Ben Hansen
Fifteen connecting flights later, Ben, Hugh and a drowsy Poirot landed in their home town. Poirot was taken into custody by the police, and Ben and Hugh were applauded.
Then they went to visit Mrs. Marple. As Jeeves told them, she was asleep, so they visited the next day.
"So you finally caught him," Marple said.
"Indeed we did," Hugh imaginatively replied.
"And now you can clean up the body," Ben added.
"Hurrah!" cried Jeeves, who grabbed a toilet brush and a bottle of Domestos and fled toward the mouldy corpse.
"That just leaves the matter of payment," Ben said hopefully.
"I was never paying you, remember?" Marple sternly replied.
"Yeah, but we were hoping you wouldn't," Hugh answered.
"Oh, I'll tell you what. I'll pay for your expenses, leaving you exactly as poor as before this entire debacle began," Marple conceded. "Now go away before I change my mind, it's time for my nap."
They did as commanded.
"Well, it's finally over," Ben said.
"Yep, now we can do something else," Hugh answered.
"But what?"
"Walk home?"
"Deal!"
THE END
Showing posts with label 03 - Murder At Marple Manor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 03 - Murder At Marple Manor. Show all posts
Monday, December 25, 2006
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LXV
Hugh Hamilton
The moment before the chloroform took effect, Poirot had the decency to thank Ben and Hugh for using such a fine bottle, which cheered the pair up immensely. They stood there gooey-eyed for a moment as Poirot slapped the ground.
"He's not such as bad guy after all," said Hugh, as he dragged Poirot out of the hanger.
"Yeah," concurred Ben.
Eventually they made it to the plane that was headed for Easter Island and quickly shifted Poirot aboard.
"Where's this plane going?" said Ben.
"Easter Island," answered Hugh.
"Oh."
There was a nifty pause.
"Shouldn't we be going home?"
"Perhaps."
"As in shouldn't we take another plane?"
"Too late," said Hugh as the plane rose.
The moment before the chloroform took effect, Poirot had the decency to thank Ben and Hugh for using such a fine bottle, which cheered the pair up immensely. They stood there gooey-eyed for a moment as Poirot slapped the ground.
"He's not such as bad guy after all," said Hugh, as he dragged Poirot out of the hanger.
"Yeah," concurred Ben.
Eventually they made it to the plane that was headed for Easter Island and quickly shifted Poirot aboard.
"Where's this plane going?" said Ben.
"Easter Island," answered Hugh.
"Oh."
There was a nifty pause.
"Shouldn't we be going home?"
"Perhaps."
"As in shouldn't we take another plane?"
"Too late," said Hugh as the plane rose.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LXIV
Ben Hansen
They both moved towards Poirot menacingly.
"When you say left, do you mean..." Ben slapped himself comically and turned back to Poirot.
"Look, you killed somebody. We're here to take you in and make you pay."
"Nope," Poirot said.
"What?" Hugh asked.
"I refuse."
Ben and Hugh stepped aside.
"So what do we do now?" Ben asked.
"Chloroform?"
"Sounds good to me."
"And guess what I have here," Hugh replied, plling out a vintage bottle of '94 Green Acres chloroform.
"Where did you get that?"
"The biker dwarves. How did you THINK we got their bike so easily?"
They both moved towards Poirot menacingly.
"When you say left, do you mean..." Ben slapped himself comically and turned back to Poirot.
"Look, you killed somebody. We're here to take you in and make you pay."
"Nope," Poirot said.
"What?" Hugh asked.
"I refuse."
Ben and Hugh stepped aside.
"So what do we do now?" Ben asked.
"Chloroform?"
"Sounds good to me."
"And guess what I have here," Hugh replied, plling out a vintage bottle of '94 Green Acres chloroform.
"Where did you get that?"
"The biker dwarves. How did you THINK we got their bike so easily?"
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LXIII
Hugh Hamilton
"Did you say turn left at the sign or turn right?" blabbed Hugh.
"Left," said Poirot.
"Thanks."
Hugh walked back towards a sneering Ben with his eyes firmly aimed at the ground.
"Good work Hugh!" mocked Ben. "Now we've got him."
"Yeah, yeah."
"If we can't talk to him what can we do?"
"I guess we could punch him," said Hugh, "then drag him to a plane with some chloroform or something."
"Fine," laughed Ben. "Go ahead."
"What? Me?"
"Yes..."
"No way. I did it last time."
"You did not. You've never punched anyone in your life."
"Well I've thought about it."
"Look," said Ben, "let's just go over there and both talk to him."
"Did you say turn left at the sign or turn right?" blabbed Hugh.
"Left," said Poirot.
"Thanks."
Hugh walked back towards a sneering Ben with his eyes firmly aimed at the ground.
"Good work Hugh!" mocked Ben. "Now we've got him."
"Yeah, yeah."
"If we can't talk to him what can we do?"
"I guess we could punch him," said Hugh, "then drag him to a plane with some chloroform or something."
"Fine," laughed Ben. "Go ahead."
"What? Me?"
"Yes..."
"No way. I did it last time."
"You did not. You've never punched anyone in your life."
"Well I've thought about it."
"Look," said Ben, "let's just go over there and both talk to him."
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LXII
Ben Hansen
They walked towards Poirot. As he looked up, Ben stepped forwards, a commanding expression on his face. Poirot stared at him expectantly, apparently not recognising him. As Ben opened his mouth, all sound in the hangar stopped expectantly.
"Um, hi. We're a bit lost," said Ben. "Can you please point us towards the customs area?"
"Go that way and turn left at the sign," Poirot said, waving vaguely. Thanking him, Ben walked back toward Hugh.
"What the hell was that?" Hugh asked when Ben reached him.
"I felt a little embarrassed," said Ben the introvert. "I mean, you can't just walk up to somebody and say "Excuse me, remember us, we're the guys who saw you kill a man several weeks ago, can you come with us? It wouldn't exactly be the best way to start a conversation."
"Let me handle this," Hugh sneered and moved towards the now prostate Poirot.
They walked towards Poirot. As he looked up, Ben stepped forwards, a commanding expression on his face. Poirot stared at him expectantly, apparently not recognising him. As Ben opened his mouth, all sound in the hangar stopped expectantly.
"Um, hi. We're a bit lost," said Ben. "Can you please point us towards the customs area?"
"Go that way and turn left at the sign," Poirot said, waving vaguely. Thanking him, Ben walked back toward Hugh.
"What the hell was that?" Hugh asked when Ben reached him.
"I felt a little embarrassed," said Ben the introvert. "I mean, you can't just walk up to somebody and say "Excuse me, remember us, we're the guys who saw you kill a man several weeks ago, can you come with us? It wouldn't exactly be the best way to start a conversation."
"Let me handle this," Hugh sneered and moved towards the now prostate Poirot.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LXI
Hugh Hamilton
"Quables aside, let's go," urged Hugh.
"Are you sure ‘qaubles’ was the right word there?"
Hugh decided not to respond and headed towards the hanger. Luckily, Ben followed.
"Are you authorised to be here?" asked a balding official.
"Indeed we are," said Ben with enormous confidence.
"Can I see some ID?"
Hugh and Ben carefully retrieved the two doctored ID cards from their pockets and handed them to the man.
"Hmm," he said. "All right, you can go through."
And go through they did.
"You can really work wonders with a biro," bragged Hugh.
"Yeah, yeah, good work," admitted Ben.
Eventually they found themselves in an enormous open space. A plane to their left was being worked on by various uniformed men. Sitting on his own near a big stack of suitcases was Poirot.
"Ah, good," said Hugh.
"Quables aside, let's go," urged Hugh.
"Are you sure ‘qaubles’ was the right word there?"
Hugh decided not to respond and headed towards the hanger. Luckily, Ben followed.
"Are you authorised to be here?" asked a balding official.
"Indeed we are," said Ben with enormous confidence.
"Can I see some ID?"
Hugh and Ben carefully retrieved the two doctored ID cards from their pockets and handed them to the man.
"Hmm," he said. "All right, you can go through."
And go through they did.
"You can really work wonders with a biro," bragged Hugh.
"Yeah, yeah, good work," admitted Ben.
Eventually they found themselves in an enormous open space. A plane to their left was being worked on by various uniformed men. Sitting on his own near a big stack of suitcases was Poirot.
"Ah, good," said Hugh.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LX
Ben Hansen
"So, how's about that game last week?" The short person about Hugh's height said.
"Yes, it was something all right," replied the big guy about Ben's height.
Suddenly, a high-pitched keening noise insinuated itself into their consciousness. After a few more seconds, they realised it was Ben and Hugh, screaming, riding the motorbike they'd stolen from the dwarves. They had realised too late that neither of them could ride a motorbike. A large crash and an awkward silence later, Ben and Hugh limped away from the two guys and the wreckage of the motorbike in their new outfits.
"You know, we didn't have to drive directly into them," Ben said.
"So why did you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you were driving weren't you?"
"I thought YOU were driving!"
"So, how's about that game last week?" The short person about Hugh's height said.
"Yes, it was something all right," replied the big guy about Ben's height.
Suddenly, a high-pitched keening noise insinuated itself into their consciousness. After a few more seconds, they realised it was Ben and Hugh, screaming, riding the motorbike they'd stolen from the dwarves. They had realised too late that neither of them could ride a motorbike. A large crash and an awkward silence later, Ben and Hugh limped away from the two guys and the wreckage of the motorbike in their new outfits.
"You know, we didn't have to drive directly into them," Ben said.
"So why did you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you were driving weren't you?"
"I thought YOU were driving!"
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LIX
Hugh Hamilton
"What, the drink?"
"No," said Hugh, "the stuff with that guy."
"Oh."
"You see, what I meant was, let's get this case over quickly so I can have a drink."
"Yes, I quite understood."
"Then there's no need to dwell on the subject anymore."
"I agree," said Ben. "Let's go."
"How do we get a permit?" asked Hugh.
"I assume we have to get hired."
A pause.
"Or," said Ben suddenly, "we could just sneak in."
"That sounds easier."
"But…"
"But what?"
"But unfortunately we are hopelessly inept at sneaking."
"Oh."
"My sentiments exactly."
"Do we have to steal people's uniforms then?"
"Yes, my son."
"Right... how about those two?"
"You mean the small guy about your height, and the big guy about my height?"
"Uh, yes," said Hugh, moving his pointed finger away from the two enormously fat dwarves on a motorbike.
"What, the drink?"
"No," said Hugh, "the stuff with that guy."
"Oh."
"You see, what I meant was, let's get this case over quickly so I can have a drink."
"Yes, I quite understood."
"Then there's no need to dwell on the subject anymore."
"I agree," said Ben. "Let's go."
"How do we get a permit?" asked Hugh.
"I assume we have to get hired."
A pause.
"Or," said Ben suddenly, "we could just sneak in."
"That sounds easier."
"But…"
"But what?"
"But unfortunately we are hopelessly inept at sneaking."
"Oh."
"My sentiments exactly."
"Do we have to steal people's uniforms then?"
"Yes, my son."
"Right... how about those two?"
"You mean the small guy about your height, and the big guy about my height?"
"Uh, yes," said Hugh, moving his pointed finger away from the two enormously fat dwarves on a motorbike.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LVIII
Ben Hansen
"There's a small problem though."
"Mmm?"
"We can't get in."
"Why not?"
"The security guys won't allow anybody in without a permit."
"So we need a permit to get in?"
"Indeed."
"The plot thickens."
"Oh, I think it's plenty thick enough."
"Whatever. I need a drink. Let's get this thing over with quickly," Said Hugh.
"There's a small problem though."
"Mmm?"
"We can't get in."
"Why not?"
"The security guys won't allow anybody in without a permit."
"So we need a permit to get in?"
"Indeed."
"The plot thickens."
"Oh, I think it's plenty thick enough."
"Whatever. I need a drink. Let's get this thing over with quickly," Said Hugh.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LVII
Hugh Hamilton
Hugh carefully made his way down the cliff with the aid of a well trodden, albeit steep, path.
"Hello Ben," he said, presumably to Ben.
"Oh hello," replied Ben.
"Isn't this odd," commented Hugh
"Indeed it is."
There followed a healthy pause.
"So," said Hugh, "where are the bookshops?"
"In there I assume," said Ben, pointing in there.
Hugh rubbed his hands greedily.
"You coming?" he said.
"What about the case?" protested Ben.
Hugh's face dropped into oblivion.
"Sigh," sighed Hugh aloud.
"He's in that hanging somewhere."
"All right, let's go."
Hugh carefully made his way down the cliff with the aid of a well trodden, albeit steep, path.
"Hello Ben," he said, presumably to Ben.
"Oh hello," replied Ben.
"Isn't this odd," commented Hugh
"Indeed it is."
There followed a healthy pause.
"So," said Hugh, "where are the bookshops?"
"In there I assume," said Ben, pointing in there.
Hugh rubbed his hands greedily.
"You coming?" he said.
"What about the case?" protested Ben.
Hugh's face dropped into oblivion.
"Sigh," sighed Hugh aloud.
"He's in that hanging somewhere."
"All right, let's go."
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LVI
Ben Hansen
After three hours of wandering around in the caves, Ben stumbled into an enormous cavern filled with shiny things.
"What the hell...?" he muttered, stepping into the seemingly deserted area. And then, he saw it.
The plane was here! Ben knew it was their plane, because of the little Poirot-like man stepping out of it. He stood and started to walk over, when a group of people that looked like airport officials appeared and stopped him.
"Do you have a permit to be in this hangar?" One asked.
"What hangar?"
"The one you're standing in."
"But this is a cave on a desert island!"
"No, it's an airplane hangar."
"Then why does it look like a cave and have a massive labyrinth in the back?"
"Atmosphere, sir."
"Whatever. Look, you see that man there?" Ben pointed to Poirot. "He killed somebody!"
"Did he have a permit?"
"No! It's illegal! Arrest him!"
"But he has a permit."
"But he's a murderer!"
This was apparently too much for the officials to understand, for they picked Ben up and threw him bodily out the doors.
Picking himself up, Ben looked around. He was, indeed, outside a hangar in a massive airport.
"Odd," he said, looking around.
After three hours of wandering around in the caves, Ben stumbled into an enormous cavern filled with shiny things.
"What the hell...?" he muttered, stepping into the seemingly deserted area. And then, he saw it.
The plane was here! Ben knew it was their plane, because of the little Poirot-like man stepping out of it. He stood and started to walk over, when a group of people that looked like airport officials appeared and stopped him.
"Do you have a permit to be in this hangar?" One asked.
"What hangar?"
"The one you're standing in."
"But this is a cave on a desert island!"
"No, it's an airplane hangar."
"Then why does it look like a cave and have a massive labyrinth in the back?"
"Atmosphere, sir."
"Whatever. Look, you see that man there?" Ben pointed to Poirot. "He killed somebody!"
"Did he have a permit?"
"No! It's illegal! Arrest him!"
"But he has a permit."
"But he's a murderer!"
This was apparently too much for the officials to understand, for they picked Ben up and threw him bodily out the doors.
Picking himself up, Ben looked around. He was, indeed, outside a hangar in a massive airport.
"Odd," he said, looking around.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LV
Hugh Hamilton
Inside the cockpit, Hugh found a very small, but very real gorilla flicking various switches and controls at, what looked like to Hugh, random. He stood there dumbfounded for as long as he could stand.
"Excuse me," he said, somehow expecting the gorilla to respond.
It didn't respond verbally but it did manage to turn and give him an angry glare. Hugh immediately felt embarrassed to have disturbed it and quickly backed out of the cockpit. He stumbled into a passenger who had just got up to use the little boys/girls room (he wasn't sure yet).
"What are you doing here?" said Mrs Marple as Hugh picked himself off the ground.
"I really don't know," said Hugh flatly.
"Oh."
A pause, and then;
"What are YOU doing here?"
"Me?" said Mrs Marple.
"Yes..."
"Oh, well I'm just going to Easter Island."
"Is this Easter Island?" asked Hugh.
"No, I'm just waiting for a connecting flight."
"Here?"
"Yes."
"On this small desert island?"
"Yes."
"On this small, deserted desert island?"
"Well it's not really deserted is it?"
"Yes it is."
"Haven't you noticed all the planes?"
"This is the only plane I've seen."
"And you call yourself a detective?"
"Actually, I call myself Hugh."
Mrs Marple dribbled a sarcastic laugh.
"Go about a mile that way," she said, pointing to the left.
Hugh shrugged and walked out of the plane in the specified direction. A mile later, he found himself at a cliff, noted by a nice boulder wedged in the ground. He carefully crawled up to the edge and looked down.
"Odd," he said, looking at the enormous airport below.
Inside the cockpit, Hugh found a very small, but very real gorilla flicking various switches and controls at, what looked like to Hugh, random. He stood there dumbfounded for as long as he could stand.
"Excuse me," he said, somehow expecting the gorilla to respond.
It didn't respond verbally but it did manage to turn and give him an angry glare. Hugh immediately felt embarrassed to have disturbed it and quickly backed out of the cockpit. He stumbled into a passenger who had just got up to use the little boys/girls room (he wasn't sure yet).
"What are you doing here?" said Mrs Marple as Hugh picked himself off the ground.
"I really don't know," said Hugh flatly.
"Oh."
A pause, and then;
"What are YOU doing here?"
"Me?" said Mrs Marple.
"Yes..."
"Oh, well I'm just going to Easter Island."
"Is this Easter Island?" asked Hugh.
"No, I'm just waiting for a connecting flight."
"Here?"
"Yes."
"On this small desert island?"
"Yes."
"On this small, deserted desert island?"
"Well it's not really deserted is it?"
"Yes it is."
"Haven't you noticed all the planes?"
"This is the only plane I've seen."
"And you call yourself a detective?"
"Actually, I call myself Hugh."
Mrs Marple dribbled a sarcastic laugh.
"Go about a mile that way," she said, pointing to the left.
Hugh shrugged and walked out of the plane in the specified direction. A mile later, he found himself at a cliff, noted by a nice boulder wedged in the ground. He carefully crawled up to the edge and looked down.
"Odd," he said, looking at the enormous airport below.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LIV
Ben Hansen
The cave apparently led into an enormous labyrinth full of traps, requiring Ben to wander in the general direction of the other man's echoing footsteps for some time. Then, a minotaur appeared before Ben, snarling.
"For God's sake," Ben said softly. "This is ridiculous."
And indeed it was. Closer inspection revealed the minotaur to be nothing but a statue with a tape recorder taped to it. The tape was a delightful medley of snarling noises. Ben turned it off, pocketed the machine, and hastened to follow his mark.
The cave apparently led into an enormous labyrinth full of traps, requiring Ben to wander in the general direction of the other man's echoing footsteps for some time. Then, a minotaur appeared before Ben, snarling.
"For God's sake," Ben said softly. "This is ridiculous."
And indeed it was. Closer inspection revealed the minotaur to be nothing but a statue with a tape recorder taped to it. The tape was a delightful medley of snarling noises. Ben turned it off, pocketed the machine, and hastened to follow his mark.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LIII
Hugh Hamilton
The plane's interior, Hugh discovered, had a delightful air of whimsy about it, mainly due to the strangely unsettling bright grey colour scheme and the carefully arranged baggage down the aisle. But perhaps it was due to the gorgeously lush scenery visible through the cramped windows that stretched out into the distance like an ever-growing droplet of green paint in a pool of fresh spring water. But, then again, perhaps not. Hugh manoeuvred towards the cockpit and carefully stepped inside.
The plane's interior, Hugh discovered, had a delightful air of whimsy about it, mainly due to the strangely unsettling bright grey colour scheme and the carefully arranged baggage down the aisle. But perhaps it was due to the gorgeously lush scenery visible through the cramped windows that stretched out into the distance like an ever-growing droplet of green paint in a pool of fresh spring water. But, then again, perhaps not. Hugh manoeuvred towards the cockpit and carefully stepped inside.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LII
Ben Hansen
Ben and the man wandered in an unspecified direction for some time. Then, eventually, they reached a massive cliff face. Ben was glad to have an opportunity to rest. The man, however, merely wandered up to the cliff and said "Open Sesame." A large boulder moved aside, and the man entered.
"You're kidding," Ben thought to himself. Sighing, he stood and, repeating the password, entered.
Ben and the man wandered in an unspecified direction for some time. Then, eventually, they reached a massive cliff face. Ben was glad to have an opportunity to rest. The man, however, merely wandered up to the cliff and said "Open Sesame." A large boulder moved aside, and the man entered.
"You're kidding," Ben thought to himself. Sighing, he stood and, repeating the password, entered.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter LI
Hugh Hamilton
"How on earth did the plane walk?" said Hugh. "I don't see any hoofs."
Ben cunningly decided not to answer and instead began inspecting the plane.
"Unless," said Hugh mysteriously, "the plane wasn't the one with hoofs. Maybe there is some sort of creature walking around!"
Ben made a quick sequel to his classic novel "Unresponsive" and continued to snoop around. At that very moment, a self-motivated staircase unfolded itself from the plane and nestled gently into the earth below. Hugh and Ben eagerly looked up at the now open doorway near the front of the plane. A man in an extremely shoddy, gorilla-like monster suit carefully stepped out. Behind him, he dragged a bulky beige bag with a crude American dollar symbol painstakingly drawn on in pencil. Towards the bottom of the staircase he looked around carefully then, satisfied with the lack of peeping Toms, ran off into the jungle. Hugh and Ben exchanged another of their famous glances before deciding that Ben would follow the man and Hugh would check out the plane.
"How on earth did the plane walk?" said Hugh. "I don't see any hoofs."
Ben cunningly decided not to answer and instead began inspecting the plane.
"Unless," said Hugh mysteriously, "the plane wasn't the one with hoofs. Maybe there is some sort of creature walking around!"
Ben made a quick sequel to his classic novel "Unresponsive" and continued to snoop around. At that very moment, a self-motivated staircase unfolded itself from the plane and nestled gently into the earth below. Hugh and Ben eagerly looked up at the now open doorway near the front of the plane. A man in an extremely shoddy, gorilla-like monster suit carefully stepped out. Behind him, he dragged a bulky beige bag with a crude American dollar symbol painstakingly drawn on in pencil. Towards the bottom of the staircase he looked around carefully then, satisfied with the lack of peeping Toms, ran off into the jungle. Hugh and Ben exchanged another of their famous glances before deciding that Ben would follow the man and Hugh would check out the plane.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter L
Ben Hansen
"Hey, I found a banana tree!" Hugh called.
"No, those are cocoons of a really bloody massive insect," Ben said. As he did so, a really bloody massive insect crawled out the bottom of one of them and looked Hugh in the face. Hugh did the most intelligent thing in the circumstances and let go of the tree.
"So have you found any food?" He asked Ben.
"I found a few berries, but they look poisonous, Ben replied.
"Damn," Hugh said. "Aah, but wait a minute, there are tracks under your feet."
"They're MY tracks, you fool."
"You have tracks like that?" Hugh pointed. The tracks were cloven-hoofed and large.
"Let's follow them," Ben exclaimed.
"Gee, what a creative idea," Hugh said as sarcastically as he could.
As they walked, Ben said, "It looks like they go around that plane-shaped rock."
"Hey, I found a banana tree!" Hugh called.
"No, those are cocoons of a really bloody massive insect," Ben said. As he did so, a really bloody massive insect crawled out the bottom of one of them and looked Hugh in the face. Hugh did the most intelligent thing in the circumstances and let go of the tree.
"So have you found any food?" He asked Ben.
"I found a few berries, but they look poisonous, Ben replied.
"Damn," Hugh said. "Aah, but wait a minute, there are tracks under your feet."
"They're MY tracks, you fool."
"You have tracks like that?" Hugh pointed. The tracks were cloven-hoofed and large.
"Let's follow them," Ben exclaimed.
"Gee, what a creative idea," Hugh said as sarcastically as he could.
As they walked, Ben said, "It looks like they go around that plane-shaped rock."
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter XLIX
Hugh Hamilton
And so, after a short paddle, they arrived on the banks of a fairly exotic, if not entirely comforting, desert island. They stood motionless on the hot sand and surveyed their new surroundings.
"You know what'd be great?" said Hugh.
"Go on," urged Ben with a sigh.
"If we found Poirot here."
"Uh huh."
"Because," continued Hugh, "we wouldn't have to chase him anymore."
"Right," said Ben, already tired with the conversation.
"And it would also be great if…"
"Listen, do I have sit here and listen to your fantasies all day?"
"What have YOU got in mind then?"
"Well food for a start."
"What like a coconut or something?"
"More or less."
"Lets look behind those trees then."
They set off towards dense tropical jungle.
And so, after a short paddle, they arrived on the banks of a fairly exotic, if not entirely comforting, desert island. They stood motionless on the hot sand and surveyed their new surroundings.
"You know what'd be great?" said Hugh.
"Go on," urged Ben with a sigh.
"If we found Poirot here."
"Uh huh."
"Because," continued Hugh, "we wouldn't have to chase him anymore."
"Right," said Ben, already tired with the conversation.
"And it would also be great if…"
"Listen, do I have sit here and listen to your fantasies all day?"
"What have YOU got in mind then?"
"Well food for a start."
"What like a coconut or something?"
"More or less."
"Lets look behind those trees then."
They set off towards dense tropical jungle.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter XLVIII
Ben Hansen
"That's what you get for taking a plane with shag carpeting," Ben muttered grumpily on the plane wing he and Hugh were using as a raft.
"Oh, be quiet," Hugh replied. "At least you're in good company."
Ben stared at Hugh. after a while Hugh said, "Alright but it's not like I'm in any better position."
"Yes you are," Ben answered. "You've got room to lie down, while all I can do is sit here and dangle my toes in the water."
"Then why don't you?"
"The obligatory sharks," Ben said, pointing.
"Ah well, we'll find land eventually," Hugh said.
Three days later, Ben had decided to share a meal of Hugh au naturale with the sharks.
"Hey Hugh," He said, sneaking up behind Hugh with a sharp piece of plane wreckage that he'd been holding on to for a few days.
"Hey Ben," Hugh said, not turning around. "Does that look like an island to you?"
Ben looked. What he saw did indeed look like an island. Shrugging, he put away the wreckage and Hugh never knew how close he came. "Looks like a decent place to get some food," he said. "Shall we land?"
"We shall," Hugh replied.
"That's what you get for taking a plane with shag carpeting," Ben muttered grumpily on the plane wing he and Hugh were using as a raft.
"Oh, be quiet," Hugh replied. "At least you're in good company."
Ben stared at Hugh. after a while Hugh said, "Alright but it's not like I'm in any better position."
"Yes you are," Ben answered. "You've got room to lie down, while all I can do is sit here and dangle my toes in the water."
"Then why don't you?"
"The obligatory sharks," Ben said, pointing.
"Ah well, we'll find land eventually," Hugh said.
Three days later, Ben had decided to share a meal of Hugh au naturale with the sharks.
"Hey Hugh," He said, sneaking up behind Hugh with a sharp piece of plane wreckage that he'd been holding on to for a few days.
"Hey Ben," Hugh said, not turning around. "Does that look like an island to you?"
Ben looked. What he saw did indeed look like an island. Shrugging, he put away the wreckage and Hugh never knew how close he came. "Looks like a decent place to get some food," he said. "Shall we land?"
"We shall," Hugh replied.
Murder At Marple Manor: Chapter XLVII
Hugh Hamilton
They carefully waltzed up to the freshly grounded plane and made pathetic attempts to peer through the windows.
"I think I see something," something said Hugh as his feet touched the ground.
"Yes?"
"It looks like a person."
"Really?" said Ben mockingly.
The big stairway thing was pushed up to the door of the plane just as a well-dressed man holding a small suitcase lowered his left foot.
"Well this is certainly a surprise," said the man.
"What?" said Hugh, startled. "You're the murderer? What a rip-off"
"No," laughed Tom, "I'm just here for a visit"
"But weren't you in…" began Ben.
"Yes, but only for a few days," said Tom. "I had a very nice judge."
The three men stood silently for a moment until something occurred to Hugh.
"Does this mean we tracked down the wrong plane?" asked Hugh.
"Quite probably," said Ben.
"If you're referring to Poirot's plane," said Tom smugly, "I can tell you that he landed somewhere in the pacific."
Hugh and Ben exchanged a meaningful nod.
"Here," said Tom, throwing Ben a well worn set of keys, "take me plane."
Ben stared at the keys in his hand for a nicely unengaging moment, then shrugged and began ascending the stairway. Hugh quickly followed. There was a brief, hour-long pause before the plane took off. This was followed by a brief, four minute-long pause before the plane crashed into an unspecified ocean.
They carefully waltzed up to the freshly grounded plane and made pathetic attempts to peer through the windows.
"I think I see something," something said Hugh as his feet touched the ground.
"Yes?"
"It looks like a person."
"Really?" said Ben mockingly.
The big stairway thing was pushed up to the door of the plane just as a well-dressed man holding a small suitcase lowered his left foot.
"Well this is certainly a surprise," said the man.
"What?" said Hugh, startled. "You're the murderer? What a rip-off"
"No," laughed Tom, "I'm just here for a visit"
"But weren't you in…" began Ben.
"Yes, but only for a few days," said Tom. "I had a very nice judge."
The three men stood silently for a moment until something occurred to Hugh.
"Does this mean we tracked down the wrong plane?" asked Hugh.
"Quite probably," said Ben.
"If you're referring to Poirot's plane," said Tom smugly, "I can tell you that he landed somewhere in the pacific."
Hugh and Ben exchanged a meaningful nod.
"Here," said Tom, throwing Ben a well worn set of keys, "take me plane."
Ben stared at the keys in his hand for a nicely unengaging moment, then shrugged and began ascending the stairway. Hugh quickly followed. There was a brief, hour-long pause before the plane took off. This was followed by a brief, four minute-long pause before the plane crashed into an unspecified ocean.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)