Chapter Three

Day Three, First Jump for the Government

Oscar was knocking on Ray and Dona's hotel door, it was already ten o'clock and he was ready to get the day started. They would be moving on this morning and Oscar had let them sleep in. Ray let him in and he sat on the sofa to wait for Dona to finish getting ready. As soon as she was ready they were moving over to a place used by the Secret Service, for testing all sorts of new things but this was very new, even to them. Soon they walked down to the river, where a small boat was waiting for them and it shot off as soon as they were aboard.

The trip was relatively short and an awful lot quicker than taking a car. Ray really enjoyed the trip and took in as much as he could as they motored by.  He knew a lot of what they were passing but they had not been to London for many years. The first bridge they came to was Tower Bridge, the last bridge before the M25 east, The Queen Elisabeth Bridge, although it it known as the A282. He was enjoying this brief trip immensely but it was all rather fast and soon they were passing the Houses of Parliament several bridges latter, where they started to slow down.

They disembarked outside MI5 and walked to a building around the back, which seemed normal but in fact, was anything but normal. Ray noted that in most films he had seen about the Secret Service, you entered the front door and got a lift down to where the headquarters where, well this was different. They entered the front of the building walked to the lift and went down to a small underground railway, which went to along to somewhere under London but as far as Ray knew it could be anywhere. It only took a couple of minutes to get there though.

They where in a large conference room and there were two others from the service in the room with them, the Artifact stood in the middle of the table next to a TV monitor.  Ray was about to start explaining to all, just what he knew about the Artifact.  Oscar said that the other two people present were there just to watch and evaluate, just what the Artifact could do.  Ray continued to tell all that he knew and explained how although they could jump from anywhere they could only land outside. Oscar said that they knew almost as much as Ray and Dona and that a demonstration was all that was required today.  They had a place for Ray and Dona to jump too and they would all meet up again there.

Ray took his phone from Oscar and asked for the phone number of were they were required to jump to. Oscar gave them a phone number which Ray typed into the phone. They then took hold of the Artifact and pulled, then they heard that noise, a noise like the catch on a briefcase engaging and then, a moment later, a bright soundless flash.

Ray and Dona found themselves in the courtyard of a large building, with two security guards stood staring strait at them. A few moments later the other three arrived and Oscar walked over took the Artifact off them and shook there hands. He congratulated them and said that their work was over for the day.

They made their way inside the building and back through the rail network to where they came in. Oscar told them that they had done very well and all they had to now was wait, they had their room in the hotel and he gave them a credit card in Rays name. He asked them if they wanted to go straight back to the hotel, or did they want to go shopping and meet up back at at the hotel latter. Dona said that there were things she needed, so if Oscar could point them in he right direction, then that would be fine. Oscar said he would walk with them and gave them the phone number for a company car for when they were done.

In Oxford Street, Oscar said to have a good shop and that he would catch up with them latter, then he wandered off. After what seemed like hours in the shops around Oxford Street, plus some use of the company credit card, Ray wanted a sit down and most of all he wanted a drink.

Ray had been looking around for a bar and had spotted the the Argyll Arms just off the main street, he was glad to get in for a beer and a sit down. He saw the Hobgoblin Gold and was tempted but then to his surprise he spotted a special version of Camerons 150 Strongarm, a home town beer, specially created to celebrate 150 years of brewing, and bought a pint of that. Dona on the other hand, got a big glass of fine white wine, then they found a seat to sit down to drink and to rest.

Ray was just about finished his beer when Oscar walked over and asked if they fancied another. Dona asked how he had found them and Oscar just smiled, Ray said not to be silly, they always knew where they where. Oscar made no apology and asked again what they would like to drink. Ray was going to try a new beer but the 150 Strongarm was that good he asked for another, Oscar decided to try the same while Dona had another white wine.

Oscar liked the 150 Strongarm and said it was nothing like the one they had a couple of nights ago this one was really good.  It was Ray's turn to smile, sometimes he bought the right beer. Oscar asked if they wanted to go back to the hotel for food or did they want to eat here. It was late in the afternoon by now and eating there sounded like a good idea, especially as the food looked very good, so that is what they did. More beer was also a good idea but they had the Hobgoblin this time.

It was getting late by the time they arrived back at the hotel, not late for London just late for Ray and Dona, in fact it was still early. They said their goodnight to Oscar and went to their room, this was all still a bit exiting and tiring.