This is the story about two boys in a hotel on a secret mission trying to avoid being caught... well actually no it isn't, but it starts out that way and ends up with the boys making a discovery in the tower room of the hotel. A discovery that could mean that they may never be able to return home again, they meet someone else who has also made the same journey before them. This is the story of what happens when they all meet up. Suitable for all age groups.
Excerpt:
The man, tall, thin, with dark hair moving quite briskly, with military precision, dressed in a smart uniform, is walking down the corridor towards the two boys. He smiles at them, but behind that smile, is he hiding the fact that he is onto their secret? The rather impressive tray he is carrying, could be for camouflage purposes only, to throw the boys off the scent. The boys dare not look into his eyes as he passes, in-case he can read the slightest hint of their purpose here. As hard as they can, they keep up their rate of walking, as if nothing is wrong. Their hearts beating at least three times their walking pace. Time seems to pass slowly. Despite the speed at which they are moving. It seems as if it would be impossible to gain sufficient ground, before the chase recommences. Perhaps someone else will be sent to observe them. The uniformed man is probably at this very moment summoning up reinforcements. The boys take a sneaky look behind them and see that the man with the tray has stopped and is talking to someone. Perhaps he is briefing this fellow conspirator. The man in the uniform points down the corridor.... in the direction of the boys. As both men turn to look towards the boys, Stuart suddenly feels himself being pulled to one side, it is Andrew's hand that is grasping his shirt and tugging him down a side corridor. Stuart is about to protest, but remembers the two men out to get them. The boys hope that the man in the smart uniform and his co-conspirator, haven't seen them disappear down this side corridor and chase after them.
This cat and mouse chase has been going on for about an hour now and whilst the people involved have all been different, the danger has always seemed the same, although some have appeared to be more suspicious than others. After all two boys aged respectively eleven and twelve, can get into a fair bit of mischief, if the will takes them that way.
having found themselves in this side shoot of a corridor, the boys need to find their way to safety, before those two chase after them. The new corridor leads to staircase, with its dark wooden railings and banister. The steps equally dark, but with carpet snaking its way down down the middle, following the curve of the stairway. Ahead lay its counterpart heading upwards. The decision awaiting the two boys, to go up or down? They had possibly encountered the lower set of stairs, whilst exploring the floor below, so to go down those would merely confirm that they had seen these stairs once before. Like a magnet they are drawn to the stairs leading upward. without a word being exchanged, they set off up the stairs.
Whilst the stairs themselves, are dark and foreboding, there is light streaming down from somewhere above, it is as if it is inviting them to journey upward, as indeed they do. Sure enough on the landing above there is a large window, that looks out across the roofs of the parts of the building building that stretch out below them. The grounds beyond look enticing with their formal gardens, lakes and woods.
There is a short length of corridor opposite the window, leading to yet more steps and a pair of wooden doors, set in an arched entrance, each door taking up its own half of that archway. The doors, large and imposing, made of the same dark wood as the stairs, looking equally foreboding, have glass panels that shine as if daylight lay beyond. Neither boy being tall enough to see through the glass panes. Perhaps it is some sort of balcony or roof garden. Will they be trapped up here? Their hearts still beating fast.
Andrew grabs the door handle and Stuart, in a whisper asks, "Do you think it is safe to go out there? Will there be anyone there?"
Andrew replies, equally in a whisper, "We can't stay here and we can't go back down, we just have to go through."
Stuart places an ear against the door listens carefully. After a short while he stands upright and announces, "Can't hear anything."
