‘He’s coming!’

Alarm rang through his body, but David willed himself to go still as he slipped behind a free-standing column. He stared at the carved putti-heads that adorned its girth. How had they let this get so far? There would be hell to pay when it was over. But they were in the big game now and the only way forward was through. From the corner of his eye, he saw George move. He prayed that the Greenman hadn’t noticed. But George smiled over at him. The coast was clear. For now. The Greenman would soon be back.

The day had started out with a standard visit. Entering from the pedimented doorway on Hans Road, David and George walked through the 2 storeyed arch, its faceted voussoirs flanked by paired Ionic columns. The seven-level building was intimidating with its portentous brown terracotta and Hathernware faience facings. They stepped in, only to find themselves in an overwhelming swarm of people. Incoherent murmurings mixed with the shuffle of feet against the rosettes and scroll patterns of the tessellated mosaic flooring, created that distinct buzz of business. This was an institutionalised marketplace and everything was for sale. They waited in the hall. It would only be a while before Virginia, Herbert, Enid and Jules would be brought here. They were right. As soon as the others arrived they all huddled together to come up with a plan. David nudged Jules and nodded to his left. It was time. They straightened up as they watched two Greenmen approach. The crowd seemed to clear for them. A few foreigners sneaked in photographs, as if to document the existence of the Greenman.

Their mothers had explained to them gently, what was going to happen next. The women would be escorted to Heaven while the other
Greenman, would take custody of the boys. The Greenman walked the boys over to the Otis cars, unaware of the turmoil in David’s head. David had understood why the mothers had to go away to Heaven. They were old. But Virginia and Enid were not. They did not want to go. He wanted to save them. It was time to put the plan in action.

He had been in the Otis car before. It was an iron box, each of its surfaces covered with copper bands and grilles. Their only chance to escape and get help was if the car stopped in the Kingdom. The Kingdom was an ally. He signalled three-fingers to the others. He was only mostly sure, that it was the third stop, but it was their only hope.

Ding

‘RUN!’

They had lost Herbert and Jules in their dash. The Greenman had run after them once David and George had hidden themselves. George ran over to David. Both were wondering the same thing. ‘Are we in the right place?’ George asked. ‘I’m sure it was the third stop,’ said David. ‘Look! Those foreigners just bought Sylvanian Families. You can only buy those in the Kingdom. We’re in the right place. We just have to find the entrance.’

Herbert and Jules were panicked. They had turned a corner to find their environment had completely changed. They were in a maze of stairs. It was dimly lit. Cast glass lotus capitals gave out a steady light that bounced off gold-polished reliefs of Egyptian warriors to give the room a glow. That’s how I found them, staring at a wall frieze of a procession of chariots. ‘They’re called hieroglyphs’ I said. But before they could respond Herbert yanked Jules and I behind a thick baluster. ‘He’s here,’ he whispered. ‘We can’t let him find us. Can you help us? Do you know the way to the
Kingdom?’ Jules was not comfortable with the idea. ‘How can we trust him? Is he even from the Tiara Triangle?’ he said. I was aggrieved at the suggestion. ‘I don’t live in the Triangle,’ I said ‘But I know where the Kingdom is. And I can take you. Unless you’d prefer to further engage my postcode envy.’  ‘We need to find David and George too.’ was all he said in response.

‘Let’s go then. I’m Charles, by the way.’ I offered.

I knew the place well. My sister had worked here for a short while. There were stairwells in every corner. Moving to a lower level to crossover to the Kingdom and then climbing our way up was an option. It was usually the outlanders that frequented these levels. The resplendent Baroque style accompanied by gilt bronze wall grilles and coved ceilings not only seemed to absolve their lack of restraint and extortionate resources but entirely occupied their attention. We would pass through easily without being noticed. The intermittent food halls were large and crowded and
provided cover. Herbert was hesitant of this idea. ‘Don’t they keep the animals on the lower floors? Enid said there were cobras. Poisonous ones.’ he asked. Jules chimed in with something about large elephants and ferocious lions. I thought about it. We could go up. But it was dangerous. The level was usually scattered with lab personnel, who would notify the Greenman as soon as we were spotted. We could retrace the way Herbert and Jules had come here in the first place. The Greenman had already searched that route. He wouldn’t check it again for a while. ‘I remember
we crossed Smania and Frato,’ said Jules. ‘And we lost David and George near Eichholtz’ said Herbert. This was good. ‘They’re close to the Kingdom. We can easily find them there and enter the Kingdom together,’ I said ‘We run straight down. Watch out for the steps after Reflex. Keep running down till Giorgio and then turn left till you reach edge of the Indian Ocean. If you slow down or look lost the workers will insist on helping you with directions. That’s just asking for trouble. On my count.’

‘3’

‘2’

‘1’

‘RUN!’

David and George saw us coming as we approached the Indian Ocean and waved over with enthusiasm, relief washing over their faces. It was only a short way over from here. If you stared ahead into a distance across the stenciled decorations and Tudorbethan style carved paneling you could almost see the entrance to the Kingdom. We slowly started walking towards it. Talking amongst ourselves so as to not draw attention. We belonged here.
‘We just have to find a way to rescue the girls now.’ said George.

A loud laugh floated through the air. A cackle if you will. One that David, George, Jules and Herbert were all too familiar with.
‘Was that…Enid?’ Jules said, utterly bewildered.
‘Over there! Look! Isn’t that Virginia and Enid over there at Yoo Moos?’ exclaimed David. We rushed over.
‘Boys! You made it. We were so bored that mother sent us down with Mr. Greenman. His name is Mr. Robert Taylor. You have to try the strawberry flavour.’ said Virginia.
‘And I got a Steiff Teddy from the Kingdom’ said Enid holding up her large green bag.
‘I can’t believe you girls got frozen yoghurt without us,’ huffed Herbert, clearly annoyed. ‘And visited the Toy Kingdom. Mother didn’t even give me any money’
‘That’s 16.75! Do you have a Harrods’ card?’

‘Someone stop those boys before I lose my job!!’

‘CRAP’

‘RUN!’

The End.

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