PC Bartlett was on foot patrol in Malmesbury High Street and was just about to write a parking ticket for Dr Hodge's car when a very small Grammar school pupil came running up to him in floods of tears. Derek put his note book back into his breast pocket and knelt down onto one knee placing his hand onto the shoulder of the pupil to comfort him.
Now what's the matter Christopher Matthews, asked the constable. Please sir they've locked the Head Master into the store cupboard and won't let him out. Right we must get back to the school and sort this out. PC Bartlett looked around the deserted High Street then noticed the open window of the doctor's car and the keys in the ignition. Derek made a quick decision and opening the suicide door bundled Christopher into the back of the car then leapt into the drivers seat.
Derek rounded the steeple corner and accelerated down Gloucester Street towards the Bell Hotel. Just as they approached Abbey Row Dr Hodge walked out of the Bell, medical bag in hand, his jaw dropped as he watched Chris Matthews tearful little face pressed against the back window, snotty nose all over the glass, staring back at him. Derek raised his hand out of the window and gave Bernulf a hasty but cheerful wave as he yanked the wheel hard right into Mill Lane the tyres squealing, sending a cloud of dust continuing down Abbey Row.
We'll take a short cut through the Station Yard Chris, said Derek, heart rate now up in the hundreds. Cracker Clark was just about to cross the hill to the Abbey Steps and had to grab his monkey and dive back into the Mill. Derek approached Lovers Lane crossing and locked up all four wheels. He slid the back end of the doctor's Black Beast around to the right just as the Malmesbury Bunk puffed its way towards them and the station. Rear wheels spinning in earnest trying to gain a grip on the gravel surface sent another cloud of dust merging with a cloud of steam from the Bunk.
Fireman Stoneham waved his shovel in the direction of the doctor's battered car. With the back end of the car now snaking from side to side on the coal dust covered yard and with the unusual amount of whistle blowing from the Bunk the farmers at the market and all the occupants of the Railway Inn bar came rushing into Gloucester Road to see what all the fuss was about.
Did you see that, said Mr Lockyear from the abattoir, that was young Chris Matthews in the back seat and PC Bartlett at the wheel of Hodge's car, wasn't it, or have I had a few pints too many. Bernulf's Black Beast was now on its way up Tetbury hill but not for long as there came another squeal from the spindly thin tyres as it swerved sharply to the left and shot into the Grammar School.
Derek pulled up sharply to be met by Miss Bevan. Oh Derek thank god you're here. Robert Hitchings and the other sixth formers have gone mad and kidnapped Mr Wilmore. Where are they now, asked Derek. Miss Chance came running over through the steam now pouring out of the radiator and pointed in the direction of the front door of the main building, they're in there Mr Bartlett and they've barricaded the doors.
Chris was still sat in the back seat now staring out at all his class mates looking on in amazement at his unusual arrival. Suddenly Black Beast rose up on its front suspension and through the cloud of steam began racing towards the large oak doors of the Grammar School. Hold on tight, shouted Derek to Chris, now lead on the floor behind the drivers seat. With a huge bang and splintering of wood the two front doors burst open sending a large pile of school desks flying towards the staircase. Doctor Hodge's beautiful large round head lamps from each front wing of the Beast now lay spinning on the marble floor in puddles of shattered glass.
Masters Webb, Gray and Tracy came sprinting into the building followed by Mr and Mrs Lester and they all rushed off in the direction of the science lab. PC Bartlett quickly caught up the relay of teaching staff eager to enter the lab. Stand back everyone, shouted Derek. With truncheon drawn, Derek's size 12 boot knocked the door flying off its hinges. The room was empty, the windows all open, everyone had fled except Mr Wilmore so red in the face an explosion of the Head looked imminent.
