DISCLAIMER: I do not, have not, and will not ever, never, never, ever own The Adventures of Tintin. The stories and characters are purely owned by Herge :)
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter. The number of rain falling from the sky was slowing to a drizzle as the Captain and Snowy searched the streets for Tintin.
It was close to 9pm when the two entered the alley way where Tintin disappeared.
"Tintin's apartment is just around the corner Snowy, if he's not there then I don't know where he'd be" the Captain told Snowy as the little fox terrier glued his nose to the floor trying to pick up the familiar scent of his master.
Then suddenly Snowy's fluffy white ears pricked up as he turned his head to the right. He had found Tintin's scent and followed his nose to the end of the narrow alleyway.
"Snowy, what is it boy? Your place is this way ain't it?" the Captain asked feeling a little confused.
Snowy growled as he put his nose to the floor again: another scent. And it wasn't Tintin's. He barked at Haddock and continued trotting along the lane, following the two scents.
"Snowy, what's gotten into you? Do you smell something? Is it Tintin?" the Captain asked. What am I doing? He's a dog. He doesn't have a clue what I'm saying!
Snowy growled again at the sight of some shiny liquid on the ground, almost completely washed away by the rain, and then he suddenly darted to the middle of the alley. Captain Haddock bent down and rubbed the liquid between his fingers and smelt it.
"Hmm…motor oil!" he exclaimed. "A trail of it. All along the road. Someone's got a hole in their motor".
Snowy came trotting back into view carrying something long and black in his mouth which he dropped at the Captain's feet.
"Tintin's torch?" the Captain said suspiciously. "What's it doing here? He must've dropped it on the way home or..." the Captain paused as he considered what might've happened to his young friend. "Or he never even made it home. Snowy, here boy" the Captain whistled at Snowy who was busy picking up the scent again. "Can you er, try and find Tintin's scent? I don't like this. The lad's in trouble and it's up to us to find him!"
Snowy barked in agreement and stuck his trusty nose to the ground searching for his master's scent. Snowy's nose lead him to the drizzle of motor oil on the road next to the alley. Snowy followed the trial of oil until Tintin's scent faded away completely. Snowy barked and the Captain took that as a sign that the scent was lost.
"Well Snowy looks like this motor oil is the only clue we've got. Well now if I was Tintin I'd probably go with my gut, and my gut is telling me that this trail is rather significant. Wow, I do a pretty good impression eh Snowy old boy? Ok, so the plan is to follow the drizzle of oil, and pray to God it will lead us to Tintin, wherever he is".
Snowy barked in agreement and the two, guided by the trail of oil, walked through the drizzling rain to an unknown destination.
Knock, knock, knock. It wasn't much of a super-secret knock like the ones you see in the pictures, but at least it separates friends from foes, a tall Frenchman thought as he knocked on the dark wood of a large double-door entrance. A little slit near the top of one door opened to reveal a pair of dark eyes looking the Frenchman up and down. After confirming that Moreau was a friend, the man behind the door clicked several locks and opened the door wide.
"Bienvenue frère Moreau! It has been too long!" the bouncer exclaimed. "I hope you bring good news though" he said with a more solemn tone. "The directéur is not, how you say, on cloud 8 at this moment in time".
"Actually frère Leveque it's cloud 9, and don't worry about the directéur. I expect he will be very pleased with the information I have to present. Now grant me entry before the rain picks up again" Moreau replied.
With that Leveque stood aside to let Moreau in before he cautiously peeked outside and resealed the many locks. Moreau shook the excess water off his black coat and hung it on a nearby rack. It really had been too long since he stepped foot in this building. The grand foyer was dimly lit with candles, lining the walls in a perfect line, just like he remembered it. Directly ahead was a long, wide hallway with red wallpaper and a matching carpet. More candles illuminated the hallway, flickering slightly as Moreau and Leveque walked briskly past them.
"Has much changed since my last visit?" Moreau asked Leveque as they walked towards another double door entrance at the end of the hall.
When they reached the door, Leveque rested his hand on the handle and turned to Moreau.
"Our numbers are dwindling frère Moreau. Almost half our members are either dead or have abandoned us. The directéur is getting worried that our once great organisation will soon cease to exist" Leveque explained to Moreau.
To Leveque's surprise, Moreau smiled at this information.
"You are pleased with this news Moreau?"
"No I'm just as displeased as the directéur, but worried, not so much" Moreau stated.
Leveque was very confused, but he chose not to question and turned the door handle and opened one of the doors. On the other side of the entrance was a large circular room, complete with black walls, black tiled floors and a large round table with approximately twenty hooded men sitting on high back chairs. All the seated men slowly turned their heads as Moreau and Leveque entered the room and pulled down their hoods as soon as they recognised the Frenchman wearing black. A hooded man seated at the head of the table rose from his chair as Leveque and Moreau sat down on theirs.
"Frère Moreau! It has been too long! How kind of you to join your brother's in such a magnifique reunion!" the hooded man said. "I trust you have exciting news of the outside world to share with us tonight?"
Moreau bowed to the hooded man. "Indeed I do directéur. I notice that our members have dwindled to a dangerously low number. But I assure you not to worry sir, for I aim to fix this problem. In fact, I've already started".
"Is that so dear brother?" the directéur replied.
"Oui sir and I assure you, you will not be disappointed" Moreau said with a smile.
11:30pm. Near the edge of town.
"Blistering barnacles Snowy, this trail seems to go on forever! We've been walking for hours!" the Captain said loudly as he looked at his wrist-watch. "It better lead to Tintin or I swear I'll-"
WOAH! WHOA! Somewhere close by but out of the Captains sight Snowy barked.
"What is it boy? Have you found anything that isn't a bone!" the Captain asked Snowy slightly annoyed and remembering all the other false alarms they've had that evening.
WHOA! Snowy barked again and this time the Captain noticed why. The trail of oil had finally ended in a pool of shiny, brown liquid at the end of a very impressive driveway.
The Captain let out a low whistle. "Gee Snowy, wonder who owns this place. Almost as stylin' as Marlinspike Hall eh old boy?...Snowy? Hey wait up for me!"
The little dog had suddenly bounded up the driveway barking at the top of his lungs. Something's got him real excited! The Captain thought. I only hope it's what we're looking for.
At the end of the driveway was a large, steep, stone stairway which left the Captain breathless by the time he reached the top.
"Alright Snowy… what's the…deal? Have you…caught a scent or something? It is…Tintin's?" the Captain asked in between deep breaths.
Meanwhile Snowy was jumping onto a large, wooden bench peering into a window, but apparently not satisfied with what he did or didn't see inside. The little terrier lept off the chair and onto the ground sniffing around him, letting his nose lead him to the front door of the mansion. Snowy started to whimper as he scratched his front paws against the door. He gave the Captain a meaningful look and continued to scratch one of the doors.
"Oh no Snowy, I'm not breaking in to some random bloke's house just because you smell a mouldy old bone!" the Captain exclaimed.
WOAH! Snowy barked and even growled at the Captain which the man has never seen him do before. Something was up and after about a minute of debating, the Captain sighed and took an item out of his coat pocket. It appeared to be a keyring holding several small, metal sticks.
"Now Snowy I'm not exactly proud of this, but when I was a wee lad, me and my mates used to sneak into each other's houses, you know, for pranks and dares. This gorgeous little trinket helped me win Best Prankster!" the Captain said as he fiddled with the little sticks in the lock for a bit, until he heard a click. "Bingo! Aah, she still works" he said happily giving the lock-picker a swift kiss.
The Captain opened the door and took a cautious step inside. Snowy bounded in after him and ran down a long hallway, his nose to the floor. A little way down the hall, the little dog stopped and started scratching on a door to the left. Not long after, the Captain was at his side.
"What is it? What's in there boy? Well, one way to find out I guess" the Captain said. With that he tested the handle, it was unlocked. The door creaked slightly when he opened it and as soon as the gap was wide enough, Snowy dived through it running to a randomly placed chair in the middle of the room. In the chair sat Tintin, his head slumped on his right shoulder. The Captain ran to the young reporter, and started shaking him slightly.
"Lad! Lad? Are you alright Tintin?" the Captain asked with an urgent, worried tone. At first the boy did not stir, but then he let out a low moan as he returned to consciousness.
"Mmmm-" Tintin rolled his head off his shoulder to look at the Captain. He blinked a couple times before realising who it was. "Mmf-ten!" he exclaimed (well, sort of).
Captain Haddock was finding it hard to get words out as he fumbled with the gag around Tintin's mouth. "Jesus lad, you really know how to give a man a heart attack! What happened to you? Who- who brought you here?" the Captain asked, a little confused but not really surprised, as he wrestled with the ropes around Tintin's wrists. "But never mind that now, we gotta get you outta here!" he said as he pulled Tintin to his feet.
"Sounds like a plan Captain" Tintin answered rubbing his wrists and smiling at his devil's luck, but then he remembered something. "Wait Captain we can't leave yet!...Quick tie me back up again!" Tintin said as he jumped back into the chair, placing his hands behind his back once more.
"What? Have you lost your mind boy? What if whoever it was who attacked you comes back? You're not making sense now lad!" the Captain told Tintin, even more confused now.
"His name is Moreau, and I know what he wants: me. But he also has what I want: the necklace. Moreau still has it with him, and i need more answers! ill explain later. Don't worry Captain, I have a plan. Now put me back the way you found me!" Tintin explained.
"Well you've got me confused lad, but ok". The Captain bent back down and tied Tintins hands behind the chair's backing again, but a little looser than Moreau had. Then he replaced the gag, again not as tight. "I hope you know what you're doing lad…" the Captain said slowly as he looked around the room. "Uh, ok I'm gonna hide in that closet over there. I assume the plan is for me to wait for the right moment to jump this Marco guy and grab the necklace" the Captain predicted and Tintin nodded. "Aah I get it now!" the Captain said, a little less confuzzled now. "You're a bright young man you know that?"
Tintin averted his eyes, feeling a little bashful, and then his head snapped up at the sound of a car door being slammed. He gave the Captain an urgent look and jerked his head towards the closet. Captain Haddock moved aside a few theatre costumes (why they were there he had no idea) before climbing into the closet with Snowy at his feet, and closed the door almost all the way shut.
Tintin decided to test a few of his acting skills and lolled his head back to his right shoulder pretending to be asleep. Hurried footsteps were heard running up the grand outdoor staircase, then the sound of a closing door sounded loud in the silence, followed by more footsteps muffled by the carpet.
Tintin twitched just a little when he heard Moreau re-enter the room. The Frenchman slammed the door shut as an attempt to wake the "sleeping" reporter. Tintin pretended to jerk awake and twisted his head to look at Moreau before rolling his eyes and facing the desk again. The large man walked slowly to Tintin's chair and leant down to loosen the gag, not realising it was already a little looser than when he left it. Tintin shook his head, making it fall to his shoulders.
"Welcome back" he said darkly as the man bent down to untie Tintin's hands.
"Merci, it's good to be back. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long Tintin" Moreau said obviously feigning sympathy.
Tintin eyed Moreau suspiciously when he didn't use the word 'mister' or 'monsieur' before his name, almost as if they were close acquaintances. Ha, hardly! Tintin thought. He didn't reply as he got to his feet, rubbing his wrists again and trying his hardest not to glance at the closet in which Snowy and the Captain were hiding.
"Alright now that you're back from you're little trip, do you mind explaining, well, everything?" Tintin said taking a step back from Moreau as the man started circling the young reporter almost as if sizing him up.
The Frenchman stopped walking when he approached the desk again, then he reached into the front of his jacket and removed the necklace from around his neck, carefully placing it onto the desk.
"I assure you it is quite simple Tintin and you would be a fool to decline" Moreau said as he advanced towards the young reporter. Tintin took a few steps back from the Frenchman and soon found himself pressed against a bookcase near the door.
"I have to admit you will need to, how you say, tone up a bit in order to…endure your training as an international spy. But not to worry, I will soon fix that" Moreau said. "Under my guidance, your weaknesses with disappear and rise to match your skill in wit!"
"I'm a lot stronger than you think, and I'm pleased to let you know that I have come to a decision" Tintin said to Moreau.
Moreau repressed a small laugh when Tintin said the word "stronger", then waited quietly for Tintin to reveal his decision.
"I have decided that you and your organisation…are nothing but a worthless, sadistic gang of criminals and I'd sooner be shot than help you with your twisted acts of justice!" Tintin yelled at Moreau.
Moreau's smile slowly morphed into a frown as he processed Tintin's words. He wasn't used to people saying 'no' to him, neither has he the patience to tolerate it.
"So your answer is no, is it?" Moreau replied appearing calm, taking another step closer to the, now slightly afraid, reporter. "Well you see monsieur Tintin I care not for your decision or your petty attitude towards my organisation, for the way I view it, you have no choice in the matter".
Tintin's eyes widened at what Moreau said and he took a small side-step towards the door.
"But, but you said-" he stammered.
"I know, I know. I said I would set you free if it was what you wished, but after seeing my brother's so weak and my organisation hanging by a thread, I'm afraid you will join us after all" Moreau explained, taking another step towards Tintin.
Captain, this would be a terrific time for you to come out now. Tintin thought desperately, his eyes quickly flitting to the wardrobe then back to Moreau.
"Oh yeah?" Tintin said finding some courage. "And how exactly do you expect to get me to cooperate?" he challenged.
Moreau paused before answering Tintin's question. "Hmm, the same way I brought you here", he replied. Then quick as a flash Moreau grabbed Tintin's right arm and twisted it painfully up the boy's back. The young reporter let out a shrill yell of agony as he felt his bullet wound rip open and the side of his face was pressed hard against the bookcase.
"You will cooperate because I am telling you to. And you will do as I say; weakling" Moreau told Tintin as he pulled the boy's arm further up his back. "From now on you will address me as-"
"THAT'S IT!" a loud yell was heard from the other side of the room and the sound of doors crashing open rang loudly in the moderate space. Moreau turned around and taken completely off-guard was punched in the face by a rugged looking man wearing a navy blue overcoat. Moreau's body swung around to face Tintin, and the look of surprise was wiped off his face as Tintin swung his good arm forward, his fist colliding with Moreau's temple. The Frenchman fell to the ground unconscious and Tintin slid down the bookcase, clutching his right shoulder which was now oozing blood.
"Captain! Captain, get the necklace! It's on the desk" Tintin yelled to the Captain as more blood flowed out of Tintin's wound, the pain almost causing him to pass out. "Captain we have to get out of here, now!"
After grabbing the Lapis Lazuli necklace the Captain turned towards Tintin and his eyes widened at the sight of his young friend. The ginger-head was on the floor leaning against the bookcase, clutching a blood-stained shoulder.
"Ten thousand thundering typhoons Tintin! You're wound! The damn French bastard reopened it!" the Captain roared, starting towards the heap that was Moreau.
"Captain we have no time! Please just help me get back to Marlinspike, its closer than my apartment" Tintin replied, feeling himself get weaker as he tried to pull himself up off the floor.
Snowy yelped a bark as he pushed the door wide open with his nose. The Captain hoisted Tintin up by his good arm and pulled it around his shoulders, supporting the boy's weight as they quickly ran down the stone staircase and to the end of the driveway.
"Ok uh just breathe heavily now lad, don't think about the blood or the wound, just concentrate on staying awake ok!" the Captain told Tintin, mainly trying to reassure himself as he leaned the injured reporter against the door of Moreau's black Sedan.
"Captain I'm fine, I just need to get this wound bandaged up again. What we should do is, is-" but before finishing his sentence Tintin collapsed sideways, onto the paved driveway, his shoulder still seeping blood.
Snowy howled a low tune as he bumped his nose against Tintin's cheek. The rain had finally come to a stop and the fog had lifted enough to see that there were no other buildings around for miles. The Captain started to panic a little.
"Tintin. Tintin! Snowy this isn't good! We have to get the lad to a hospital and fast!" Captain Haddock said in a rush, as he desperately looked around him. But no matter how hard he strained his eyes, there was nothing and nobody in sight.