The Raccoons.


The Haunted House, a possibility. Pt 2.


"Hey Bert, What kept you?" said Bently, as Bert pushed open the front door. "I can hardly wait for that guy to come back, he said hed let me on his computer while you looked at his bike." "Well dear," said Nichole, "He has to come back first, I hope he hasnt got lost." "Hey," said Bert "if he has, we'll just go and find him. Hiya Nichole, George. Whats for breakfast?" "Hello Bert," said George, "Just fresh pancakes, maple syrup and fresh orange juice. You might as well while we're waiting. I just hope he doesnt take too long, We have to go into town later for some stuff."

Breakfast passed with small talk and a reasonable amount of exitement from Bert and Bently. As soon as food was finished, Bently jumped up in exitement. "Bently dear," said Nichole calmly, "help me to wash up, then you can go see the new guy, WHEN he arrives. Until then, you might as well wait." "But mum", wailed Bently, "what if he turns up while Im washing up." "Then he'll have to wait for you" said Nichole. "Aww" moaned Bently, as he went off to help his mum in the kitchen. "Have you got any binoculars handy George," said Bert, "Ill keep an eye out for him from upstairs." "Ok Bert," said George "theres a pair in the cupboard, go sit on the upstairs landing, thats got a good view of the road." "Thanks George" said Bert "Ill yell if I see anything." Bert sat at the top of the landing, looking out down the road for any sign of the bike. Minutes passed, Bently finished washing up, then cleaning the kitchen, then tidying the living room. "Whens he going to come??" said Bently, "Im going to be back in bed at this rate." "I know," said Bert "Im getting a bit worried...hold on, I think I see something...WOW!! Is he moving or what!! Hes getting closer, and closer, and, (whhoooosshh), hes gone past. Oh no, he slowing. Hes out of sight. I hope hes stopped. Come on Bently, let go see." "OK Bert" said Bently "Im right behind you." Outside the front door, Bert and Bently looked in the direction the bike had gone in, there was no sigh of it. "Do you think he actually stopped Bert?" inquired Bently. "I hope so Bently," replied Bert "but he should realise when he reaches Mr Willow store." "Aw Bert, he'll take ages to get back from there." cried Bently. "Not at the speed that guy can move at" Bert reassured Bently, "After all, yesterday he made it in only a couple minutes." Sure enough, about five minutes later, the bike appeared back round the corner, and, gears whining, came to a smooth stop in front of the house. "Sorry about that," said the skunk, "I miss counted the number of trees, and ended up at Mr Willows store, I hope you didnt have to wait too long?" "Well," said Bert, "You missed breakfast, but theres fresh coffee if you want. Can we look at the bike?" "Yes, of course" replied the skunk, "Hold on though, Ill just disarm the drive." The skunk swung his legs out of the seat, and, standing up, reached back and removed a complex key from the instrument panel. "There you go, youve got pedals, gears, brakes, and computer. The power assist is safed. Please, try not to hit a tree, unlicened loggings a criminal offence." With that, the skunk waved and went in the front door. "Hiya George, Nichole, Lisa. Please, you said yesterday about you didnt mind if I called round today, Sorry Im late, I ended up at the store by acident." "Thats OK. Come in and have a coffee, you must be parched after that distance." "Thanks, if its no bother?"

Bert and Bently looked at the bike. It was a recumbrant, with three plush seats, dual pedals, a small front wheel, and an enormous back wheel. "No wonder he moves so fast" said Bert "its like half a dragster!" "Come on Bert" said Bently climbing into one of the higher back seats, "he said we could ride it! Lets go to Mr Willows store for some candy. Hey, these seats are self ajusting. This feels wierd, but comfey." "I dont know Bently" said Bert worridely "Ive only ridden the Solar Coaster before now, and this is much larger." "Come on Bert, he said we could, and its not very far. How bad could it be?" Bert climbed into the front middle seat and started looking for the hadlebars. He found them as a pair of retractable throttle type grips, one either side of the middle of the seat. As he moved them back and forth, the bike twisted. "Hey, watch it Bert," cried Bently "warn a guy next time." "Sorry Bently" replied Bert, "but at least we know how he managed to go round the corners so fast. This bike automatically tilts!" Bert started pedalling, nothing happened. Bert pedalled harder, this time a whine of gears could be heard. "Well something must be wrong" said Bert, "It FEELS like Im pedalling hard but whats happening?" "Hey Bert" called Bently "the displays flashed up a message, Backup drive engaged, please select required action. Hey theres proper gears on this thing, weve got it in neutral. I know, try pushing both handles forward, Slowly." "OK" called Bert "here goes" and he pushed the handles forward. The whining sound started to drop in pitch, and the bike started to move forward. "Hey, youre right Bently, I wonder if pulling back stops us then." Bert pulled both handles back, the bike stopped, and the whine increased in pitch again, but not to its origional level. "Hey Bert, this things got regenerative brakes, it saves on pedalling!" called Bently. "In that case" called back Bert "lets go!" With that, Bert started pedalling as fast as he could, then pushed both handles forward. As the bike set off, Bert steered it round until it was pointing in the direction of Mr Willows store. "Hey Bently, theres seat belts. Put them on and well see what this thing can do just on pedals." Bently put on his seat belt, and, just to help, started pedalling with his set of pedals as well. Bert cried "Lets GO!" and pushed the handles full forward, and then pulled them back slightly as the bikes acceleration pushed him and Bently back into their seats. The air buffeted them for a few seconds, then became calm as the shape of the bike deflected the wind away from the inside. "WOW!!" yelled Bert, "Hey Bently, we're doing over 60 mph," "Yeah Bert," called back Bently exitedly "and according to these readouts, thats just with our pedalling, and we can go faster still! Hold on. Mr Willows store is just up ahead, youd better apply the brakes Bert." Bert pulled back on the handles and the bike began to slow down. "We're going to go past it Bert" called Bently. "No we're not" replied Bert, and pullled the handles hard back. The whine reached an increadibly high pitch, and the bike came to a halt almost immediately, just ouside the store. Bert and Bently sat for a moment to recover, then slowly removed their seat belts and climbed out of the bike. "Wow." said Bert weakly, "that thing moves better than a sports car." As he moved towards the store, a flashing light on the display caught his eye. 'To restart bike press green button. Please press green button to lock bike.' Bert shrugged and pressed the green button. The displays went dark, the handles retracted, and big spikes went through the spokes on the wheels. "Come on Bert" called Bently, "Theres a new comic in, Mr Willows says its on a separate supply shipment." Bert left the bike, and went into the store after Bently. The bike gleamed duly in the brilliant sunlight.
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