Yay an update... or is it? Mwhahahahah. Nah it is I'm just messing with ya OR AM I!

Flight 417 to England

Tintin was pacing and Snowy growing bored of watching his friend wear the carpet to a thread had fallen asleep. After their escape from the building site the pair of them had made their way back to Marlinspike, although after hearing that it was being watched they had been careful. True to the thugs word the historic building was indeed being watched, and it was all Tintin had been able to do to get near without being spotted.

The house had been dark, not a single light on anywhere to suggest that the Captain, Calculus or even Nestor were around and so Tintin had booked himself into a small hotel a few miles away. He had thought about returning to his own apartment but after a moments thought decided that probably wasn't the best course of action.

Since he'd been shown into his room he'd been periodically phoning Marlinspike hoping against hope that one of his friends would answer. His calls were met with nothing but silence however and he was starting to worry he was never going to see his friends again. The young reporter stopped his pacing at the small grimy window and leant his head against the cool glass; outside it was dark. The storm clouds that had been overhead all day had finally departed leaving a brilliant full moon slowly rising in the sky.

"Where are you Captain?" Tintin asked himself almost sadly.

He started suddenly not believing his eyes there across the street coming out of a seedy looking pub was Captain Haddock. The sea captain looked dishevelled; his clothes rumpled and dirty looking, as Tintin watched a smile creeping across his face his friend pulled out his pipe and started to light it.

Pulling away from the window Tintin dashed for the door and out into the corridor not wanting to loose his friend now that he'd found him again, behind him Snowy yipped and darted after his master.

Xxx

Outside Haddock pulled the collar of his jacket up against the cold and started off down the street, another dead end and he was despairing of ever finding Tintin or Snowy. He'd woken to find the pair of them had vanished and had immediately set about trying to discover where they could have gone. Then a few hours later two black sedans had appeared outside his gates and he could tell they meant no good.

Alerting Calculus and Nestor the trio had made their way out of the back entrance and off through the woods, cutting around and eventually heading into town where they'd holed up at a local Inn. Since then Haddock had carried on his search for his young friend with no success.

Sighing in exasperation he drew on his pipe savouring the taste.

"Captain!"

Haddock blinked; now he was hearing thing's being on edge for so long was setting his nerves on fire.

"Captain! Your ok!"

No mistaking it this time, turning his head he spotted a familiar figure running towards him with a small dog at his feet.

"TINTIN MY LAD!"

Catching him up the pair of them grinned at each other the relief evident in their faces that each was ok.

"Tintin what happened? Where did you go? Where have you been?"

Smiling the reporter held up his hands to stall the rapid set of questions.

"It's a long story Captain and perhaps in the middle of the street at night isn't the best place to tell it."

Xxx

Minutes later the pair of them were ensconced in Tintin's hotel room. The pair of them were sitting by the fire, Haddock smoking his pipe and Tintin staring into the flames; at their feet Snowy lay snuffling now and then as he slept.

"Finally I stole a car and made my way back into town, before checking out Marlinspike Hall, but as I feared it was being watched and I was sure that the thugs had broken in and well..."

Haddock nodded.

"Blistering Barnacles, so this organization is after a treasure and they think they are going to find another clue in London?"

Tintin nodded. "Yes as I was trying to find my way out of the building I found a room with research on the stone and managed to translate those symbols, but I also found out there's another bigger stone in the Natural History Museum in London and it has the same writing.

"So you think those lion people are going to try and steal this second stone?"

"No I don't think so, the stone looks quite big even on the brochure I found, but they are obviously looking for another clue and this stone must hold the secret."

"So I take it your heading to London then?"

Tintin nodded slowly.

"You and your nose for a story are going to get yourself into trouble one of these days."

The Captain scowled and took another puff on his pipe. Tintin looked hurt and was silent for a moment before voicing his next question.

"So...You won't come with me?"

"Go after a clearly dangerous organization bent on getting their hands on something they believe is worth killing for? Ten thousand thundering typhoons Tintin you must think I'm crazy."

Tintin was silent he knew the Captain well enough to know he wasn't going to change his mind.

"Very well, just make sure you keep yourself, Professor Calculus and Nestor safe."

Standing Tintin stretched and called to Snowy.

"What! You're leaving now?"

"Yes, I want to get there before Panthera claustrum do."

Turning he headed out of the door leaving a frowning Captain Haddock behind.

Xxx

A few hours later

Tintin had managed to book himself onto a flight bound for London, however it didn't leave until the early hours of the morning. The reporter had found himself something to eat and drink and then tried to catch a few hours sleep before the flight. The stress of the past day had worn him out and he was glad to be able to relax if only for a little while.

Before making his way to the airport he'd risked returning to his apartment to gather a few things. It didn't seem like the place was being watched and after observing the area for at least half an hour he'd finally decided that it was safe enough to go in.

He woke with a start as someone sat down heavily next to him and turned to give the person an annoyed stare only to find...

"Captain Haddock!"

The Captain stared at him with a small smile of resignation.

"If you think you're going up against a deadly organization on your own you can forget it my boy!"

Snowy yipped happily glad to see the Captain here; Tintin smiled and shook the Captains hand.

"I don't know what I was thinking."

Over the airports speaker system a voice called out.

"Passenger's booked on the 417 Flight to London England please report to gate 21, repeat all passengers's booked on flight 417 please report to gate 21 your flight is now boarding.

TBC