2: The Bouncy Castle of Inflatable Doom
The Captain made it downstairs in fifteen minutes. In that time, the bouncy castle was half-inflated and the caterers had arrived and were arguing with Nestor. Tintin had pulled on an old pair of running shoes and a coat with a hood, and was outside in the rain trying to stop the men from putting up the bouncy castle. The Captain wound his way through the arguing cooks, who were no doubt spoiling the broth, down the stairs, passed the excitable dog, to where the teenager stood beside the drooping, grey structure.
"Blistering barnacles, it's supposed to be a spooky castle," the Captain said, dismayed.
"It will be when we finish putting it up," one of the delivery men said, annoyed. Tintin had taken the hose out of the plug and was demanding they turn off the air.
"I don't want it put up!" the Captain cried. "It's not going here! Why would you think it's going here?" He gestured to the front of the stately manor. It went without saying that a giant inflatable castle would be slightly out of place here.
"How am I supposed to know?"
"I told you it wasn't going here," Tintin interrupted.
"Hush, you," the Captain said. "Go back inside and I'll sort this out. You'll catch your death out here. You two," he continued, turning back to the two delivery men, "take that thing down and put it back on your truck. It's going out in the back woods, down near the meadow."
"Where exactly?"
"I'll show you where, but it isn't going up yet. I need the marquee before it goes up. Can you excuse me? I have to go and sort the food."
"Captain, look," Tintin said, pointing towards the driveway. A short, white mini-bus was coming, led by a dark green car. "I think your students have arrived."
"Oh, for crying out loud, why does everything happen at once?" the Captain asked plaintively. "You two! Stop pumping that damned thing up! Take it down!"
"I'll go and deal with the caterers and Nestor," Tintin said, "and you deal with your professor, yes?"
"Fine." The Captain set his jaw and strode over to where the green car had parked. An older man in his middle fifties was getting out of the driver's seat. He wore a rain coat over a hooded jacket and khakis, and a pair of sturdy boots. On his head was a floppy-brimmed, ancient fedora hat. He was accompanied by a younger woman in her early forties who was dressed similarly, minus the hat.
"Captain Haddock?" the man asked.
"You must be Professor Fort," the Captain said, holding out his hands. "I'm just dealing with something here…"
Professor Fort looked over the Captain's shoulder, where the bouncy castle was slowly inflating again. "Yes, you look, er, busy."
The Captain turned and saw the castle going back up. "Oh for the love of…! Take it down!" he bawled. "Take the flaming thing down, by thunder, or I'll shove that hose up your ar" –
"Do you mind if we just go straight to the dig site?" Professor Fort asked loudly.
"What? Oh, no; no. Go ahead. You, er, you know where it is?" the Captain asked as he started jogging back to the bouncy castle.
"Yes, your butler sent us a detailed topographical map of the house and its grounds: I'm almost positive I know exactly where I'm going."
"Good stuff. Er, good luck, mate. Someone will be down to check on you in a while, I'm sure."
"Thank you, Captain, and thank you for your generosity."
"Don't mention it. I said take it down! Down! Thundering typhoons, put it back in your truck and get it out of here!"
Professor Fort shrugged at his companion. "There we are, my dear Doctor Lindy: permission to sally forth. Shall we go, my worthy friend?"
"Whatever you say, Professor." They got back into the car and reversed to where the mini-bus was idling at the end of the driveway. Slowly, both vehicles drove off around the side of the house, the bus following the car. Inside the hall, Tintin finally persuaded Nestor to allow the caterers into the kitchens. It was, he felt, shaping up to be a long day.