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| Re: Learning to Live in Paradise [message #1311 is a reply to message #1310] |
Thu, 26 July 2012 19:45   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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Monday, April 9, 2068, 8 p.m. local time, London, England
The black shiny stretch limo drove up Downing Street, stopping at Number 10. Almost immediately the door was opened by a butler, and the Prime Minister, her husband and two teenage sons came out and got into the limo.
"Good evening Madam Prime Minister, Mr Baker." The chauffeur touched his cap to the two sons. He glanced at the itinerary in his hand. The plan was to leave Downing Street, cross over Westminster Bridge and head east towards Guys Hospital, where the Prime Minister was to open the new burn unit. Then the party would travel across Tower Bridge to the Tower of London, where a reception was being held for the new Indian Ambassador and his wife.
Further downstream a large cruise ship was making its final voyage and would be anchored off the Embankment, to be hired for entertaining groups or parties of people.
As the Prime Minister's party reached Guys Hospital, dark clouds were gathering over the Thames estuary, and low rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance. Large spots of rain began to fall as the party, under large umbrellas, headed for the Hospital entrance.
The Captain of the Cruise ship, an elderly man with a grizzled grey beard and bright blue twinkling eyes, also observed the threatening storm. "Looks like we're in for a storm," he observed to his second in command.
"Aye, Captain Drew," the young man replied. "Still we are safe enough in the Thames. We are quite sheltered from any rough weather."
"Well, we are nearing Tower Bridge. I have radioed ahead, they should be lifting the bridge for us. But just in case, you had better sound the siren." The siren gave out a mournful sound in the gathering gloom of the coming storm.
Having made a brief appearance at the hospital, the Prime Minister's party were saying their farewells and were once again getting into the limo to begin the short stretch to the Tower Bridge.
Out in the Thames, the ship was steadily forging through the water. Suddenly, there was a vivid streak of lightning, followed almost instantaneously by a loud clap of thunder. The heavens opened and an absolute deluge of water fell on both the ship and the limo carrying the Prime Minister's party. Visibility was cut to absolutely nil. Another bolt of lightning seemed to make direct contact with the ship, knocking out the computer system. The ship was plunged into darkness. The Thames was becoming decidedly choppy. The ship lunged and swung over to the left bank, seemingly out of control, and hit the bridge support tower. Unfortunately the Bridge Control had been in a quandary. They had not wanted to stop the Prime Minister's party, and had radioed to the ship to hold back until the bridge was raised. However, due to the storm and the computer crash, that message had not been received.
The tower shuddered under the impact, causing the raising mechanism to start. The limo was at the center point of the bridge, and as it began to rise, the long luxury car found itself rising with it. The edge of the bridge caught it between just so, and it balanced there precariously. There was a horrible crunching of metal sound, screams and shouts of help, and then there came a smell of petrol. The bridge lifted to its fullest height, leaving chaos and carnage at the bottom on each side.
The Prime Minister calmed her frantic children. "Do not move, boys or we shall either go into the river or smash at the bottom of the bridge."
"Then what can we do?" her younger son asked, his face pale.
"Just sit quietly and wait, son," Mr. Baker said. "Sit quietly and wait for rescue."
Post by Tawnyangel22 on 30/03/2005
  
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