Disclaimer: I do not own, or claim to own, any of the Biggles series characters used in this work. This fan fiction was written for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered part of the official storyline.
Warning: Non canon type fan fiction works may contain severe time mix-ups and character deviations.
The tension in the office of Air Police
Headquarters was so thick that Ginger could literally feel it weighing down on
him. Involuntarily, he glanced at the corner desk where Algy was half-hidden
behind a dangerously tall stack of files. Judging from the amount of paper
scattered over and next to his desk, he seemed to be trying to memorize the
contents of every single sheet of paper in the world.
The phone rang, jolting Ginger out of his reverie.
“Air Police Headquarters,” he said.
“Ginger? It’s me. Is Algy back yet?”
Ginger sighed inwardly. It was Biggles’
third or fourth call in the past hour. Algy had given strict orders that he was
“not in to anyone. And I mean, anyone”,
and Ginger was tired of lying to Biggles. It left a bad taste in the mouth. He
glanced again at the moody figure seated at the corner desk. “I don’t think now’s
a good time, chief,” he said to the phone.
“So he’s there?”
Ginger said nothing.
“Ginger—”
“I’ve got to go,” lied Ginger. “The other
phone’s ringing; it might be important.” He hung up the phone quickly. He didn’t
think he could continue the charade any longer.
Algy did not ask who the caller was, or
even look up to see whether Ginger had finished the call.
Ginger glanced at Bertie. “I can’t take
much more of this,” he muttered.
Bertie grimaced in silent agreement.
Ginger looked desperately at the clock. It
was only half-past eleven, but it was as good an excuse as any, and he leapt on
it eagerly. “Let’s go to lunch!” he whispered to Bertie, who nodded vigorously
in reply. Ginger donned his jacket and turned to the silent figure behind the
corner desk. “Algy!” he called, as if speaking to a deaf person. “We’re going
to lunch. Do you want to come?”
No answer.
“Do you want us to bring something back for
you?”
Still no answer. Algy gave no indication
that he had heard Ginger’s question, or even that he was aware of Ginger
standing in front of his desk.
“I suppose that’s a no, then,” said Ginger,
to the top of Algy’s bent head. “Well, see you later.”
Together with Bertie, he hurried out of the
office and into the street.
“What on earth are we going to do?” blurted
Ginger, as soon as they were out of the office. “This is terrible!”
“Absolutely, old boy,” murmured Bertie. “Bally
steep, what?”
“If this goes on much longer, Algy’s going
to be ill,” declared Ginger. “He hasn’t been eating or sleeping for the past
two days. All he does is sit at that desk and shift paper around. And he won’t
talk to Biggles, and he won’t talk to us, and he won’t do anything. Goodness
knows what we’re to do if Raymond rings up with something important that needs
doing.”
“Can’t we make them talk to each other?” suggested Bertie. “Just shove the
bally phone in his face, that sort of thing?”
“I don’t think that’ll work. Algy’s liable
to just ignore it—and Biggles.”
“Well, they’ll have to see each other
eventually, won’t they?” Bertie pointed out. “Biggles will be coming back to
work in a week or two. He can’t ignore him forever.”
Ginger bit his lip. “He was muttering
something about resigning, when he was still speaking to us two days ago. Didn’t
you hear him?”
Bertie looked aghast. “You’re not serious,
old boy? He can’t just resign like that! Where’s he going to go, and all that
sort of thing? It’s a bit late for him to start a jolly old mid-life crisis,
what?”
Ginger ran a distracted hand through his
hair and groaned. “This is terrible! Can’t you think of anything?”
Bertie shrugged. “Never was one for pouring
jolly oil over troubled waters, old boy. You’ve known them for longer than I
have. What do you think we should do?”
“I don’t know, and that’s a fact. I’ve
never seen them like this before. They never fight, ever.”
“Well, we’d better do something quickly,
what?”
“I know,” said Ginger, groaning again.
&&&
“James, darling, what’s the matter?” asked
Jane. “You haven’t heard a single word I’ve been saying for the past fifteen
minutes.”
“What?” said Biggles. “Oh. Sorry, Jane. I
was just…thinking.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
Biggles sighed, staring moodily at the
telephone.
“James. What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Well, can we talk, then?”
Biggles made an effort to smile. “Of
course, dear. What did you want?”
“I wanted to talk about us, James. Our
future. Together.”
“Oh,” said Biggles. “Why, exactly?”
“Well, we’re married now, and we’re going
to be together for quite a long time. I thought we should talk about what we
want to do with our lives. I thought we could go adventuring, see the world,
that sort of thing.”
“Jane, you do know I’ve got a job, don’t
you?”
“Yes, but James, you’ve got plenty of
money. I’ve got plenty of money. We’ve got a house, a car, airplanes. Neither
one of us really needs to work for the rest of our lives, do we? Why not enjoy
yourself, have a little fun?”
“But what will the others—” Biggles stopped
himself, staring at the phone again. “What about the crooks? Someone has to
catch them.”
“Someone,” said Jane, “yes. But it doesn’t
have to be you, James. There are so many new pilots out there who could do what
you do. Come on, James. Live a little. We could go anywhere you like. We don’t
have to stay in England if you don’t want to. We could even have children.”
For the first time since the conversation had
started, Biggles turned and really looked at his wife. “Children?” he echoed.
Ha! that got his attention - and mine! Resigning? Children? Not sure I can stand much more than this. At least Algy's safe.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't exactly call him safe - not if he's so depressed he can't sleep, can't eat, won't talk... Poor Algy.
ReplyDeleteI bet Algy is thinking some pretty dangerous thoughts right now - he's put up with a lot from Biggles over the years. All those times Biggles left him behind to guard the plane or mind the phone.... but he, Algy never complained because he was a good friend...
ReplyDeleteThis final betrayal is probably enough to push Algy over the edge...
wouldn't be at all surprised if it wasn't enough to make him cross over to the dark side.
He will probably go and team up with EVS where his talents will be better appreciated. They'd make a formidable team together.
Biggles will get the shock of his life when,on his next case, just as he thinks he has got EVS nabbed, he finds himself staring down the barrel of ALgy's gun....
And he will only have himself to blame.
That's not a bad idea, JJ! The only drawback is that once Algy crosses the line, there's no going back...
ReplyDeleteI felt really sad when I was writing this. I know I'm suppose to be the author and everything, but I also read what I write when I'm writing (unavoidable) and as an Algy fan it saddens me that Algy is so upset. The depth of their friendship runs so deep, it must have felt like the end of the world to Algy when Biggles kicked him out without even so much as a "how was your trip?"
Just proves the point that Biggles is not the Biggles Algy knows!
ReplyDeleteDo you think it could be Biggles long-lost evil twin and he's kidnapped the real Biggles and has him locked up somewhere. Algy stumbles across the plot and eventually rescues him.
ReplyDeleteI do hope so. I can't see how these two are ever going to patch things up otherwise. : - (
Fancy telling BIGGLES to "live a little". Kind of ironic, isn't it??
ReplyDeleteOh Algy, Algy!!! *sobbing emoticon*
So what would happen to all the little Janes and James? Boarding School? Seems it's not the real Biggles she wants as she's trying (and succeeding so far) to change him .
ReplyDeleteWell, considering that Biggles didn't exactly know Jane very well before he proposed, I'm not surprised that this is happening now. He didn't even know she was a pilot or anything--shows how much research he didn't bother to do, that Jane could lie her way through like that.
ReplyDeleteJJ said: I can't see how these two are ever going to patch things up otherwise.
Who said they WOULD patch things up? *evil smile*
If they don't patch things up your life won't be worth living... and I expect Jane to be got rid of once and for all, else your life... etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't think you are safe because you live in a different time zone ***evil emoticon, and all the other 'I will get you' sorts of emoticon***
And deep bunkers will be no help, nor will you have Algy to safeguard you this time... He's much too upset...
SA has said it all!!! And I live in the same time zone....so just be careful here Sopwith!!! The dreadfully evil Jane must depart and Biggles made to realise what he's done to Algy and for them to shake hands (maybe even a manly hug) and move on.
ReplyDeleteAs FB observes, Jane is successfully changing Biggles, but the real Biggles wouldn't succumb to her evil wiles, therefore, this cannot be the real Biggles. What have you done with him and who is this strange person who's taken his place?
I tell you, he's been drugged, doesn't know what he's doing, saying, thinking any longer.
ReplyDeleteBut one little bit of him sort of remembers - like when he was looking at the phone... and for once not listening to what the dastardly Jane was saying. Maybe there's hope for him. If Algy does something quickly.
Maybe green smoke would help... Or the alarming thought of lots of little Janes.
Well, wasn't Jane a secret agent, CIA or FBI? She'd have access to all sorts of mind-changing drugs, devices for sending someone into a hypnotic state etc. Was it you, SA, who suggested funny cigarettes and doped tea?
ReplyDeleteIt was... Seemed the only logical answer... And eventually Algy will realise and take ACTION.
ReplyDeleteAlgy being Algy, he would never try to force himself back into Biggles' affections, especially after the way Biggles has just treated him! If MY best friend did that to ME I would sulk for several days and then probably drop something heavy and explosive on them! (Which is what Algy is probably thinking about now...)
ReplyDeleteThe other two seem to be taking the state of affairs quite well, though?
Yes - poor Ginger, where will he go,what will he do? At least Bertie has a stately pile to return to (at least I think he has), but what about Ginger? Property in London costs a packet.He could find himself homeless!
ReplyDeleteAlso Ginger always looked-up to Biggles. It must be a shock for him to see Biggles treating everyone so shabbily in this way.
I think Ginger's too worried by Algy to worry about himself! He's probably never seen them fight before. Algy's usually so easygoing and don't care-ish. If Algy had put his foot down a few times and told Biggles he was being a brat, maybe Biggles wouldn't be such a brat now....
ReplyDelete