It was 5.00 pm and Virgil was standing in the opulent lounge of Lady Penelope's mansion, gazing at one of the portraits that adorned the walls. But it wasn't one of the Creighton-Ward ancestors he was admiring; he was looking at his brother John. "What if…?"
"No. You are not going to fly back to the island now. The winds are still too strong. It's not safe."
Virgil frowned. "You're not Scott, John. Don't try to second guess me."
"I'm not reading your mind, Virgil." John's frown matched his brother's, as the door to the lounge opened and someone entered. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what you're planning."
"Rocket scientist?" Virgil looked round. "Well here's one now. What do you think, Brains? Should…"
"N-No, Virgil. I don't think you should fly h-home. Not if John says it isn't safe."
"Huh?" Virgil stared at him. "How'd you know…?"
"Th-This is an old house," Brains explained. "The doors don't shut p-properly. I heard wh-what you were talking about."
"I beg your pardon!" Lady Penelope sounded indignant as she entered the room, followed by Tin-Tin and Parker. "I take great care to maintain the family home. And I can assure you that all the doors close securely. Is that not right, Parker?"
"Yes, M'lady," Parker agreed. "We 'ad the man come h-and check 'em last month."
Lady Penelope fixed Brains with an expression that dared him to disagree with her.
"See, Virgil," John said. "Brains agrees with me. It's too dangerous for you to go."
"I wasn't planning on taking Brains and Tin-Tin. I was going to go by myself."
Now Tin-Tin was looking indignant. "Excuse me? May I remind you, Virgil Tracy, that my father is back on the island too! If you go I go…"
"No way, Tin-Tin. Not if there's any chance…"
"No one's going if there's any chance!" John snapped. "Not until it's safe."
"John!" Virgil protested.
"I'm not letting you risk your neck when I don't know what's happened to everyone else!" John informed him. "Do you think I enjoy staying up here alone on Thunderbird Five, not knowing what's happened to our family? At least when Sylvia passes by you'll be able to fly home. I've got to wait until I hear back from you. Even then I could be stuck up here if something's happened to Thunderbird Three. As much as I would love to walk out of an airlock and free-fall home, the laws of physics won't allow it and common sense tells me it's a stupid idea. If I can wait, then so can you."
"If I leave now you won't have to wait so long," Virgil persisted.
"I promised Dad that if you take so much as one step towards Thunderbird Two before it's safe, I'm to stop you, Virgil."
Virgil gave a sharp laugh. "How, John? As you said you're stuck on Thunderbird Five."
"I'll let Lady Penelope know what you've got planned and she'll deck you with a flying tackle."
"I do not 'tackle' anyone," Lady Penelope informed him. "I have more refined means of restraining miscreants."
"Okay then," John conceded. "Penny will tell Parker to tackle you."
Parker rolled his eyes skyward.
"And if I'm too quick for them?" Virgil asked.
"I'll lock Thunderbird Two down remotely."
The suggestion rocked Virgil slightly. "You wouldn't dare."
"Wouldn't I? What do you think I'm doing now?" John punched a code into a terminal. "There! One more button and you won't be able to get anywhere near Thunderbird Two."
"You're bluffing, John," Virgil challenged. "You've just dialled our Kansas number into the 'phone link."
John returned the volley. "It's the same number as the lockdown code."
"I don't believe you. Besides, if you enter that lockdown code you'd be cutting off your own nose," Virgil reminded him. "I know one half of the unlock code and the other half is in the safe at home. You lock down Two and you won't find out what's happened to the family until we've made the long, slow flight in a conventional plane."
"I've got the other half of the code up here. You won't be going anywhere until I give it to you."
The two brothers glared at each other in a stalemate as everyone else looked on. Then Virgil gave a sigh and sagged into one of the overstuffed chairs. "Okay, John. You win. I'll wait until Sylvia's moved away from the island."
John eyed him uncertainly. "Promise? You're not going to sneak out while no one's looking."
"Scout's honour." Virgil looked dejected.
Lady Penelope sat in the seat opposite Virgil. "You have made a promise, Virgil, and I expect you to keep it," she warned. "The sounds of the M25 masks the noise your Thunderbird makes during the day, but at night the whole countryside can hear it. It would be most tiresome if the county learnt who we were just because you chose to make a foolhardy dash for home."
She could see exhaustion and worry etched into Virgil's face. "You have my word, Penny. I won't be leaving until John gives me the all clear."
"Good," she said.
John took pity on his younger brother. "Look, Virgil, I'll make you a deal. Cyclone Sylvia's on the move. She's going to be losing steam pretty soon. Wait 24 hours and then, whatever the weather's like, I'll agree to let you fly home."
Virgil looked at him. "Do you mean that?" He looked at his watch. "24 hours is a long time."
"But I'll only let you go on one condition," John clarified. "How much sleep have you had since you arrived in England?"
"Not much," Virgil admitted.
"You mean you've had none. You look as shot as I feel. I'll let you go in 24 hours, as long as you've had a good sleep tonight. If there's any sort of foul weather about you'll want to be strong enough, mentally and physically, to deal with it."
"Fair enough," Virgil admitted and rubbed his eyes. "Hadn't you better hang up the 'phone, John?"
John gave a guilty smile and pushed a button. "How'd you know that was what I dialled?"
Virgil tapped the side of his head. "You're tired too, John, and you've forgotten I've got an ear for music. I know that combination of notes well, I rang it often enough to get you or Scott to pick me up from music practice. Also, I know you! There's no way you'd enter that code until you were sure it was absolutely necessary."
"Guilty," John managed a grin. "It was the only number I could think of at short notice."
Virgil looked at his watch again. "Well… If I'm flying out of here in 23 point nine six hours, I'd better try to get some sleep. If you'll all excuse me…" He levered himself out of the chair. "Good night, everyone," he said as he left the room.
Parker watched him go. "But h-it's only 'alf five. What about dinner, M'Lady. 'E's gonna miss it."
"What Virgil needs now is sleep," Lady Penelope reminded him. "He'll have plenty of time tomorrow to obtain the sustenance he'll need for the flight home." She turned back to John. "Do you think you have made the right decision, my dear boy? What if this cyclone hasn't passed by the time Thunderbird Two reaches Tracy Island?"
"I know Virgil, Penny. As long as he's not tired and is able to think clearly he won't take any unnecessary chances. If things are too rough he'll hover above the cyclone until he's able to land safely. I'm pretty sure that he found that flight out from home more frightening than he's let on."
Virgil stuck his head back in through the door. "Did not," he said and gave them a tired smile. "Brains is right, Penny. This door isn't shutting properly. Don't worry about breakfast for me, Parker. I'll get it myself." He disappeared again.
Lady Penelope gave a sigh. "Parker…"
"H-I'll see to it h'in the mornin', M'lady."
To be continued…