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| 16. Wee Man McCann goes Walkies. Part 3. |
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The rickety old road was clear of water now, all the way across.
Wee Man McCann was already inside the ambulance by the time Ben was passing. The paramedics were just about to set off for hospital.
The firefighters were jumping into the fire engine, ready to drive back up to Earl's to find the goose; although Ben suspected they may actually get a few calls about cats stuck up trees before they reached the village.
And besides, Jake McFerris had got there before them.
Ben eased off the throttle and took his time getting back to Stepminder Castle. The ambulance was behind him all the way. They weren't in any mad rush: clearly Wee Man McCann's condition was stable by now.
A low-flying police helicopter whizzed over them. It seemed to be heading in the direction of Magee's Island.
Professor Dunlambert and Uncle Sid waited patiently. They'd been able to see nothing but a blank screen since Ben had shoved Fergus into the luggage box - apart from a few seconds when the wooden leg was trying to force its way in afterwards.
There was relief all around as the trike turned in through the gates.
The team held a full debrief over cranberry tea and sandwiches in the courtyard.
Fergus seemed pretty much unharmed by the experience, and deserved a huge pat on the back for the super job he'd done.
Ben had showed courage and imagination under pressure.
All in all, it was a success. But lessons had been learned; more work needed to be done.
It was decided that, in future, Fergus would have to return from his missions not to the castle, but to a different location each time - they couldn't risk him being followed back to Stepminder.
Forests or built-up places, town centres perhaps, would be best. That way he could shake off police helicopters. But the exact location had to be decided each time, so that Ben would be there first, to pick him up and get him back to the castle in the luggage box.
And, of course, there was the small problem of how to get him airborne for the return flights in the first place. Sometimes he might be on high ground, and be able to just glide off. But there would be times when he would need to be launched.
That may take a little time to sort out.
While they thought that one over, Ben set about making the luggage box comfortable enough for a returning superhero.
Professor Dunlambert set about making a list of suitable return landing sites.
Fergus lay down under a tree for a well-earned rest.
Uncle Sid was back to his favourite pastime: running around in circles, chasing his tail. It looked rather funny, but Ben and the professor were a bit annoyed that he seemed to be taking things a lot less seriously than they were.
What the clever dog was ACTUALLY doing, was suggesting a tiny piece of magic stone be implanted in Fergus' tail; that way, he could slap it down into an emergency fruit container to make good his escape. After all, given the weakness in his wings, and today's evidence of his still-slightly-dodgy legs, his tail was probably the only piece of him that could be relied upon to operate normally.
The others eventually got the message.
The bell rang at the front gate.
'Quick!' whispered the professor. 'Everyone hide. Now!'
She closed over her notebook and put it in her pocket. She smoothed out her skirt and sweater. She heaved the wrinkles of her tights up above the knees and straightened her glasses.
'Yes?' she said, opening the gate just a little.
'Ah, Professor Dunlambert,' said Pete, the paramedic, 'I was hoping you might be in.'
She was surprised: nobody here had called an ambulance - not today anyway.
'We were just passing on the way back to the station. I thought you might like to know, Jimbo was fine, once they got his broken arm set.'
The professor looked puzzled.
'Jimbo...' Pete went on, '...The other day...Cairn Valley? They kept him in overnight at the children's hospital, just to be on the safe side. But no other injuries luckily.'
'Ah yes, the biker kid.' she replied. 'Well thank you for letting me know. I do appreciate the update.'
Pete tried to get a look over her shoulder into the courtyard. She stood in his way.
'I'd ask you both in for tea, but I'm afraid it's all a bit hectic in here today,' she smiled.
'Yes, I can imagine, Professor. Some other time maybe.'
Pete headed back towards the ambulance.
'I've heard a lot of sirens up and down the road today,' the professor shouted after him. 'And a helicopter too; sounds like you boys have been busy as well.'
'Ah yes, that reminds me,' said Pete, stopping in his tracks. He walked back up to the gate. He reached inside his pocket. 'I think this is yours, Professor. I found it up at the hospital.'
He handed her a bright pink penlight, with the letters 'E.D.' written in silver on it.
Professor Dunlambert was startled.
'Why yes! It is mine. It was a leaving present from my colleagues in the big hospital where I used to work in Dublin. But where did you get it?'
'We found it up at Farset City Hospital. The nurses thought the letters stood for "EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT". But I knew I'd seen it somewhere else before. It was only when Doctor Jefferson mentioned EDNA DUNLAMBERT had been in again yesterday that I remembered where...Cairn Valley; you used it to check Jimbo's eyes!'
The professor wasn't entirely pleased at being called Edna, but she was glad to have her penlight back.
'Well thank you, Pete. It must have fallen out of my pocket as I was getting changed to come home.'
Pete turned to walk away. 'Actually Professor, it fell out from underneath Wee Man McCann when we rolled him over onto the hospital trolley. And it looks like HE'S going to be fine as well: just a case of mild concussion.'
Ben, Fergus and Uncle Sid stood just behind a tree, holding their breaths.
'Wee Man...McCann...?' she replied, with a shrug of the shoulders. 'Who's he then?'
Pete opened the ambulance door and laughed. 'Your little goose friend must have dropped it outside Earl's restaurant,' he shouted back.
Professor Dunlambert felt her legs wobble beneath her.
'He did a pretty good job, by the way,' Pete added.
He closed the door and did a u-turn on the castle's driveway. And before heading off to the station, he suggested one last thing: 'That big old piece of well-chewed wood in your courtyard...?'
The professor looked back over her shoulder; the wooden leg was propped up against a bush.
'...Give us a call if you want us to drop it up to the hospital for you. I think Wee Man McCann just might need it for getting about!'
Professor Dunlambert closed the gate. She rested her head against it.
'Oh dear,' she sighed. 'I do hope they can keep a secret!'
Watch out for the next BLOG...coming soon.
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