FREE FOR ALL

The Magazine That Really Is Free For All

Issue 20 - Spring 1997 - Part 3

FREE FOR ALL is the only free local group magazine and is run on a non profit making basis.

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Star Trek - First Contact

By John Hotston, Geoff and

Tammy Simms

Star Trek- First Contact is the first movie without the original crew. Here we get the low-down with not one, but three views of the same movie. Free For All readers and Star Trek aficionados review the movie

Ensign John Hotston writes. . .

The crew of the U.S.S Enterprise 1701E boldly go on an epic across space and time adventure in the latest film from Paramount`s Star Trek stable. Unlike the last seven films this is entirely a Next Generation film. Though to be accurate, the character of Zefram Cochrane did appear in Star Trek the original series (The Zefram Cochrane second season episode is called Metamorphosis -Ed) but the actor did not.

By the time the film started, my cinema seat had already grown uncomfortable, but armed with a huge cola in one hand and still warm popcorn in the other I was ready for anything the big screen could throw at me or at least that's what I thought right up to the bit when bio mechanical Borg erupts from Captain Picard`s face like a high tech zit. At the same time my popcorn hand had an involuntary muscle spasm so I had to make do with only my cola for the rest of the film.

Right from the start it was obvious that a lot of things had been changed. The Enterprise was new as such things were different, if only slightly. But as a Star Trek trainspotter I was switched onto continuity mode and my class IX Long range Multimission warp probe was scanning for updated technology, mistakes and continuity errors. The first thing that caught my attention was `Quantum torpedoes!` Where the hell did they come from? And can I have one ? After that, the next change on the Enterprise was the A.S.R.V`s (Autonomous survival & recovery vehicle) or life pods to those not yet graduated from Star Fleet Academy. Originally the A.S.R.U.`s were cubed in shape, now we have triangular one's ! Why? The most likely explanation is just that they look cooler !

Just when I thought all was fine, continuity goes out the window and flies off at warp speed 10+ to some distant quadrant. No doubt the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager will capture it in a containment field and return it back to earth in seventy years or so. Originally according to my S.T:T.N.G. technical manual (page 54) Zefram Cochrane invented and tested the first warp drive space vehicle in 2061, not two years later in 2063 as in the film and Star Trek Fact Files. Also on the same page it stated that the test flight was unmanned, whilst according to the film, not only was it manned by Cochrane himself but also By Comdr. Riker and Geordi La Forge.

No doubt these and any other mistakes I missed will be blamed on temporal time distortion or some other techno babble. Either way the film wasn't spoilt for me or for many others. Though Capt. Picard`s die hard stripped down to the vest scene was a bit O.T.T.

Well until next time when I shall be doing an article on Star Trek's not so factual fact files I`ll say goodbye. I'm off to join the dots with Deep Space Nine's oh so sexy Jadzia Dax. Beam me up O`Brian.

STAR TREK

FIRST CONTACT

PREMIERE FRIDAY 13TH DECEMBER 1996 23:30 U.C.I.

TELFORD.

Ensign Tammy Simms writes. . .

The latest film from the stable (wormhole) of the Star Trek universe. The first totally Next Generation episode but featuring a character from classic Star Trek history.

A new film, a new dimension, and more time travel ! An old enemy with a twist, but some great characters with added bonuses.

To explain the whole plot and story line would take time and spoil your enjoyment, but here are one or two snippets to tantalise your 'Trekker' taste buds. The love interest : well?, any ideas, Riker and Deanna perhaps, no, believe it or not it is Data and the Borg Queen, rather a beautiful, interesting queen, with a habit of having her head in the clouds, literally !! The comedy part, well a very drunk Councillor Troi, and to add sex appeal, Captain Picard doing his impression of Bruce Willis, getting undressed bit by bit throughout the film.

To me the film was a very good story but it balanced on Capt. Picard and his experiences with the Borg earlier in the T.V. series. Most of the main characters had good but smaller parts, and as I prefer the other characters it was a bit of a let down.

My last comment is go and see it with an open mind and enjoy the visual effects ( Industrial Light & Magic), the comic banter and seeing your old favourites again.

Ensign Geoff Simms writes. . .

Anorak time! or should that be Amok Time, anyway on watching First Contact for the first time I noticed a few discrepancies, mainly between the new movies version of Zefram Cochrane and the classic Star Trek second session episode `Metamorphosis`. In the new movie, Cochrane, played by James Cromwell (the farmer from 'Babe') is a wild and rowdy, hard drinking rock and roll loving cowboy figure, completely different to the more sober, straight and up right man discovered by Capt. Kirk, Spock and McCoy on a seemingly deserted planetoid in the aforesaid classic episode, where Cochrane is played by Glenn Corbett, stranded almost Robinson-Crusoe like on this world with a female Friday in the form of an energy being. Regenerated to a youthful boyish appearance from an 87 year old who disappeared after leaving Alpha Centuari and reported as 'lost in space'. The other 'mistake' is the age of Cochrane, at the time the events are occurring in the movie Cochrane is 31 years old, his birth being 2030 (Star Trek Encyclopaedia page 52 ), I don't know how old James Cromwell is but he looks a lot older than a thirty something Warp Drive specialist. The makers of the film claim not to care too much about completely revising an established character in the Star Trek mythology, I don't suppose we should either, just go and see the movie with what my better half said 'an open mind', but it is still a bit annoying when they go and change their own written 'history' for the sake of a screenplay. They have done it before and no doubt will do it again.

After seeing First Contact again, I must admit it is an extremely good film, one of the best out of the 'Wormhole'. It is the first big screen directorship for Jonathan Frakes, even though he has directed episodes of Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager.

Ed`s note. Geoff your Ed actually attended the premiere showing with Geoff and Tammy. I am more of an original series fan but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. So much so, that I will be first in the queue when it comes out for sale on video. Catch it if you can.

Now from one Star Trek to another. Warp factor six to 1966. . . . . .

Star Trek original series

video update

Back in issue 18 we reviewed the first four tapes released of the original series. The tapes at the time of writing are now up to 2.3. Thirteen tapes have been released so far. The free playing cards are now nearly complete. The special limited edition box for holding the cards took an amazing six months to arrive and it was not worth the wait. The silver round box is about six inches in diameter, one and a half inches deep and the top shows a plaque which reads 'Star Trek original series limited edition playing cards' It also includes your Ed's name. Inside the box is a piece of oasis with a cut out space for the cards. The box is certainly not worth the asking price of £19.99.

The tapes continue to be great value with three episodes per tape. Season two gives you a Star Trek coffee mug with the first volume and a chance to get three more free if you continue to collect the tapes. A special leaflet with which you affix tokens gets you the rest of the collection of mugs. This might just make up for the £19.99 price tag of the playing card box but I doubt it. Some classic episodes such as 'Menagerie', 'Wolf in the fold', 'Amok time', 'Metamorphosis', 'Space seed' and 'This side of Paradise' have been included in the releases. The quality is excellent and the tapes are still introduced by either James 'Scotty' Doohan, Walter 'Chekov' Koenig or George 'Sulu' Takei. The packaging for season two is slightly different to season one but nice all the same. Incidentally, the spines of the tapes spell out some sort of message. So far it reads 'We Are The First' I can only assume it going to say 'We are the first generation' but who knows? I have estimated that the collection will be about twenty six tapes which, may seem a lot, but on their last release it was forty tapes! We will keep you posted. Geoff Lake.

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Charlie -

A short story by

David A. Stimpson

The following story is dedicated to Morag without whose dream `Charlie` would not exist.

Ben Smith had been emotionally disturbed for almost a year now but he was slowly recovering, according to his doctor. His breakdown had been attributed to the loss of his job at the ministry which in turn, had led to money problems and if that was not enough, his wife Celia had been having an affair. When Ben lost his job, his wife left him and it all became too much and he finally snapped.

At first his recovery had been slow but now he was beginning to feel like his old self once more. Not 100%, but better. He had just been to see his psychiatrist, who had been a great help to Ben. He was kind, considerate and listening intently to all of Ben's problems. In fact had it not been for Doctor Schleck, Ben knew he would have been committed to an asylum. If anything Dr Schleck had been sometimes a little too friendly and Ben had drawn the line at the Doctor when he placed his hand on Ben's knee. During his latest visit the Doctor informed Ben that he had arranged a break for him at a holiday camp.. The doctor insisted that Ben needed to recuperate. He also insisted that it was a holiday camp and not an asylum. The doctor informed Ben that a date had not yet been confirmed but he should hear something by post within the week. That had been a week ago and Ben decided to call on his doctor to find out what the hold-up was. Besides, he needed to go shopping anyway, so he could call in before his usual weekly trip to Sainsbury's.

He caught a ramshackle bus near to his home .

"Return to town please." asked Ben as he boarded the bus. The driver produced an 86p ticket from his machine. Ben had the exact change and he commented "nice day" but the driver did not reply and put the bus in gear, released the handbrake and drove off.

Ben was the only passenger on the bus and he sat at the back. Ben surveyed the bus from his seat. The paint was peeling off and the seats were threadbare. The bus company must be going through hard times to use a crate like this thought Ben. He shouted down to the driver, "when was the last time this bus was cleaned or saw a lick of paint ?" But the driver made no reply. Ben also noticed that behind the seat in front of him, fungi was growing.

"What's this ... grow your own mushrooms ?" he shouted to the driver but again he did not reply.

Ben sat looking through the dirty windows of the bus and then realised that the bus had not made any stops. He could see countryside but no sign of town. He marched down to the driver and asked "Oi, where the hell are you going ?" The driver glanced at him and smiled but said nothing. "Why don't you say something ?" Ben asked but still the driver did not speak. By now Ben began to panic, both the door and rear door were locked, as were the windows. He marched up and down the bus looking for his exit, eventually he took his seat, when he realised there was no escape. He had no choice but to watch and wait to see where the driver was taking him. Attacking the driver would probably get them both killed and he realised he was being abducted. It was just like that television programme he thought, what the hell was it, yeah Patrick McGoohan. Now what was it called. . .yeah I know .. The Prisoner. I am, I'm being abducted !! Somehow he did not feel in danger. The bus went through a forest and past wooden shacks. It reminded Ben of a type of holiday camp. Its a holiday camp he thought, but then he remembered he was being abducted. He could see people through the window but they seemed happy enough. The bus eventually came to stop outside a large wooden building and the door of the bus opened. Ben quickly left the bus to be greeted by three people, two girls and a man all dressed in green blazers. The man held a clipboard.

"Ah, there you are." said the man, he continued "I see you have no luggage, but not to worry, we have everything you need here." "This is Judy and Sarah and my name's Dick". Ben noticed that they wore badges on their lapels to this effect. The bus pulled away and Ben noticed that the place was rather full and children were also seen, for some reason, he knew not why, this surprised him. All the people were dressed in holiday type clothes including shorts and bikinis etc.

Where Am I ?

Nearby on a green some played football whilst others played cricket. "You look lost." Said Judy. "He's a little disoriented." said Sarah "it's only to be expected".

Dick looked at his clipboard

"He's allocated to chalet number 22."

"Where am I ?" asked Ben "and where is this place."

"Why, your in the camp." replied Judy. "It's a holiday camp." said Sarah.

"Well what am I doing in this so called camp". Asked Ben

"It's all been arranged for you." said Dick. "Sarah and Judy will settle you in and you can see Leo later." he continued. Sarah and Judy began to lead Ben by each taking one of his arms, just then Dick's mobile telephone began to ring.

"Yes, Dick here, oh I see, the drains in chalet 7 are blocked, I'll get Colin on to it right away, after all it is his department." Dick switched his telephone off, looked at his watch and with his clipboard tucked under his arm he strolled off as if he had somewhere important to be.

Ben was led to chalet 22 and Sarah said

"Well here it is, your home". Ben replied with "Can you just tell me what this place is, where am I and why am I here ?"

"Oh we can't do that, can we Judy" said Sarah.

"Oh no, I'm afraid we can't do that, we have nothing to do with administration, our job is to book you in, anyhow Leo will explain all later" said Judy.

"Who's Leo?" asked Ben. "Questions, questions, questions." said Judy. Both girls mounted the four steps onto the veranda of the chalet. The chalet was rectangular and made from wood. On the veranda was a matching pair of wicker chairs and a table.

"There" said Sarah. "You can sit here on lazy hot summer days and watch the world go by."

"I may not want to." replied Ben. Sarah opened the front door and all three entered.

"There you are, a home from home." said Judy. That was enough for Ben. "This place, this so called holiday camp, it's like that other place."

By now panic was beginning to set in.

"What place?" asked Judy.

"Oh you know, you must have seen it on TV, that place was a home from home as well." replied Ben

"We don't know what you are talking about." Said Judy.

"It's that TV programme, oh what is it called, The Prisoner, that's it. this place is the village and I don't want to stay here". Shouted Ben. Ben made a break for the door but was blocked in his path by Sarah.

"He's on about The Prisoner, my boyfriend's mad on it, but this place is not the village I promise you." said Sarah sitting Ben down on the sofa. "What ever is in your mind, I can assure you that there is nothing to be frightened of."

After settling Ben down Sarah and Judy left Ben alone in his chalet.

Ben looked about his new home. The chalet looked very comfortable. There was a spacious lounge, a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom. The chalet was fully fitted in every detail. In the wardrobe hung clothes, the chest of draws contained underwear and everything was in his size. The kitchen was fully equipped and was well contained with food. Everything he needed was there. It is just like The Prisoner he thought. Even the footwear supplied were deck shoes. They can't do this to me thought Ben. Just then the telephone rang, it made Ben jump. He lifted the receiver and placed it to his left ear. A voice said

"Hello, pleasant trip I trust, come over, I'd like to welcome you here." "Who are you?" asked Ben.

"I'm Leo, the chief administrator, the admin building is close by, ask anyone for directions." the voice finished and the phone went dead.

It's like being summoned by Number Two in The Prisoner he thought. He found the admin building or the camp office as some campers had called it. Ben now stood in a well furnished office, a slightly overweight man sat behind a huge oak desk.

"My dear chap, do sit down." said Leo. "How are you settling in Charlie?" Ben looked over his shoulder as for a moment he thought someone else must have entered the room, but no one was there. Leo went on "Welcome to our happy camp Charlie and I do hope you have a very pleasant stay. Take things easy, enjoy yourself. After all it's for your own good you know." Leo sat behind his desk smiling.

"I have two or three questions I would like to ask." said Ben. "Firstly, where am I, why am I here, where is this camp and why do you keep calling me Charlie ?"

"That's four questions." laughed Leo "You don't know why you're here or indeed where you are?

Ben shook his head.

"Well I am Leo. The man in charge." said Leo. He wore a badge on his lapel to state this. "According to your file Charlie, you are here to recuperate from an emotional breakdown. It was all arranged for you some time ago. Surely you were told?" asked Leo.

Ben was not sure if he had been told of any arrangement to come here.

Leo was searching through his desk draw when he suddenly retrieved a white disk.

"Here Charlie take this." Leo held out his hand and gave the disc to Ben. Studying it Ben saw that the disc was a badge with red letters which contained just one word 'CHARLIE'.

"Why do you call me Charlie, my name is Mr Smith!" he said.

"We don't use surnames or indeed your own Christian name. Like those before you, we assign you a name, yours is Charlie. Ben or now Charlie, pinned the badge on to his lapel and asked "Why?"

"Oh don't worry, that's just the way we do things" replied Leo. You can take part in all manner of indoor and outdoor sports such as football, cricket, golf, chess, painting etc, etc. If you need any help just ask for Dick". That's the last thing I would ask for thought Charlie.

"Look is this place run by the government ?" he asked.

"No, why should it be?" asked Leo a little puzzled.

"You won't break me, I have nothing to say, do you hear nothing. I did not resign my job at the ministry, I was fired." shouted Charlie.

"We don't want to break you, in fact, we want just the opposite, we want to put you back together again. We know everything about you, it's all in your file. What you like to eat, drink, watch on TV."

Charlie was thinking, he was not sure of much but he was sure that he was feeling more and more like that fellow The Prisoner, Number Six.

"That's all for now Charlie and like I said feel free to wander where you will." stated Leo. "Please keep to the paths when you are in the woods, it's easy to get lost." Leo led Charlie to the exit "So, welcome to the camp, and enjoy your stay for your own good, see you."

Charlie left the admin office and spent the rest of the day exploring his new surroundings. There was a campshop, a recreation hall, and the cinema was showing `The Sound of Music`. Everyone seemed happy and some had tried to encourage Charlie to get involved in some of the camp activities. Charlie felt trapped although there were no perimeter fences, in fact nothing was stopping him from walking through the front gate. Charlie felt uncomfortable and had noted that Leo had not stated how long he was to remain here. As a matter of fact, he had not bothered to ask. I am not staying here he thought. it would be easy to get out, no security, no cameras and no fence. Escape would be easy and then a voice broke his thoughts. "Hello Charlie." It was Dick, still clutching his clipboard. "And what activities can I put you down for ?"

"None." replied Charlie. "I'm not one for games or activities, except Chess of course."

"Oh that's lucky" said Dick "I'll put you down for this afternoon's chess tournament." Before Charlie could stop him, Dick whipped out a pen and his name was written down on a sheet of paper on Dick's clipboard.

Charlie was surprised how quick he got used to his new name. It's surprising what you can get use to, when you have no choice. Charlie knew it was one of those times.

"What exactly do you do around here apart form getting people involved in your silly games ?" asked Charlie.

"Well, it's my job to make sure the camp runs smoothly and that people enjoy themselves. If they have a problem they come to me. I suppose I am the number two around here as I am second in command to Leo." As he spoke his telephone rang once again. "Yes, what an accident down by the pool. Call first aid I am on my way." With that he jumped into a passing golf buggy which sped off as fast as it could to the pool.

Charlie was left thinking that if Dick was number two then Leo must be number one. It was just like The Prisoner television series. Charlie decided that he would escape as soon as the chance presented itself. He was not staying here no matter how friendly the campers were. He looked at the main gate and began to walk towards it. Two men in green uniforms stood outside a small wooden hut just by the entrance. The two men were talking and Charlie felt sure they would stop him as he got closer to the main gate. He drew nearer and both men just carried on talking, he was level with both men now and still they took no notice. His heart was pounding, he started to sweat. He walked past the two men, I am going to do it, I'm going to get out, no one is going to stop me. He was only a couple of yards away from the gate and he began to smile, however, his smile was lost when he felt a hand on his left shoulder. He froze. So cruel they had been. He was within three feet of the gate, almost free.

"Come on Charlie." A voice said. He spun around, It was Judy. She was dressed in a white tee shirt and a short pleated skirt. She's got lovely thighs thought Charlie. "Where were you going ?"

"Oh, never mind it does not matter." she said leading Charlie by his arm "You can give me a game of tennis, you should mingle more, make new friends, it'll do you good."

"But I'm not dressed for tennis, besides which, I have not got a racquet." said Charlie.

"Oh never mind, you can get changed in your chalet on the way and as for a racquet, I have two so you can borrow one of mine." replied Judy.

Charlie hardly heard what Judy was saying, he was still in shock. He could not believe the way his escape attempt had been thwarted so. His hunch about being stopped at the last minute had been correct. They had made him think that he was to have his freedom and then they had pounced on him, the b*****ds. He had not been aware of being watched. They're good, bloody good thought Charlie. Its going to be harder to get out of here that imagined but at least I was not stopped by white balloons.

He played and lost his tennis match. He was not surprised. Judy had been a good sport and offered to buy him a drink. They sat at the bar in the recreation hall. "What'll it be mister?" asked the barman

"Scotch." He replied.

"Sorry only non alcoholic drinks, tomato juice, orange juice or carrot juice."

"What no beer?"

"Two tomato juices." asked Judy. "This place gets more and more like the. . . . . . . village. To hell with it. shouted Charlie.

"Calm down Charlie. Its okay. Now something outside struck Me." said Judy.

"You should have ducked." Charlie's humour surprised Judy. "No, listen. Do you know who you look like?" "Who ?" "You look the spitting image of the actor Leslie Neilson. You know that guy who was in Police Squad and the Naked Gun movies". Charlie looked at Judy strangely. "Oh never mind." she said. "Where were you going when I saw you at the main gate. Here it comes, interrogation time thought Charlie.

"I thought you said it didn't matter." stated Charlie.

"It doesn't matter but you should inform someone if you intend to take a stroll outside the camp. You can easily get lost in the forest." she said looking concerned and why not .... she liked Charlie. "I have to go, perhaps I will see you later." She waved as she left.

Rover

Charlie did not like it here and he did not like Judy. She was too friendly for his liking. Still it was probably what she was paid for. Charlie decided he was not going to stay here and a more cunning plan was needed.

The next morning after breakfast Charlie went for a stroll. He needed a clear head if he was going to come up with a more cunning plan. He mingled with the other happy campers. The sun was shining and not a cloud could be seen in the sky. People were enjoying themselves, perhaps this place was not as bad as he first thought. He heard a voice behind him say

"Excuse me Mister." He turned and floating in the air was something large, round and white.

"Rover!" he screamed "Nooooo!." Then he started to run, all the campers froze as if frozen to the ground. He knew what Rover could do, don't let it get me he thought. He tried to out run it but the spherical object kept pace with him.

"Dad, the string of my balloon has got caught on that man's belt and he's run off with it." said a small boy.

"Oi." shouted the boys father "Come back with my boys balloon." The father took chase.

Two men who had stood watching this. One of them said "What's up with him, scared of a balloon. Was he in the Dun Cow last night ?"

"Not that I recall." said the second man.

Later Charlie thought he had a lucky escape when Rover has just floated off. He thought that the man who gave chase was very brave, especially as he had tried to grab hold of that horrible white mass, but he could not and stood shaking his fist in anger. What a very brave man thought Charlie.

After that encounter Charlie spent the rest of the day sat in his chalet drinking coffee and pacing up and down a little. He was trying to come up with a cunning plan when he remembered an old Second World War film called `The Wooden Horse`. That's it thought Charlie, I'll dig a tunnel. My chalet is no more than a few hundred yards from the edge of the wood, maybe less he thought. If I dig and come up in the trees I can be away before anyone notices. That night he rolled up the carpet and removed a few floorboards. He decided to start the dig from his bedroom, that way, if anyone called he could keep the bedroom door closed. Above all else it would appear that everything was normal. That night he started to dig with an old spade found in a shed. To shore up the tunnel he used the floorboards and bits of wood from the chalet. He did not dig down too deep in order to save time but it was deep enough so people above could not hear him. Digging the tunnel took some time as he had to spend time around the camp in order not to arouse suspicion. He played table tennis, chess, went to the cinema and gave the general appearance of being like them, a happy camper, but whenever he could he would be back to the tunnel, digging like a mole. Charlie calculated that he had dug about thirty feet and he also decided that in order to speed things up he was going to have to dig day and night. He was also going to have to use less wood, dangerous but speed was of the essence. His bedroom was completely changed, there was a huge pile of earth in one corner of the room and the curtains had remained closed. It had been a hard job keeping the maid from entering his bedroom, he had made his excuses and told her she could clean it at later date.

One morning he was digging in the tunnel when he began to smell smoke but he kept on digging for a while. He began to see the smoke and it became thicker and thicker. He began to cough. It became so bad that he decided he would have to leave the tunnel. Charlie stood in the bedroom coughing and rubbing his eyes, `They are here he thought, they have found my tunnel.` They must have sounding equipment The smoke was coming through the entrance to the tunnel so he decided to run outside. Outside he saw a man wearing brown overalls and he was pushing something into the ground.

"Okay, okay that's enough." The man looked at him and replied

"No its not, it'll take more than three smoke bombs to get rid of those bloody moles."

"Moles?" shouted Charlie, you b*****d!" and he stormed back into his chalet. It took him several days to refill the tunnel and get everything back into order.

Cross Country

In the days that followed, Charlie continued all kinds of plots but his attempts to escape were always thwarted one way or another, such was the security of the camp. What Charlie could not understand was how they found out about his escape attempts so quickly. One morning he met Dick, complete with his clipboard.

"There's a cross country run this Saturday, I don't suppose you interested ?" asked Dick. Charlie had a think and replied

"Of course I am interested, put my name down for it."

"It starts at 1300 hours but I did not think you were the running type." stated Dick

"You would be surprised." said Charlie with a smile on his face and a cunning plan forming in his mind.

Charlie's plan had two days to wait and he would have to be so careful, he hardly dared think of the plan for fear of someone hearing or discovering it. His plan was simple, the runners would have to be let out of the camp for the run. He would run with enthusiasm at first and then slow down and drop back. When he lost sight of the other runners he would make his bid for freedom. It was simple and foolproof. He spent the next two days training for the run. Saturday came and Charlie was on the start line at 12.55. He wore a tee shirt with a large `T` on it and his name printed on the back. His outfit was complete with white shorts and a pair of black deck shoes. There were fifty runners and Charlie jostled for a good position near the front. The race began and he got off to a good start as he had planned. After about three miles he began to pace himself and slow down. Dropping back from the leader, he looked forward and back. No runners could now be seen. To his right was a clump of bushes, he ran off the track and crouched behind the bushes. His heart was pounding, partly through the running and partly through fear. There appeared to be no one in sight but then suddenly a voice said,

"Hello." He almost jumped out of his skin. `I don't believe it` He thought. He turned to see a girl in a white tee shirt and a short pale blue pleated skirt. She appeared to be aged somewhere in her mid 20`s. "Who are you ?" he gasped.

"I'm Isobel and you're Charlie." she replied.

"How do you know my name." Charlie asked.

"It's on the back of your tee shirt ." Isobel answered. As they spoke Charlie was keeping a sharp look out, he was ready to make a run for it. "Are you going to try for it as well? asked Isobel.

"Yes, I am and they won't catch me."

"So am I. I know a way through the woods, we will not be seen and they won't catch us."

"How do I know I can trust you?" "Of course you can trust me, I don't want to be caught otherwise it means trouble".

"How do you know the way?"

"I have seen an ordnance survey map." Charlie took another look around.

"Okay, let's go." he said.

Isobel ran further into the forest with Charlie close behind. They ran and ran, keeping to the clearer parts of the forest. After a few miles they stopped to catch their breath.

"I'm glad I bumped into you." Said Charlie "Otherwise I would be lost by now. I did not think a map would be available to anyone, how did you get to see it."

"Oh I know Dick very well, he let me see it." replied Isobel. "It was only for a few seconds but long enough." They continued their run "Not much further to go." said Isobel. She was right because the next clearing brought them back to the camp main gate. "See my short cut worked and we beat them all." said Isobel very pleased with herself. Charlie clenched his fist on his right hand. Seconds later Isobel was lying on the ground and Charlie felt much better.

Never trust a woman

Charlie was sitting outside the coffee shop. He was thinking about the television series The Prisoner. What was it Number Six had said. Oh yes `never trust a woman, not even the four legged variety.` Well, he was bloody right thought Charlie. How do they do it? he thought. No surveillance cameras, no perimeter fences, no security guards, well none that he could recognise as guards. He just could not understand it.

During one of his explorations of the camp he had found a narrow track leading to a forest on the West side. It was just wide enough for a vehicle and he wondered where it led. The track looked as though it had not been used for some time and Charlie thought that if he could get some sort of vehicle he might try and found out where it led. Later that day he was walking and a voice shouted

"Oi, get out the way." He turned to let a golf buggy pass. As he stepped to one side he thought to himself, that is what I need, not very fast but it should be able to cope with that track. He would have to find out where the buggies where stored. It took some time but on investigation of a building with two wooden doors, he opened them to find a workshop complete with four buggies. In the huge work shop, he noticed that work was being carried out on the vehicles. One had a dented wing, another had its engine in two and the two others had their wheels removed. He noticed a man with his head in the bonnet of one of the buggies.

"Hello." said Charlie.

"Hello, who are you? " said the man.

"I'm Charlie."

"Oh, hello, I'm Rob, I'm the mechanic."

"I'm interested in these buggies, how fast do they go ?"

"Oh about fifteen miles an hour."

"Can anyone drive them?" asked Charlie doing his best to sound casual about it.

"Oh they are easy to drive, no gears, just a brake and accelerator." said Rob pouring himself a cup of tea from a flask.

"Could I have a drive in one ?"

"Yeh, I suppose so but I'll need authorisation from Dick."

"They look like great fun to drive."

"I have got a couple of specials over there" said Rob proudly. "Come and have a look."

Souped Up

Charlie followed Rob to a another room adjoining the back of the workshop and looked at two buggies, but they appeared to look the same as all the others. "What's so special about these two?"

"Oh, these will do a top speed of 30 miles per hour."

"Really, any chance of me test driving one, just to see what its like?" asked Charlie.

"Oh, I dunno, me and me mate Geoff don't let anyone else drive them. You see, Dick does not know about these, if you get my meaning. Me and Geoff sort of souped them up. Just for fun mind but if Dick or Leo found out our feet would not touch the ground."

After some gentle persuasion from Charlie, Rob agreed to let Charlie test drive one of the specials. "I'll get the keys." said Rob. While Rob was gone, Charlie did a quick sabotage act on the second buggy. After all it was the only other buggy that could catch him. He pulled at wires and let the air out of two of the tyres. Rob returned with the keys. "There you are, make sure you only gone ten minutes, I don't want the buggy to be seen by too many prying eyes and be careful." said Rob.

Charlie was amazed how quick the buggy took off and Rob stood watching the buggy disappear around the first bend. Something told Rob that he should not have let Charlie test drive Geoff's buggy. He was to be proved right. . "Hi Rob." said Geoff walking into the work shop only moments later. "How's it going?"

"Oh pretty good, soon have these buggies back on the road." replied Rob.

"I'll give you a hand and then you can go for your lunch." said Geoff slipping into a pair of overalls. Suddenly Geoff's tone changed "Where's me buggy?"

"Oh I let Charlie, y`now Charlie, have a go in it, he'll be back in about ten minutes. Don't mind do ya?" replied Rob.

"No, normally no but the brakes are faulty. They let me down last night and the accelerator is beginning to stick." said Geoff

"Oh Bol***ks." said Rob "Let's go find him."

Then Geoff and Rob discovered Charlie's handy work on the other Moke. "Sabotage." said Rob "Get Dick on the `phone."

Dick answered his telephone. "He's done what ? What do you mean souped up ?"

All was explained to Dick including the bit about Charlie sabotaging the other buggy. Dick was soon searching for Charlie in a much slower buggy

"Follow that Buggy." said Dick to the driver. Word soon spread through the village about Charlie. As Charlie approached the edge of the west side of the village, he glanced behind him. He was amazed at the sight that met his eyes. He was being pursued by two golf buggies and many of the villagers on foot. `Bloody hell, they are on to me already` Charlie thought. Well they are not going to catch me this time he thought. For a second or two Charlie recalled how the professor was being chased along the beach by the villagers in The Prisoner. "Come back Charlie, stop Charlie, stop." the villagers shouted but Charlie took no notice and drove on.

There he reached the end of the woods and the road ahead was relatively smooth and not too much overgrown. It began to slope gently, the campers still giving chase ! Charlie's buggy really began to pick up speed as the incline of the track became more steep. Suddenly he was clear of the trees, before him was a large grassed area, he passed a sign that read `Danger quarry`. Charlie applied the brakes, but nothing happened. He took his foot off the accelerator but nothing happened. There was only one thing to do and that was to jump. Charlie took the jump and the buggy travelled off the end of the quarry in to mid air and then began to fall. The buggy smashed into a hundred pieces as it hit the rocks below. The villagers reached Charlie who lay on the grass. "Damn damn!" he cried. As he was lifted and carried back to the camp he was liked to the villagers in The Prisoner carrying the professor back to the village. Two men stood at the edge of the quarry looking down at the wrecked buggy. "Oh well never mind." said Geoff "We'll just have to soup up another one." "Dick will have our guts for garters." replied Rob.

"Oh don't worry about him Rob, we'll fix him." replied Geoff.

"Fancy a pint ?"

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." said Geoff". Looking at his watch Geoff Said "In fact we have got time for several." Because if there was one thing Geoff and Rob liked better than a pint of Bitter, it was two pints of bitter.

Charlie spent the next few days laid up in bed, his leap had earned him a twisted ankle, two bruised ribs and a cut forehead.

When Charlie was better he was summoned to Leo's office. Charlie had a feeling of foreboding and he knew trouble was just around the corner. He approached the office door of the admin building and knocked three time.

"Come in." said Leo. Entering the office he was asked to take a seat in front of Leo's desk, Leo sat behind.

"Well, dear chap, what can I say? You have had some very extraordinary adventures haven't you? We have not a seen very much of each other seen your arrival." said Leo.

"I haven't seen very much of you." replied Charlie.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"All I can say is these adventures of yours are going to get you seriously injured. Take last Sunday for example. I know you were enjoying your self but you could have killed yourself. Don't forget the reason you're here. Now off you go Charlie and please take more care of yourself." Charlie stood outside the admin building and his eyes lit up. Ahead he could see the main gate, with the ramshackle bus parked nearby. Stepping off the bus was a middle aged man, a new inmate thought Charlie. Then a plan entered his mind, a final escape to be attempted. Charlie promised himself that if he failed this time that this would be his last attempt. The bus had been parked while the driver had gone for a cup of tea before moving on like he normally did. This was Charlie's last chance. He boarded the bus and hid behind one of the rear seats and waited. The driver returned and within five minutes the bus pulled off through the gates of the holiday camp. Charlie's only problem was getting off the bus without being seen. The bus travelled miles and miles, in the distance a man stood by a bus stop sign. The ramshackle bus had begun to slow down. The front door opened and the passenger stepped aboard. At the rear of the bus, the emergency door was opened and Charlie got off the bus unseen. He dodged behind a hedge and did not move until the bus was completely out of sight.

A week had passed since Charlie had escaped the holiday camp. He was safe in his own home, well for now, as the building society were about to re-possess it. He still had not found a job and his wife was divorcing him. He had never felt so low and the debts were mounting. He had reached the bottom of the pit. He had started to drink more heavily and one night in his stupor he began to think about the holiday camp. Perhaps it was not such a bad place after all. After seeing off a half bottle of whiskey he eventually crawled to bed, he was indeed at rock bottom.

The next day Charlie was walking down the road and had gone but a short distance from his home, when he saw a man standing at the bus stop. In the distance he could see the ramshackle bus. It came to a stop and the man boarded it. Charlie made a decision and he ran towards the bus as fast as he could. The door was about to close but Charlie managed to slip through the small gap before they did. Gasping for breath, the driver looked at him and smiled. Charlie moved towards the rear of the bus and took a seat. Charlie smiled to himself, it was the first time he had smiled since he left the holiday camp.

THE END

Footnote: The Christian names used in this story represent no one living or dead. But only if the reader wished them to do so.

(c) Copyright David A. Stimpson/Free For All 1997

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Have you read parts 1 & 2 of FREE FOR ALL ?

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N.B. The opinions expressed above are not necessarily those of the person posting this magazine but all comments will be passed on to the editors

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