Team Seven of Heroes Chapter 5

5.

The rain have not poured anymore in London for there were one too many mushroom platforms and the floating balloons forming a canopy over the city. Even if it did, it will just bring down the dirt in the fog down to the ground. It however brought down the layer of dirt onto the street. When it does happened, the street will be cleared by the huge mechanical sweeper contraptions that took over the streets then. The words on the streets then were; ‘it ain’t sporty to get the rain for it will corrode the spots it spat on.’

That did not deter the four wheeler that pulled up at four flights of red bricks structure with the smaller garden patches with blue daffodils. It was not the gardener’s choice but the officer for the unofficial residence of the Ministry of Internal Security or MIS for those who felt the acronym more easily to remember.

“I say old chap, would we needing the brolly soon?” The tall lanky figure in the three piece dark suit voiced out with his eyes not averted from the glass opening in the wall. He would have been a class act but for the yellow Wellington boots that he substituted for the leather suede pair.

“I think so. I counted six in the library and the tea served was for seven persons.” The figure next to the tall and lanky one was a shorter with the lack of height dragged horizontally acr replied. “You know how much the Minister fret on wastage with the austerity drives on.”

“Yes, he did give me one side of the socks short. What did he expect? Recycle them or wear one less on some days.” The tall one replied. “Oh! The last one is here.”

The tall one stopped then.

“He is a charm. I think I will …” The tall one exclaimed in surprise but it irk the other.

“By George, Castell when will you grow …”

“One? I have it but it’s in the front.” The one named Castell had then moved to receive the arrived guest.

“Mycroft, ain’t you the best host if you had hosted this meeting?” Mycroft had given up his hat and cane to the one at the door but when he saw the silver tray offered then at the library. He eyed the seated at the round table and did the mental count. Eight of them were all seated there with one that was the real host.

“M, I am ever so sorry but the Bolivian officer was quick on his feet. I had to run a block before I took him down.” Mycroft smiled when he pulled out his Webley from the back of his pants to place it there. “Be careful, old chap. The barrel is still hot.”

“M for Mycroft but you are not the M that sits here.” The figure seated there named M smiled. “Unless you are willing to go without knickers. If I did, they would make me wear diapers.”

“Shall we start? Our guests are growing beards while we banter on whose knickers are still on.” The figure named M stood up and then she looked at the seated there.

There was the sleuth detective with his un-smoked pipe on his right hand and left one holding the hat popularly known as the deerstalker. The hat is made from cloth either of light or heavy wool tweed. The cap is made up of six triangular panels with rounded sides that were sewn together. The hat was worn by hunters.  M had not met the sleuth before but his exploits were known from the tales reported by the papers. She then saw the figure seated next to the detective. You had seen the doctor and they all looked alike; bore to their choice of haircut and choice of bow ties but not that one. She then recalled Doctor Watson was not the typical one. He served his time at the Far Frontier but he was missing for four years in the hills. He came back with his leg limping. He was one that M loved to be in the game. The wild man and his wife intrigued her too. Unlike the sleuth, the couple was known only as nobles but the wild side was hidden beneath the layer of dirt and wrapped in papers. She read they were reclusive and their estate was far bigger than the village she used to live in. They also kept a lion there. She had seen the other lions were at the zoo with her grandchildren. There was the last two which made her wondered. She was not sure who the lady was from but it can’t be from the islands. She must have been from the main continent or down south into icy lands. Or maybe the dark forest or on some higher mountains that reached beyond the clouds

The mild coughing from Mycroft brought her back to the library

 “Thank you for coming to this office where everything you ever know of us can be erased. I will give you the clean slate. We are the Government and you need to trust us. Like brother and sister.”

“Don’t be shy. I am a grandmother at home with two kids. Don’t tell me who you are for I knew all of you. But for my sake, you will be given code numbers and seven will be not available as it’s bonded to someone in the Highlands.” The lady stood up and smoothen her skirt over her knees and then adjusted her jacket. “I will be quick, you can pick from 001 to 006. Mycroft has his own code.”

“Am I not right, 010?” M looked at Mycroft before she took her right hand to sweep the strand of hair onto the bun held by hairpins. “Back to all of you, we have a task to do. And I thank you for being here.”

“From now you will know me as M or Madame and only the person that will protect you from here on. Your designation of double zero allowed you to do everything except kill me but we won’t dwell on that. I got enough people to kill me and they run into many zeroes. I won’t ask you if you are going to pull out for we are already in.”

“Now bring in the enemy.” M then called out.

It was then explosion went off in the rear of the building and rocked through the library. The books lined up in the three levels of shelves rattled off like plucked live chickens in the coop. The books down with the pages flapping and when it landed the spines broke giving a glimpse of the falling snow flakes. It was not only the books but the collapsing shelves and the ceiling peeled off with its pieces of plasters. Everyone had ducked for cover under the table to avoid the debris.

“Mycroft, I just renovated the library.” M complained then. “Find out if my poodle is safe?”

M then looked at her distraught guests while Mycroft went off to look for the poodles.

“Follow me.” M then led the six guests to the fireplace there. She pushed at the candle stick to open a hidden doorway at the flooring to reveal a set of descending stairs.

“Let me go first. I need to turn on the lights. We can’t go stumbling in the dark unless we are in for an orgy.”