Following on from the last post “That Time
When Biggles Left Algy In The Lurch For An Hour”, here’s another example of
when Algy got left in the lurch, from Biggles
and the Blue Moon.
Biggles and Algy are stuck in a nasty
situation where they are surrounded by people wanting to kill them. In an
effort to do something about it, Biggles comes up with a plan to break out and
get the Auster. There’s a lot of shooting involved in the breaking out bit and
Algy doesn’t know if Biggles has made it out or not until:
It was the Auster. Algy gasped his relief. But what was it doing? It was flying level at a height of not less than five hundred feet, which made it instantly apparent that Biggles had no intention of landing. From that height he couldn’t land. He had not left himself enough room to get in. Algy took a chance and ran into the open, waving both arms. The Auster went on, leaving him staring at it helplessly.
And, considering that there are people
around who would be only too happy to shoot him, Algy is taking a pretty big
chance, running out like that. But does Biggles respond? No.
Algy could have torn his hair in his impatience. What on earth was Biggles doing? Why didn’t he land? And where was Lin Seng? What was he doing? Algy didn’t know what to do. Their plan seemed to be falling to pieces.
And finally when things have settled down
(a long time later), Algy finds Biggles standing by the landed Auster, smoking
a cigarette (smoking? Again? Really, Biggles?). When Algy asks what’s going on,
Biggles’ response is that he’s got some backup in and that they will take care
of things so he didn’t see any reason to land before.
Well, thanks, Biggles. That makes it all
clear.
You got away from a dangerous situation
under dangerous circumstances, and you had to know that Algy was worried about
you, and you had to know that he was in danger, and you definitely saw him
running out to meet you, waving his arms, where anyone could have shot him, and
what did you do?
You thought to yourself, “Oh, well, it
doesn’t matter. I’ve got the army coming in a bit. I don’t have to land. I can
just hang around here for a bit and then land and have a smoke while Algy sorts
everything out on the ground and maybe gets shot.”
Some best friend you are.
Well quite frankly I am shocked! Simply shocked!
ReplyDelete'Blue Moon' is one I have yet to read but I find it difficult to believe Biggles would treat Algy...ALGY of all people in this cavalier fashion!
Humph!Needless to say I am NOT best pleased.
I think this would qualify as one of those moments when Biggles deserves a good kick up the backside.
I hope Algy at least yanked the cigarette from his mouth and stamped it into the ground!
Poor Algy his only trip out in ages - he'd probably have had more fun back at the dentists :(
Haha! I love Blue Moon. It has some great Algy moments in it. I rather thnk that by now he just accepts Biggles as he is. But I must go and read Blue Moon again, just to see what Soppy is jumping up and down about.
ReplyDeleteThis bit ALWAYS rattles me - I'm glad that you understand, Soppy. 'Blue Moon' is a great book, but some moments are really, extremely provoking.
ReplyDeleteYes, Blue Moon is a nice book, but there are just some times when...*sigh*
ReplyDeleteListen to me, Biggles. I don't care if you've brought the whole RAF with you, you do NOT leave Algy running about and worrying about you and then land nonchalantly and have a smoke. Friendship doesn't work like that (and you, of all people, should know that). You should thank your lucky stars that you weren't in a Soppy fic at the time of this event, because if you were, Algy would have gotten shot (because Algy usually does get shot in a Soppy fic).