Story Notes: I planned this chapter vigorously, so I hope this flows well. At least this chapter is longer than the other two. I have a new secret weapon to help get me in the mood for writing and encourage me to write. It's called . This site allows you to look at ambient sounds, and they can be adjusted. For example, if the mixer includes the sound of crowds, you can easily remove it to focus on the natural sounds. I found some fantastic sea and dock sounds to write this sequence. Anyways please enjoy this chapter and Favourite, follow and review.

Chapter Summary: Tintin organises a holiday, but when he receives a call from a concerned citizen, can he resist the temptation of one more adventure?

Suggested Music

1. And We Run (Instrumental) - Within Temptation

2. The Purge (Instrumental) - Within Temptation

3. Shed My Skin (Instrumental) - Within Temptation

Three Days Later.

9 pm

A nice holiday.

Tintin took Julian's advice and booked a holiday for all of them. They needed a break, all of them, including the Professor.

After half packing his case, he took a brief moment to sit down to start writing at his desk. After a few minutes, all he could hear was the sound of Snowy snoring at the edge of the bed.

Tintin smiled and kept going.

Time for a new start.

Before Tintin could continue, a knock came across his partly open door. Haddock quickly peeked his head around the door.

"Tintin, there's a call for you,"

"Who?"

"Someone called Mancini,"

Tintin frowned and rushed downstairs to the hallway.

I don't know anyone by that name, Tintin thought as he picked up the telephone.

"Hello?"

"Mr Tintin, apologies for calling at this hour. Mr name is Mr Mancini, and I come to you with an odd request,"

Interesting.

"Okay ... tell me more,"

"I've witnessed some suspicious activity down at the docks,"

I can't do this again. I left journalism so I could start fresh.

Don't be taken in

"Mr Mancini, have you spoken to the police about your concerns?"

"I've tried, twice in fact. They won't listen. I've heard of you and what you've done,"

Tintin paused.

I shouldn't ...

But I can't help it...

Biting his bottom lip, he exhaled, allowing his mind to overtake his body.

One last time...

"Tell me more, what sort of Suspicious activity?"

"The Francescini is accepting a large number of packages and people. I know the crew on that ship. and it's Captain, who's now missing,"

Tintin kept his head firmly upon the phone, allowing his curiosity to get the better of him.

9 minutes later, he made his decision.

I'll go and observe...

Unwilling to wake up Snowy, he left him asleep on the bed and quickly skipped down the stairs with his jacket under his arm. As Haddock exited the living room and leaned against the door, Tintin decided to be honest.

"I'm going out for a bit,"

"At this hour?" Haddock questioned, glancing down at his watch.

His friend's concern made him smile

"I just need to check a few things,"

"Be careful. These country roads aren't well lit,"

"Thanks," Tintin smiled. As he grabbed the keys for his scooter, he paused and turned back to Haddock.

"Haddock, have you heard of a ship called the Francescini?"

Haddock frowned, and his eye's remained empty of thought. As he shook his head, Tintin bit his lip. He assumed that due to his ship travels, he may know something, ideally the identity of the Captain. It could have been the start he needed, but it wasn't to be.

"It doesn't ring a bell. Why?"

"Someone's noticed something suspicious at the docks,"

Haddock immediately raised his head and stared at him in surprise.

"I hope you're not .."

"I'm just going to observe,"

Haddock shook his head, running his hand across his forehead, clearly not convinced.

"Are you capable of that?" Haddock asked, chuckling as he did so.

"Of course," Tintin replied quietly, unable to convince himself of his skills.

"At this time of night. Wouldn't it be better to do this during the day?"

"Don't worry. I'll be fine,"

As the main doors shut behind him, his long strides disappeared. His long fingers fumbled in an ill-fated attempt to fasten his helmet, as his thought processes overtook him once again.

I'm just watching.

x

Tintin pulled up and hid his scooter out of sight several streets back, unwilling to disturb the activity if there was any. Echoes of Ship horns pulsed through the streets and into his ears. He gazed around to find the street completely devoid of people. Only his breath escaped his lips to form a cloud in front of his eyes. He wandered down the street as normal as possible, but still kept his head down for fear he would be spotted. As he passed under the final lit lamp, he paused at the corner as another blast of a ship horn thundered through the street, followed by bells ringing. He peered around the corner and his eyes widened in shock.

"Mancini was right," Tintin whispered.

A large group of men moved within the darkness with only a speck of light from the lamp above to work with.

With any luck I won't be noticed at all, Tintin thought as he scraped a hand through his hair and dived for cover behind another box. Getting down onto his knees, he crawled across to a lower box to get a better view regardless of the grit and dust transferring onto his long black trousers and long-sleeved blue shirt. Voices called from the men as they winched another box onto the deck of the ship.

"Hurry up!"

The shout made Tintin freeze.

I know that voice ... Why?

"These are the last boxes, sir," Called another.

Knowing that in a short time he would have little cover, he slipped in darkness across to one box still obscured by the dark. The box in question was badly damaged, and as the others joined together to remove another container, Tintin made quick work of the weak wood. With a few grunts, the material gave way. An unnatural object toppled out.

What the...

The familiar clang of metal on metal made his skin crawl.

Guns.

His stomach clenched in fear as he grasped the object in his hands. Tintin never liked to use a gun, but he'd nearly always had to make do. These were not normal guns though, not the kind he was used to.

Gunrunning.

So much for just observing.

Haddock is right. I'm not capable of simply observing, Tintin thought as one of the men turned towards him. He dived for cover, holding his hand across his mouth to prevent any sound from escaping.

Mr Mancini was right...

I need to call the police.

Tintin slowly backed away and stood up.

He paused as footsteps approached, only just managing to get back to the end of the street as one of the men came the same way. He looked in all directions with squinted eye's, then returned to his position.

Tintin breathed with relief, but at that key moment, he let his guard down. Before he had the chance to move, a solid object collided with the back of his head, and he fell to the ground. Exposed the all the men all of his options shrunk second by second as they approached and surrounded him.

"Looks like we've got a peeping tom, lads,"

They all chuckled as the man pulled out a knife. Tintin attempted to pull himself up but the man kicked him hard then threw him against the larger of the boxes. As he fell into the light another voice shouted into the night.

"What are you doing? Get on with your work! Who's that?"

Tintin stared upwards at the man on the deck with his hands wrapped around the bars.

His eyes narrowed, absorbing the accented voice addressing the men.

He's American ... What on earth is going on?

"Caught him loitering, opened one of the containers. I was just about to silence him," He chuckled.

Tintin's hands shook as the knife glinted in the light.

"WAIT!"

Another man walked out onto the deck.

"You said no witnesses," The American argued.

"Tintin is the exception. I want him to suffer, Get him on board,"

Will it go to plan? Tune in next time to find out? I didn't expect this to be quite long, but the outline proved me wrong. The story may end up as long as the Bordurian Conspiracy. I wanted Tintin to be completely on his own in this story, without even Snowy. The idea with Allan, in the last chapter, was partly inspired by the second nightmare story. I liked the idea of writing it into this story. This time Tintin is much more suspicious of Allan's motives, and I can't wait for everyone to read the new chapter. Please Read, Review, Follow and Favourite.