Post by James Bradley on Jun 21, 2009 15:27:26 GMT
“Welcome back, big guy.”
“Welcome home,” would’ve felt more like it to Lieutenant Colonel Bradley as he stepped down off the Cardsdale Train, his heavy bag thrown over his back. His foot hit the sure, solid marble ground beneath him and his whole body relaxed.
He remembered this place.
He remembered its rhythm. New arrivals came more often than one would expect to such a small village. Lots of businessmen. Lots of families of students. Lots of war activists. That sort. Lately, he’d heard Cardsdale had taken a blow when several of the villagers became involved in a battle, but now, things were returning more to normal.
Lt-Col. Bradley also remembered this: the villagers of Cardsdale were nosy buggers.
Hanging out at the Train Station was a common pastime amongst the older and younger generations. Kids played here- inside and out. The elderly sat on benches and peaceably watched the steam billowing from the trains as the vehicles made their way along the beaten train tracks. Teenagers huddled at the entrance, surreptitiously passing cigarettes amongst themselves, deluded that nobody but themselves knew what they were up to.
And everyone- and that really did mean everyone- was excited by new arrivals.
Today, Lt-Col. Bradley was the star attraction.
“James!”
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been called by his first name. Yet here, it seemed the most natural thing in the world.
“Is that James?”
“Big guy!”
“My, look who it is!”
“Sonya,” Lt-Col. Bradley dropped his bags in relief, and gripped her hands. “God, it’s been-”
“Years!” Her mouth hung open. “You- you look-”
“Married, are we?” Lt-Col. Bradley’s blue eyes lit up in the light of the diamond sparkling on her finger. He stepped back, chuckling. “And you always swore you’d never walk down the aisle-”
“James Bradley?” Another face appeared behind Sonya’s, looking- for want of a better term- absolutely gob smacked. “What-?”
“Ivan!” Lt-Col. Bradley’s grin widened. “Aha! So you’re the lucky guy? I always said-”
“James Bradley!” A huge pair of arms wrapped themselves around the Lt-Col.’s body, pricking him off the ground and squeezing him half-to-death. “Remember me?”
“H- Hugh-” Lt-Col. choked, “how- how could I forget-?”
He was released, and his old friend stepped back, towering about him. Wide as he was tall, Hugh cut a massive path through the milling crowd. At 6’7’’, Hugh was easily the tallest man in the village. When Lt-Col. Bradley had last seen him he had been a wide-set sixteen year old with a full set of teeth. Five and a half years on… Hugh was missing both his front teeth, had put on at least 50Ib and was sporting a thick black beard.
Impressive.
“James, old buddy-” Hugh was beaming, “what the heck are you doing here?”
“Orchid business,” the Lt-Col. said impressively, unable to resist puffing out his chest. “Major Hoodham specially requested my services.”
Two little lines had appeared above Sonya’s brow; as deep as the dimple carved into her cheek. “Orchid business? You mean… you’re a teacher?”
“Eh… not exactly,” Lt-Col. paused a moment. He hadn’t thought about that. Was he? Hoodham hadn’t mentioned-
“Are you giving a talk, or something?” Ivan’s eyes had squeezed into slits. He’d always been that little bit suspicious of Lt-Col. Bradley- always seemed to think the Lt-Col. was out to win Sonya’s heart. He wasn’t, of course. Both Sonya and
Lt-Col. were friends; nothing more, nothing less.
Ivan just never seemed to believe it.
“Sort of,” he replied airily, waving his right hand through the air.
All three spotted it. All three gasped.
“James! What on-?”
“Whoa, man, how didja-?”
“Made it to the Sahara after all, then, James?”
Lt-Col. Bradley met Ivan’s stare, and was surprised at the menace he found in it. As casually as he could, he raised his right hand and splayed his three remaining digits.
“Aye,” he said softly, “I made it.”
Sonya’s eyes were wide. Hugh’s mouth hung slack.
“How did it happen?” Ivan asked.
“Grenade,” Lt-Col. replied. “I was… careless.”
“James!” whispered Sonya, horror etching itself into her face. “You went?”
“I went,” Lt-Col. Bradley bowed his head. “Er, yeah. I went.”
He didn’t like the way she was looking at him. It made him feel horribly awkward.
Ivan’s eyes had switched to Sonya’s face, and his mouth tightened.
Noting the sudden tension, Hugh quickly leaped into conversation, “Well, wow! That’s great! You made it out there all that time, huh, big guy?”
“Big guy?” the Lt-Col. cast about for the vague memory of why he was being referred to by that particular term of endearment. It seemed a little ridiculous, coming from someone 6 inches taller than him. “Yeah, I did! Hell of a few stories to tell, too- if you’ve got time later. What about you?”
“Own the shop, now,” Hugh said proudly, holding up his chin, so that all James could see when he looked up was thick black beard, “me Dad passed it on to me. Says I’ve got a real flair for business.”
“God!” Lt-Col. found himself laughing. “The florist’s? Really?”
It was a small shop- if memory served him correctly- and Hugh’s family had bought it over from the previous owners about a decade ago. Hugh, contrary to his rough appearance, was soft at heart. Flowers were his passion. And if he wasn’t planting flowers, he was playing with his puppy, Harvey-
No. Harvey wasn’t a puppy anymore.
“How’s the dog?” Lt-Col. asked.
Hugh’s grin dropped. “Knocked down when he was two. He was-” a huge sniff- “chasing a lorry.”
… well. He had never been an especially bright animal.
“But he’s got another dog, now,” Ivan cut in, “Dalmation. Pongo.”
“Who needed to be re-named Perdita when she gave birth a couple of weeks ago,” Sonya reminded her husband, half-laughing, but there was still something strained about her expression. She wasn’t meeting Lt-Col.’s eye.
“Move along, move along, people!” The four swerved, to be met with the familiar, red-faced conductor; puffing just as hard as the train that’d dropped Lt-Col. Bradley off. The man was sporting grey hair now, as opposed to the auburn shock that had been creeping back across his head the last time Lt-Col. had saw him. When he caught sight of Lt-Col. the conductor forgot to puff, and froze.
Helpfully, Hugh slapped him on the back, inducing a wheezing fit that would’ve made any smoker proud.
When he finally recovered, and again looked up, his face had turned from red to a magnificent purple. “James Bradley!”
“Mr. Tubbs,” Lt-Col. Bradley could barely conceal his smirk at the sight of the man.
“Yeh- yeh’re back,” Mr. Tubbs shook his head, “oh, no! Not back at Orchid?”
“James is a teacher,” Ivan said, barely concealing his own smirk.
“They made someone like you a teacher?” Mr. Tubbs’ jaw dropped.
A muscle jumped in Lt-Col.’s jaw. “What’s wrong with me being a teacher?!”
“He’s not a teacher,” Sonya interrupted, “he’s giving… a talk?”
“No, not exactly-”
Hugh laughed, “Aw, innit great, Francis? The whole gang together again!”
Mr. Tubbs looked wary. “James Bradley, what are you up to?”
It was like Mr. Tubbs thought he was still talking to a 14 year old boy, not a 24 year old man.
“I was asked by Major Hoodham to come back to Orchid Hill,” Lt-Col. said, again, sounding as impressive as he could, “to act in the role of Official Advisor to the current Head of the Warriors.”
He waited, a little breathlessly, for the momentous impact of his news to take hold.
He was disappointed.
“Oh, that’s what you’re doing?” Hugh frowned. “I dunno… sounds like a teacher to me.”
“It’s not-”
“Right,” Mr Tubbs was rolling his eyes, “well, best get yeh through security. This way, please-”
“Security?” Lt-Col. blinked. “I- wait, what-?”
“Official Advisor?” Ivan raised an eyebrow. “You know the girl who’s Head is currently kidnapped- right?”
“I- yes, of course!” Lt-Col. replied crossly. “I’ll be working with her 2i/c until-”
“Awesome! Are you living in the village?!” Hugh cried jovially. “You could share my room! Dad won’t mind- he always liked yeh-”
“James?” Sonya’s voice was still soft.
He returned her gaze steadily. “Yeah. What?”
“Are you alright?”
Huh.
He hadn’t been expecting to be asked that.
“I’m fine, Sonya.”
“You just…” the two little frowns deepened, “left pretty quickly, is all.”
“And now I’m back!” he grinned cheerily. “Oi, Tubbsie- wait up-”
“Don’t call me that, young-”
“- Mum might have some issues about the amount of room, though,” Hugh was still rambling, quite happily talking at Lt-Col. “But, sure, if we’re pushed for it, you can have my bed. I’ll kip on the floor, I don’t mind-”
“No word,” Sonya continued solemnly, her eyes growing ever wider, “for… nearly six years, James. Nearly six.”
Ivan, evidently alarmed by his wife’s expression, set his arm protectively around her shoulders. “You know,” he said shortly to Lt-Col. Bradley, “that she thought you were dead, don’t you?”
Lt-Col. Bradley’s throat constricted slightly. “Well,” a cough, “you would’ve known if I was… dead.”
“How?” Ivan snapped. “Huh? You left no number; sent no letter- who’s to say your army pals would’ve known how to contact us-”
“They would’ve known how to contact you,” Lt-Col. replied coldly, finally matching Ivan’s glare.
“Oh, would they have?” his old friend sneered. “How? And when- immediately, or months afterward-”
“Stop it, Ivan,” Sonya shook his arm off her shoulders. “You’re not helping. James, I-”
“What? You forgive him, or something?” Ivan turned on his wife now, his eyes widening in malice.
“Nothing to forgive,” she shrugged. “You had your reasons, James.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but was cut short by a somewhat alarmed Hugh-
“C’mon, guys- we’ve barely left the station and you’re already fighting! Chillax, much?”
… chillax?
Lt-Col. Bradley didn’t want to know.
“James Bradley!” Mr. Tubbs had appeared again, his face blessedly red once more. “Will you get moving-”
“I’m going, I’m going,” the Lt-Col. replied hastily, grabbing his bag and swinging it over his shoulder again.
He followed the short man through the milling crowd, grinning awkwardly at the baffled faces that followed him. Several people waved, and called out to him, and he called back.
“James!”
“Hey, there-”
“Lookin’ good, mate!”
“Em, thanks, I think-”
“Jesus, your fingers!”
“Yep, all six of ‘em-”
“Dude, aren’t you dead?”
“Eh- apparently not-”
Mr. Tubbs came to an abrupt halt at the far side of the station, where the entrance stood tall and proud. And just before it- to Lt-Col. Bradley’s shock- was-
“Please place your valuables on the conveyer belt. We need to check them through.”
His eyebrows rose. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“Rules are rules,” another familiar face was waggling his eyebrows at the young man. “Good Lord, James- what’ve you done to your face?”
Lt-Col. Bradley’s free hand leaped self-consciously to his cheek, which several scars littered. “Nothing. Well, no- it was this guy- long story. I’ll tell you some time, Ewell-”
“Right, right,” the man rolled his eyes. “Set your things on the conveyer belt and step through the barrier, please.”
Lt-Col. looked up at the tall, electrical gates that stood between him and the front doors of the station. He looked weakly back at Mr. Tubbs, Sonya, Ivan and Hugh, who all watched him expectantly.
“Y’know,” Lt-Col. Bradley looked weakly back at Ewell. “How ‘bout just letting me slip round the side? Y’know, for old time’s sake? It’s me! James!”
His name still managed to sound alien on his own lips, even though everyone around him was calling it.
“Or a very good look-a-like,” Ewell said gruffly. “Set down your bag, sir.”
“What?” Lt-Col. laughed. “Seriously? Like an enemy infiltrator-?”
A gasp from behind. “James!” Hugh’s eyes were wide and black. “Are you?”
“No-”
“Put it down-”
“James, why don’t you give the man your stuff?” Ivan’s smile was mocking.
“James, it’s just procedure, it’s nothing personal,” Sonya said kindly, stepping ahead of him. “Look- I’ve got to do it, too-” Pulling the strap of her handbag off her shoulder, she set it casually on the conveyer belt, and walked through. She appeared on the other side, and automatically spread her arms and feet apart. Another person Lt-Col. knew appeared; a shock of frizzy red hair tucked under an official-looking cap. The young woman gazed eagerly over Sonya’s shoulders as she passed a small, beeping machine up and down her body.
“This is nuts,” Lt-Col. Bradley said stubbornly, looking back at Ewell. “I won’t-”
“C’mon, it’s not like you have to take your clothes off,” Ivan said slyly.
Hugh guffawed. “Hey, James, remember that time-?”
“James Bradley, will you give Ewell your bag already?” Mr. Tubbs fumed. “I don’t have all day! I’ve got other people to escort, yeh know!”
“No, no,” Lt-Col. said weakly, backing away from the conveyer belt, “it seems so silly- pointless, isn’t it? Some people have powers to cut off electricity-”
“Magically protected,” Ewell said stonily, “give me your bag.”
He had no choice. People were starting to stare. A queue of impatient goers-out was beginning to form. And the woman with the cap on the other side- Rosie- was watching impatiently, her little machine at the ready.
Lt-Col. Bradley was forced to submit. He handed over his bag of precious items.
And the second it passed through the conveyer belt, the whole system stopped- and went crazy.
Ewell yelled and jumped backwards in shock, and he wasn’t the only one. Ivan and Mr. Tubbs both yelped, and most of the Station cried out in shock. Kids stopped playing and turned to stare. The elderly sitting on their benches promptly fell off. The smoking teenagers on the outside edges choked on their smoke; coughing wildly.
Every eye was on Lt-Col. Bradley’s burning ears.
Ewell gave the machine a good kick, and it hiccupped, shutting down instantaneously. The silence that ensued seemed to stretch forever.
Awkwardly, Lt-Col. Bradley began to laugh; trying to shake off the red colour he knew would be creeping its way up his cheeks. “Er- wow- that thing makes some noise, huh, Ewell?”
Ewell gazed blankly back.
Rosie bounced forward, her own little machine wildly whirring away to itself as it passed over Lt-Col.’s bag. Stunned, she bent over, unzipped it and pulled out the following items-
A toothbrush.
A bag of peanuts.
Several pairs of pants, two pairs of trousers and three shirts.
Rosie looked up nervously, now, glancing between a blank-faced Ewell and a still desperately chucking Lt-Col. Bradley. Then, she pulled out-
A Star Firestar M-43, 9mm.
A Colt ‘Python Elite’ with a 6 inch barrel.
Several grenades.
Spare ammo.
A 300 Winchester magnum (7.62 x 67mm)
“It is an awfully big bag,” Sonya said, in a hushed voice.
“Guns!” spat Mr. Tubbs, puffing forward. “Guns! James Bradley, are you insane-?”
“It’s Lieutenant Colonel Bradley to you, sir,” Lt-Col. said sharply, rounding on the little man. “I asked you not to use to conveyer belt. I knew this would happen.”
“But why-”
He shifted, and his hand raised to his head awkwardly. “I… I guess I thought they’d come in useful.”
Mr. Tubbs was starting to turn purple again. “You thought we’d let you wander into the village with those things in your bag?”
“I wasn’t aware the security had been tightened so much around here,” Lt-Col. frowned. “In future, I’ll be sure to remember it.”
“You are aware that it’s illegal to carry guns-”
“Oh, give it a rest, Tubbsie,” Ewell said sharply. “You’re causing a scene.”
“I- I-” the little man swelled indignantly.
Lt-Col. turned to Ewell. “What do I do now?”
“You follow Rosie to the office.” Ewell’s face was a deliberate blank, but Lt-Col. Bradley was sure he saw a muscle twitch, as though Ewell was trying not to laugh.
Lt-Col. Bradley felt it best to do what he was told. He aimed to pick up his bag again, but Rosie stepped in his way.
“No, James,” she chuckled. “Not for you.”
Groaning, he turned his head to wave goodbye to his three stunned friends. Ivan was turning a strange shade of puce, the creases above Sonya’s forehead were deepening- but Hugh, Lt-Col. Bradley was relieved to see- was beginning to chuckle.
As were most of the rest of the station.
The noise began to build up again as Lt-Col. Bradley followed Rosie over to the familiar office, and the crowd began to bustle as it had before. Whilst no-one chose any longer to call out to him, he found himself returning quite a few wicked grins.
Rosie shut them both inside the cold, dark office; again, another memory of Lt-Col.’s from his schooldays. She sidled in behind the desk and sat down, watching him keenly.
“Well, James? Lieutenant Colonel, did I hear you say?”
“That’s the one,” he smiled as best he could.
“Sit,” she laughed. “Relax. We’ll contact the school and have someone pick you up shortly. I’m sure Hoodham won’t mind.”
“Professor Thandie will,” Lt-Col. Bradley groaned. “I can’t believe this…”
“Oh, believe it, James,” she laughed. “Only you could manage to cause this much fuss your first day back here.”
He rolled his eyes, but he graciously accepted her compliment. Because, well, it was a compliment. They both knew it.
Rosie leaned back in her chair. “Well, then, welcome home, Lieutenant Colonel Bradley.”
The Lieutenant Colonel nodded, and then catching her eye, grinned. “Y’know, I think I prefer James.”
“So do I,” she laughed. “I couldn’t get used to a title like that!”
“Nor could I,” he chuckled softly, “at least not at first.”
And James sat down to laugh with her.
“Welcome home,” would’ve felt more like it to Lieutenant Colonel Bradley as he stepped down off the Cardsdale Train, his heavy bag thrown over his back. His foot hit the sure, solid marble ground beneath him and his whole body relaxed.
He remembered this place.
He remembered its rhythm. New arrivals came more often than one would expect to such a small village. Lots of businessmen. Lots of families of students. Lots of war activists. That sort. Lately, he’d heard Cardsdale had taken a blow when several of the villagers became involved in a battle, but now, things were returning more to normal.
Lt-Col. Bradley also remembered this: the villagers of Cardsdale were nosy buggers.
Hanging out at the Train Station was a common pastime amongst the older and younger generations. Kids played here- inside and out. The elderly sat on benches and peaceably watched the steam billowing from the trains as the vehicles made their way along the beaten train tracks. Teenagers huddled at the entrance, surreptitiously passing cigarettes amongst themselves, deluded that nobody but themselves knew what they were up to.
And everyone- and that really did mean everyone- was excited by new arrivals.
Today, Lt-Col. Bradley was the star attraction.
“James!”
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been called by his first name. Yet here, it seemed the most natural thing in the world.
“Is that James?”
“Big guy!”
“My, look who it is!”
“Sonya,” Lt-Col. Bradley dropped his bags in relief, and gripped her hands. “God, it’s been-”
“Years!” Her mouth hung open. “You- you look-”
“Married, are we?” Lt-Col. Bradley’s blue eyes lit up in the light of the diamond sparkling on her finger. He stepped back, chuckling. “And you always swore you’d never walk down the aisle-”
“James Bradley?” Another face appeared behind Sonya’s, looking- for want of a better term- absolutely gob smacked. “What-?”
“Ivan!” Lt-Col. Bradley’s grin widened. “Aha! So you’re the lucky guy? I always said-”
“James Bradley!” A huge pair of arms wrapped themselves around the Lt-Col.’s body, pricking him off the ground and squeezing him half-to-death. “Remember me?”
“H- Hugh-” Lt-Col. choked, “how- how could I forget-?”
He was released, and his old friend stepped back, towering about him. Wide as he was tall, Hugh cut a massive path through the milling crowd. At 6’7’’, Hugh was easily the tallest man in the village. When Lt-Col. Bradley had last seen him he had been a wide-set sixteen year old with a full set of teeth. Five and a half years on… Hugh was missing both his front teeth, had put on at least 50Ib and was sporting a thick black beard.
Impressive.
“James, old buddy-” Hugh was beaming, “what the heck are you doing here?”
“Orchid business,” the Lt-Col. said impressively, unable to resist puffing out his chest. “Major Hoodham specially requested my services.”
Two little lines had appeared above Sonya’s brow; as deep as the dimple carved into her cheek. “Orchid business? You mean… you’re a teacher?”
“Eh… not exactly,” Lt-Col. paused a moment. He hadn’t thought about that. Was he? Hoodham hadn’t mentioned-
“Are you giving a talk, or something?” Ivan’s eyes had squeezed into slits. He’d always been that little bit suspicious of Lt-Col. Bradley- always seemed to think the Lt-Col. was out to win Sonya’s heart. He wasn’t, of course. Both Sonya and
Lt-Col. were friends; nothing more, nothing less.
Ivan just never seemed to believe it.
“Sort of,” he replied airily, waving his right hand through the air.
All three spotted it. All three gasped.
“James! What on-?”
“Whoa, man, how didja-?”
“Made it to the Sahara after all, then, James?”
Lt-Col. Bradley met Ivan’s stare, and was surprised at the menace he found in it. As casually as he could, he raised his right hand and splayed his three remaining digits.
“Aye,” he said softly, “I made it.”
Sonya’s eyes were wide. Hugh’s mouth hung slack.
“How did it happen?” Ivan asked.
“Grenade,” Lt-Col. replied. “I was… careless.”
“James!” whispered Sonya, horror etching itself into her face. “You went?”
“I went,” Lt-Col. Bradley bowed his head. “Er, yeah. I went.”
He didn’t like the way she was looking at him. It made him feel horribly awkward.
Ivan’s eyes had switched to Sonya’s face, and his mouth tightened.
Noting the sudden tension, Hugh quickly leaped into conversation, “Well, wow! That’s great! You made it out there all that time, huh, big guy?”
“Big guy?” the Lt-Col. cast about for the vague memory of why he was being referred to by that particular term of endearment. It seemed a little ridiculous, coming from someone 6 inches taller than him. “Yeah, I did! Hell of a few stories to tell, too- if you’ve got time later. What about you?”
“Own the shop, now,” Hugh said proudly, holding up his chin, so that all James could see when he looked up was thick black beard, “me Dad passed it on to me. Says I’ve got a real flair for business.”
“God!” Lt-Col. found himself laughing. “The florist’s? Really?”
It was a small shop- if memory served him correctly- and Hugh’s family had bought it over from the previous owners about a decade ago. Hugh, contrary to his rough appearance, was soft at heart. Flowers were his passion. And if he wasn’t planting flowers, he was playing with his puppy, Harvey-
No. Harvey wasn’t a puppy anymore.
“How’s the dog?” Lt-Col. asked.
Hugh’s grin dropped. “Knocked down when he was two. He was-” a huge sniff- “chasing a lorry.”
… well. He had never been an especially bright animal.
“But he’s got another dog, now,” Ivan cut in, “Dalmation. Pongo.”
“Who needed to be re-named Perdita when she gave birth a couple of weeks ago,” Sonya reminded her husband, half-laughing, but there was still something strained about her expression. She wasn’t meeting Lt-Col.’s eye.
“Move along, move along, people!” The four swerved, to be met with the familiar, red-faced conductor; puffing just as hard as the train that’d dropped Lt-Col. Bradley off. The man was sporting grey hair now, as opposed to the auburn shock that had been creeping back across his head the last time Lt-Col. had saw him. When he caught sight of Lt-Col. the conductor forgot to puff, and froze.
Helpfully, Hugh slapped him on the back, inducing a wheezing fit that would’ve made any smoker proud.
When he finally recovered, and again looked up, his face had turned from red to a magnificent purple. “James Bradley!”
“Mr. Tubbs,” Lt-Col. Bradley could barely conceal his smirk at the sight of the man.
“Yeh- yeh’re back,” Mr. Tubbs shook his head, “oh, no! Not back at Orchid?”
“James is a teacher,” Ivan said, barely concealing his own smirk.
“They made someone like you a teacher?” Mr. Tubbs’ jaw dropped.
A muscle jumped in Lt-Col.’s jaw. “What’s wrong with me being a teacher?!”
“He’s not a teacher,” Sonya interrupted, “he’s giving… a talk?”
“No, not exactly-”
Hugh laughed, “Aw, innit great, Francis? The whole gang together again!”
Mr. Tubbs looked wary. “James Bradley, what are you up to?”
It was like Mr. Tubbs thought he was still talking to a 14 year old boy, not a 24 year old man.
“I was asked by Major Hoodham to come back to Orchid Hill,” Lt-Col. said, again, sounding as impressive as he could, “to act in the role of Official Advisor to the current Head of the Warriors.”
He waited, a little breathlessly, for the momentous impact of his news to take hold.
He was disappointed.
“Oh, that’s what you’re doing?” Hugh frowned. “I dunno… sounds like a teacher to me.”
“It’s not-”
“Right,” Mr Tubbs was rolling his eyes, “well, best get yeh through security. This way, please-”
“Security?” Lt-Col. blinked. “I- wait, what-?”
“Official Advisor?” Ivan raised an eyebrow. “You know the girl who’s Head is currently kidnapped- right?”
“I- yes, of course!” Lt-Col. replied crossly. “I’ll be working with her 2i/c until-”
“Awesome! Are you living in the village?!” Hugh cried jovially. “You could share my room! Dad won’t mind- he always liked yeh-”
“James?” Sonya’s voice was still soft.
He returned her gaze steadily. “Yeah. What?”
“Are you alright?”
Huh.
He hadn’t been expecting to be asked that.
“I’m fine, Sonya.”
“You just…” the two little frowns deepened, “left pretty quickly, is all.”
“And now I’m back!” he grinned cheerily. “Oi, Tubbsie- wait up-”
“Don’t call me that, young-”
“- Mum might have some issues about the amount of room, though,” Hugh was still rambling, quite happily talking at Lt-Col. “But, sure, if we’re pushed for it, you can have my bed. I’ll kip on the floor, I don’t mind-”
“No word,” Sonya continued solemnly, her eyes growing ever wider, “for… nearly six years, James. Nearly six.”
Ivan, evidently alarmed by his wife’s expression, set his arm protectively around her shoulders. “You know,” he said shortly to Lt-Col. Bradley, “that she thought you were dead, don’t you?”
Lt-Col. Bradley’s throat constricted slightly. “Well,” a cough, “you would’ve known if I was… dead.”
“How?” Ivan snapped. “Huh? You left no number; sent no letter- who’s to say your army pals would’ve known how to contact us-”
“They would’ve known how to contact you,” Lt-Col. replied coldly, finally matching Ivan’s glare.
“Oh, would they have?” his old friend sneered. “How? And when- immediately, or months afterward-”
“Stop it, Ivan,” Sonya shook his arm off her shoulders. “You’re not helping. James, I-”
“What? You forgive him, or something?” Ivan turned on his wife now, his eyes widening in malice.
“Nothing to forgive,” she shrugged. “You had your reasons, James.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but was cut short by a somewhat alarmed Hugh-
“C’mon, guys- we’ve barely left the station and you’re already fighting! Chillax, much?”
… chillax?
Lt-Col. Bradley didn’t want to know.
“James Bradley!” Mr. Tubbs had appeared again, his face blessedly red once more. “Will you get moving-”
“I’m going, I’m going,” the Lt-Col. replied hastily, grabbing his bag and swinging it over his shoulder again.
He followed the short man through the milling crowd, grinning awkwardly at the baffled faces that followed him. Several people waved, and called out to him, and he called back.
“James!”
“Hey, there-”
“Lookin’ good, mate!”
“Em, thanks, I think-”
“Jesus, your fingers!”
“Yep, all six of ‘em-”
“Dude, aren’t you dead?”
“Eh- apparently not-”
Mr. Tubbs came to an abrupt halt at the far side of the station, where the entrance stood tall and proud. And just before it- to Lt-Col. Bradley’s shock- was-
“Please place your valuables on the conveyer belt. We need to check them through.”
His eyebrows rose. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“Rules are rules,” another familiar face was waggling his eyebrows at the young man. “Good Lord, James- what’ve you done to your face?”
Lt-Col. Bradley’s free hand leaped self-consciously to his cheek, which several scars littered. “Nothing. Well, no- it was this guy- long story. I’ll tell you some time, Ewell-”
“Right, right,” the man rolled his eyes. “Set your things on the conveyer belt and step through the barrier, please.”
Lt-Col. looked up at the tall, electrical gates that stood between him and the front doors of the station. He looked weakly back at Mr. Tubbs, Sonya, Ivan and Hugh, who all watched him expectantly.
“Y’know,” Lt-Col. Bradley looked weakly back at Ewell. “How ‘bout just letting me slip round the side? Y’know, for old time’s sake? It’s me! James!”
His name still managed to sound alien on his own lips, even though everyone around him was calling it.
“Or a very good look-a-like,” Ewell said gruffly. “Set down your bag, sir.”
“What?” Lt-Col. laughed. “Seriously? Like an enemy infiltrator-?”
A gasp from behind. “James!” Hugh’s eyes were wide and black. “Are you?”
“No-”
“Put it down-”
“James, why don’t you give the man your stuff?” Ivan’s smile was mocking.
“James, it’s just procedure, it’s nothing personal,” Sonya said kindly, stepping ahead of him. “Look- I’ve got to do it, too-” Pulling the strap of her handbag off her shoulder, she set it casually on the conveyer belt, and walked through. She appeared on the other side, and automatically spread her arms and feet apart. Another person Lt-Col. knew appeared; a shock of frizzy red hair tucked under an official-looking cap. The young woman gazed eagerly over Sonya’s shoulders as she passed a small, beeping machine up and down her body.
“This is nuts,” Lt-Col. Bradley said stubbornly, looking back at Ewell. “I won’t-”
“C’mon, it’s not like you have to take your clothes off,” Ivan said slyly.
Hugh guffawed. “Hey, James, remember that time-?”
“James Bradley, will you give Ewell your bag already?” Mr. Tubbs fumed. “I don’t have all day! I’ve got other people to escort, yeh know!”
“No, no,” Lt-Col. said weakly, backing away from the conveyer belt, “it seems so silly- pointless, isn’t it? Some people have powers to cut off electricity-”
“Magically protected,” Ewell said stonily, “give me your bag.”
He had no choice. People were starting to stare. A queue of impatient goers-out was beginning to form. And the woman with the cap on the other side- Rosie- was watching impatiently, her little machine at the ready.
Lt-Col. Bradley was forced to submit. He handed over his bag of precious items.
And the second it passed through the conveyer belt, the whole system stopped- and went crazy.
Ewell yelled and jumped backwards in shock, and he wasn’t the only one. Ivan and Mr. Tubbs both yelped, and most of the Station cried out in shock. Kids stopped playing and turned to stare. The elderly sitting on their benches promptly fell off. The smoking teenagers on the outside edges choked on their smoke; coughing wildly.
Every eye was on Lt-Col. Bradley’s burning ears.
Ewell gave the machine a good kick, and it hiccupped, shutting down instantaneously. The silence that ensued seemed to stretch forever.
Awkwardly, Lt-Col. Bradley began to laugh; trying to shake off the red colour he knew would be creeping its way up his cheeks. “Er- wow- that thing makes some noise, huh, Ewell?”
Ewell gazed blankly back.
Rosie bounced forward, her own little machine wildly whirring away to itself as it passed over Lt-Col.’s bag. Stunned, she bent over, unzipped it and pulled out the following items-
A toothbrush.
A bag of peanuts.
Several pairs of pants, two pairs of trousers and three shirts.
Rosie looked up nervously, now, glancing between a blank-faced Ewell and a still desperately chucking Lt-Col. Bradley. Then, she pulled out-
A Star Firestar M-43, 9mm.
A Colt ‘Python Elite’ with a 6 inch barrel.
Several grenades.
Spare ammo.
A 300 Winchester magnum (7.62 x 67mm)
“It is an awfully big bag,” Sonya said, in a hushed voice.
“Guns!” spat Mr. Tubbs, puffing forward. “Guns! James Bradley, are you insane-?”
“It’s Lieutenant Colonel Bradley to you, sir,” Lt-Col. said sharply, rounding on the little man. “I asked you not to use to conveyer belt. I knew this would happen.”
“But why-”
He shifted, and his hand raised to his head awkwardly. “I… I guess I thought they’d come in useful.”
Mr. Tubbs was starting to turn purple again. “You thought we’d let you wander into the village with those things in your bag?”
“I wasn’t aware the security had been tightened so much around here,” Lt-Col. frowned. “In future, I’ll be sure to remember it.”
“You are aware that it’s illegal to carry guns-”
“Oh, give it a rest, Tubbsie,” Ewell said sharply. “You’re causing a scene.”
“I- I-” the little man swelled indignantly.
Lt-Col. turned to Ewell. “What do I do now?”
“You follow Rosie to the office.” Ewell’s face was a deliberate blank, but Lt-Col. Bradley was sure he saw a muscle twitch, as though Ewell was trying not to laugh.
Lt-Col. Bradley felt it best to do what he was told. He aimed to pick up his bag again, but Rosie stepped in his way.
“No, James,” she chuckled. “Not for you.”
Groaning, he turned his head to wave goodbye to his three stunned friends. Ivan was turning a strange shade of puce, the creases above Sonya’s forehead were deepening- but Hugh, Lt-Col. Bradley was relieved to see- was beginning to chuckle.
As were most of the rest of the station.
The noise began to build up again as Lt-Col. Bradley followed Rosie over to the familiar office, and the crowd began to bustle as it had before. Whilst no-one chose any longer to call out to him, he found himself returning quite a few wicked grins.
Rosie shut them both inside the cold, dark office; again, another memory of Lt-Col.’s from his schooldays. She sidled in behind the desk and sat down, watching him keenly.
“Well, James? Lieutenant Colonel, did I hear you say?”
“That’s the one,” he smiled as best he could.
“Sit,” she laughed. “Relax. We’ll contact the school and have someone pick you up shortly. I’m sure Hoodham won’t mind.”
“Professor Thandie will,” Lt-Col. Bradley groaned. “I can’t believe this…”
“Oh, believe it, James,” she laughed. “Only you could manage to cause this much fuss your first day back here.”
He rolled his eyes, but he graciously accepted her compliment. Because, well, it was a compliment. They both knew it.
Rosie leaned back in her chair. “Well, then, welcome home, Lieutenant Colonel Bradley.”
The Lieutenant Colonel nodded, and then catching her eye, grinned. “Y’know, I think I prefer James.”
“So do I,” she laughed. “I couldn’t get used to a title like that!”
“Nor could I,” he chuckled softly, “at least not at first.”
And James sat down to laugh with her.
