Twenty Two

“We could link up and just one of us fly the three of us,” I ‘said’.

“No, we shouldn’t do that,” ‘said’ Holly.

“Why not?” ‘demanded’ Lisa.

Holly patiently explained. “Because then we’ll appear on the radar of every airport between here and Leeds Bradford, not to mention any military bases along the way. We’ll have a Eurofighter up out bums trying to find out what the echo is.”

“Hm. Need to carry a squawk transponder and file flight plans,” I ‘said’.

“You’re joking? Aren’t you?” ‘said’ Lisa.

“’Course I am, silly girl. But it’s an interesting thought that we could do if we had to.”

“Do they make battery-operated transponders then Jody?” ‘asked’ Holly.

“Typical Holly. If you want to be serious about it, I don’t expect they do. But being equally serious, it shouldn’t take much doing to scare up some sort of battery pack. Bet you Victor could do it.”

And if he can’t, the workshops at the airbase certainly could,” ‘said’ Lisa.

“Anyway, fact remains that we haven’t got one so no link up,” ‘said’ Holly.

“Shame,” I ‘said’. “I was quite looking forwards to seeing if I could sleep while linked, with one of you flying us.”

“Well not today. Besides, I don’t want to have to dig you out of the big hole you’d make as you hit the ground,” ‘said’ Holly.

Despite being rather higher than usual so that travelling at MACH 1.5 didn’t take out half the windows in France, Lisa seemed to have no trouble knowing which way to go. As Holly’d worked out, we had to go back the way the train had come, but once past Marseille, that was a pretty straight line anyway.

There was no actual chance of going to sleep. We didn’t know if we were in the flight path of commercial flights or not. At least any we met would be in front of us, we were going about twice as fast as a piddling Jumbojet or what have you. Did mean we had to keep a watch out.

Just south of Paris was where we struck our first snag.

“Err, Lisa? I ‘said’. “I - err - need a potty stop.”

“Didn’t you go before we set off? What are you laughing at Holly Merrick?”

“You sound just like my mum used to when I was little. Anyway, so do I. Need a potty stop I mean.”

Lisa ‘sighed’ theatrically. “The things I have to put up with. Oh, ok. I’ll tell you. I need a stop as well. What shall we do?”

“Easy-peasy,” I ‘said’. “Have we passed over Paris? Can’t see through all this cloud.”

“Yeah. Just over the airport. What was it? Charles de Gaulle? Bloody planes everywhere.”

“Ah. Right. When the railway joins the A1 again, we drop down and look for a Service Area. They put ‘em every few miles. Most of ‘em have at least got toilets.”

“Good thinking. We could get a snack too. Damn! No money, need Euros,” ‘said’ Lisa.

“No problem. Auntie Jody will provide. Find a stopping place first.”

Below the cloud base, it was a pretty dismal day. All to the good as I don’t think anybody saw us land in an odd corner of the service area. First stop - the Ladies. Then a look around for something to eat.

“Ok, Jody? Euros?”

“Hang on, hang on. Keep underwear on.” I closed my eyes. “Now where did I ... Ah-ha! There you are.” I had a stash of Euros, kept from when I went on my skiing trip with school. I ‘told’ them to not be in the top drawer of my dressing table, but to be in my hand instead. They were happy to oblige and I was suddenly holding a little plastic bag with coins and notes in it.

“Brilliant. What can we get?” ‘said’ Holly.

“Not the biggest services on the A1. Probably a nice ham and cheese sandwich and a can. What d’you reckon? If you want hot food, we might have to go slowly up the motorway until we find a services with a Burger King or whatever.”

“Nah,” said Lisa. “Can’t be bothered doing that. Let’s hit the shop.”

I wasn’t sure what they made of three identically dressed girls buying food. Actually we didn’t get a second look. They probably get all kinds of people in here. We managed to find a small table with three stools to sit at. Conversation continued during refuelling.

“When we’ve done feeding, we should ring home,” ‘said’ Holly. “How long d’you reckon Lisa?”

“We’re just north of Paris. Got to get back up to speed. Shouldn’t take much more than an hour from here.”

“Ok. I’ll ring Mum and get her to ring round for us. Save a lot of mucking about.”

Food consumed, we wandered out into the drizzle again. While Holly used her phone, I was looking at Lisa. “Rain’s not hitting you. You floating?”

“Yep. Just a fraction. Walking in the air.”

“Going to nick your idea, file off the serial numbers, and use it myself.”

While Holly’s phone was going ‘burr-burr’ in her ear, I sent her a picture of Lisa and me floating just above the ground. She caught on at once. I could see the rain missing her completely. Then the other end answered. Being all three linked together, Lisa and I ‘heard’ both ends of the conversation.

“The Merrick household, speak first, it’s your money.”

“Hi Dad. Me.

“Hello Me. Where are you?”

“Just north of Paris, Dad. Potty stop.”

“Too much information dear, too much information. Just north of Paris? What d’you think? An hour?”

“Mm. That’s what Lisa thinks. Can you ring the others and let them know. Kitchens to DEFCON Five.”

“No need dear. Now we know where you are and how long you’ll be, Plan Zed swings into action.”

“The what Dad?”

“Plan Zed. Do try to keep up dear. You all come here. Big feast in your honour. Everybody’s coming here. We’re having one wall taken out to get us all in.”

“Dad! You’re terrible! We’ll see you in an hour or so.”

“Take care, see you.”

“Err, Holly?” I ‘asked’. “Is your dad always like this? I admit to not really having spoken to him much.”

“Yeah, pretty much. Complete nutter, my dad.”

“Not what you said about him at the hospital Holly Merrick,” ‘said’ Lisa.

“Ah. No. Well ...”

Lisa moved closer to Holly and stuck an arm round her. “I’m so sorry Holly. What I said and implied was uncalled for. Forgive me?”

Holly hugged back. “Lisa? Remember the three Graces? What were their names?”

“The Greek ones or the sort of English ones?” ‘asked’ Lisa, looking perplexed.

“The English ones please.”

“Charm, Grace, and Beauty as I recall. Why?”

“Because I’m trying to think which one applies to you. I think Charm is best.”

“Oh Holly. That’s so nice of you. I think you should be Grace, Holly. What d’you think Jody?”

“I agree. Holly is by far the most graceful of us three.”

“Which leaves you to be Beauty. Appropriate, don’t you think Holly?”

“Oh yes. Undoubtedly.”

“But I’m not ...”

“Oh yes you are. Why do you think you had such a thick skin when I first met you? Classic defence mechanism to ward off the attentions of people who think just like the two of us.”

“And now who can warm who’s hands on who’s face Jody Kenyon?” ‘laughed’ Holly.

There was nothing else for it but a three way hug and kiss. Luckily by then we were umpteen hundred feet up in the clouds and nobody could see us.

Once back to our normal selves, we concentrated on gaining enough height so we could break the sound barrier. Back at close to our top speed, we were crossing the Channel within forty minutes. Not that we could see the blasted thing, but I was happy enough to take Lisa’s word for it.

Another ten minutes and we began to slow down. “Don’t want to overshoot and end up in Scotland,” ‘laughed’ Lisa.

A couple of minutes after that and we were dropping to a nice soft landing in Holly’s back garden. As I touched the ground, my field switched off. It was downright chilly - at least compared to the South of France where we’d been just a couple of hours ago.

Waiting inside the house were a large quantity of parents - and an even larger quantity of food. I found I was really quite hungry - surprise, surprise. But first things first. A hug and a kiss for Mum and Dad. I could see - and more importantly - feel, Lisa and Jody doing much the same thing.

Parents were quite happy to watch their offspring stuff themselves and waited patiently for news of our exploits. They did manage a meal themselves, but nothing on the same scale as the three Angels.

By the time we reached the pud, food intake had slowed sufficiently for us to begin telling all. One voice at once, no overlap, no gaps. The whole story unfolded told by three voices. Two scoffing, one talking, turn and turn about. Not so remarkable now we knew why. Linked together we were one girl. That one girl told the story, but out of three mouths.

“Then Lisa just ordered them to tell what they knew - and they did. The cops recorded it all and we beat a hasty retreat.”

“Said goodbye to the people in the big house and set off home.

“One stop on the way, and here we are.”

The first comment came from Lisa’s dad. Actually not about our adventures but about our telling of them. “How can you tell a story like that? All three of you. Is it to do with how you connect yourselves together?”

“Mm. Yes Dad,” said Lisa. “When we link up closely, it’s as if we’re just one girl. We don’t need to tell each other stuff or ask questions, we already know. So to tell the story, the one girl, called Angel, by the way, just uses whichever of us is required at the time.”

Despite being linked, Lisa’s sudden use of a name for our one girl came as a bit of a shock. Must have done to Holly as well, but she recovered first.

“Angel,” she ‘said’. “Hey, I like that. Going to be more important than ever now when we merge instead of link.”

And that was something we needed to talk about as well - but not now. I found myself trying to stifle a yawn. All that did was make me have a coughing fit. The result of that was six parents clustered round me trying to find out what was wrong. Useful in a way - it stopped further discussion about linking and merging. I for one, wanted time to think about that stuff.

“I’m ok. I’m ok. Just tried not to yawn. Should have just let it happen.”

I could ‘feel’ the other two laughing at me. Didn’t matter, I knew they were just as tired as I was. The long flight had been a success, but it had taken it out of us a bit. Bed was calling - despite it being only just after tea-time.