Chapter 11
A Flash in the Panto
Jack and Aleister studied the sinuous lines of the sinister ship before them. 'There doesn't seem to be anyone about,'Aleister noted, as he headed down the dock to the gangway. 'Just a minute, Al,' Jack followed after, surprised at his partner's careless temerity.
He found Aleister already in the yacht's cabin and what appeared to be the captain's study. Parsons was closely eyeing a wall map showing the topography of the area with markings along certain routes, as well as a large red circle sketched around Pankhurst.'No one's here, Jack. Look--'Aleister pointed to the inset map of San Franciso's city center.'See the itinerary uphill there? This obviously traces the route to Mendation's theatre.'
'We have to get there, now, and head them off!' Jack was just turning around when strong hands clamped chloroform-soaked bandanas about their faces and as a fog enveloped their senses, they sank down the wall to the bottom and knew no more.
. . . .
As the evening deepened, fog crept in from the bay like a silent stalking beast which devoured the hilltops as it quested inland. Emmeline and Alice were already in the theatre lobby sipping sherries and gazing about them at the colorful, convivial and rather eccentric crowd. Em noticed a few 'Oscars' -- gentlemen in green velvet suits with wide-brimmed hats in flattering imitation of the poet and playwright Mr. Wilde, even down to the carnations in their buttonholes. There were a few 'Jackys' there as well, young women in sharp suits and bowler hats, some smoking thin cigars, and some with dainty clay pipes which wafted an exotic, sweet and spicey scent over the crowd. A gay and electric ambiance reigned as people laughed and conversed in lively banter, some breaking into impromtu song, and even dance routines from some of the Jackys who were experimenting with a repetoire of their own;impersonating the great impersonator.
'Well now, what fashionable grace is here bestowed upon our old den of iniquity
then?'The two friends turned to see Ian and Stephen making their way to their side, sherries in hand.
'Oh, how lovely to see you both!' Em enthused. 'So you decided to take in the show after all!'
'How could we say no to Jacky,'Stephen said, as he glanced around, nodding to folk here and there.
'Everyone seems to know one another here,' Em noticed, scanning the brilliant plumage of the patrons.
'Aye, 'tis so--radiant birds of a feather, and that!'Ian agreed with a wink.'As a matter of fact, entre nous, ma cheris, we are rather well acquainted with some players in the Internationales!'
'And, with the Split Infinitives!' Stephen added, with a satisfied smile.
'Ooh, I have so wanted to see them for ever, I have!'Alice was alight with anticipation.' They are the opening act, Em, the comedy-acrobat team! I made doubly sure we would be here early, so as not to heaven forbid miss them!'
Just then the chimes sounded the herald-- 5-minutes to showtime! 'We must find our seats!'Em realized, as she and Alice gave the two genial gents quick hugs goodbye. 'I know you shall relish the evening's entertainment!' said Ian, with lusty emphasis on his 'relish'as he blew them a saucy kiss from the stairway and Stephen waved adieu.
'Em,'Alice put her hand on her friend's arm as they headed inside the theatre,'I think we are perhaps being followed!'
'Oh, Alice! Surely not! Not now! We'll miss the first act...'Em was intent on those seats, just two rows shy of front row center.
Alice sighed as she looked behind her in time to see a figure attempt to flatten itself against the wall behind a potted palm. A rather pudgy-faced man, very non-descript, Al had noticed was eyeing them from behind his programme whilst they were chatting with Ian and Stephen in the lobby. Well, he'd not be bothering them during the show, not in this crowd she decided.
After checking to make sure he'd located where Emmeline and Alice were sitting, Mr. Pudge hovered in the alcove just off the aisle. In his hand he held a box which he opened to reveal something glowing within with a greenish phosphorescence.
'Scuse me, sir, but you'll have to take your seat now, the show will be starting.' An
usher materialized beside him, urging him out of the aisle. Scowling, Pudge flipped the lid back on the mysterious black box and stalked back out into the lobby. When he was sure no one was looking, he scuttled back into the theatre and slipped behind the proscenium into the wings.
. . . . .
Meanwhile, in a dark and cold waterfront warehouse Jack's first thought was that he was not feeling himself at all;his head ached, he was dizzy, and he realized, he was definately not home in bed.
He lay on his side on a cold bare floor with his feet and hands tied and a gag in his mouth. It was night he guessed, although it was dark, he could discern some street light through the windows which were rather far upwards near the rooftop. He endeavored to sit up, which sent his head reeling and he nearly lost his lunch. He was able to lean back against a wall then and breathing slowly, he regained some measure of equilibruim. He heard a groan nearby. Aleister! It had to be!
He began to roll/crawl over to where he had heard the noise, at last he rolled into his friend who was similarly trussed-up and gagged.Aleister was awake and began pounding his boots on the floor. Maybe he had something there...Jack flopped over on his side and attempted to roll over with his back to Al, and now was able to reach with his hands behind him into Al's boot. Al scooted his boots down, and Jack felt that he was wearing a dirk in his sock. Good man. Why his captors had missed that one, he could only put down to haste. He worked the knife out and began sawing the ropes from Aleister's legs. Thus freed, Al came to his knees and leaned over onto the knife with his arms and Jack soon sawed through his wrist bonds. Al reached up and pulled out the noxious gag, spitting. 'Hang on Jack! I'll soon have you free!'
Parsons tore the gag from his friend's mouth first. 'Bleah!' Jack spat. 'Gods Al...where the hell are we? What bloody time is it?... I feel like hammered snake shit!'
Al was working on cutting Jack's ropes. 'Just half a tick, old boy...there!'He sat back on his heels, and felt for his pocket-watch;which looked to be of the age, but when he pressed the winding mechanism on top, it glowed in the dark. 'Dammitol! It's
nearly 11 p.m.! The show is nearly over...'
'We're on the docks, still.'Jack staggered to his feet, bracing himself against the wall. 'We could conceivably make it before the show's over, if we can get the hell out of here!'
The two men surveyed their surroundings, unable to find any egress, or even a crack in the wall showing any light that may be a door. 'Well, we have to move.' Jack looked up at the rafters at least 15 feet above them where the windows were. 'We have to get up there somehow.'
'Well, we have rope!' Aleister began gathering up their bonds. 'Some of it is still rather lengthy...' he strode to where a ceiling beam was outlined by the faint light from the windows above and after afew tries, managed to toss the rope over the beam.
'Nice of them to leave us this...!Up you go, Jack!'He tied a loop on the end and slipped the other through, pulling it up tightly about the beam. 'Seems sturdy enough to hold you!'
'We'll see...' Jack knotted the bottom end of the rope and began to pull himself up it whilst bracing himself against the wall with his boots.'Nearly there...' at last he was able to swing a leg over the ceiling beam and scoot himself over to the window... 'I think I can get it open, Al. It'll be quicker if you just follow me up and we both take the window out.'
'Easy for you to say...'Aleister mumbled to himself as he grabbed the rope and began to slowly trace Jack's vertical steps up the wall. Joining his friend above, Jack turned to him, 'I'll need your knife,'which he took and began to try and jimmy the window open. It was old, caked with rust and grime which he tried to stab through, pounding on the hilt 'til at last a creaking of metal gave way and inch by stiff inch the window opened enough for them to crawl out onto the lower roof.
At one end of the building they found they were able to leap onto a neighboring rooftop which held a fire escape. Heading down that, they made a last long leap onto the solid pavement.
'Well, now where are we?' asked Jack.
. . . . . .
The house lights came on to the roars of resounding applause and actual roars as well,
as Jacky Changeling, The Internationales, and the Split Infinitives all were taking their bows whilst the delighted audience kept tossing roses and many carnations onto the stage amidst whistles and calls of 'We love you, Jacky!' and even, 'Marry me, Jacky!'while Jacky blew kisses to all and waved like the Queen.Meanwhile in the balcony an impromptu rendition of 'The Internationale' began to take on a life of it's own and soon the entire theatre was singing along, with the players on stage joining in lustily as well. The crowd then linked arms or with hands on each other's shoulders began to sway in time to the music, so that when the final bars were heard--
'The Internationale...unites the human race!'everyone in the house was carried away on the tides of sisterhood, brotherhood and every 'hood in between, but all felt truly united with one another, if only for one magical Solstice evening.
As the crowd settled down, Em and Alice eyed one another smiling, with misty eyes, and headed out into the aisles with the happy throng which milled out into the lobby.
'That was absolutley the best show I've seen, ever!' Emmeline gushed fervently. 'We must go see Jacky to express our sincere appreciation!'
'Are you quite barmy my girl?'Alice asked with a tilt of her head.'Everyone and their
chee-wow-wow are heading to her, er his, dressing room now!'
'So!? That doesn't mean we can't join them as well...Come on, Al!'Em wheedled.
'Oh why not? It isn't as though anyone is waiting for us...'Alice agreed reluctantly, as they headed into the wings.
. . . . . .
Someone was waiting there for them. As they joined the small crowd of well-wishers standing outside of Jacky's dressing room, a pudgy-faced man sidled up behind them, holding what appeared to be a nondescript matte-black box. As he opened the lid, a greenish light appeared in the cracks on the top. Just then, Jacky's door opened allowing a rush of fans out while Emmeline and Alice took the opportunity to slide around them and in to see Jacky. The door was closed firmly in Pudge's face.
Jacky was seated at her dressing table, with her signature bowler hat off allowing her long black tresses to cascade freely down around her shoulders. As dapper and cocky a gentleman as Jacky Changeling was onstage, here in private, although she still wore her black suit, she seemed an elegant and almost regal woman. When she turned to greet the two ladies however, they could still discern that elfin and rather cocksure, mischevious dimpled grin that had so charmed all the girls and half the men there that night.
'Jacky Changeling, as I live and breathe!'Alice was reduced to a mere schoolgirl, with a schoolgirl's crush again.'I never thought I'd be standing here before you , in the flesh as it were! Alice Stein, one of your firmest fans, my dear!'
Jacky took Al's hand in a solid grasp,'I'm flattered, Alice, thank you!'she replied in her low, husky and deeply sexy musical voice.
'Oh, Jacky! I, too, was just saying to Alice, this is the best show I've seen!'Emmeline
bent to shake her hand in turn,'Emmeline Page! Al and I both work for the Pankhurst library back home!'
'Pleased to meet you, Emmeline!'Jacky took Ems hand and held it just a while. 'Librarians, eh? I always wondered what amusements librarians were partial to...'she grinned at them, whilst she cast a wink over her shoulder at a woman who stood next to her dressing table, and was arranging the many bouquets of flowers into vases and the odd bottle.
'Allow me to introduce Velvet,' Velvet bowed to the ladies. With her black velvet suit and dark eyes and hair she well complimented her sobriquet.
Abruptly there came the sound of a sudden din from outside the dressing room. Voices were raised and the sound of scuffling was heard just as door flew open and a pudgy-faced man was shoved out onto the floor by two men who rushed inside the room, slamming the door behind them. It was Jack and Aleister!
'Please excuse the intrusion!'Aleister exclaimed, looking rather the worse for wear. He then produced a black box which he held with both hands before him.'No time for explanations! We must go!--Now!'
As the clock from the cathedral outside began to chime midnight, Jack and Aleister took the arms of the astonished Emmeline and Alice. Em looked questioningly at Jack, he nodded reassuringly to her;and as Aleister opened the lid on the innocuous black box,
a flash of brilliant light engulfed the room,blinding everyone.
When Jacky and Velvet could see again, they found that they were the only ones there.
'...Librarians!' Jacky said, shaking her head.
. . . . . .
..to be enjoyed whilst sipping sherry and listening to the incomperable Grace Jones sing 'La Vie en Rose' ala Christine/Chrisophe alongside Tim Curry...
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