Chapter 2
They drove out of the city and took the M4. "Ddwued wrthyf! Tell me, where are we going!" said the Welsh man. "Again, no! It´s a surprise!" – "You know I hate surprises?" – "Yes!", said Jack smiling. "I really hope for your life that we are not going to stay somewhere in the country! You remember our trip with the team?" – "Yes, quite well, but don´t talk about work now. Just for this week it´s only me and you and not the team", said Jack thoughtfully.
Ianto opened one of the travel bottles, took a big sip of coffee and then looked at Jack and then out of the window as they drove. Just the two of them, alone.
Nobody said a word for about ten minutes. Ianto was happy but also a bit furious due to the suprise Jack made of their destination. They reached Newport. As they drove on a bridge above a river Jack asked: "What´s that river called?" - "It´s the River Usk", aswered Ianto. "Sounds Russian to me. Are you sure?", said Jack rolling the R. "Yes, the Welsh name is Afon Wysg. But they chose a simpler name for the official maps because not everyone speaks Welsh." "Like me! Welsh sometimes sounds like Russian or an alien language. Still it sounds sexy, especially when you speak it", said Jack with a big smile on his face. "Sir!", Ianto blushed. "I told you a thousand times, it´s Jack for you!", said the driver hitting his co-driver´s shoulder.
"Are you always listening to the radio in the car?", Ianto wanted to know. "Yes, I don´t really care about it, when I am driving I often have other things in mind than the music in the background." "Iawn, so I guess you won´t complain if I choose the music?", asked the boy in suit. "No, it´s alright with me." "I have to confess that I brought some records of my collection", said Ianto grabbing into his backpack. He produced about 20 CDs from it. He looked at them thoughtfully, chose one after looking at each CD twice and put it into the CD-slot. The music started with a wild piano solo. Some spacey noises started and an electric guitar took over. A man began to sing passionately. "... death on two legs. You tearing me apart...", sang the man. "Let me guess. That´s Queen, innit it?", Jack asked delighted. "Yes, and if you can already name the album you get something special later...", Ianto hinted. "Well, give me one more song and I will tell you!", Jack chafferd. "Okay, I do have pity." The next song again started with a piano solo but it was some kind of ragtime tune. "I would dare saying it´s A Night At The Opera", Jack presumed. "Of course it is. The Deluxe Edition... As promised you get your surprise. You will receive the first part right away", said Ianto cheerfully and kissed Jack´s left cheek.
"So, the next song is about cars. Well, but listen! I will improve this song a bit for you", said Ianto cunningly. He put his finger on the pause button and pressed it after the first lines of the song. "The machine of a dream, such a clean machine", Roger Taylor sang. "The man of a dream, such a clean shaven man", Ianto sang. "With the pistons a pumpin', and the hubcaps all gleam. When I'm holding your wheel, All I hear is your gear, When my hand's on your grease gun, Oh it's like a disease son", the drummer sang. "With the coat trembling and the hair all great. When I´m holding your hand, All I hear is your heart, When my lips are on yours, Oh it´s like a disease man", Ianto smirked. "I'm in love with my car, gotta feel for my automobile, Get a grip on my boy racer rollbar, Such a thrill when your radials squeal", Taylor sang. "I´m in love with my Jack, gotta feel for my pretty chief, Get a grip on my man´s crispy arse, Such a thrill when he touches myself." "Oh my god stop it!", Jack said laughing. "Didn´t you like it?" "Yes, but now it gets quite offensive and I am sitting here with my seatbelt on, behind the stirring wheel and need to concentrate on the road. And you tell me things like that. This wears out my self-control. We will surly continue this at the next stop", Jack said putting his left hand on Ianto´s knee. "So we will arrive soon?", Ianto guessed. "No, just a break. I planned everything in detail so we won´t miss a thing", Jack told him. "That´s not fair. I don´t want to be surprised, tell me, where are we going?", the Welsh boy insisted. "No!"
They had already left the M4 and drove through a city called Magor. Even Ianto never heard of it. They followed the B4245. Then they reached Caldicot. At some point Jack turned left. When they had left the last houses behind a castle was visible at the horizon. "We are going to visit that castle?", Ianto asked. "Yes, you getting faster, Watson. And that castle is called Caldicot Castle", Jack responded. "I thought you don´t like medieval things", said the co-driver. "Well not in general, but castles near the sea are something completely different…" "I see, this is an exception. And it doesn´t have to do anything with my passion for castles", Ianto smirked. "You got me there!"
