The Terminus by Oliver EADE Page B

with two
pairs of specs.”
    “Gary…”
    “And we can
easily reach The Terminus where God’s gonna build his Research Institute. Find
out what the hell’s going on for Arthry’s sake.”
    “Gary,
you weren’t listening to Redfor, were you? Your girl… I don’t like to rub it
in, mate, but seems you’ll not be seeing her again after what that dude said.”
    “Nope! Don’t believe him! Winding me up! Didn’t like the
man, anyway. Hiding something from me.”
    “Think he’s
gay?”
    “No idea. Just
uneasy about him even if he is in with Arthry. Mike, you’ll see what I
mean about the Retreat when we get there. With the Pentatron Tablet. Dunno who
to trust. Except for…”
    Gary
looked away from Mike.
    “Yeah, Professor Lover-boy! Except for the girl.”
    “They’re using
her, the bastards. Whoever’s behind this had better watch out!” Gary
paused, his face twisted by anger. “It’s all to do with The Terminus, Mike. Has to be!”
    “Gary,
I’ll go anywhere if the place is guaranteed rat-free! Now,
this theft business? Gonna want a diversion, right? Question is, where?
Are you certain the time-specs are accurate to the nearest split second?”
    “Uhuh!” Garry nodded.
    “’Cos we’re
gonna need split second timing. Got an idea, but let’s have a recky of the area
first. Get a feel for the place.”
    “Mike, you
sure you’ve never robbed a bank?”
    “Would do if
it could buy me just a little time with a certain redhead. Right, here goes!”
    “I’ll buy the
tickets, Mike! Found a load of dosh in Dad’s wallet. Borrowed a few notes... on
loan, like.”
    “Waste of
money! Leave the bullshitting to me.”
    As they walked
up the steps to the British Museum,
Gary agreed that letting Mike do
all the talking was a wise joint decision. His friend sidled confidently up to
the ticket desk.
    “Ahem! We be
Romanian archaeology students. Arranged from our embassy, thank you. Big
agreement with Professor… er…”
    He turned to Gary
for inspiration.
    “What name he
making, big professor man in London?”
    “Steven,” was Gary’s
barely audible response. He was hopeless at faking any sort of accent.
    “Excuse me,”
said the woman, eyeing the boys suspiciously. She picked up a phone, dialling a
number whilst Gary stared at his
feet. Mike thumped the ticket-booth with his fist.
    “No wanting
making angry, Professor Steven man. He having plenty
good connections in Romania. Plenty important archaeology in us country. Stones and bones, see! He needing us,
big Professor Steven man.”
    The woman held
up her hand to silence Mike. Struggling to suppress a grin, Gary
feared his friend had gone too far.
    “Professor Steven?”
she queried.
    “Having big famous in CERN international cooperation.”
    “Professor
Steven works in CERN? How
strange!”
    “ Romania also! Making for much young brain
development in Romania . Professor Steven have big puff if get angry. Very big puff. Go boom!”
    The woman
raised her hand again. Mike shut up. Gary
peered fixedly at the floor to shield his mounting mirth.
    “Okay! Right!
They look harmless enough to me!” she said into the phone.
    Mike gave her
the cheesiest of smiles and Gary
covered a fake cough with his hand. The woman handed Mike two complimentary
tickets.
    “Follow that
corridor,” she said. Mike put on a blank expression. “Corridor? You don’t
understand corridor?” she asked.
    “Long tube?
Must crawl, I think.”
    “No, you won’t
need to crawl. I’ll get an attendant to take you.”
    Mike offered
another bewitching smile.
    “Many
thankings from all of our deep hearts,” he said, adding a little bow.
    The ticket
seller blushed.
    “A pleasure! I
hope you enjoy the exhibition.” She beamed back at Mike. “I do like your
uniforms. Very flash!”
    “Liking much
colours going archaeology studies!” Mike informed her.
    “Quite,” she
said, unable to conceal her amusement.
    Gary and Mike
followed an attendant to the exhibition