Raulf, an Adventure of Sorts by Paul Audcent - HTML preview

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

By the time Carol had returned with Mrs. Mac, the Sicilians were safely in the hands of the army squad. Major Porter had rung his boss and appraised him with the position. The squad was ordered to Heathrow where a RAF 727 was to take the prisoners to Moscow for interrogation. Vincent had delivered the Don and returned with Terry, as a guide to pick up the second vehicle the twins would later deliver the cars back to the nearest Hertz base. In the meantime Raulf uncorked the wine, opened a flagon of cider whilst Misha set about an enormous omelette in two pans to feed the starving. By the time they were all seated in the dining room it was close to two in the morning.

Tinker raised his glass to the twins. They all applauded. Eric rose his large frame up to respond.

“Of course tomorrow we will need to take it all down again, and Saturday being what it is means….”

“Double rates” concluded Tinker.

“Vincent is it finished at last?” Misha raised his large brown eyes to the swarthy little Sicilian.

“It is Misha, Sir Hubert has received your naturalisation papers, and you are now a free and British person.”

“That means you’ll have to pay VAT and income tax and vote for a lot of snobberies in parliament and it will be all grind, grind, and.”

“Stop it Tinker, poor Misha will have second thoughts,” cried Carol. And Tinker and I have an announcement, We are pregnant,”

“Both of you.” Terry asked in wonder.

“Only one us Terry but the other will I’m sure be supportive, especially when the morning sickness arrives.”

They all drank to Carol’s health and Mrs. Mac celebrated by producing a sherry trifle she had made and refrigerated.

Raulf gave a moving speech and thanked them all for their help. Before Tinker left with Carol and the twins he had a question he’d been meaning to ask all night.

“And what’s that Tinker?” said a relaxed and merry Vincent.

“That strange owl call. Dick and I heard it twice and neither of us had our lips to the Owl horn. That was definitely not one our barn owls.”

“No, you’re right Tinker, I bet it was a naturalised one though foreign or not.” Vincent smiled his laconic smile. “From me I thank you all as well, a year ago I was not free, today I am. I doubt Raulf you will get much compensation from HM government, however I think having Misha is compensation enough. As long as he stays away from shotguns.”

“True,” said Raulf but he didn’t elaborate.

     The End.