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Whumptober Day 7: Trapped with the Enemy | Elevator (Biggles)
Continuing to use the Whumptober prompts basically as general prompts ... (I already wrote Algy & EvS in an elevator a while back for a different prompt fest.)
No. 7: “Tell me that you’re okay, and I’m fine.”
Trapped with the Enemy | Elevator | Pushed Beyond Breaking Point
Biggles & EvS, 1950s era, gen (570 wds)
When the doors of the Scotland Yard lift opened on the Air Police floor, Biggles rushed in, hands full of papers. Von Stalhein was definitely involved in this operation, he might even be in London still. "Sorry," Biggles mumbled, as he nearly collided with the gentleman in a sober dark suit who was already standing at the back of the lift. Biggles pushed the button for the lobby, and as the doors closed, he managed to shake off a little of his distraction and turned to apologize properly.
The words froze on his tongue.
There was a brief silence. The lift, a juddery old prewar-era beast, continued its glacial progress downward. Biggles almost regretted that they'd got rid of lift music some time ago.
His companion had been staring at the doors of the lift with chill blue eyes, as if willing them to open. Now, slowly, he turned to look at Biggles, who stared back at him, excitement racing down his spine.
Casually, von Stalhein unlaced his gloved hands from the head of his walking stick and began to reach for the numbers panel. Biggles, who was closer, just as casually moved the sheaf of papers he was carrying to block it.
"I see my luck is running as per usual," von Stalhein said grimly.
"As we've decided to dispense with the pleasantries, I find myself wondering what you might have been doing on the floor above mine." Biggles took him in swiftly: von Stalhein did not carry a briefcase. He wore a sober, plain suit, with a hat pulled low; had Biggles passed him in the lobby, he would scarcely have given him a glance. Still, there would be room within the pockets of his jacket for stolen documents, microfilm, a hidden camera...
"Do you plan to arrest me?" von Stalhein said stiffly.
"I have not witnessed you committing any crimes," Biggles said carefully, and von Stalhein gave a brief, harsh laugh, almost a cough. "Is there something you wish to confess to?"
Von Stalhein looked as if he was starting to respond when the doors opened on the lobby -- and Algy standing on the other side. "Oh, Biggles, just the man I hoped to see," he began, not even giving a glance to Biggles' companion. "We didn't find any evidence that you-know-who is in London this time, but Ginger is --"
Von Stalhein moved very abruptly, shoving past Algy and pushing him hard enough that Algy stumbled forward and slammed into Biggles. Algy exclaimed furiously, "Why I never, what's the matter with that fellow?" and then made another furious exclamation ("I say!") as Biggles pushed past him too, in such a rush that he nearly shoved Algy into the doors of the lift. Von Stalhein, moving with astonishing speed despite his limp, was already across the lobby and out the doors before Biggles, running, could reach them.
Biggles threw open the door and looked out at a pavement bustling with nearly identical dark suits and hats going in all directions.
"Are you off your head?" Algy demanded, reaching Biggles. He looked at him sharply, as Biggles continued to stare down the street, searching as if he could catch one of the many anonymous passing businessmen in a telltale limp. "What's the matter?" Algy asked, more calmly, touching Biggles' arm.
"Nothing too momentous, I hope," Biggles said, with a studied calm he didn't feel. "Tell me your news while we go upstairs -- to the floor above ours, if you don't mind, there are a few things I need to check -- and I'll tell you mine."
No. 7: “Tell me that you’re okay, and I’m fine.”
Trapped with the Enemy | Elevator | Pushed Beyond Breaking Point
Biggles & EvS, 1950s era, gen (570 wds)
When the doors of the Scotland Yard lift opened on the Air Police floor, Biggles rushed in, hands full of papers. Von Stalhein was definitely involved in this operation, he might even be in London still. "Sorry," Biggles mumbled, as he nearly collided with the gentleman in a sober dark suit who was already standing at the back of the lift. Biggles pushed the button for the lobby, and as the doors closed, he managed to shake off a little of his distraction and turned to apologize properly.
The words froze on his tongue.
There was a brief silence. The lift, a juddery old prewar-era beast, continued its glacial progress downward. Biggles almost regretted that they'd got rid of lift music some time ago.
His companion had been staring at the doors of the lift with chill blue eyes, as if willing them to open. Now, slowly, he turned to look at Biggles, who stared back at him, excitement racing down his spine.
Casually, von Stalhein unlaced his gloved hands from the head of his walking stick and began to reach for the numbers panel. Biggles, who was closer, just as casually moved the sheaf of papers he was carrying to block it.
"I see my luck is running as per usual," von Stalhein said grimly.
"As we've decided to dispense with the pleasantries, I find myself wondering what you might have been doing on the floor above mine." Biggles took him in swiftly: von Stalhein did not carry a briefcase. He wore a sober, plain suit, with a hat pulled low; had Biggles passed him in the lobby, he would scarcely have given him a glance. Still, there would be room within the pockets of his jacket for stolen documents, microfilm, a hidden camera...
"Do you plan to arrest me?" von Stalhein said stiffly.
"I have not witnessed you committing any crimes," Biggles said carefully, and von Stalhein gave a brief, harsh laugh, almost a cough. "Is there something you wish to confess to?"
Von Stalhein looked as if he was starting to respond when the doors opened on the lobby -- and Algy standing on the other side. "Oh, Biggles, just the man I hoped to see," he began, not even giving a glance to Biggles' companion. "We didn't find any evidence that you-know-who is in London this time, but Ginger is --"
Von Stalhein moved very abruptly, shoving past Algy and pushing him hard enough that Algy stumbled forward and slammed into Biggles. Algy exclaimed furiously, "Why I never, what's the matter with that fellow?" and then made another furious exclamation ("I say!") as Biggles pushed past him too, in such a rush that he nearly shoved Algy into the doors of the lift. Von Stalhein, moving with astonishing speed despite his limp, was already across the lobby and out the doors before Biggles, running, could reach them.
Biggles threw open the door and looked out at a pavement bustling with nearly identical dark suits and hats going in all directions.
"Are you off your head?" Algy demanded, reaching Biggles. He looked at him sharply, as Biggles continued to stare down the street, searching as if he could catch one of the many anonymous passing businessmen in a telltale limp. "What's the matter?" Algy asked, more calmly, touching Biggles' arm.
"Nothing too momentous, I hope," Biggles said, with a studied calm he didn't feel. "Tell me your news while we go upstairs -- to the floor above ours, if you don't mind, there are a few things I need to check -- and I'll tell you mine."
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