Time for an Ascension Island Story. Grab the popcorn...
It’s 1937 and a perfect morning on Ascension Island. The sun is shining, and a southern wind is blowing, fortuitously bringing the smell of the sea and carrying away the whiff of several hundred toilets without mains plumbing.
In the capital of the Island, Georgetown, the tourists are waking, the newspaper boys are delivering the early editions, and the 40 Elephants gang is robbing a bank.
Again.
After the mess of their previous attempt, the Forty Elephants have tried to split roles a little better. This time Jim Bullock and Mary Carr, the gang’s muscle, were sent to make the robbery with Florrie Holmes providing a distraction.
This division of labour is why the story begins with the gang exiting the bank, having successfully purloined the Jewelled Tome. (not at all because I haven’t built the interior of the bank yet…). They rush to the getaway car…
Meanwhile, Captain Bryant of the Royal Navy Air Service Police is patrolling the warehouse district. He spots Alice Diamond, the gang’s leader. On seeing Bryant, Alice makes the ill-advised decision to shoot at him…
It turns out that there are quite a few policemen in the area because of yet another anonymous tip off. Soon Bryant is joined by Sergeant Williams, and Sgt. Coulson, the latter running from his car. Bryant sees Coulson and tells him in no uncertain terms to return to his vehicle.
While Bryant was distracted by Coulson, Alice has run down an alley to the rest of the gang.
Seeing the policeman behind Alice the rest of the gang leaps into the car and Jim hits the gas. Despite Bryant firing at the car, they manage to reach Alice, who makes a leap for the back door while Jim and Mary fire at Bryant from the front.
Fortunately for Bryant, help is on the way in the form of Lieutenant Cain, who has also heard gunshots and is racing toward them, siren blaring.
Bryant isn’t willing to let these miscreants escape so easily. As the car rushes past, he leaps on board and starts grappling with the occupants. (I know he should be on the other side of the vehicle, but the figure fitted much better on this side so don’t complain).
A horrified Lieutenant Cain sees the getaway car pass, with his Captain holding on for dear life.
“Why am I not surprised?” he mutters and guns the engine in pursuit.
Jim is already trying to keep control of the speeding getaway car while holding onto his prize and fighting Bryant, while the other occupants fire at Lieutenant Cain behind them.
Bryant and Jim are equally appalled to find the road ahead full of Sgt. Coulson’s police car. Will Jim be able to keep control of the car…
(quick dice roll…)
Nope.
There’s a sickening crash as the getaway car swerves and crashes into a billboard at speed, with Captain Bryant still clinging to the bonnet.
Will Captain Bryant survive the crash?
Will his colleagues make it in time, or will the gang escape?
How do the police so conveniently know what the Forty Elephants are planning in every episode?
Find out in the next thrilling instalment of “The Jewelled Tome…”
Welcome, Guest. Please 
May 18, 2024, 05:17:39 PM
