Episode 18

The desk sergeant was busy with paperwork as the now rather irate reporter entered.

“I need to see detective Harris at once!”

The officer raised his eyes and scanned the annoying visitor.

“Does he know you sir?”

Ben felt his anger rising and had to bite his lips.

“We are old friends ta. It really is important.”

The sergeant rang through and moments later, Harris appeared chewing the customary cigar.

“At least you are still here.”

“You need to see me Ben?”

“I certainly do my friend. Can we talk?”

The detective pointed to the interview room and Ben followed him into it.

Once the door closed behind them, Ben attempted to explain his mounting confusion.

“The professor is dead by the way?”

The detective was rather confused by the reference.

“Just who is that Ben?”

The stunned reporter reeled back.

“You really don’t know him?”

“Can’t say that I do mate.”

“Then you probably won’t believe that a giant bird carried my car off.”

The hardheaded detective just managed to suppress a laugh.

“Have you been on that wine again?”

“Not at present mate. Something ruddy weird is going on and no one else has noticed.”

“The only weird thing today is your ridiculous story.”

The door knocked and an officer stepped inside.

“They are ready for you sir.”

“I’ll be right out.”

“Where are you off to?”

“Public execution of course. I have been ordered to supervise it.
Now you had better leave now.”

Ben was struck dumb as he followed the detective out. He was even more stunned when Harris was handed a machine gun.

“Where is it being held?” Ben asked.

“Outside the town hall of course. Where have you been?”

“Obviously somewhere else.”

He followed his armed friend onto the street and made his way toward the execution site.

Ben had been expecting a silent square and a firing squad. As he rounded the corner, he was shocked to see a carnival atmosphere.

The square was packed with at least a thousand folk. A horse drawn cart stood nearby as a young chap sold toffee apples.

“This is all wrong!”

He struggled to reach the front, far too many parents had brought their kids for this brutal entertainment.

“Out of my way please.”

As she shouldered his way through, a large wooden platform came into view.

Ben simply stared at the scaffold. Standing below was a line of armed police with Harris at their head. Above their heads stood a single individual with a black hood over his head.

“A damn hanging. Hey? What did he do?”

The mother to his right smirked.

“Caught speeding yesterday. Serves him right.”

Ben placed a palm over his mouth as the noose was placed around the victim’s neck.

“What kind of madness is this I wonder?”

He lowered his head as the trap door opened and the crowd cheered.

After a minute of thought, Ben fought his way through and accosted the armed detective.

“You kill people for speeding now?”

“We always have Ben.”

“Don’t you realise that this is all wrong? What kind of madhouse are you lot running?”

Harris tapped his shoulder sadly.

“Why don’t you go home and take an aspirin? It’s obvious to me that you are not well.”

Ben backed away and said sharply, “Yes I’ll go home. It’s not me who is ill though!”

He began to push through the thinning crowd as the corpse was cut down.

By the time he reached his home, Ben felt physically sick. As he walked into the lounge, he collapsed upon his sofa and glared around.

“I need a drink!”

He poured a stiff wine and settled himself down.

“It is now obvious that someone is subverting reality, but for what purpose baffles me.”

He sank the wine and poured himself another.

“How on earth can I change this? Everyone is part of it.”

He shook his head as the door was rapped loudly.

“Who the hell can that be?”

When he threw the door open he was startled by the image of Frenier.

“You alright love?”

“Are you?” he snapped.

“May I come inside?”

Ben stepped aside as she strode in.

When he slammed the door she spotted the wine.

“You seem to be starting early.”

“I have had one hell of a day my dear. You better sit down.”

She smiled as he joined his occasional lover.

“What seems to be the problem?”

“For a start I have been attacked by a robot then a bird. I have seen my paper turned into a bar and Harris supervising a public execution!”

Frenier took this calmly and handed him the glass.

“You better finish this lot. It seems to me that you have just woken from a nightmare.”

“I slept last night my love.”

She stared at the door and whispered, “You seem to have forgotten our date too.”

“We never had one.”

When she faced him, he noted the annoyed expression.

“Of course we had. Don’t you remember the film?”

“What damn film?”

She suddenly stood and lost her temper.

“Night of the gauls of course!”

He put the glass down and shook his head.

“You never told me about it.”

Frenier reacted by pulling a knife from her rear pocket.

“What are you doing?”

“Killing off trash.”

She lunged at him, knocking the sofa onto its back. As it went over the coffee table went flying. Smashing the wine glass to pieces.

Ben managed to stop the blade reaching him by grabbing the hand tightly and yelling, “Calm down!”

She snarled as his strength took hold. She increased the pressure, applying the full force of her overweight frame. Realising his imminent danger, Ben struck out blindly at the exposed face. As her head reeled back, he turned the blade and thrust it into her exposed throat. He gasped for air, watching as Frenier crashed to the floor as the fresh blood spurted out. Scrambling free, he flattened down his wild hair.

“That was a lucky escape. The quicker that I return to my own world the better.”

He watched the body fade from view, as a loud noise distracted him.