientists are not there........
Next week: "I put it to you , m'lud" -another installment of our thrilling courtroom drama.
"Duck"
There is a lot of dial twiddling, sadly the first combination tried- 888- sets off an explosion which blocks the tunnel behind them. Finally guessing the correct numbers, by listening to the tumblers, our heroic gang break into a short corridor with another locked door ahead . The lock is swiftly dealt with by Jakey adding cordite to the lock. MacLuskey burns his hand on the handle, triggering a series of bungles:-
1. Adair drinks the brandy from the decanter, nearly killing himself, as it is poisoned. MacLuskey joins him in the poison club.
2. Jakey opens the filing cabinet, neatly pulling the pin out of a grenade. He reacts by closing the drawer........
The grenade nearly does for the lot of them , although, bizarrely, Jakey is almost unhurt. The now nervous gang decide to leave the safe well alone! . The room is apparently a dead end, but another secret door is found, with more dials. Jakey opens this , triggering the rifle with the string round it's trigger. Luckily, this is the escape tunnel and the lads are picked up by ship's boats from the Londonderry.
Next stop is Shanghai, wher thonly cluse they have lead them- a shipping manifest and a fragment of headed paper which says ".....g Wei Martial Arts Academy, Shanghai".
They bid a fond farewell to Captain Leveson and the Londonderry, and are left on the quayside with their luggage. It is at this point that our "alert" (TM) party discover that Duk Boi has left a present for them. Perched on their dunnage is what appears to be a duck, with it's head turned at right angles. Reactions are mixed.
Adair runs after Duk Boi. Jakey and Von W dive for cover. Von S tries to throw the duck into the harbour. Badly. MacLuskey is intrigued, and says that he is going to look along the same angle as the duck's head, to see what it's looking at.......
Adair finally loses the chase, and is set upon by 4 thugs, having eventually to take refuge on the roof of a tenement. There is a protaracted period of terror , punctuated by Mrs Wong chucking things at him for breaking her window. Eventually he manages to catch a ledge and break into an empty flat, then return to the scene of the tragedy. Von S is badly injured. Jakey is largely unhurt, as usual. MacLuskey has lost his head. Von Widdler is so upset at the loss of his friend, that he has to search his body for a keepsake....... Confused
The Shanghai Police arrive on the scene at this point, and spirit the sad remnants off in a Black Maria.
Adair shows their MI5 Letter to the Inspector, and he offers the assistance of a local guide- Wei Mee, who is languishing in their cells at the moment.
Wei Mee is a local beggar, who has picked up a little English in the course of his early career. Considering he's a beggar, he is remarkably well built........... Shocked
Next Episode: A little trouble in big China
...in which Von Stauffenberg displays psychopathic tendencies.....
Having breakfasted well at the Great Eastern, the chaps head out into the Bund to make enquiries as to the source of the SS Whanghei. Eagle eyed Whei Mei, and Von S, spots a chinese gent in a homberg and suit following them . They dive up a side street and hide, Von S preparing various weapons.
to continue:
The shadow is immediately suspicious when the gang are not visible, and so heads off on business of his own. He eventually enters a 2nd hand bookshop near the South station, and is seen purchasing something. Von S has to be restrained from throwing a Mills Bomb into the shop. The shadow then takes a taxi, which is caught in traffic. Von S pulls the pin on the grenade,but is persuaded to put it back in. The bookseller is questioned, and is bribed into revealing that the man bought Young Folks Magazine 1881-1882, for a large sum of money.
Our intrepid heroes follow his taxi to a luxury apartment. Why Me listens at the door and hears some puzzling noises- Von S returns to the street to watch for an escape, while the rest break in. The bird has flown through a window and fire escape, but the lads find the following:
The magazines, discarded and with the pages with prime numbers torn out.
A letter from Captain Robert North, thanking Robert Luis Stevenson for disguising the true story of the Nostra SenHora Do Cabo, treasure ship taken near Reunion island in the Indian ocean. The letter refers to numbers hiding the whereabouts of the treasure and concludes by saying " I can see the location , as I read".
A card for the Wong Wei Martial Arts Academy.
The gang leave by the window, Von S having established that the shadow had escaped through the back garden. Von S booby traps the piano with his grenade......
Returning to the original purpose of their expedition, the party cross to Pouding to investigate the shipping company that loaded the SS Whanghei.
There, they spot, and are spotted by Duk Boi. Jakey and Von Widdler give chase and run into Hi Ho at the back of the warehouse. SHE gives them a kicking (although not a badly as she could have done- I forgot to add her strength!) but is creased by a bullet and SHE legs it. 2 acolytes are killed.
A search of the files reveals that the electrical gear and machine tools were consigned from Harbin by the Petropavlosvsk Machinery Cooperative.
Luckily, Von S has run out of grenades.
Next Week- A trip to the grenade shop..........
or Who is Player 6? Why is Player 6? Where is Player 6? Is there a Player 7?
"Messing About On the River"
Our tireless investigators establish that the the Whanhei's cargo was shipped for the Blue Dragon Investment Company. Jakey and Von Widdler then remember that Hi Ho had a blue dragon embroidered on HER clothes........
Returning to the riverside, the gang settle into a motor boat for the trip iver the river. It is peaceful for a short distance until their driver jumps overboard and they spot a launch heading straight for them! Why Me tries to steer away, but discovers the outboard has been bolted and can't be steeres. The also notice that the approaching launch has sprouted a tommy gun. The exchange of fire is brief- the chinese coming off worst. Using his initiative, Adair runs forward and , realising Why Me has not got Jakey's skill with a spanner. Leaps onto the launch just before the collision. Jakey, Von S and Why Me are thown into the river as the boat breaks up, but Von W goes down (probably not for the first time Shocked ) Jakey rescues him (after a bit of confusion over his motives Laughing ).
Adiar takes control of the launch and picks them all up. Questioning of the Chinese survivor confirms that he is a blue dragon, and that they were sent to kill the lads by Hi Ho. He reveals that they are high up in the organisation, and that his immediate boss is called Ah Pung. He is a docker and works about a mile upriver.
Cap'n Adair imeediately lays in a course, as they have a description. On arrival, Why Me is sent off to lure Ah Pung into an ambush, resulting in Why me being stabbed and chased by men with crowbars.........
The others bravely leave him to his fate..........
Next Week: Never get off the boat........
"not waving, but drowning"
Wei Mei's combat starts well, as he drops one of his assailants with a pistol shot, but as he steps backwards to avoid the secnd crowbar man, he trips over a coil of rope, and falls into the Whang Poo River. Sadly he cannort swim and starts drowning, a process hastened by crowbar man dropping things on him from above. Only one crate connects- breaking Wei Mei's leg.
Meanwhile the others have sneaked up behind the cargo ship and climbed on board, using the launch's anchor as a grapnel. Von W and Jakeey stay o the launch to "guard it". Adair and Von S are spotted from the bridge, and a gunfight breaks out. Ah Pung is hit twice on the head and Adair and Von S drag him back to the side Sadly the drop to the deck of the launch breaks his neck, and he lands on the wounded prisoner , killing him. Von W gets hit by rifle fire from the bridge, and Von S takes a nasty blow from a fire axe before they can escape and rescue Wei Mei.
Back at the Consulate, Captain Watkins has supplied them with a car, which they use to take WM to hospital- leg in stukie. Von S is perusing the latest edition of the North China Daily News in the waiting room when he reads the banner headline
" Tragic Death of German Consul's Son!"
It appears that Herr Fink was employed as a piano tuner, and had been called to a rented luxury flat to check out a piano that was being taken back to the dealers............... Rolling Eyes
Next week- too many clues...
"Rummaging in Li Chi's drawers"
After the strenuous event in Poudong, Mick has a few nightcaps, and happily gives an in depth interview to the "Shanghai Star" a local scurrilous rag.......
The happy crew pose for press photos outside the Lester Hospital, as they pick up Wei Mei, complete with cast.
The streets are quiet, due to an absence of native Chinese, occasioned by a betting scandal at the racetrack, where it appears that a steward has been nobbled, causing the disqualification of a horse heavily backed by the locals, in favour of a horse called Blue Dragon....
Heading back to the Consulate, the party encounters crowds of disgruntled Chinese Punters, egged on by Nationalists, and head for the safety of the river as a full sized riot starts, The police , Shanghai Volunteer Defence Force and the Army are called out to contain the trouble.
Wei Mei suggests that they use the distraction to raid the Wong Wei Academy, using a boat to outflank the riot.
Von S scales the building and enters from above, while the others use the stairs. Most of the place is empty, but two guards are summoned when Jakey has a go at a door marked private, in the ensuing fight the two guards are dispatched, partly by Wei Mei and his crutch and partly by Von Widdler's wooden leg. Von S takes a bullet, but sportingly gives the baddie a chance to get away before shooting him in the back.
A search provides a cashed betting slip, and a phone number, which proves to be the booking office for the North Station. Despite previous experience, the gang check the filing cabinets, but leave the safe alone. Oddly. Ho Hum.
Having etablished that the Blue Dragons have left for Tientsin, a plane is chartered to overtake the train, overflying heavy fighting on the way.
Tientsin proves to be an armed camp , full of warlord troops. The only Western hotel appears to be a Headquarters.
Next instalment:- " Last stand at Apache Pass"
Enter Colonel Tumbelova..........
As the party are watching the HQ, several things happen:-
A train arrives in the station, and unloads wounded
A fast car arrives, and a glamourous redhead gets out , is saluted by the guards, and disappears inside. Judging by her weapon, she may be Russian.
a motorcycle and sidecar arrive, and a messenger hands in a radio flimsy
Wei Mei is dispatched to hand a note to the redhead, offering to "assist". Naturally he is arrested. He is interrogated by Colonel Ivanna Tumbelova, and since he clearly knows little of value, is sent to bring his friends in.
In the meantime , Col Tumbelova has sent troops out to arrest the counter revolutionary spies she was warned of in the radio message. Sensing danger, Von Stauffenberg ties a grenade to the front door of the house, and the lads flee, leaving Wei Mei to his grisly fate.
Eventually Wei Mei is finds the party , and they go to speak to the glamourous Colonel.
She seems keen to make use of the party- the warlord she is "advising" is fighting against Yan Xishan (who Li Chi and Hi Ho are tied in with). They are sent on their way , having been told the whereabouts of Yan Xishan's HQ.
Puzzled, and on the streets, the gang stumble across a tank and an armoured car parked carelessly outside a barracks. These are duly stolen, although the tank proves a disappointment as a battering ram, and is abandoned. Wei Mei manages to penetrate the armoured car with a machine gun bullet from the tank (careless aiming!) and wounds Jakey.
Next week:- "The Warwagon"
"Snakes!, Why does it always have to be snakes!"
Adair parks the Austin for the night, due to a lack of headlights. He is snoozing happily when he becomes aware of a alithering nois and a faint hiss. His initial thought that Von Widdler was leaking again, is dispelled as an ophidean smell washes over him, and he feels the grip of a python. His friends, now awake, come to the rescue with a flurry of inaccurate knife thrusts and several shots, one of wich ricochets round the inside of the car, wounding Von Widdler. Finally the snake is killed, beating Adair to it by a short head. There follows sustained gurgling as Adair drains his hip flask.
Proceeding on their merry way ,they become aware of a shortage of petrol , and a a pursuing dustcloud. Stopping to face off their pursuers, the car gets ditched. The pursuers turn out to be Col Tumbelova, accompanied by an armoured car, some cavalry and a field gun. The next few minutes are quite exciting, as they come under (wildly innacurate) shellfire.
Fleeing skillfully, they outdistance pursuit, and Von S craters the road with his beloved satchel charge, Fritzi.
Eventually they arrive in a small town with a railway station. There is an engine and flatcars in the siding. All they need is someone who can drive a train........
Next week:- "The Cannonball Express"
All together now- "Mick Adair, steaming and a' rollin'."
The party finally hit the buffers..........
The armoured car is finally loaded on the train, by an equally loaded Adair, and they set off down the line in the gathering dark. All is well till they meet the 8.15 coming the other way. There follows some rapid reversing and lamplighting. Jakey accidentally abandons the train for the comforts of a paddy field in the process.
In the morning, as they approach their terminus, Adair stops the train about 500yds from the station and Wei Mei and a mud covered Jakey are sent forward. No, I don't know why either.
The soldiers on the platform ask for papers as the ill assorted duo approach. This results in two different reactions- Wei Mei surrenders and Jakey legs it , being gunned down in the process. Adair sets the train in motion as Von S and Von W man the armoured car turrets. Von W's shooting is erratic and he only succeeeds in hitting Wei Mei, who is trying to scramble onto the platform, hampered by his stookie. A stray bullet bursts a steam pipe in the engine cab, and Adair can't find the controls.
There follows a slow motion scene as :-
1. Wei Mei dives between the train wheels
2. The engine hits the buffers and derails, rolling over. Adair gets badly knocked about
3. The wagon derails and the armoured car falls over. Von W is trapped in his turret, where there is a terrible smell of mixed petrol and wee.
4. Von S's turret comes off with him grimly hanging onto the Hotchkiss and muttering about grenades.
The ragged remnants of the party are dragged off to jail- where all of the incriminating stuff and weapons are taken from them. Altruistically, Von W denounces Wei Mei as a communist. This is unnecessary, as they have found Tumbelova's pass on him anyway.
The commander announces they are to be shot in the morning. This they know anyway , as they can see them setting up the machine gun and 5 posts......
The only ray of light is the grenade concealed in Von Widdler's wooden leg. A number of abortive plans are discussed, including Wei Mei's suggestion that they stuff their dinner (boiled rice) into the lock in the hope that it will expand and destroy the lock.
Adair decides using the explosive from the grenade would work better. Von S decides that he will dismantle the grenade. Rule No1 do not take the pin out first and drop it outside the cell .
Next Week:- "Jailhouse Rock"
....in which Von Stauffenberg gets some grenades.
After some failed attempts, the cell lock is blown off, some of the mechanism ending in Wei Mei. There follows a wild rush as the guard is dispatched and disarmed. Jakey appropriates "Rusty" the bayonet. Von W frees the other prisoners, and the building is cleared- von S scaled the building and lobbed his precious Mills Bomb intho the upper floor. There are enough weapons to arm everyone (Wei Mei now has 2 broomhandle Mausers). Boxes of ammo, and 12 Japanese grenades.
in the yard is a car, and a Maxim. The shooting party set off , the maxim occupying one of the seats, Wei Mei in the boot. Things go horribly wrong, as when they turn into the street, Tumbelova has arrived with her minions. Von W decides that he would be a better target if he jumped out of the car. And so it transpired, as he took a bullet in the pickelhaube.
The Warlord's forces arrive to fight Tumbelova, and Von W makes a break for it to cross the street, stopping another round in the process. Jakey manages to rescue him.
Adair builds a bridge to help escape.
Later that night, after driving up a track, the gang find the secret hideout. A local coolie supplies information on a secret entrance in the cliff (actually it's an emergency escape tunnel). Von W rather unkiindly introduces him to "Rusty".
After some rope stealing , climbing, swimming, climbing and bat doodging, the party is nearly overcome by Carbon Monoxide fumes. Tracing the source to exhaust pipes from generators, Jakey breaks down a wall and the party emerge into a generator room. Jakey "Rusty's" a guard and they find a lab, with the three missing scientists.
Moving further along, they find a room. A spot of door listening reveals the voices of Hi Ho and Li Chi, with a third, male .
Ever willing to let bygones be bygones, the team lob 5 hand grenades into the room, which is very large, and has a fish tank let into the floor . The gang of three are in the lounge area on the far side of the room. As the grenades arc through the air, the girls leap from the chairs, as does a tall thin figure, of vaguely middle eastern appearance. His hand reaches for a lever on the wall near the door........
Next Week: Player 6 unmasked? Shocked Shocked Will he show off his scars? Wink
What's in the fish tank? Shocked Who bought these crappy Jap grenades? Shocked
No kidding boys, they have impact fuses.........
"Tubes and Balloons" No Kidding, I hear you say.........
Rushing into the roomafter a seies of bangs, the gang are just in time to see Number Six drop a switch on the far side of the room. The lights go out, and there is a locking noise from the door behind them. Adair , using his lighter, fumbles over to the other side of the room, avoiding the fish pond, and finds a light switch. He also hears a gurgling noise, but this time it's not von W's nether regions (not yet). The carpet is wet, and it looks as if the fish tank is overflowing.
An examination of the room reveals:- a locked cupboard with 5 sets of submarine escape breather sets. oops. there are 8 in the party now.
An atlas, slightly damp.
An unexploded grenade.
Expensive drink. Adair refills his hip flask.
furniture
a rising water level and carniverous fish
2 locked steel doors- yes Von S tested grenades on them
2 18" ventilation grilles on the ceiling
Von S leaps into action, and the others help build him a furniture tower. He unscrews the grille, revealing an 18" diameter duct .
The rising water is now a problem, and von W is bitten badly by a pirhana, which then dies...
eventually they all manage to get into the duct, and at the far end, von S disables the fan with his Webley, then they all drop into a machinery room.
Along the corridor from there there are two guards, guarding a door marked "Hangar". There is a short exchange of gunfire, and they are disabled. In the hangar there is a small dirigible, and a space wher another dirigible had been. Visible out of the mouth of the cave is a dirigible, dirigibling off into the distance.
The lads give chase, but Adair scrapes the gasbag off the walls of the cave, and they are delayed while the "Human Fly" AKA Von S gets the rubber solution out.
The trace proves futile, and there is not enough lift left to get back to Shanghai. Adair eventually finds a gap in the mountains and they head south for Hong Kong.
As night falls they are buzzed by a warlord biplane, and a brief consultation between Adair and Von S results in them partially pulling the rip panel. Sploosh! into a paddy field........
They take shelter in a village, and are awakened by the sound of approaching trucks........
Next week:- "The Crab with the Golden Claws"
Awaiting the arrival of the warlord troops, the gang take cover in a barn. It proves a fairly routine task to relieve the Chinese of one of their trucks . Wei Mei looses off a 10 round burst from his Mauser (Von W had nicked the other one). One round goes the petrol tank of the other lorry. Of which more later..........
The party set off pursued by the other truck. Sadly , Von S (driving) and Wei Mei start squabbling over the remaining Mauser. Von S, going Psychotic, shoots the hapless Chinaman, having carefully stopped the truck first. ignoring the pursuit.......
Luckily,Jakey lobs a grenade into the cab of the enemy truck,setting off the fuel leak as well. This ends the pursuit! Wei Mei and Adair swop places .
eventually the gang reach a town, and and storm into the aerodrome . Hurrah Aircraft! Oops- there are only 2 Camels.
Discovering that they are only a hundred miles north of the New Territories, they set off, Adair and Jakey flying top cover to deter pursuit.
Next Week: Hong Kong Phooey
So, were are back to the world of 1920s/30s adventure!
Freshly returned from the Carribbean (Biggles Flies West), our heroes (I'll let them introduce themselves), are approached by Count Stanhauser to form an airforce in Maltovia (a small balkan country), which is being threatened by their northern Neighbour, Lovitzna (backed by the Bolos). Mulling this over, the lads are threatened by a Lovitznan diplomat, which makes up their mind for them!
So far our Biggles adventures have included:-
The Cruise of the Condor
Biggles, Charter Pilot (part)
Excerpts from the real life exploits of Colonel Percy Bailey, Captain Noel Major MacDonell and others in Transcaucasia.
Biggles flies South
Biggles, Foreign Legionaire (bits)
Biggles Flies West
91 books to go.........
Chapter 1: "A knife in the dark"
Our motley crew decide to take up Count Stanhauser's offer, and there follows 2 weeks of frenzied preparation and flying training. Except for Ken's character, who mysteriously disappears...........
a Snipe and 2 Bristol fighters are purchased, and arrangements made for fuel and spares to be ready in Maltovia. Since the flight cannot be done in one hop, refuelling arrangements are made in Weisheim, halfway to the destination.
The team get news from Count Stanhauser that the Lovitznans have penetrated the communications network, and assassinated the commander of the Maltovian army.
This leads to a rethink, and Von WIddler and Ken are sent off by train to Weisheim to arrange for an alternative refuelling stop. Sadly, they fail to notice the Lovitznan spy tailing them onto the boat train at Victoria Station. Things go well until they cross the German frontier, when the Lovitznan makes his move. Our heroes are ushered off at (silenced) gunpoint. Von W tries to pull the communication cord and misses, but the spy's shot does not, hitting him in the wooden leg. Ken bravely punches the spy, taking a couple of flesh wounds in the process (and riding his luck!). Von W bravely runs away, heading for the guards van to retrieve weapons from the luggage. Sadly for him, the Guard has been heavily bribed by the Lovitznan, and hits Von W with a shovel. As he lies whining on the floor, Von W lashes out with his good leg, hitting the Guard on the chin and breaking his neck. OOps....
Meanwhile Ken's character manages to overpower the spy, using his penknife.
The train has half an hour left before it arrives in Vienna, where the Guard will be missed......... Rolling Eyes
Alarums and (train) excursions.......
Von W is a bit slow getting the guard's trousers off, and has to dump the body in the sidings outside Vienna Central. Meanwhile McClusky hide sthe unconcious spy under a seat in their compartment Rolling Eyes . While our heroes manage to get on the Weisheim train without trouble , it is not long before they are aware of Police activity. The train they are on is stopped at a country staion, and the dynamic duo have to leg it into the woods (hop, in the case of Von W). Despairing of reaching the rendezvous in time, Laurel and Hardy try to steal bicycles from a village police station. McC shoots the chains off with the silenced Luger, but th esecons shot ricochets and makes a huge noise. Von W tries to blame McC when the Politzei sticks his head out of the window. Cue frantic pedalling. With relief the Pandemonium Pair sneak across the frontier and set up the refuelling with Tubby Fanshawe.
Meanwhile, back in Blighty, the gang is joined by Wally Fartnocker, Customs Officer. Receiving a telegram from Weisheim, the team take to the air, and arrive over the rendezvous as night is falling. A flare is fired from the ground, and Mick Adair is about to land, when our Polish friend spots wires stretched across the landing ground. It is only then that Von W and sidekick remember to fire their flare! Landing in the right field this time, with only minor damage , the pary is reunited, and start refuelling. There is a short interlude as 2 carloads of thugs arrive to interrupt, and are promptly mown down with concentrated Lewis gun fire. McC tried to shoot them from a cunning ambush position , but omitted to notice that he fired the last 2 bullets severing bicycle locks..........
As dawn breaks our intrepid heroes take off and head for Maltovia. As they cross the frontier, they become aware of 5 specks high above them. These resolve themselves into Lovitznan planes. In the ensuing dogfight, Adair shoots down the enemy leader, and the others manage to drive off the rest, but not before one of the Bristol Fighters has its rudder shot off.......
and it's the overloaded one as well......
Up the Garden Path......
A comparitively quiet episode. Wadislav manages to get the shot up Bristol down in a field safely , while the others carry on to Janovica. They are met by a reception comittee heade by General Bethstein who is not happy at them shooting down a Lovitznan plane. A nicer welcome is extended by Ludwig Stanhauser, who helps the lads out with a squad of Royal Gards to move the stores and ammo to the shelter of the woods. In the meantime the downed Bristol has been repaired.
The chums settle in at the Hotel Stadplatz, and are visited by Princess Mariana, who has to hide in a cupboard when general Bethstein and his sinister aide, Menkhoff appear. There follows a heated discussion between Adair and bethstein over who commands the Maltovian Airforce.
Returning to the airfield in the evening, the gang spot a shadowy figure in the act of setting fire to the marquee which had been supplied by General Bethstein. A volley of shots ring out on both sides, and the arsonist falls to the ground. This transpires to be Menkhoff, bleeding to death. Meanwhile Von W's wooden leg goes on fire as e tries to put the tent out.
Horatio McC takes the initiative by stuffing Menkhoff's body in his car and hiding the whole caboodle up an apparently disused drive a mile or so beyond the airfield, while the others deal with the anguished locals.
Shortly after this, General Bethstein's car passes, with him in the back with a face like fizz.
The team explain the events to Ludwig, and are horrified to learn that the disused drive, with the body, is part of Bethstein's hunting lodge........
I might also note that the gang have spotted the cover illustration , which depicts Biggles and Algy in front of a Maltovian firing squad. This seems to be worrying them
A shot in the dark...........
Mick decides to fly a recce mission in the dark to see if the Lovitznans are massing troops at the bridge (which does not seem to be the case), and on his return is greeted with a burst of machine gun fire from von W ,nervous and trigger happy.
Up again on a dawn patrol, the crew manage to force down and capture Lovitznan bomber, and then use it to demolish the bridge over the Neiper.
On returning, they are given the startling new that Count Stanhauser has been kidnapped by the Lovitznans, ans is being held in an Hotel in the capital, Shavos. Undaunted, our intrepid heroes prepare a rescue mission- dressed as peasants, they fly to a field near the enemy capital and use motor bikes for the rest of the trip. Von W takes the opportunity to dress up as a woman. Again. Surprised
Leaving Mick outside to steal a car, the gang bluff their way into the Hotel , and burst into the room where Stanhauser is being held.
Meanwhile, outside, something is happening.................. Shocked Wink
Falling at the first hurdle..........
a brief burst of gunfire settles the Lovitznan's hash, but alerts the police. This has unfortunate consequences outside, where Adair, in the snow, is holding up a chauffeur. Unwisely, he looses off a round to hurry the driver along , and so comes under fire from the police in door duty. He quickly drives round the corner, and parks under the window of the room that Count Stanhauser is being held in.
Meanwhile upstairs, the lads are trapped in the room by police gunfire, and have to use a rope to escape out of the window. Two of them managed to fall into the car, destroying it in the process. Adair guns the throttle, and skids off through the dark, pursued by a pair of motorcycle police. Von W shoots one (this third policeman of the night) and the other crashes. An hour later they discover that they have gone the wrong way and have to retrace their steps. Coming across a checkpoint, Adair rams the obstacle, destroying the car. The party have to flee on foot into a nearby house, pursued by a squad of soldiers. Escaping out the back door, Mick Adair tries to leap the gate, and fails by a large margin, catching himself squarely in the knackers. Disabled, he bravely holds the gate while the others leg it down a lane and into an unoccupied large house . Adair hops after them, having taken a bullet in the leg for his pains. Luckily there is an old Model T in the garage , so the gang set off in this. Arriving at the checkpoint again, now guarded by a scared recruit, our heroes force him to clear the road. Von W thanks him politely, then shoots him as they leave.............
Arriving at the landing ground in heavy snow, and finding that the plane has gone, the Brains Trust decide to make a bulldozer out of the Model T, using the boot lid. This works at the second attempt, but the wheels just spin........
Deaspairing of this the gang set out for the river, but the car packs in spectacularly, so they have to hoof it. But, oops, somebody blew up the bridge Embarassed . The lads make it to an abandoned timber mill where they cobble together a raft, just in time. Traipsing through the snow on the south bank, they are shot up by a Lovitznan fighter, but MacLusky puts a bullet through it's engine and it flies off , trailing smoke.
Backs to the wall.........
Our heroes return to Janovica, however they are not treated to the welcome they feel they deserve. The group is joined by a refugee German chemist, Claus Von Stauffenberg, on the run from the Roumanian Police (I'll let him tell you why!). Early next morning the gang are awakened by the arival of General Bethstein and a lorryload of troops, intent on arresting them. Wadislav, Von Stauffeberg, Wilson and Fartknocker escape out the back of the hotel, but Adiar tries to shoot it out, but is knocked out by a grenade (Fate point!). Von W surrenders as quickly as he can, despite MacLuskey putting up a fight (he managed to chuck the grenade back out of the window). The others manage to sneak away- Von S having made some molotovs out of slivovitz (sadly the birds had flown before they were ready).
Adair, MacLuskey and Von W are put before a military tribunal , Headed by General Bethstein- with predictable results- yes Von W tried to squeal on his mates! Sentence- Firing squad! Shocked
Meanwhile the others have gone to Bethstein's Hunting Lodge, and got hold of incriminating evidence that shows he is in the pay of the Lovitznans.
Hearing from Ludwig that the others are to be shot, the lads take off in the 2 Bristols, in a desperate race against time. The planes arrive just as the firing party are raising their rifles, and scatter them with MG fire. Von S manages to hit Bethstein with his Molotovs, spoiling his afternoon permanently.... Von S also manages to knock down the prison wall with 20lb Cooper bombs, and Von W, Adair and MacLuskie escape to a heroes welcome! The Lovitznan threat collapses in the face of the loss of Bethstein.......
The highlight is the presentation of the Maltovian Order of the Purple Pigeon to all of our gallant band, in a lavish cermony in the Royal Palace.
As a more tangible expression of gratitude, the Maltovians present the captured bomber to the team. This is handy, as Von S has persuaded the boys to go off on a jaunt to China...........
Next episode:- Adair "Hits the Trail"!
Not firing on all cylinders..........
Having established a base at Lhasa, our intrepid heroes set off north across Tibet, in search of the mysterious "Mountain of Light", which Von Stauffenberg has been wittering about. As they approach a range of mountaings, Adair (finally) notices that the revs are falling on all 3 engines. The compass has started spinning, just like his brain. The plane cannot maintain altitude, and so a landing is made. All surplus gear is unloaded and they take off for a test flight.Every time they fly towards the mountains the revs drop so there is nothing for it but to proceed on foot. Adair suggests returning to Lhasa for a mule train, despite triangulation suggesting that the objective is about 5 miles away.
A camp is set up, and Von S and McCluskey set off for water. By the stream McCluskey finds a bloated and very dead Centipede/maggot, which has a load of viscious teeth. This horror is about a foot long, and McC cannot resist poking it with a knife. Naturally it bursts, spraying a foul reddish ichor and releasing a hideous stench . There follows a bout of throwing up by the more delicate members of the party (yes, Von Widdler).
The next morning the party set off on foot, and eventually find a narrow boulder strewn gorge. Eventually they stumble accross a skeleton, then several more. The also notice that it is very difficult to move, and their bootsa are giving off blue sparks. Oddly, Von Widdler is unaffected, and to his horror finds himself isolated at the front. At this point he notices a flickering shadow in front of him. Ignoring this he continues to advance, until he is stabbed in the (wooden) leg. Lashing out, there is a sound like breaking glass, and eventually the body of a dead naked Chinaman becomes visible. Von Widdler runs away....
It becomes apparent that Von Widdler is wearing rubber soled boots, so he heads back to the camp to get the rubber groundsheets ..
Meanwile, a swarm of centipeded is advancing towards the rest of them, most of them manage to edge backwards, but McCluskey is rooted to the spot. It halts as it reaches the Chinaman, but after an interval begins to advance again..........
The dambusters.........
McCluskey is getting his toes nibbled when the centipededes mysteriously stop . Then the party notice a man on the cliff ahead of them shouting in English and apparently fighting thin air.Adair takes a snap shot, and another invisible Chinaman cops his whack. The mystery Scotsman shout to them to come up and help, so the gang plough through the centipdedes, and up a tunnel lined with mysterious electrical gear. Emerging onto a plateau, our heroes disperse the chungs who are attacking the Mystery Scotsman. He then blocks the doors, keeping the Chungs out , but trapping everyone in the process.
The man introduces himself as Angus MacAllister , and recounts a tale of how how he was kidnapped to build the machinery for the Chungs, so that they could conquer the world using paralysing ray guns and invisibility. He also reveals that there is a huge dam at the end of the gorge, and that he will be dead by tomorrow- the Chungs having injected him with a drug.
Osmond Bates climbs down the cliff and returns with the plane, landing under fire from ray guns, one of which punches a hole in the plane. They then fly off to the dam, where Adair and Wilson parachute down to the dam, where they use explosives to push a huge pinnacle of rock into the water, breaking the dam.
The others fly off to the camp, where they observe a flood laden with Chungs and centipedes. Meanwhile Adair and Wilson are picking their way back along the path, when they hear voices..........
A spanner in the works.........
The voices turn out to be the Chungs from the ray gun party, making their way down to the valley. Our intrepid heroes follow them as far as a narrow rock bridge over a chasm, where Adair's trousers become damp with terror, Wilson however strides across without trouble. Eventually Adair crawls across, leaving a damp trail like a slug.
Meanwhile, the others have made their way up the boulder and corpse strewn gorge.
Adair and Wilson split up, wilson to go down and fetch the others while the gallant, and damp trousered, one keeps an eyeon the Chungs.
As Wilson enters the gorge, he is confronted by a giant Chinaman weilding a huge spanner. This is a bad moment for Wilson's Webley to break....
The situation is stabilised by the timely arrival of the rest of the party, and a well aimed burst of Machine gun fire from Von Widdler, firing a Lewis from the hip. How he missed Wilson is a mystery..........
Pausing only to recover a few lumps of the glowing blue mineral, the party return to the aircraft ....
"When the pin is pulled, Mr Grenade is not your friend"
As the party emerge from the gorge some hours later, they discover that the plane has been surrounded by Chinese cavalry. In the distance is a column of infantry and an armoured car.
MG fire and sniping scatter the cavalry, although a return shot nearly ends Von Stauffenberg's career. The armoured car ( a twin turreted Austin) has by now arrived and is firing at the plane. Wilson and Von Widdler run forward and throw Mills Bombs at the vehicle. Wilson's bomb rolls under the car and explodes, causing the occupants to bail out. Von Widdler's bomb bounces off a rock and rolls under the tail of the aircraft............
The party hurriedly load their possessions onto the armoured car,and after spraying the Chinese with fire to keep them busy , set off for civilisation.
Eventually the come across a walled village, guarded buy more of the Warlord Chinese. The gates are opened (after all it is their armoured car!) , and an officer strides forward shouting in Chinese. In an understandable error, the turret gunners mow him down, presumably thinking that the Hotchkiss MGs are universal translators..........
...Is that petrol I smell?
AND Ninja McCluskey!
McCluskey, pulls teh gate fully open , and Adiar guns the carinto an open market square, scattering locals in all directions. There is only one narrow street which they drive down , occasional bullets bouncing off their armour. Finally, they reach a corner and emerge into another opern area , opposite the Warlord's "citadel" (3 storey, with a wall). Sadly, there is no way accross the ditch barring their route, the footbridge is too narrow. An hmg opens up from the roof of the citadel, so Adair backs up, quite successfully, until they reach a barricade of overturned carts etc, which the chinese have set up. They are taking heavy fire from the barricade, which is doing no damage, when they notice a strong petroly sort of aroma......
......maybe that would be the spare petrol stored on the back of the Austin? Adair is gutted, as he was just about to start throwing Molotovs about........
McCluskey, Jakey and the Pole bale out into the nearest building, and in due course come out behind the barricade, just in time to scatter a Chinese assault party, gearing up to attack the armoured car with grenades. A few moments suffice to drag the carts away and the party retires to a wood about a mile from the town to take stock. Much of the spare petrol has been lost, making stealing some more a priority.
Eventually, it is decided to sneak into the other side of the village, nerer the warlord's citadel. MCCluskey, sneaks forward "like a leaf on the wind", takes careful aim, and jams the silenced Luger. He has to return to the party "like a leaf on the wind", for Jakey to fix it. Back to the firing position again, "like a leaf on the wind", This time his aim is true and the 2 guards are disposed of, "like a leaf on the wind". Th gang scale the wall, the only incident of note being McC falling and getting his foot stuck in a bucket, "like a leaf on the wind". The party sneak along the wall and enter the citadel. At this point, the team think it is a good idea to have a leadership debate. Adiar goe in the huff......McC goes up to the roof- you've guessed it, "like a leaf on the wind", and shoots the two machine gunners. Adair and Von Widdler fire shots in the air, to alert the garrison, presumably. Jakey has to be dissuaded from trying to lug the 150lbs of water cooled Maxim around.........
Next, the gang investigate the 2nd floor room, finding it is the Warlord's bedroom, containing one very irate warlord's mistress........
Going to Hell on a handcart............
MacLuskey manages to subdue the concubine and ties her up. The party then decend to the next froor and break into the Warlord's office, finding a gun cabinet, which gets looted, and a strongbox concealed in a Ming Dynasty desk (reduced to firewood Shocked ). Proceeding down to ground level, a gunfight ensues, in which Jakey has a narrow escape from a Chinese cook with a meat cleaver.
Von S locates the petrol store, plus a handcart. Adair, Macluskey and Von S head off to the Austin with this, while Jakey and Von W climb up to the Maxim on the roof and deter pursuit. They are thus engaged when Ly Chee , the concubine , who has slipped her bonds, wallops Jakey over the head with a bottle. No damage ensues, due to the thickness of his skull.........
Von W is un-nerved by this (failed his cool) and decides to make a rope from his belt and braces to effect an escape from the roof.
Kung Fu Fightin'........
Ly Chi starts to lay about her with a number of well aimed kicks at Jakey and Von Widdler. McLuskey tries to give covering fire, but puts the bullets in the Hotchkiss the wring way. Adair decides to be of more practical use and searches for a rope and a hook. The first throw misses the parapet, but catches Von W a fourpenny one on the back of the Pickelhaube. The second throw is better and our Teutonic hero uses his trousers to slide down the rope towards safety. Sadly, the trousers, rotted by years of incontinence, give way and Von W plummets groundwards, rendering him more helpless than usual. Meanwhile Jakey, left to fight Ly Chi on his own, also make a dash for the rope. He is descending safely when the inventive concubine unfastens the hook........ Being made of stern stuff he bounces. The waifs and strays are all gathered in, and the Austin drives off into the sunset.
The new challenge is to get medical attention for the very dazed Widdler. This is handled adeptly at the next village by Adair's sign language and some Maria Theresa silver Dollars from the strongbox that was ripped from the Ming desk.
There then follows an epic trip through the mountains, including rafting and near death experiences with precipices and water buffalo, before the gang arrive at the railhead, and negotiate transport to Lanchaow........
Death Train......
The rail journey starts peacefully enough, whith splendid views of the scenery, however the tourist bit is rudely interrupted by the train screeching to a halt in a cloud of steam. Shots are heard when the driver disappears into the cloud of steam. Then a crowd of armed bandits appear at the head of the train, kill the driver's assistant and start to loot the first carriage (the passengers having fled).
Von S climbs onto the train roof, followed by McClusky (the whistling Ninja), and sneaks along the roof. He then lobs 2 grenades into the carriage and runs back, only to collide with McC. Both fall off, and Von S is immediately shot in the leg. Adair tries to give covering fire , but achieves the impossible and jams his Lee Enfield. Von W looks out of the other side of the train and opens fire on the bandits on that side, however the return fire wings him and he ducks bak. Jakey meanwhile is climbing onto the roof with the Lewis. Von S rolls under the train, while McC retires shooting his Webley. Von W makes a break for safety in the armoured car, chained to a flatcar at the rear of the train, an dlocks himself in.
All ends well , however, as Jakey methodically mows down the bandits with the Lewis, his cheeky homicidal grin playing on his lips.
There is a minor crisis when it is discovered in the aftermath that the first carriage is on fire- a result of the grenades, however Adir beats it out with a bloodied corpse.
McC quickly works out how to drive the train- much to everyone's astonishment. He is particularly good at whistling......
A couple of minor incidenst do not trouble our heroes too much, and in Lanchaow they are able to arrange a more comfortable trip to Shanghai. the sell their Austin to the International Volunteers, in return for passage to Singapore on the SS Griselda.
Next Episode: Aboard the Coffin Ship......
All at sea.......
As the Griselda chuggs it's way asthmatically down the Yangtse and into the South China Sea, the gang are disturbed to note the lack of basic safety equipment- like lifeboats. The trip proves to be uneventful for a whole week, other than McClusky's trip to see the golden rivet. Outbreak of outraged whistling.
Too good to last, as the lowering skies and greasy swell turn into a howling typhoon. The Griselda is forced to run before the wind. Adair takes to the bridge to take over the helm.This proves to be a titanic struggle, and soon a low atoll is sighted to windward. Strenous efforts, including repairing the rudder chain prove to no avail, and the Griselda is impaled on an outlying pinnacle of rock. Von Widdler takes this opportunity for an early bath. Adair leaps into the waves to save him and is promptly swept away. Eventually he and Von W are dragged back aboard.
It is at this point that the lads notice that the crew have abandoned ship, and have taken to rafts. Our heros bed down for the night, after releasing the steam from the boiler- loud hissing noise, although that could have been McCluskey...
The next morning Adair swims to the atoll, the storm having died out, and they set up a pope and pulley system to transfer gear. They set off towards the main part of the island, where palm trees are visible (cue Robinson Crusoe music), they have not gone far when they are attacked by a giant octopus. Things look dicey for a while- McCluskey is dragged in and Adair has a close shave. Finally settles thing with some well directed fire from the Lewis- everybody else's guns having jammed- perhaps seawater had affected them. At this point, attracted by octopus blood, frantic splashing and muffled whistling from McCluskey, two reef sharks arrive, narrowly missing reducing the whistling ninja's stock of appendages. A couple of .45s from Adair finish them off.
The higher part of the atoll proves quite comfortable, and the gang settle into a routine of watching for ships and raft building. Luck is with them, however and they are eventually picked up by HM destroyer Makepiece, en route to Darwin.
At Darwin they make friends with the locals, and find an old and dilapidated Vickers Vimy bomber at the airstrip. It is apparenly the property of one Jake Carriger , a gold digger, who has set off for the diggings at Broken Knob. Ascertaining that he would be likely to sell, the team decide to repair the plane and fly down to negotiate.
Next Episode:- Hotter than an Abo's armpit...........
....a spot of investigating
It doesn't take long to get the massive plane airworthy, and our gallant band set off on the long flight to Broken Knob. about a hunderd miles short of their destination, they spot something suspicious on the ground. There is a rocky moment when Adair bursts a tyre in landing. The scene soon resolves itself into a car, partly damaged by an explosion, towed by a truck (now empty), four bodies, three of which have been executed by being shot in the back of the head. There are also the wheel tracks of a gigantic aircraft.
Eventually, aafter a number of fantastic theories, some of which only just stopped short of involving aliens, tha lads work out that a gold shipment from Broken Knob has been ambushed. They fly on to Broken Knob, where they are offered a reward of shares in the mining company, if tey can recover the gold.
next episode: water, water all around, and not one drop of drink....
The team pursue the Friedriechsaven to Cape Town, where it has diverted due to petrol shortage. They arrive, just as it is taking off and a short dogfight ensues, during which McLuskey cops a bullet right on the whistle, and Von Widdler decides to do a spot of wing walking, in an attempt to board the other plane. Jake puts a burst through the enemy cockpit, and the plane rears up like a startled pheasant, a sure sign that the pilot is hit. Adair whips the Handley Page out of the wayy , and von Widdler falls off, unfotunately, he is tied on , and he is rescued. The giant bomber crashes, but the gold is recovered. Our heros return to blighty, each now a shareholder in the Broken Knob Mining Company. The cat is the first to greet them as they enter the flat. See above.
The room shimmers, and our heroes (sic) return from the strange dream that was Castle Drachenfels, leaving no outward sign, other than the fact that MacLuskey is wearing a negligee. Over breakfast, the chaps excitedly discuss their shared nightmare. There is a rattle at the letterbox, as the morning mail is delivered, the usual collection of circulars and bills. One letter stands out however, a bulky packet adorned with Canadian stamps, and adressed to Adair. "why chaps", he exclaims, " it's from old Wilks- you remember Captain Wilkinson of 187?".
The missive explains that Wilks is running an airline from Fort Beaver to the goldfields at Moose Creek, and that he is having trouble with a rival called "Brindle Jake" McBain and his gang.
Without further ado, the chaps decide to set of for the Northwest territories forthwith. A plane is bought by cable, ready to be picked up in Quebec. The first stage of the journey is by train to Liverpool. On the train, Von Widdler is alarmed by an old lady passing the compartment. Oddly, she appeared to have slant eyes. Alert to the danger of Li Chi having traced them from China, Von Widdler takes immediate action, and sends MacLuskey to investigate. There follows an embarassing scene when the whistling ninja alarms an elderly clergyman in the toilet. Arriving at Liverpool the lads try to buy Lewis guns- who doesn't? Frustrated in this endeavour, hunting rifles are obtained.
The Atlantic crossing is quiet enough, except for a glimpse of the elderly "chinese" lady on the boat deck. During the night, Von Widdler and Jakey are awakened by a tapping noise on their porthole. Von W hides under the bunk, while sending Jakey to investigate. It proves to be a rope tapping on the glass. Meanwhile Von W has had a n exciting time under the bed, as he opens his eyes to discover a horrible grimacing Chinese face close to his own. It takes some time, and a lot of mopping up, to determine that the face is emblazoned on a chamberpot.
On arrival at Quebec, the lads immediately search for machine guns, and therefore end up being questioned by Inspector Murdoch. Oh yes, who was that slipping into the Chines food store?
Moving back to the plot, The flight to Fort Beaver is uneventful, and they arrive just in time to stop Brindle Jake taking down Wilk's Arctic Airways sign. The resultant armed standoff is enlivened by Jake demanding landing fees. Bloodshed is avoided by the arrival of Sergeant Dalaney of the Mounties.
It transpires that Wilks is missing a land transfer document that proves he owns the airfield, and that Jake is claiming the ground. Wilks has gone missing on a flight to Moose Creek, and the lads set off to find him.
This is straightforward, and the boys find him on the grouns, with a bad leg and a bent plane- the result of sabotage. Leaving Jakey and Widdler to repair the plane, the chaps tranship the cargo so that they can fly up to Moose Creek with it in the morning, and retun to Fort Beaver. The landing is enlivened by the fact that someone has moved the flarepath, however Adair manages to land without damage.
Adair and MacLuskey head into the town for supplies, and meet old Mose in the saloon. It turns out he is the partner of Angus Stirling, the man Wilks bought the land from. mose informs them that Angus has found the documents , but that they will need to go to Muskeg Bend on Eskimo Island to get them. He is going there with the winter supplies - Adair offers to fly him up to save a long sled journey over the ice. They agree to meat at the aerodrome the next morning.
Adair is just finishing his drink when McBain shoots the glass out of his hand. Offended, Adair suggests a punch up outside. McBain batters lumps out of him, and he is only saved by the intervention of Sgt Delaney.
Later, back at the hanger, Mcluskey and Von Stauffenberg do some sneaking, and over hear McBain's gang doing some plotting.
Next Episode: - Li Chi's revenge! or Von Widdler's crabs have golden claws.
An evening of ups and downs....
It turns out old Mose has been murdered, but Adair decides to press on to Moose Creek and Muskeg Bend with supplies for Angus. On the way there , they are involved ina dogfight with one of McBain's aircraft, which Von S shoots down with a flare pistol. Their petrol tank is holed, and they are forced down in the snow. They complete the journey on foot and have a close shave with a polar bear, before meeting Angus. Jakey and Von W have meantime repaired Wilk's plane, and set off to find the , by now, overdue other half of the party.
They are atatcked by the other of Brindle Jake's aircraft and Jakey fluffs the forced landing.- Luckily they can transfer petrol, so set of in the first plan. Discovering that Brindle Jake has gone off with the gold shipment, they arrive back at Fort Beaver to find thet the baddies have not returned, so they get first dibs in "clyping " to Sgt Delaney. When McBain & Co return, and are challenged, there is a shoot out, in which Jakey takes out Brindle Jake with an elephant gun.
Now, as the heroes of the hour, they are presented with shares in the Moose Creek Mine. Now all they have to do is get Mose's "poke" of gold (which Angus gave them) to his daughter in Toronto.
Von W is troubled by finding a Maria Theresa Silver Dollar, and a prawn cracker.
Next Episode- "A nice Peaceful Train Journey"
"Brakes on a Train".....
The party board the train for Edmonton and Toronto. The carriage, which they have to themselves (except for the Chinese steward) is comfortable and hitched between freight wagons and the caboose, into which the gold shipment is being loaded. The gold is guarded by two stalwarts with rifles, and the Conductor.
The journey is uneventful as far as Macfarlane Creek, wher six wagons of cobalt ore and another caboose are hooked on. Things start to go amiss at Grizzly Junction, where the engine and freight cars are unhitched, and a they are pulled off west instead of east. A quick investigation determines that they have been hijacked by a Chinese gang ( wonder who is behind this???) .
Ever the men of action , Adair and Von Stauffenberg decide to screw the brakes on at the rear of the train, so that they can unhitch their bit. They manage to clamber over 2 ore wagons before they have to take cover from rifle fire from the other caboose.
MacLuskey gives covering fire from a precarious perch , as does Jakey. Unusually Mac's shooting is good and he keeps heads down long enough for Adair and Von S to screw the brakes on one wagon. Both losing their belts in the process, and nearly falling off.
A second wagon is braked , allowing the crew to detach the passenger car and caboose. Jakey lingers too long picking Chinese off with his rifle and has to make a deathdefying leap to get back.
The next morning, a train load of Mounties turns up and they are forwarded to Toronto.
They make arrangements to have Moses's poke delivered.
They are summoned to an inner room in the Toronto Mountie HQ, where a shadowy , grey suited figure intoduces himself as Major Compton -Smythe of MI5. He aske the lads to take on the task of finding out why the Chines have stolen the cobalt , and where they have taken it. The full resources of the Empire are at their disposal.
Next week: The Observer's Book of Automatic Weapons
You can always bomb a ship, but you can't torpedo a train" - Captain Michael William Adair, RAF
Supplied with 2 aircraft- a Blackburn Salamander torpedo bomber and a Moth floatplane, the party search tha rail rout from Pinnce George to Prince Rupert and Kitimat. They find a shot up southbound train, a beaten up signalman and cut telegraph wires. The clues lead to an abandoned mine with a recently used dock, foolowing a faint sheen of oil on the water, they see the lightd of a small steamer ahead. These are extinguished as they fly closer, and so the scene is illuminated by flares and petrol bombs. There follows a scene from "Malta Convoy" as the Wolfsburg is bombed and strafed. Several hits and damaging near misses are scored, and Adair is hit by a burst of fire from the ship. Running low on ammo, the chaps fly to Kitimat for resupply, leaving the steamer on fire.
Kitimat proves a disappointment , having no 250lb boms or .303. 3 Sticks of dynamite and a doctor for Adair is all the fishing village can supply.
Next week: shoving bamboo up MacLuskey's fingernails. Probably. Rolling Eyes
"shooting the messenger"
Back in Kitimat, a telegram is delivered to MacLuskey- from British Intelligence reporting the abduction of 3 top scientists from a research station on Vancouver Island. Von S takes umbrage at the telegraph man when he won't tell him the contents , and takes a shot at him, fortunately missing. This results in a bit of explaiining to the Mounties. The two Vons take a rail trolley to the mine to look for pipe to make bombs, and find the missing train and dead crew. much later, back in the hotel, a mysterious ticking is heard, which turns out to be an insect infestation in Von W's leg.
A flight to Vancouver follows, revealing a strong Chinese element to the abduction. A flurry of MI5 telegrams sends the gang up along the Aleutians to rendevous with a British "Q" ship. Following the trail to a burnt out American Met Station, they spot a steamer- the SS Whanghei, known to be carrying Hi Ho . Jakey and MacLuskey take a crack at bombing it, and the Whistling Ninja scores a direct hit. The plane is then hit by AA fire, wounding Mac and damaging the engine.
A conical Island is visible, but the Chinese ship has disappeared by the time the SS Londonderry gets into sight.........
Next Week:- Journey to the Centre of the Earth
"In war, truth is the first victim........"
Captain Leveson's inquiry fails to apportion blame for the sabotage, despite Von Widdler's convincing impersonation of Perry Mason. The ship is searched for a mysterious shadowy figure that allegedly attacked Von Kavanagh QC (4 pages of notes!) after the bombs went off. Thoughts then turn to the business at hand, which is locating the scientists and their abductors. Leaving Jakey to repair the planes, the party set off on an armed recce of the island, landing near a pine forest which has a strange discoloured patch. There is a considerable amount of blundering in the woods. A Chinese sentry is located, however he is out of his brain on opium, and falls easy prey to the Whistling ninja.
The lads make their way up a path he was guarding, only to be heard by another sentry. Von Rumpole of the Bailey engages this chap in a conversation in chinese, while the rest try to sneak up on him. He is not stoned, however, and opens fire with a Tommy gun. Von S and Von W engage fromthe front, while Adair and MacLuskey try an outflanking move . A burst catches Von S in the left arm, putting paid to his sniping, but a head shot fron Von W finishes the exchange. Reinforcements arrive, and the party beat a dscrete retreat.
Further down the path the find a camouflaged dock with a submarine parked. The guards are alert and fire on them . The gang decide to return to the boat, takingthe stoned guard with them. Sadly, a stray round from their pursuers takes his head off at the last moment, and he therefore won't answer any questions.
Back on the ship the boys launch an air raid , which catches the Whanghei in the sectret entrance, and a bomb hitting the bridge causes it to run aground blocking the hitherto secret channel. Another bomb wrecks the submarine dock.
The Royal Marines storm the front entrance, while Adair and co attack the tunnel on the other side.
The fighting is over when the lads arrive in the main base. Hi Ho and Li Chi are not among the prisoners, and the scientists are not there........
Next week: "I put it to you , m'lud" -another installment of our thrilling courtroom drama.
"Duck"
There is a lot of dial twiddling, sadly the first combination tried- 888- sets off an explosion which blocks the tunnel behind them. Finally guessing the correct numbers, by listening to the tumblers, our heroic gang break into a short corridor with another locked door ahead . The lock is swiftly dealt with by Jakey adding cordite to the lock. MacLuskey burns his hand on the handle, triggering a series of bungles:-
1. Adair drinks the brandy from the decanter, nearly killing himself, as it is poisoned. MacLuskey joins him in the poison club.
2. Jakey opens the filing cabinet, neatly pulling the pin out of a grenade. He reacts by closing the drawer........
The grenade nearly does for the lot of them , although, bizarrely, Jakey is almost unhurt. The now nervous gang decide to leave the safe well alone! . The room is apparently a dead end, but another secret door is found, with more dials. Jakey opens this , triggering the rifle with the string round it's trigger. Luckily, this is the escape tunnel and the lads are picked up by ship's boats from the Londonderry.
Next stop is Shanghai, wher thonly cluse they have lead them- a shipping manifest and a fragment of headed paper which says ".....g Wei Martial Arts Academy, Shanghai".
They bid a fond farewell to Captain Leveson and the Londonderry, and are left on the quayside with their luggage. It is at this point that our "alert" (TM) party discover that Duk Boi has left a present for them. Perched on their dunnage is what appears to be a duck, with it's head turned at right angles. Reactions are mixed.
Adair runs after Duk Boi. Jakey and Von W dive for cover. Von S tries to throw the duck into the harbour. Badly. MacLuskey is intrigued, and says that he is going to look along the same angle as the duck's head, to see what it's looking at.......
Adair finally loses the chase, and is set upon by 4 thugs, having eventually to take refuge on the roof of a tenement. There is a protaracted period of terror , punctuated by Mrs Wong chucking things at him for breaking her window. Eventually he manages to catch a ledge and break into an empty flat, then return to the scene of the tragedy. Von S is badly injured. Jakey is largely unhurt, as usual. MacLuskey has lost his head. Von Widdler is so upset at the loss of his friend, that he has to search his body for a keepsake....... Confused
The Shanghai Police arrive on the scene at this point, and spirit the sad remnants off in a Black Maria.
Adair shows their MI5 Letter to the Inspector, and he offers the assistance of a local guide- Wei Mee, who is languishing in their cells at the moment.
Wei Mee is a local beggar, who has picked up a little English in the course of his early career. Considering he's a beggar, he is remarkably well built........... Shocked
Next Episode: A little trouble in big China
...in which Von Stauffenberg displays psychopathic tendencies.....
Having breakfasted well at the Great Eastern, the chaps head out into the Bund to make enquiries as to the source of the SS Whanghei. Eagle eyed Whei Mei, and Von S, spots a chinese gent in a homberg and suit following them . They dive up a side street and hide, Von S preparing various weapons.
to continue:
The shadow is immediately suspicious when the gang are not visible, and so heads off on business of his own. He eventually enters a 2nd hand bookshop near the South station, and is seen purchasing something. Von S has to be restrained from throwing a Mills Bomb into the shop. The shadow then takes a taxi, which is caught in traffic. Von S pulls the pin on the grenade,but is persuaded to put it back in. The bookseller is questioned, and is bribed into revealing that the man bought Young Folks Magazine 1881-1882, for a large sum of money.
Our intrepid heroes follow his taxi to a luxury apartment. Why Me listens at the door and hears some puzzling noises- Von S returns to the street to watch for an escape, while the rest break in. The bird has flown through a window and fire escape, but the lads find the following:
The magazines, discarded and with the pages with prime numbers torn out.
A letter from Captain Robert North, thanking Robert Luis Stevenson for disguising the true story of the Nostra SenHora Do Cabo, treasure ship taken near Reunion island in the Indian ocean. The letter refers to numbers hiding the whereabouts of the treasure and concludes by saying " I can see the location , as I read".
A card for the Wong Wei Martial Arts Academy.
The gang leave by the window, Von S having established that the shadow had escaped through the back garden. Von S booby traps the piano with his grenade......
Returning to the original purpose of their expedition, the party cross to Pouding to investigate the shipping company that loaded the SS Whanghei.
There, they spot, and are spotted by Duk Boi. Jakey and Von Widdler give chase and run into Hi Ho at the back of the warehouse. SHE gives them a kicking (although not a badly as she could have done- I forgot to add her strength!) but is creased by a bullet and SHE legs it. 2 acolytes are killed.
A search of the files reveals that the electrical gear and machine tools were consigned from Harbin by the Petropavlosvsk Machinery Cooperative.
Luckily, Von S has run out of grenades.
Next Week- A trip to the grenade shop..........
or Who is Player 6? Why is Player 6? Where is Player 6? Is there a Player 7?
"Messing About On the River"
Our tireless investigators establish that the the Whanhei's cargo was shipped for the Blue Dragon Investment Company. Jakey and Von Widdler then remember that Hi Ho had a blue dragon embroidered on HER clothes........
Returning to the riverside, the gang settle into a motor boat for the trip iver the river. It is peaceful for a short distance until their driver jumps overboard and they spot a launch heading straight for them! Why Me tries to steer away, but discovers the outboard has been bolted and can't be steeres. The also notice that the approaching launch has sprouted a tommy gun. The exchange of fire is brief- the chinese coming off worst. Using his initiative, Adair runs forward and , realising Why Me has not got Jakey's skill with a spanner. Leaps onto the launch just before the collision. Jakey, Von S and Why Me are thown into the river as the boat breaks up, but Von W goes down (probably not for the first time Shocked ) Jakey rescues him (after a bit of confusion over his motives Laughing ).
Adiar takes control of the launch and picks them all up. Questioning of the Chinese survivor confirms that he is a blue dragon, and that they were sent to kill the lads by Hi Ho. He reveals that they are high up in the organisation, and that his immediate boss is called Ah Pung. He is a docker and works about a mile upriver.
Cap'n Adair imeediately lays in a course, as they have a description. On arrival, Why Me is sent off to lure Ah Pung into an ambush, resulting in Why me being stabbed and chased by men with crowbars.........
The others bravely leave him to his fate..........
Next Week: Never get off the boat........
"not waving, but drowning"
Wei Mei's combat starts well, as he drops one of his assailants with a pistol shot, but as he steps backwards to avoid the secnd crowbar man, he trips over a coil of rope, and falls into the Whang Poo River. Sadly he cannort swim and starts drowning, a process hastened by crowbar man dropping things on him from above. Only one crate connects- breaking Wei Mei's leg.
Meanwhile the others have sneaked up behind the cargo ship and climbed on board, using the launch's anchor as a grapnel. Von W and Jakeey stay o the launch to "guard it". Adair and Von S are spotted from the bridge, and a gunfight breaks out. Ah Pung is hit twice on the head and Adair and Von S drag him back to the side Sadly the drop to the deck of the launch breaks his neck, and he lands on the wounded prisoner , killing him. Von W gets hit by rifle fire from the bridge, and Von S takes a nasty blow from a fire axe before they can escape and rescue Wei Mei.
Back at the Consulate, Captain Watkins has supplied them with a car, which they use to take WM to hospital- leg in stukie. Von S is perusing the latest edition of the North China Daily News in the waiting room when he reads the banner headline
" Tragic Death of German Consul's Son!"
It appears that Herr Fink was employed as a piano tuner, and had been called to a rented luxury flat to check out a piano that was being taken back to the dealers............... Rolling Eyes
Next week- too many clues...
"Rummaging in Li Chi's drawers"
After the strenuous event in Poudong, Mick has a few nightcaps, and happily gives an in depth interview to the "Shanghai Star" a local scurrilous rag.......
The happy crew pose for press photos outside the Lester Hospital, as they pick up Wei Mei, complete with cast.
The streets are quiet, due to an absence of native Chinese, occasioned by a betting scandal at the racetrack, where it appears that a steward has been nobbled, causing the disqualification of a horse heavily backed by the locals, in favour of a horse called Blue Dragon....
Heading back to the Consulate, the party encounters crowds of disgruntled Chinese Punters, egged on by Nationalists, and head for the safety of the river as a full sized riot starts, The police , Shanghai Volunteer Defence Force and the Army are called out to contain the trouble.
Wei Mei suggests that they use the distraction to raid the Wong Wei Academy, using a boat to outflank the riot.
Von S scales the building and enters from above, while the others use the stairs. Most of the place is empty, but two guards are summoned when Jakey has a go at a door marked private, in the ensuing fight the two guards are dispatched, partly by Wei Mei and his crutch and partly by Von Widdler's wooden leg. Von S takes a bullet, but sportingly gives the baddie a chance to get away before shooting him in the back.
A search provides a cashed betting slip, and a phone number, which proves to be the booking office for the North Station. Despite previous experience, the gang check the filing cabinets, but leave the safe alone. Oddly. Ho Hum.
Having etablished that the Blue Dragons have left for Tientsin, a plane is chartered to overtake the train, overflying heavy fighting on the way.
Tientsin proves to be an armed camp , full of warlord troops. The only Western hotel appears to be a Headquarters.
Next instalment:- " Last stand at Apache Pass"
Enter Colonel Tumbelova..........
As the party are watching the HQ, several things happen:-
A train arrives in the station, and unloads wounded
A fast car arrives, and a glamourous redhead gets out , is saluted by the guards, and disappears inside. Judging by her weapon, she may be Russian.
a motorcycle and sidecar arrive, and a messenger hands in a radio flimsy
Wei Mei is dispatched to hand a note to the redhead, offering to "assist". Naturally he is arrested. He is interrogated by Colonel Ivanna Tumbelova, and since he clearly knows little of value, is sent to bring his friends in.
In the meantime , Col Tumbelova has sent troops out to arrest the counter revolutionary spies she was warned of in the radio message. Sensing danger, Von Stauffenberg ties a grenade to the front door of the house, and the lads flee, leaving Wei Mei to his grisly fate.
Eventually Wei Mei is finds the party , and they go to speak to the glamourous Colonel.
She seems keen to make use of the party- the warlord she is "advising" is fighting against Yan Xishan (who Li Chi and Hi Ho are tied in with). They are sent on their way , having been told the whereabouts of Yan Xishan's HQ.
Puzzled, and on the streets, the gang stumble across a tank and an armoured car parked carelessly outside a barracks. These are duly stolen, although the tank proves a disappointment as a battering ram, and is abandoned. Wei Mei manages to penetrate the armoured car with a machine gun bullet from the tank (careless aiming!) and wounds Jakey.
Next week:- "The Warwagon"
"Snakes!, Why does it always have to be snakes!"
Adair parks the Austin for the night, due to a lack of headlights. He is snoozing happily when he becomes aware of a alithering nois and a faint hiss. His initial thought that Von Widdler was leaking again, is dispelled as an ophidean smell washes over him, and he feels the grip of a python. His friends, now awake, come to the rescue with a flurry of inaccurate knife thrusts and several shots, one of wich ricochets round the inside of the car, wounding Von Widdler. Finally the snake is killed, beating Adair to it by a short head. There follows sustained gurgling as Adair drains his hip flask.
Proceeding on their merry way ,they become aware of a shortage of petrol , and a a pursuing dustcloud. Stopping to face off their pursuers, the car gets ditched. The pursuers turn out to be Col Tumbelova, accompanied by an armoured car, some cavalry and a field gun. The next few minutes are quite exciting, as they come under (wildly innacurate) shellfire.
Fleeing skillfully, they outdistance pursuit, and Von S craters the road with his beloved satchel charge, Fritzi.
Eventually they arrive in a small town with a railway station. There is an engine and flatcars in the siding. All they need is someone who can drive a train........
Next week:- "The Cannonball Express"
All together now- "Mick Adair, steaming and a' rollin'."
The party finally hit the buffers..........
The armoured car is finally loaded on the train, by an equally loaded Adair, and they set off down the line in the gathering dark. All is well till they meet the 8.15 coming the other way. There follows some rapid reversing and lamplighting. Jakey accidentally abandons the train for the comforts of a paddy field in the process.
In the morning, as they approach their terminus, Adair stops the train about 500yds from the station and Wei Mei and a mud covered Jakey are sent forward. No, I don't know why either.
The soldiers on the platform ask for papers as the ill assorted duo approach. This results in two different reactions- Wei Mei surrenders and Jakey legs it , being gunned down in the process. Adair sets the train in motion as Von S and Von W man the armoured car turrets. Von W's shooting is erratic and he only succeeeds in hitting Wei Mei, who is trying to scramble onto the platform, hampered by his stookie. A stray bullet bursts a steam pipe in the engine cab, and Adair can't find the controls.
There follows a slow motion scene as :-
1. Wei Mei dives between the train wheels
2. The engine hits the buffers and derails, rolling over. Adair gets badly knocked about
3. The wagon derails and the armoured car falls over. Von W is trapped in his turret, where there is a terrible smell of mixed petrol and wee.
4. Von S's turret comes off with him grimly hanging onto the Hotchkiss and muttering about grenades.
The ragged remnants of the party are dragged off to jail- where all of the incriminating stuff and weapons are taken from them. Altruistically, Von W denounces Wei Mei as a communist. This is unnecessary, as they have found Tumbelova's pass on him anyway.
The commander announces they are to be shot in the morning. This they know anyway , as they can see them setting up the machine gun and 5 posts......
The only ray of light is the grenade concealed in Von Widdler's wooden leg. A number of abortive plans are discussed, including Wei Mei's suggestion that they stuff their dinner (boiled rice) into the lock in the hope that it will expand and destroy the lock.
Adair decides using the explosive from the grenade would work better. Von S decides that he will dismantle the grenade. Rule No1 do not take the pin out first and drop it outside the cell .
Next Week:- "Jailhouse Rock"
....in which Von Stauffenberg gets some grenades.
After some failed attempts, the cell lock is blown off, some of the mechanism ending in Wei Mei. There follows a wild rush as the guard is dispatched and disarmed. Jakey appropriates "Rusty" the bayonet. Von W frees the other prisoners, and the building is cleared- von S scaled the building and lobbed his precious Mills Bomb intho the upper floor. There are enough weapons to arm everyone (Wei Mei now has 2 broomhandle Mausers). Boxes of ammo, and 12 Japanese grenades.
in the yard is a car, and a Maxim. The shooting party set off , the maxim occupying one of the seats, Wei Mei in the boot. Things go horribly wrong, as when they turn into the street, Tumbelova has arrived with her minions. Von W decides that he would be a better target if he jumped out of the car. And so it transpired, as he took a bullet in the pickelhaube.
The Warlord's forces arrive to fight Tumbelova, and Von W makes a break for it to cross the street, stopping another round in the process. Jakey manages to rescue him.
Adair builds a bridge to help escape.
Later that night, after driving up a track, the gang find the secret hideout. A local coolie supplies information on a secret entrance in the cliff (actually it's an emergency escape tunnel). Von W rather unkiindly introduces him to "Rusty".
After some rope stealing , climbing, swimming, climbing and bat doodging, the party is nearly overcome by Carbon Monoxide fumes. Tracing the source to exhaust pipes from generators, Jakey breaks down a wall and the party emerge into a generator room. Jakey "Rusty's" a guard and they find a lab, with the three missing scientists.
Moving further along, they find a room. A spot of door listening reveals the voices of Hi Ho and Li Chi, with a third, male .
Ever willing to let bygones be bygones, the team lob 5 hand grenades into the room, which is very large, and has a fish tank let into the floor . The gang of three are in the lounge area on the far side of the room. As the grenades arc through the air, the girls leap from the chairs, as does a tall thin figure, of vaguely middle eastern appearance. His hand reaches for a lever on the wall near the door........
Next Week: Player 6 unmasked? Shocked Shocked Will he show off his scars? Wink
What's in the fish tank? Shocked Who bought these crappy Jap grenades? Shocked
No kidding boys, they have impact fuses.........
"Tubes and Balloons" No Kidding, I hear you say.........
Rushing into the roomafter a seies of bangs, the gang are just in time to see Number Six drop a switch on the far side of the room. The lights go out, and there is a locking noise from the door behind them. Adair , using his lighter, fumbles over to the other side of the room, avoiding the fish pond, and finds a light switch. He also hears a gurgling noise, but this time it's not von W's nether regions (not yet). The carpet is wet, and it looks as if the fish tank is overflowing.
An examination of the room reveals:- a locked cupboard with 5 sets of submarine escape breather sets. oops. there are 8 in the party now.
An atlas, slightly damp.
An unexploded grenade.
Expensive drink. Adair refills his hip flask.
furniture
a rising water level and carniverous fish
2 locked steel doors- yes Von S tested grenades on them
2 18" ventilation grilles on the ceiling
Von S leaps into action, and the others help build him a furniture tower. He unscrews the grille, revealing an 18" diameter duct .
The rising water is now a problem, and von W is bitten badly by a pirhana, which then dies...
eventually they all manage to get into the duct, and at the far end, von S disables the fan with his Webley, then they all drop into a machinery room.
Along the corridor from there there are two guards, guarding a door marked "Hangar". There is a short exchange of gunfire, and they are disabled. In the hangar there is a small dirigible, and a space wher another dirigible had been. Visible out of the mouth of the cave is a dirigible, dirigibling off into the distance.
The lads give chase, but Adair scrapes the gasbag off the walls of the cave, and they are delayed while the "Human Fly" AKA Von S gets the rubber solution out.
The trace proves futile, and there is not enough lift left to get back to Shanghai. Adair eventually finds a gap in the mountains and they head south for Hong Kong.
As night falls they are buzzed by a warlord biplane, and a brief consultation between Adair and Von S results in them partially pulling the rip panel. Sploosh! into a paddy field........
They take shelter in a village, and are awakened by the sound of approaching trucks........
Next week:- "The Crab with the Golden Claws"
Awaiting the arrival of the warlord troops, the gang take cover in a barn. It proves a fairly routine task to relieve the Chinese of one of their trucks . Wei Mei looses off a 10 round burst from his Mauser (Von W had nicked the other one). One round goes the petrol tank of the other lorry. Of which more later..........
The party set off pursued by the other truck. Sadly , Von S (driving) and Wei Mei start squabbling over the remaining Mauser. Von S, going Psychotic, shoots the hapless Chinaman, having carefully stopped the truck first. ignoring the pursuit.......
Luckily,Jakey lobs a grenade into the cab of the enemy truck,setting off the fuel leak as well. This ends the pursuit! Wei Mei and Adair swop places .
eventually the gang reach a town, and and storm into the aerodrome . Hurrah Aircraft! Oops- there are only 2 Camels.
Discovering that they are only a hundred miles north of the New Territories, they set off, Adair and Jakey flying top cover to deter pursuit.
Next Week: Hong Kong Phooey