Travels Through An Imaginary Landscape

EPISODE SIX: THE SVANKMEYER COUNTDOWN

PART FIVE

Barely an hour later and Michael and I were standing in front of the desk of the mayor once more, waiting patiently (and perhaps just a little nervously) whilst he scanned through the report of our adventures which had been hastily compiled by the two burly guards. His stern faced assistant maintained an icy pose behind him. The mayor came to the end of the document and put it down with a heavy sigh. He stood up slowly and stepped out from behind his desk. Continue reading →

EPISODE FIVE: IN FREUD WE TRUST

PART ONE

          The policeman pushed back his shiny blue cap and scratched his head thoughtfully as he considered the question. At least I think he was a policeman. He may have been a traffic warden. Or a lollipop man. The uniform was rather non-specific and I didn’t like to cause offence by asking. But he had that official air about him that suggested he was the right person for us to address our question. Continue reading →

EPISODE FIVE: IN FREUD WE TRUST

PART TWO

          I sat at a table by the window and stared at the now blank sign that hung over the doorway across the road. Upon leaving the empty Explorer’s Club, somewhat dazed and confused, I’d been rather grateful to discover a café directly opposite. But as I stared out I began to find something strangely sinister about the vacant sign and blank, staring windows that confronted me from across the street. I turned to picking distractedly at the Formica table top, an activity I was still engaged in when Michael returned from the counter and set down two large mugs of tea. Continue reading →

EPISODE FIVE: IN FREUD WE TRUST

PART THREE

          For the next half an hour a sense of quiet reigned over the waiting room as each of the occupants mused silently on their own preoccupations. Carol took to reading, with a surprising air of concentration, some kind of glossy magazine. Michael chose to pour over his map of the landscape, seeking out alternative escape routes. Martin disappeared once more into the background and I concerned myself with pondering over what I might actually say to my family, friends and boyfriend when I finally made it home. Continue reading →

EPISODE FIVE: IN FREUD WE TRUST

PART FOUR

          It was swiftly determined that the obvious place to begin our Svankmeyer hunt was at the basement flat he and Martin occupied on the west side of town. Their rooms were located at the foot of a vaguely shabby tenement building in the midst of a Dickensian warren of lanes and alleys. Continue reading →

EPISODE FOUR: ONWARDS

PART ONE

          “We’ll have to go up and take a look.”

          I gazed up the narrow shaft at the hatch which hovered about fifteen feet above our heads. “I’m not going up there. It’s dangerous.”

          “Not necessarily.”

          “Very possibly.”

          “We’ll just take a quick peek then.”

          “It only takes a second to get your head shot off.”

         “Well, how else do we work out which way to go?” demanded Michael. Continue reading →

EPISODE FOUR: ONWARDS

PART TWO

          The rain was streaming down harder than ever as we headed back out along the muddy path that we hoped would lead to Castle Seelisch. After forty-five minutes we got our first view simultaneously of both the Castle and the canyon we would have to cross, looming out of the mist ahead of us. The Castle stood on a rocky outcrop on the very edge of a dizzying drop that seemed to make Bernard’s estimate of 500ft seem rather conservative. Continue reading →

EPISODE FOUR: ONWARDS

PART THREE

          When my jelly-like legs had solidified sufficiently to enable me to stand I got up and walked gingerly across the room. I put a hand on the door through which Prince Louis had exited and took a deep breath. On a nod from Michael I swung the door open and instinctively stepped back. But this time I found myself looking out onto a short stretch of corridor leading to a flight of stairs. Continue reading →

EPISODE FOUR: ONWARDS

PART FOUR

          The side door opened onto a long, snaking section of corridor. We set out in procession; Horace led the way, pressing himself edgily against walls and stopping occasionally to wield his piece of piano lid in a vaguely threatening manner; I came next, doing my best to chivvy Horace along; finally Michael brought up the rear, limping along wearily. We had turned two corners and were in the middle of a narrow, straight section of corridor when we heard it. An ominously low rumble that seemed to circle us several times before dying away. Continue reading →

EPISODE FOUR: ONWARDS

PART FIVE

          My head was buzzing and my ears were ringing as I cast my improvised helmet to one side and took a look around. But it was undoubtedly an enormous relief to finally find ourselves out of doors. It is odd how quickly your perspective on things can change. It was only a few hours ago I was cursing the weather and dreaming of any kind of shelter; now the elements seemed infinitely more benign than anything with walls and a roof. Continue reading →