CHAPTER 36 (PART - B) end of chapter 36


Chang sat in a pub with the Detectives as they drank a pint of ale and ate fish and chips. Chang tried to drink the ale but he really wasn’t fond of it. He nibbled at the fish and chips even though he really wasn’t that hungry. The visit on the Sea Serpent made Chang realize what they were up against. The Grand Abbott and Blessed Lightning were correct. This was a foe beyond any that he or Tintin had encountered before. Chang couldn't put his finger on it but he was sure even his brother and father would have second thoughts about facing such a foe.

Chang knew that his mission was to get on that ship and find that young woman to fulfill his promise. Chang knew the clock was ticking and with each hour that passed could be the difference between him finding Mrs.Lam’s daughter dead or alive. He finally decided that if the Detectives hadn’t decided what to do by tomorrow evening he was would go on his own despite the dangers he knew that awaited him.

The Detectives were drinking and eating while talking to Glasgow officers discussing the strange ship. Chang knew they would need all the allies they could get if they were to go and confront them head on. Chang also wondered if this was his destiny. It was saddening for Chang, but he knew he was honor bound.

“So this young foreigner here is your associate?” one officer asked.
“Indeed he is!” Thomson smiled.
“…and a fine one he is too!” Thompson said patting Chang on the back since he sat right next to Thompson.
“Let the lad speak for himself” one officer said.
“I am here duty bound” Chang responded as both Detectives and three officers listened.
“He sounds so serious” one officer nodded.
“You can be at ease around us” the second officer agreed.
“Yea, we’re not going to think any less of ya?” the third officer responded.
“Thank all of you!” Chang said gratuitously.

“So you want us to do a further inspection of that ship?” one of the officers asked.
“To be exact, yes…but” Thomson started.
“We are a bit short on evidence” Thompson frowned.
“So all of you have already interviewed the captain once?” One officer asked.
“I’m afraid so…” Thompson lamented.
“The ship seems completely legitimate Detectives, we’ve combed through their records and we can’t find anything out of the ordinary” the second officer reasoned.
“You three didn’t find Allan Thompson that Scotland Yard has now made a person of interest for that pub fire in London” the third officer mentioned.
“Sadly not…” Thomson regretted.
“We can see about making charges up, but if it’s not legitimate and the courts find out, our jobs would be on the line” the third officer explained.
“We can stand by just in case you were to um…discover something” the first officer suggested.
“I got ya!” Thompson nodded.
“Me too… now all we got to do is…” Thomson started to say.
“Shhh… don’t tell us” the second officer put a finger over his mouth.
“That’s right, you’re Detectives, so you’ll need to do some super sleuthing before we can step in” the first officer finished.

Chang sat listening to them talk in circles and realized they may be on their own. The three officers bid their farewells for the evening. Chang made himself eat some more and took one more swig of the ale.

“You don’t drink much do you?” Thompson asked Chang looking at his glass.
“I don’t like to cloud my mind with substances that could harm me” Chang said truthfully.
“One drink isn’t going to hurt you? You’ve barely finished half of it” Thomson said a bit more surprised.
“…and you barely ate half of your meal! No wonder you never grew up to be big and strong” Thompson pointed out.

“I think this is all I need, I’m just not hungry” Chang shrugged.
“You’re not going to keel over on us are you?” Thomson asked a bit concerned.
“Oh no Detectives, I promise I will be just fine” Chang replied confidently.
“So you miss home?” Thompson asked trying to draw Chang out a bit.

“Of course I miss my family, but I have learned that many things are sometimes out of our control and we must accept them and do the best we can” Chang said sincerely.

Both Detectives never ceased to be amazed by the resilient attitude Chang seem to have. Both Thomson and Thompson had another pint of ale while slowly but surely Chang took small sips of his ale to keep his mouth from becoming too dry. Chang’s mind was focused with his preoccupation of the situation.

“You know what Chang, I think I do remember you now!” Thompson laughed.
“Me too!” Thomson continued.
“What do you remember?” Chang snapped out of his thoughts curious what it may be they remembered.
“You’re that kid that Tintin was with when we tried to arrest him back in Shanghai with that phony warrant” Thompson laughed.
“Yea, it’s amazing! I would have never guessed that was you even though we’ve heard Tintin tell us a few times about yours and his adventures in Shanghai” Thomson said finishing his pint.
“Tintin has spoken to you about everything that happened?” Chang was a bit surprised.
“Oh yes, I remember a time where Tintin was really sad… and you know Captain Haddock had to go move some old rotten ship called the Golden Fleece Captain Haddock inherited from an old mate of his. Tintin insisted on staying and helping us out with a case, even though we gave him leave to go with the Captain” Thompson began to think back.

“Why was he sad?” Chang asked a bit puzzled. The conversation just kept getting more interesting with the more ale the Detectives drank and Chang began to feel the weight lift off his shoulder. Thompson finished his pint then took his last bite of fish. Chang decided to try to force some of the ale down to get more conversation out of the Detectives.

“I thought you said you didn’t like the ale Chang?” Thomson seemed confused.
“Blessed Lightning says ‘one must open one’s self to new experiences’” Chang quoted.
“Blessed who?” Thompson asked curiously.
The server came by and both the Detectives motioned for him to get them one more pint.
“Blessed Lightning was one of the monks back at the monastery who had visions. He is a very wise man” Chang answered.
“What were we talking about?” Thomson asked looking up at the ceiling.
“Oh about why Tintin was sad!” Thompson remembered.
“Yes that’s it” Chang smiled.
“He doesn’t get sad too often but only when certain things are talked about” Thomson mentioned.
“I don’t think I should be asking such questions” Chang suddenly felt like he was prying in an area that should involve speaking with Tintin directly.
“Well to be precise, you see when Captain Haddock goes away…” Thompson started.
“…and that’s hardly ever without Tintin” Thomson added.
“Tintin seemed to get a bit sad” Thompson finished.
“Well he just misses his Captain, nothing wrong with that” Chang smiled.
“You see Chang… he was actually talking about you though instead” Thomson whispered.

“Me?” Chang asked a bit surprised.
“Yes, he said he had a dream about you, and that you and he spoke about you know, stuff you’ve been doing” Thompson continued.
Chang stopped for a moment and began to think back a little remembering several months ago a vivid dream where he and Tintin did indeed have a conversation about how they were doing and how they promised each other they would write soon. Chang wondered if his dream had somehow connected him with Tintin.
“He said you were doing fine and that you were on a quest of some sort” Thomson couldn’t remember the rest.
“…anyways he said the dream made him miss you and wonder why he hasn’t heard from you in so long” Thompson said finishing his last ale with Thomson.
Chang forced down the rest of his pint, but began to wonder if his spiritual experiences in Tibet had made him more spiritually aware. Chang began to think back to his training with Blessed Lightning when he had his first vision. The more Chang thought about it, he remembered going on a spiritual journey with the help of Blessed Lightning and he saw his real mother and father.

"You must free yourself from the pain of the past..." Blessed Lightning told him.

Chang could feel a sensation as if he were flying.

Chang remembered the warm sensation of light enveloping him as two bright lights approached him. Then he saw a young man and a woman. The young man looked a little like him and his mother was looked similar to young woman he once saw at a shrine when he was a child.

"Go forth my son and shine brightly for us" the young man said.

"Do not weep for us, we are here with you always" the young woman whispered.

Chang could feel a tugging as he was pulled away then he was back with Blessed Lightning. Chang shed tears of sadness and joy as he told Blessed Lightning of his vision.

"Chang!" suddenly Chang was brought back into the present.

“Well we chatted enough…HICCUP!” Thompson said going off to pay the server.
“We need to get back and get some rest...hiccup! And figure out what we’re going to do tomorrow...hiccup!” Thomson nodded.
“I’ll help you” Chang nodded with a genuine smiled feeling for the first time he felt like he connected with the Detective a little.

CHAPTER 37 (PART - A)

(In the background (if this was a movie) this song would be for Tintin to Haddock)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTfoqTiwf80

Tintin, Snowy, Cocoa, and Captain Haddock arrive at the Sea Breeze. Tintin takes the luggage out of the trunk quickly wanting to get settled in. Snowy and Cocoa were happy to get out of the plane and then out of the car to stretch their legs. Haddock helped Tintin with his own luggage.

“What a place Captain, the Sea Breeze!” Tintin said as it sat just up on a small hill from the bay.
“It does have a nice view of the city's bay” Haddock commented as he and Tintin walked inside to get their room.

The inside was a nautical theme and all kinds of ship memorabilia was neatly littered in differently locations of the room.
“Blisterin’ Barnacles! That sword fish is huge!” Haddock was amazed.
"You've caught one like that before!" Tintin reminded him.
"I know, but still when I see fish like that it makes me just want to jump in a boat and go!" Haddock said enthusiastically.
“Captain! Look! There are your favorite books!” Tintin pointed out to a small display case with some big fancy covered books.
“By thunder! It’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Moby Dick in a rare edition!” Haddock smiled a bit amazed.
“Which book is your favorite Captain?” Tintin asked curiously unable to remember which one it was.
“Why Moby Dick of course!” Haddock smiled.
“What about you Tintin?” Haddock said noticing some other books below.
“I think if I had to choose a sea adventure story it would be Treasure Island…it has a better ending, poor Ishmael” Tintin nodded sympathetically.
"Pieces of Eight! Pieces of Eight! Ah!" Haddock said instantly giving Tintin a quick shake.
"Ah! I won't forget that!" Tintin laughed.
“Aye! I can remember a time I was almost as stubborn as old Captain Ahab himself” Haddock nodded.
“No comment” Tintin raised his right hand with a smirk on his face. Snowy barked in agreement as Cocoa just stood there wagging her tail.
"Yea lad I know, and you could definitely be a little Jim Hawkinss from Treasure Island, he was a brave young lad AR!" Haddock joked.
“Excuse me? Can I help you gentleman?” the man at the desk said getting their attention.

“Yes sir, we’ll be needing a room for the night” Haddock said walking up to him.
“Fine, we serve breakfast from seven until ten in the morning...great pirate impression you have there” the desk clerk replied with a compliment.
"Why thank you, I think I get it from my ancestor, Sir Francis!" Haddock stood majestically.
Haddock continued to listen to the clerk as Tintin continued looking at the rest of the memorabilia.

“We only have a full size bed left. We have the other rooms reserved for other guests” the desk clerk mentioned.
“How many rooms do you have?” Haddock asked curiously.
“We have only seven” the desk clerk replied.
“That will be fine, we have friends staying here we’re supposed to meet” Haddock mentioned.
“Who would they be?” the desk clerk asked.
“A couple of men who dress alike and a young Chinese man” Haddock replied.
“Oh I think I know who you are speaking of now… they went out four hours ago and should return soon” he said as he and Haddock finished the transaction.
Tintin thoughtfully joined the captain at the counter with Snowy and Cocoa.
“Room two will be yours, please enjoy your stay, it's upstairs on the first floor” the young desk clerk thanked.

“Come on landlubber, let’s get settled in” Haddock said grabbing his luggage as Tintin grabbed his and the two packs the Professor had given them. They walked up two narrow flights of blue carpeted stairs. The room was on the right once they reached the first floor. The walls were all a nice sky blue color. When they entered there was one king sized bed with blue quilts and sky blue pillows. The drapes were a light blue color as well. There was a dresser with a vanity mirror that was painted a bright blue color. There were two lamps, a night stand and two paintings of various seascapes. One was a beach with the sunset and the other and old three masted sailing ship.

“By thunder! I could get used to such a place like this” Haddock commented taking a seat by the window pulling the drapes back.
“You mean to tell me that you would prefer this bed and breakfast over your Marlinspike Hall?” Tintin asked a bit surprised.
“It’s just quite comfy here, it reminds of my old apartment some” Haddock commented.
Tintin put the the packs by the two blue upholstered chairs by the window taking the other seat staring out the window. Tintin seemed very happy.
“Looking for Chang?” Haddock asked as he opened his pack reviewing the contents of the Professor’s gadgets.
“Well I would be lying if I said no, but to be honest, I just want this whole dilemma with this cult to be over with. I need to go see my brother… I feel like he needs me” Tintin confessed.

“If he ever raises his hand against you Tintin I can’t promise that I will be able to restrain my anger” Haddock admitted.
“He won’t captain, it’s just that…” Tintin was trying to find the right words.
Haddock looked deep into Tintin’s eyes in which even he seemed a bit doubtful.
“…he’s an alcoholic like me, and…can’t accept you and me together” Haddock said for Tintin.
Haddock could tell when it came to talking about the past they were sore issues for both of them. Tintin looked sad but determined to try.
“He’s my only blood relative that I know I have captain… you say your mother’s side of the family lives here in Scotland… and yet you don’t go see them…” Tintin replied.
“Tintin my boy, if you only knew the truth…” Haddock said taking out a flask and a long swig.
“Then maybe you can tell me the whole story instead of bits and pieces and then clamming up on me” Tintin replied.
“They’re in Inverness, I don’t think it would be a good idea to go see them…” was all Haddock would say.
“Don’t you miss them?” Tintin asked.
“Of course I do…but they aren’t Haddocks. The last time I was there was to see my mother buried” Haddock remembered.
“I’m sorry captain” Tintin reached out touching Haddock on the shoulder affectionately.
“That’s just it Tintin, they would be much less accepting than your brother” Haddock said flatly.
“Well captain…” Tintin took a deep breath. “If Benton chooses to not accept us, then I will walk away knowing at least I tried. No one will come between us” Tintin said boldly.
Snowy and Cocoa sat both listening intently.

“Poor Captain Haddock” Cocoa looked sympathetically to Haddock.
“I’ve watched them grow together…I don’t want to see either of them hurt” Snowy whispered back to Cocoa.

Haddock looked lovingly at Tintin, took his hand, and kissed it gently. Haddock wanted to believe Tintin, but somewhere in the back of his mind he still had his doubts. Tintin could see the bit of insecurity in his captain’s eyes and didn’t know what to say that would clear all doubts from his mind. Tintin could feel the swelling excitement of butterflies in his stomach at the thought of seeing Chang again, but at the same time couldn’t stand to see his captain in such a state. Tintin started to feel torn, but at the same time felt after all of these years the captain should know better.

Tintin remembered someone telling him this when they were discussing love, "When both of you can’t bear to be apart then you know you have something real" Haddock took another swig as he continued to look through the pack.

Tintin realized that sometimes speaking without words seemed to work much better, so he got up and stood in front of Haddock. Haddock looked up, “What is it landlubber?”
Tintin just embraced him pressing himself against his captain, and Haddock took Tintin in his arms. Tintin laid his head on his captain’s shoulder as Haddock held him tightly yet gently.
“I love you Captain” Tintin whispered in his ear.
“It’s always good to hear it from you lad” Haddock whispered back.

CHAPTER 37 (PART - B)


The ride back to bed and breakfast was a bit scary at first since Thompson’s driving was erratic and reckless scaring Chang and Thomson. He was swerving in the road since he was more than a bit tipsy.

“HIC--Look out!--UP” Thomson shouted while having a case of the hiccups.
“Please Detective, pay attention and be more careful!” Chang covered his face after two close calls.

“I’ll have you know that—hiccup—I am quite capable!” Thompson said defensively.
“Perhaps I should drive?” Chang suggested.
“Do you know how to drive? HICCUP!” Thompson asked drunkenly.
“I’ve driven once or twice in my uncle’s car so I think I can stay on our side of the road since I am not intoxicated” Chang reasoned.
Chang was relieved then the drunken detective pulled the car over and traded places with him. Fortunately for Chang, driving the car was amazingly easy.
“Please Detectives, I don’t remember the way back to the bed and breakfast” Chang replied realizing not knowing the directions could also be problematic.

“Oh…turn right!” Thomson shouted.
Chang quickly turned right almost missing the turn.
“No! HICCUP! You go forward!” Thompson strongly disagreed.
“Make up your mind where you’re going you imbecile!” Someone shouted beeping their horn as Chang tried to resume his original path.
“Good…HICCUP…boy Chang…now make a left after this next street…” Thomson instructed.
“No! It’s this one…HICCUP!” Thompson suddenly shouted.
Chang slammed on the brakes causing a couple of cars behind him to do the same and the Detectives to experience a minor case of whiplash. “Oi!” More drivers screamed out of their window in discontent.
Chang turned left almost passing the street.
“Please Detectives, we want to get back to the Bed and Breakfast in one piece” Chang pleaded.

Chang drove until the he saw a familiar landmark and ignored the Detectives.
“Park there!” Thomson pointed suddenly.
“No…HICCUP…park there!” Thompson.
“No silly! ...HICCUP…park here!” Thomson argued.
The Detectives antics caused Chang to back into to someone else’s car.
“Oops!” Chang covered his mouth.
“Don’t…don’t…worry Chang, you did…HICCUP!” Thompson started.
“…good” Thomson finished.
Chang got out of the car to check the damage. Despite the ruckus it made the car didn’t seem affected. Chang inspected the back of their car which had only a couple minor scratches. The Detectives were staggering out of the car.
“No, Detectives this way!” Chang said trying to get both of them arm and arm to lead them inside.
“We’re home! HICCUP!” Thomson shouted.
“PRE-HICCUP! –CISELY! HICCUP!” Thompson agreed.
“Shh… this way Detectives” Chang whispered.

XXXXXXXXX

Tintin had dosed off in his seat while the Captain had persuaded the desk clerk to let him borrow the copy of Moby Dick in the display out in the lobby. When he returned, Tintin was still sleeping peacefully it appeared until he sat down. He noticed Tintin’s face was contorted in anguish and fear while Snowy and Cocoa lied sleeping under his chair.

“Billions of blue blisterin barnacles! What’s that boy dreaming about now?!” Haddock wondered. He opened the hard back cover book and began to flip through the first pages until he found the first chapter. Haddock smiled to himself remembering how long ago it was when he had first read this book. Haddock began to think about the comment about him being a bit like Captain Ahab then Haddock shook his head. "I don't think I've ever been that crazy have I?" Haddock said rhetorically.

“No…don’t take my…brother…” Tintin quietly mumbled in his sleep.
Haddock only understood the word ‘brother’ and he could clearly see Tintin’s facial expression became more horrified with each passing moment.
“By thunder!” Haddock closed his book and walked over to his chair.
“Tintin! Wake up landlubber!” he said gently shaking him.
“Please no!” Tintin cried out then waking up.
“Tintin! You’re having a nightmare again” Haddock gently shook him.
Tintin opened his eyes seeing Snowy and Cocoa both with cocked heads and concern looking up at him.
“You see landlubber you even got Snowy and Cocoa worried about you too” Haddock sighed.

Tintin didn’t respond immediately, as he was still catching his breath.
“Talk to me lad?” Haddock knelt down next to his chair looking deep into his green eyes.
“I don’t want to worry you Captain…” Tintin nodded slowly getting up.
Haddock grabbed Tintin gently and forced him back into his seat.
“Thunderin’ Typhoons! How many times do we have to do this? I’m not just 'The Captain’ I’m your lover too!” Haddock whispered.
“I don’t know what any of these dreams mean Captain, it’s just I feel like telling you everything will just make you worry needlessly” Tintin explained.
“Hehehehe!” Haddock laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Tintin looked a bit surprised.
“I always worry about you… I want to know what’s bothering you” Haddock said taking each of Tintin’s hands in his.
Tintin sighed shaking his head uneasily.

“I dreamed about Rastapopoulos kidnapping my brother and trying to do to him what he almost succeeded in doing to me back in Ischia…” Tintin finally mentioned.

Haddock swallowed hard remembering those dreadful moments his heart almost stopped for he thought he almost lost Tintin forever as he desperately held Tintin trying to revive him after all that material was poured all over him.

“You see Captain I don’t want you to have to relive that…” Tintin opened his mouth not knowing what else to say.
“Thunderin' Storms! Tintin! Why do you think I’m still with you?!” Haddock said in frustration.

“Captain please!” Tintin pleaded.
“We laugh together! We get mad together! We cry together! I’m here for you just as you were for me when I needed you when Allan was using me!” Haddock stopped and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry Tintin, I have a problem expressing myself sometimes you know that…” Haddock kissed Tintin’s hand and got up and turned around rubbing his eyes.

“It’s ok Captain, that’s how I know you love me so” Tintin finally smiled.
“I’m glad you do lad, but remember what happens when you keep things from me. I can’t be there for you one hundred percent like I want” Haddock explained avoiding Tintin’s gaze hiding his tears.

Tintin knew this to be true, he and Haddock had a few misunderstandings during in the beginning of their relationship along with inside and outside forces that had tested them almost to the breaking point since they’ve been together.

“It’s hard Captain when we both want to protect each other” Tintin laughed as Snowy and Cocoa suddenly jumped in Tintin’s lap when a ruckus outside grabbed their attention.

“What’s that?!” Tintin said standing up with Snowy in one arm and Cocoa in the other.
Haddock quickly walked over to the window and put one hand on his face.
“Those two will never do! Drunkards!” Haddock shook his head.
“Two!? You mean two as in Thompson and Thomson?!” Tintin quickly put Snowy and Cocoa down and darted for the window.
“The two and only,” Haddock announced. Their window was just a few of meters above and adjacent from the ground floor front of the bed and breakfast. Tintin and Haddock could hear hiccups as Tintin looked to see another face that brought tears to his eyes. Tintin opened the window quickly.

“CHANG!” Tintin shouted out the window.
The shout startled Chang and caused him to instantly jump back letting go of the Detectives causing them both to stumble forward and fall. Chang looked up and could see Tintin’s familiar face.
“TINTIN!” Chang shouted waving but dutifully returning to help the Detectives back up.
“Captain?” Tintin looked apologetically to Haddock.
“Go see your friend…your son of Heaven…” Haddock smiled bitter-sweetly.
“Thank you Captain!” Tintin ran over to hug and plant a deep unexpected kiss on Haddock’s lips.
“Go lad before I change my mind!” Haddock teased smacking Tintin’s buttocks.
It was only three seconds and Tintin was out the door. Snowy and Cocoa ran after Tintin but he closed the door before they could come dashing out and they both whined in misunderstanding.
“Sorry Snowy, Cocoa, let’s give Tintin a couple of minutes before we go down to greet them too” Haddock said taking out his pipe while fishing out some of Chester’s daughter’s cherry flavored tobacco.
“The Captain doesn’t look so happy Snowy” Cocoa whispered.
“It’s really complicated Cocoa, I don’t even know if I understand it” Snowy whispered back.
“Human love is so strange” Cocoa commented quietly as the two stood by Haddock’s side.

CHAPTER 38 (PART - A)


When Lucille and the police arrived back at the house she explained almost exactly what happened. There was still a thick mucas like substance on the ground with some blood, but the carcass was gone. The police believed her when they saw how her house had been ransacked as if someone was looking for something. Lucille’s heart sank a bit on how wrecked the house looked but at the same time was anxious about how she was going to get her husband back. They walked in every room and inspected every corner to make sure there was no one or anything else still lurking in the shadows.

“We really are sorry Mrs. Hadley about your house and your husband” one officer replied.
“We can file your report about your home being burglarized and send it on to other precincts all over and hope for the best” the other officer replied.
“I understand…” Lucille said with disappointment in her voice.
“We’re really sorry Mrs. Hadley, we will let you know if any tips come in” the first officer apologized.
“We suggest you stay somewhere else for tonight at least” the second officer suggested.
Lucille folded the paper with Alyssa’s phone number on it and put it in her pocket. “I think I will go stay with my mum and dad tonight, they live just down the lane” Lucille replied.

“Good idea, just want you to be safe mam” the first officer said as Lucille began turning off the house lights leaving the front light on in the house as she locked up.
“It’s about seven thirty mam, we hope the rest of your evening is better” one officer said checking his watch.
“Thank both of you! Have a good night” Lucille said getting in the car driving back to her parents’ house.
Lucille quickly drove down the lane. She realized her father was home and decided she would slip in the back door since she had her own key and try to move around the house unnoticed. She knew her father wouldn’t accept her going out alone to search for Benton.

She parked the car at the end of the driveway so they wouldn’t hear her coming. The only light was from the waning moon and the light coming from the windows. Lucille dashed across the front lawn to the back of the estate. Since the estate was fairly big, but not as big as Marlinspike, she figured sneaking around wouldn’t be much of a challenge because she and Benton did it when they were younger many times. Lucille still could feel the fear of one of those Dobermans being right on her heels or that she was being watched, but her resolve was stronger. She knew in life that some risks were worth taking.

She saw the dining hall was well lit which meant they were probably having dinner which worked perfectly since there was a phone in her father’s study upstairs. Usually her parents had dinner around six or six thirty, not seven thirty. Perhaps her father was late coming home from work which wasn’t unusual.

Quietly she entered the back door and gently shut it. She crept passed the kitchen and the dining hall. She could hear them talking in the background but she didn’t want to be seen so she continued quietly upstairs back to her father’s study and shut the door behind her. Anxiously she took out Alyssa’s number and quickly dialed.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Not another show like that again!” Mary Ann laughed.
“Oi! You know I like those shows! Don’t poke fun at them!” Bob retorted.
“I know…” Mary Ann rolled her eyes as they sat in the living den.
“Well you don’t hear Alyssa or Nathan complaining” Bob pointed out.
Alyssa and Nathan sat there in a zombie like state watching the television.
“Of course, look how enthusiastic they look about it” Mary Ann laughed.
“Both of you like this show don’t you?” Bob asked but was suddenly cut off by the phone ringing.

Quickly Mary Ann and Alyssa jumped out of their seats and bolted for the phone.
“Now who could that be?” Mary Ann wondered.
“Maybe it’s Uncle Frederick?” Alyssa guessed.
Alyssa beat her mother to the phone.
“Hello?” Alyssa answered with a huge curiosity.
“Is Alyssa there?” a woman’s voice asked.
“This is she, whose speaking?” Alyssa returned the question.
“It’s Lucille” the voice responded.
“Lucille! Is everything ok?!” Alyssa asked anxiously as Mary Ann stood by quietly listening.
“Who is it?!” Bob looked up.
“Shhh!” Mary Ann scolded.
“No…” Lucille replied quietly.
“What happened?!” Alyssa asked with concern.
“Someone kidnapped Benton” Lucille whispered.
“What!?” Alyssa got a horrified look on her face.
“I got assaulted in my own home and Benton’s friend from work was shot three times nearly killed!” Lucille explained trying to keep her emotions in check.
“That’s horrible!” Alyssa gasped.
“I need to get a hold of Fenton or Captain Haddock, it’s very important” Lucille replied.
“Well what happened exactly?” Alyssa asked.
“I don’t have time to tell you the details, I’m at my parents’ house right now and I have to get off the phone quickly” Lucille said in an urgent tone.
“Both Fenton and Uncle Archie are in Glasgow, listen Lucille can you call me back in five minutes? I can call my Uncle Frederick and find out what’s going on” Alyssa quickly replied.

“Fine, I’ll call you back in five minutes” Lucille agreed hanging up the phone hoping her father wouldn’t come up to his study.
Alyssa hung up and quickly began dialing her cousin’s number and it began to ring.
“Is everything ok?” Mary Ann asked confused.
Alyssa shook her head quickly as she anxiously waited for someone to answer the phone.

“Hello?” another familiar voice answered.
“Elizabeth!” Alyssa said quickly.
“Alyssa? Is something wrong?” Elizabeth answered as everyone was about to leave.
“Yes! I need to talk to your dad” Alyssa said urgently.
“What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked curiously.
“Fenton’s brother has been abducted, it’s really important Elizabeth” Alyssa said.
Elizabeth looked over toward her father, Enzo, and her husband who was holding Rachel.
“Who is it Elizabeth?” Chester cocked an eyebrow.
“Dad Alyssa needs to speak to you” Elizbeth nodded.
“Can it wait, we’re on our way into town” Chester sounded a bit annoyed.
“I don’t think so dad, it sounds important” Elizabeth said holding to phone out to her father.

Chester walked over to the phone a bit perturbed.
“Hello” Chester grunted.
“Uncle Frederick, I need to know where Fenton and Uncle Archie are” Alyssa said anxiously.
“Alyssa, what did I tell you about meddling in others’ affairs?” Chester sounded more irritated.
“Uncle Frederick, it’s not like that I swear! Listen, Benton has been abducted and his wife is trying to find him” Alyssa blurted out.
“You mean that young girl Lucille?” Chester asked with a hint of concern developing in his voice.
“Yes, she doesn’t have much time uncle…” Alyssa answered.
“Hmm…” Chester thought for a moment not sure what to make of this new development. He didn’t want to divulge that information but if there truly was an emergency he didn’t want to hinder a possible life or death situation.

“Listen Alyssa, don’t you breathe a word to anyone else of this got it!?” Chester suddenly replied.
“I won’t, hurry uncle!” Alyssa said shifting on her feet nervously.
“They’re staying at the Sea Breeze Bed & Breakfast. We’re heading over there now. I don’t know the number there, but give Ms. Lucille the number here just in case she gets lost” Chester replied swiftly.
“Fine, Thank you uncle I need to go Lucille’s waiting!” Alyssa said abruptly hanging up the phone.
“Alyssa?” Chester regarded the phone strangely.

Alyssa waited nervously for the phone to ring again.
“What did your uncle say?” Mary Ann asked.
“They’re staying at the Sea Breeze and not to tell anyone” Alyssa sighed, then the phone rang and she immediately picked up.
“Hello?”
“It’s me Alyssa” Lucille responded.
“Listen to me Lucille, Fenton and Archie are staying at the Sea Breeze Bed & Breakfast” Alyssa paused a moment. “Get something to write with” Alyssa instructed.
“Don’t worry, I already have something to write on and something to write with, hurry please” Lucille replied.
Alyssa dictated to Lucille her cousin’s phone number and repeated the name of the bed and breakfast.
“I got it, thank you so much Alyssa, I won’t forget this!” Lucille thanked.
“Don’t mention it, just promise me you’ll be careful!” Alyssa replied.

“I promise, cheers!” Lucille said hanging up the phone looking through her father’s drawer taking a small pack of ammunition for the revolver. It was half way empty. Lucille quickly closed the drawer and closed the door behind her when she heard her irate father downstairs ranting. Lucille Grabbed a map out of her father's desk as well.

“That girl is becoming bolder than she should! She’s going to give me a heart attack and send me to an early grave!” her father yelled suddenly storming out of the dining room.

“Oh no!” Lucille thought as she hid in the bathroom a couple doors down from her father’s study. She could hear his heavy foot steps coming up. She quietly peeped out the door as her father marched into his study giving Lucille the opportunity to quickly dash downstairs.

“Where’s mommy?” Lucille heard Matthew ask.
“She went to go get your daddy” Lucille’s mother answered.
“Will mommy be fine?” Heidi asked.

“I’m sure your mommy will be just fine…it’s about bed time for the two of you” Lucille’s mother said in a voice that didn’t sound very convincing. Lucille looked at them sorrowfully as she passed the dining hall knowing she didn’t have time to explain what was going on.

“My revolver is missing!” Lucille heard her father yell loudly upstairs.

“That’s my cue to leave!” Lucille whispered to herself. With some mild regret, Lucille opened the back door and locked it behind her. She ran as fast she could around the estate sprinting up the driveway to her car. Lucille gasped for air as she got in and drove away. Then she reached into her other pocket as she pulled out a map and got on a main road heading due north.

CHAPTER 38 (PART - B) end of chapter 38

Benton’s head hurt badly from the blow he'd received during the struggle with the officers. When he finally came around he found himself bound hands and feet. He had a handkerchief wrapped around his mouth keeping him from making too much noise. He was in a dark place but from the vibrations and sounds could tell he was in the back of a trunk. The motor was a bit loud and he could barely hear men’s voices up in the front. Benton was wondering if these were sailors or other men he had hustled in a game of darts back in Colchester. If that was the case then why would they go through the trouble to abduct him? Why not just beat him up and take all of his money?

Benton had no idea how much time had passed since he lost consciousness. He began to remember the events and hearing Eric’s screams still ringing in his ears. Benton hoped somehow Eric had survived but wasn’t so hopeful at the present moment unsure about his own fate. The car began to slow down about an hour later until it came to a stop. After a few moments the trunk was opened and the two officers grabbed him up by his arms pulling him out of the trunk.

“Walk boy!” one of them said, but Benton could only stand since his legs were bound together.
“Pick him up Tom, his legs are tied!” the other officer barked.
Benton could see they were at a harbor he didn’t recognize. There was a big black hulled cargo ship he noticed. The sky was darkening as it was just past twilight.
“Come on boss, I carried ‘em last time!” Tom complained.
“Mikhail, you’re a big guy, carry him on board for us” Allan instructed.
“Fine” Mikhail said grudgingly picking up and slinging Benton over his shoulder unexpectedly.
Mikhail’s shoulder poked hard into Benton’s stomach as he was tossed roughly over getting a gasp out of Benton.
“Hopefully we can get out of here and carry on with the next phase of the plan” Allan continued.
“What will that be boss?” Tom asked.
“You’ll see…” was all Allan would say.

“I hope it’s nothing like what happened in London” Mikhail grunted carrying Benton up the gangway.
Benton could not speak and began to wonder who was it that ordered his brother’s abduction and why? He tried to start putting the pieces together.
“When Herr Wagner decides to inform everyone I will tell you” Allan replied.
The boat seemed like a fairly normal cargo ship minus the gargoyle statues and the pure black hull with the blood red letters with the name ‘The Sea Serpent’.
“Where are we taking the prisoner?” Ivan asked.
“To the bridge” Allan ordered.
Once they arrived at the bridge Mikhail was about to drop Benton on the floor.
“Ah ah ah… he wants this one ‘unspoiled’” Allan shook his finger at Mikhail.
“Fine!” Mikhail squeezed Benton tighter catching him off guard giving him a slight pain before setting him down.
The bridge seemed fairly normal other than the many different panels which most bridges didn’t have that Benton had ever seen.
“We’re going back to our cabin” Ivan declared.
“Fair enough…” Allan nodded indifferently.

Benton was busy watching everyone on the bridge when suddenly someone took off his gag and lifted him up to his feet and a deep strong voice made him shudder.
“So this is the famous ‘Tintin’?” a man with a deep German accent replied.
“It looks like him…” Allan commented.
“Yea but he seems…different” Tom really picked up as he continued staring him down.
“What’s your name boy?” Herr Wagner addressed Benton.
Benton began to think carefully as German man stared at him behind a pair of dark shades. He looked like an older man but seemed to be unnaturally strong as he pulled him up to his feet.
“My name is Tintin” Benton replied with a straight face.
“How old are you Mr. Tintin?” Herr Wagner asked elegantly.
“Twenty-five sir” Benton replied quietly.
Tom regarded Benton suspiciously as Allan kept a blank face watching both Herr Wagner and Benton.

“Where are you from Mr. Tintin?” Herr Wagner continued to interrogate him.
“Brussels Belgium sir” Benton continued his speak only when spoken to policy.
“So Mr. Tintin… do you know why we have brought you here?” Herr Wagner paced evenly back and forth in front of him.
“No sir” Benton answered.
“I see… I’m sure you have questions, perhaps I have answers. Ask me questions Mr. Tintin” Herr Wagner said with a strange politeness.
“Why did you have me kidnapped?” Benton said straightening his back up against the wall.
“Because you wouldn’t come willingly… two more questions…” Herr Wagner smiled.
“Who are you?” Benton watched as his boot landed each step.
“Me?” Her Wagner chuckled quietly to himself.
“I am the old Lieutenant of the All-Seeing-Eye…one more question…” Herr Wagner answered vaguely.
“Are you going to kill me?” Benton finally asked the most obvious question.
“Well Mr. Tintin, if that is who you really are, maybe so…maybe not…it depends if you give me what I want…” Herr Wagner spoke ambiguously.
“What is it you want Lieutenant?” Benton asked quickly.

“I’m afraid that is one question too many Mr. Tintin, we will speak a little later. Put him down below in the secret chamber. Admiral, give the orders to the crew to ready our departure, I want the ship to leave as soon as possible” Herr Wanger said examining a map.
“Take him below Tom” Allan ordered assisting Herr Wagner.
Tom walked up to Benton with his night-club in hand, “Come on, up with ya!”
“Easy with the cargo Tom” Herr Wagner waved his hand.
“Yes sir” Tom nodded grabbing Benton under his arm helping him to his feet then picking him up like a sack of potatoes again.
“I can walk if you untie my feet, I promise I won’t run” Benton gasped as Tom slung him over his shoulder.

“Keep your mouth shut prisoner! You’re kind of…heavy!” Tom snapped grunting as he carried Benton out of the bridge.
It was late at night from what Benton could see and only a few crewmen happened to be doing nightly duties on the deck.
“I know you’re not Tintin!” Tom said accusingly as he begrudgingly carried him below.
“I am Tintin…” Benton wheezed a bit Tom walked down the stairs.
“You might fool the boss but you don’t fool me. Tintin doesn’t speak exactly like an Englishman you know!” Tom pointed out.
They continued down a network of corridors and stairs until a buffed man with a black bandana came walking out of a small chamber. Benton could not see him, but Tom stopped.
“What you got there Tom?” the buff man asked curiously.
“This man claims to be Tintin, so the boss thinks we got what we came for” Tom said shaking Benton a little.
“Ugh!” Benton grunted as Tom’s shoulder poked into Benton’s chest.
“Let me see him” the man said as Tom put Benton down.
Benton saw the muscle-bound man but didn’t say anything.
“So are you really this Tintin?” the man asked crudely.
“That I am” Benton answered.
“No he’s not…” Tom disagreed.
“So what are we to do with him?” the man asked.
“Supposed to be locked up for now, could you take him into the secret hold Gaspar?” Tom whispered.
Gaspar looked at Benton grabbing his chin and Benton tried to pull away from Gaspar but it made Gaspar grab him forcefully. After getting a good look at his face he grabbed a hold of Benton’s ponytail and smirked.
“He has the same face as the Tintin character I saw in Antwerp… I’ve only seen him from a distance a few times” Gaspar said examining him.
“I’ve seen Tintin many times, and even Allan suspects this may not be Tintin” Tom folded his arms narrowing an eye at Benton.
“Are you really Tintin? Don’t lie to me… I don’t like…liars” Gaspar said easily picking Benton up by his coat pulling him to his feet.
“I am Tintin” Benton said looking at Gaspar incredulously.
Gaspar regarded him grabbing his arm, “He’s not a very stout fellow is he?” Gaspar nodded.
“Tintin is a bit tougher than he looks” Tom warned.
“He don’t look so tough…sure I’ll throw him in” Gaspar agreed.
“Good, we’re setting off within a few hours and I got duties to attend to” Tom explained.
“Consider it done” Gaspar laughed easily hoisting Benton over his shoulder.
“Don’t try anything funny kid! It would not be good for your health if you know what I mean hehehehe!” Gaspar laughed.

Gaspar walked back through a narrow corridor and into a small room which held several stacked crates. Then he took him through a narrow opening as Benton hit the back of his head against one of the crates as they passed until they came to another small opening. Finally they stopped at a metal door with a valve which Gaspar opened slowly, then they walked in the dark room. Benton could hear some shifting in the back of the room as only the dim light from the small hall filtered into the chamber. Gaspar sat Benton in a corner of the room and grabbed him by his chin.

“Listen to me boy, if you mess with my girls, I’ll mess with you! Hehehehehe!” Gaspar laughed clasping his shoulder tightly before leaving the room locking the door behind him. The only light was the few dim rays that filtered in under the door.
Benton listened quietly as he could hear that he wasn’t alone.
“Is somebody there?” Benton asked hearing the sniffling and whispering but no response.
“Are you a prisoner too?” Benton asked.
Again, there was no response but the sounds of a girl crying quietly.
Benton’s hands and feet were still bound so he sat in the corner quietly wondering what would happen to him next not knowing when the next moment may be his last.

CHAPTER 39 (PART - A)

Tintin couldn’t control his excitement as he ran down the steps so quickly he almost lost his footing and fell. When he came to the front of the lobby he saw Chang coming in and he couldn’t believe his eyes. Tintin felt overwhelming emotions as tears of joy welled in his eyes. Chang had the same pleasant smile that he remembered he had when they had spent time traveling together in China as a youth; and, the same smile he had when he finally found him in the mountains of Tibet. Chang was dressed a little out of character, but Tintin opened his arms wide to embrace him.

Chang too came running in with tears of joy; for the first time in a long time Chang truly felt a light that lifted his soul. Tintin looked like he had grown a little but still had his wonderful expression of joy he had. It was almost too much for Chang after four years of almost no contact with a friend whose soul he had intertwined with. All the memories from Shanghai to Tibet began flooding back to him. “I knew I’d find you in the end!” Chang could still hear Tintin say emotionally as he embraced him on the juniper branches.

Chang ran to Tintin with Tintin catching him in his arms as Chang buried his face in Tintin’s shirt trying to hide the tears of sadness which also clouded his life for years that seemed to evaporate in Tintin’s presence. Tintin felt Chang’s embrace as he took Chang into his arms holding him tight rubbing the back of his head. Tintin too felt a weight coming off of his shoulder, but at the same time a guilty feeling kept him from exploring these feelings too far.

Thompson and Thomson came shuffling in with their canes behind them to see Chang deeply embraced in Tintin’s arms.
“Aw…” Thompson frowned rubbing his nose as he walked in dropping his cane to the floor.
“What’s wrong Thompson?” Thomson asked when he too saw the emotional reunion taking place before their very eyes.
“Aw now isn’t that just…touching” Thomson smiled as Tintin stroked the back of Chang’s head as his brown puffy hat fell to the floor.
“Don’t they just look so cute together?” Thomson whispered.
“Shh! Don’t you dare let Captain Haddock hear you saying such a thing!” Thompson shook his head whispering back.
“Come on Thompson, look at them!” he threw his hand out toward them.
“I didn’t know when…but I knew I’d see you again!” Tintin whispered softly to Chang.
“I understand Tintin” Chang looked up to Tintin who now stood a couple inches taller than him. Chang reached up and wiped Tintin’s face with his hand drying his tears.
“Don’t worry my friend, our friendship will survive even beyond death” Chang whispered.
“Oh Chang!” Tintin sighed happily.

“I missed you so much…why didn’t you write me?” Tintin asked.
“Tintin there’s so much I want to tell you…buy my spirit soars high right now. We will have more time to talk soon” Chang consoled Tintin.
“You’re dear to me Chang, please don’t disappear from my life anymore” Tintin asked with sincerity.
“I promise” Chang made his second promise. “…but where is Captain Haddock?” Chang asked looking around still embraced by Tintin.
Suddenly two dogs came racing down the stairs barking.
“Oh Snowy!” Chang smiled as Snowy recognized Chang dancing around him.
“You have another dog?” Chang asked Tintin as he bent down to pick Snowy up as Snowy bombarded Chang’s face with a flurry of kisses causing Chang to giggle.
“Yes, this is my newest addition to my family, her name is Cocoa” Tintin said picking her up noticing Haddock coming down the stairs out of the corner of his eyes. Tintin wondered just how much of that Haddock had seen.

“Captain” Tintin turned around with Cocoa in his arms.
Haddock walked down his pipe lit slowly and quietly until he reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Evening young man, Chang…” Haddock said calmly walking up to Chang giving him a gentle hug with one arm.

The look in Haddock’s eyes was all Tintin needed to see to know Haddock had watched the entire emotional reunion unfold. Suddenly Tintin felt the tension he feared and just wished that somehow that these conflicting feelings and any potential conflict could be aired out in the open right there, right now; but after seeing someone he deeply cared after four years he felt now was not the appropriate time to address such an issue especially for everyone to see. Both of the Detectives had finally approached them diffusing a bit of the tension, yet he knew this was something he and his captain were going to have to work through continuously for awhile.

“Haddock!” another gruff voice shouted distracting them further.
Haddock was about to greet both Detectives then immediately recognized the voice of his best friend.
“Chester!” Haddock smiled instantly running up to great his friend nodding and patting both detectives on the back as he passed. “Good to see ya Detectives” Haddock smiled.
Captain Chester came walking in with Enzo, his daughter, and her husband carrying Rachel.
“Uncle Archie!” Elizabeth said running up to get a hug from Haddock.
“Blisterin’ Barnacles! You’ve grown! You’re not a little lassie anymore!” Haddock said giving her nice hug.
“So you must be the lucky man to wed this fine young lady” Haddock shook Kevin’s hand.
“Pleasure to meet you Captain Haddock, I’ve heard a bit about you” Kevin nodded holding a still awake two year old girl.
“Nice to see you allowed your daughter to marry a Scotsman” Haddock laughed as he detected Kevin’s Scottish accent.
“Of course, I’m not going to tell me daughter who she can and can’t marry” Chester cocked an eyebrow.
“That’s not what you said awhile back old friend” Haddock shook his finger jocularly.
“That was then…” Chester conceded.
“What an adorable wee lass here! What’s her name?” Haddock said rubbing her chin with one of his long huge pudgy fingers.

“Tell him what your name is dear” Elizabeth prompted Rachel, but she only looked around and remained quiet absorbing everything in front of her.
“Her name is Rachel, but it is way past her bed time” Elizabeth explained looking up to see Tintin and Chang finally approaching them with the Detectives.
“Wait! Is this your young companion Tintin?” Elizabeth asked Haddock just before they were joined by Tintin and Chang.
“Yes he is” Haddock said putting an arm around Tintin patting him on the back.
“Oh you must be Chester’s daughter!” Tintin cordially took her hand.
“Yes, I have that pleasure” Elizabeth laughed.
“Seems like we’ve heard about each other for quite awhile but never got to meet” Tintin smirked.
“This is my best friend Chang, we go back a long way” Tintin introduced.
“It is my pleasure to meet you Ms. Elizabeth” Chang bowed.
“Oh please, just Elizabeth” she said taking Chang’s hand.
“Hi Tintin! We saw you at the train station in London” Enzo pointed to Chang.
“Who me?” Tintin looked a little confused.
“No your friend Chang” Chester corrected.
The Detectives finally walked up next to Tintin inserting themselves into the conversation.
“Well it’s good to see you again finally after so much…” Thompson thought for second.
“Malicious mischief” Thomson finished.
“Why thank you Detectives!” Tintin said amazed each time he heard one of them spit out a high level vocabulary word.
“Excuse me ladies and gents, but I have guests trying to sleep. It’s almost eight thirty, I’m going to have to ask all of you please keep your voices down” the desk clerk said preparing to lock the place up for the night.
“Oh we’re sorry sir” Tintin apologized.
“We’ll step outside” Chester suggested.
“Fine, but I’m locking the doors in thirty minutes, so if you’re staying here you need to be back inside” the desk clerk reminded.
“Yes sir” Chang agreed.
Everyone walked out to the front of the bed and breakfast.

“Thunderin’ Typhoons! This is a surprise Chester! What brings you and your family out at this hour?” Haddock said as everyone stood out looking over towards the bay.
“I got a call from my niece…this message may be more for Tintin” Chester said glancing to Tintin who was busy whispering with Chang and Enzo. At the mention of his name Tintin looked up at Chester. Chang and Enzo equally paid attention.
“Well out with it mate” Haddock prompted him.
“Tintin, this ‘Benton’, do you really believe he is your brother?” Chester asked with mild suspicion.
“I don’t have a doubt in my mind he is my brother” Tintin shook his head.
“How can you be so sure?” Chester asked.
“I paid Mrs. Finch, my landlady a visit who adopted me as a child, and she confirmed it” Tintin explained as everyone quietly listened.
“I see…” Chester looked toward the bay as the waning moon began to reflect on the ocean waters. After a moment of reflecting, Chester abruptly looked to Tintin.
“What in blazes!? You mean that ole spencer lady knew about this all these years and never told you?!” Haddock asked a bit outraged.
“She had her reasons Captain” Tintin replied calmly to Haddock.

“Tintin, your brother has been abducted” Chester continued abruptly.
“What!?” Tintin’s heart sank.
“Alyssa received a call from Lucille, she is on her way here as we speak” Chester explained.
“From Colchester to Glasgow? Alone?” Tintin didn’t know what to think.
“Yes…she should be arriving in the wee hours of the morning” Chester informed him.
“Lucille seemed so fragile… she shouldn’t be traveling alone like this” Tintin shook his head.
“Oi! I resent that remark, just because we are women doesn’t mean we need a man protecting us all of the hours of the day and night!” Elizabeth said defensively.
“That’s not what I meant Elizabeth…” Tintin put his hand up.
“I know you’ve had many ‘adventures’ Tintin, but some of us here too have had them as well” Elizabeth pointed out.
“Blisterin’ Barnacles! We’re not here to argue about whose had what adventure and where, but Tintin’s brother has been kidnapped and the reality is we can’t do anything at this moment” Haddock summed it up.
“I think Captain Haddock is correct, we cannot go out like a chicken with its head cut off searching blindly for the blind. We should wait for this Ms. Lucille to arrive, then she will be able to better inform us” Chang spoke up.
“Well said Chang!” Chester praised him.

“I wonder if it was those men we fought with in Ipswich?” Enzo suggested.
“Could be…especially after that incident where they attacked me after I had just tried to help them after a bad wreck” Tintin nodded.
“So what are we going to do right now?” Kevin asked holding a now sleeping Rachel.
“There aren’t any pubs nearby without driving all the way into Glasgow town town proper that are open” Haddock nodded.
“I think the desk clerk is getting ready to lock the doors” Kevin said noticing the desk clerk open the front of the bed and breakfast having a peep outside.
“Aye, we’ll be by this way tomorrow morning” Chester nodded.
“What for?” Tintin asked.
“We need to check on the Sirius, we set out Monday, so tomorrow I need to take inventory of the ship” Chester explained.
“That’s right you’re ship is here” Tintin nodded.
“Yes, well good night to all of you” Chester smiled.
“It was nice to finally meet you Tintin” Elizabeth waved.
“You as well” Tintin waved back as Chester and his family returned to their van.
“See you again soon Tintin!” Enzo waved.
“Take care of Captain Chester Enzo!” Tintin winked.

“I guess we’d better return to our rooms” Thompson suggested.
“Precisely!” Thomson agreed as they all walked back inside with the desk clerk locking all the doors for the evening. As they walked upstairs Chang and the Detectives joined Haddock and Tintin in their room for a bit of catching up of their own.

CHAPTER 39 (PART - B) end of chapter 39


Everyone crowded into Haddock and Tintin’s room. Snowy and Cocoa each lied underneath one of the chairs which both Thompson and Thomson took a seat in. Chang sat on the window seal staring out into the bay almost as if he was enjoying the calm before the storm. Haddock and Tintin sat on the edge of their bed while Haddock took out his bottle of whiskey and poured himself a small flask.

“Would you two like a drink?” Haddock offered the Detectives. He noticed how red their eyes looked.
“Thunderin Typhoons! You two already been drinking haven’t ya?” Haddock smirked.
“Afraid so…” Thompson sat there quietly as Thomson was already starting to drift into an easy slumber.
“You couldn’t wait for me?!” Haddock almost sounded disappointed.
“Sorry Captain…after a few it becomes a bit difficult to stop…” Thompson said slowly with heavy eye lids.
“Aye!” Haddock nodded taking a sip of his whiskey.
“Eh Chang! Would you like a drink of whiskey too?” Haddock raised his voice slightly getting Chang’s attention.
“No thank you Captain Haddock, I don’t drink spirits” Chang politely declined.
“I see…you and Tintin both have that in common…” Haddock said a bit disquieted.

“Well I will drink a couple of ales with you Captain, so that’s not totally true” Tintin corrected.
“Aye, but how often does that happen?” Haddock asked.
“Actually it was about a week ago when we were in Antwerp visiting Captain Chester,” Tintin reminded.
“Oh that’s right” Haddock nodded.
"Yes, and you and Chester succeeded in getting me quite drunk that I don't remember the rest of that night except for waking up on the couch back at Chester's flat" Tintin expounded.
The little reminder pulled a smirk onto Haddock's face.

“Chang did have a drink… with us at the pub…” Thompson threw in.
“…Pre..ci…zzzz…zzzz…” Thomson began snoring.
“Well we’ve lost Thomson and we’re slowly losing Thompson” Tintin pointed distinguishing which Detective he was speaking about.
“I’m still…awake…” Thompson nodded slowly while Thomson was snoring.
“Is something wrong Chang?” Haddock asked.
“Well, something just doesn’t feel right” Chang turned around letting go of the drapes.
“You can say that again” Haddock said taking a sip.
“You feel it too?” Chang asked taking another peek outside.
“Oh I feel it alright!” Haddock said almost sarcastically.
“…I feel…kind of…zzz…” Thompson replied as he finally began to succumb to sleep.
“What are you two talking about?” Tintin asked a bit confused looking both at Chang and Haddock.
“The air feels strange” Chang commented sniffing.
“Nevermind…” Haddock commented taking another drink.

“Oi! Wake up!” Haddock yelled at the Detectives.
“WHAT?! HUH!?” both Thompson and Thomson jumped momentarily.
“Ya lily-livered buggars! Wake up and have a drink with me!” Haddock demanded.
“Get me a couple of glasses by the sink Tintin please” Haddock asked.
Tintin nodded and handed both of them to Haddock as he poured both Detectives a drink.
“Wake up and have drink!” Haddock snapped at them again.
“Sorry Captain…” Thompson said red-eyed.
“…indeed…” Thomson said lazily.
“Now drink up!” Haddock said forcefully.

Both Detectives tried to look lively for Haddock as they prepared for a toast.
“To health, happiness, and ability to see treachery!” Haddock unexpectedly spouted.
“Captain? Is something wrong?” Tintin asked Haddock confused.
“No, no, no, I’m just fine lad!” Haddock waved his hand.
Tintin looked at him suspiciously.
“Excuse me Tintin, Haddock, Detectives, I need to step out for a moment please” Chang said feeling something a bit strange cold sensations in the air.
Chang stood up and walked out of the room.
“Captain? You’re not upset with me or Chang are you?” Tintin noticed Haddock’s sudden erratic behavior.
“Me?! Billions of Blisterin’ Barnacles! Why would you ask me that landlubber?” Haddock suddenly looked confused at Tintin.

Tintin looked him in the eye, but in a strange instance could not read his captain. Tintin couldn't tell if it was the whiskey or something else, but his eyes looked like a clean slate except for the drunken glossy look creeping in.
“Ok, if you say so Captain… I’m going to go with Chang and see what he’s talking about” Tintin looked at Haddock waiting to see his reaction.

Haddock only nodded as he raised his glass for a toast again with the Detectives. Tintin shrugged and stepped out the door. Haddock took another sip and looked at the door after Tintin left. He began mumbling incoherently under his breath.

“…sorry Captain, did you say something…?” Thompson had one eye open as Thomson was already closing his eyes again.
“No, nothing…” Haddock said pouring himself and Thompson another drink.
“…Archi…bald…Had…dock…” a misty whisper sounded.
“What?!” Haddock spilled his whiskey on his lap and the floor.
“…uh…I didn’t say anything Captain Haddock!” Thompson suddenly became alert.
“You heard that?!” Haddock eyed him suspiciously.
“Um … yea… I thought it was you…” Thomson said sloshing his drink clumsily spilling it on himself.

“Thomson!” Haddock startled him as he threw his drink all over himself.
“Who?! What!? Where!? When!?” Thomson said looking all around him off guard.
“You two aren’t playing games with me are you?!” Haddock closed one eye looking at both of them as he took a towel wiping his pants off.
“…uh…uh…why no Captain!” Thompson said a bit paranoid himself.
“…Thomp…son…” the misty whisper sounded again this time getting a frightened response out of the Detectives.
“Yikes!” Thompson jumped out of his chair.
“Did you hear that Captain?!” Thompson asked.
“…I didn’t hear anything that time…” Haddock got up walking around the room and checking the closet.

“…Maybe this place is haunted?” Thomson suggested.
“Boulderdash! I don’t believe in that nonsense! I think you two need to go get some rest!”
“…sorry Captain” Thompson said apologetically.
“No, no, no…it must be my nerves. I don’t want to take it out on the two of ya!” Haddock said helping them both up to the door as they staggered a bit.
“Guess I’d better make sure you two make it to your room” Haddock said following them down the hall but didn’t see Chang or Tintin. “Wonder where those two could be hiding?” Haddock thought with a bit of paranoia.
“This is our room…” Thomson pointed.
“Ah nice” Haddock watched as Thomson took out his room key trying to fit it in the door.
“Give me that!” Haddock said with frustration grabbing the key from Thomson's hand unlocking the door.
When Haddock opened the door he saw Tintin and Chang half dressed sitting next to one another kissing in the moonlight coming through the window.

“Tintin! By the Blisterin’ Barnacles of my mother’s warts I’ll...” Haddock grunted with a ferocity running towards the bed diving at the two of them ready to choke them both. Just a moment later Thomson turned on the light and Haddock looked up and there was no Tintin or Chang in the room at all.
“You tired too Captain?” Thompson asked as both Detectives walked in to see him on the bed.

Haddock looked up at them as they walked slowly in and jumped off their bed.
“Um, I’m really sorry… must be all that whiskey hehehehe!” Haddock felt embarrassed.
“I know the feeling Captain…” Thompson said as he threw his coat off onto one of the chairs and Thomson began to follow suit.
“Right, well I’m going back to my room gents, so if you need anything just come knockin, good night” Haddock said leaving closing the door behind him.

“What’s wrong with you Archibald?” Haddock asked rhetorically as he returned back to his and Tintin’s room. Haddock justified to himself that Tintin would never do that to him. The vision looked very real and the image remained in his head even though he tried to forget it. Haddock had told his closest friends that there was three things in life that meant everything to him; and, to disturb any of them would draw out the anger in him immediately.

The third important thing to him was his whiskey, he loved whiskey and that wasn’t going to change. He may have cut back for Tintin, but that was an exception to his rule. Second important thing was his home. Marlinspike Hall he said is his castle, and anyone coming uninvited was asking for trouble as Haddock began watching his property more vigilantly. He especially was on the lookout for Bianca Castafiore and Jolyon Wagg. The most important thing to him was Tintin himself.

It had been almost decades since the last time he had even been close to being in love with anyone; and for someone to try to take that away from him would invoke instant retribution in some cases. Tintin had told him it was that temper that made him like a stubborn child at times. Haddock realized Tintin had not seen Chang in four years, and as much as he wanted to go check up on them, he resisted the urge. The room became a little cooler as Snowy and Cocoa began to whine a little.

“What’s wrong you two?” Haddock asked them as they moved next to the bed as Haddock sat down.
“Don’t tell me you’re seeing ghosts too?” Haddock looked at them strangely.
“…Had..dock…” the misty whisper could be heard as Haddock began to make himself comfortable in the bed.

“Oh shut up! Nothing that another shot of whiskey won’t take care of!” Haddock said opening the bottle taking a huge drink before passing out on the bed. Snowy and Cocoa continued to whine as it appeared to them shadows were moving in the room after Haddock turned off the lamp. One shadow seemed to be moving against the wall in the moonlight and both Snowy and Cocoa finally hid under the bed in fear.

CHAPTER 40 (PART - A)


Chang stepped out and closed the door gently behind him unaware of Haddock’s sudden behavior shift. Only a wall sconce light at the end of the hall lit the corridor. Another set of stairs lied at the dark end ascending. All seemed quiet and calm as Chang returned to his room. The room was really cold and he involuntarily shivered as he took his staff he had and left his room. Chang’s senses were telling him something just wasn’t right. A couple moments later Chang spun around with his staff ready to attack but stopped short realizing Tintin had just come out of his room.

"...Cha-ang..." a misty voice whispered. Chang stoically looked around trying to trace the source of the sound.

“Chang, it's me!” Tintin whispered.
“Sorry Tintin, I need to make sure nothing is here” Chang said relaxing his stance.
“Fine, let me help you” Tintin whispered as they walked downstairs into the lobby. All of the lights were turned off. Everything seemed to be in its normal place until a hissing sound drew their immediate attention near the door.

"...Fen..ton..." the misty voice replied as a cold draft of wind blew right through Chang and Tintin.

“Did you hear that?” Tintin whispered.
Chang only nodded as they crept closer to the door as the cold draft of air made both Tintin and Chang shiver. Another hiss issued close by and this time it was louder. Chang had his staff at the ready, and all of the sudden a black cat jumped out of the shadows in the middle of the floor hissing at them and ran upstairs.
“I didn’t know they had a cat here?” Chang whispered as he watched the cat unnaturally quick and gracefully disappear up the stairs.

Tintin only shrugged as nothing else seemed to be disturbed. They returned to the first floor and the hallway was silent except the sounds of Haddock and the Detectives going back and forth. Chang continued to lead Tintin to the next floor up. Only a few rooms were on that floor. Tintin looked down the hall and thought he saw the cat but then it was gone. Tintin rubbed his eyes while Chang pointed to a smaller flight of stairs that continued to ascend. Chang and Tintin cautiously continued up the stairs and slowly unlatched and opened the door when they reached the top platform. A sudden burst of cold air came blowing in when they stepped through the door, but it was only momentarily.

“They have a nursery on the roof” Tintin commented noticing plants were scattered all over the place with a gate bordering the edge of the roof. They walked close to the area closest overlooking the front of the bed and breakfast. They could also see the bay and silhouettes of the ships out in the distance with the bit of moonlight.

“Seems like everything is fine” Chang shrugged.
“That’s a relief for a change” Tintin sighed.
“It’s been a perilous road coming here” Chang mentioned.
“How so?” Tintin asked now that they were alone and didn’t have to worry about waking anyone.
Chang explained everything that happened to him since he left Tibet in less than five minutes and drew a bit of concern from Tintin when he discussed returning to Tibet.
“Why did you go back to Tibet?” Tintin asked him.
“I wanted to find peace” Chang simply replied.
“Did you find it?” Tintin asked.
“I found a lot of it, yes. Peace comes from within, and the Grand Abbott has taught me so much Tintin. I fear what we are dealing with is nothing like we have ever dealt with before” Chang trailed off looking towards the harbor.
“Blessed Lightning, I remember him, he’s the one with the visions” Tintin suddenly remembered.
“Yes, he has foretold of a great evil that we would face. It is of one not of this world” Chang said ominously.
“Not of this world?” Tintin asked confused.
"He was also the one who had the vision that gave the hope to continue searching for you" Tintin smiled.

“There seems to be dark influence from another realm, we experienced it before I left” Chang mentioned.
“What do you mean other realm? I know very little about these things Chang” Tintin explained.
“It’s ok, just trust me on this my friend” Chang nodded as Tintin agreed.

“So you and the Detectives followed the Sea Serpent here?” Tintin asked.
“Yes, I fear that is where my objective lies, I promised Mrs. Lam I would return her daughter to her, I am honor bound” Chang continued.
“You’re not alone Chang, we will face this fear together” Tintin reassured Chang.
“I hope you are well prepared, this very well could be our last mission” Chang said feeling a bit unsure.
“Don’t say that Chang, we will prevail over this foe, just like we did back in Shanghai. Just like back in Tibet, I didn’t let the negative feelings of the Captain, Tharkey, the porters, or the mountains keep me from finding you” Tintin said shaking his head.

“This adversary seems to feed off of weakness and almost seems to try to get inside your head. I could feel the cold in his touch when he put his hands on me” Chang mentioned remembering Herr Wagner.
“We’ll see… when we go meet this Herr Wagner…” Tintin thought out loud.
“No Tintin, it’s you they are after” Chang said.
“Yes, I know…perhaps they were the ones who took my brother…” Tintin suspected.
“You have a brother?!” Chang asked with surprise.
“Yes…that is another long story which I will share with you later,” Tintin shook his head.
“That’s fine, you have been a great friend, greater than any friend I have ever had in my life” Chang smiled.

“You have been for me as well…” Tintin said as they both stared out over the bay.
“No Tintin…” Chang disagreed catching Tintin off guard.
“What do you mean Chang?” Tintin asked confused.
“There has been one other who has done more for you than anyone in the world that I know of. You forget of your greatest treasure of all you told me four years ago you have discovered” Chang reminded Tintin.
Tintin thought for a moment, “Oh of course the Captain has always been there me” Tintin nodded.

“Yes Tintin, you shouldn't take him for granted. I don’t want to come between the two of you” Chang said flatly.
“No Chang, I didn’t mean…” Tintin said but was cut off by Chang.
“Listen my friend, I know how you feel for me and know I feel for you too; but our lives travel separate paths and both of us have new responsibilities now that we cannot ignore” Chang explained.
“Oh Chang…” Tintin gently grabbed Chang’s shoulders as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“You have a good life Tintin, don’t throw it away” Chang reached up drying Tintin’s tear.
“Don’t hurt your Captain, I can see he loves you very much” Chang smiled.
“I know…but if I had it to do all over again…maybe I would have come back to China and things would have been different for both of us...”Tintin smiled with mild regret.
“…but that’s not how things are Tintin, do not weep for things that could have been. It will only cloud your mind with much regret” Chang smiled putting both hands on Tintin’s head kissing him on the forehead.
“Remember when you told me who you were really in love with four years ago?” Chang asked.

“Yes, I do…” Tintin nodded knowing Chang was right.
“I will always be your friend Tintin…until the end of time and even after that” Chang smiled.
"I wish I could have you both" Tintin said almost selfishly.
“Listen to yourself Tintin" Chang laughed at the silly comment. "I owe you so much, so that is why I must help you make the right decisions. I am here for you my friend” Chang finished giving Tintin a warm hug.
“I’ll love you forever my friend” Tintin hugged him back.

“Come, it’s late, we have a dangerous path ahead of us and it would be unwise for us to travel it unrested. We will have more time to talk soon” Chang finished as he led Tintin back in. When they each returned to their rooms the black cat watched them then melted back into the shadows.

CHAPTER 40 (PART - B) end of Chapter 40


The hours seem to drag on as Lucille tried to follow the map to the exact road. Things looked confusing to her at night and she even got lost once, but according to a sign she found, she would arrive in Glasgow in an hour. Lucille had only driven to Edinburgh once with Benton and the kids for a holiday, but that was the extent of her travels into Scotland. Everything seemed to look different at night. The lights of the car illuminated her path and seemed to be the only light around except the light coming from the waning moon. The trees and old houses cast their ominous shadows on the road. Lucille was still blocking those horrid images out of her mind of the monstrous hound.

Traveling alone caused her to over think things, but fortunately for Lucille, she was not afraid of the dark. Maybe her mom was right about her going out in the middle of the night alone. She remembered the scary stories her father would tell her at night to keep her from coming out from under her bed covers at night. Her mom would get mad at her dad afraid it would make her a timid young lady, but it made her determined to be brave.

She realized one mistake could put herself in another similar situation that could cost her life. Then she began wondering how the children would grow up without a mother or father. These were not pleasant thoughts, but she dismissed them with the thought that she was very much alive and was determined to bring her husband and herself home safely. Her father’s revolver had been a great tool, but would it be enough to guarantee her own safety?

Would Fenton and Captain Haddock help her or would she be on her own? Benton had treated Fenton horribly just because he loved someone his brother didn’t approve of. The thoughts just would not stop as she continued down the road. Lucille looked up in the mirror and could see a pair of headlights in the distance behind her. Only a few other vehicles had passed her coming the opposite way since it was so late in the night. The shadows that danced before her as she passed seemed to be playing tricks on her eyes seemingly taking shapes into things that were bound only to the imagination, or were they?

A few curves in the road brought her attention back from her constant line of thoughts. She was only ten kilometers away from Glasgow when she saw something ahead. At first she thought maybe it was a stray dog, as she drew closer to it, it looked almost like that same Doberman hound that attacked her at the house. The hound stood right in the middle of the road. Lucille stole herself and pressed down on the gas pedal accelerating thinking she would just run it down if it stayed in her way. As she rounded a bend in the road, the dog moved in a moment’s notice and jumped at the driver’s window pawing at it leaving a passing haunting growl in her ear as it tried to bite at her. The window deflected the hounds attack and it fell back away from the car as it quickly zoomed by.

Her heart began to race again as the hair on the back of her neck stood straight up. She had imagined that one of those horrible beasts was in her back seat, but fortunately when she looked back it was only the fear in her mind. Something about this seemed awfully familiar to her, something from a nightmare that she suffered from long ago. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. The car behind her was closing the distance swiftly so Lucille mashed the pedal with her foot to prevent the car from getting too close. She estimated she was less than five kilometers away from town. Lucille glanced in her rear view mirror and could see the car was gaining considerably on her despite the fact she had hastened. Who would be following her? Could it have been the man in the dark robes that she found pilfering in her bedroom? Had he decided to follow and finish her off? Her state of paranoia was climbing fast until the vehicle behind her turned off the road going a different direction.

Lucille breathed a sigh of relief and a few moments later she had finally reached Glasgow. She drove along the outskirts until she entered the city limits. The town had more traffic as it was a Saturday night. People were out drinking and it was a big port for cargo ships. Lucille passed by a small group of people walking on the sidewalk. She slowed down and rolled her window halfway open.

“Excuse me?” Lucille shouted out her window.
A couple of the people walking with the group of six turned to look at her.
“I’m looking for the Sea Breeze Bed & Breakfast?” she asked.
The couple of people who looked back only gave her an unknowing shrug.
“Thanks anyways” Lucille said pulling away. Lucille drove a little further into town until she passed by a young couple just leaving coming out of a late night pub.
“Excuse me!” Lucille shouted out her window again.
“Yes?” the young man responded.
“I’m looking for the Sea Breeze Bed & Breakfast” Lucille asked.
“That’s easy, just go back down the road you came and instead of coming into town follow the outside road until you begin going up a hill. It should be at the very top.” He explained.
“Thank you very much sir and a good night to both of you” Lucille thanked as she turned around.

She drove back the way she came and passed a few cars coming the opposite way when something made her glance over and she saw the man in the dark robes with the bird mask on. She tried to muffle her reactions and keep going, but the man in the dark robes saw her as he turned his billed beaked face toward her. Lucille again sped away going in a different direction thinking he wouldn’t be able to turn around fast enough. She saw him turning around quickly as she turned down a smaller street. She kept turning and going different ways to lose him.

She returned back to her original road she was on and was able to find the hill the bed & breakfast was on. There wasn’t much parking so she ended up having to park almost a block away from the place. When she parked, her car was the very last one on the block. She looked around her and could only hear the sound of her heart. It seemed that not a soul stirred. She took out her father’s revolver and reloaded it. It was too quiet.

She stuffed the map back into her knapsack and put the belt of it around her shoulder. She scanned the area before opening her car door making sure nothing was around. Cautiously she stepped out of the vehicle locking the door. She turned and immediately made a dash for the bed & breakfast on top of the hill. Almost instantly she could hear swift sounds of paws hitting the ground behind her. She had her father’s revolver in her hand as she ran. There were tall bushes up ahead that bordered the street.

She glanced behind her and could see another Doberman coming straight for her barely a few yards behind.
“Aaaaiiieeeee!!” Lucille screamed running for her life.

The bed and breakfast was still several yards ahead. She turned around just long enough to fire off a shot, but it missed. Her nerves were getting the better of her now as she could feel a sense of panic setting in. She could hear the low growls as the hound closed in on her.

“Ha ha ha ha ha!” a raspy laughed broke out as she ran as if the laugh was amplified. The hound was on her heels. Lucille kept running as she could see the the bed and breakfast just ahead. She felt a bite on the heel of her shoe but it wasn’t strong enough to go through her boots. She quickly turned into the front of the three story house. Just as she turned into the yard, the hound pounced on top of her knocking her to the ground causing her to drop her father’s gun.

She screamed loudly as it bit her shoulder. She quickly turned over trying to kick it off of her. When she turned over on her back to face the Doberman, its eyes were red. It had its mouth wide open trying to get another bite deeper into her.
Lucille cried out hoping to get someone to come and help her. She turned her head just a few inches away from her father’s gun. She mustered every ounce of strength she had as she was able to get her boots underneath the hound and kick it off of her.

She quickly reached and grabbed her father’s revolver at the same time the hound bit her leg. She steadied herself ignoring the searing pain and fired knocking the beast back a few feet enough for her to pull herself up and scream as loud as she could while quickly backing away to the front door of the bed and breakfast.

CHAPTER 41 (PART - A)

A sudden frigid draft brushed against Haddock as he sat with his head down on the table as a new patron opened the front door to the bar seeking refuge from the cold air.
“Captain?” a voice asked. Haddock opened an eye with his head on the table hidden in his arms with a thick jacket on.
“Haddock? That whiskey didn’t do you in that quickly did it?” another familiar voice said.

“What?” Haddock asked waking up sitting in a bar that looked familiar.
“Hmmm…haven’t we done this before?” Haddock regarded the place then looked into Tintin and Captain Chester’s eyes. “Where’s Enzo Chester?” Haddock looked around.

“Who’s Enzo?” Chester looked at Haddock funny.
“Captain are you ok? Maybe you should lay off the whiskey, we still got to figure out how we’re going to fuel our ship and win this race!” Tintin looked concerned. This Tintin looked younger and more innocent than the present one.
“What are you talking about lad? I already know your idea to use Chester’s ship here to purchase the oil and refuel both our ships” Haddock replied trying to impress a young Tintin. Tintin and Chester looked at each other more than a bit surprised.

“Wow Captain! I haven’t mentioned it yet but you just read my mind!” Tintin was astounded.
“Maybe that whiskey did you some good after all eh old friend?” Chester smiled.
“Excuse me Captain, I need to use the loo, I’ll be back in a moment” Tintin nodded still impressed with the Captain’s sudden wit as he excused himself. Chester watched until Tintin disappeared into the back.
The bar was fairly empty, only a few patrons sitting at the bar and an old man sitting by himself in the opposite corner.
“Haddock! He’s too young for you! You should be a shamed of yourself!” Chester whispered accusingly.
“What are you talking about, we’re only friends?” Haddock looked perplexed at Chester.

“I know you well enough old friend remember? You’re taking advantage of the situation Haddock to get close to him you cradle snatcher!” Chester replied disapprovingly.
Haddock was aghast at the accusation from his best friend and hurt.
“I’ll have you know that no such thing is going on, we are strictly friends! The rest is none of your business anyway, are you jealous or something?!” Haddock suddenly became defensive.
“Jealous?! Ha! I know what you WILL do years later” Chester replied archaically.
“What do you mean?!” Haddock suddenly found his blood boiling.
“You only want him for yourself you selfish old miser!” Chester snapped.
“That’s not true! I really do care for him!” Haddock defended.
“You don’t get it do you!? He’s in love with someone else, not you! You’re so selfish that you won’t ever let him go!” Chester said finishing his whiskey slamming his glass on the table.

“Who else could he be in love with!?” Haddock was trembling with anger.
“A very attractive, very slender, very graceful, very innocent, Chinese boy!” Chester replied stinging Haddock sharply. “I would choose Chang over you anytime!” Chester drove the nail in deeper.
“You’re not my friend!” Haddock growled.
“You really think he could love an old sea dog like you?!” Chester began laughing.

Haddock was so angry, Chester had crossed the line and with a quick dive he throttled Chester by the throat. Suddenly he realized he was choking his pillow. He looked around him and knew by the familiar outlining and shapes that he was back in his room at Marlinspike. It was still dark and it was storming with flashes of lightning outside his window. Haddock stepped out of his room to find himself at the front door of his manor.

Down the lane he could see a young boy playing in the dirt. Haddock ran out in the rain to see who this boy was, but as he drew closer it was a much younger Tintin.
“Blisterin’ Barnacles! What are you doing out in the rain lad?!” Haddock looked mortified as it thundered.
“I’m lost, can you take me home kind sir?” the boy who resembled Tintin as a twelve year old asked.
“Take you home?!” Haddock looked confused for a moment but was startled by the lightning. Haddock didn’t waste anytime. He scooped the young boy in his arms and dashed back towards the manor. When he turned towards the manor it was gone.
“Where you taking me sir?” Tintin asked sheepishly.
“To safety wherever that is!” Haddock looked terrified as they were running in the middle of a storm while a sudden deep raspy laugh began to sound overhead.
It was dark and foggy and Haddock began running in a random direction holding tightly to Tintin trying to find shelter for the both of them until he saw a cave ahead which he quickly ran for.

“We’re safe here” Haddock said holding Tintin tightly, but realized he had a life-sized doll of Tintin in his arms instead.
“Welcome Haddock!” a sinister yet familiar voice addressed him.
Haddock looked to see a Rastapopoulos in disguise pointing to an older Tintin during the Alph-Art affair lying face down on the ground.
“You’re a bit early because the Caesar is not complete, but he has suffocated already” Rastapopoulos laughed fiendishly.

“No!” Haddock dropped to the ground to pick up an already unconscious Tintin off the ground in his arms. “No! You can’t do this!” Haddock shouted. Tintin looked so pale, the color on his lips were darkening to a deathly purple. There were a few of people operating a machine that had liquid polyester.
“We’re ready for him boss!” someone shouted.
“I won’t let any of you touch him alive or dead!” an anguished Haddock said pulling out a gun firing in every direction. Bullets went flying in everywhere and suddenly Haddock felt the ground underneath him shaking.
“Captain!” a familiar voice shouted.
“Tintin! You’re alive!?” Haddock dropped his gun.
“Captain! Wake up!” Tintin’s voice shouted.

Haddock slowly opened his eyes seeing Tintin sitting up in bed. Haddock breathed a sigh of relief realizing it was all just a nightmare.
“You’re having a bad dream!” Tintin said in his blue pajamas rubbing the Captain’s back.
“Oh…I knew that” Haddock smiled.

Tintin jumped out of the bed and walked to the window pulling back the drapes peeking out. Haddock rubbed his eyes turning on the lamp looking at the alarm clock on the night stand.
“Tintin it’s almost three in the morning! What are you doing?” Haddock sat up.
“I haven’t been able to sleep well, worried about Lucille, and between nightmares and hearing things I really thought I heard gunfire in the distance” Tintin replied suspiciously looking out the window.

“That’s funny, I thought I did too last night…what’s going on now?” Haddock sat up in his beige pajamas.
“I don’t know Captain, it’s not what I’ve seen or heard, but what Chang and I have both felt” Tintin explained.
“…and what’s that?” Haddock asked curiously.
“Something intangible, Chang told me of his visit with the Detectives to a ship called the Sea Serpent, and the Captain of the ship having a strangeness to him that could not be put in words” Tintin mentioned.
“So what’s this ship’s connection with everything that has been happening?” Haddock yawned not making the connection.

“Chang didn’t go into all the details and both Detectives had drunk too much to elaborate, but Chang did say that a woman’s daughter who was abducted was on that ship” Tintin answered.
“Why would she be on that ship?” Haddock still didn’t see the relevance.
“Chang’s part of the Sons of the Dragon and a associate of INTERPOL you know…and some very reliable sources out of Hong Kong pinned human trafficking on that ship” Tintin went on.

“It’s too early for me to digest all of this lad…” Haddock said shaking his head still trying to wake up. “What all did you and Chang talk about?” Haddock stood up and walked over to the window taking a peek out his self.
“I have a feeling the former first mate of Chester may be involved. Chang said he would tell me more in the morning over breakfast” Tintin answered when in an instant a woman’s blood curdling scream could be heard and a few moments later a couple of gunshots were heard fired. Snowy and Cocoa came out from under the bed and stood next to Tintin with their tails curled up.

“Somebody Please!! Help me!!” a woman’s voice screamed.
Haddock and Tintin immediately were both startled, but Tintin was spurred into action and immediately retrieved his gun from the desk and ran out of the room.
“Tintin! Get back here! You don’t know what’s going on!” Haddock shouted as he ran out the door to see Chang as well dressed in a green robe running with a long staff in his hands just behind Tintin as Snowy and Cocoa ran after them.

“Thousands of Thunderin’ Typhoons! Why does everything bad have to happen when we’re trying to get a good night’s rest!?” Haddock shouted following behind them. Most of the other occupants in the bed and breakfast began to stir as lights began to brighten up the place.
Finally both Detectives came out of the room still in their pajamas with their canes making their way downstairs too as guests were poking their heads out of their rooms.

“What’s going on out there!?” one man demanded.
“Yea, can’t anyone get any peace and quiet around this old house!?” a woman shouted stepping out.
“Now, now, just go back in your rooms! You have agents of INTERPOL here to take care of the situation!” Thompson spouted.
“Precisely, so if you don’t mind…” Thomson said as he and Thompson slowly made their way stumbling down the stairs.

CHAPTER 41 (PART - B) end of chapter 41


A strong burning sensation gnawed at her leg as Lucille struggled with the big Doberman. She fired again as the hound launched itself at her knocking her back down to the ground. She could feel the nasty breath of the big dog on her face as she struggled trying to keep the beast from biting her. Her strength was waning as she fired once more shooting the hound in the leg. It howled loudly and went to return swift retribution.

Fwoop! The end of a long staff came crashing down on the Doberman's head knocking it back keeping it from biting Lucille. Quickly Lucille felt someone grab hold of her under both of her arms and pull her away to safety.

“Lucille! Don’t worry you’re safe now” a friendly familiar voice replied.
“Fenton!” Lucille cried out. Snowy and Cocoa came rushing out too.
Chang held his staff firmly standing defensively as the beast stumbled back suffering a critical blow to its head and was bleeding profusely. It was still moving around as its tongue began to grow in length and its back began sprouting tentacles.

“It’s one of those monsters again!” Lucille shouted.
“Again?!” Tintin looked horridly at the creature with his gun in hand assisting Lucille in a seated position on the stairs.
“One of those things attacked me back at the house!” Lucille was breathing heavily.

“What?!” Tintin looked flabbergasted.
“Tintin, this is no time for reunion! We have serious trouble here!” Chang warned as the beast sprouted two tentacles from its back that were both almost eight feet long and as thick as an inch thorny vine. Its long tongue lulled out of its mouth and using only three legs, it hopped up slowly advancing on Chang. Both tentacles shot out at him in a whip lashing action, but Chang spun his staff in a swift propelling like motion which knocked one tentacles away but left the other trying to latch on to Chang’s staff.

“Tintin now!” Chang shouted.
“Snowy, Cocoa, don’t let anything harm Ms. Lucille!” Tintin ordered as Snowy and Cocoa stood watching her defensively.
Chang struggled with the other tentacle as it was trying to wrench the weapon out of Chang’s hands. The beast continued to growl at Chang as it continued to advance and the other tentacle swung back around whipping Chang on his leg leaving a strong stinging sensation. Chang winced in pain but bravely continued struggling.

Tintin put one arm up and aimed his gun for the beast as he cautiously advanced. Then he fired a shot at the limping hound hitting it in the abdomen. Somehow the beast still stood.
“How is this possible?!” Tintin shouted.
“You have to shoot its back where the tentacles are coming from!” Lucille shouted.
The beast moved slower but the tentacles seemed to grow in size from one to three inches in diameter and lengthen by more than two feet! The tentacle became stronger and wrestled away Chang’s staff leaving him vulnerable.
“Billions of Blue Blisterin’ Barnacles! What in blazes is that?!” Haddock shouted in disbelief as he finally made it outside.

The tentacles began whipping around faster and one slapped Tintin almost knocking his gun out of his hand. The other lashed back out at Chang, but Chang was quicker and jumped into a backward handspring barely dodging it.

Lucille sat on the stairs watching Tintin and Chang struggle with this hellish looking Doberman. Tintin was stunned for a couple seconds as the tentacle recoiled for another lash at him. Tintin was trying to get an aim at the Doberman’s back but the tentacle came at him quicker than he expected knocking him back further stunning him again sending his gun flying out of his hand several feet away.

“Fenton! Take my gun, I only got one shot left in it!” Lucille warned.
Tintin shook his head quickly recovering and backed away to Lucille and took her gun. Tintin aimed firing the last shot hitting the back of the Doberman directly causing both tentacles to vibrate violently as green ooze squirted out of them as they shrunk and withered away like a plant would without water.
Both Detectives came out just in time to see Tintin finish the bestial monstrosity off as its carcass began bubbling and liquefying into a purple and greenish ooze drawing looks of horror of everyone who witnessed.

“What’s going on out here!?” the owner came out in his pajamas as well. He saw only the tail end of the situation and wasn’t sure what to think.
“Uh…you might want to keep your other guests inside and call the police” Haddock advised the bed and breakfast owner.
“What is or was that thing?!” he looked incredulously at it.
“A monster by the looks of it…we do have one more favor…” Tintin suddenly asked.
“What’s that?” the bed and breakfast owner asked.
“We need a room for this young lady” Tintin asked helping Lucille up to her feet.
“I’m sorry…but we’re full” the owner frowned. “…but my wife and I could spare our guest room…let me call the police” the owner returned back inside while guests were peeking out the window.
“Are you ok Lucille?” Tintin asked as she stood up slowly.
“Fenton, they took Benton!” Lucille said a bit hysterically wanting to say everything in one breath.

“Who!?” Tintin asked helping her stand.
“I don’t know…a man wearing dark robes with a bird mask…broke into the house and…” Lucille stopped to take a deep breath.
“Blisterin’ Barnacles Tintin, give the young lass a moment to get her thoughts together!” Haddock looked closer at her and realized she had a bad bite on her leg and shoulder.
“Tintin, she needs to be treated! Look at her leg and shoulder!” Haddock pointed out.
“Yes, that wound needs to be dressed” Chang noticed.
“Their bite is poisonous, I'll be back in a jiffy!” Tintin agreed returning back to his room as Lucille was able to stand on her own holding on to the guard rail.
“Where’s he going?” Lucille asked feeling just a bit light headed.
“There’s a super antidote that should neutralize the poison lass. You’re pretty brave coming up her alone” Haddock commented.
“I had to… do something…” Lucille bent down to sit again.
“So what is it we’re up against Chang?” Haddock finally asked.
“It is something we have never faced before. The evil is finally starting to reveal its face” Chang replied.

“I do hope you have more than that stick when all of you decide to do whatever it is you’re going to do” Haddock looked at Chang’s staff than Chang with a funny smile.
“We’ll arm ourselves accordingly!” Thompson nodded.
“Exactly…” Thomson said looking at what was left of the monstrous beast with disgust.
Tintin returned with a small vial.
“Here Lucille, you need take this” Tintin said opening it and handing it to her.
“What is it?” She asked as she realized the lower half of her left leg was beginning to feel numb.
“It will counteract the poison that beast has inflicted you with, otherwise you will end up paralyzed or worse” Tintin explained.
Lucille didn’t ask anymore questions, she quickly drank the vial.
“Please tell me the kids are safe” Tintin looked with much concern.
“They’re at my parents’ estate, they should be fine…” Lucille shook her head at the strong taste of the super antidote.

“Yes, the taste is a bit much, but it will reverse any negative effects the poison may have inflicted on you thus far” Tintin explained.
“Are you the young woman who was attacked?” the owner’s wife came out who was a middle-aged lady.
“Yes mam, can you take her in she needs rest” Tintin nodded.
“I will be fine Fenton” Lucille waved her hand.
“No Lucille, you need to rest and let the medicine get in your system. We’ll talk more in the morning…I promise” he said giving her a hug.
“Fair enough” she smiled as Tintin helped her to her feet. Chang and the owner’s wife took her inside.

“The police will be here shortly” the owner informed them.
“We’re not going to get any sleep tonight” Haddock complained.
“You go back to the room Captain, the Detectives and I will handle everything from here out” Tintin nodded.
“I’m fine… I’ll wait with you” Haddock replied stubbornly. The police arrived and after a lengthy explanation and report the bed and breakfast went silent once more for only a few hours before the sun began to rise in the East.

CHAPTER 42 (PART - A)

A stormy night on the ship was bad enough with ten to twenty feet waves rocking the boat. Everyone was wearing their raincoats trying to make sure everything was secure. Captain Chester was busy at the helm steering the best course for the Sirius knowing this wasn’t the worst storm he’d ever cruised through. They were sailing on their way back from Turkey as Chester was beginning to realize the course of the events.

A younger Enzo came in sopping wet with his yellow raincoat and hat on.
“Captain, I was told to tell you that the cargo is secure on deck all chained up” he reported.
“I told you not to go near the rail during storms like these, the sea is unpredictable boy! I don’t want to have to give your mum any bad news” Chester reminded him.
“I know but Gaspar told me to double check the front crates” Enzo explained.
Chester had his hands on the wheel and gripped it tightly.
“My orders come first! I’m getting sick and tired of Gaspar undermining me!” Chester ranted.
“I didn’t know what to do… he yelled at me and threatened to hit…” Enzo continued but was suddenly cut off by Chester’s rage.

“He what?! Hit you!!” Chester’s face was turning as red as his hair.
“No, he said he would hit me if I didn’t do what he said that instant” Enzo continued.
Chester reached down into his green raincoat pocket for the flare gun he had.
“Captain?” Enzo asked a bit concerned walking over to him.
The door to the bridge flew open as three men walked in. It was Gaspar and two of his cohorts.
“The crates are secure SIR!” Gaspar shouted.

“I've told you I don't want Enzo near the rails during storms like these. Don’t cross me again Gaspar!” Chester shouted back.
“What do you mean?! How long are you going to baby the little brat!?” Gaspar said eying Enzo as he backed behind Chester.
“Don’t overstep your bounds First Mate Gaspar!” Chester warned.
“I think you’re overstepping your bounds Chester disrespecting me like you are!” Gaspar retorted.
“That’s Captain to you!” Chester countered.
Gaspar took out a gun, “I think it’s time to relieve you of your position Captain Chester” Gaspar announced as he went to take aim as Chester and Enzo ran to duck for cover behind the panel.

Chester fired his flare gun out giving Gaspar and his two cohorts a bit of a burn and a blinding moment.
“Come on lad, we need to go get some back up” Chester peeked over seeing all three stunned, but Enzo did not respond.
“Enzo come… ENZO!” Chester shouted seeing the grown boy lying in a pool choking in his own blood. Chester grabbed Enzo looking back firing his flare gun again.
“Come on boy, you have to be tough for me!” Chester whispered picking up the fading youth dragging him past the trio.
“Enzo, stay with me!” Chester yelled as he carried him down below quickly but Enzo was not responding. “ENZO!” Chester screamed.
“Wake up Captain! I’m here!” Enzo’s voice replied. Chester slowly began to wake up to see Enzo standing in his doorway.

“Is something wrong?” Elizabeth asked Enzo as she was awoken too.
Chester sat up in bed seeing his daughter and Enzo look at him with concern.
“I’m…I’m sorry…I must have had a bad dream” Chester rubbed his eyes.
“I heard you calling out for me” Enzo mentioned.
“Um…it was a really stupid dream… I’m sorry I woke all of you” Chester felt a bit embarrassed.
“I’m going to have to make sure you don’t eat any late night snacks before bed dad” Elizabeth laughed.
“Yea sure….” Chester said lying back down.
“I’m going back to bed if you don’t need anything Captain” Enzo nodded returning back to the couch.
“Elizabeth, come here…” Chester sat back up remembering something important.
“What is it dad?” Elizabeth asked attentively.

Chester took a look behind her and began to whisper, “Tomorrow is his birthday, if you can pick up the cake, the gift, and meet us on the bridge of the Sirius around noon after you or Kevin drop us off.”
“So we’re going to have his birthday party?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes, Kevin doesn’t work on Sundays so it shouldn’t be a problem; and if money is let me know I will reimburse you” Chester assured.
“Don’t worry about it father, I was hoping you wanted to do this” Elizabeth smiled.
“Thanks Elizabeth…the bridge, noon, don’t forget” Chester said giving her a hug good night.
“Understood, I’ll see you in the morning, love you dad” Elizabeth said closing the door behind her.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The next morning, the alarm clock woke Captain Chester up with a start. It was five in the morning. Chester yawned not too enthusiastic about getting used to early mornings and routine work days again, but it had to be done. A captain such as he cannot show weakness. He went to the wash basin, brushed his teeth, and washed his face. He peeked in on Enzo as it looked like he was sitting up still yawning. Kevin was sitting at the table still in his pajamas with his head down waiting for both of them to get ready.
Chester put on his clothes as he began smelling coffee in the living den. He went out and joined Kevin who was still sleepily drinking his coffee in his pajamas.

Enzo took his turn in the bathroom as Chester and Kevin quietly drank coffee together.
“Wake up lad” Chester joked.
“Funny…” Kevin half-heartedly smiled.
“Want to work on a ship?” Chester laughed.
“I think I will stick to banking” Kevin replied taking a sip of his coffee.
“Hehehehe!” Chester continued to laugh knowing the sea life wasn’t for Kevin.
“Elizabeth and Rachel still sleeping?” Chester began taking big sips of his coffee.
“Like babies…I wished I was too” Kevin nodded.
A few minutes later Enzo emerged out of the bathroom ready to go with a bit of a dreadful look on his face.

“Chin up boy, we’re not doing the usual routine work today, just inspection and maybe some minor work” Chester reminded Enzo.
Enzo nodded taking a seat at the table as Chester poured him a small cup of coffee.
“Getting back into work after vacation is always, how do you say? Difficult?” Enzo shook his head.
“I’ve been doing it for over twenty years, you get used to it after a while” Chester finished his coffee.
“I don’t envy you two” Kevin commented.
“How do you know if you don’t like it unless you try it?” Chester asked.
“I like money and numbers too much” Kevin joked.
“Money can’t buy you happiness” Chester sat patiently waiting for Enzo to finish his coffee.
“That’s true, but it can buy you a lot of comfort” Kevin smirked.
“Well I guess if you can pay the bills then what’s it matter?” Chester shrugged.
“That’s what I do best” Kevin shook his head.
Enzo finished his last sip setting his cup down.
“If the two of you are ready then let’s go” Kevin said eagerly.
“So you can come back and go to sleep?” Enzo laughed.
“You got it!” Kevin agreed.

CHAPTER 42 (PART - B) end of chapter 42



The next morning at the bed and breakfast Chang was the first one wake up. He quickly took a bath and put on his outfit which the Detectives bought for him again. Chang had a sinking feeling that the ship they were pursuing would end up eluding them again. The Detectives were still sleeping soundly.

“Come on Detectives, we must hurry” Chang said clapping as he pulled the drapes open allowing the sun to come in.
“…say what?” Thompson covered his eyes.
“…I do say Chang…please close those drapes!” Thomson snapped.
“Come on Detectives you said we must be up early and it’s almost nine O’clock. I’m going to check on Tintin and Captain Haddock, please be ready in twenty minutes” Chang continued clapping as he stepped out of the room.

“Morning came really quick Thomson!”
“Indeed it did Thompson!” they both prattled on to each other after Chang closed the door.
Chang walked down to the Tintin and Haddock’s room and began knocking.
“Tintin? Captain Haddock?” Chang knocked.

XXXXXXXX

Tintin was waking from another fading dream which he could not remember which seemed to bring about an anxious feeling. The warmth of the Captain holding him was comforting and made it easier to fall back asleep earlier despite the images of their previous encounter with the monster still in his head. Tintin barely opened one eyelid for a moment still thinking he was dreaming until Chang knocked again a second time calling his name. Tintin finally opened both of his eyes.

“Captain! We overslept!” Tintin realized looking at the alarm clock.
“Hmmm…..” Haddock grunted. "Go back to sleep lad..." Haddock mumbled.
“I hear you Chang we’ll be ready in fifteen minutes” Tintin shouted sitting up and jumping out of bed. The Captain turned over covering himself when Tintin opened the drapes.
“Sorry Captain, you can sleep if you want, I’ll just go with Chang and the Detectives down to the docks” he said as he disappeared into the bathroom.

Haddock lied there still weary with sleep, but didn’t like the idea of Tintin going without him. “Blisterin’ Blue Barnacles!” a muffled response came from under the covers. Haddock drunk a little more than he should have and sleeping in was usually a good cure. Haddock closed his eyes but could hear Tintin bustling about in the bathroom washing up. Tintin came out combing his hair with only a pair of boxers on after a nice bath. Haddock wanted to turn around and look but was just feeling too lazy. Tintin slipped on his usual outfit and began putting on his shoes.

“Tintin…” Haddock mumbled under the covers.
“Yes Archie” Tintin teased.
“Could you get me some water?” Haddock continued to mumble.
“Give me a couple of minutes Captain” Tintin replied as he stepped outside.
Haddock rolled over again realizing the quickest cure to get rid of any hangover headache was another drink!

XXXXXXXXX

Tintin stepped out his door and could hear both Detectives down the hall fussing with one another. Suddenly Chang came out of the room with his face in his hands laughing.
“Good morning Chang” Tintin smiled.
“Good morning Tintin, we should get some breakfast before they stop serving it downstairs” Chang suggested.
“That’s a swell idea, the Captain asked for some water too” Tintin replied as they both went down stairs.

When they arrived in the lobby there were only a couple of visitors left sitting in the small dining area. Among them a young lady sat wearing a red sweater and a pair of jeans drinking a cup of tea with a purple headscarf wrapped around her head like a bandana covering most of her long ponytail.

“Good morning Lucille” Tintin said as he and Chang joined her.
“Morning Fenton” Lucille said calmly staring out the window.
“Did you sleep ok?” Tintin asked with concern.
“After a shower and a good shot of gin, I was asleep” Lucille nodded.
“How’s your shoulder and leg feeling today Ms. Lucille” Chang asked with concern.
“It’s healing amazingly fast, that ‘super antidote’ you gave me really began dulling the pain almost instantly. The owner’s wife was nice enough to wash my clothes for me too” Lucille expounded.

“I’m Chang, a friend of Tintin’s or Fenton as you like to call him” Chang introduced himself formally.
“I’m just Lucille, I’m Fenton’s brother’s wife” Lucille said stirring her tea.
“All of these years I never knew...um... Fenton had a brother” Chang said with surprise.
“Neither did I” Tintin laughed. “I have to bring the Captain some water, I’ll be right back” Tintin said getting up for a moment.
“So you’re from China?” Lucille asked.
“Yes I am” Chang answered.
“Oh I bet it’s beautiful there!” Lucille smiled.
“There are very beautiful places to go see in China” Chang agreed.
“So what made you come all the way from China other than to see an old friend?” Lucille asked.
“I made a promise to someone who needed my help” Chang replied.
“Oh I see…” Lucille didn’t want to pry too deep into Chang’s affairs.
“So I hear your husband has been abducted, so you come for help as well?” Chang asked.
“Yes, Fenton is the only family member that I now have that I could turn to” Lucille admitted.
“I understand. We will try to help you find your husband too” Chang nodded.
“So what brings all of you to Glasgow?” Lucille asked the obvious question.
“We are tracking a ship called the Sea Serpent that we believe a man who was connected to a crime in London by the name of…” Chang was cut off when Tintin and the Detectives came to join them sliding up an adjacent table to make room for their growing party.

“Good morning!” Thompson said taking a seat next to Chang.
“Indeed a good morning it is” Thomson yawned taking the seat next to Lucille.
“Morning” Lucille nodded with a smirk as she finished the last of her strawberry scone.
“Lucille, I want to introduce you to my bosses Thompson and Thomson” Tintin formally introduced as he took his seat at the other joining table next to Thomson.
“Hello Ms. Lucille” Thompson nodded.
“Indeed, pleasure to meet you Ms. Lucille” Thomson replied likewise.
“Please, just Lucille, you didn’t tell me you had such formal bosses Fenton” Lucille smiled.
“Fenton?” Thomson said a bit confused.
“Who’s Fenton?” Thompson asked.
“Oh, that was the name that was written on an old photo that was taken of me and my brother Benton when we were children, thus it’s probably my real name” Tintin explained.
“Oh!” both Detectives looked a bit intrigued.
“So where’s your other half—er I mean friend?” Lucille asked Tintin.
“…um he’s coming” Tintin giggled.
It wasn’t more than five minutes when finally Captain Haddock slowly made his way down taking his seat next to Tintin.
“Ya made it in one piece lass! You really gave us a scare!” Haddock sounded jovial.

“Yes, I almost didn’t, but thanks to Fenton and Chang’s heroic actions everything should be fine” Lucille agreed.
“So Chang, who was it you were going to mention?” Lucille asked.
“The person of interest for that particular crime is Allan Thompson” Chang finally said.
“What?!” Tintin and Haddock both exclaimed simultaneously.
“Yes, that’s who it was” Thompson agreed.
“Indeed it is” Thomson nodded.
“That bandit! Bootlegger! Heretic! Highwayman! I still have a score to settle with that corrupted lily-livered buccaneer!” Haddock suddenly felt a surge of rage upon hearing Allan’s name.

“Detectives! Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?!” Tintin asked a bit disappointed.
“We’re sorry Tintin but…” Thompson started.
“…but we were hoping not to get you involved…” Thomson looked down.
“Both of you should definitely tell me these things since I’m an investigator too, especially when my life is involved” Tintin reprimanded them calmly.
“I’m sorry Tintin for not telling you everything” Chang apologized.
“It’s ok Chang, you probably don’t remember Allan because I’ve only told you once or twice about him so you wouldn’t have been able to make the connection” Tintin nodded. “…but I must say, it all makes sense now! I’ve suspected it in the back of my mind, but no one had heard from him or…hmm…” Tintin pondered.
“What?” Haddock asked anxiously.

“Rastapopoulous!” Tintin suddenly said.
“You think so!?” Thompson asked incredously.
“Can you be sure!?” Thomson cocked an eyebrow in disbelief.
“Well…he and Allan did disappear about the same time which makes it all the more curious” Tintin thought outloud.
“So what’s the plan?” Lucille asked collectively.

“No no, lass, it’s too dangerous for you” Haddock objected.
“What do you mean ‘too dangerous’? I fought one of those monsters at my house without anyone to help me” Lucille informed them.
“You what?!” Tintin, Chang, and the Detectives looked a bit surprised.
“I told you, I was alone when I was going home to find Benton and found uninvited guests; luckily, my father’s revolver packs a punch” Lucille explained.

“I was attacked twice before last night by those same dogs. Once before we first left Marlinspike and another time while I was visiting Mrs. Finch; but, they didn’t do what they did last night” Tintin informed.
“Thunderin' Typhoons! So how many more of those ‘things’ we got ta deal with?” Haddock demanded.
“I don’t know Captain, it depends if those were the same dogs that attacked me back at Marlinspike or not” Tintin surmised.
“So when do we go?” Lucille redirected everyone.
“We?” Tintin looked at her a bit uncertain.
“Yes ‘we’ I’m going too! This is my husband we’re talking about!” Lucille exclaimed.
“Lucille! You have a mom, dad, and two children to think about! You’re also the only sister-in-law I have now!” Tintin countered.
“I know… but I also have a husband and brother-in-law to think of as well; besides, you may need my help…” Lucille finished mysteriously.
Tintin looked at her suspiciously. Chang looked at her for a moment and suddenly seemed to understand.

“No Tintin, let her come if she wants” Chang said surprisingly.
“What?!” was the response Chang got form the Detectives, Tintin, and the Captain.
“I think she’s right…we may be able to use her help” Chang nodded.
“Chang! This is my sister-in-law, I can’t just allow my new family members to put themselves in danger on my account” Tintin explained.
“Precisely!” Thompson agreed.
“Dealing with criminals is not something a lady should involve herself in” Thomson shook his head.
“I’m glad you numb heads agree!” Haddock smiled.
“No Tintin, let her stay near me, I will protect her” Chang said stoically.
“That’s not your place Chang, it’s mine” Tintin countered.

“I think I’m quite capable to protecting myself” Lucille cut in. “Time is wasting, if all of you are going to devise a plan you’d best do so or we may not get a chance…” Lucille finished with a very serious tone.
“She’s right” Chang nodded.
“Oh before I forget Detectives…” Tintin said handing Thompson and Thomson each a long cane.
“Oh thank you Tintin!” Thompson smiled as a child would who was receiving a new toy.
“Indeed! What most exquisite cane this is!” Thomson agreed.
“Don’t thank me, thank Professor Calculus” Tintin informed them. “I need to show you how it works first, let’s step over here gentlemen” Tintin said leading the Detectives away from everyone.
“He’s definitely a leader” Lucille commented.
“…and a fine one he is” Chang added.
“It would be nice if he would listen to me a bit more often” Haddock shook his head. A few moments later Snowy and Cocoa came rushing down stairs joining them at the table about the time Tintin returned with the Detectives.

“I think that’s a sign we should hurry” Chang pointed out.
“I agree” Tintin nodded as he and Haddock took their backpacks Calculus had prepared for them.
“We know where the ship is docked” Thompson said.
“Indeed we do, I’ll go get the car” Thomson said proudly.
Thomson came back five minutes later with a bit of a distraught look on his face.
“The car won’t start!” he said frantically.
“What do you mean!?” Haddock asked a bit aggravated.
“Chang, can you escort Lucille to her car and see if it starts?” Tintin asked.
“Certainly” Chang nodded as Lucille and Chang went outside.
Tintin took a peek out the door noticing some of the other guests were having similar problems with their vehicles. One man and his wife had a wrecker outside having their car towed.

“I have a feeling someone didn’t want us going to the docks” Tintin returned relaying what he saw to the Detectives and Haddock.
“One word, sabatoge!” Haddock said.
“Great!” Thompson threw up his hands.
“We promised to return the car back in its original condition!” Thomson further complained.
“Billions of bilious blisterin’ barnacales! There were almost twelve cars on the block! They disabled all of them?!” Haddock couldn’t believe it.
“It looks like it I’m afraid” Tintin said walking to the door.
A horn sounded outside the bed and breakfast.

“Lucille’s car!” Haddock pointed as she and Chang came driving up.
They all went out to join them. Tintin jumped up front with Chang and Lucille at the wheel while Haddock and the two Detectives got in the back. Haddock let out a grunt. Snowy and Cocoa both jumped on Haddock’s lap.
“Easy boy…girl!” Haddock laughed as both Snowy and Cocoa gave him a kiss.
“All of you are going to have to tell me where these particular docks are” Lucille said.
“How did your come out unscathed?” Tintin asked curiously.
“I was parked on the other block, but it’s funny, it was me they were pursuing. You would have thought my car would have been one of the primary targets” Lucille pointed out.
“Seems like lady luck is smiling down on us today,” Chang commented.
“Alright, let’s move!” Haddock grunted again.

CHAPTER 43 (PART - A)

The morning air was cool as Enzo and Captain Chester were dropped off at the dockside of the Sirius. There was a bit of morning fog that kept hovering over the harbor. Enzo was still a little tired but knew it wasn’t going to be a difficult day. They walked up the gangway of the Sirius and there weren’t many crew members present. The few members that were on the deck washing it was about all that could be seen. The sun was just beginning to rise as they began walking on the deck. Enzo could feel and see the morning chill as he exhaled.

“Better enjoy the cool air while you can Enzo, once we start hitting those tropical climates you’ll be longing these temperatures” Chester chuckled.
“I think the long rest has spoiled me some” Enzo replied.
“Once a sailor always a sailor” Chester said as they walked around the deck.
“Good morning Captain!” one man saluted.

“Morning Bo’sn James. How’s everything looking today?” Chester asked casually.
“Everything seems in order, cargo hold is being sorted, and the engineers will be in later. The Chief Engineer is here though” Mr. James replied. “Hello there Enzo” the Bo’sn noticed the young sailor.
“Hello Bo’sn James” Enzo greeted.
“Today’s your birthday isn’t it?” The Bo’sn smiled.
“Yes sir” Enzo nodded.
“Captain Chesters going easy on you today eh?” Bo’sn James laughed.
“Everyone works hard on my ship Bo’sn James” Chester replied.
“Who else is here?” Chester said taking notice of the clean deck.
“Just a few more of us down below moving crates and other odds and ends around to make space for the cargo we’re picking up in Dublin” The Bo’sn informed.

“Excellent, well carry on Bo’sn, we’re going to have a look around…come Enzo” Captain Chester was satisfied as they continued looking around the deck.
“We must have a big cargo load” Enzo commented seeing all the open space.

“Not sure exactly, will have to go over the ship log and see, I can’t remember exactly off the top of my head” Chester shook his head as they began to descend down below the deck. The corridors were quiet with the exception of the couple crewmen doing handy work in various places. Chester took out a clipboard and began making various notes about electrical switches, door handles, and plumbing issues. When sailing on a cargo ship there is always something that can be done.

“A good seaman is able to perform a number of tasks” Chester noted as Enzo began adding on to the list.
“Electrician” Enzo stated as he noticed a loose connection for a couple of wires that connected a few area lights.
“Carpenter and Painter” Enzo declared when he pointed to a couple areas on the ship that could use a new paint job, and some of the doors which could use a good sanding.
“Mechanic” Enzo added as they entered the engine room tightening up a rivet with a wrench.

“Good, you’re getting better with each passing month” Chester complimented.
“Being a wiper was a tedious job last time I got to work here in the engine department” Enzo admitted.
“Ah! Those tedious jobs are just as important” Chester reminded as he began reading some of the valve meters.
“You know everything on here!” Enzo replied a bit impressed.
“A Captain must be able to perform and understand each duty on the ship, for he is responsible for everything overall” Chester explained.

“Captain Chester!” A short blond haired middle-aged stocky man hailed from the other side of the engine room.
“Chief Engineer Riggs!” Chester waved back as they walked up to join him.
“Ah, there’s my wiper!” Riggs laughed.
“Hopefully next time I work in your department I’ll be more than just a wiper” Enzo commented.
Captain Chester and Chief Engineer Riggs both laughed which made Enzo feel a little small.
Almost immediately the two engaged in a long conversation about the machinery and the other various issues in the engine room. Enzo still listened closely but was quickly realizing their routine inspection was going to be a bit more routine than it seemed.

XXXXXXXXXX

Tintin and his entourage quickly drove down to the bay area where Chang and the Detectives remembered it. The morning fog was still a little thick, so they parked a distance away. Everyone seemed tense about the upcoming confrontation.

“Let’s go!” Tintin prompted everyone.
“Wait Tintin, we cannot just ‘go’” Chang advised.
“It’s almost eleven O’clock, what if they decide to leave?” Tintin argued.
“We need a plan Tintin…those dogs I’m afraid are just the beginning of what we may encounter once the evil is completely unleashed” Chang warned.
“But Chang…your mission and my brother…” Tintin continued.
“Thunderin’ Typhoons lad, listen to him…he speaks sense” Haddock chided in.
“We need to make sure they’re still here” Thompson said trying to see through the fog.
“Precisely!” Thomson agreed.

Lucille parked the car a block away and they cautiously walked toward the dock where the Sea Serpent was docked at.
“I don’t see the boat” Haddock commented.
“There was a boat here yesterday!” Thompson insisted.
“They must have left early!” Thomson declared.
“There was another boat and now it’s gone too” Chang added.
“What was the name of that ship” Tintin asked.
“The Peary” Chang answered.
“The Peary!?” Tintin and Haddock both exclaimed.
“Yes” Chang confirmed.
“I wonder what the Peary would be doing here?” Tintin wondered.
“I wonder if the ship still has the same captain?” Haddock added.
“If that’s the case, I wonder if the same company that funded them during our race to the Arctic would be involved with this cult as well?” Tintin began pondering.

“Now lad, one thing at a time, we don’t know where either ships is” Haddock mentioned.
“Oh I remember that story about your race with the Peary, the giant red spotted spores, the giant apple tree, and the giant spider” Chang remembered.
“Don’t remind me about the spider…” Tintin shuddered.
“I must admit Tintin, at first I didn’t believe you” Chang chuckled.
“What?” Lucille cocked an eyebrow.
“Yes, the meteorite that crashed was a considerable size and seemed to spur spontaneous rapid exponential growth” Tintin explained.
“Well, I guess if dog’s can grow long tongues and tentacles, then something like that could be possible too” Lucille shrugged.
Tintin walked to the edge of the pier where the Sea Serpent was and noticed a couple of spots where there were numerous oil slicks.

“Unless that ship was leaking oil or something or…” Haddock started to say.
“…or it doesn’t belong to the Sea Serpent itself”Tintin finished suspiciously.
“I don’t know… something just doesn’t seem right here” Tintin continued.
“You think some members of the ship may still be here?” Chang asked.
“It’s definitely a possibility” Tintin nodded.
“This does pose a bit of a dilemma” Thompson stroked his mustache.
“Indeed…we don’t have a boat” Thomson pointed out.
“Well…we could ask Chester since he leaves tomorrow but he’s got a busy schedule” Haddock suggested.

“We could ask and see where they are going?” Tintin shrugged.
“They’re stopping in Dublin to pick up some cargo and then to the States” Haddock remembered.
“We have no way of knowing which way they went” Lucille said with frustration.
“We could use Chester’s ship’s radio so we can ask around” Tintin said as he began to pace.
“Where is Chester’s ship?” Chang asked.
“…um I’m not really sure” Tintin frowned.
“I’d know if it if I saw it. It can’t be too far from here” Haddock assured them.
“Come on then, let’s go search the rest of the docks. It has to be somewhere nearby” Tintin prompted everyone as they rushed back to the car. A feeling of anxiety filled the air once more.

CHAPTER 43 (PART - B) end of chapter 43


Everyone in the vehicle was quiet as they searched for the Sirius. A strong sense of tension and urgency could be felt through the air. Everyone seemed to have a lot on their mind.
Tintin and company were searching all over the dockside for the Sirius until Haddock spotted it.

"There it is!" Haddock shouted as they pulled to the dockside.
"The Sirius is a fairly big ship" Lucille commented trying to diffuse some of the tension.
"It is, it's the same ship we found Red Rackham's treasure in" Tintin added.
"Treasure?" Lucille asked curiously as they had all got out.
"Long story..." Tintin nodded.
"We'll tell you all about it sometime when the dust settles" Haddock winked.
"I look forward to it" Lucille replied.

The Detectives began walking toward the ship with Chang and suddenly Chang stopped in front of them causing both detectives to bump into him and each other.
"Ouch! Please let us know when you decide to stop" Thompson replied.
"Indeed!" Thomson said rubbing his nose.

"Is something wrong Chang?" Tintin asked running to Chang's side.
"Something doesn't feel right" Chang looked suspiciously up on the deck and no crew members were around.

That was all Tintin needed to hear as he said taking out his gun as Chang began to cautiously proceed.
"What's wrong now?" Haddock asked Tintin.
"It's too quiet Captain" Tintin replied.

Haddock began to notice things didn't seem right. He knew that the day before departure crewmen were usually already boarding and beginning preparations for the next day.
Lucille watched as everyone's demeanor began to change to a more serious expression and took a deep breath preparing herself for the worst. She didn't care what the obstacles would be, she was going to help Tintin and find her husband. Lucille was yanked out of her thoughts when a young woman's screams could be heard from the Sirius.

"Tintin! Now!" Chang prompted going into a sprint.
"Right away Chang!" Tintin said giving Chang a spare gun as they both led everyone up the gangway onto the Sirius.
"Billion of blue blisterin' blazing barnacles! What now!?" Haddock exclaimed as he ran.
Snowy and Cocoa quickly ran after Tintin and Chang only a couple steps behind, then came Haddock with the two Detectives brandishing their guns now.
"Please let everyone be alright!" Lucille whispered to herself as she trailed behind everyone.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



The inspection was much more laborious than was anticipated as there were several work orders which needed to be posted for the next day. The skeleton crew members were working over the weekend while some new transfers, which was approved by Chester himself, were still arriving. A few of the smaller tasks Captain Chester and Enzo ended up working on themselves which took up a larger part of the day.

Enzo and Chester walked off the ship to inspect one last time the work of painting the sides of the ship which was still in the process. Chester seemed fairly pleased noting a few more places really needed a bit of attention and stopped as they stood on the peer to load his pipe with tobacco.

"So did you catch all of that again?" Chester asked as he finished packing his pipe lighting it.
"I'm getting used to all of this sort of activity" Enzo nodded noting the fog had cleared and it was high noon as the sun shone above them.
"I've noticed" Chester said taking a puff.
"You have?" Enzo said almost nervously.
"Why of course... I see how you take initiative which that I like" Chester complimented.
"Thanks Captain!" Enzo smiled.

They both continued walking down to the edge of the peer and down a bit past the docks. It seemed to be a fairly quiet day with little activity with the exception of some smaller boat owners preparing to take their sailboats out to sea.

"It really is a beautiful day today" Chester said taking a whiff of fresh sea air.
"Now we can actually see across the bay" Enzo commented.
"You do know your contract is up and if for any reason you are not happy your debt is more than repaid as of last month" Chester informed him.
"I know... I've been keeping track of it Captain" Enzo nodded.
"So you wish to stay and continue the life of a sailor?" Chester asked.
"Yes I do" Enzo said thoughtfully.
"Well good!" Chester smiled as they turned around to return back to the peer where the Sirius was docked.

"I'm sorry if I may have been a bit harsh at times, but as you know Enzo, the life of a sailor is not always the the easiest or the safest" Chester paused.
"I'm aware of that and am willing to take that chance. I don't know many other trades I'm good at" Enzo explained.
"You know that's not true young man. You've demonstrated skill as a carpenter, electrician, and plumber, which are skills that are in use on land" Chester pointed out.

"It's not the same..." Enzo nodded in disagreement.
"Is it now?" Chester shrugged.
"I mean it is and it isn't... am I making any sense?" Enzo shrugged back.
Chester smiled widely and laughed, "You are making sense boy!" Chester said putting one arm around him clasping his shoulder.
"I am?" Enzo's green eyes lit up.
"Of course you are lad, but if you want to be a captain like myself it will take you many more years to acquire this position or even the first mate's" Chester explained with a smiled as he stopped re-light his pipe.
"I know...but I want to be as successful as you and Captain Haddock" Enzo commented.

Chester couldn't help but to laugh a little, "Now before you go blowing both mine and Haddock's head up, do remember you always want to shoot for being the best".

"You don't think I have what it takes?" Enzo asked a bit unsure.
"No, I didn't say that, on the contrary my young friend, I think you have a great foundation. Continue to pay attention to all the details and always as I have told you when you're in doubt, ask questions" Chester replied.
Enzo tied his aqua colored bandana tighter as they began to slowly walk back up the gangway and climb back up toward the bridge.
"What else we need to check for the day Captain?" Enzo asked.
"You'll see..." Chester smiled as he led Enzo toward the bridge. The door was closed tight and a couple of the crew members were casually walking on the main deck. Chester opened the door, "Happy Birthd--!!" Chester started to say and his look of joy turned into one of dismay.

"Salute old friend!" a buffed man wearing a black bandana said as he had a gun trained on Elizabeth holding Rachel closely by a small table with a horrified look on her face. Kevin lied on the floor with blood on his head apparently unconscious.
"Gaspar! You fiend!" Chester gritted through his teeth.
"That's no way to greet an old friend Captain!" Gaspar said as two unknown crewmen were silently in the corner watching with clubs.
"What do you want Gaspar!?" Chester demanded as the door was slammed shut behind both he and Enzo.
"Ah, I see you brought your kid lackey with you" Gaspar laughed grabbing Enzo from behind Chester.

"Leave him out of this!" Chester said grabbing Enzo's other arm pulling Enzo back. As Chester grabbed Enzo the other two men raised their clubs at Chester.
"I'll be fine Captain let go" Enzo whispered.
"Such a smart lad Chester! You taught him well!" Gaspar mocked pulling Enzo away getting him in a headlock.

Chester's mind began racing wondering how and when did Gaspar just suddenly appear on his ship. Enzo gasped a little for air as Gaspar periodically gripped him tighter. Elizabeth stood horrified in the corner holding Rachel close trying to keep her quiet while trying to slowly inch towards her husband; but, one of the men with Gaspar would not allow her blocking her path. Gaspar arrogantly walked around with a gun in one hand and leading Enzo around in the other arm glancing at the bridge and noticing a few balloons, a small cake, and a couple of presents.

"So whose birthday is it?" Gaspar smirked.
Chester stood quietly and gave Gaspar a reproachable stare. Elizabeth held tightly on to Rachel.
"Don't make me ask again! Now answer the damn question!" he said throwing Enzo to the floor.

Enzo landed with loud thud but seemed uninjured as he quickly scrambled in the corner toward Chester since he was closest to him.
"I asked a question goddamnit!" Gaspar shouted running over to Elizabeth grabbing her by her pretty long red hair. Rachel began screaming loudly as her mother was pulled away from her
.
"Please Gaspar! It's mine! Don't hurt her or the baby please!" Enzo pleaded stepping out as one grabbed Enzo throwing him back into Chester.
"Let the girl go Gaspar!" Chester demanded.
"You are in no position to make demands Chester" Gaspar mocked.
"She has nothing to do with any of this" Chester countered.
"Ah but that is where you are wrong Chester, I know now she is your daughter" Gaspar said arrogantly.

Rachel continued screaming loudly following Gaspar and Elizabeth around. "You'd better shush that damn kid up or I'm going to kick it!" Gaspar threatened as he shoved Elizabeth onto the ground. Elizabeth quickly recovered grabbing Rachel crawling to Kevin who was beginning to wake.

"So it's the brat's birthday? How old is the little baby?" he said walking closer to Chester and Enzo.
"I'm twenty sir!" Enzo quickly responded.
"Ah, that's the kind of response and obedience I like! Maybe you can still yet be trained?" Gaspar began speaking rhetorically.
"Let everyone else go Gaspar, this is between you and me!" Chester growled.

Gaspar looked at him mockingly pointing his gun first at Elizabeth, then Kevin and Rachel, finally Enzo and Chester. He quickly fired his gun out a window as a bullet went flying.

"You think I'm playing Chester, but I'm here to settle this score once and for all... which means you will die...but not before you get to see everyone else you love die first!" Gaspar said coldly firing a bullet in Kevin and Rachel's direction.
"Rachel!" Elizabeth screamed. Kevin grabbed Rachel quickly trying to crawl out of the shot's way but was hit in the foot. Kevin screamed in pain holding on to Rachel.

"Kevin! You're a monster!" Elizabeth screamed at Gaspar.
"Shut your mouth you trifling little bitch! Maybe I should show your dad how I treat women like you!" Gaspar shouted walking towards Elizabeth with the gun trained on her firing missing as she dived to the side as Gaspar ran for her.

"Now Enzo!" Chester whispered as they quickly turned to attack Gaspar's men tackling them.

Gaspar quickly turned around to see what the commotion was, giving Elizabeth a chance to grab the cake off the table screaming drawing Gaspar's attention back to slam the cake in Gaspar's face. Gaspar quickly back handed Elizabeth down to the ground wildly as Kevin tried vainly to pull Gaspar to the ground as Rachel ran screaming to the far corner of the bridge.

Chester wrenched the club out of the man's hand and punched him twice shoving him up against the wall. Enzo struggled getting punched once in the stomach but still held tight to the man's club arm. Once Chester felt the other man was not a threat he quickly ran to Enzo's aid. He grabbed the man from behind yanking him back throwing him to the ground then punching him in the face and stomach one good time knocking the wind out of him. Enzo looked up to see Gaspar was wiping birthday cake off while kicking Kevin in the face. Then trained his gun on Chester preparing to shoot.

"Captain! Watch out!" Enzo shouted running to Chester to pull him out of harm's way, and the gun fired.

CHAPTER 44 (Part - A)


The room was dark and the other people in the cell would not speak to him. He sat in the dark only listening to the sound of breathing and feint whispers. He had no idea what time of day it was except for when food was pushed in through a small slot at the bottom of the door. The food was but some dried out bread with a piece of old moldy cheese with a bowl of water which was also slid through. The first day one of the men crammed the dried bread and cheese in his mouth since he remained bound.

The first night asleep he woke many times unable to get in a comfortable position with his arms and legs bound. When his body finally shut down from exhaustion, he woke and his bonds were loosened. He was able to move his hands and feet once again. Benton was still slightly sore on the back of his head as the pain had almost completely subsided. He could feel the ship’s swaying motion which meant they must be at sea.

Benton had dreamed he heard a young girl’s voice speak in a foreign tongue. Benton sat in his corner quietly able to eat what paltry portions he was given. A couple of men came in the cell and with torches shining bright light blinding him almost instantly as only a pinch of light came through the crack of the door. Benton thought of trying to fight his way out hoping maybe whoever was trapped with him would do likewise. He still didn’t know who he was sharing the cell with as the other prisoners didn’t respond to his questions and stayed completely concealed in the darkness.

When the couple of men came in and shined the light on the other prisoners he was finally able to see who his cellmates were. At first it was difficult to see since his eyes had gotten so used to the darkness, but after a minute he was able to see. It was two young Asian women and he could not tell how old they were except they were young. They were clinging to each other as the men passed by periodically putting their hands on them and laughing. Benton wanted to do something but each one had a heavy club which could damage him severely if he were to try anything to anger them. He cursed himself for being a coward.

“Don’t give us any trouble boy or we will give ya a good beating!” one man warned letting Benton know they were watching him. Benton sat quietly trying to assess his situation. He had no weapons and nothing around him on the dirty floor looked like it could be used as anything useful. Benton sat in a corner on top of a burlap sack.

Benton finally understood why they did not respond to him. It seemed they had been horribly abused and tortured and probably trusted no one. He had no idea how having two young women as an ally would be of any help to him. He saw them as more as a liability and thought he’d better rethink another plan for escape. After ten minutes of inspecting their cell and scaring them into a submissive role which Benton faked, they finally locked the door behind them as they left. Benton could hear his stomach grumbling as he was fairly hungry after eating nothing but dried bread and close to moldy cheese.

“Please, I…want…to…help!” Benton said slowly hoping one of the young women would somehow understand him.

A few minutes passed with no response but nervous breathing until finally one of the girls answered.

“I sorry…I no speak English” one of them said nervously.

Benton started to get hopeful as it was the first time they had even responded to him. Perhaps they were realizing he too was in the same position as they were. Benton tried to remember his travels back in South America with his wife for some possible ideas of escape, but nothing was coming to mind. Benton wondered who untied him since his captors didn’t tie him back up. At least now he could move about the cell freely.

Benton began feeling the door for some point of weakness but felt none. He could hear talking outside his cell and a few minutes later he could hear some squeaking as if something was being turned like a valve until the door creaked open again and the same two men came back in flashing lights in his eyes.

“Ok Tintin, you’re wanted outside, no funny business or it’s nighty-night for you” one man warned.

“Why am I here?” Benton asked as they prodded him out of the cell.

“Hush up boy! You’ll find out when the boss wants you to!” one man said continuing to prod Benton along behind the other man. They led him up a couple of decks to a small room where they tied him down to a chair. A few nervous minutes went by when four people walked in to join them.

Benton saw a stocky and somewhat chubby man with a big nose, a fair skinned woman with jet black hair and piercing green eyes, a man with a thin brown beard and shades, and a darker skinned bearded man wearing a turban. They were all wearing black robes as they each sat at a table he sat in front of.

“Tintin!” the chubby stocky looking man exclaimed as he walked in.
“Tintin…at last!” the man wearing the turban smiled wickedly.
“So this is Tintin!?” the lady scoffed.
“It would seem to be so I believe…” the last man said a bit unsure.

Benton sat quietly as they each took a seat whispering amongst one another. Benton received reproachable stares from two of them especially, while the other two seemed more curious. Benton’s hands were bound behind the chair as he sat and decided to focus on the wooden floor.

“So Signore Tintin, we finally meet” the man with the thin brown beard finally
spoke addressing him. Benton did not respond.

“What have you to say for yourself Mr. Tintin” the man prompted.
“I don’t know what to say… except this is very uncomfortable; and, the hospitality here is a bit lacking” Benton said a bit sarcastically.

“Well Mr. Tintin, I do apologize and we have decided to move you to your own cabin as long as you do not give us any trouble” Lento replied with a mock smile.
The woman with the long sleek black hair began whispering something to Lento. Benton looked a bit confused but decided to not antagonize them too much.

“So have you decided to grow your hair like a woman” the chubby stocky man with the big nose laughed along with the man with the turban.

“Not as much as you have bristles hanging out your nose sir” Benton retorted.
“If I were you Mr. Tintin I would not make so many comments like that to Mr. Rastapopoulos. You have caused him much pain and suffering through the years” Lento warned as Rastapopoulos started to approach Benton but was stopped by Lento.

“Don’t worry Tintin, your time will come…soon” Rastapopoulos said taking his seat again.

“First of all, I have no idea why I’m here!” Benton declared.
“Well Mr. Tintin…” Lento started to say but was cut off by the woman whispering something to him.
“Well?” Benton asked.
“It seems you have knowledge which you may or may not remember about a certain ‘thing’” Lento replied mysteriously.
“What ‘thing’?” Benton asked incredulously.
Lento began whispering to the woman sitting next to him. She whispered back and after a few nods Lento finally answered.
“Do you have anything…um…peculiar that you hide away?” Lento asked.
“I have my wallet, but I can assure you that you won’t be getting much from a poor sort like meself” Benton answered.
“No, no, no, that’s not what we are asking about” Lento shook his head.
“I would think if I did have anything worth taking I would have imagined all of you have it by now” Benton answered.

“And what would that be Mr. Tintin…” the woman finally spoke up.
“I only had a wallet and maybe some old peanuts I pinched from the local pub” Benton replied.

“We’re wasting our time Signore Lento” the woman said in a lower voice.
“I can make Tintin talk!” Rastapopoulos said ramming his multi-ringed fist into the open palm of his other hand.
“I think I should use my…powers of persuasion” the man with the turban said nonchalantly.
“I think that’s good idea, the Fakir may be able to get some results. What do you think Lady Ravena?” Lento asked.
“Very well…” she said watching quietly.
The Fakir walked in front of Benton examining him.
“You seem…different” the Fakir whispered.
“I guess I would be since I’m not wearing oversized drapes like the rest of you are” Benton replied.
“You are funny, but that will not help you” the Fakir shook his finger.
“Now look into my eyes…” the Fakir said in an even tone.

Benton immediately began to hang his head down towards the floor.
“I said…look into my eyes!” the Fakir said a bit more forcefully.
“I don’t think so!” Benton replied.
Rastapopoulos stood up, “Let me assist you Fakir”.
Rastapopoulos approached Benton, “Now you little pipsqueak, do as he says!”
Benton still would not comply, but Rastapopoulos grabbed Benton by his chin forcing him to face the Fakir. Benton closed his eyes trying to avoid the Fakir’s gaze.

“Don’t want to cooperate? Fine have it your way punk” Rastapopoulos said giving Benton a good jab to his stomach causing him to gasp for air coughing while Rastapopoulos forced him to face the Fakir once again.
“Now…look into my eyes!” the Fakir said strongly.
Benton could suddenly feel as if the room was swirling around after a few moments.
“Right now, you feel no pain. You want to share your deepest darkest secrets” the Fakir said again in an even tone.
Benton looked straight ahead at the Fakir, “Yes…”
“Tell me, what is your name?” he asked.
“My name is… Benton…Hadley…” he answered slowly.
“Where are you from Benton?” the Fakir asked casually.
“I think I may be from Belgium or England…I don’t remember…” he answered.
Rastapopoulos backed away to let the Fakir continue his questions as Lento and Lady Ravena listened intently.
“You don’t know?” the Fakir asked.
“No sir…” Benton asked in trance like state.
The Fakir continued his gaze deep into Benton’s eyes with much concentration.
“Do you know why you are here Benton?” the Fakir asked.
“No sir…” he asked in an uneven tone.

Rastapopoulos began to really look at Benton listening more to his speech.
“Do you keep anything really special such as a family heirloom?” the Fakir interrogated.
“Yes sir” Benton answered.
“What are these heirlooms you keep?” the Fakir asked.
“Old photos, journals, jewelry, and an old… coin…” Benton said beginning to pretend he was still hypnotized.
“Wait!” Rastapopoulos said walking up to Benton grabbing his hair once staring deep into his eyes.
“What do you want you ogre!?” Benton shouted struggling in the chair.
Rastapopoulos shoved Benton, chair and all, on the floor.

“His looks…his manner of speech…his cheeky attitude…something is just a bit off here” Rastapopoulos began to have his own suspicions.
“Careful there Signore Rastapopoulos, the Lieutenant wants our hostage unspoiled” Lento reminded him.
“So, either this is not Tintin or Benton Hadley is Tintin’s real name” Lady Ravena deduced.
“Can you hypnotize him again Fakir?” Lento asked.
“I can try again… Mr. Rastapopoulos, can you please put him back on his feet” The Fakir asked.
Just as Rastapopoulos set Benton in his chair right side up, Herr Wagner walked in unexpectedly.
“Save your hypnosis Fakir” Herr Wagner said nonchalantly.
“My liege?” the Fakir nodded returning back to his seat.
“Is there a problem Lieutenant?” Lady Ravena asked right out.
“I heard from our original correspondent a few moments ago… this is NOT Tintin” Herr Wagner announced.

Everyone looked somewhat surprised.
“So what should we do with this young man?” Lento asked.
“We’re going to continue as planned…” Herr Wagner said without worry.
“I presume you have some good insight we don’t” Lady Ravena replied trying to get Herr Wagner to reveal what he knew.
“Everyone, meet Tintin’s twin brother…” Herr Wagner said with a hint of amazement in his voice.
“Twin!?” Rastapopoulos and the Fakir said at the same time.
Lady Ravena and Lento really had not had any dealings with Tintin so therefore didn't know of any kind of memory to remember him by.
“I already knew this… the good news is that Tintin knows he has a twin brother who has been captured and will come to rescue him” Herr Wagner said walking next to Benton.

“Congratulations young man, you will be just the bait we need to capture your brother” Herr Wagner said patting Benton on the head.
“What do you need my brother for?” Benton asked.
“We need you too… to be honest, things could not have worked out any better than they have” Herr Wagner replied.
“You still haven’t answered my question” Benton retorted.
“You’ll see…” was all Herr Wagner would say.
“Tintin will not be coming alone. He has that drunkard sea captain and that mangy mutt” Rastapopoulos reminded.
“Also they have those two clumsy buffoon detectives” Lento added.
“Don’t forget the warrior of light is with them as well” Lady Ravena put her two cents in.

“I know… we are preparing for all of his companions” Herr Wagner said without much care.
“How do you know this my liege?” the Fakir asked with curiosity.
“Don’t worry about my sources Fakir, they are quite accurate I assure you” Herr Wagner answered mysteriously. “There is one other with them too” Herr Wagner finished.
Benton sat quietly unsure of most of who other than his brother Fenton were. Herr Wagner opened a black velvet sack he had in one hand and took out the contents placing it on the table.
“So Mr. Hadley, do you recognize this?” Herr Wagner said stepping out of the way revealing dark cubed stone with dark etchings of strange symbols.
Benton looked at the stone closely for a moment while everyone’s eyes were on him.

“I’ve never seen such a stone before…what is it?” Benton asked slightly confused at first.
“Let me re-word the question and then you should think very hard what you answer…have you seen a stone like this before?” Herr Wagner asked in a low stern voice.
“…What are these stones?” Benton returned with a question.
The other four members began laughing and Herr Wagner raised his hand quickly silencing them. He walked closer to Benton grabbing his hair pulling his head back getting closer to him.

“Now, that was very unwise to answer a question with another question. Now I will ask you one last time…have you seen other stones like this one before?” Herr Wagner gripped tighter on Benton’s hair grabbing his hand tightly sending a cold chill up Benton’s shoulder.
“…yes…yes I have…” Benton answered quickly getting Herr Wagner to relax his grip.
“Good boy… that is how I want you to answer my questions…got it!?” Herr Wagner reminded Benton with a quick grip.
“Yes” Benton said as the chill began to subside a bit in his shoulder.
“Where did you see this stone?” Herr Wagner relaxed his hand from Benton’s hair to his shoulder but still gripped his hand.
“…I had it in my home” Benton answered.
“Good…where did you get it from?” Herr Wagner asked a bit more relaxed now.
“My grandmother” Benton answered again.
“So where is she now?” Herr Wagner continued.
Benton was beginning to tremble as he finally saw Wagner lift his shade for a moment revealing his red eye.
“Answer me!” he shouted clasping tighter on his shoulder and hand.
“She…she was murdered!” Benton shouted back then was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Come in!” Herr Wagner commanded.
“Sir, your correspondent wishes to speak with you on the radio” a crew member interjected.
“Very well… all of you make sure our guest is moved to another location. We will continue this soon” Herr Wagner said collecting the cube putting it back in the black velvet sack.

Benton recognized the shape of stone and some of the symbols which were similar in relation to the cube he had but only his was a different color. After Herr Wagner left Rastapopoulos, Lento, and the Fakir untied Benton and took him to a small interior cabin with a small cot bed, a desk with a lamp, and a chair. One crewman was standing outside the room quietly watching quietly armed with a gun.

“Make sure you don’t try to escape, the consequences could be…grave” Lento warned.
“Who were those two young women in the cell below?” Benton quickly asked.
“Nevermind that…mind your own business” Lento replied sternly then the door was shut behind him.

Benton took a seat by the only light in his room with a glimmer of hope now that he knew his brother was possibly coming to help him with the police; however, Herr Wagner demonstrated a strange strength which Benton was not familiar with. He couldn’t figure out why his hands were so cold. He was a very intimidating man in stature, but Benton wasn’t sure what to think about Herr Wagner’s red eye or if it was even real. Benton was an individual grounded by logic and thought it was only a tactic devised to intimidate. Benton was alone and unaware of his location, to him that was more frightening.

Benton stretched out on his cot with a blanket and pillow and decided that until an opportunity presented itself, the best thing to do was to bide his time quietly.

CHAPTER 44 (PART - B)

Professor Calculus spent hours reading through countless old books on various cults throughout the world. None of this kind of literature made sense to him as he was used to science and logic. From demonology, witchcraft, mythology, to the Freemasons, he dismissed all of the outlandish claims that most of the books made. The factual content about the locations of the constellations were about the only thing he enjoyed reading about which soon wandered into the area of astrology which wasn't totally scientific in regards to the cults.

Professor Calculus diligently continued reading through the books looking for anything while taking random notes on certain rules that pertained to any particular cult as a way to tie any saying that would have any grounds in reality. Nothing was written about this All-Seeing-Eye cult that suddenly seemed to pop up. The Professor surmised perhaps it was a cluster of rules from many different other cults. The Professor’s eyes were getting heavy with weariness. He closed the last book he was reading through after writing a few more notes and decided it was time to retire for the evening.

He stepped outside the back room of an old bookstore which had a variety of antique and ancient books about different cults which were not in plain view due to their nature.

“Are you done for the evening Professor?” an old man asked sitting up front reading a book as Nestor sat on the opposite side reading a newspaper.

“Am I dumb for the briefing?!” Calculus gave him a confused stare.

“No, I said are you done for the evening!” the old man repeated himself.

“I never! I appreciate you letting me read through those old books but I don’t appreciate the insults!” Calculus shook his finger at him.

Nestor nonchalantly walked over to him handing him his hearing aid.
“Oh, it seems I don’t have my ears on…he he heh!” Calculus laughed.

"I asked if you were done for the evening?" the old man repeated.

"Yes I'm afraid so, this subject interests me very little unfortunately" Calculus commented.

“Did you learn anything new sir?” Nestor asked in his usual tone.

“Nothing more than the usual nonsense…but I wrote some of it down anyway” the Professor shrugged.
“So are you ready to return home for the evening?” Nestor asked.
“Yes, I have one more item I’m trying to finish in my lab. It shouldn’t take me too much longer if I don’t fall asleep while in the process” the Professor yawned.

After returning back to Marlinspike, the Professor continued to work in his lab into the early hours of the morning until he finally completed his last little invention he had been working on. He hid it away and locked the lab up retiring to bed.

XXXXXXXXX

Professor Calculus lied asleep in his bed until a feint knocking at his door woke him up.

“…who could be bothering me at this hour? Maybe if I pretend I’m asleep they’ll go away” the Professor thought.
The knocking grew louder; “Professor” Nestor’s voice could be heard.

“…guess that won’t work…” The professor thought turning over in bed.
“Professor, come quickly! You have to see what’s on the news!” Nestor’s voice sounded urgent.

“Alright! I’m coming!” The professor shouted jumping out of bed into the foyer in his pajamas.
“It’s the early morning news sir!” Nestor sounded a bit perturbed.
As the Professor was rushing down the stairs, the cat followed and got in his way causing him to tumble down. Luckily, Nestor broke his fall.

“Confounded cat! You have the early morning blues Nestor? Why on earth would you wake me up for that?! I’m sure it could have waited… I was having the most pleasant dream and…” the professor ranted a moment as Nestor helped him back up to his feet.

“No sir, the NEWS!” Nestor finished his sentence with a shout.
The Professor adjusted his glasses and had his eyes transfixed to the television as they raced inside the parlor.

“…A young man is severely wounded in the hospital and another young man is missing. Sources say a young man has also disappeared” a reporter replied on the television then displayed two photos. One photo of a young man and one of a young woman were shown.

“Is that Tintin?!” Professor Calculus jumped to conclusion.
“…reporting to you from Colchester England…” the reporter finished.
“He definitely resembled Tintin a lot except the ponytail” Nestor agreed.
Nestor handed the professor a hearing aid he carried around to give to Calculus when he didn’t have his other aid. The Professor put the hearing aid on.
“Now Nestor where did the report say they were?” Calculus asked.
“It said Colchester England…” Nestor replied.
“Call Chester in England?!” Calculus looked at Nestor confused.
“No sir, I said Colchester England” Nestor repeated.
“Seriously Nestor, I asked you a question and all you can say is to call Chester in England?!” Calculus replied incredulously.
“NO SIR! I’M AFRAID-IN-THE-FALL-YOUR-HEARING-AID-BROKE!” Nestor answered slowly but loudly.
Professor Calculus took a moment and nodded, “Ah, I see… lucky for me I have my other in the bedroom” the Professor nodded returning upstairs.
“No sir, you mean lucky for me” Nestor said under his breath.

Calculus returned downstairs after he retrieved his other hearing aid.
“I said sir, it was in Colchester England” Nestor repeated again.
“Oh, I thought they said they were going to Glasgow to meet with the Detectives?” the Professor asked confused.
“I thought so too…” Nestor shrugged.
“Do you remember where in Glasgow they said they were going?” Calculus asked.
“I think it is called the Sea Breeze Bed and Breakfast sir” Nestor replied.
“Hmm… this is troubling news indeed Nestor. I’m going to get ready. Will you book me a flight to Glasgow at once? I’m going to get to the bottom of this” The professor finished returning to his bedroom.
“As you wish sir” Nestor nodded compliantly.

An hour later the Professor emerged from his bedroom already dressed and groomed with a suitcase and umbrella.
“Were you able to book me a flight Nestor?” Calculus asked.
“Yes sir, it leaves in a couple of hours” Nestor answered.
“Fantastic! I need to go to my lab for a moment then I will be ready and you can drop me off at the airport” the Professor nodded.
“You don’t want any breakfast?” Nestor asked.
“Perhaps a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits if you don’t mind” the Professor smiled.
“I’ll have it ready in a few minutes” Nestor said disappearing into the kitchen.

The Professor rushed to his lab retrieving a small rectangular with two antennas bent opposite of each other protruding from the end. On the other end the object was connected to a high voltage battery with a long cord.
“Oh dear…no time to test it out! I’ll just have to hope that it works” the Professor lamented to himself.

The other end was covered with a black rubber later with a button and a small knob. The Professor adjusted the knob and placed the device in a small suitcase lined with rubber then returned to the manor.

“Should I notify the bed and breakfast that you are on your way?” Nestor asked when Calculus finally sat down to take his first sip of tea.
“Yes Nestor! That would be good” The Professor agreed.
A few minutes later Nestor returned with a troubled look on his face, “Sir, I can’t seem to get anyone on the phone”.
“Hmm... it's still early...take me to the airport and keep trying when you return” the Professor instructed.
“Very well sir” Nestor shook his head as he helped the Professor carry his things to the car and off they went.

CHAPTER 45 (PART - A)


Captain Chester could feel the heat of the bullet as it whizzed by him. All he could think of that moment was that he had to disarm Gaspar. Chester threw himself forward at Gaspar with every conviction in his being crashing into Gaspar as Gaspar tried to prevent Chester from getting a hold of his gun. Chester was much stronger than he looked, and Gaspar had forgotten how much of a scrapper he was. The two struggled in a fight that would determine whether good or evil would prevail that day.

Chester punched at Gaspar with his left hand, but Gaspar brought his other arm up to deflect it and in turn tried to hit Chester with the butt of the gun but he too was unsuccessful. All over the room the two stumbled in a desperate struggle trying to gain control of the gun. Gaspar stomped hard on Chester’s left foot getting grunt in pain out of Chester, but Chester countered that pain by bringing his knee up into Gaspar’s stomach knocking back as the door flew open. Gaspar stumbled back out of the bridge as Chester relentlessly kept Gaspar on the defensive blocking every furious punch.

Chester grabbed onto Gaspar’s throat as Gaspar dropped the gun returning the move back on Chester as the two struggled over the railing to dominate the other. Another blood curdling scream from his daughter distracted Chester enough to give Gaspar enough time to get his hands around his throat choking him over the rail. Chester tried hard to pry Gaspar’s grasp on his throat off of him. His strength kept Gaspar from instantly choking him but was not enough to remove himself from Gaspar’s strong grasp.

Chester wanted to go check on his daughter, his son-in-law, granddaughter, and Enzo.
“ENZO!” Chester heard Elizabeth screaming and crying.
“YOU…BASTARD!” Chester choked.
“How’s it feel…to know you’re about to die!” Gaspar said with an evil grin choking tighter to block Chester’s air supply.

A sudden burst of adrenaline hit Chester at the sound of hearing his daughter scream out Enzo’s name. “Where was Enzo? What happened to him?” Chester thought frantically. Chester used the momentum of the strength that Gaspar was putting into to throttle him to send them in yet another roll on the rail as each one tried to be the one to come out on top of the other. Gaspar sucker punched Chester with a left hook only to be countered by a strong right hook from Chester.
Chester was able to get his hands at last around Gaspar’s neck but Gaspar quickly returned with a head butt knocking Chester back against the wall.

Gaspar charged at him but Chester moved out of the way just in a nick of time countering with an elbow to Gaspar’s side pushing him back towards the rail. Chester felt sure this time he could subdue Gaspar. Gaspar seemed to keep mustering more and more strength somehow as they once again renewed their grappling battle to throttle the other. Chester wanted to go check on his family but to do so he would have to finish dealing with Gaspar.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


“Hurry Tintin, we have to hurry before its too late!” Chang said leading Tintin to the opposite side of the Sirius when they heard the second scream for Enzo.
“Enzo!” Tintin gasped dreadfully, but kept sprinting behind Chang.

When they finally got around the other side they saw Captain Chester struggling with Gaspar. Both had seemed to be able to get a few hits on the other.
“Oh no you don’t!” Tintin shouted seeing the other two thugs coming out to help Gaspar. One thug was reaching to get the gun, but Chang threw his staff as if it were a spear between the thug going for the gun causing him to trip and fall.

“Bravo Chang!” Tintin cheered as he dodged a swing from the other thug’s club countering with a fierce uppercut followed by a swift left hook sending the thug back the opposite way a few feet. The other thug tried to quickly get back up on his but Chang was much quicker kicking him in the gut.

“I would stay down if I were you!” Chang warned the thug as he gasped for air having the wind knocked out of him.

The thug came one last time at Tintin trying to sweep him off his feet. Tintin jumped up and kicked the thug in the face knocking him out cold. Snowy and Cocoa ran to Chester’s aid immediately each getting a bite out of both of Gaspar’s legs.

“You mangy mutts! I’ll make furs out of both of you!” Gaspar vowed still struggling with Chester.

At that moment Captain Haddock arrived on the scene just in time to see Chester gain the upper hand thanks to Snowy and Cocoa’s distraction. Chester jabbed Gaspar in the stomach, followed with a left hook, and a strong uppercut knocking him overboard into the water.

“Damn you Captain Ginger! I'll kill you and everyone else!” Gaspar shouted before he hit the water.
“Elizabeth! Enzo!” Chester dashed past Chang and Tintin ignoring everything else.
“Chester?!” Haddock exclaimed running after him.
“Elizabeth! Rachel! Kevin! Enzo—NO!” Chester screamed as he entered the bridge.
Tintin and Chang both dashed behind Haddock as the three followed by Snowy and Cocoa entering the bridge. Another moment later both detectives and Lucille came behind to see the aftermath.

“Daddy! Enzo’s dying!” Elizabeth screamed.
Captain Chester quickly scooped Enzo up in his arms who had been shot and was bleeding profusely.
“Get me to a hospital right now!” Chester demanded.
“Lucille! I need you to take us to the hospital right now!” Tintin quickly relayed.
“Ok, but I don’t know the way” Lucille said instantly turning around dashing back towards the car.

“Elizabeth come! Haddock! Bring Kevin to the car!” Chester shouted as Haddock nodded quickly only reacting. Tintin followed as Lucille led them all back to the car.

“You drive, you know your way around here better than I do” Lucille said letting Elizabeth get in the driver’s seat.

Chester got in the passenger side with Enzo fading in and out of consciousness as Chester was trying to prevent Enzo from losing anymore blood.

"...captain?" Enzo said weakly.

"Come on lad! Stay with me!" Chester said loudly applying pressure to Enzo's wound while trying to keep him consicous.

Captain Haddock got in the back quickly getting Kevin into the back seat as Lucille got in from the other side.

“Tintin, please watch over my daughter!” Elizabeth pleaded.
“No problem, just go!” Tintin nodded quickly returning back to the ship looking back over his shoulder as Lucille’s car sped back off into town.
When Tintin returned back to the bridge the Detectives were too busy trying to keep Rachel calm from the shock of everything that had just happened.
“Is she ok Chang?” Tintin asked.
“She appears uninjured but—“ just as Chang answered Tintin’s question a motor could be heard close by.

Both Tintin and Chang ran to the side of the Sirius to see a speed boat with Allan, Tom, and a couple of other unfamiliar faces pulling Gaspar out of the water.

“Allan! Tom!” Tintin shouted but it was too late. The speed boat was already making quick distance out of the bay into the open sea.
“…but why did they come here?” Tintin thought out loud.
“Evil motivated actions are hard to understand Tintin” Chang replied.
“Poor Enzo, Captain Chester, Kevin, and Elizabeth” Tintin lamented.
“I hope everyone will be ok” Chang said patting Tintin on the back.
“Me too Chang…” Tintin nodded sadly watching the speeding boat disappear into the horizon.

“Don’t worry Tintin, their time is coming soon” Chang reminded Tintin.
“We need to check the rest of the ship and make sure the rest of Chester’s crew is ok” Tintin replied finally seeing a crew member finally emerge from down below.
“Maybe that man knows how they are” Chang suggested as they ran up to him.
“Is everyone ok down below?” Tintin asked.

“Well we were until a few goons ambushed us and the Bos'n” the crew member said rubbing his head.

They were distracted momentarily to hear Rachel’s cries as they looked behind they could see both Detectives trying to pacify the young two year old. Thompson was carrying her in his arms and Thomson was trying to make faces attempting to try to amuse her.

“Who you people anyways?” the crew member asked.
“We are friends of Captain Chester, and investigators as well” Tintin answered succinctly.
“I heard gunshots…is everyone ok?” the crewman asked curiously not seeing Captain Chester.
“Do us a favor and radio for the police” Chang nodded.
“Ok…” the crew member nodded half heartedly not knowing what to think.

Tintin and Chang searched the decks below only to find the other crew member and the Bos'n who had been ambushed by four other men and luckily not injured too badly. The Chief Engineer and a couple of his subordinates seemed fine and seem to be ignorant of everything that was going on. Each of them had blank confused faces when they went in the engine room. Rather than going through a long explanation, Tintin and Chang told them to ask their shipmates before quickly returning to the deck to report to the Detectives.

“Everything seems fine below other than two others were injured in an attack to keep the other crewmembers away from the bridge it seems” Tintin informed them.

“The police are inspecting the bridge and questioning the crew members who were attacked” Thompson replied holding Rachel in his arms.
“Questioning and inspecting they are!” Thomson agreed.
“But why would they attack Captain Chester and his family directly? Is there a link?” Chang asked intuitively.
“That was Gaspar…” Tintin realized thinking out loud.

“Yes, that was Captain Chester’s ex-first mate” Tintin answered.
“So you think he came back for revenge?” Chang asked following Tintin.
“That’s absolutely right. The ship has already left port so that would explain the careless oil slick back at the other docking area” Tintin nodded.
“So you think that they may have siphoned fuel from the main ship?” Chang asked continuing to follow Tintin’s logic.

“Bravo Chang! You read my mind” Tintin smiled triumphantly. “…But I wonder if who is behind all of this knew of this attack if everything else we said was true?” Tintin said perplexed.
“The man in charge of the Sea Serpent doesn’t seem like a rash man Tintin. He seems much more dangerous than any villain you or I have ever encountered” Chang finished his thought.
“Hmm… then I would say probably not” Tintin shook his head.
“Good deductions Tintin, Chang!” Thomson congratulated.
“Indeed…now we are going to have to question Captain Chester and bring his granddaughter to him” Thompson agreed trying to keep Rachel from crying.
“Let’s see how they are first before we get into too much questioning, they’ve all just been through a bad ordeal. We may have to let them recover some” Tintin reasoned.

“It looks like we have lost them again unfortunately” Chang lamented.
“Don’t worry Chang, we’ll find them if it’s the last thing we do” Tintin reassured Chang.
“We can have the HM Customs radio any vessels out at sea to keep their eyes open and let us know if they are spotted” Thomson suggested.
“To right you are Thompson, we will find them in no time at all” Thompson agreed finally getting Rachel to be quiet.

“Excuse me, Detectives Thompson and Thomson? We’re going to the hospital if you would like to accompany us” an officer asked.
Everyone got into the two police cars while more local investigators arrived on the scene to take pictures.

Snowy and Cocoa hopped into Chang’s and Tintin’s lap in the car.
“How bad was it Snowy?” Cocoa asked as they jumped in the police car with Tintin and Chang.
“Very bad…” Snowy replied sadly.
“He’s not...” Cocoa asked with concern.
“I hope not, but it wasn’t good… Tintin is avoiding the subject…it’s not a good sign” was all Snowy would reply.
“It can’t be, it just can’t be!” Cocoa whined.
“Don’t worry everything will be fine” Chang said petting Cocoa not understanding the real reason why she was whining. The siren sounded as they were hauled off to the hospital in Glasgow.

CHAPTER 45 (PART - B) end of chapter 45


Everything began happening so quickly. Enzo and Kevin were taken immediately on stretchers when they arrived at the hospital as the paramedics were ready for them. Everyone had grave concerns etched on their faces. Captain Haddock felt somehow this was his fault for bringing Chester into all of this. Lucille wasn’t that familiar with any of them, but could feel the heavy burdened heart everyone else seemed to bear. Nurses and paramedics made Chester and Elizabeth sit down in the lobby of the second floor while they tended to the most severely injured first.

“I hope Tintin will take care of Rachel” Elizabeth said frantically.
“He will… won’t he Haddock?” Chester answered looking Haddock in the eye which Haddock perceived as a guilt trip which doubled Haddock cursing himself quietly.
“Yes Chester!” Haddock nodded resolutely having no doubt in Tintin’s judgment when it came to caring for others.
A couple of nurses came into the lobby wearing the usual uniform.
“Anyone else need to be treated? You sir, mam?” one nurse pointed to Chester and his daughter.

“Na! This seafaring man has taken a more harsh beating than this!” Chester said with a cocky attitude.
“I’m fine…” Elizabeth nodded waving the nurse away.
“Well you’re not a seafaring lady…maybe you should get checked…” Chester reasoned.
“Dad! I’m fine!” Elizabeth answered obstinately.
“How are the other two doing?” Chester asked urgently.
“The young man with the foot injury just has a moderate gash on his head and he’s in surgery right now getting the bullet removed from his foot” the nurse answered.

“The other young man?!” Chester sat on the edge of his seat.
The nurse looked him in the eyes and looked away.
“Please tell me!” Chester said getting up grabbing her arm.
“It’s not good…we don’t know if he will last the night…” was all the nurse would say as she pulled away from Chester disappearing back down the hallway.

“Either of you need anything?” the other nurse asked Haddock and Lucille.
“I’m fine thank you” Lucille nodded.
“Yea…a bottle of Loch Lomond please!” Haddock replied.
“I’ll take one too while you’re at it” Chester sat back down burying his face in his hands.
“I should have known…I dreamed about it…” Chester muttered quietly.
“Dreamed about what?” Elizabeth asked him quietly.

Lucille sat quietly observing sympathetically having no words that would ease their pain. Elizabeth drew closer to her father putting her arm around him. Haddock kept his head hung silently until he stomped his feet, got up, and left the room. Chester kept his face hidden in his hands bent down while Elizabeth stayed preoccupied consoling her father, but took notice of Haddock storming out. Lucille waved her hand reading Elizabeth’s concerned gaze perfectly and got up to follow Haddock outside.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Tintin and company arrived with the couple of police escorts at the hospital. Tintin dreaded the news he may hear. Chang could see the grave concern in Tintin’s face and held his tongue hoping for the best.

“Here we are” the officer said parking the car.
“I’m sorry Snowy, Cocoa, the two of you will have to wait outside because hospitals don’t let animals in” Tintin frowned.

Snowy and Cocoa both nodded understandingly as they both found a spot and began waiting patiently. The other officer and the Detectives rejoined them with Rachel as they entered the hospital.
“Detectives from Interpol…looking for a Chester” Thomson declared to one of the receptionists.
“That’s Captain Chester to be precise” Thompson said as Rachel began to start crying again.
“Some folk arrived just an hour ago up on the second floor” the receptionist replied.
“Thank you madam” Thomson and Thompson both nodded as they all crammed into the elevator.
“Hit the second floor button please Thompson” Thomson requested.
“I can’t, I’m holding this young lady here!” Thompson retorted as Rachel was starting to scream again.
“Somebody just press the darn button please!” one of the officers said with agitation.

Chang nimbly reached through the sardine can of an elevator and was able to press the button. The elevator finally began to move for a few long moments and finally opened.
“I loathe tight quarters like that!” Thomson complained.
“I loathe tight quarters with someone screaming in my ear!” Thompson added as Rachel was still crying.
“Rachel” Elizabeth said getting up from next to her father.
“Momma!” Thompson put Rachel down and she ran to her mother.
“Mommy’s sorry for leaving you behind” Elizabeth said picking her up rubbing the back of her head.
“Don’t worry Elizabeth, we weren’t going to let anything happen to your child” Tintin winked.
“Thank you gentlemen” Elizabeth nodded returning back to her father’s side sitting down.

Captain Chester looked up and his face looked a bit bruised as his hands slightly bloodied. Elizabeth’s right cheek looked a bit swollen as both looked weary with worry. Tintin and Chang both noticed that both Lucille and Captain Haddock were absent.

“How are Enzo and Kevin?” Tintin asked.
Captain Chester buried his face in his hands again as Elizabeth sat there only nodding sadly. Chang and Tintin both read her loud and clear and both sighed in lament deciding not to push the issue. The Detectives and the officers approached Chester and Elizabeth.

“Captain Chester of the Sirius?” one of the officers spoke up.
Chester looked up with his face and his eyes both reddened.
“We’re sorry to bother you, but we need to ask you some questions if we’re going to catch the vermin who attacked you and your family” the other officer added.
“Precisely” both Detectives answered.
“We were there towards the end and saw the man who got away” Tintin spoke up.
“The man’s name is Gaspar Schnider...my ex first mate whom I expelled from my crew. If only none of this had happened” Chester sighed.

Tintin nodded quietly and took a seat on the other side as Chang continued to help Chester answer the questions.
“We captured two of the henchmen” one of the officers informed.
“Good! Hang them both!” Chester said surly.

Tintin sat down all the sudden feeling a bit of a pang of guilt thinking that everything had happened because of him. Maybe if he hadn’t drug everyone into his problems then his brother and everyone else he come to know would not be in danger. How many more of his friends would end up in harm’s way before it was over with he wondered. He could feel the onslaught of blame hitting him when he finally shook it off and stood up once again taking note of Haddock’s and Lucille’s absence.

“Where’s the Captain and Lucille?” Tintin suddenly asked across the room.
“Uncle Haddock left the room in a hurry and I asked Lucille to follow him” Elizabeth answered over the conversation going on in front of her.

“Oh great! He’s feeling the same way I am” Tintin suddenly realized.
“Chang, Detectives, I’m going to go find the Captain, I’ll be back shortly” Tintin announced.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

“Tens of Thousands of Thundering Typhoons!!” Haddock rushed down the long three flights of stairs cursing himself.
“Why did I have to…Blasted!” Haddock kicked the bottom door open.

Haddock continued at a quickened pace past the receptionist and security guard receiving a strange look from them, then out he went. A few moments later, Lucille came quietly by drawing a little attention too. Lucille spied the direction Haddock was taking and began to follow.

“Where’s the Captain going? Now Lucille?” Cocoa asked as she watched looking back for Snowy's reaction.
Snowy began sniffing the air for a moment, “Follow them Cocoa, I have to wait for Tintin”.

Cocoa hesitated for a moment as she got up to follow looking back. “Don’t worry I will find you just go!” Snowy barked. Cocoa ran after Lucille as Snowy watched her disappear down the block. The Captain was strolling at quick pace that Lucille had to jog a little to maintain a certain distance. Then she realized she too had a follower. Lucille saw Cocoa right behind her.
“Cocoa? Where did you come from?” Lucille asked.

Cocoa only barked at her and continued after Haddock.
“That’s what I’m doing” Lucille nodded finally deciding to catch up with the Captain because Cocoa ran barking loudly to Haddock’s heels.
“Blisterin’ Barnacles! Now what!?” Haddock turned around to see not only Cocoa, but Lucille as well.
“What are you two doing here?!” Haddock asked a bit irritated.
“Elizabeth asked me to follow you, and I don’t know where Cocoa came from” Lucille answered.
“So where are you going?” Lucille asked.
“Don’t worry about it…go back to the hospital...” Haddock trailed off continuing on until he found a pub.
“You’re going for a drink?!” Lucille asked incredulously.
“Why not?!” Haddock almost barked at her.

Haddock walked in the dim lit pub walking up to an already half full bar.
“Can I help you sir?” the bartender asked.
“Give me a triple shot of your strongest Scotch” Haddock replied.
“One moment” the bartender scanned the shelves of multiple bottles of different liquors. He poured generous shots of a top shelf brand of Scotch.

“Thanks” Haddock answered putting the money on the bar then taking a seat in an empty corner of the pub. Lucille took a seat at the table watching Haddock begin to indulge his frustrations.
“Your friends need you back at the hospital you know” Lucille reminded him as Haddock drank half of his Scotch without even flinching.
“Go away girl, you don’t understand a thing…” Haddock brushed her off.
“So drinking is going to solve your problems?” Lucille asked almost rhetorically not getting a response from Haddock at first.

Cocoa sat at the foot of Lucille’s seat watching as Haddock finished his triple shot returning to the bar for another.
“As if we didn’t have enough problems already” Lucille sighed as Haddock returned back to the table.
“What about my husband?!” Lucille demanded.
“What about him?” Haddock said taking another sip.
“Are you that thick?! We got two people in the hospital, two more are in shock while the rest of us try to be supportive and all you can do is go to a local pub and get drunk?!” Lucille exclaimed.

Haddock slammed his fist down on the table getting a couple of stares from some of the other patrons at the bar spilling the rest of his Scotch, “Now look what you made me do? That was an expensive drink there lass!”
“Good, because everyone else back at the hospital needs you to be there” Lucille retorted.
“I’m getting another drink… please leave me alone right now” Haddock returned to the bar.
“The problems are still going to be here when you sober up” Lucille walked up to the bar with Haddock.
“Your husband is a drunkard too, had he not been so harsh on Tintin maybe all of this could have been avoided!” Haddock replied harshly.
“What?!” Lucille replied in disbelief. “You hypocrite!” Lucille exclaimed.

“Enough!” a familiar voice cut in drawing both Lucille’s and Haddock’s attention.
“Tintin!” Haddock calmed down a little.
“Captain, she’s right, we need you at the hospital” Tintin said as Snowy came trailing behind him.
“Don’t you understand lad? It’s all my fault, I brought you to see Chester and…” Haddock paused.
“…and you think it’s your fault” Tintin finished.
“I can’t bear to look at Chester right now, I almost cost him is family, and now poor Enzo…” Haddock sniffled.
“If anyone should be the blame it should be me Captain, troubles always seem to follow me no matter where I go” Tintin replied.
“It’s not your fault, I was the one who took you to see Chester, and none of your troubles are too big for me though...” Haddock disagreed.
“Come on Captain, don’t abandon ship when things become too much for you to bear. You wouldn't abandon your best friend?” Tintin pleaded.

“I don’t think Chester probably cares to see me right now” Haddock nodded.
“I doubt that’s true, as much as you two have been through together you owe it to him to be there for him” Tintin explained.
Haddock closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The bartender re-filled Haddock’s glass as Haddock put the money down on the bar.
“Captain, have you listened to thing he said?” Lucille asked nodding almost shamefully.
“Hush up lass, this isn’t for me” Haddock said pouring the contents into a flask.
“Oh…” Lucille guessed who else it could be for mentally.

Haddock finished the last drops in his glass putting the flask back in his coat.
“Alright lad, lass, let’s go…” Haddock said patting them both on the back as Snowy and Cocoa followed.
“Is the Captain always like this?” Cocoa asked Snowy as they followed.
“He has his moments” Snowy commented as they finally returned to the hospital after another hour passed.

CHAPTER 46 (PART - A)


The police spent almost thirty minutes questioning Elizabeth and Chester while Rachel sat quietly clinging to her mother. By the end of the questioning Chester was quite irritated as both Detectives and the one of the officers didn’t seem to be listening to him very well as he was asked to repeat his answers.

The silly questions both Detectives had asked seem to exacerbate the situation. Luckily, Chang was able to deflect the questions with simple logic trying to keep Chester’s aggravation level at a minimum. When they were finished the Detectives and the officers finalized the report on the opposite side of the room while Chang listened quietly.

Chester sat nervously watching the clock as the hours went by and still no word of Enzo’s condition except that they didn’t expect him to make it through the night. The Detectives or the officers took no notice of the missing persons, but Chang looked up at the clock and noticed Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Lucille were still absent. Chester got up and began to pace back and forth as Rachel finally fell asleep emotionally worn out from all that had happened. The officers left as the Detectives sat quietly whispering among themselves.

Two hours had passed and Chang began to wonder if maybe he should go look for his friends, but just as he was about to suggest it to the Detectives, in walked the missing trio. Chester gave them all an irritated stare.

“Tintin” Chang replied casually as they entered. Elizabeth too had dosed off with her daughter in her arms. Chester sat looking angry, worried, and sad when he finally noticed their return.

“It’s ok, everything’s fine” Tintin said quietly.
“Fine you say?” Chester spoke up hearing Tintin.
“Well I mean…” Tintin started to say.
“Fine you say?!” Chester repeated a little louder.
“Chester calm down, he didn’t mean…” Haddock interjected.
“Then what DID he mean?!” Chester walked over as his face began to redden some.

“Please calm down Captain Chester, this is a hard time for us all” Chang pleaded.
“A hard time for us all yet he has no family members or close ones incapacitated with injuries near death!? Calm down he says?!” Chester had a mock smile on his turning around almost sighing with a laugh.
“Blisterin’ Barnacles Chester, we know you’re having it rough—“ Haddock jumped in again.

“All of you just shut up!” Chester shouted making everyone take a step back waking Elizabeth and Rachel.
“Y’know, I thought helping an old friend with a problem was the right thing to do—“Chester started.
“…and it was!” Lucille cut in.
“Would you please not interrupt me when I’m speaking?!” Chester scolded not even looking at Lucille.
Lucille sat down quietly deciding now is not the time to argue with Chester.

“As soon as you said this ‘All-Seeing-Eye’ I should have known better than to get mixed up in this dreadful mess! Now look where it’s gotten me? I nearly lost part of family to a mad man who wants revenge! Revenge for a minor scrap and getting sacked off my ship for doing a laundry list of dreadful deeds, and now I may lose my trusted apprentice!” Chester paused a moment to catch his breath.
Everyone remained silent at a loss for words.

“Well Haddock?!” Chester threw his hands in the air.
“I couldn’t think of anyone else to turn to…” Haddock shrugged. “I would have done the same for you” Haddock finished.
“Is that so? Even if it meant sacrificing someone close to you?!” Chester drove home his point.
“Dad stop!” Elizabeth finally spoke up.

Haddock couldn’t respond for a moment as he was taken aback by Chester’s sudden fury.
“Come on Haddock answer the bloody question!” Chester prompted angrily.
Now the Detectives both wakened to Chester standing in front of Haddock while everyone else stood silently behind him.

“You and Tintin think you can save the world from itself? What good is saving the world around you if you can’t even save those around you!?” Chester continued his rant.

“Chester this question is completely unfair! I didn’t know to what extent this group was dangerous” Haddock responded a bit dismayed.
“Oh come on Haddock you told me yourself you had heard stories!” Chester accused.

“Stories were all I thought they were!” Haddock answered honestly.
“I would help a friend no matter what and I’m sure the Captain would too!” Tintin finally said defensively joining Haddock’s side.
“Can’t Haddock speak for himself?!” Chester gave Tintin an irritated glare.
“Yes! I would!” Haddock finally thundered surprising everyone in the room.
“That took a bit of time for you to answer eh Haddock?” Chester narrowed his eyes.

“Please Captain Chester! Stop this nonsense! Both Captain Haddock and Tintin were willing to sacrifice themselves and each other together in an attempt to save my life!” Chang joined Haddock’s other side.

“What do you know?!” Chester said bitterly to Chang.

“I know that Tintin and Captain Haddock would put their lives on the line for any friend! They did for me back in Tibet. I would do the same for both" Chang said stoically.

“Shut up! Do all of you know what you’re really dealing with?” Chester finally asked.

“I don’t know Captain Chester perhaps you should tell us!” Tintin began getting annoyed with how out of control Chester had suddenly become.

“Those dogs… everything you described to me that happened the other night and more I saw in nightmare before I threw that group of cultist off my ship!” Chester finally revealed.

Tintin regarded Chester strangely, but Lucille and Chang listened with interest. Elizabeth had a complete blank stare on her face.

“Chester, the deam?” Haddock said as if just remembering.
“Captain you didn’t tell me about this?” Tintin looked at Haddock puzzled.
“Billions of Billious Blistering Blue Barnacles! All of this cult stuff until recently seemed like a bunch of hocus pocus…until the other night” Haddock nodded.

“Tell us Captain?” Lucille prompted with interest.
“Chester kept dreaming about some giant squid like creature trying to devour he and his men. Then he dreamed of some ruins of an old temple…it still sounds too farfetched” Haddock admitted.

“I didn’t tell you but four of my crew came missing while those four cult members were on my ship. I could have sworn they had dogs with them, but whenever I confronted them they denied they had any. Sometime later two crewmen of mine had been assaulted by Doberman Pincers. When we combed the ship we found the grizzly looking beasts and one of the four cultist—some Italian man, begged and pleaded with lies and swore it would never happen again” Chester stopped a moment.

“So what happened? Did you find your missing crewmen?” Tintin was eager to hear Chester’s story.

“I lied to them telling them it was ok and my crew just about became mutinous with me. The next couple days we made a port call in Greece, and I expelled them off my ship. No, we never found the missing crewmen” Chester finished grimly.

“Was Gaspar on at that time?” Tintin asked.
“No, I had already relieved him of his post” Chester nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell us this sooner?” Tintin asked quietly.

“I did tell Haddock but he thought maybe it wasn’t a good idea to tell you all of this” Chester looked to Haddock who was already looking down.
“Forget it Captain, now we have another piece of this mysterious puzzle” Tintin brushed it off completely.
“Was Enzo around during all of this?” Tintin asked hitting a sore subject.
“…Yes” Chester sighed.
Tintin nodded.

“Excuse me, one of your friends is ready to receive visitors” a nurse disrupted their conversation.
“Kevin” Elizabeth stood up already knowing.
“Yes, this way please” the nurse said leading them.
“We need to go check on our provisions for a boat” Thompson stood up.
“Indeed, we’re not going to be able to go anywhere fast without one” Thomson agreed.
“That’s the most useful thing I’ve heard you circus clowns say all trip! Get to it!” Haddock replied.

“Yes sir!” both Detectives saluted the Captain.
“I’ll go with them” Chang volunteered.
“Good! At least we know we have one person in the group we can count on” Haddock remarked.
“We’ll return when we have a ship” Thomson nodded.
“Precisely!” Thompson agreed.
“Take care all of you” Tintin replied.
“We’ll be cautious” Chang nodded seriously.

The nurse led the others through a set of double doors while the Detectives and Chang disappeared into the elevator.
“So where are we going?” Chang asked curiously.
“To see if there was any word about the Sea Serpent…”Thompson started.
“…and to see if maybe the HM Customs will help us pursue the Sea Serpent” Thomson finished.

CHAPTER 46 (PART - B)end of chapter 46



The nurse led them to one room where Kevin's was foot was in a cast as he lied in a bed with his head propped on a pillow.

“Kevin!”, “Daddy!” Elizabeth and Rachel both shouted waking him from his heavy nap which he was still drowsy from the pain killers. The top of his head was wrapped in bandages.

“Elizabeth…Rachel…dad” Kevin murmured soft and slowly still waking up.
“Does it still hurt dear?” Elizabeth said giving Kevin a peck on the lips as Rachel crawled on the bed sitting next to her father.

“I can still, feel it some, but not too bad… how’s Enzo? Everything happened so fast” Kevin asked still not quite aware of the severity of the situation. Everyone glanced at each other and remained silent while Kevin continued to wait for an answer. Captain Chester walked out of the room.
“So is anyone going to answer me?” Kevin asked again.

“Kevin…we were told Enzo may not live through the night…” Elizabeth said sadly.
“Oh…” Kevin frowned unable to say anymore.
“Excuse me a moment” Tintin politely left the room.
“Glad to see you’re doing fine boy, I’ll be back shortly” Haddock too made an exit.
“I’ll give you two sometime together” Lucille politely excused herself.
"Is it really that bad?" Kevin asked Elizabeth.
"That's what they say... I'm going to have a peak in a couple of minutes" she answered dreading to hear more bad news.


“Please follow me” the nurse said leading them all the way to the end of the corridor and opened the last room. Enzo lied unconscious in bed wearing a hospital gown bandaged up with an oxygen mask on his face hooked up with an IV and life monitoring equipment.

“Ezno!” Chester rand to his said grabbing one of his hands.
Tintin, Haddock, and Lucille watched sympathetically as Chester spoke quietly to Enzo, but Enzo did not respond.

“So is there any chance he will recover?” Tintin asked the nurse.
“Not according to what the doctor says… but I’ll go and get him and let him explain to all of you. Are all of you relatives of this young man?” The nurse finished with a question.

“No, we are only friends” Tintin nodded.
“His family is in Italy, and that is his boss he works for on a ship” Haddock explained.

“Ah, I see…normally only family members are allowed to be with a patient in this state” the nurse shook her head. “I’ll be back in a moment” the nurse said leaving the room.

Tintin saw how pale Ezno looked and it brought a tear to his eye. Tintin remembered the short time he spent with Enzo realizing just how fragile life can be. Tintin could see much potential for Enzo's future as he reminded Tintin a bit of himself.

Captain Haddock saw a repeat of when Tintin was shot before their journey to the moon, and a feeling of empathy began fill his heart watching the scenario play out once again with others. Captain Hadddock could only imagine what pain he would feel if that were Tintin in Enzo's place.

Chester looked highly distraught. his eyes were watery as he could feel Enzo's hand wasn’t as warm as he should be. Chester pulled the heavier blanket up to try to keep Enzo warmer.

“Some birthday party eh?” Chester whispered to Enzo.
“I’m sorry my young friend…I never meant to bring any of this on you” Chester said taking a deep breath.

Enzo’s eyes remained closed and a slow feint heartbeat was the only response that he could make.

Tintin and Haddock walked to the edge of Enzo’s bed as Lucille stepped in only observing and thinking of how Benton’s friend was faring at the moment too.
"This is a cruel fate!" Lucille thought to herself.

“Don’t give up little man! You have too much to live for you hear me?” Chester said with his voice trembling clasping Enzo’s hand tightly.

Haddock and Tintin stood at the foot of the bed watching sorrowfully as Chester spoke continually wiping his eyes.

“You took that bullet for me? Why?” Chester whispered.

Haddock remembered how helpless he felt when he sat by Tintin’s bedside waiting for him to recover and could only imagine how Chester was feeling. They all looked up when someone else walked into the room. An older man wearing a white lab coat carrying a clipboard was examining Ezno’s charts.

“Good evening gentlemen, I’m Dr. MacMahand” he greeted.
“I’m Enzo’s boss Captain Frederick Chester…and these are friends of mine” Chester greeted.

“Are there not any relatives nearby?” the doctor asked a bit perplexed.
“No sir, this young man is from Italy working aboard my ship. I don’t know how quickly we could notify his mother or siblings” Chester answered.

“I was hoping to have a relative nearby, but I have good and bad news…” the doctor paused.

“The good news is this is a resilient young man. An injury like this would have killed the average person. The bad news is that right now this machine is helping him breathe and the damaged rib damaged his lungs too. We did what we could do for him and now we can only pray for good results” the doctor explained.

“What are his chances?” Chester quickly asked.

“Honestly, his chances aren’t very good. He lost a lot of blood which further complicates his chance of survival. To be frank Mr. Chester, it will be a miracle if he is able to survive through the night” the doctor replied sadly.

“Oh…” Chester said taking out his handkerchief.
“I would notify his next of kin” the doctor frowned.
“No…” Haddock and Tintin both sighed.

Lucille quietly left the room as she stepped into a corner taking something out of her coat pocket. She opened her hand and began whispering quietly over it. A couple of minutes went by as she continued to repeat the same phrase over and over under her breath until she walked back in as the doctor was leaving.

Chester sat next to Enzo wiping his face while mumbling regret after regret to himself. Haddock and Tintin were busy trying to comfort Chester.

“We have to believe he will make it” Tintin told Chester now despondent.
“That should be me right now…” Chester whispered.
“He’s not dead yet sailor… don’t give up on him” Haddock replied in a low voice.

Lucille walked up to the opposite side of Enzo’s bed as the three took almost no notice of her. She quietly took Enzo’s other hand as she knelt down and said in an even lower voice.

“Now is not your time, you will recover and carry on as you always have” she replied more quiet than a whisper.
She opened Enzo’s clenched fist and put the item she took out of her pocket in Enzo’s hand, kissing and closing it.

“I’m sorry but visiting hours are over, we can only allow one family member to remain” the nurse entered in the room snapping everyone out of their reverie.

“I’m the only family he has here right now, please allow me to stay” Chester said quietly.
“…but it’s policy” the nurse protested.
“Thundering Typhoons! The young man may not survive the night….at least don’t let him die alone?!” Haddock argued.
“He can stay” another voice chided in as everyone saw the doctor had returned.
“Thank you doctor” Tintin smiled.
Tintin and Haddock gave Chester a hug, “We will be praying for his survival and have both of you in our thoughts” Tintin replied.
“Thank you Tintin” Chester smiled back.
“He WILL survive sailor!” Haddock forced out wanting to believe it.
“Good night Captain Chester, many good wishes for you both” Lucille nodded.
“Thanks Haddock, Lucille, Tintin, please don’t let this crime go unpunished” Chester pleaded.

“Don’t worry…” Haddock waved.
“They will find justice” Tintin finished as they left Chester with Enzo to return to the lobby to wait for the Detectives and Chang. Elizabeth passed them coming down the hall.

"Please don't tell me anything..." Elizabeth shook her head as she went in to check on Enzo and her father. Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Lucille nodded as they passed her slowly. Lucille let Tintin and Haddock continue on as she slowed down and a few moments later she could hear Captain Chester and Elizabeth sobbing.



XXXXXXXXXXXXXX


“So you want us to send some of our men chasing on the high seas?” one of the high ranking officers.
“Well to be precise…” Thomson began.
“…that’s exactly what we need” Thompson finished.
“I’m sorry Detectives, I can’t be sending my men chasing around on the high seas risking their lives. I’m sorry for the innocent citizens who have suffered, but they could be anywhere by now” the high ranking officer concluded.

“Sir, with all due respect we are on a mission from Interpol to track this—“ Thompson was cut off.

“With all due respect this is not Interpol Detective. We’ve sent out radios signals and that ship has not been sighted anywhere. We’ve not heard from the American naval vessel either” the man retorted.
“So you’re saying that you’re going to let this injustice stand?” Thomson asked with frustration.
“No, all I’m saying is that I cannot afford to waste manpower on a possible phantom ship” the high ranking officer explained.

“Then can you just lend us a boat so we can pursue these criminals who attempted to commit murder?” Chang finally spoke up.

“Negative, you are a foreigner even if you are working for Interpol and don’t know these waters, and the Detectives are maybe good deckhands at best” the officer disagreed.
“Sir!” another man interrupted. “We’ve just been able to contact the American naval vessel” the man informed.
“Is that so? Well Detectives, maybe your luck will change” the high ranking officer replied.
“We shouldn’t have to rely on luck to get help from those who enforce the law” Chang commented as they followed the lower ranking officer to a radio room.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


“That was a strange ship off in the distance sir” one of the sailors commented.
“We have a hail from Scotland Yard Sir!” another sailor replied.
“Very well” the high class ranking petty officer acknowledged following him.

“You still have them on?” the petty officer asked.
“Yes sir” the sailor handling the radio nodded.
“What do they want?” the petty officer asked curiously.
“They are looking for a ship called ‘The Sea Serpent’” the sailor answered.
“Inform them that there have been no such sightings” the petty officer answered to the sailor.

“But sir, wasn’t that ship off the starboard called—“ the other sailor started to say.
“What ship? There was and is no ship, got that sailor!” the petty officer shook his finger menacingly.
The sailor regarded him strangely.
“Do you understand me sailor!?” the petty officer repeated.
“…Yes sir!” the sailor answered as the other man at the radio passed on the information.
Petty Officer Davis regarded the two sailors in the room carefully.
“…and not a word of this to anyone!” The Petty Officer finished as he left the communications room.

CHAPTER 46 (PART - A)


Thompson, Thomson, and Chang sat in the high ranking officer’s office until they were led to a radio room and contacted a naval fleet that was leaving the area. The information they received was that no such vessel as the Sea Serpent had been in the area or any speed boats. The high ranking officer smiled in triumph proving his point.

“I told all of you, there aint no ship as you described cruising these waters; and, as far as the speed boat with the assailants goes, they could have easily sped down the coast and ditched their water craft off in some obscure area and disappeared back on the mainland. The two goons that were captured off of Captain Chester‘s ship still haven‘t said a word yet” he concluded after receiving the message.

“That just doesn’t make any sense!” Thompson exclaimed perplexed.

“Indeed! They couldn’t have just vanished!” Thomson added.

“I really hate to break it to you Detectives, but I’m afraid your on your own on this one” he finally shook his head as he continued to review the clipboard of the statements from the witness reports.

“Mr. um…” Chang started to say.

“You can call me Sergeant Fisher” he finally gave them his name.

“What if the American Navy didn’t see them or somehow they’ve slipped through their nets? Somebody must have seen them?” Chang reasoned.

“Mr. Chen, do you realize what you say?” Sergeant Fisher looked at Chang with a flabbergasted look.

“Yes, I do” Chang stood by his train of thought.

“The US Navy does NOT make mistakes!” Sergeant Fisher snapped back.

“All I’m saying Sergeant is…what if?” Chang clarified.

The Sergeant paused for a moment to consider Chang’s thoughts.

“I’m not an unreasonable man gentlemen, but this cost taxpayers money to go off gallivanting on the sea, and we are already hearing from our superiors about budgets” the Sergeant replied a bit calmer.

“We understand” Thompson commented.

“Understand we do, but crime doesn’t wait for budgets” Thomson said with a sudden cleverness that managed to impress the Sergeant just long enough to get a favorable response.

The Sergeant led them out of the communications room back to his office and began shifting some papers and making a few phone calls. The three Interpol agents sat waiting patiently.

“Very well, I have arranged for a pilot ship with an armed guard to accompany you in the direction the speed boat was heading which according to a source I just received was due west, possibly towards Ireland” he paused for a moment signing a couple documents and putting a couple of papers in a folder.

“I will personally escort the three of you to--” the Sergeant was interrupted.

“We have some others who will be accompanying us” Chang added.

“Excuse me? And who might they be? Other Interpol agents?” he asked a bit perturbed.

“Well one of them works for us and therefore Interpol” Thompson explained.

“Precisely, he has his own badge” Thomson clarified quickly.

“You said others? Are they involved with law enforcement as well?” the Sergeant was tapping his pen on the desk.

“Not really, just close friends” Chang answered truthfully.

“Then I am afraid they cannot go, we cannot be responsible for civilians” the Sergeant explained succinctly.

“I see…” Chang nodded.

“I assume your other agent is still at the hospital. We will meet them there and take you to your lodgings. I will give you fifteen minutes to take whatever belongings you wish then we will meet the special pilot boat by scene of the crime” the Sergeant concluded.

Both Detectives and Chang followed the Sergeant out to a police van. The sky was fairly cloudy and luckily they still had a few hours left of evening light. All was quiet on the way to the hospital as Chang began mentally preparing himself for what lie ahead.

---------- Post added 05-24-2013 at 09:36 AM ----------

CHAPTER 46(PART - B) end of chapter 46

Back at the hospital, Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Lucille decided to take a walk outside with the Captain so he could smoke a pipe and they could check on Snowy and Cocoa. Captain Chester and Elizabeth were too preoccupied with their current situation, so they decided to allow them to be together without crowding them. The mood amongst the three of them was fairly melancholy wondering if somehow Enzo would survive this horrible turn in events.

Snowy and Cocoa were both dancing around the three of them finally excited to see them after waiting hours on end near the entrance to the hospital. Haddock looked down the street as a few cars drove past while he lit his pipe for a smoke.

“Sorry to keep both of you waiting” Tintin smiled half-heartedly petting both of the dogs.

Snowy and Cocoa only licked his hands in response.

“It’s amazing how loyal your dogs are” Lucille commented to Tintin.

“I’ve had Snowy just about all of his life, and Snowy found Cocoa who Captain Chester’s niece Alyssa gave her name. Alyssa and everyone gave her a bath not long after she came home with Snowy; and then she gave us those puppy eyes. She‘s been with us ever since” Tintin explained.

“We never had any pets even though the kids always wanted one” Lucille sighed bending down to pet Snowy and Cocoa too.

“Then why didn’t you get them one?” Tintin asked curiously.

“Benton was always afraid that one of the kids might get hurt, he’s sometimes too protective…and then times…” Lucille trailed off.

“Then times what?” Tintin prompted her on.

Captain Haddock took a few more puffs regarding Lucille quietly and sneaking a drink from a flask.

“Well, I think you saw some of it…wait a minute!” Lucille noticed Haddock tilting his head back.

Captain Haddock quickly hid something under his coat.

“That’s the flask that you said you were going to give to Captain Chester wasn’t it?” Lucille asked accusingly.

“What are you talking about?” Haddock looked at her almost as a child would with its hand in a cookie jar.

“Fenton, your friend here loves the bottle doesn’t he?” Lucille sighed.

“You think this is bad?!” Tintin paused to laugh. “I’m sure Captain Chester doesn’t need this right now, and I’m sure Elizabeth appreciates it” Tintin winked.

Snowy and Cocoa’s ears perked up as they began staring down the street cocking their heads.

“Now what?” Haddock frowned looking ahead as he began to hear a car zooming quickly into view with police lights on. Tintin and Lucille were only hoping nothing else bad had happened.

A police van came skidding to a halt in front of the hospital as Thompson and an officer sat in the front of a van.

“The Detectives are back” Tintin nodded.

The side door slid opened and Thomson and Chang sat there.

“Come on, we’ve got a boat” Chang explained.

Tintin quickly got in as Lucille and Haddock both shrugged getting in.

“Come on Snowy, Cocoa!” Tintin called out.

Both Snowy and Cocoa quickly jumped in and they shut the door.

“Impressive Detectives, you got us a boat?” Tintin asked a bit amazed.

“Too much red tape lad” Thompson commented.

“Too much indeed!” Thomson muttered sitting next to Chang.

“Yes, we leave in an hour by sea with a pilot ship” Chang informed them.

“What? A meager pilot ship?!” Haddock exclaimed.

“Well at least it’s better than no ship Captain” Lucille shook her head.

“Well Captain we can’t just sneak some big ship around on the sea” Tintin rationalized.

“The open sea isn’t a pilot ship’s place…they belong guiding ships in and out of ports lad!” Haddock explained.

“Don’t worry about it…” the officer driving finally spoke up.

“What do you mean don’t worry about it?! I’ve sailed these seas for many years! I may be a strange man, but I know my ships and my seas!” Haddock retorted.

“As I said, you nor the girl will be going, and that’s that!” the officer said sternly.

“What!?” Haddock and Lucille exclaimed furiously.

Chang sighed sadly, but both Detectives didn’t seem to upset by not having Lucille; however, they both thought having the Captain along could have been a bit useful with his seafaring skills.

“Have you not heard anything I just said?!” Haddock went on.

“Have you not heard what I said?” the officer countered.

“I have years of experience on the sea, they will need my expertise!” Haddock argued.

“Negative, we have two armed guards from the HM Customs that are both capable seaman” the officer finished.

Haddock’s jaw about dropped to the floor in defeat looking to the Detectives for support.

“We’re really sorry Captain…” Thompson said regretfully.

“We really tried to get him to let you, but this isn’t our jurisdiction when it comes to getting a boat locally” Thomson finished.

“Billions of Billious Blistering Barnacles!” Haddock shouted in frustration.

“What about my husband!?” Lucille chided in.

“Madam, let the officials do their job, you should be at home” the officer said immediately.

“I’ve seen things that would turn you--!” Lucille started to say but threw her hands together also in frustration.

The rest of the ride was riddled with much aggravation, but within twenty minutes they arrived outside of the Sea Breeze Bed and Breakfast. Chang could see Lucille’s eyes watering in anger as Haddock began whispering back and forth with Tintin. Snowy and Cocoa shifted uneasily as they felt their group dynamics were about to change again.


XXXXXXXX


“Now, I’m giving you fifteen minutes to take what you’re going to take with you. I don’t want to keep the HM Custom guardsmen waiting on you. Now quickly!” Sergeant Fisher commanded.

The van door slid open and Snowy and Cocoa were the first ones out as it was almost seven thirty. The sun hovered just a bit over the horizon as the sky in the western skies which were full of bright orange, pink, gold, lavender, and then darkening blue colors as they stared back toward the east. A disquieted Lucille and Captain Haddock got out of the van walking slowly back to the bed and breakfast.

Tintin and Chang both noticed that most of the cars were gone once they got out of the van which made Tintin remember that Lucille had left her car back at the hospital. He wondered whether she meant to do that or if she just forgot. Tintin and Chang quickly ran to their rooms followed by the two Detectives who came quickly behind them.

Haddock quickly joined Tintin back up in his room as Chang and the Detectives returned to their room as well.

“Everyone left you behind it looks like” the owner said looking up with his spectacles from his book while sitting behind the desk.

“It seems that way…can I get my things?” Lucille asked quietly.

“All of you checking out?” he asked looking back down at his book.

“Maybe, I don’t know yet…” Lucille started to get anxious.

“Go on back there, my wife is cooking in the back” he answered turning a page.

Lucille walked in the back to the guest room she stayed and collected a small sack that seemed a bit heavier than before. She looked at the bag suspiciously as she picked it up. Lucille stopped in the kitchen.
“Mam, I think you may have put some of your clothes in my bag” Lucille declared as she peeked in.

“Oh I put in couple of dresses and sweaters in there for you since I saw you were lacking in your wardrobe” the owner’s wife replied glancing at her as she was busy stirring a pot.

“Are you sure? I have plenty of clothes at home” Lucille asked.

“Certainly, you be careful wherever you go now you hear?” she said sweetly.

“Of course and thank you!” Lucille nodded walking back out into the lobby.

Lucille had a seat on a small sofa looking through her newly acquired articles of clothing. First she noticed an old faded yellow skirt which came just below her knee with a white laces around the neckline. The second was an old long beige button up sweater. Lucille’s face really contorted when she saw the final article as she took it out. It was mint green dress with pink and white flowers designed all over it that came almost just above her ankles.

“You like them?” The owner said looking at her as she examined her just received hand me downs.

“Yes, they’re lovely” Lucille put on a smile but she felt bad thinking how fashion should be the last thing on her mind. Then to top it off she saw something else in her bag that she didn’t put in. As she reached in she pulled out a red and white pair of striped stockings that just seem to keep coming as if they were stretched out leotards.


XXXXXXXX


The Captain rushed into the room behind Tintin closing the door with Snowy and Cocoa just barely making it in the room. A sense of anxiety began to take hold of Captain Haddock as Tintin tried to remain calm collecting any of the necessities including them into the Professor’s bag of gadgets given to him.

“That miserable maggot! Tintin, how can you remain calm? I’m supposed to be taking you away from all of this not letting you go into what’s obviously a trap!” Haddock surmised.

“Trap or not, I believe my brother is on that ship, and if we can find Allan and Gaspar, then we can find the Sea Serpent and rescue my brother” Tintin explained only taking one change of clothes out of his suitcase stuffing it into the compact satchel.

“What do you mean ‘we’? Remember, I can’t go! And what if he isn’t on that ship? Then what?” Haddock drilled Tintin with his nervousness. Tintin was trying to keep calm, but Haddock wasn’t making it easy for him as was trying to remember if he forgot anything or not while looking through the tight satchel.

“Tintin? Answer me!” Haddock said impatiently.

Tintin dumped the contents of the bag onto the bed and grabbed his head.

“Please Captain, I’m trying to get what few items that may or may not save my life. I need you to help me by not losing it right now!” Tintin pleaded.

“What if you’re the whole key to this cult and they have to sacrifice you?” Haddock threw another worry at him.

“Captain stop! I can’t take this! Please! It’s not by my design that you are to be left behind! I would want you to be by my side, but the reality is…” Tintin paused as Haddock grabbed Tintin and instantly they went into a passionate kiss. Haddock’s kiss, which was the taste of whiskey and tobacco in Tintin’s mouth began to permeate, but Tintin didn’t care.

Haddock embraced Tintin tightly, and Tintin’s head was titlted back to meet Haddock’s lips as Haddock stood almost more than half a foot taller than Tintin. Tintin wrapped his arms around Haddock’s neck as Haddock picked him off the ground and the both fell onto the bed.

Haddock opened his eyes and looked deep into Tintin’s greenish grey eyes as the light hit them.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you lad” Haddock mused holding on to Tintin as if he was his most prized possession.

“I feel the same too Captain you know that” Tintin whispered.

“I’m not going to be alone” Tintin finished quietly.

“The Detectives make me worry more, and Chang…there seems to be more to him…kind of like you; but I don’t know if that will be enough to turn such a high tide” Haddock finished finally letting Tintin complete his packing.

“That’s it! Snowy!” Tintin said rearranging his bigger bag to fit his compact one and still have room for Snowy on top.

“Tintin, enough of this Tom Foolery! Snowy has gotten you out of many predicaments but I fear everyone else and Snowy may not be enough this time” Haddock feared.

“I’m afraid this time Captain we don’t have much choice” Tintin nodded. “Come on Snowy” Tintin motioned for him to get in the bag.

Snowy whined looking at Tintin then at Cocoa.

“Can’t we both go Snowy?” Cocoa barked.

“I’m sorry Cocoa, I don’t have enough room in my bag for both; besides, I need someone to watch over the Captain while I’m gone” Tintin explained to a whining and concerned Cocoa jumping on Tintin’s leg trying to get to Snowy.

“Come here Cocoa” Haddock called her.

“I’m sorry Cocoa, I have to do this for my master” Snowy conceded.

Cocoa began whining with her brown tail between her legs and her head to the floor.

Haddock bent down and picked Cocoa up, “It’ll be ok lass” Haddock said petting her.

“I said fifteen minutes! I’m not running a nursery school here!” a gruff muffled voice sounded from downstairs.

“I guess this is it” Haddock said sadly.

“No, it‘s not it!” Tintin gave Haddock one last kiss before they left their room and went downstairs.


XXXXXXXXXX


“Thompson you have everything?” Thomson said as the Detectives were quickly rummaging through any last item they may have forgotten.

“To be precise, the question it is do YOU have everything?” Thompson countered.

“I thought you Detectives said you were always ready?” Chang watched them for a moment.

“Sorry Chang, but we feel that something is missing” Thomson replied looking throughout the room.

“Something is missing indeed!” Thompson agreed.

Chang walked over behind the bed post and found the each cane that Professor Calculus had made for them had fallen behind the main bed frame. Chang smiled but didn’t comment any more on the situation.

“Why thank you Chang!” Thompson smiled.

“We knew it was there!” Thomson nodded cheerfully.

“That’s right!” Thompson agreed.

“We were merely testing you” Thomson pointed out.

“Oh, I’m glad that I have passed the test then” Chang laughed as he picked up his own satchel walking out the door.

“You tell those two clumsy clowns to get down here now, or no boat!” Sergeant Fisher shouted waiting very impatiently for everyone else.

“What in blazes have you got in that bag? A stuffed clown?!” Haddock explained noticing Lucille quickly trying to put the red and white stockings in her bag as he walked in the main lobby.

When they finally arrived everyone got in the van until Lucille flagged him down.

“Now what?!” he looked at her with much annoyance.

“Are you going back by the hospital?”

“What do I look like a taxi? This is the police girl!” he said with aggravation.

“We would appreciate if you take us please” Lucille kept calm.

The Sergeant shook his head, “Fine get in! We’ve wasted enough time!” he sighed.

Haddock, Cocoa, and Lucille got in the far back seat. Tintin joined Haddock in the back while the Detectives attempted to discuss logistics.

“I want you to promise me you won’t do anything rash you hear me?” Haddock whispered to Tintin as they rode.

“I promise Captain” Tintin nodded as Haddock put his hand on the seat on top of Tintin’s. Lucille sat behind Thompson and Chang quietly letting Haddock and Tintin have their moment. Thomson sat in the front seat. Lucille tried to listen to the conversation that Haddock and Tintin were continuing but couldn’t understand once they started to speak in French.

Ten minutes later the arrived at the dock near the Sirius.

“This is it” Sergeant Fisher announced.

Everyone got out of the van looking at the two decked pilot ship. It was a bit bigger than the usual with a black hull and a white top. It wasn’t built to accommodate too many people. The Sirius seemed to be full of more crew as it was lit up now.

“It’s still not big enough…” Haddock thought to himself.

“Just a bit longer Snowy” Tintin whispered.

They walked up to the boat’s occupants. They were two uniformed men in dark rain coats and hats.

“This is Officer Riley and Officer Jenkins” the Sergeant introduced them as they nodded with a brief smile.

“Are all of you ready?” the Sergeant asked them.

“Yes sir!” they saluted.

“Good! Now let’s get back to town you two” the Sergeant prompted.

“All of you be careful at sea, and bring my husband home safely!” Lucille said with concern.

“Thank you Lucille! We‘ll do our best!” the Detectives and Chang nodded with appreciation.

Haddock walked over to Chang and whispered something in his ear. Chang nodded understandingly as Haddock gave Tintin one last hug.

“Be safe lad, remember what I said” Haddock reminded.

“Yes Captain” Tintin replied.

The four of them got on the ship as the motor started and within minutes they were out in the bay. The ride back to the hospital was quiet as both Lucille, and Haddock with Cocoa were preoccupied with their own concerns.

“Ok you two” the Sergeant said stopping abruptly by the hospital.

“Thank you Sergeant” Lucille said gratefully as they got out.

The Sergeant just nodded and went on his way.

“Where’s your car?” Haddock asked Lucille.

“It’s on the opposite side, I know where it is” Lucille said beginning to walk in that direction.

“What’s on your mind Captain?” Lucille asked as they began walking faster.

“I may have an idea” Haddock thought.

“I hope you don’t plan on bothering Captain Chester anymore. I think he’s been through enough already” Lucille disagreed before even hearing the thought.

“I need to get back to the Sea Breeze first, I’ll let you know when I work it out” Haddock said vaguely as they rushed back to the car.

CHAPTER 46(PART - B) end of chapter 46

Back at the hospital, Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Lucille decided to take a walk outside with the Captain so he could smoke a pipe and they could check on Snowy and Cocoa. Captain Chester and Elizabeth were too preoccupied with their current situation, so they decided to allow them to be together without crowding them. The mood amongst the three of them was fairly melancholy wondering if somehow Enzo would survive this horrible turn in events.

Snowy and Cocoa were both dancing around the three of them finally excited to see them after waiting hours on end near the entrance to the hospital. Haddock looked down the street as a few cars drove past while he lit his pipe for a smoke.

“Sorry to keep both of you waiting” Tintin smiled half-heartedly petting both of the dogs.

Snowy and Cocoa only licked his hands in response.

“It’s amazing how loyal your dogs are” Lucille commented to Tintin.

“I’ve had Snowy just about all of his life, and Snowy found Cocoa who Captain Chester’s niece Alyssa gave her name. Alyssa and everyone gave her a bath not long after she came home with Snowy; and then she gave us those puppy eyes. She‘s been with us ever since” Tintin explained.

“We never had any pets even though the kids always wanted one” Lucille sighed bending down to pet Snowy and Cocoa too.

“Then why didn’t you get them one?” Tintin asked curiously.

“Benton was always afraid that one of the kids might get hurt, he’s sometimes too protective…and then times…” Lucille trailed off.

“Then times what?” Tintin prompted her on.

Captain Haddock took a few more puffs regarding Lucille quietly and sneaking a drink from a flask.

“Well, I think you saw some of it…wait a minute!” Lucille noticed Haddock tilting his head back.

Captain Haddock quickly hid something under his coat.

“That’s the flask that you said you were going to give to Captain Chester wasn’t it?” Lucille asked accusingly.

“What are you talking about?” Haddock looked at her almost as a child would with its hand in a cookie jar.

“Fenton, your friend here loves the bottle doesn’t he?” Lucille sighed.

“You think this is bad?!” Tintin paused to laugh. “I’m sure Captain Chester doesn’t need this right now, and I’m sure Elizabeth appreciates it” Tintin winked.

Snowy and Cocoa’s ears perked up as they began staring down the street cocking their heads.

“Now what?” Haddock frowned looking ahead as he began to hear a car zooming quickly into view with police lights on. Tintin and Lucille were only hoping nothing else bad had happened.

A police van came skidding to a halt in front of the hospital as Thompson and an officer sat in the front of a van.

“The Detectives are back” Tintin nodded.

The side door slid opened and Thomson and Chang sat there.

“Come on, we’ve got a boat” Chang explained.

Tintin quickly got in as Lucille and Haddock both shrugged getting in.

“Come on Snowy, Cocoa!” Tintin called out.

Both Snowy and Cocoa quickly jumped in and they shut the door.

“Impressive Detectives, you got us a boat?” Tintin asked a bit amazed.

“Too much red tape lad” Thompson commented.

“Too much indeed!” Thomson muttered sitting next to Chang.

“Yes, we leave in an hour by sea with a pilot ship” Chang informed them.

“What? A meager pilot ship?!” Haddock exclaimed.

“Well at least it’s better than no ship Captain” Lucille shook her head.

“Well Captain we can’t just sneak some big ship around on the sea” Tintin rationalized.

“The open sea isn’t a pilot ship’s place…they belong guiding ships in and out of ports lad!” Haddock explained.

“Don’t worry about it…” the officer driving finally spoke up.

“What do you mean don’t worry about it?! I’ve sailed these seas for many years! I may be a strange man, but I know my ships and my seas!” Haddock retorted.

“As I said, you nor the girl will be going, and that’s that!” the officer said sternly.

“What!?” Haddock and Lucille exclaimed furiously.

Chang sighed sadly, but both Detectives didn’t seem to upset by not having Lucille; however, they both thought having the Captain along could have been a bit useful with his seafaring skills.

“Have you not heard anything I just said?!” Haddock went on.

“Have you not heard what I said?” the officer countered.

“I have years of experience on the sea, they will need my expertise!” Haddock argued.

“Negative, we have two armed guards from the HM Customs that are both capable seaman” the officer finished.

Haddock’s jaw about dropped to the floor in defeat looking to the Detectives for support.

“We’re really sorry Captain…” Thompson said regretfully.

“We really tried to get him to let you, but this isn’t our jurisdiction when it comes to getting a boat locally” Thomson finished.

“Billions of Billious Blistering Barnacles!” Haddock shouted in frustration.

“What about my husband!?” Lucille chided in.

“Madam, let the officials do their job, you should be at home” the officer said immediately.

“I’ve seen things that would turn you--!” Lucille started to say but threw her hands together also in frustration.

The rest of the ride was riddled with much aggravation, but within twenty minutes they arrived outside of the Sea Breeze Bed and Breakfast. Chang could see Lucille’s eyes watering in anger as Haddock began whispering back and forth with Tintin. Snowy and Cocoa shifted uneasily as they felt their group dynamics were about to change again.


XXXXXXXX


“Now, I’m giving you fifteen minutes to take what you’re going to take with you. I don’t want to keep the HM Custom guardsmen waiting on you. Now quickly!” Sergeant Fisher commanded.

The van door slid open and Snowy and Cocoa were the first ones out as it was almost seven thirty. The sun hovered just a bit over the horizon as the sky in the western skies which were full of bright orange, pink, gold, lavender, and then darkening blue colors as they stared back toward the east. A disquieted Lucille and Captain Haddock got out of the van walking slowly back to the bed and breakfast.

Tintin and Chang both noticed that most of the cars were gone once they got out of the van which made Tintin remember that Lucille had left her car back at the hospital. He wondered whether she meant to do that or if she just forgot. Tintin and Chang quickly ran to their rooms followed by the two Detectives who came quickly behind them.

Haddock quickly joined Tintin back up in his room as Chang and the Detectives returned to their room as well.

“Everyone left you behind it looks like” the owner said looking up with his spectacles from his book while sitting behind the desk.

“It seems that way…can I get my things?” Lucille asked quietly.

“All of you checking out?” he asked looking back down at his book.

“Maybe, I don’t know yet…” Lucille started to get anxious.

“Go on back there, my wife is cooking in the back” he answered turning a page.

Lucille walked in the back to the guest room she stayed and collected a small sack that seemed a bit heavier than before. She looked at the bag suspiciously as she picked it up. Lucille stopped in the kitchen.
“Mam, I think you may have put some of your clothes in my bag” Lucille declared as she peeked in.

“Oh I put in couple of dresses and sweaters in there for you since I saw you were lacking in your wardrobe” the owner’s wife replied glancing at her as she was busy stirring a pot.

“Are you sure? I have plenty of clothes at home” Lucille asked.

“Certainly, you be careful wherever you go now you hear?” she said sweetly.

“Of course and thank you!” Lucille nodded walking back out into the lobby.

Lucille had a seat on a small sofa looking through her newly acquired articles of clothing. First she noticed an old faded yellow skirt which came just below her knee with a white laces around the neckline. The second was an old long beige button up sweater. Lucille’s face really contorted when she saw the final article as she took it out. It was mint green dress with pink and white flowers designed all over it that came almost just above her ankles.

“You like them?” The owner said looking at her as she examined her just received hand me downs.

“Yes, they’re lovely” Lucille put on a smile but she felt bad thinking how fashion should be the last thing on her mind. Then to top it off she saw something else in her bag that she didn’t put in. As she reached in she pulled out a red and white pair of striped stockings that just seem to keep coming as if they were stretched out leotards.


XXXXXXXX


The Captain rushed into the room behind Tintin closing the door with Snowy and Cocoa just barely making it in the room. A sense of anxiety began to take hold of Captain Haddock as Tintin tried to remain calm collecting any of the necessities including them into the Professor’s bag of gadgets given to him.

“That miserable maggot! Tintin, how can you remain calm? I’m supposed to be taking you away from all of this not letting you go into what’s obviously a trap!” Haddock surmised.

“Trap or not, I believe my brother is on that ship, and if we can find Allan and Gaspar, then we can find the Sea Serpent and rescue my brother” Tintin explained only taking one change of clothes out of his suitcase stuffing it into the compact satchel.

“What do you mean ‘we’? Remember, I can’t go! And what if he isn’t on that ship? Then what?” Haddock drilled Tintin with his nervousness. Tintin was trying to keep calm, but Haddock wasn’t making it easy for him as was trying to remember if he forgot anything or not while looking through the tight satchel.

“Tintin? Answer me!” Haddock said impatiently.

Tintin dumped the contents of the bag onto the bed and grabbed his head.

“Please Captain, I’m trying to get what few items that may or may not save my life. I need you to help me by not losing it right now!” Tintin pleaded.

“What if you’re the whole key to this cult and they have to sacrifice you?” Haddock threw another worry at him.

“Captain stop! I can’t take this! Please! It’s not by my design that you are to be left behind! I would want you to be by my side, but the reality is…” Tintin paused as Haddock grabbed Tintin and instantly they went into a passionate kiss. Haddock’s kiss, which was the taste of whiskey and tobacco in Tintin’s mouth began to permeate, but Tintin didn’t care.

Haddock embraced Tintin tightly, and Tintin’s head was titlted back to meet Haddock’s lips as Haddock stood almost more than half a foot taller than Tintin. Tintin wrapped his arms around Haddock’s neck as Haddock picked him off the ground and the both fell onto the bed.

Haddock opened his eyes and looked deep into Tintin’s greenish grey eyes as the light hit them.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you lad” Haddock mused holding on to Tintin as if he was his most prized possession.

“I feel the same too Captain you know that” Tintin whispered.

“I’m not going to be alone” Tintin finished quietly.

“The Detectives make me worry more, and Chang…there seems to be more to him…kind of like you; but I don’t know if that will be enough to turn such a high tide” Haddock finished finally letting Tintin complete his packing.

“That’s it! Snowy!” Tintin said rearranging his bigger bag to fit his compact one and still have room for Snowy on top.

“Tintin, enough of this Tom Foolery! Snowy has gotten you out of many predicaments but I fear everyone else and Snowy may not be enough this time” Haddock feared.

“I’m afraid this time Captain we don’t have much choice” Tintin nodded. “Come on Snowy” Tintin motioned for him to get in the bag.

Snowy whined looking at Tintin then at Cocoa.

“Can’t we both go Snowy?” Cocoa barked.

“I’m sorry Cocoa, I don’t have enough room in my bag for both; besides, I need someone to watch over the Captain while I’m gone” Tintin explained to a whining and concerned Cocoa jumping on Tintin’s leg trying to get to Snowy.

“Come here Cocoa” Haddock called her.

“I’m sorry Cocoa, I have to do this for my master” Snowy conceded.

Cocoa began whining with her brown tail between her legs and her head to the floor.

Haddock bent down and picked Cocoa up, “It’ll be ok lass” Haddock said petting her.

“I said fifteen minutes! I’m not running a nursery school here!” a gruff muffled voice sounded from downstairs.

“I guess this is it” Haddock said sadly.

“No, it‘s not it!” Tintin gave Haddock one last kiss before they left their room and went downstairs.


XXXXXXXXXX


“Thompson you have everything?” Thomson said as the Detectives were quickly rummaging through any last item they may have forgotten.

“To be precise, the question it is do YOU have everything?” Thompson countered.

“I thought you Detectives said you were always ready?” Chang watched them for a moment.

“Sorry Chang, but we feel that something is missing” Thomson replied looking throughout the room.

“Something is missing indeed!” Thompson agreed.

Chang walked over behind the bed post and found the each cane that Professor Calculus had made for them had fallen behind the main bed frame. Chang smiled but didn’t comment any more on the situation.

“Why thank you Chang!” Thompson smiled.

“We knew it was there!” Thomson nodded cheerfully.

“That’s right!” Thompson agreed.

“We were merely testing you” Thomson pointed out.

“Oh, I’m glad that I have passed the test then” Chang laughed as he picked up his own satchel walking out the door.

“You tell those two clumsy clowns to get down here now, or no boat!” Sergeant Fisher shouted waiting very impatiently for everyone else.

“What in blazes have you got in that bag? A stuffed clown?!” Haddock explained noticing Lucille quickly trying to put the red and white stockings in her bag as he walked in the main lobby.

When they finally arrived everyone got in the van until Lucille flagged him down.

“Now what?!” he looked at her with much annoyance.

“Are you going back by the hospital?”

“What do I look like a taxi? This is the police girl!” he said with aggravation.

“We would appreciate if you take us please” Lucille kept calm.

The Sergeant shook his head, “Fine get in! We’ve wasted enough time!” he sighed.

Haddock, Cocoa, and Lucille got in the far back seat. Tintin joined Haddock in the back while the Detectives attempted to discuss logistics.

“I want you to promise me you won’t do anything rash you hear me?” Haddock whispered to Tintin as they rode.

“I promise Captain” Tintin nodded as Haddock put his hand on the seat on top of Tintin’s. Lucille sat behind Thompson and Chang quietly letting Haddock and Tintin have their moment. Thomson sat in the front seat. Lucille tried to listen to the conversation that Haddock and Tintin were continuing but couldn’t understand once they started to speak in French.

Ten minutes later the arrived at the dock near the Sirius.

“This is it” Sergeant Fisher announced.

Everyone got out of the van looking at the two decked pilot ship. It was a bit bigger than the usual with a black hull and a white top. It wasn’t built to accommodate too many people. The Sirius seemed to be full of more crew as it was lit up now.

“It’s still not big enough…” Haddock thought to himself.

“Just a bit longer Snowy” Tintin whispered.

They walked up to the boat’s occupants. They were two uniformed men in dark rain coats and hats.

“This is Officer Riley and Officer Jenkins” the Sergeant introduced them as they nodded with a brief smile.

“Are all of you ready?” the Sergeant asked them.

“Yes sir!” they saluted.

“Good! Now let’s get back to town you two” the Sergeant prompted.

“All of you be careful at sea, and bring my husband home safely!” Lucille said with concern.

“Thank you Lucille! We‘ll do our best!” the Detectives and Chang nodded with appreciation.

Haddock walked over to Chang and whispered something in his ear. Chang nodded understandingly as Haddock gave Tintin one last hug.

“Be safe lad, remember what I said” Haddock reminded.

“Yes Captain” Tintin replied.

The four of them got on the ship as the motor started and within minutes they were out in the bay. The ride back to the hospital was quiet as both Lucille, and Haddock with Cocoa were preoccupied with their own concerns.

“Ok you two” the Sergeant said stopping abruptly by the hospital.

“Thank you Sergeant” Lucille said gratefully as they got out.

The Sergeant just nodded and went on his way.

“Where’s your car?” Haddock asked Lucille.

“It’s on the opposite side, I know where it is” Lucille said beginning to walk in that direction.

“What’s on your mind Captain?” Lucille asked as they began walking faster.

“I may have an idea” Haddock thought.

“I hope you don’t plan on bothering Captain Chester anymore. I think he’s been through enough already” Lucille disagreed before even hearing the thought.

“I need to get back to the Sea Breeze first, I’ll let you know when I work it out” Haddock said vaguely as they rushed back to the car.

Chapter 48 (PART - A)


Tintin sat outside the small enclosed room where the small pilot ship was being steered from. The boat sped across the water bouncing just a bit from wave to wave. He stared back toward the bay expecting Captain Haddock to come racing after him. Tintin didn’t want to risk his Captain’s life in this last log of his journey he thought. Tintin realized though that no matter what happened there would be people involved he cared for who would be in danger.

Then his mind began to wander back to poor young Enzo. Tintin wondered if he would survive the night as he thought back to Chester sitting by his side as the Captain did himself before they traveled to the moon. He remembered how many times he had cheated death himself; however, Enzo didn’t seem so lucky, but Tintin was not about to give in to despair so soon. If he could survive miraculously then perhaps a miracle would be exactly what Enzo would get. He deserved another chance.

He made the most noble gesture that anyone could make, the ultimate sacrifice. Tintin thought about all the risks he and the Captain took for each other. Tintin easily knew he too would make the ultimate sacrifice for someone he loved. Tintin didn’t know the extent of Enzo and Captain Chester’s relationship nor did he feel it was any of his business; but regardless, there is no substitute for loyatly, true friendship, and or love.

Chang’s words about this being the most dangerous foe they have ever faced before kept resonating in his head bringing him back to the present.

“What is so dangerous about this foe that sets him or her apart from all the other adversaries I’ve faced?” Tintin wondered.

The sun began shedding it’s multicolored light across the horizon illuminating the sea ahead of them. The sky's pastel colors of blue, orange, pink, and lavender reminded him of the cotton candy he used to like when Mrs. Finch took him to the faire. Tintin could see the Detectives speaking with the guardsmen while Chang seemed to be guiding them through an array of ideas. It was nice to have Chang by his side. Tintin felt that perhaps he and Chang together would have a fighting chance to finally put an end to all of this nightmare. Chang was someone else dear to Tintin that he could not bear to lose. He didn't want to spare Chang's life just so he could use it to save him later.

The Detectives were another story. It was true they had their uses and on occasion would surprise Tintin with some amazing feats; although sometimes their sheer clumsiness would work in their favor. Tintin too didn’t want anything bad to happen to this odd pair of men whom he also had come to call his friends. These two men were like the wacky uncles he never had.

Tintin began thinking and formulating plans trying to anticipate what they may encounter. Tintin had no idea what role the HM Customs guards would play, but he didn’t count on them giving a lot of support other than keeping their ship guarded and sending for back up. Tintin was finally distracted from his thoughts when the door opened from the steering room.

“What are you thinking about Tintin?” Chang said joining him on the side boat.

“I don’t know what to expect Chang” Tintin admitted shaking his head.

“Just remember this Tintin, not everything is what it seems…at least that’s what my father always says” Chang said sagely.

“I understand looks can be deceiving, is that what you mean?” Tintin asked.

“Yes, in our up coming battle we must understand that what we see with our mortal eyes may not be what really stands before us” Chang nodded.

“Are you afraid Chang?” Tintin asked curiously.

“We always fear the unknown Tintin, but we cannot let it rule our hearts” Chang replied.

“Snowy, I’m sorry boy” Tintin felt his bag moving and quickly opened it.

“He’s another friend who has been loyal to you for so many years” Chang said as Snowy began licking Tintin on the cheek.

“Heh heh heh! Ok Snowy! Yes he has been and still is” Tintin said petting him.

“How did Enzo look when you saw him?” Chang finally asked knowing for Tintin Enzo's situation reminded him of a previous situation which made it epsecially painful for him.

“I’m hoping with all of my heart that he pulls through this Chang. I fear Captain Chester may never forgive us or himself if he dies.” Tintin said in a more serious tone.

"He has to pull through it Chang, his family is counting on him back in Italy. I know this kid, I see me in him...only I never had a family to take care of" Tintin sighed.

"His fate is no longer in our hands Tintin. I understand how you feel, we can only keep him in our thoughts and hope for a miracle" Chang explained putting a comforting hand on Tintin's shoulder.

"Thank you Chang..." Tintin sniffled.

“I will keep him in my thoughts as I meditate and spiritually prepare myself so that when the time come I can do what I must” Chang replied gazing towards the fading sunset.

“I’ll leave you then and check on the Detectives and guardsmen to make sure we are all on the same page” Tintin said putting a calming hand on Chang’s shoulder.

“Come on Snowy!” Tintin called as he went inside. Snowy looked back at Chang who sat on the floor of the boat already with his eyes closed, then ran inside the steering room.

“How are you feeling Tintin?” Thompson asked as Tintin entered.

“As well as can be expected” Tintin answered truthfully.

“I guess that’s as good as any answer can be eh Thompson?” Thomson nodded.

“Exactly, we think we may know the direction they are heading” Thompson smiled.

“We’re not one hundred percent sure Detective, but the cargo ship gave us an approximation” one of the guardsmen explained.

“We should reach the coast of Northern Ireland in an hour or two…near Belfast I believe” the guard steering the boat spoke up.

“Wasn’t Captain Chester supposed to be going to Ireland tomorrow?” Thompson asked curiously.

“Yes, but now with the situation as it is…I don’t know if Captain Chester will raise anchor” Tintin shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh with that poor young man in the hospital…what was his name?” Thomson began to think out loud.

“Enzo” Tintin said plainly.

“Ah yes! Such a tragedy…” Thomson shook his head.

“Indeed it is” Thompson agreed.

“We’ll need to refuel in Belfast” the guardsman at the wheel mentioned.

“That’s fine, perhaps we will learn more of where Allan and Gaspar went” Tintin mentioned.

“Hey, is your friend ok out there? What’s he doing?” the other guardsman asked pointing to Chang.

Tintin turned around and saw Chang was sitting on the boat floor with a peaceful look on his face. His eyes were closed and it almost looked as if he was sleeping, even with the bounce of the sea and the breeze of the wind.

“He’s just in deep contemplation right now, don’t mind him…he‘s fine” Tintin smiled.

The sun disappeared behind the ocean as the twilight sky began to fade to night. Chang finished his long meditation and could sparsely see the lights ahead on the Irish coast as they were approaching. Chang saw a couple of ships ahead as he tried to look for signs if either of them were the Sea Serpent. Chang walked into the steering room as the sea air began to become a bit chilly.

“Chang, we’re about to arrive in Belfast for refueling” Tintin informed him immediately.

“Any news of Allan, Gaspar, or the Sea Serpent?” Chang asked curiously.

“Only that they were heading for the Irish coast which could mean any town on this side of the coast I’m afraid” Tintin frowned.

“Don’t worry, with the network we have around here we should find out which town they have cruised nearby when we speak with our chapter over here” the guard sitting by the radio informed.

“Good, it seems like the Sergeant gave us some good help” Thompson commented.

“Precisely Thompson” Thomson added.

“About how long will we be in port?” Tintin asked.

“About as long as it takes to refuel and meet with our colleagues…maybe an hour or two at most” the guardsman at the wheel replied.

“I wished we were here on more pleasant business” Thomson sighed.

“As do I Thomson, I’ve never been in Ireland myself unless you count landing in the airport to switch planes” Tintin laughed.

“They call this the Emerald Isle?” Chang asked.

“Yes, some do because of the lush greenery that the country side has” Tintin answered.

“Well then a short stroll on the dock may be in order” Thompson mentioned.

“Indeed Thompson, that sounds like a splendid idea” Thomson agreed.
“Now don’t forget our reason for coming this way gentlemen” Tintin reminded.

“Of course not Tintin” Thompson was quick to reassure him.

“Indeed, but a nice evening stroll off this small boat would be nice to clear our minds” Thomson explained.

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Tintin asked the guardsmen.

“No, not really, we are just going to do a quick exchange of information. They should be expecting us, unless you have anything to add” the guardsmen at the wheel nodded.

“Well Officer…” Tintin started to say but had forgotten his name.

“Officer Jenkins” he said paying attention to the lights up ahead as they approached the port of Belfast.

“I think I’ll stay around the dock areas just in case I am needed” Tintin said dutifully.

“So will I” Chang agreed.

They quickly got into the port and docked. The port was fairly quiet as it was a Sunday night. The dockside didn’t seem to have a whole lot of activity going on.

“We’re going for a stroll” Thompson spoke up.

“We shouldn’t be gone too long” Thomson finished his partner’s thought.

“Well don’t get lost Detectives, we need to be able to leave as soon as we’re ready” Tintin reminded again.

“Officer Riley, are those gentlemen over there your associates?” Chang asked curiously as he saw a couple of uniformed officers busy speaking with a man on a small fishing boat.

“I believe so” Riley nodded.

A rustic looking middle aged man approached from near a fuel pump.

“We need to refuel please” Officer Riley said.

The rustic looking man nodded and quickly began the refueling process.

Tintin, Chang, and Snowy followed the two guardsmen off the pier.

“I’m telling you! This ship! Something just wasn’t right with it!” the man near the small boat said by the dock.

“I wonder what he’s talking about?” Tintin commented as Chang shrugged.

“So you’re saying you were hearing voices?!” one of the patrolmen on the dock asked a bit unconvinced.

“Well, voices that seem to be coming from all around me! They were calling my name…and I swear I felt a chill as if me bones were frozen in ice! It didn’t even sound human!” the man went on.

“Was it a monster then?” the other patrolman patronized.

“No! I saw a black ship with gargoyle statues and…” he continued until he saw the two men from the HM Customs arrive with Tintin, Chang, and Snowy.

“…and then what?” the patrolman urged.

“I saw a small boat with a small group of men and they joined the bigger vessel. I don’t know exactly how many their were” he paused.

“So where and when did you see this vessel?” Officer Riley joined the patrolmen questioning him.

“I’m not sure…maybe about thirty kilometers south of here several hours ago?” he guessed.

The patrolmen looked to the HM Customs Officers and the Officers shook their head satisfied that they got all the information they were going to get.

“Thank you and good night to you sir” one of the patrolmen said a bit more relaxed.

The old fisherman took his sack and a bucket full of fish and began walking back towards town.

“Good evening Officers” the patrolmen saluted after the fishermen left.

“So the Sea Serpent didn’t actually lower anchor here” Tintin assumed by hearing the tail end of the conversation.

“Apparently not” Officer Jenkins nodded.

“The old man is not all there if you know what I mean…” one of the patrolmen commented.

“Well we’re not exactly dealing with your typical criminals here” Tintin countered.

“It’s true we did hear reports of a dark ship, but it seemed quite normal as it picked up some tobacco in it’s cargo from another ship which was inspected” the other patrolman informed.

“It sounds like they got a good head start on us” Officer Jenkins sighed.

A couple moments later a shout was heard not too far off. Everyone ran down a block to near an old abandoned building to find Thompson and Thomson helping the old fisherman up who had suddenly fell unconscious.
“What happened to him?” Officer Riley asked a bit confused.

“Why we don’t know…” Thompson said trying with Thomson’s help to prop the man on his feet.

“He was just walking and we were coming back down this way and she shouted and crumpled to the ground” Thomson finished.

“We were just questioning him” one of the patrolmen told the Detectives.

“Ugh…” the fisherman rolled his head from one side to the other.

Snowy flattened his ear’s and began showing his teeth growling at the old man as if he could see something else no one else could. Everyone began to look at Snowy strangely.

“Snowy? What’s wrong boy?” Tintin asked trusting his dog’s sense of danger.

“Something is not right here Tintin and Snowy senses it” Chang too could feel something odd in the air.

“Sir? Are you ok?” Thompson asked with concern.

“Sir?” Thomson asked again when he didn’t immediately answer.

“…I …have a name you maggot!” the man replied with his eyes closed.

“Stop playing games you crazy old man!” one of the patrolmen scolded.

“It is you insects who are playing the games but are ultimately going to lose!” the fisherman’s voice suddenly sounded different as he shoved the Detectives away from him standing tall and erect.

“His voice!” Chang whispered to Tintin.

The old fisherman opened his eyes and in the dim light they looked as if they were glazed over with white.

“You! Hehehehe!” the fisherman laughed.

Suddenly everyone in the group was taken aback by the sudden power and change of the old man’s voice.

“What’s your name? What do you want?” Chang demanded.

“Joachim! You’re soul will be mine! Hehehehe!” the old man laughed.

“Sir if you don’t calm down we will arrest you!” the other patrolman suddenly said louder.

The old man laughed manically at the patrolmen as they both grabbed each of the old man’s arms, but was suddenly knocked back to the ground by an inhuman strength the old man suddenly possessed. The HM Officers were going to assist but Chang kept them back with a nod. Snowy continued circling the old man growling and showing his teeth keeping a short distance away.

“Answer my question demon!” Chang demanded.

The old man closed his eyes again wobbling on his feet.

“Continue on warrior of light… and you will find out… mustn’t keep the servants of the lord waiting…” the old man crumpled into a pile on the ground.

“What just happened?!” Officer Riley looked astounded and terrified at the same time.

“This is bad…” Chang looked at the old man realizing his fears were confirmed.

“What Chang?” Tintin pressed him.

“I can‘t believe what I‘m seeing…” Officer Jenkins said backing away from the old man taking his gun out.

Both the patrolmen got up in complete disbelief how an old man could display such strength for someone of his stature. The old man began to stir again slowly starting to sit up as everyone backed away to watch him from a safe distance. The old man opened his eyes and they were their original color.

“How did I end up on the ground?” he suddenly asked slowly with confusion.

Everyone regarded him strangely.

“Well?” he said getting back up on his feet picking up his belongings.

“You must have tripped over something” Tintin answered suddenly.

“Oh…well thanks for your help. If you don’t mind, I need to be getting home now” he said slowly walking away.

“Are both of you going to report this” Officer Jenkins asked.

“There’s no use…” one patrolman nodded.

“No one would ever believe us” the other finished.

“Precisely! That old man had some stamina to him!” Thompson commented.

“Too right you are Thompson!” his partner agreed.

“What’s this mean?” Officer Riley asked confused.

“They know we are coming” Chang said ominously.

“Then we better not disappoint them” Tintin said boldly.

“Will he do that again?” one of the patrolmen asked Chang.

“It’s doubtful…there must have been some evil influence nearby when he passed the Sea Serpent…I don’t fully understand it myself but it takes a lot of power for such a possession to take place” Chang explained.

“Nearby you say?!” Thompson looked a bit alarmed.

“Dear!” Thomson covered his mouth.

“So someone or something is watching us?” Tintin asked flabbergasted.

“It seems like it may be so” Chang shook his head.

“We will get the boat ready” Officer Riley said as he and Officer Jenkins returned back on the pier.

“Will you two be fine?” Tintin asked the patrolmen.

“As long as the old man doesn’t do that again” one said a bit shaken.

“This will knock him back to himself” the other patrolmen said taking out his club.

Tintin and his friends returned back to the pier to board their boat all four of them a bit unnerved.

“That was some trick that old man pulled” Thompson shook his head.

“Indeed, that was an amazing ventriloquist act and feat of strength!” Thomson agreed.

“That was no human feat Detectives that was…” Chang started to say but was cut off by Tintin nodding.

“It’s best you don’t go into too much details with them. We don’t want them to lose heart if all you say is true…and it unfortunately seems to be the case” Tintin declared.

"You've had your encounters with the strange and unusual before" Chang nodded remembering another one of Tintin's stories.

"Yes, the incident with the explorers, the mummy, and the crystal balls. If I didn't believe then I believe now" Tintin nodded.

“It seems like your dog is a good judge of character” Officer Riley commented.

“It’s not so much that, he’s always been able to sense ill intentions and I don’t always listen” Tintin said honestly.

Chang nodded as the officers finished untying the boat. Snowy lied uneasily at Tintin’s feet as they were in the steering room. They started the motor and back off into the bay they went

Chapter 48 (PART - B) end of chapter 48

Captain Haddock and Lucille dashed back to the car. Haddock took a look back towards the hospital tipping his hat. Haddock kept thinking back to all the times things could have went horribly wrong for Tintin and himself. Haddock knew Chester had every right to be angry, because he knew if it were Chester in his place and Tintin in Enzo's situation, Haddock knew his rage would know no bounds.

“I hope your little friend makes it buddy” he thought.

“Do you mind driving since you know the area better than I do?” Lucille asked handing Haddock the keys.

“No not at all” Haddock nodded as they got in the car. Haddock floored the pedal as they quickly returned to the bed and breakfast. When they arrived it appeared new guests were arriving.

“I’m going to get a couple items and I will return. Just wait here” Haddock said jumping out of the car dashing back into the bed and breakfast.

Lucille sat patiently as she took out an old book with a leather cover on it. It had her name printed on the top and a picture of a butterfly with a unicorn. She opened it up and began reading through the pages of text. Cocoa was running back and forth barking at everything and one moving around as new guests seem to be filling up all the rooms at the Sea Breeze.

“Calm down girl, it’s only guests arriving at the bed and breakfast” Lucille said calmly just looking around her quickly making sure no black robed men were watching her.

Ten minutes later something made her look out the window as she noticed an eccentric looking man with a long green coat, hat, and glasses getting out of a cab with a suit case. Cocoa began barking and wagging her tail panting. Lucille regarded him curiously at first and returned back to reading the leather book she took out of her bag.

“Cocoa, calm down!” Lucille looked at her strangely noticing the speed of Cocoa’s little fuzzy brown tail swinging back and forth behind her.

“Thank you so much sir!” Lucille heard the man say as the cab door shut. She looked up one more time to see the man wobbling into the entrance of the bed and breakfast with suitcase and umbrella in hand. Another thirty minutes passed and finally Haddock came out of the Sea Breeze. Haddock threw in a duffle bag similar to the one Tintin had in the back of the car.

“Is something wrong Captain?” Lucille asked without looking up from her book utilizing the last bit of twilight until she could no longer see the text and notes. Haddock got in and shut the door behind him and nodded.

“As a matter of fact, I could hear strange voices as I was in my room… I don’t know what kind of devilry this is but I don’t like it one bit” Haddock said strangely.

“Devilry you say?” Lucille closed her book.

“Yes, what kind of book are you reading? You’ve been reading it since I left?” Haddock wondered.

“It’s just my diary… I like to keep track of certain events” Lucille nodded putting her book back in her little satchel.

“Uh huh…” Haddock said starting the car pulling out of the parking space starting down the road.

“Where are we going?” Lucille asked curiously.
“To some acquaintances…” Haddock said vaguely driving as if he knew exactly where they were going.

“What kind of acquaintances?” Lucille asked specifically.

“Do you want to help find your husband?” Haddock returned with a question.

“Of course I do, but…” Lucille began to say.

“Listen lass, these men are not exactly the kind of men I would take my daughter or son to meet; alas I fear our options are limited and we have no choice” Haddock explained.

“Explain?” Lucille prompted.

“Thundering Typhoons lass, just do as I ask and say nothing. We need a ship to Dublin” Haddock explained vaguely.

“Why Dublin? Why not Belfast?” Lucille suggested.

“Because I’m sure they probably went to Belfast to begin with” Haddock said turning a sharp curve knocking Cocoa into Lucille.

“Hey careful! This is the only car Benton and I have” Lucille reminded him.

After twenty minutes of going up and down hills around the bay, Haddock parked the car at an old looking stone home. The sun was now setting and Haddock walked quickly through the yard which reeked of rotting fish. Lucille crinkled her nose in disgust.

“Remember say nothing” Haddock whispered to Lucille as he knocked on the door.

For a moment nobody answered, then they knocked another time suddenly getting a loud barking from the other side of the door. Another couple moments a light lit the dimly lit yard from the last of the setting sun.

“Yea! Who are ye and wat do ya want?!” an older middle aged man with salt and pepper hair replied in a testy tone.

“Tim Ballard!” Haddock shouted.

Lucille looked at both of the men as they stared each other down suspiciously until the other man raised an eyebrow in recognition.

“Oh yea old sea lion! Captain Haddock!” the man laughed.

“I thought you’d remember me you sea dog!” Haddock replied.

“What are ya doin’ in these parts of the world?! Come in!” he motioned Haddock as he walked in being suddenly inspected by a Great Dane.

“Down Scurvy!” Mr. Ballard shouted.
“Oh Haddock! Who is this…pretty little lass?! You dog, you went and got yerself a wife!?” he continued to laugh patting Lucille on the back then a little lower as she quickly moved away from him.

“No! She’s my daughter! And keep your hands off her now you hear?!” Haddock warned.

Mr. Ballard shut the door as Lucille carried Cocoa in her arms as Scurvy jumped up trying to smell Cocoa getting a deep growl from her as a warning.

The house was a wreck. Lucille noticed there were dirty dishes in the sink and half eaten food sitting in pots in the kitchen. The furniture was covered in clothes and other random materials while a little fuzzy black and white television gave just above a poor reception with large antennas.

Lucille almost laughed at the idea of having Haddock as a father but was realizing quickly that he and her father weren’t too terribly different.

“So Haddock, what brings ya here? Certainly it wasn’t for old times sake!” Mr. Ballard shook his stringy salt and pepper hair our of his face rubbing his mustache. He was a stocky man with a barrel chest. His clothes looked like they hadn’t been washed in some time. The smell inside the house wasn’t much more pleasant than that of the yard.

“Well Ballard, it seems you got me figured out!” Haddock quickly said getting down to business.

“Then what is it? I can’t do ya no favors without getting something in return Captain!” Ballard said immediately.

“Lucille walked next to Haddock with Cocoa as Scurvy kept trying to get to Cocoa until she snapped at the big Great Dane.

“Cocoa!” Lucille scolded.

“Come here Scurvy! Hehehe! Poor boy hasn’t had companionship in quite a while hehehe!” Ballard laughed with a sense of ribaldry.

“I need to get to Dublin” Haddock came out with it.

“Take a ferry…certainly ye can wait ‘til the morning’? You can stay here if ya like…does yer daughter have her a man yet?” Ballard went on.

“I’m happily married thank you!” Lucille was quick to answer.

“Drats!” Mr. Ballard pouted.

“We need to go tonight!” Haddock said urgently.

“Tonight!? It’s gonna cost ya! I have to get my ole mate to help me with the schooner; plus we have to work tomorrow, and this cuts into our 'drinking time'” Mr. Ballard mentioned.

“Which mate would that be?” Haddock asked curiously.
“Jake Yates” Mr. Ballard said.

“He’s still alive?!” Haddock asked in amazement.

“Of course, that dog is more like a cat who has nine lives he does!” Mr. Ballard went on.

“I thought he lost one eye and part of his left leg the pirate!” Haddock exclaimed.

“Ain’t nothing’ gonna keep ‘im down! He can still catch a fish better than any other man I take out with me!” Mr. Ballard vouched.

“Where is he?” Haddock asked.

“Oh Yates is staying in a camper behind me house” Mr. Ballard told him.

“How convenient, I’ll pay you half a sterling if you take me tonight” Haddock negotiated.

Tim Ballard spun around and narrowed his eyes, “You’ll have to do better than that Captain! Especially after I’ve heard about some of your recent exploits!” Mr. Ballard pointed out.

“A sterling, and not a penny more!” Haddock exclaimed.

“Ok ok…that’s better! Meet me down by my private dock below my house. Yates and I will be down there shortly once I get the dog up!” Mr. Ballard laughed. “Come on Scurvy!” Mr. Ballard shouted.

Captain Haddock, Lucille, and Cocoa retrieved their belongings from the car, but not before Haddock moved it down a block.

“I thought we were getting on their fishing boat at the dock?” Lucille replied.

“Do you want your car to still be intact when we return?” Haddock asked her a bit precariously.

“Yes…” Lucille nodded.

“Then by depths of the sea! Keep your head about you and do as I say lass!” Haddock advised.

“Calm down Captain, I am a grown woman” Lucille reminded him.

“Aye! But if you think Mr. Ballard is bad, Mr. Yates is much worse!” Haddock warned her.

“Oh!” Lucille said as they locked the car and began walking down the hill to Mr. Ballard’s dock.

“Yes, best to not even say anything to them to even make them think they have a chance in Hell…understand now?” Haddock patted her on the back.

“Very well” Lucille said putting Cocoa on the ground so she could follow them on her own.

“I never knew you had such charming friends…” Lucille said sarcastically.

“These aren’t my friends lass, when you work on the high seas you learn to befriend those with skill before anything else if you want to live” Haddock pointed out.

When they arrived at the dock, the fishing boat looked like four people was the maximum amount that it would seat comfortably. The boat was steered inside a small housed room that with all four of them in would be a bit tight.

The fishing spool had nets wrapped up. Buckets, fishing rods, and harpoons with all kinds of other various fishing equipment littered the boat. Thirty minutes later Mr. Ballard came down the hill with a lantern in his hand followed by another man wearing a long grey coat and hat. He used a crutch to slowly make his way down. When they got a closer look at him, he had reddish hair with a hint of white in it. He wore a patch over one eye and had his other pant leg where his foot and lower part of his leg should have been folded and sewn shut.

“Captain Haddock! You ole ugly sea lion!” Mr. Yates shouted.

“Aye Yates, but not as ugly as you!” Haddock acknowledged him.

“I hear yer givin’ Ballard here a whole sterlin!” Yates said almost accusingly.

“Yes” Haddock nodded.

“I want one too!” Yates folded his arms leaning on his crutch before they got on the boat.

“Are you trying to rob me blind? I don’t have two sterling on me!” Haddock complained digging in his pocket counting the coins he had.

“Well, we could take it out in trade… I’m out of whiskey!” Yates hinted.

“Are you crazy?! I’m not giving up my whiskey you bootlegging highwayman!” Haddock shouted.

“Well…” Yates looked at Haddock then looked at Lucille.

“Oh, well then it’ll cost ya a night with this fine lass ya got with ya!” Yates laughed.

“That’s my daughter you perverted swine!” Haddock yelled.

“Well Haddock it seems we’ve come at an impasse” Mr. Ballard folded his arms.

“You could sail this thing by yourself!” Haddock accused him remembering his skills.

“Aye, but I got to sail this tub back from Dublin alone?! Not happenin’ Captain!” Mr. Ballard said adamantly.

“So what will it be Haddock?” Yates said eying him comically winking his only eye at Lucille who held Cocoa as she continuously growled.

“Come on Captain surrender the Scotch, I know you have some stashed in your flask” Lucille said to him quietly.
“Oh not my Scotch!” Haddock complained.

“What’s more important? My husband and Fenton, or your Scotch?” Lucille asked putting it to him another way.

“Errr…fine!” Haddock said taking out not only his flask but half a bottle of Loch Lomond Scotch to Lucille’s amazement who only remembered the flask.

“Wow, Fenton said you liked Scotch, but I didn’t realize how much!” Lucille said with surprise.

“Good Captain!” Yates said taking the bottle, then reaching over for the flask trying to pry it out of the Captain’s hand.

“Let go you dog!” Yates said pulling harder until Haddock let go causing Yates to fall back on top of Mr. Ballard.

“Don’t let the Scotch hit the ground!” Yates shouted. Mr. Ballard caught the Scotch bottle in his hands but had Yates land on top of him.

“Get off me you Long John has been!” Mr. Ballard cursed.

“Be thankful it isn’t raining lass” Haddock whispered.

Lucille looked at both men with disgust but held her tongue as they were their ticket to following Tintin and the others. They got on the boat as Lucille sat down near the wheel inside as she opened a window to air out the little room.

“Ok Haddock! Ya may be a Captain and may have paid us a sterling and some Scotch, but yer still goin’ to help us sail our boat to Dublin!” Yates pointed out.

Haddock rolled his eyes, “Fine, then hopefully we’ll get there more quickly then!” Haddock complained taking off his coat handing it to Lucille. Cocoa sat at Lucille's feet guarding her.