After a rescue
goes wrong, Penny invites Virgil to stay with her in England.
(Virgil often
seems to get overshadowed by his brothers, so here he’s got a
story all to himself. The first story I ever came up with –
though it was over 10 years before I ever wrote it down!)
The events in this
story take place 18 months after those of Sight Unseen and
contain spoilers for that story. Some readers may be surprised
by what I have done with Penny in this story. I know a lot of
writers link her to Jeff, but if Mouse can marry her off to
John (nice one, Mouse!) then I feel free to do what I have
done here.
MUSICAL NOTE: As this is Virgil’s story it comes with music attached (at the ends of chapters 4 and 7). A bar may appear at the
top of your screen asking if you want to run Windows Media Player. Click on this and you will be able to see the embedded players
in both places.
Standard
disclaimer. I acknowledge Carlton plc as the copyright holder
of the Thunderbird characters and I would like to thank Gerry
Anderson and his team for creating them. All biographical
details and dates taken from Chris Bentley's 'Complete book of
Thunderbirds'
Virgil
glowered at the grey English landscape spread out before him.
'Go to England', they'd said. 'you'll feel different there'.
Well, they were right about that. At home he had felt bored
and frustrated. Here he felt bored, frustrated - and cold. He
shivered as he wrapped the rug tighter around his legs. If
this was what it was like in July, then he was glad he wasn't
visiting in January. He glared again at the back end of the
horse that was pulling the small cart he was sitting on (Lady
Penelope had called it a 'dog-cart'), along the grassy lane.
The horse seemed determined to eat its way across the
countryside Virgil couldn't help reflecting that in the time
it had taken the creature to go a mile, Thunderbird 2 could
have covered half a continent. He wasn't at all sure he was
even heading in the right direction - if he was in Thunderbird
2 his instruments could pinpoint any spot on the planet within
six feet. As it was, he had to admit he was lost.
His
reverie was interrupted by a stern voice. "You shouldn't let
him do that, you know - it's very bad for him."
He turned
in his seat with some difficulty to look at the speaker. An
attractive young woman, of about his own age, with the fresh
complexion that the English seemed to wear as a trademark, and
wisps of tawny hair escaping from beneath a black riding hat,
was approaching on horseback. He eyed her slim figure
appreciatively and admired the expert way with which she
controlled her horse. Virgil was no expert on horses, but even
his untrained eye could see that putting her mount next to the
animal pulling his cart was like placing Thunderbird 1 next to
Alan's antique Tiger Moth.
"Sorry,
ma'am" he replied, "he doesn't seem to be taking any notice of
me. I guess I'm more used to horsepower than horses."
The young
lady was obviously surprised to hear Virgil's accent. "Are you
visiting near here?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm
staying with Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward."
Her face
broke into a smile. "Penny and I have been friends for years -
we were at school together." She extended her hand "Amanda
Leigh-Jones"
Virgil
offered his hand. "Pleased to meet you, ma'am. I'm Virgil
Tracy."
She looked
at him, "Virgil as in the poet?"
"Poet?" he
echoed.
"Latin
poet. Wrote The Aenead"
Virgil
shook his head. "Nothing so high-brow, I'm afraid. My father
named me after one of America's early astronauts."
"Well,"
she replied, "that's an illustrious namesake if ever I heard
one!" She looked at him again. "How long have you been in
England?"
"Just a
few days so far. But this afternoon Lady Penelope said she had
some sort of meeting at her house, so she suggested I went out
and got some fresh air."
"Oh the
committee meeting about the Parish fete and gymkhana! Yes, my
sister-in-law has gone to that - they'll be hours yet." She
looked at him closely, noting his pallor. "Why don't you come
back with me for some tea - then you can go back to Penny's
once the meeting is over. If you don't mind my saying so, you
look in need of a hot drink"
The idea
appealed to Virgil. He shivered slightly "I guess I'm just
used to it being a bit warmer at home."
"And where
is that?" queried Amanda.
"My family
live on an island in the south Pacific."
"Wow! That
sounds wonderful." Amanda looked around at the overcast skies.
"I suppose this all looks a bit drab in comparison." Taking
the reins of that pony trap from Virgil's cold fingers, she
led the pony along the track, and after a short journey they
stopped where a vista opened out before them.
"Here we
are," said Amanda, "Denbigh Hall."
Virgil
stared. He had always thought Lady Penelope's house was
enormous, but this was a castle, with battlements and a
drawbridge over a moat. "You live here?"
"No, I
grew up here, but it belongs to my brother now. I've got a
flat down on the south coast. I'm only visiting for a few days
because I'm having my kitchen re-done and I can't stand the
mess at home." She glanced at him, "It's not as old as it
looks, you know. This is just a Victorian idea of what a
castle should look like. The actual building is only about 200
years old, though of course there was an earlier house on the
site."
Virgil
smiled. 200 years old still sounded old to him.
Amanda led
them round the back, into what was obviously a stable yard.
She dismounted in one swift easy move. "We won't bother to
unharness the horses - I'll just loosen the girth on Tiger
Lily and put her in the loose box, and we'll put a blanket
over your pony." She turned towards Virgil, and was surprised
to see that when he pulled the rug away, that his right leg
was encased for the whole length in a plaster cast. "Oh, I'm
sorry, I never realised you were injured. Would you like a
hand getting down?"
Virgil had
slid from the seat onto the footrest, and was manoeuvring down
onto a pair of crutches. He looked at her. "You know, that's
been the nicest thing about our conversation so far. I've
spent the last half hour talking to someone who isn't acting
like they expect me to break apart any minute." He paused,
"Sorry, that sounded a bit rude, didn't it? I'm afraid I'm a
terrible patient - I've been driving everybody mad at home for
the last few weeks, so when Lady Penelope offered to have me
stay with her it seemed a good idea all round."
"I know
what you mean. I remember when my brother fell off his horse
and broke his wrist when he was eighteen. It was just at the
start of the cricket season and he was furious because he
couldn't play all summer. How did yours happen?"
"Oh, I was
climbing in the Italian Alps and got caught in a rock fall. I
also got concussion - though that's OK now - and a couple of
cracked ribs."
They went
through a door into the kitchen where a middle-aged woman was
working on some pastry. Amanda went up and gave her a hug.
"Cookie, I've brought a friend home. Be a dear and rustle up
some tea."
The older
woman turned to see the handsome young man swaying slightly on
his crutches. She noticed his pinched expression, and the dark
rings around his eyes. "Of course, Miss Amanda. Why don't you
go in the morning room? There's a fire laid in there and I can
send in some crumpets for you to toast. Your young man looks a
bit peaky to me."
Virgil
wasn't quite sure what 'peaky' meant, but followed Amanda
across a hallway that looked almost big enough to house
Thunderbird 2, lined with suits of armour and stags' heads
sticking out of the walls. They entered a smaller room, where
Amanda quickly knelt and lit the fire. She climbed to her
feet, dusting her hands. "I suppose I had better ring Penny in
case she starts wondering if you've got lost" She turned to a
vidphone of the wall and pressed some buttons.
Virgil
heard Parker's unmistakable tones. "Creighton-Ward mansion.
Oh, good hafternoon, your ladyship."
"Good
afternoon Parker. I presume Penny is still at her meeting?
Well, if she starts to worry just tell her that I found her
young American friend trespassing on the edge of our estate,
and I'll bring him back when I have finished with him."
"Very
good, your ladyship."
Just as
Amanda finished the call the door opened to reveal a butler
carrying a tray. "Your tea and crumpets, my lady."
Amanda
thanked him and he left. Virgil turned to her. "Parker called
you 'ladyship' as well," he said in a questioning tone.
She rolled
her eyes. "Butlers are such snobs! All right, my father was
the 8th Viscount Denbigh, my brother is the 9th, and that
makes me the Right Honourable Lady Amanda Leigh-Jones." She
paused and glared at him, "and try calling me that, Mr
Virgil-named-after-an-astronaut Tracy, and I shall break your
other leg!"
"Yes
ma'am, I mean no, ma'am," replied Virgil, grinning.
Amanda
picked up the teapot, then hesitated. "I've just realised I
should have asked - would you prefer coffee?"
Virgil
shook his head. "It's all right - I've learned to drink tea
when I'm in England. I just couldn't bear Parker's
disapproving glances if I asked for coffee!"
"Oh, so
this isn't your first visit, then?"
"No, I've
been over before, but usually just for quick business trips"
('with Thunderbird 2 concealed in the stable yard' he thought
to himself), "This is the first time I'll have stayed for any
length of time."
"What sort
of business are you in?"
"I'm an
engineer by training, but I work for my father. How about you
- what do you do?"
"I'm a
writer of historical romances - what are popularly known as
'bodice-rippers'. I don't write under my own name - the family
would have a fit. I go by the pen-name of Annabelle Lee."
"You're
Annabelle Lee?"
Amanda was
surprised at Virgil's reaction. "Don't tell me you've read any
of my books!"
"You're
one of Tin Tin's favourite authors. I think she must have all
your books." He saw her puzzled look, "Tin Tin is my brother
Alan's girlfriend. She lives with us on the island. Boy, is
she going to be impressed when I tell her this!"
By now
Amanda had toasted the first of the crumpets and passed it to
Virgil, who ate it with relish.
"You've
got a brother with you on that island as well, then?"
"In fact
I've got four brothers - but we're not all there at once."
"How did
you come to know Penny?"
"She
sometimes does some business with my father. How about you?"
"Oh, we
grew up together. She's a year older than me but I used to
follow her around at school. We were always getting up to
tricks. One time Penny phoned the school secretary, saying she
was from the telephone company and needed to test the line.
She made the poor woman repeat different phrases in French,
German and Spanish to see if the school was using the 'right'
sort of line for different languages."
Virgil
started to laugh, then pressed his hand to his side,
grimacing. "Ouch! I didn't realise how much it hurt to laugh."
Amanda
looked at him. "No, you don't look like you've done any
laughing for a while."
She was
about to go on when the door opened. "Ah, there you are
Amanda" said an older woman with a severe expression, "and
this must be Lady Penelope's house guest."
Amanda
introduced them. "Dorothy, this is Virgil Tracy. Virgil, this
is my sister-in-law, Dorothy."
Virgil
struggled to get to his feet. Pleased to meet you ma'am," then
hesitated, looking towards Amanda "er, is 'ma'am' enough?"
Amanda
laughed. "Ma'am will do fine." She looked at Dorothy. "Virgil
is trying to get to grips with addressing the English
aristocracy. But if you are back, then the meeting must be
over, so I'll take him back to Penny's now."
Virgil
said goodbye and she led him out of house to the stable yard.
"Sorry, but my sister-in-law always manages to rub me up the
wrong way. Now, shall I bring the trap round to the mounting
block so you can get on?"
With
Amanda leading the way again it was not long before they were
back at Creighton-Ward Mansion. Penny came out of the house to
meet them, and after Amanda had dismounted the two women
hugged each other.
"Amanda,"
said Penny, "I didn't realise you were back here - you should
have let me know!"
"Yes"
replied Amanda, with mock ferocity, "and you should have let
me know that you had a dishy young American staying with you.
Trying to keep him to yourself, are you? And he tells me there
are four others at home that you've never told me about!"
Virgil
smiled to himself. Their playful banter reminded him of the
way his brothers teased each other. Amanda turned to him "If
you haven't seen much of the area round here, why don't we all
go out for a picnic tomorrow? The forecast is good, and I
think you should see what the countryside can look like in the
sunshine."
So a time
was set for the following day and Amanda rode off, turning to
wave as she reached the bottom of the drive. Penny looked from
her to Virgil. 'Yes' she thought, 'that might just work.'
2.
Pastorale
The
following morning dawned bright and sunny. Amanda arrived
mid-morning in a shiny, yellow sports car, but after some
discussion with Penny the girls decided to hitch up the pony
trap instead and loaded a picnic basket in the back. To
Virgil's surprise, Penny declined to come. "Sorry, Virgil,"
she had said, "but I've got loads to organise for this
gymkhana. I'm sure Amanda will look after you."
They set
off down the drive, Virgil turning to wave at Penny. Amanda
looked at him. "Penny isn't your girlfriend, then?"
"Oh, no,"
said Virgil, shaking his head "she's just a friend of the
family. Though at one time I did used to think that she
fancied my brother Scott, but nothing ever came of it, and he
got married last year."
Amanda
kept the pony moving at a brisk pace as they drove across the
countryside, pointing out features of interest along the way.
After about an hour's drive, Amanda brought the cart to a halt
at the top of a small hill that gave a good view of the
landscape. As they settled themselves on the grass with the
view spread out in front of them, Virgil had to appreciate it
was certainly a beautiful spot, a contrast to both his island
home and the Kansas plains of his childhood.
Amanda was
interested to hear about his life, and he tried to describe
what days were like on Tracy island (the public version of
events at least) - how he and his brothers spent their time
evaluating and testing new designs for his father's company.
He pulled out his wallet. "I've got a photo of my brothers
here, if you want to see them," he said, passing across a
picture. "I should mention, though, we don't normally look
that smart - this was taken at Scott's wedding.". Virgil
thought about that day. Scott had insisted, for reasons he had
never made clear, that both John and Alan should be at the
wedding, so his father had put the space station on automatic
for the day. He had also taken the chance of bringing a
minister over from the mainland for the ceremony, and the
family had kept their fingers crossed. However, their luck had
held and no emergency calls had come in. Scott and Elizabeth
had dropped the minister back home after the reception on the
way to their honeymoon destination.
Amanda
looked at the photo with interest. In the centre a tall, dark
haired young man who bore a family resemblance to Virgil,
stood holding the hand of a stunningly beautiful, dark-skinned
girl. 'Poised' and 'elegant' were the words that came to mind
to describe her, and the way she was looking at Scott made
their love for each other plain. On either side of the bridal
couple were Virgil and three other handsome young men. "You've
all got quite a range of colouring between you," she observed.
"Yes," he
answered, "Scott and I take after my father."
"And I
suppose this one" She indicated the one with auburn hair,
"takes after your mother?"
"That's
right," said Virgil, surprised. "Her hair was almost the same
colour as yours. How did you know?"
She
laughed. "Us blue-bloods tend to know a bit about genetics. If
you take after your father, then the blond ones have to have a
recessive gene from each parent, and your other brother has to
get his colouring from your mother." She was just about to add
'It's that, or the milkman', when she hesitated, suddenly
realising something he had said. "Is your mother not around
any more, then?"
"No," said
Virgil, "she died when I was seven - in a plane crash."
"Oh, I'm
sorry - and what a terrible age for it to happen."
He looked
at her 'You mean there's a good age?"
She shook
her head, "No, I don't suppose there is." She held out the
photo again, "So tell me more about your family."
Over lunch
(the picnic box contained cold chicken, fresh bread and a
small bottle of chilled white wine) they chatted about their
families. Amanda told him how her father had died some years
before, and her mother had remarried and now lived in
Scotland. Amanda went on the describe how she had taken up
writing soon after leaving university, when her first novel
had become an overnight best-seller - much to her families'
disgust.
After
lunch was over, Amanda looked over to where Virgil was resting
in the warm sunshine. He seemed to be finding it hard to keep
his eyes open. "You look a little tired." she observed, "Why
don't you have a nap?"
Virgil
tried to smother a yawn. "If you don't think it rude of me - I
think I'm probably still a bit jet-lagged."
"No
problem," she replied "I can always get on with some notes for
my new novel."
A while
later Amanda looked over to where Virgil lay, half propped up
on one of the cushions from the cart. He seemed to be having
some sort of bad dream, his head was shaking from side to side
and his limbs moving restlessly.
Suddenly
he sat up. "RUN, Scott!" he yelled. Amanda moved over to him
and took hold of his arms. He looked round wildly. "My
brother! Where is he? Is he alright? Was he hurt? Please, tell
me!" His eyes were wide open with fear, and he was looking
around, but some instinct told Amanda that he was still in the
middle of his nightmare. Shaking him seemed to get no
response, except to make his calls even more frantic. In a
moment of inspiration, she leaned forward and kissed him hard,
on the lips. As she drew back, he blinked, his eyes seeming to
focus on her for the first time. "You - you kissed me!" he
exclaimed.
"Yes," she
said, gently releasing him back onto the cushions. "You were
having a nightmare and it was the only way I could get your
attention."
"Well, it
worked." He seemed to hesitate. "What was I saying?" he asked,
warily.
"You were
trying to find out if your brother was injured. Is this to do
with your accident?" she asked, touching the cast on his leg.
"Yes" he
said in a small voice, "I can't stop dreaming about it."
"You know,
maybe you should get some counselling."
"No way!"
he answered sharply, then added, "Sorry, but it's not really
an option."
"OK, I
know some people don't like the idea of counselling, but you
need to do something. The memories are there - you don't like
to think about them, but they are always there, aren't they?
When you close your eyes at night they come back to you. You
try not to sleep because when you do, they're in your dreams,
and they will keep on haunting you until you deal with them."
By now
Virgil was gazing at her in amazement. "How do you know all
this?"
"You think
you're the only one ever to have had a traumatic accident?
When I was 18 I was in a car coming back from a party. We'd
all had a bit to drink, including the driver. I was in the
back seat with a couple of my friends. I don't know exactly
what happened but the car tipped over. The girl in the front
passenger seat was killed. For months after that I would dream
of the car rolling over, and the screams in my ears. It took
months of therapy for me to be able to come to terms with it."
She looked at him, "If you like I can tell you some of the
techniques that the therapist taught me."
"Yes,
please, if you think it will help."
She
settled herself down comfortably. "Well, I was told that the
images come in your dreams only because you don't let yourself
think of them consciously. So you pick yourself a time and
place where you can relax, or you imagine yourself in a place
where you feel comfortable, and then you think of the images
that are scaring you. You then try to distance yourself form
the images - think of yourself watching them on a tv screen,
as if you are watching a movie; put it in black and white,
like an old film, play music in the background. All this is
known as 'desensitising'. Do it often enough and the images
won't hold any fear for you any more."
"Thanks,"
he said, looking at her thoughtfully "I might just give that a
try."
Amanda
looked around, "Shall we pack up here? I can take you back a
different route so you can see more of the countryside."
Once they
were back at Creighton-Ward Mansion they made their way to the
drawing room where they found Penny. Virgil limped in on his
crutches and sank into an armchair. "That's better," he said.
"You may get good views from that cart, but it's not the most
comfortable vehicle I've been in!"
Both girls
laughed, then Penny noticed Amanda touch the corner of her
mouth and draw her finger across to her ear. "Amanda," she
said, "could you be a dear and help me put the dog-cart away?
It's Parker's afternoon off and there's rain forecast, so I'd
like to get it under cover."
"Of
course, Penny," said Amanda and followed her out of the room.
"We'll be back in a minute, Virgil."
On their
way through the kitchen, Penny turned to her friend. "Right,
you said you wanted 'a word in my ear'. I haven't seen that
signal since we were at school. What's up?"
"I just
thought you should know. Virgil fell asleep after lunch today.
He woke up screaming." Amanda looked at Penny. "You don't seem
surprised."
Penny
shook her head. "I'm not. To tell you the truth, his father is
far more worried about his mental state than he is about his
physical injuries - that's why he was sent here." She looked
at Amanda for a long minute. "I shouldn't really be telling
you this, but you're an old friend, and I know I can trust
you. There are more to that young man's injuries than he, or
I, can tell you about, but I can tell you that that is one
very brave young man, and one you would be proud to know."
"Why,
Penny!" exclaimed Amanda, "how mysterious! Don't worry, my
lips are sealed."
3. Scherzo
The
following morning the rain had already set in, with a slow
drizzle that looked determined to last all day. Amanda arrived
and drove round to the stable yard, but as she climbed out of
the car she heard her name being shouted from the tack room.
She hurried across the yard and looked in to see Virgil with a
pile of harnesses on the table in front of him.
"Virgil!"
she exclaimed, "what an earth are you doing?"
He gave a
sheepish grin. "I was getting bored, so I asked Parker if
there were any jobs I could help with, and he gave me this to
do."
"Cleaning
tack! That's what we used to be given as a punishment! Here,
let me give you a hand." She pulled up another chair and
reached for the bottle of polish.
Virgil
watched her work and grinned. "Judging from your expertise,
I'd say you got a lot of 'punishment duties'."
She pulled
a face. "Penny was a bad influence on me - we were always
getting into trouble for one thing or another." Over the next
hour she proceeded to recount a series of pranks that
eventually had Virgil holding his injured side and begging for
mercy. Some of the escapades would have even aroused Gordon's
admiration, and Virgil made a mental note never to tell his
younger brother about this new side to Lady Penelope. The last
thing they wanted was a game of one-upmanship on Tracy island,
and though Virgil presumed the aristocrat had now grown out of
such pranks he knew darn well that his brother hadn't.
As they
worked and chatted, Virgil discreetly studied the young lady
sitting opposite him. The first couple of times they had met,
she had been wearing her hair in a pony-tail. Today she wore
it loose, pushed back with a hair-band. It was slightly darker
than Gordon's, and was matched by the row of freckles that
spread lightly across her nose and cheek bones, under her
dancing green eyes. He wondered if he should tell her that she
had a smudge of polish on the tip of her upturned nose, but
decided against it - he thought it looked kinda cute. Suddenly
he realised that she had asked him a question.
"Sorry,"
he said, "I didn't quite catch that."
"I asked
if you were a member of the CIA, or the FBI?"
"No," said
Virgil, wondering where this had come from, but deciding to
keep the mood light, "nor, for that matter, M15, the KGB or
the French Foreign Legion - though, of course, if I did belong
to any of those, I would still have to tell you I didn't. What
made you ask that?"
"Oh, just
something Penny said." Virgil frowned, wondering what Lady
Penelope could have been thinking of, but Amanda continued on.
"Did you know that Penny's great-great-grandmother was a spy
for the French Resistance in the Second World War? I often
think Penny would have liked to be like her."
"No," said
Virgil, "I never knew that." ('but I see now where she gets it
from' he thought to himself.)
Just then
Parker appeared with a large umbrella. "Luncheon his being
served hin the Music Room.," and using the umbrella, escorted
the guests into the house.
After
cleaning up, they entered the music room to find Penny seated
with a plate of sandwiches and drinks. "There you are, Virgil.
I gather Parker has been keeping you occupied this morning. I
thought we'd have lunch in here then we can look out over the
rose garden - they are looking so pretty at the moment." She
paused a moment and looked at him, "Then maybe after lunch you
might like to play the piano for Amanda."
"Oh, do
you play?" asked Amanda, eagerly.
"Well,"
said Virgil, "I'm a bit rusty. I haven't played since my
accident. When I tried before I found it was making my ribs
hurt."
Penny knew
full well that Virgil hadn't been playing. This was one of the
things that was worrying his father, who knew how music acted
as a release for his son's feelings. Penny was counting on the
fact that Virgil wouldn't refuse to play in front of a guest.
After he
had finished eating, Virgil made his way to the piano and sat
down, flexing his fingers. He tried a few scales with his
right hand, while his left pressed against his injured side.
"Doesn't feel too bad," he observed, half to himself, then
turned to his audience, "Well, I can't promise anything
spectacular, but any requests?"
The two
girls looked at each other, then Penny said, "No, just play
whatever you feel like, dear boy."
Virgil
started with Moonlight sonata and then went on to Clair de
Lune. Then, with a small smile in Penny's direction he started
on a piano version of Cas Carnaby's Dangerous game. Amanda was
surprised to hear Penny singing softly beside her. She turned
to her friend "I didn't know there were any words to that
tune."
"There
aren't - officially," replied Penny, "This is something Virgil
wrote for me once."
When he
had finished, Amanda applauded. "Well, if that's how you play
when you're a 'bit rusty' then you must be brilliant
normally." She paused, "I've just realised, I'm going to a
'Prom' concert tomorrow night - my uncle and aunt are using
our family box. It's a 'Russian' night and one of the pieces
is a piano concerto. Would you like to come along? They told
me I could bring a friend if I wanted."
Virgil
looked puzzled. "Is that like a High School Prom? I'm not
exactly up to dancing at the moment, you know."
Both girls
laughed. "No, Virgil," explained Penny. "the Proms are a
series of concerts held every summer at the Royal Albert Hall
in London. All the seats are taken out of the centre of the
hall so the audience can stand and watch the orchestra. But
don't worry, the boxes around the sides of the auditorium have
seats, so you won't have to stand."
Amanda
continued, "The Albert Hall was built in a rather unusual way.
Money was raised by people buying leaseholds on boxes for a
specified number of years. Our family has a box whose lease
still has another 30 years to run. We don't use it much, but
my aunt likes Tchaikovsky, so she's going to this particular
concert."
"Sounds
great!" said Virgil, "I'd love to come - if it's OK with your
relatives."
"Fine,
I'll go and ring them now."
4. Largo
Two days
later, Penny was on the phone to Jeff, "I think we might have
made a breakthrough here, Jeff," she said. She paused,
recalling Amanda's description of the previous evening - how
Virgil had sat for most of the first part of the concert
leaning over the edge of the box, watching the musicians
below, and the antics of the Promenaders. At the start of the
second piece (Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No.2) he had kept
his eyes fixed on the pianist. She had looked at him again
during the second, slow movement to see that he was resting
his chin on his hands and his eyes were half shut. At the end
of that movement he had heaved a great sigh 'Just as if'
Amanda had said, 'a great weight had slipped from his
shoulders.' Penny continued "All day he's been at the piano
trying to play the piece he heard last night."
"Well, get
it for him then!" exclaimed Jeff.
"We've
already ordered it - it should be here tomorrow."
"Great. Do
you think it worth my sending some more of his music over, and
his backing machine?"
"I don't
see why not - it can't do any harm. But, Jeff, it's just
lovely to have a glimpse of the 'old' Virgil again, instead of
that morose young man who arrived here."
"He's not
giving you a hard time?" queried Jeff. Virgil didn't often get
bad moods, which was why the change since his recent injury
had been so worrying.
"Don't
worry, Jeff, it's nothing I can't cope with." She paused, "and
my old friend Amanda seems to be helping a bit too."
"Oh?" he
raised an eyebrow, "anything going on I should know about?"
"I don't
know, Jeff - too soon to say. I think they're just enjoying
each other's company at the moment." She looked round, "I can
hear him coming down the stairs, so I'd better go. Good night,
or rather, good morning in your time!"
Click the MediaPlayer for the Shostakovich Piano Concerto:
5. Allegro
Vivace
As the
days passed, Virgil was indeed improving. He had never
realised before his accident how much life on Tracy Island
revolved around some physical activity or another. When they
weren't doing maintenance on their machines the boys would
usually be swimming, playing tennis, working out in the gym or
doing some form of physical exercise. Just sitting there
watching his brothers race around had been frustrating,
especially when he found he couldn't even play his precious
piano, and he had sunk into a black mood. Here in England,
Penny and Amanda between them were doing their best to keep
him occupied. Amanda seemed to have given up on the idea of
returning to her flat, saying she couldn't face the mess she
would find when she got there.
He was
sleeping better, though whether this was because he was tired
from the day's activities, or because he was practising
Amanda's mental exercises, he could not tell.
On good
days they would take the pony trap out. Virgil had been
horrified to discover over breakfast one morning that the pony
actually belonged to the Duchess of Royston. "She won't be
coming here, will she, Penny?" he said, in an alarmed tone,
"She might recognise me."
"Don't
worry, dear boy," she reassured him, "Deborah's doing a
lecture tour in America for Gambler's Anonymous - going down
quite well from what I hear." She looked at his expression.
"This is more than worry over being recognised, isn't it? I
know she can be a bit formidable at times"
Virgil
grimaced. "That's a one word for it. You didn't have to ride
in the Mole with her. And then when we got back to TB2 she
wanted to sit on the flight deck - said she never travelled in
'standard class accommodation'!"
Penny
laughed. "That sounds just like Deborah."
They had
visited art galleries, and a piano museum run by a
friend-of-a-friend of Amanda's where Virgil (having
demonstrated his skills on a baby grand) had a fascinating
afternoon playing some of the old instruments such as a
harpsichord and a clavichord. On another day Amanda took him
to a medieval cathedral, where his engineering expertise had
been impressed by the craftsmanship of those who had built
such huge structures in a pre-machine age. They had also
attended other concerts, including a gala to raise funds for
the victims of the recent earthquake in Florence.
One
morning, Amanda arranged to pick him up slightly earlier than
usual, saying they had a long drive ahead.
"Where are
we going?" he asked as he climbed into the car.
"I'm
taking you to see Stonehenge. I think you'll be impressed."
'Impressed' wasn't the word. Virgil had seen pictures of the
ancient structure before, but that was nothing to compare with
standing next to it, and putting his hand on one of the
roughly hewn stones. He had visited the pyramids in Egypt, and
Mayan temples, but those had been built by civilised
communities. The idea that this structure had been raised by a
society that didn't even have a written culture staggered him.
Amanda touched him on the shoulder. "I thought you'd like it,"
she said.
He looked
round at her. "I'm just trying to calculate how much power it
would take to lift
one of
those lintel stones." In fact he knew exactly how much power
it would need. His hands clenched on the handles of his
crutches as if they were the throttle controls of TB2, ready
to move them just the right amount. His craft was one of the
most advanced on the planet, and even she would find it an
effort to lift one of these stones, yet these people had done
it with ropes and frames. He shook his head in wonderment.
On the way
home he remained lost in his thoughts. Amanda smiled, and put
the radio on.
As they
were nearing home the announcer's voice came on. "This is the
news from the BBC. Earlier today International Rescue were
called to an oil refinery in Morocco where six of the workers
had been trapped in a fire. All were rescued.
('I hate
oil refinery fires' thought Virgil. 'Dirty, smelly job. Can be
tricky too. Sounds like Gordon managed it OK')
"-tional
rescue craft nearly needed rescuing itself when it was seen to
collide with a pylon when coming into land. Today the Prime
Minister visited ..."
('What!
That damn fool kid brother of mine. If he's damaged my
Thunderbird I'll have his guts! Probably too busy thinking up
his next scam to look where he's going. Just wait till I get
my hands on him. Wonder if Dad would let me pilot again yet.
My head's OK now, and my side. I could stay in the cockpit and
let Gordon do the running around. The only problem would be
the rudder - I wonder how much feeling I've got through this
cast?')
He looked
down at the pedals of Amanda's car. "Hey, Amanda, any chance
you would let me have a go at driving this thing?"
"Of
course, Virgil, once you're out of your cast I'd be glad to."
"No, I
mean now."
"You can't
mean it?"
"Yes, I
do. I've got to know if I can do this. Stop the car, please."
"Virgil,
don't be silly! We're on a public road here." She glanced at
him. "You're serious about this, aren't you? Look, once we've
turned into Penny's drive I'll stop and you can try there,
OK?"
On
arriving at the Creighton-Ward Mansion, Amanda stopped just
inside the gate and got out. Virgil came round and climbed in
the driver's seat. At his first attempt to set off he stalled
the engine. On the second the car surged forward with a roar -
straight into the middle of a rose-bed.
"Virgil!
That's enough. Get out now!"
Virgil
climbed out, a scowl on his face. "If I've scratched the car,
don't worry, I'll pay for it."
"It's not
the car I'm worried about, it's you - and Penny's flowerbed.
Get back in the passenger seat and let's have no more of this
nonsense."
They drove
the rest of the way to the house in silence. As they pulled
up, Penny ran down the steps to meet them. "Virgil, your
father phoned earlier - just to let you know that everything
is fine at home."
"I want to
talk to him now!" Virgil demanded angrily, climbing out of the
car.
She looked
at him, conscious that Amanda was also listening "I think
they'll probably still be asleep now. I gather from something
your father said that they'd all had a busy day. He said he'd
call again tomorrow and talk to you then."
Virgil
scowled, and turned to climb the steps into the house,
muttering "Can't a guy ever get to do what he wants round
here?" and disappeared inside without even a glance in
Amanda's direction.
Amanda
watched him go, a hurt expression on her face. Penny turned to
her and rolled her eyes, saying the only thing she could think
of to explain his behaviour. "Men!" She turned to Amanda,
smiling to cover what was proving to be an awkward moment.
"Would you like to come in for some tea?"
"No,
thanks, Penny, I'd better be getting back. Oh, and I'm afraid
we damaged one of you rose-beds near the front gate, sorry."
Then she got back into the car and drove off, not even
bothering to return Penny's wave.
Supper was
a subdued affair. Later that evening, as Virgil was getting
ready for bed his wristcomm bleeped. It was Scott. "Hi, there,
little brother. Sorry we missed you earlier. I presume you
heard the news?"
Virgil
nodded. "Yes. What happened?"
"It was
nothing really. It was just that some reporter was hacked off
because we wouldn't let him film, and decided to make a big
thing of it. Remember when you were trying to land on Ocean
Pioneer II and hit the aerial? Well, it was no worse than
that."
"Hey, that
was in thick fog!"
"Yes, and
today the visibility was obscured by smoke from the fire. Give
the kid a break, Virg, he's doing OK. We've checked over your
Thunderbird and there's no harm done."
"Well,
that's a relief. Anything else happening at home?"
"Not much
since the last time I called. Lets see, Tin Tin and Elizabeth
have been shopping again - why girls need so many clothes
beats me." Both brothers laughed. "What else? Oh, yes, Brains
is trying to teach Braman how to play table tennis."
"He's
doing what?" said Virgil, laughing again.
"He says
it will improve Braman's motor skills, or something. Oh, and I
think Gordon's working on some prank for when you get back
"Thanks
for the warning, big brother, I'll be on my guard."
Scott
looked at his brother. "It seems awfully quiet here without
the piano going all day."
"Well, I'm
getting some practice in here, playing for Penny and Amanda."
"How are
you getting on with your new ladyfriend?"
Virgil
looked embarrassed. "I think she's a bit hacked off with me at
the moment. I managed to drive her car into the middle of a
flowerbed this afternoon." He gave Scott a quick summary of
the afternoon's events.
"You're
kidding! Virgil, did you honestly expect that Dad would let
you fly TB2 with your leg in plaster? That crack you had on
the head must be more serious than we thought!" He grinned to
show that he was joking.
"Yes, I
suppose I wasn't thinking very clearly at the time. I shall
have to apologise to her in the morning."
"Yeah, you
do that."
"Oh, that
sounds like 'married man' talking. Elizabeth got you
well-trained, has she?"
Scott gave
a sly grin. "It has its compensations, little brother, believe
me."
Virgil
stifled a yawn, "Well, it's been a long day here, so I think
I'll hit the sack. Talk to you again soon. G'night!"
6. Allegro
con Brio
The
following day Penny came back into the house, having been out
to discuss the damage to the rose-bed with the gardener. She
paused as she entered the hall, hearing the sounds coming from
the music room. She recognised the first movement of Grieg's
Piano concerto, but never before had she heard it being played
with such - well 'fury' was the only word to describe it. A
comment Scott had made once when she was visiting the Tracy
family came back to her 'You can always tell what mood Virgil
is in from the way he plays.' Well, judging from this, he was
absolutely livid. She hesitated with her hand on the
door-knob.
"Er,
m'lady,"
She turned
as she heard Parker's voice, and indicated the music room with
a nod of her head. "Parker? Do you know what is wrong with our
guest?"
Parker
hesitated, "Er, hy think there 'as been some problem with the
Lady Hamanda."
The music
was just building to a crescendo as she slipped in. Virgil sat
at the piano, his face as black as a thundercloud, pounding at
the keys. As the first movement came to a close, Penny moved
forward. "Bravo! Virgil darling, that was breathtaking. But
do, please, have some consideration for the poor piano - it's
a good deal older than you are."
Virgil
looked up at her. "She's gone, Penny."
"Who's
gone?" though she knew exactly who he meant.
"Amanda. I
went to call her this morning and she's left - gone back to
her own home."
"And
you're surprised?"
"What?"
Penny
hadn't thought Virgil's scowl could get any deeper, but it
did. She put her hands on her hips. "Honestly, you Tracy men!
I can see why Tin Tin gets so exasperated with you all. You
fly all these wonderful machines, you rescue people from the
brink of death, but when it comes to other people's feelings,
you just don't have a clue, do you? Amanda's spent the last
couple of weeks keeping you amused, and yesterday, after a
perfectly lovely day out, you throw a tantrum on the way home
for no reason, nearly wreck her car, then storm off into the
house without even saying 'good-bye' and now you're surprised
she's had enough of you?"
"I had a
very good reason yesterday!" protested Virgil.
"Yes, dear
boy, I know that and so do you, but what does Amanda see? Some
spoilt rich man's kid throwing a wobbler because just for once
he can't have what he wants?"
Virgil
opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again. He let out a
deep breath. "I blew it, didn't I?"
"Yes, you
blew it - big-time, as you Americans say."
He turned
to her, despair on his face. "What can I do, Penny?"
"Well, you
can start by apologising."
"OK, I'm
sorry."
"Not to
me, idiot." She raised her eyes heavenwards "Men!" Then she
turned to Virgil again. "Hang on, I've got her number
somewhere. You can use the 'phone in the library, it'll be
more private."
That
night, as Virgil lay in bed, he thought back over the day's
events. When he had rung Amanda he had got an answering
machine, and it didn't feel right apologising to that, so at
Penny's suggestion he had ordered some flowers. (The note had
said 'Forgive me - PLEASE!!! - Poet') but as yet he had not
had any response. He wondered if Amanda was still mad at him.
That
night, in his dreams, he found himself again in familiar
surroundings. He tossed and turned in his sleep, knowing what
was going to happen, but unable to stop it. Again he stood in
a rubble strewn street, with smoke from various fires drifting
overhead. Again he felt the tremor beneath his feet and
watched as the wall in the distance began to topple over. But
this time the figure standing under that wall, oblivious to
the danger, was not his brother Scott, but Amanda. He tried to
run towards her but he couldn't move his leg. He looked down
to see that it was pinned under one of the lintel stones from
Stonehenge. He would need to calculate how much thrust was
required in order to move it. His hands reached for the
throttle controls of Thunderbird 2 - and suddenly he was
sitting up in bed, drenched in sweat and breathing hard. He
leaned back against the bed-head, pushing the damp hair back
off his forehead, trying to slow his breathing and steady his
nerves. He shook his head, trying to sort out the vivid dream
images - what the heck did all that mean?
Virgil
looked at his watch - just after 2 a.m. - that would make it
mid-afternoon at home. His hand hesitated over the call
button, then dropped. Scott could add up just as well as he
could, and would want to know why his younger brother was
calling home in the middle of the English night. Virgil was
aware that the main reason he had been packed off to Penny's
was because his father had found out that Scott had been
spending nights sleeping in a chair in Virgil's room because
of his brother's nightmares. It had worried Virgil too: as
well as being aware he was not there on rescues to watch
Scott's back, he also knew there was more risk of mistakes if
Scott was tired when he went out on a mission.
He rubbed
his temples, realising he was too keyed up now to try to get
back to sleep. He would have liked to go downstairs and play
the piano, but the music room was under Penny's bedroom, and
he didn't want to risk waking her: Also he was aware that
there might be burglar alarms on the house - something the
Tracys didn't have to worry about on their island home. Well,
there was one last resort: He leaned over to the bedside table
and picked up the sketch pad and pencils and began to draw.
Soon he was absorbed in his work.
7. Legato
The
following morning Virgil shut himself away in the
conservatory. His family had sent over his painting gear in
the same parcel as his music, and Penny had offered him the
use of the conservatory, where the light was good. He had been
working for a couple of hours when Parker appeared to tell him
he was wanted on the 'phone, and showed him into the library.
Amanda's
face looked out of the vidscreen. "Hallo, Poet," she said with
a smile. "I just called to thank you for the lovely flowers."
She looked closer and pointed to his cheek. "What have you got
on your face?"
He rubbed
it, and looked at his hand. "It's paint. I'm making you a
present to apologise for the way I behaved - it was going to
be a surprise, but never mind. I'm sorry I lost my temper like
that the other day - it doesn't happen very often." He paused,
"Are you coming back?"
She looked
at his hopeful expression. "I won't be back just yet - I've
got to go and see my publisher, and there are a few other
errands I need to run, but I'll be at Lady Fortescue's party
on Friday - you're going to be there, aren't you?"
"Yes, I
think so. Penny seems to think she can hire me a suit with one
leg cut off."
"Well, you can't be the only man to want to go to a party with
a broken leg, so I'm sure the hire firms must cater for it,
and Philippa's parties are always fun - they're one of the
high points of the season.. See you Friday then. Bye!"
Virgil
returned to his painting in a much lighter mood. Right, he had
two days to finish this - he had better get a move on.
Friday
afternoon Penny returned from a shopping trip to hear piano
music being played. She paused, trying to judge the mood. The
music was the Warsaw concerto - plenty of emotion there,
certainly, but none of the desperation of the other day. She
entered the room quietly, though looking at Virgil's absorbed
expression she realised he probably would not have noticed if
she had come in at the head of a brass band in full swing.
The music
drew to a close and he sat there for a minute, lost in his
thoughts. He looked up with a start as she spoke. "That was
beautiful, dear boy." She paused, "Is the painting finished,
then?"
"Yes, it's
drying now."
She came
towards him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Gosh, you're
tense." She started to rub his shoulders. "All that emotion
from the music seems to have ended up in your muscles."
He relaxed
under her ministrations. "Oh, that feels great. I'd better not
let the other boys know you can do this or you'll never get a
moment to yourself next time you visit us."
She paused
for a minute "You're missing Amanda, aren't you?"
"Yes" he
answered. "I hadn't realised how much I was enjoying her
company until she went away." He paused, then, deciding to
risk it, asked a question he had wondered about for a long
time. "Penny, how come you've never married?"
"Well,
like I said earlier, you Tracys aren't very good when it comes
to recognising other people's feelings."
"Are we
talking about Scott here?"
She paused
in her task. "He never seemed to notice me."
"Well, he wasn't pulling you out of a pile of wreckage."
"Hah! If I'd known that was all it would take I would have set
fire to this place years ago." She moved round to sit beside
him. "I missed my chance, Virgil. Not everyone is lucky enough
to get a second one."
He nodded.
"I know, I won't blow it this time. And Penny," he took hold
of her hand, "Scott does care for you. We all do. There isn't
one of us who wouldn't swim a crocodile - infested river for
you." He looked down at his leg, and gave a grin. "Only maybe
not right now."
"Thank
you, dear boy, that's very sweet of you. And that reminds me -
I must get the lake restocked next time I'm at Harrods." She
stood up and turned to leave. By the time she had got to the
door he was playing again, picking out the notes of a tune
with one hand. She turned. "What's that? I don't recognise
it."
He looked
up, "Oh, just some old pop tune I can't seem to get out of my
head at the moment - you know how it is."
Penny left
the room, thoughtfully.
Click the MediaPlayer for the Warsaw Concerto:
8. Adagio
That
evening the Rolls pulled up in front of another palatial
mansion. Penny got out, and as Virgil made his exit he
murmured to Parker, who was holding the door "Tell me, Parker,
does everyone in England live in huge houses and call each
other '-ship'?"
Parker
rolled his eyes "Hit sometimes seems that way, sir."
Once they
had entered the house, Penny was soon surrounded by friends,
with cries of "Penny, dahling!" She was careful to introduce
Virgil to everyone, but after a while he started to feel a bit
superfluous; and all this standing around was making his leg
ache. He looked through an open doorway into another room,
then turned to Penny. "Penny, would anyone mind if I went and
played the piano for a bit?"
"Oh course
not, dear boy, this is a party - do whatever you want."
He limped
in and sat down at the piano. There were a few other people in
the room talking, but no-one seemed to take any notice. He
started playing quietly, and was soon absorbed in the music.
"That's
lovely - what is it called?"
He looked
up to see a young lady leaning on the side of the piano.
looking at him. "It's called Beautiful dreamer - it was
written about 200 years ago by a man called Stephen Foster. He
wrote some lovely songs" Virgil started on another tune, "This
one's called Jeannie with the light brown hair."
The girl
looked round and called to one of her friends, "Hey, Jeannie,
did you know there's a song about you?"
The second
girl approached as Virgil played the tune. She turned to her
friend, "No, Michelle, I've never heard that before." Virgil
looked at the first girl. " Michelle? There's one for you,
too," he said, launching into the Beatles song.
"Do you
know a song for every girl's name?" asked Jeannie.
"I'm not
sure," said Virgil with a grin, "I haven't met them all."
"Right!"
said Michelle "that sounds like a challenge if ever I heard
one!" She turned to her friend. "Let's go and see who we can
find."
Virgil was
quickly introduced to a Diana, a Susie and a Jennifer, and
played a song for each one, singing the name-line in his soft
voice. Another girl approached, to be introduced as Annie.
Virgil hesitated. "Don't tell me we've found a name you don't
know a song for!" said one of the girls.
Virgil
looked at her, "No, I know the tune, I just don't know any
words to it - I just know it as 'Song for Annie'" and he began
to play a lovely, lilting tune.
"Do you
think he's making these up?" asked one of the girls.
"Well, I
know that last one," said another, "I used to play it on my
recorder when I was at school."
Soon there
was quite a sizeable crowd around the piano, and Virgil was
kept busy. He smiled to himself - he hadn't played this
particular party trick since his college days, but it seemed
to be working just as well as it always did. Eventually he
heard Penny's voice over the crowd. "I should have guessed -
if there's a crowd of young women, there's a Tracy in the
middle of it." He looked up with a sheepish grin, then his
expression changed as he realised Amanda was standing beside
her, looking (to his eyes) breathtaking in a turquoise evening
gown.
"Penny's
turn!" cried out one of the girls, so Virgil launched into
Penny Lane, with several of the girls, who had done classical
music at school, joining in the singing.
"Have you
got one for Amanda, too?" asked Penny.
He looked
up, his voice suddenly solemn. "Yes, I have," he said and
started playing. Penny recognised the tune as the one she had
heard as she was leaving the music room that afternoon. He
began to sing softly in his gentle voice, never taking his
eyes off Amanda -
"I never
realised how happy you made me,
Oh Mandy
You came
and you gave without taking
And I sent
you away,
Oh Mandy
You kissed
me and stopped me from shaking
And I need
you today,
Oh, baby I
love you"
The raw
emotion in his face and voice was too much for Amanda. She
came forward and kissed him on the lips, to cries and
wolf-whistles from the surrounding audience, then leaned over
and with one hand started to pick out 'Chopsticks' on the
piano. He responded with the other hand, and they broke off
from their kiss to finish the tune to a round of applause.
"Come on,
Virgil" she said, picking up his crutches and hauling him to
his feet. "I'm taking you away before you embarrass me any
more." And they headed through the French doors into the
night.
"I'm sorry
if I embarrassed you in front of your friends," said Virgil,
feeling suddenly awkward as they headed down into the garden.
"You
didn't - it was a very sweet and romantic gesture and at least
it will give all those gossips back there something to talk
about. Come on, I know a place where we can sit and talk."
They were approaching what Virgil presumed to be some sort of
summerhouse, built in the style of a Greek temple. Suddenly
Amanda halted, pointing to a small white object visible on the
steps that looked to Virgil like a handkerchief. "Too late,
it's already occupied. Come on, we can go into the rose
garden"
As they
turned into a walled garden, where the scent of roses hung
heavy on the night air, Virgil started to laugh. "What's so
funny?" asked Amanda, "Don't you think the aristocracy do that
sort of thing? How do you think we get little aristocrats?"
Virgil
chuckled, "No, I'm laughing because I've just realised we have
a similar system at home. There's a cove on the far side of
the island that you can only reach by going along the top of
the cliff then down some steps - but if someone's left a towel
at the top of the steps it means they want the place to
themselves, so you don't go down."
"Oh?" she
replied, a warning note in her voice, "and just who have you
been leaving towels lying around for?"
Vigil
turned to face her, his arms going around her waist, "I think
I'd better plead the fifth amendment on that one," he replied
with a grin.
"The fifth
what?"
"American
joke." He paused, looking deep into her eyes. "Amanda, I want
to apologise again for how I behaved the other day. I had my
reasons, but it was wrong of me to take it out on you like
that. You were right to treat me like you did, but I missed
you so much when you were away - it was as if all the colour
had gone out of the world. Please say you've forgiven me."
She put
her arms around his neck. The top of her head was just level
with his chin. "Tell me, were those the real words to that
song, or did you make them up?"
"No, those
are the actual words - but I meant every single one of them."
"Well, let
me see," she went on, thoughtfully, "you've apologised
beautifully, you've serenaded me, and apparently you've even
painted a picture for me as well. Are you always so thorough
in everything you do?"
"Always"
he answered gravely, and to prove his point kissed her as
thoroughly as he knew how.
She gave a
delicious shudder as his fingers ran down her spine, bare in
the low-cut back of her dress. "Are you practising one of your
piano tunes on me?" she murmured.
"Mandy, my
love," he murmured, his voice husky with desire, "I'd like to
play an entire symphony on you." He kissed her again, as he
couldn't really believe that she had tasted of rose petals the
first time. "But we'll have to wait till I'm out of this
darned plaster."
"Yes," she
agreed, "that's probably as good as a chastity belt."
"A what?"
"English
joke. You remember, we saw one in that old castle we visited?"
He
chuckled, "And you're supposed to be a lady!"
She was
suddenly serious. "Virgil, what's going to happen to us? Is
this just some holiday romance for you?"
He shook
his head, holding her close, his hand stroking her hair. "No,
I don't think so. I nearly lost you once, I don't want to do
that again." He paused, thinking. He had spent the last few
days considering the same question. There was no doubt in his
mind about his love for her. What he was uncertain about was
whether he could make her part of his life. Scott had managed
with Elizabeth - could he do the same? What could he tell her
about his life? Should he tell her? Was it fair not to?
"Look," he said eventually, "this plaster is due off in a
week, and then I'll have to go for some physio. Not too much,
I hope, I've been doing all the exercises they gave me. I was
thinking of going somewhere near to home, but I could see if I
could get booked in somewhere over here. Then, maybe
afterwards, you could come home with me for a visit. How does
that sound?"
"Sounds a
good plan to me." Reaching up, she kissed him again, running
her fingers through his thick, dark hair. "Come on, we'd
better be getting back, or people will start wondering where
we are."
Back
inside the guests were helping themselves at the buffet.
Amanda gave him a little shove. "Go find yourself a seat, I'll
bring you some food over."
"Thanks,"
he said, "I don't think I could manage a plate and these
crutches."
He sat
himself down in a corner, from where he could watch Amanda
across the room. His reverie was interrupted by a voice. "Do
you mind if I join you? I think we wallflowers should stick
together!"
Virgil
looked round to see a man about his father's age, sitting in
an electric wheelchair. The man held out his hand. "I don't
think we've met before. I'm Mike Roberts, Philippa's uncle."
Virgil
shook the hand. "Virgil Tracy. I guess I'm what you'd call a
gate-crasher. I came with Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward - she's
an old friend of my family. I'm staying with her while my leg
heals"
"Well, if
you're a friend of Penny's you're welcome. I've known her
since she was a little girl - used to give her rides in my
chair."
Virgil
blinked - the things he was finding out about Penny on this
trip! Mike looked at his leg. "How did you come to do that
anyway?"
"It was a
climbing accident, in the Alps."
"How much
longer will you be in plaster?"
"Only
another week."
"Have you
arranged anything about physiotherapy? Only there's a
brilliant place I go to several times a year, with my family.
It's on the island of Corfu and is a sort of rehab holiday
camp. It's set up to take able-bodied as well as disabled. You
each get your own cabin, and a programme of therapy, then in
between you are encouraged to walk, swim, cycle, ride,
whatever you are capable of , with your able-bodied friends.
If you like, I'll send you the details."
"Yes,
please do" replied Virgil, thinking he must talk to Amanda
about this - it sounded perfect.
"And what
do you do with yourself when you're not falling off
mountains?"
"I work
for my father's firm - Tracy Transport."
"Hey,
you're not related to Alan Tracy, are you?"
"Yes, he's
my youngest brother." Virgil had met this reaction before,
though those asking the question were usually a lot younger,
and female.
"This is
great! Alan's raced against my team many times!"
Virgil did
a double-take, suddenly realising he was talking to the head
of the British motor racing team. "Mike Roberts! Of course,
I'm sorry, I didn't make the connection. Alan talks about you
a lot at home."
"I haven't
seen Alan much this season, I hope he's all right?"
"Yes,
that's my fault I'm afraid. With me being out of the picture
he's been needed to help with the business. He's hoping I'll
be back in time for him to make the last few races of the
season."
"That's a
wonderful car he's got. And that engineer chap you've got
working for you – Hiram-something. What a genius! I'll tell
you, I offered him a raise if he'd come and work for me, but
he said he wasn't interested."
"No," said
Virgil, "he likes working for Dad, because he can work on
whatever he wants" then he told Mike about the table-tennis
playing robot, much to the older man's amusement.
Their
laughter was interrupted by the approach of Penny and Amanda.
"Hallo, Uncle Mikey" said Penny, bending down to give him a
kiss.
"Penny" he
said, "you never told me you knew Alan Tracy's family. The
next time you visit them I want you to come home with all
their secrets."
"OK, Uncle
Mike, I'll see what I can do," said Penny, at the same time
thinking 'You'd have a shock if I did'
Virgil
spent the rest of the evening chatting with Mike and some of
the other guests until the party was over. That night he did
not dream.
(Author's
Notes: 'Mandy' copyright Scott English/Richard Ken, 1975)
9.
Intermezzo
Amanda
drove over from Denbigh Hall the following morning in pouring
rain. Virgil was waiting for her in the hall, and greeted her
with a kiss. Then he led her into the conservatory and took
the cover off the painting that was propped on the easel.
Amanda found herself looking at a view of Stonehenge, as it
must have looked when it was first built. It was shown under a
grey sky, but with a shaft of sunlight illuminating the front
of the stones. After a pause, she turned to Virgil, smiling.
"You want to apologise for a row, so you rebuild Stonehenge
for me. What would you do if we'd had a real fight?" She
looked at the picture again, "I don't remember the weather
being that bad when we were there."
"It wasn't
- that's just how I was feeling when I painted it."
She
thought of his words from the previous night 'all the colour
had gone out of the world'. Well, this man certainly knew how
to make his feelings plain. She put her arms around him and
kissed him. "Thank you, Virgil, it's beautiful - I shall
treasure it."
Later that
day, as the rain showed no sign of letting up, Penny and
Amanda were teaching Virgil how to play croquet in one of the
upstairs corridors, when the in-house intercom buzzed. "Yes,
Parker?" said Penny.
"Mr Jeff
Tracy calling for Mr Virgil, m'lady." answered Parker. Penny
and Virgil looked at each other with raised eyebrows - it must
be the small hours of the morning on Tracy Island. "Thank you,
Parker. Please transfer the call to the Blue Room - we'll take
it in there." She turned to Virgil. "I'll show you the way."
The
vidscreen showed Jeff looking tired, but relaxed. "Is
something the matter, Father?" asked Virgil, concerned. He
looked at the screen, unused to seeing the lounge from the
angle that Penny's picture showed it. In the background he
could see Scott, John and Gordon, still in their blue
uniforms, relaxing in chairs.
"It's all
right, Jeff," said Penny, "this is a secure line."
Jeff
smiled. "Just thought you might want to hear it from us first,
before you hear any news broadcasts. The boys have just got
back from a rescue - there was a landslip on a mountain pass
in Peru and a family were trapped in their car, but everybody
is safe, and Gordon assures me he didn't put a scratch on your
Thunderbird."
"Thanks
for letting me know, Dad. It's all right - I trust Gordon with
my machine - just as long as he doesn't go leaving a whoopee
cushion on the seat for me when I get back!"
"Hey!"
said Gordon's voice in the background, "I hadn't thought of
that!"
"Don't go
giving him ideas," growled their father, "he's quite bad
enough already." He looked at Virgil, only just realising his
middle son was red in the face as if he'd been exercising
hard. "What are you up to at the moment?"
Virgil
laughed. "Well, I've been told it's raining 'cates and dawgs'
outside," he said in an exaggerated English accent, "so Penny
and Amanda are teaching me a fiendish game called 'indoor
croquet'. Don't let anyone tell you about the British sense of
fair play - they cheat like crazy. Ow!" he exclaimed as Penny
pinched his arm.
"We do
not, dear boy. You're just a bad loser."
Jeff
laughed. "Sounds like you're enjoying yourself, anyway. Oh,
and your Grandma wants to know if you're eating enough."
Virgil
grinned. "You can tell Grandma I'm eating so much you'll have
to send Thunderbird 2 to collect me - nothing else will get me
off the ground. Oh, and Dad, I ran into a racing friend of
Alan's last night - Mike Roberts. He's told me about this
great rehab place he goes to." He outlined the details for his
father.
Jeff
nodded. "Well, if it comes recommended like that it can't be
bad. Go ahead and book yourself in. I want you to be A1 before
you come back home." He paused and looked at his son. "I've
got some business I need to discuss with Penny. Perhaps you
should go back to your friend, before she starts wondering
what is going on. I'll call again soon"
"F.A.B.
Dad, Goodnight!" He looked at his brothers, "'Night, guys!"
Virgil
left the room, and headed back to Amanda. He was pretty sure
that the 'business' was to do with him, but the idea that his
father was checking up on him didn't bother him like it had
when he had first arrived in England.
After the
door closed, Jeff spoke to Penny. "Virgil seems to be a lot
better."
"Oh, he
is, Jeff," said Penny with enthusiasm. "He's like a totally
different person from the one who arrived here a few weeks
ago. He's back to his old self again."
"I'm very
grateful to you for all your help."
"Jeff, I
think you're thanking the wrong person. I think most of the
improvement has been due to Amanda."
"Oh, is
this getting serious then?"
Penny
nodded. "Yes, Jeff, I think it is. Don't be surprised if
Virgil asks to have 'a little chat' with you sometime soon."
She signed
off, leaving Jeff staring thoughtfully at the screen.
10.
Andante
A week
later, Penny was sitting in the library in the evening when
Virgil entered. The plaster had been removed from his leg that
morning, but he still needed one crutch. She looked up and
smiled. "All packed?"
He sat
down. "Yes, I've packed what I'll need for the next couple of
weeks, and asked Parker to parcel up the rest and send it
home."
"Fine.
He'll take you and Amanda to the airport in the morning." She
pointed to his leg, "How does it feel?"
"It's a
bit stiff, but not too painful. I feel more lopsided than
anything - I guess my body must have got used to the extra
weight." He looked up. "Penny, I feel I must apologise. I know
I didn't behave very well when I first arrived, and I want to
thank you for putting up with me."
She smiled
at him. "That's all right, Virgil. I know you weren't feeling
very well. I'm just glad to see you back to your old self."
"Thank
you, anyway." He hesitated. "Would you vouch for Amanda for me
- to Father, I mean?"
"Of course
I will. Are you going to tell her?"
He nodded.
"It's only fair. Elizabeth knew what she was getting into. Tin
Tin's always known. Amanda has a right to know what to
expect."
She
smiled. "Well, I'm very happy for both of you."
He leaned
forward and kissed her on the cheek, "Don't forget what I told
you - we do all care about you."
He rose
and left the room. Penny touched her cheek and sighed. She had
given Virgil a lecture about recognising emotions - maybe it
was about time she got her own feelings sorted out. Why did
these Tracy men all have to be so handsome, so charming - and
so damn loveable?
The
following morning Virgil and Amanda were waiting in the
First-class lounge at the airport for their flight to be
called. The lounge was next to what was obviously a staff room
for the flight crews, as people in various uniforms were going
in and out. One blond man in a blue-grey uniform with more
than the usual amount of gold braid, came through the door. He
saw Virgil and hesitated, then seeing he was with someone,
gave a sketchy salute and continued on his way.
Amanda
turned to Virgil. "Who was that?"
"Oh, just
some business acquaintance" said Virgil. He had recognised
Captain Hansen, but was relieved that the Fireflash captain
had realised the need to be discreet.
Penny was
doing some paperwork in her study when the door opened. She
looked up. "What is it, Parker?"
Parker
looked uncomfortable. "Mr Virgil left me some hinstructions
habout 'is things."
"Yes, most
are to be sent back to Tracy Island. Is there some problem?"
Parker
looked at his feet. "There's this painting wot 'e told me to
burn..." He looked up. "Hy think you should see it, m'lady."
Mystified,
Penny followed Parker upstairs to the room Virgil had
occupied. Propped against the wall was a canvas. Parker picked
it up and turned it round. Penny gave a small cry, her hand
going to her mouth. The picture was a street scene, showing
buildings of ornate, Italianate style. But most of the
buildings were damaged, the windows cracked or broken, and
sections of the elaborate cornices lay strewn in the roadway.
The focus of the picture was a small figure in blue, standing
in the distance on a pile of rubble. But instead of the lines
of perspective leading straight there, they were all jagged
and distorted, which gave the feeling of viewing the scene
through a broken pair of spectacles, or a very bad migraine.
Eventually, Penny spoke. "You're right, Parker. We can't
possibly burn this. But we can't exactly display it either.
Put it in one of the attics while I decide what to do with
it." 'I might even show it to Jeff next time he's here' she
thought. 'That poor boy...'
Meanwhile,
Virgil and Amanda had arrived at the rehab camp. The rest of
the day was spent settling in. Virgil was assessed and given a
programme of therapy. The couple ate that evening in the
communal dining hall, where there was a wide range of ages,
nationalities and abilities.
As soon as
they were back in their cabin, Virgil put his arms around
Amanda's waist and pulled her close, kissing her while his
fingers stroked her back.
"Are we
going to have a performance of that symphony you promised me?"
she murmured.
"Yes," he
replied, kissing her again, "and the first movement is marked
'adagio'."
11. Finale
Amanda
rolled over in bed to see sunlight streaming in through the
blinds. She looked round to see Virgil lying on his back, his
hands behind his head, wearing a pensive expression. "Not more
bad dreams, Poet?" she asked, concern in her voice.
He turned
towards her, smiling. "No, you 'kissed me and stopped me from
shaking' remember?" he replied, leaning over to kiss her lips.
He leant back, "No, I was just looking at you and thinking I
would like to wake up like this every morning for the rest of
my life."
"Mr.
Tracy!" she exclaimed, in her best 'Elizabeth Bennett' voice.
"What an immoral suggestion!"
He smiled,
"On the contrary, I would like to make a very moral
suggestion. I want to ask you to marry me." She opened her
mouth to reply, but he put his finger to her lips,
forestalling her, and carried on. "But before I do, there is
something I have to tell you. And before I can tell you, you
have to promise that you will never tell another soul."
"How
mysterious! OK, I promise. So, what is this great secret?"
He looked
down, uncertain how to go on. "My family run - we are - the
organisation you know as International Rescue. So you see, if
you were to marry me, it would mean living on the island with
us. Now, if you don't feel you could do that, we could still
see each other. You could come and visit, or I could come and
see you, but..." He suddenly looked up, taking in her
expression. "You're not hearing a word of this, are you?"
Amanda
realised her mouth had been hanging open, and closed it.
"You're - you're one of the 'Thunderbird men'?" she said in a
small voice, quoting the line from the pop song.
He nodded.
"I fly Thunderbird 2, the transporter craft. OK, let's take
this slowly. Do you want to marry me?"
"Of course
I do" she replied, giving him a kiss.
"And would
you mind living with us on the island?"
"I don't
see why not. I'm a writer - I can write anywhere."
"And you
wouldn't mind me rushing off on rescues? Maybe coming back
injured?"
"Well, it
can't be any worse than being married to a doctor or a
fireman." She thought for a minute. "Do you often get
injured?" She touched his leg through the sheets and looked at
him. "Did this happen on a rescue?" He nodded. "You don't
have to tell me if you don't want."
He shook
his head, and put his arm around her. "No, It's all right. In
fact it's quite a relief to be able to talk about it." His
expression took on a faraway look as he thought back. "It
happened in Florence, back in June. We had arrived about two
hours after the earthquake." (Amanda gave a little gasp of
recognition). "We had been working for about eight hours, had
rescued several groups of people and were now on the
mopping-up stage of the operation. Scott was checking a pile
of rubble to see if it contained any survivors. He was wearing
headphones to try and listen for signs of life. I had gone to
collect some coffee for us both from a nearby mobile canteen.
I was just on my way back when I felt a tremor under my feet -
there are often small aftershocks like that after a big
'quake. I looked up to see the wall behind Scott start to
crumble. I shouted to him, and started to run - and that's the
last thing I remember."
"So that
was your nightmare?"
"That was
the first part, yes. Scott told me that I gave him a shove
that sent him flying, then I got caught by the falling debris.
I don't remember any of that, though. The next thing I
remember is waking up in the recovery room, desperately trying
to find out what had happened to Scott, while being restrained
by Italian medical staff who could barely understand what I
was saying - I suppose I wasn't very coherent. That's the
second nightmare." He gave her a hug. "But I'm over it now,
thanks to you."
She looked
at him. "I still find all this hard to believe. The hardest
part is knowing I can't talk to anyone about it - not even
Penny. Hang on a minute," she looked the expression on his
face. "Penny already knows, doesn't she? Come on, you've told
me so much, tell me the rest. What's Penny's part in all
this?"
"Penny's
our London agent. Sometimes this just involves mundane matters
like finding out information for us, or taking delivery of
things we don't want to have connected to the Tracy business.
Other times her activities are, well, let's just say 'more
adventurous'. I'll let her fill in some of the details. She
and Parker have been very useful to us over the years."
"Parker,
too?" she exclaimed in amazement.
"Yes," and
he laughed. "Next time you're on your own with him, ask him to
tell you about the time he broke into the vault in the Bank of
England for us!"
She put
her arms around his neck. "Now, apart from belonging to the
most secret organisation in the world, is there anything else
you need to tell me?"
"No,
except that I'm glad things happened the way they did, because
otherwise I'd never have met you."
"Good,"
She kissed him again, seductively. "Then can I interest you in
another symphony like the one we had last night?"
"I'm not
sure I could manage a whole symphony before breakfast," he
said, in a teasing tone, as his fingers played an arpeggio
across her skin... "Would you settle for a concerto?"
Coda
Times
Literary Supplement :
Book news
Author
Annabelle Lee was in Hatchards, Piccadilly today to sign
copies of her latest book, the first since her recent
marriage. Set later than her normal period, Brothers in Arms
tells the story of Marcus, a young World War II bomber pilot,
who is injured rescuing his brother from a collapsing building
in the London blitz. Severely traumatised, he is sent to the
West Country to recuperate, and eventually regains his
physical and mental health through the love and support of a
young WAAF officer.
(Author's Notes: the story of
Virgil and Amanda is continued in
Family Ties.)