Just to enlarge on the summary. It is the early 1960s and five children - Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Toshiko and Owen - come together for an adventure in the Brecon Beacons. I've tried to reflect the times as best I can, so girls and boys are treated differently and there are no mobile phones, computers or electronic games. These children - and despite being in their teens that what they would have been called - make their own fun which leads them into an adventure which is loosely based on Countrycide.

Enjoy.

Five Go Mad in the Brecon Beacons

Chapter One: Cardiff

"What a glorious day," said Gwen, standing on her head in the garden. She didn't care that her knickers were on full view to anyone passing by. She balanced for a couple of minutes then fell over onto her knees. Gwen was an athletic girl and loved physical challenges and activities. She had been cooped up all morning, helping her mother in the house, and was making the most of her freedom.

"There's a van coming up the road. A removal van," came from Toshiko. She was sitting on an ancient swing, a leftover from Gwen's childhood, which was at just the right height to see over the beech hedge.

"Is it going to the house?" asked Gwen, coming over to stand beside her. They had been speculating like mad about who was going to move into the empty house. The two girls looked on as the red removal van laboriously climbed the hill and stopped, the driver making heavy weather of manoeuvring into the driveway of the property. "Oh, it is!" cried Gwen. "Any sign of the new people? I wonder if they'll have children?"

"Gwen!" her mother cried at just that moment. "Come away this instant!" Gwen and Toshiko immediately left their vantage point. "I thought I told you not to spy on the neighbours."

"Sorry, Mam."

"Sorry, Mrs Cooper." Toshiko hung her head in shame. She was lucky to be staying here for the summer holidays and didn't want to do anything to make the Coopers regret their generosity.

"I'm going to the shops. You can come too."

Mrs Cooper bustled back into the house and the two girls followed, Gwen very reluctantly. She wanted to see who was moving in across the road. Her best friend, Monica, had lived there until two months before when the family had moved to Aberdeen where Mr Jackson had been transferred by his employer. She hoped that the new family would include a daughter who would be the companion that Monica had been; she missed her. Mrs Cooper gathered up her handbag and carefully got the car out of the garage. The two girls got into the back seat and were driven away as an estate car drew up behind the removal van. Gwen was really disappointed; just when she would have been able to see the new people she had been taken away.

The city was busy and the two girls were allowed to go off on their own while Mrs Cooper did her shopping as long as they were back by the car at 16.30. Gwen immediately made for the sweet kiosk where she spent some of her pocket money on foam shrimps and jelly babies. She offered these with Toshiko but the Japanese girl only took one to be polite; she did not like sugar much. As they wandered along the street, Gwen wondered why she and Toshiko had become friends, they were so different. Of course, it had been Monica who had made friends with Toshiko first, when she'd arrived at their school two terms ago, but now Gwen had grown fond of the Japanese girl.

"Hey, Gwen." A tall, gangly, good-looking boy was standing in front of her.

"Ianto. What are you doing in town?" She stuffed her sweets into her pocket and straightened up.

"Meeting my cousin. He's coming down from London on the coach, going to stay for the holidays." He looked over at Toshiko who was hovering nearby and smiled at her.

"This is Toshiko. She's at my school. She's staying with us while her parents are away."

"Nice to meet you," said Ianto. He turned back to Gwen. "Want to come and meet my cousin?"

"Okay." The three set off, Toshiko forced by the other people on the pavement to walk behind Gwen and her friend.

At the bus station, Ianto checked the arrivals board. "It'll be coming in over there," he said, pointing to their left. "Any time now." They walked in that direction and stopped near the coach stand. "Are you in the same form as Gwen?" he asked Toshiko, aware that he'd ignored her up until then.

"Yes. I started this year."

"Right. Like it?" He leant against the barrier.

"It's okay." She smiled, grateful for the attention. "How do you know Gwen?" she asked.

"We went to junior school together. I only live round the corner."

"Yeah, he got a scholarship to St John's," put in Gwen. "No living with him since then." She grinned her gap-toothed smile showing she wasn't serious. The coach arrived and, with a lot of noise, stopped. The passengers started to file off and Gwen asked, "Which one's your cousin?"

"Um, can't see him yet. He's kind of small," said the tall Ianto, peering over the girls' heads to spot him. "Ah, there he is. The one in the black jacket and jeans." He went forward calling, "Owen!"

The sandy-haired boy looked round and they saw his sharp-featured face for the first time. He was obviously relieved to see someone he knew. "Ianto," he said in a cockney accent that sounded alien among the rich Welsh voices around them. "Good to see you, mate." The two boys waited until Owen's bag was unloaded and then they came and joined the girls.

"Owen, this is Gwen and Toshiko. I used to go to school with Gwen. Girls, meet my cousin, Owen." They all said hello.

"How are you getting home?" asked Gwen. "Mum's in town and she's got the car. I'm sure she'd take you as well."

"I was going to get the bus but if she wouldn't mind, that'd be great," answered Ianto. He picked up Owen's bag. "I'll carry this for a bit."

"Thanks, mate." Owen smiled at Gwen. "So tell me about this Welsh wonderland of yours," he invited as they walked out onto the busy streets.

Ianto smiled at Toshiko, raised a wry eyebrow, and hefted the bag. "I guess we have to follow."

The four walked, in their pairs, up St Mary's Street and across to the car park. Owen and Gwen chattered non-stop but the press of other shoppers meant Toshiko and Ianto weren't able to join in; they walked together as much as they could and exchanged only a few words. When they got to the car park Mrs Cooper was nowhere to be seen so they stood to one side, out of the way of arriving and departing cars. Ianto gratefully put down the bag he had carried all the way from the bus station.

"Owen's been telling me about London," enthused Gwen to the others. "I'd love to go there. See all the sights: Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, go up Oxford Street. Oh, you are so lucky to live there."

"It's all right," he said off-handedly. "Least there's always something happening." He looked around as he said this and it was obvious he was not over-impressed with what he'd seen of Cardiff so far.

Gwen's face took on sour look that Ianto recognised from long ago. "There's things we can do around here," he said hastily. "Mam and Tad have got a trip planned too."

Mrs Cooper arrived at that moment and was introduced to Owen and readily agreed to give him and Ianto a lift home. With the bag and the shopping in the boot, Gwen took the front seat and the others were squeezed into the back of the small car. Ianto smiled apologetically at Toshiko when he swayed into her going round a corner and she smiled back. Owen never stopped talking, asking questions about everything he saw and comparing it, unfavourably, with London. Gwen was only stopped from making rude comments by her mother's presence.

The car drew up outside the Cooper house. Mrs Cooper was not a good driver and she had not wanted to tackle the rather steep approach to Ianto's home but this was no problem to the boys as it was only a short distance away. They unloaded the car and Ianto politely took in the shopping bags while Mrs Cooper put the car in the garage. Unfortunately, she got it at the wrong angle and could not seem to right it, even with the help of the others directing her. She was getting in quite a tizzy.

"Can I help, ma'am?" drawled a voice from the road.

Toshiko turned and her mouth dropped open. The boy standing there was older that she and Gwen, seventeen at least. He was tall and extremely good looking. At the moment he was smiling broadly and had a kindly look in his eye. His accent said he was American. Gwen seemed equally smitten, simpering at the newcomer. Owen looked put out.

Mrs Cooper, who was out of the car at that moment looking to see if she'd caught the paintwork, looked up. "I can't seem to get the car in the garage," she smiled, liking the look of the clean-cut young man who was so polite. "My husband will be very cross if I scratch the paintwork again."

"Then let me, ma'am. I passed my test a few months ago and Dad lets me drive his car. We just moved in over there," he said, indicating Monica's house where the removals van was still being unloaded.

Gwen was delighted with this news and simpered even more. The boy came forward, got into the driving seat and with a couple of deft manoeuvres parked the car in the garage. He was handing back the keys to Mrs Cooper, and receiving her profuse thanks, when Ianto emerged from the house having deposited the shopping.

Ianto stopped short. "Jack!" he said and blushed.

"Well, Ianto Jones," drawled the stranger, "fancy seeing you here." There was a moment's silence during which everyone else assumed Ianto would introduce them to the boy but he was too busy staring at his feet. "I guess I should introduce myself," the American went on, amused at the other boy's reaction. "I'm Jack Harkness. My folks have leased the house across the road."

"I'm Mrs Cooper and this is my daughter Gwen and her friend Toshiko Sato, who's staying with us at the moment. You seem to know Ianto and this is his cousin, Owen."

"Owen Harper," he said, sticking out a hand. "I'm just down for a holiday." He shook the other boy's hand. "I'm from the Smoke." He made this seem distinctly glamorous.

"Oh yeah. We were there for a few years before Dad ended up here. We were in Chelsea, where are you?"

Owen swallowed. "Nowhere so grand," he admitted. "Hackney."

"Okay," Jack acknowledged, amused and a little pleased to have bested the boy.

Ianto had recovered from his shock. "Jack's at the same school as me. Didn't know you were moving round here."

"Nor did I," laughed Jack, a deep welcoming sound that made the others smile. "House we were going to move into fell through at the last minute so Dad took this place for six months until Mom can find something more permanent. You live round here?"

"Yeah, King's Road. It's only a couple of streets away." He looked at Owen. "We ought to get going, Mam will be wondering where we are. Thanks for the lift, Mrs Cooper." Owen picked up his bag – Ianto was not going to carry it again - and the two boys moved off.

"I'll walk with you," said Jack, "may need to know where you are." He smiled when Ianto blushed again. Turning back to the others, he said, "Nice to have met you, ma'am, girls." With that he sauntered off with the boys and they were all soon lost to view.

In their bedroom that night, Gwen was doing press-ups while Toshiko lay on her bed reading. "That Jack's nice," said Gwen, puffing slightly. "I think we should invite him to come with us when we go swimming. He needs someone to show him around."

"Perhaps Ianto will do that," said her friend. "He seems to be his friend." She thought they might be very close friends.

"Huh, he's got that cousin of his. Bit of a bighead, wasn't he?" Gwen stopped her exercises and sat cross-legged on the floor.

"I expect he was just a bit lost, coming to a new place." Toshiko never liked thinking ill of anyone, though she had thought the boy was a bit rude.

"We can call round tomorrow, if you like. After church. Ask all three of them to come with us."

"Okay."

-ooOoo-

The swimming baths were busy on Monday afternoon. The four young people were splashing around in the shallow end, throwing a ball between them, when Gwen spotted a familiar figure. "Jack!" she shouted. "Jack! Over here!" He hadn't been in when they'd called on Sunday so they'd left a message with his mother inviting him to join them.

Jack looked around and saw her. He dived into an empty patch of water and in a few strokes was with them. "Hi there. Is it always this busy?"

"Only during the holidays. You swim well."

"Thanks. Did a lot of it as a kid. Want to race?" he grinned.

"Yeah!" The two headed off to the area reserved for serious swimmers and were soon ploughing up and down the pool, Gwen keeping up with the older and taller boy.

Ianto looked after them but then turned back to his remaining companions. He felt responsible for Owen, on his first trip to Wales, and liked the shy Toshiko. "Hey, catch," he called to her and threw the ball. She caught it and threw it to Owen and they continued to play around until they got cold.

Gwen and Jack left the water about the same time. She was tired, having swum further and for longer than she'd planned; she'd have her work cut out keeping up with the American boy. After getting changed, they all went to the milk bar for a drink and discovered he had a younger brother, Gray, but no sister which wasn't as disappointing as she had expected. It was late afternoon when they caught the bus back to Penarth and walked up the hill.

"Why don't you all come to my house?" invited Gwen. "We can hang out in the garden. Have an ice-cream."

"Okay," agreed Jack easily.

"Fine," said Ianto and Owen nodded.

They trooped into the garden and Gwen went indoors to get ice creams. She reappeared a moment later, pale faced. "Come quick, it's Mam!" Inside they found Mrs Cooper at the bottom of the stairs, crumpled in a heap and unconscious. The family dog was at her side, whimpering. "What should we do?"

Owen knelt beside the woman, checking her pulse and examining her. "Don't move her, she's broken her leg. Get a blanket to keep her warm. Gwen, phone for an ambulance and then let your father know." Owen obviously knew what he was doing and the others scattered to do his bidding.

Gwen found she was shaking too much to use the telephone so Jack took over and called the ambulance and Mr Cooper. Toshiko returned with the blanket and wrapped it round the still woman. Ianto took the dog out to his kennel and waited outside to direct the ambulance when it arrived. Jack sat Gwen down and kept an arm round her for warmth and comfort. The ambulance and Mr Cooper arrived within minutes of one another and in a very short time Mrs Cooper was taken to hospital.

"Gwen, I'm going with the ambulance," said Mr Cooper. "I'll call when I know anything. Will you and Toshiko be all right on your own?"

"Don't worry, sir. I can stay with them and if necessary they can come to my house later, Mom won't mind." Jack was reassuring and Mr Cooper accepted the offer gratefully having met and liked Mr and Mrs Harkness. He went off immediately, leaving the stunned children.

Ianto looked at Jack and they seemed to understand what needed to be done without words. "Let's have that ice cream," Ianto said, "and it's too nice a day to be stuck indoors."

"Absolutely. Come on," agreed Jack. Five minutes later they were in the garden, Gwen on the swing and the others on the grass around her. "You know about first aid then, Owen?" asked Jack.

"Train with the St John's Ambulance," he replied, between licks of his ice. "Every Thursday night. We get to do all sorts. Broken legs are easy."

"Well I think you were wonderful," said Toshiko quietly. "I wouldn't have known what to do." She looked at Owen under her eyelashes; he had gone up in her estimation.

"Difficult ones is heart attacks. You have to be real careful of them."

"I can imagine."

Jack spotted the tennis court marked out on the grass in a corner of the garden. "How about a game of tennis?"

He stood up and the others joined him at the court. Gwen was reluctant at first but then she forgot her anxiety for her mother and became very competitive. Jack and Ianto played Gwen and Owen with Toshiko (who disliked competitive games) umpiring. They had a furious few sets with Jack and Ianto winning by three sets to two. They returned to the house for much needed lemonade and were there when Mr Cooper telephoned. He would be at the hospital for another few hours as his wife had a compound fracture that needed an operation. Jack assured him that the girls would be welcome at his house until he returned.

They locked up the house and went back outside. "Let us know how your mother is, Gwen," said Ianto as they said goodbye outside Jack's house.

"I will. And, Owen, thanks for looking after her so well." She smiled at the Londoner; maybe he wasn't so bad.

-ooOoo-

Next morning, Toshiko woke before Gwen and lay quietly enjoying the sunlight filtering through the window. The girls had stayed with the Harknesses until 21.00. Mr and Mrs Harkness had made them feel very welcome and given them supper. When Mr Cooper had finally got home it was with the good news that the operation had been a success but the bad news that Mrs Cooper would be in hospital for at least two weeks. This was a blow as it was bound to curtail the girls' freedom.

Later, over breakfast, Mr Cooper said, "How would you like to spend a couple of weeks in the Brecon Beacons, girls?"

They looked at one another. "The Beacons?" queried Gwen.

"Yes. I spoke to Mrs Jones last night, told her about your mother being in hospital. She said that Ianto and his cousin were going to spend a couple of weeks there, staying with her sister on a farm. Seems there's plenty of room and instead of waiting until the weekend they could go today if you'd like to join them."

"What about you, Dad?"

"Well, sweetheart, it would help me a lot. I'm busy at the office and I'd want to visit your mother too, in the evenings. If you'd rather not go with Ianto, I'll have to ask your Auntie Mary to come and stay here."

Gwen pulled a face. "Oh, not Auntie Mary, Dad. She's ever so strict!"

He laughed. "I know. That's why I thought this trip to the Beacons sounded ideal. I understand the young American boy is going too."

Gwen's eyes lit up and she stole a glance at Toshiko. "Then we'll go, if you're sure you'll be able to manage on your own."

"I can do that. Is that all right with you, Toshiko?"

"Yes, Mr Cooper. I've never been to the Beacons."

"In that case, I'll ring Mrs Jones before I leave for work. You'll be leaving this afternoon, on the train. I'll ask her to pop over and talk to you about what to take with you and then she'll give you lunch and get you to the station." He sat back and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "I'm sorry you won't be able to see your mother before you go but she's not well enough today. I'll ring, though, and let you know how she's getting on."

"Of course, Dad, I understand. And give her my love when you see her."

The girls spent the morning cleaning the house so it was spick and span for Mr Cooper. Mrs Jones came over later and together they went through their clothes and picked what to take with them for the two week stay. They locked the house and walked back to the Jones home. They had lunch with Ianto and Owen before Jack joined them. It was an excited group which caught the bus to town and went into the station. The train left on time, Ianto and Gwen hanging out of the window waving goodbye to Mrs Jones until the train went round a corner and they could not see her any longer. The five of them had a compartment to themselves and they spread themselves out and talked.

"This is exciting, having a holiday with all of you. I mean, I'm sorry for Mam, of course, but this is much better than just hanging around Cardiff." Gwen was sitting in the corner seat by the window, next to Jack.

"Where exactly are we going, Ianto?" Jack asked.

"Trecastle. It's only a village but it's quite nice. Uncle Bryn and Aunt Nerys are meeting us in Brecon. They're there for the market today."

"What sort of farm?" asked Owen suspiciously. "Will there be animals?"

Ianto laughed. "Of course! It's sheep mainly, with some cows and goats. Oh and a few chickens and a couple of horses." Ianto was not sure how well Owen would fit in, he was very much a city boy.

"Horses?" asked Jack, a gleam in his eye. "For riding?"

"Yes. Do you ride?" asked Ianto, looking across at Jack.

Toshiko thought it was silly for them to sit opposite one another - they were both so tall their legs kept tangling - but they had arranged it that way. She was in the other window seat and Owen was nearest the door, next to Ianto. Like Owen, she had never been on a farm and was a bit nervous but didn't say anything.

"Yep, did a bit in Wyoming when we were up there." His family moved around a lot.

"I hope we don't have to ride horses everywhere," said Owen plaintively. All except Toshiko laughed.

"No, there's a bus. And there are tractors and cars on the farm." Ianto did his best to reassure Owen; his mother had told him to look out for the Londoner.

"Are there any other children?" asked Gwen.

"No. There's Rhys. He helps around the farm, doing odd jobs. He's okay but he'll be too busy to bother us."

Owen was pretty sure this holiday would be awful but decided he couldn't do much about it. He pulled a battered mouth-organ from his pocket and began to play Old MacDonald had a Farm and the others laughed again before starting to sing. They sang all the way to Brecon and then piled off with their bags. Ianto spotted his Aunt Nerys and introduced the others before they all went off to find Uncle Bryn.

In the next chapter, the adventure begins ...