Speaker 1: Hello listeners, and welcome back to Underwood and Flinch. This
is the final episode of season six, so let's not
dilly dally and shilly shalli and all that stuff. Let's
get straight to the recap. Oh before we do, though,
there is a mid story and break in this one
because it's a long episode. Sorry about that, but you know,
as I always say, just skip over it. Here we go.
But anyway, so here we are. Then will this episode
carries on from where we left off, And you may
recall that Underwood, David and Elizabeth Daventry having visited Rose
and Damo at the house in Surrey Street, they were
leaving when they ran into Claire Redmond fleeing for her
life from Coleridge and a bunch of black clad swat
type paramilitary guys from the Mallius. Underwood, Flinch, Elizabeth, and
Claire Redmond ran back into the basement hallway, where Underwood
then clocked Claire as being Mallius or believing that she
was Mallius due to the ring around her neck, and
he knocked her out, but David being David, refused to
abandon her to Coleridge, who had after all, just shot
her and brought her with them down to where Rose
and Damo were snacking on the women in the pantry
a few flows down. After much arguing and listening to
what Claire knew about Coleridge and how it was he
who sent Miguel to her flat to kill her, they
were all about to go down to the secret passageway
that leads to the disused Aldwich station below. And you
may recall that Rose has the keys to a train
down there that gets used as kind of a practice thing,
you know, by emergency services occasionally. But anyway, they were
just setting off to go down. Rose and the pantry
women had gone on ahead when the sound of an
exploding concussion grenade above resonated down the ventilation shaft. The
Malias have entered the building, and now it's time to
run for your lives. In Underwood and Flinch Season six
in Tenebrous written and performed for podcast by Mike Bannett.
This podcast is intended for an adult audience. Listener Discretion
has advised Episode fourteen Underwood, David, Damo, and Elizabeth hurried
to join Rose and the pantry women. They found them
in the lift, snugly fitted into the small space and
waiting with their bags at their feet. The pantry women
looked scared. Rose just looked pissed off. You're right, said Underwood.
Rose ignored him. She shifted aside to make room for
one more. Get in, Damien. Underwood went to the door
that led to the ventilation shaft. Rose the malias. They
in the building. It sounds like it, said Rose. I
fucking dare say this is my home. Don't worry, I'll
get you another one. Underwood stuck his head into the
shaft and looked up for signs of intruders. There was
no one above, but he could hear distant shouts, single
word commands and responses. That's not the point, said Rose.
To add to her irritation, Damo wasn't getting into the lift.
He stood outside with his eyes on Underward. Damien, come on,
can you see him, Demo asked Underwood. Underwood turned back
from the door. Not yet, but they're upstairs. Ah, God
for dunter. Rose stamped her foot, her eyes narrowed on Daimo.
I should never have listened to you when you told
me to send odd fellow away? What said Damo? Now, Rose,
that's not fair. You were going to send them rats away?
Anyway because the girls don't like him. If they didn't
have to come into the pantry, some could have stayed outside.
I always have odd follow close by until you came. Ah,
so what are you saying? You prefer the company of
rats to me. Jesus Christ, it's a good thing I
don't suffer from Lowe's self esteem. David said, Look, we
leavin or what you lock could have been down to
the station by now and we'd be calling the lift back.
Underwood's head turned at the sound from inside the shaft.
Sh shut up. They fell silent, then from the shaft
the echoing sounds of distant voices. Underwood turned back and
waved Demo towards the lift. Go on, we'll take the stairs.
Hold on, said Demo. He looked at Redmond. Look, you've
been wounded here. He stepped aside and gestured towards the lift.
Go on, You take my place and we'll see us
art at the bottom. Demion snapped Rose, Rose, it's pitch darkened, dear,
they're gonna need my eyes to help and get down
the stairs. His reply did nothing to lift Rose's mood,
but this was not the time for an argument. Fine
Rose waved him aside, then beckoned to Claire, you mallius,
Let's go. Claire got into the lift beside her. Rose
drew the scissor gate closed to then jab the button
for the station level. She turned her face from Damo
as the lift shuddered into life and they lowered into
the black. Underwood was already through the door and on
the stairs in the shaft. David stopped at the door,
moving aside for Elizabeth to go before him, so she
was second to Underwood. However, once she was through the door,
she froze, shit, she can't be serious. I can't go
down there. When they had used the lift earlier, the
shaft beyond the bird cage structure had been in total darkness,
but now, in the limited glow from the room behind her,
she was able to see at least some of it
for the first time. In diameter, she guessed it must
have been approximately eighteen meters. She stood on a short
landing or platform, a stretch of flat concrete between the
stairs that wound around the wall of the shaft like
an internal helter skelter. Ahead of her, the steps spiraled
down into darkness, and to her right, at the opposite
end of the landing, they spiraled up to the higher
levels of Rosa's apartment and the basement, where the Malleus
had now entered. The steps themselves were narrow, approximately sixty
centimeters wide, and were edged by a rusty metal handrail.
She grabbed it and then released it immediately when it wabbled.
I can't do this, she said. She turned back and
pushed past David, but her way through the door was
blocked by Damo. Just leave me here. I'll take my
chances with the Malias. No, hissed underward. You know too much,
and if the Malius are now using vampires, then they'll
be able to get every last drop of it out
of your head. Lord, I'm afraid of heights. I'll faint.
Don't be ridiculous. Just take Flinch's hand and follow him down,
one step at a time. But I can't. Yes, you can,
because staying behind is not an option. You either come
with us or I'll throw you over the bloody side,
Elizabeth gasped. My Lord, don't test me, Elizabeth, believe me.
I've done far worse in my time. Flinch take her hand.
David did so, and Elizabeth gripped it tightly. It's all right,
said David. You can't see the bottom, so just tell
yourself it's only a few feet deep. It's not only
a few feet deep. It's a deep level underground station.
It could be bloody miles to the bottom. Dame O
lay his hands gently on her shoulders. Don't worry, Love,
We've got you from far above. At the top of
the shaft, the groaning and squeaking of the elevator wheelhouse
resonated all around, but Underwood knew that when the elevator landed,
the shaft would be practically silent. He leaned close to David.
We can't have her losing it flinched. Silence is our
only ally. Do you think you can keep her quiet?
David nodded yeah. He turned to Elizabeth, squeezed her hand
and put his finger to his lips. Gotta be quiet, Yeah,
all right, She nodded, both to him and Underwood. Good show,
said Underwood. Then to all of them he said, just
keep your right shoulder pressed to the wall and you'll
be fine. But avoid the handrail. It's barely fit for purpose.
Then to David, he said, in a confidential tone, I'm
going to go ahead to check the steps out. In
a similar condition. They seem all right here, but that
might not be the case all the way down. I
point be long. Can you manage? Sure? Yeah, just keep
my shoulder to the wall and take it one step
at a time, going down the stairs in a pitch dark,
never anyone right. Underwood grinned and patted his shoulder. Good man.
He turned and proceeded quickly down the stairs, his footfall
silent beneath the clank and whine of the elevator mechanism.
David started after him, keeping one eye on the steps
and the other on Underwood, till he was swallowed by
the dark below. Soon after, he too, moved out of
the glow of the light from the doorway and into
a state of virtual blindness. Shit, he whispered. Don't worry, mate,
said Daimo. You're doing grand. There's nothing honest steps ahead
of you. Just keep going. Then the elevator mechanisms ceased.
A resonant echo of their shut down hung in the
air for a second. Then from below came the sound
of Rose drawing open the scissor gate. That doesn't sound
too far down, said David. Daimo looked over the rail
into the shaft, wherever the lift had landed, there was
no light to greet it. Without any kind of ambient light,
his nocturnal vision could only penetrate a short distance. But
to announce that now seemed unwise. Yeah, he said, I
can see. It's just a little harder. I can hear voices,
said Elizabeth. But they're now miles away. That's just a
trick of the acoustics, said Damo. We'll be down soon enough.
It was a lie, of course, they had barely completed
one full circuit of the spiral staircase, but she didn't
need to know that. Then he heard something from above.
He stopped sh listen. David and Elizabeth froze above the
ghostly sigh of the breeze that drifted up from air
vents below. Daimo clearly heard the sound of boots on
concrete somewhere directly above them. Hear that, he whispered. Both
David and Elizabeth confirmed they did. The footsteps were fast,
not running, more like jogging. The sound passed overhead, then
further on around the spiral, which meant they were descending.
Gaining careful not to lean over the handrailed, Damo craned
his neck out and looked up towards the sound detected
movement at the very limit of his range of vision.
There were maybe six or seven of them. Details were
hard to discern due to their black clothing, but they
carried submachine guns and had some kind of apparatus on
their faces, which, going by their speed, he reasoned, had
to be night vision goggles. He knew from movies that
night vision goggles worked by intensifying whatever light was available,
however minimal, in order to make it possible for the
wearer to see. He had learned that his vampire eyes
worked in a similar way. Therefore, if he could see them,
maybe they could see him. Let's go, he whispered, We
gotta go faster. Where are they? David started moving again,
a little faster, now not close, but the catchinopoulos deim
looked up and saw the men were now opposite them,
Two spirals up and approaching Rose's apartment. With a bit
of luck, they'd break in there and be gone. But
luck was not on their side. The rat had been
drawn out by underwoods passing a few moments earlier. It
had been sleeping in a hole in the wall when
he ran past, and once awakened, had come out onto
the step, nose twitching at the air to see if
it was rose. Then it heard the humans approaching. It
was torn between running back into the safety of its
hole or going after the vampire. That decision almost cost
it its life because David stepped on it. Had he
not been treading so cautiously, David would have crushed it,
But as it was, he barely had all his weight
on the animal before it screeched and shot back into
its hole unharmed. David also screeched in his fashion, the
foot that had almost crushed the rat, shooting out from
underneath him and toppling him backwards. He threw out his
hand for the handrail, caught it, and felt the long,
rusted metal break away in his hand. He came down
hard on his tailbone the edge of the steps, scraping
the skin from his spine. He swore far too loudly.
Underwood came running up the steps as flashlights snapped on
above them, lighting them up. Are you all right, flinch Jesus,
David gasped, rolling to face the wall and take the
weight off his injury. My fucking ass holp, A voice
barked from above. Nobody move Daimon and Elizabeth looked up
into the lights that shone on them. Damo saw that
some were handheld flashlights, others were smaller and attached to
the barrels of submachine guns. Underwood was at David's side.
Can you move? What happened? I don't not row or
something on a step. I didn't see it. Well, no,
you wouldn't have. But can you move? From above them?
Came the order put your hands up and remain where
you are, Yeah, said David, nothing broken, Underwood said Damo.
They're common. Underwood looked and saw four of the men
running past Rose's apartment door and on down the steps.
The other two remained in position to keep their flashlights
trained on them. Damn it, and I've only just got
this lovely suit back. What oh, never mind. He stood up,
kicked away the twisted remains of the railing that had
broken in David's hand, and dived from the steps into
the yawning void. Damo looked over the handrail Underwood had
fallen beyond his vision, but then in the black a
flash of flame lit up the shaft and elevator structure below.
Underwood's beloved suit fell away and burning tatters, and his
shoes trailing smoke. Plummeted to the bottom of the shaft. Then,
against the backdrop of the dying fiery glow, black wings
unfurled and started beating. Demo watched as the bat rose,
at first to jerkily and then faster, smoother as it
gained momentum, spiraling upwards around the edge of the shaft.
Get down. Demo pushed Elizabeth down with him to a
crouching position. What is it, she cried, It's underwood. Deimo
hugged it to him, Hang on to me. A second later,
the bat shot over their heads and up on its way,
gaining speed all the time. Deimo relaxed his hold on Elizabeth.
You're all right now, but stay down. I got a
feeling something from above. Came a shout, the sound of
rusted metal tearing away from concrete, suppressed, machine gun fire,
sputtering wildly, and then the screams of men falling. Demo
saw the four who had come after them plunge past him,
and a second later another man fell, with two flashlights
tumbling behind him. Damo held Elizabeth against him as the
men plunged, passed only feet away, and as one of
the flash lights spun down after them. His hand shot
out to catch it in mid air. Oh God, said Elizabeth,
as up through the dark the impact of the five
bodies echoed another cry and more sputtering gunfire from above.
Damo looked up in time to see the lone survivor
diving through the door into Rose's apartment. The door slammed
shut behind him, and then they heard him shouting unintelligibly,
presumably into his radio. Damo patted Elizabeth's back. Come on,
let's go, Dave. You'll kee to go on?
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: David nodded and got to his feet, one hand clutching
at his back. Can you walk, preferably run? Damo shone
the flashlight beam onto the steps ahead of David. Here,
David reached back to Damo, gimme that. Damo handed him
the light and David waved the beam ahead. I'll go
as fast as I can. You go on ahead if
you want. Now, we'll stick together. We don't think your
man's going to be coming down after us anytime soon.
David nodded and started hobbling down the stairs. A rush
of air buffeted them as the bat swooped down the
shaft towards the bottom. David ignored it and carried on
each footfall a jarring hammer blow on his spine. The
remainder of the descent, which seemed endless, was spent checking
over their shoulders for signs of further incursions by their pursuers,
but none came. It appeared that Damo was right. They
weren't coming down after them, at least not yet. What
did that mean, David wondered. Were they regrouping, planning a
change of tactics. Why hadn't they fired on them when
they had had clear shots. He still hadn't reached any
answers to those questions. When the bottom of the stairs
finally came into sight, David's flashlight beam picked out a
clothed Underwood sitting on the bottom steps, tying up a
pair of boots. He was all in black, and beside
him one of the men that had fallen to their
deaths lay naked but for his underwear. Underwood turned as
the light fell upon him, holding up a hand to
shield his eyes. Still no sign of them, eh, he said,
it was like I put the willies right up than
what He stood up and indicated his new outfit what
do you think he was wearing? The dead man's clothes,
stained as they were with fresh gore. You got brains
on your shoulder, said David. Underwood checked, He saw and
wiped away a gout of gelatinous gray goo, then flicked
it from his fingers. Yes, and a fair amount of
blood too, he grinned. But that's nothing unusual. How are
you better? But I need to keep moving. If I
stopped to rest, the pain will flare up again. Well,
there's not much chance of that. Underwood stopped mid sentence
and listened. What was that? What was what? I heard?
Speaker 2: It?
Speaker 1: Said Damo. Sounded like something landed nearby. Something everybody heard it.
When a second something landed with a thud among the
bodies of the dead, Mallius agents. What the fuck was?
Demo started, but Underwood cut across him. Run quick, everybody
out this way. Where is it? My lord? Asked David,
as he and the others followed Underwood to a closed
metal door beside the elevator structure. Gas. Probably too quiet
for you to hear, but I can hear it. Underwood
tried the door handle. It was locked. Oh, for God's sake.
He covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve and
pulled savagely at the handle, which broke off in his hand. Shit.
He slammed his hand against the door. Rose. You there, Rose.
He sure it's gas, said David. I mean I can't
smell anything, and shouldn't we be coughing or unconscious by now?
Underwood hammered at the door. Rose. Elizabeth, who had been
holding her breath but could do so no longer, exhaled
in a loud gush. Fuck. You're right, David, who you
see more? Right? Oh I am said David. Demo. Demo nodded, Yeah,
I'm grand. Maybe the gas has passed at sell boy eight,
Rose shouted Underwood. All right, all right, said Rose, from
the other side of the door, keep your hair on.
A key turned in the lock, and then the door
swung open. Sorry I did not sink to check it.
Jesus Rose. We could have been killed, said Underwood. They've
thrown some kind of bloody gas bombs down here. David,
who had gone seeking said gas bombs among the broken
and twisted dead, knelt and then held up a blue
grenade casing about the size of a tennis ball. The
pin mechanism at the top had been pulled. It's not hissing.
Maybe it was a dud. It was hissing, said Underwood. Daimo,
you must have heard it. We did, Yeah, but they
were obviously crab grenades. So let's get the fock out
of here before they coped and start chucking the good ones.
Once they were outside, Underwood had rows locked the door
again before they set off down the tunnel. The tunnel
had never been opened to the general public, but being
part of the overall structure of Aldwitch, was like the
rest of the subterranean structure, permanently illuminated. It was unfinished
in its appearance, lit by a string of lights that
ran along one side of untiled concrete walls. The floor
was also raw concrete, gray and thick with powdery dust.
Where did you get to anyway, Underwood asked Rose as
they hurried in the direction of the station. For taking
a long time, I thought we'd go ahead and get
the train started. And did you No, I didn't even
get to the platform before you started calling me. Well,
thanks for coming back. I didn't do it for you,
I came for Damien. Underwood wasn't surprised at this, but
felt somewhat peaked by her announcement of it. No, no,
of course not, but still thanks all the go and
fuck yourself. His peak deepened. But what could he do?
It was something he knew he had to accept and
with grace, yes, he said, and felt absurd. At the
end of the tunnel was a metal door. On reaching it,
the pantry women slumped against the walls, weakened by blood
loss and exertion. Redmond Likewise, soon you can rest, said Rose.
In a few moments we would be on the train.
And then where do we go? Asked Louise, trying to
control the fear in her voice. Don't worry, all will
be well. Well, you can stay with me if you like,
said Underwood. Abandoned the train at the end of the
Old Witch Tunnel. And then the old Museum station is
just around the corner, you remember it, Rose, No platforms
station bricked up. But there's a secret passage, he turned
to David. Funny enough, it takes us up to the
house in Bloomsbury Square. No, said Rose. Underwood rolled his eyes. Oh, Rose,
I know you hate me, but where else is there?
You only need to stay through the day and then
tomorrow night you can all be on your way. Rose
turned to him with a look as cold as ice.
I want nothing from you. Do you understand nothing? But
there's nowhere else to go. Rose. It's not like you
can just ride your train into the great outdoors. The
Piccadilly Lines entirely underground, or at least it was the
last time I checked. I know places, places, even you
do not know. You think I'm down here these last
seventy years without getting to know every fucking inch of
the place. Demo raised a finger. Actually, if I get
a vote, I say we take Dan up on his offer,
just for one day, Like you know, I mean, it's
going to be the safest option and probably the most
Comfye will you don't get a vote, Rose snapped, none
of you do? I know better places, safe, comfy places.
Demo didn't believe that for a moment, but he refrains
from saying so. He sighed and looked off to one side.
Come on, we are wasting time. Rose pulled open the
door and went through to the station platform and stopped.
They faced about fifteen men, all in black tactical assault gear,
helmeted and with their lower faces masked behind black scarves.
Every one of them was aiming a weapon at them.
Come on out, shouted one. He stepped forward and beckoned
them to enter the station. All of you, damn, said
Underwood quietly. They must have known the flat was connected
to the station after all, and sent these bastards down
the train tunnel. He stepped closer to Rose and whispered,
do as he says, Rose. Once we're in the open,
we can take them. Rose led the group out through
the door and down a few steps onto the platform.
They were at the farthest opposite end of the platform
from the tunnel mouth. Since Oldwitch was the terminal stop
of a branching stub from the main Piccadilly Line, trains
didn't pass through. They came and went in a shuttle
service to the now also disused platform five at Hobourn.
The train Rose referred to as Hers, which was in
fact an old ex service model now used by emergency
services for training purposes, was where she had left it
earlier that night, its unmarked silver gray carriages waiting for
them a short distance down the track, but very much
beyond the firing squad arrayed against them. Lord Underwood said
the leader, please step forward and identify yourself. Underwood did
so without hesitation. We mean you no harm, your lordship.
Tell that to the inspector here, said Underwood. Inspector Redmond
was a potential danger to you. That's the only reason
she was fired upon. Underwood looked at Redmond and no
tic rose, looking intently at the tunnel mouth at the
far end of the platform. She seemed calm, but he
had no doubt she was livid with anger. Well, he said,
pardon my confusion, but if you meant no harm, why
don't you just knock at the front door. Well, that
was the first line of approach, but Redmond's actions messed
it up. Underwood recalled Coleridge out on the street. Earlier,
as Redmond had made a run for the house, Coleridge
had shouted at her to wait, or so, Underwood thought
at the time. But perhaps it had been him Underwood
that Coleridge had been calling to. If so, it bore
out what this man was saying. Now, just who are you? People?
Were from Saalium Security Solutions. Sir David leaned close to
Underwood and whispered, that's the company West said had formed
from the Mallius. Underwood nodded. He replied to the leader,
I see mercenaries, then who hired you? My orders are
to bring you to Detective Chief Superintendent Cole Ridge. He'll
tell you all you want to know. And what if
I don't want to see him? The leader hesitated a
moment before replying. Our orders are to bring you in
your lordship one way or another. Underwood grinned. You know
who I am, sir. I presume you also know what
I am. We do well, then you should also know
that if I don't want to cooperate with you, then
there's no way on earth you can make me, no
matter what tricks you may have up your sleeves. And
if you don't believe me, you might want to check
with your now deceased colleagues in the ventilation shaft. We
know about them, sir. We're in contact with the other team,
which is why we also know about the countermeasures that
they've taken to pacify you. Underwood frowned. Pacify me, what
on earth are you talking about? You've been exposed to
a gas, one that limiture ability to be difficult. A fuck,
whispered Damo. So it wasn't a shy gas after all,
and yet we don't feel anything weird, If anything, I
feel grand. What about you, Dave? David's back was killing him. Oh,
grand isn't a word i'd used. But as far as
gas related ailments go, yeah, I'm fine. But then maybe
it doesn't affect humans. In a whisper, Underwood replied, well,
I feel fine too, so maybe their gas isn't quite
the hobbler they think. It is only one way to
find out. He leapt forwards and in his mind took
the shape of a wolf. He landed a few feet ahead,
still very much in the shape of a man. He
guped on seeing his unchanged hands. In three hundred years
that had never happened. He closed his eyes, this time
summoning the bat, throwing up his arms to feel himself
coming apart in a rush of heat to form in
flight his wings. Nothing happened. He opened his eyes. The
mercenaries were all looking at him, and as he lowered
his arms, he felt sure that behind their masks there
was not one of them that wasn't smirking. Your ability
to metamorphize yourself, and that includes the fang, sir, is gone,
said the leader. Gone. Underwood exclaimed, you mean I'm stuck
this way, not permanently. The effects were off in time.
How long depends on your exposure, but it won't be
anytime soon. So he raised his gun to bear on
the group. If you'd all kindly raise your hands, we
can quickly check you for weapons and escort you upstairs.
This podcast continues after the break. Welcome back Bo. Daimo,
who had also been trying, almost straining to transform himself,
unclenched with a sigh. Oh fuck, I can't do it either.
Then Rose murmured, they may have pacified you, but not me.
Underwood turned to her. She was still staring ahead beyond him,
to the far end of the platform. It was true,
she hadn't been exposed to the gas, at least not
to the extent that he and Damo had Rose. He said,
one vampire alone can't do this. Even as a bat
or wolf, you'd still be vulnerable to their weapons. And
if they've cooked up this gas, who knows what kind
of bullets they've got in those guns of theirs. There
are just too many of them. I don't need to
change my form, I have odd fellow. Underwood followed her gaze.
The train occupied the track for most of the length
of the platform, Its final carriage only a short way
from the mouth of the tunnel. It was impossible at
this distance to see into the darkness beyond it, but
he didn't need to, for as he looked down into
the gap between the train and the platform, he saw
that the darkness had come to them. The track floor
was moving. The bodies of hundreds, if not thousands, of
rats rippled and seethed, poring over one another in an
eerie silence, for not one of them squeaked or squealed.
Their only sound was the dry, papery sigh of their
constant churning. As they continued to swell in number. Underwood
was amazed. He turned to Rose, wanting to ask how
she had managed to summon this vast, silent horde of vermin,
but present circumstances forbad made any question other than the
raising of his eyebrows. Her reply was a smile, odd fellow.
She extended her hand towards the end of the platform,
reaching for her pet and twitching her fingers in a
beckoning gesture. Come. And Wood looked to where the far
end of the platform sloped down to track level and
into the tunnel, and there, like a rising tide, flowing
onto the platform. Came the rats, now squealing with what
he presumed to be excitement. Oh fuck no, said Elizabeth.
She turned and was about to run up the steps
to the door, but behind her more rats surged forth,
cutting the group off. They had come from beneath the
train and were pouring up onto the platform, not only
between the group and the steps, but among them, flowing
around their feet and ankles to gather around Rose. Elizabeth, David,
and Damo made various exclamations of disgust and dread. Redmond
shut her eyes. Underwood laughed a ha oh, Bravorose. He clapped
his hands bravo. As the rats surged around the mercenaries,
the men reacted in different ways. Some fired their weapons
into them, Some tried to run but tripped over the
rats and fell among them. Others, frozen by fear, remained
still because, as quickly became apparent, the rats were not
attacking them. They had responded to Rose's command to come,
and nothing more. Even the men who had fired upon
or fallen among them were not attacked. The rats ignored
them as they ignored Underwood and his group. They were
there only for Rose. From one end of the platform
to the other, thousands of them. It was as if
every rat in the whole of the Piccadilly Line had
come to her call. Their collective squealing now was so
great it drowned out any attempt at speech, until Rose
held out a hand and commanded them.
Speaker 3: Shhh, whereupon they obeyed, from the nearest to the farthest,
as if a settling wave of calm had passed through them.
Speaker 1: You, Rose pointed to the leader of the mercenaries. You
and your men live now only because I permit it.
So this is what happens next. We are going to
leave here on that train, and if you or any
of your men try to hinder us in any way,
you will be torn to pieces. The leader, despite the
rats bristling around his boots, raised his gun that Rose smiled.
You'll think if you kill me, they will all just
go away. She shook her head. If you kill me,
it is like you kill their mother. The leader, his
voice touched with fear, spoke unsteadily through his black scarf. Look,
I don't know who you are or what you are,
but if we let them go, he gestured to Underwood
with his gun, we'll get a lot worse than being
torn apart by rats. Believe me, so you can have
these things attack us if you want, But if you do,
I promise you we will take all of you down
with us. The Mexican stand off, said Underwood. Look, said
the leader, his attention alternating between Rose and Underwood. Please,
for everyone's sake, I'm begging you, just surrender. I promise
you won't be armed. How can you make this promise,
said Rose. You are just the messengers. It is those
who censures that will decide whether or not we are harmed.
How can you be sure you speak for them for
this volkman because they told her so. Ma'am, Underwood is
a vampire. The master is a vampire, and vampires don't
kill vampires. Very well, said Underwood. If it's me they want,
then fine, I'll come quietly. He raised his hands. But
let these people go. They are my hostages. They are
of no value to you. The leader gestured to Rose
with his gun. This woman is also clearly a vampire, sir,
so I'm afraid she will have to come too. No,
said Underwood. Your master doesn't know about her or any
of the others. As far as he's concerned, they don't exist.
Trust me, As long as he gets me, he'll be happy.
My orders aren't just for you, sir, They're for Flinch
and Redmond too. Oh the hell with your orders, man,
I'm getting you don't personally know your master, but I do,
and I'm telling you he doesn't care about them. He
will want me. The others are just gravy. The leader
pointed his gun at David. Yeah, he said, you'd say that,
in which case we are to change Flinch's state as
to that of negotiable asset. What David leaned towards Underwood
and murmured. He means he can shoot me to get
you to go with them, My lord, Yes, I know
what he means. Flinch. I do speak English. I was
really surprised by the remark. I say no, said Rose,
joining their conversation. He is terrified, and with good reason.
He will back down if we are strong. You don't
know that, said Underwood. Frankly. I believe him when he
says Volkman will do worse to them, worse than being
devoured by rats, said David. Underwood nodded without a doubt.
Then we fight, said Rose. I will distract them as
I turn into a bat. Then Odd fellow will overwhelm
them in seconds, while say die, you all run for
the train, and I am too. Afterwards, Bernadette, who stood
close enough to hear their low conversation, looked horrified. You
want us to run through those things? She glanced down
at the rats. Rose, No, please, he said, they won't
hurt us. He's malius, he is lying. Actually, I don't
think he is, said Underwood. He turned to David and
Redmond Flinch Inspector. I can't order you to do anything,
but I think if we surrender ourselves they may allow
the others to leave. No, said Rose, We can all
get out if we It's all right Rose. Underwood touched
her on the arm and gave her a reassuring smile.
Think about it. They could have used explosive grenades against
us back in that shaft, but they didn't. They could
have shot us to pieces when we came out here
onto the platform, but they didn't. So what I'm saying
is if Volkman wanted me dead, I all of us
would be dead already. Rose's expression told him that she
didn't like what he was saying, but she couldn't argue
with it either. Underwood turned back to David and Redmond.
So what do you say you gain? All right, said David.
I haven't got any other plans for a weekend. Let's
do it. All eyes went to Redmond. Underwood raised an
eyebrow inspector. If we do, Claire replied, do I get
to go to this Volkman creature. Underwood didn't care for
her choice of words, but he nodded. Claire considered, only
Volkman knew what had happened to her father, what he
had done to him and to Coleridge, indeed to the
whole of the O c U. She would never get
another opportunity like this. Again, she nodded, all right. Underwood smiled, impressed.
He then turned to Elizabeth. Elizabeth, it sounds like their
master and his goon's up top either don't want you
or don't know you're with us, So it's up to you.
You can either come with us or leave with Lady Underwood.
Elizabeth looked from Underwood to Rose and back. I I
don't want to appear dislawyer, my lord, but if you
don't mind, Underwood smiled and patted her shoulder. Of course not,
I'm sure Rose will drop you at some station on
her way, and then you can be back up on
the street as soon as it opens. Tell the partners
what's happened, and not to worry. I have the whole
thing in hand. Yes, my lord, here, said Bernadette, fishing
in her hold. All hang on. She pulled out a
small plastic wallet and removed a card, which she passed
to Elizabeth. It's an oyster card. Last thing you wanted
to get Nick to the ticket gate. Elizabeth thanked her
and took the card. Then Underwood turned back to the leader.
All right, then consider this my final offer. You can
have me Flinch and the inspector, but my hostages, including
this vampire woman here, go free. And how do they
do that? Underwood nodded to the train as she said.
In this they drive out of here, lose it somewhere
in the tunnels, and just disappear. But if the master
finds out, he won't, will he not if we all
agree not to tell him. But a team upstairs, the
survivors from the ventilation shaft, they saw them. Talk to them,
Kill them if you have to, just so long as
you end up agreeing that the occupants of the flat
had left the premises before you arrived. Neither they nor
this train were ever here. The leader glanced around at
his men. It's either that, gentlemen, or you all get
eaten alive by rats. Take your time, the leader asked
his men a one word question, well, and one by
one they all nodded their assent. All right, men, the
leader announced, confidently, as if it were an all or
he were proud of stand down. Underwood nodded Rose and Daimo. Ahead,
Off you go, then, best of luck. What will you do,
asked Rose, Go and see volkman. I suppose will you
be all right? Of course, Underwood smiled. If anyone should
be worried, it's him. Probably you are right. Pass alf
dikauf asshole, she said, with a smile. A sincere wish
for him to take care. You two, rose to Daimo.
He added, both of you. What are you two saying,
said Daimo. I tell you later, said Rose. She turned
towards the train, extended her arms before her, with the
palms of her hands touching, then drew them apart, spreading
her arms out wide and before her. The sea of
rats parted to Bernadette, Louise and Karen. She cocked her
head to towards the train. Come you too, Damien. She
led them to the driver's cab of the train. Here
she took out her key and opened the door. Then
she turned back to Underwood. I meant what I said earlier, Daniel.
I don't want to see you again. Will you do
this for me? I shall? She nodded a farewell to David,
who raised his hand in goodbye. Then Rose boarded the train,
followed by the pantry women and Elizabeth. At the door,
Daimo turned back to David, good luck, Dave, mind yourself, Yeah, yeah,
and you mate. Rose turned on the train's power, and
the windows along its length flickered and came on. Damo
held up a hand to Underward, take it easy, Dan
good luck. Underward, tolerating the name, gave a slight smile,
Yes you too. Then Demo stepped aboard the train and
Rose closed the door. Everyone on the platform watched as
they began to walk through the carriages toward the other
driver's cab at the opposite end of the train. Where
would I go, asked David. I don't worry about her flinch.
She was right when she said she knows places down here.
Even I don't know about that much was becoming apparent
back in nineteen forty when things started to go sour
between us. She'll ensconce her little flock somewhere and then
lead them out tomorrow night. Do you reckon? She'll stay
here in London here? Who knows? Maybe maybe she'll go
back to Germany, or maybe Demo will take her to Ireland.
I don't believe she's ever been, and Dublin's great fun.
If you're a vampire. I have a house there. The
thought caused him to click his tongue in annoyance. Stupid
of me. I should have given them the key, if only,
if only we'd had more time. David was tempted to
remind him that he had had plenty plenty of time
to reach out to Rose, but felt it wise not to. Instead,
he shrugged, Oh well, I'm sure you'll get another chance.
I know she said she doesn't want to see you again,
but you know, once she and Damo get sorted out,
somewhere in the dust settles now flinch. I've broken far
too many premises to that lady already. This one I'm
going to keep. Then from the far end of the
train came the sound of the engine powering up. The
low hum began to rise, and then the train eased forwards,
moving gently, then ever faster away from them. As it
pulled away, the rats on the platform began to run
after it, as if drawn by an undertow in its wake.
Look at that, It's like a bye piper of Hamlin,
isn't it, said David, watching as the tide of ermin dispersed. Yes,
said Underwood. Maybe he was a vampire too. They waited
until the last train carriage had slid into the tunnel
and its receding lights all vanished into the black, before
Underwood turned to the leader of the mercenaries and rubbed
his hands together. Right then, shall we go, gentlemen? It
was actually Underwood who led the way out, he knowing
the way through the foot tunnels of the abandoned station
better than any one. He took them to the large
passenger lift, where he, David, Redmond, and six of their
captors boarded, and then rode up in silence. At the top,
they were met by more black clad mercenaries, who escorted
them through to the passenger exit to Surrey Street. The
large door was open wide outside it was raining heavily
and the figures who awaited them by the trio of
black s u vs looked miserable. Among them was Coleridge.
He was holding a briefcase. Claire recognized Hallam at his side,
even though she had only glimpsed him briefly while he
was shooting at her. There was no sign of Crook,
presumably he had been taken away in one of the
ambulances she had requested. Underwood hesitated at the door and
looked up at the sky. He knew from the tingling
at the back of his neck that the dawn was close,
but heavy clouds rendered the morning twilight almost as dark
as night. The helicopter was still roaring above, its searchlight
beam now moving to shine down upon the door. Underwood
shielded his eyes and at a prompt from the mercenaries
leader stepped out along with the others, into the rain.
They went over to Coleridge, where the leader announced relic
is Lord Underwood, Sir. He next indicated David and Claire
in turn, mister Flinch and Well Redmond. Coleridge smiled and
held out a hand to Underwood. Lord Underwood, Detective Chief
Superintendent Coleridge, pleasure to meet you, sir, Underwood declined the hand.
I'm afraid I can't say the same, sir Ah. Coleridge
withdrew his hand. Well, I I must apologize for the circumstances.
It's not what we had intended. No, I'm sure it isn't.
Coleridge's eyes shifted to Claire, who was looking at him
with icy disdain. He nodded Claire, glad to see you're
all right. No, thanks to you, Detective, Chief Superintendent. Look here,
Coleridge said, Underwood, perhaps you could clear up a little
mystery that's been puzzling us. Are you aware of the
death of one Ronny Bishop. I am, my lord, But
all in good time. We've more pressing matters at hand.
Coleridge nodded to a mercenary who stood beside the s
u V. Nearest them. The man opened the rear door
and held it wide for Underwood. Coleridge held a hand
towards the interior. If you would, my lord, I have
someone who'd very much liked to speak to you. Underward
bent and looked into the car. There was no one
on the back seat, just a driver and another mercenary
sitting up front, who he asked. Straightening up again, Coleridge
raised his briefcase to the roof of the car. It's
in here. If you'll just get inside, I can pass
it to you it. Underwood frowned. A computer tablet, sir,
I believe that's what they're calling it. What a computer tablet?
The Master's tech people are developing it for the commercial market,
but we have a few of the prototypes for communications purposes. Underwood,
flummoxed by the mental image of a tiny white pill
that was also somehow a computerized communications device, looked to
David for help, but all David could do was shrug.
Underwood sniffed and got into the car. Coleridge opened the briefcase,
quickly took out the tablet, and bent so his head
and hands were inside the car with Underwood. He tapped
the screen, waking it, then tapped again on an application.
The screen changed as the app opened, then, quite magically,
to Underwood, a man's face appeared. His tanned features displayed
surprise as at his end of the call, Underwood's face
appeared before him. It was no one Underwood had ever
seen before, but Lydia would have recognized him as Cloak,
one of the two men she had spoken to via
Celeste's laptop at the Dorchester Hotel. As he had been then,
Cloak was on the deck of a luxury yacht. His
high forehead, which rose into a fine widow's peak, was
beaded with sweat and gleaming in the brilliant sunshine. Oh ah,
he said, his southern drawl, almost a purr of delight.
It really is you. Underwood stared, unsure what to make
of it. Wait there, okay. Cloak hopped up, leaving an
empty seat to face the screen. Beyond it, a calm,
turquoise sea glittered, stretching to the horizon and a cloudless
blue sky. Underwood turned to Coleridge and saw David had
pushed his way in beside him. David could see from
the vampire's expression that he was somewhat mystified. What is this,
said Underwood. Is it like a film now? It is
like a phone that's a live video image. You were
just looking at that guy was looking at you just
as you were looking at him. It's a video phone call.
He can hear whatever you say. Underwood looked back to
the screen. From somewhere off camera, voices could be heard
laughter music. David recognized the music as just a Little
by Liberty X, a UK chart topper from some years earlier.
Then the image began to tremble as running footsteps approached,
and then another man appeared. He seized the table and
dropped his face close to the screen. Lydia would have
recognized him as the other man from her calls the
hipster Deray. On seeing Underwood, he laughed, oh my god, Underwood.
Speaker 2: Shit.
Speaker 1: He slapped the table, jarring his laptop and causing the
image at Underwood's end to shake. Underwood frowned, still mystified.
All these years I thought you were dead, and here
it turns out you were asleep in an underground crypt.
Ha ha, he laughed. I don't know why I'm surprised.
I mean, that is so fucking you. When Underwood only
continued to stare in apparent disbelief, continued, what you don't
recognize me? He removed his sunglasses but got no reaction.
Then he touched his beard. Is it the beard kind
of big? I know, but that's the way we're wearing
them these days. It can't be. Underwood held the tablet
farther from his face, as if distance might reveal something.
Some clue as to how what he was seeing could
be real? Deray shirtless, lean and muscular, his skin tanned
and beaded with droplets of water, which also dripped from
his thick hair and beard. Is this some sort of trick?
Are you in a film studio or something? Huh? What
do you mean? Then Deray's expression changed, as understanding dawned. Oh, oh,
I get it. It's the sun right, It's not possible,
Deray grinned, Oh, but it is. See, this is what
happens when you decide to sleep through them most incredible
fifty years in history. Hey, has anyone told you we'd
been to the moon yet? The moon, for Christ's sakes?
So if scientists can do that, is it really so
surprising to discover they fixed our tedious little aversion to sunlight.
And the irony is it was the Mallia scientists that
did it, a side effect of a stupid weapon they
were trying to develop. Oh, he laughed, talk about shooting
yourself in the foot. Huh. But hey, listen, I want
to tell you all about this in person. You got
to come out here and be my guest for as
long as you like you and your flinch is he
with you? There? He yes, show him to me. Put
him on the screen. What put him on? Look? Just
point the thing in your hands at him. Deray mimed
the action. Underwood angled the tablet screen so it pointed
at David. Oh yeah, said Deray. I'd know that face anywhere.
You must be, David. I've heard a lot about you
from your sister. Underwood snapped the screen back to himself.
What oh yeah, she's here. Deray turned to his left, Lydia,
come and say Helloda Underwood. Lydia stepped into the cradle
of Deray's waiting arm. She was wearing a red bikini
with a traditional Hawaiian lay, a garland of flowers around
her neck, and in her hand she held a drink
some kind of cocktail. Her hair, like Deray's, was wet,
as if the two of them had recently been swimming together. Helloha,
my lord, she said, with a smile. I'm glad to
see you back in one piece. Lydia, how the fuck,
whispered David, Yes, my lord, in the flesh and the
uncharred flesh at that look. I know we've had our differences,
you and I, what with me trying to kill you
and you trying to kill me. But I really hope
that now we're going to be, you know, all back
together again. We can put the past behind us and
start over. Can you forgive me? I forgive you for
trying to burn me to death, even though it really
fucking hurt. She giggled, and David wondered just how many
of those cocktails she'd had? Yeah, Okay, fuck off now, honey.
Deray smacked her bottom and shoved her from view. She's cute.
I like her. It'll be a shame if you decide
to give her the thumbs down. But I know that
you take that cold of yours very seriously, and I
hear she really fucked you up in Spain, so I'm
not expecting a happy ending for her. Off camera, Lydia
exclaimed in horror, what master, You can't be serious. Deray
ignored her. She's all yours, Brooks. I'll keep her safe
and sound till you arrive. No, Lydia shouted, no fucking way.
Deray turned and gestured to people unseen Benny Douke throw
her over the side. Underwood and David heard Lydia's screaming,
demanding to be unhanded. Deray was grinning as he watched
the off camera proceedings, which culminated a few moments later
with a loud splash in the background. Then, still laughing,
he turned back to the screen, and when he spoke,
he did so in an English West Country accent, kind
of like old time seeing it Jack. He chuckled, then
his accent reverted back to his usual American to continue. So, come, okay,
you Flinch and that policewoman now Redmond, I want to
meet her too. I what what are you still garping for?
Come on, don't you want to know what's been going
on with me? How come I'm sitting here in the sun.
How come she's here? He cocked a thumb towards the
sound of splashing off camera. Then a thought seemed to
occur to him, and he said, Hey, if you're worried
about how and a pass harsh judgment on her, I
get it, you know, for you. She's family right, But
don't worry. I can do it for you. I can
even spice it up with a little ceremony. Pick up
a good strong plank back in port and run it
out over the side, Maybe throw a couple of buckets
a chum in ahead of her. Because I know how
much you love a good feeding frenzy. Right you want
me to film it? No? No?
Speaker 2: No? What?
Speaker 1: No? You don't want to come? Or no, you don't
want me to throw a bucket a chum over leave
her alone, Deray brightened? So you'll come. Do I have
a choice, Sure, you have a choice. You can say no,
in which case my guys there will shoot you and
your buddy flinch in the head. Or you can accept
my offer offer other than the dubious pleasure of your
company and the chance to feed Lydia to shocks, neither
of which I find especially tempting. What is it that
you're offering me, Deray to the sun above him? Why this?
Of course? Do you really want to spend the rest
of your life skulking around in the dark, praying on
hoolebows and whares night after night of blood tainted with
cheap booze or worse these days, and skin that reeks
of bo or cheap perfume. Grimaced at the thought. Oh God,
I remember the feral life and it sucked no pun intended.
But you can leave all that behind now, Jackie boy.
Just get in the car and I'll have you flown
out here to a new life, the kind of life that,
frankly you never dreamed could have existed. So where are
you going? By Lydia's greeting, I'd guess Hawaii? Correct a mundo.
I'm on a business trip here that's turned into a
little vacation, but we're based out of Florida, which is
where we'll meet you. I see, well, given the choices
you present, I suppose we'd be delighted. Deray clapped his hands. Excellent,
Coleridge will take you to a private plane, and don't worry,
it's solar safe for old ferrels like you. On board,
you'll find food for your friends and a little someone
for you to get your teeth into. He chuckled, and then,
as though realizing anew that he really was face to
face with his long lost friend, he beamed, Damn, but
it's good to see you again, Jack. I can't tell
you how god damn happy this makes me. He slapped
a hand on the table with finality. All right, time's
a wasting have a great flight, and I'll see you soon.
He tapped his finger on the mouse pad of his laptop,
and a second later, the tablet in Underwood's hands went black.
Underwood passed it back to Coleridge, who took it and said,
thank you, my lord. So he took a step back
and indicated David to one of his guards. The man
took David by the upper arm, and Coleridge pointed to
the suv behind Underwards. Mister Flinch, weave another car here
for you. If you just hop in, we can now,
said Underwood. Flinch travels with me. But my Lord Coleridge
began to protest. Now, but's Coleridge, I've just agreed to
go to your master, haven't I You have my word.
We'll give you no trouble, but for security reasons. I
said you have my word. Do you doubt my honor sir? No,
of course not, my Lord, I just he considered David
a moment, looked at his watch, then shrugged, oh very well.
He stepped aside to allow David to get in alongside Underwood.
He then turned to Claire and indicated the suv in
front of Underwards. Redmond, you'll be in this one with me, wait,
said Underwood. Coleridge suppressed an eye roll. Now what you
didn't answer my question earlier about the journalist Bishop? Do
you know who killed him, Yes, said Coleridge, brightening. As
a matter of fact, I do Who was it? Coleridge
smiled me. You Underwood was stunned, But Bishop was murdered
by a vampire. That's correct, sir, he was. Claire shook
her head in disbelief. No, you, that's not possible. Oh
but it is, Claire, said Coleridge. For five years now,
haven't you noticed how I've stopped aging? He touched his face.
Hum but no, I don't suppose you would have, would you?
What would a young woman like you be doing looking
at an old geezer like me, wondering about my looks
and physical well being. And gets past a certain age,
he becomes invisible to the younger generation, doesn't he. He
took her by the wrist and tugged her towards the
suv in front. Come on, I say, Inspector. Underwood called
to Claire. She looked back to him. Would you prefer
to ride with us? Coleridge shook his head. Oh, no,
you've got no claim on her, Underwood. She's coming with me, Yes,
said Claire. I would prefer that. Coleridge's grip on her
wrist tightened. It doesn't matter what you prefer Edmond. I've
told you, and I've told you, Coleridge said Underwood. I
presume you know your master and I are old acquaintances.
Any discourtesy you afford to me, you also afford to him.
And don't think for a moment he won't hear all
about it. He shifted along the seat away from the door.
Bardje up flinch make room for the lady. Claire pulled
her wrist from Coleridge's now relaxed grip, and without looking back,
got into the suv alongside David. Coleridge, his face red
with simmering anger, nodded to the man who held their door.
The man closed it. Coleridge turned and went to the
suv in front and waved a hand to the marked
beliecar ahead of it. That car's blue flashing lights came on,
as did those of the one to the rear of
the convoy, and then one by one the cars moved off.
Once they were moving, David said to Underwood, So that
was Heinrich Volkmann, Was it? Yes? Said Underwood. He was
staring out of the front window, absorbed by his thoughts.
It's a fake name, isn't it, Yes, one of many
we both have our aliases. He called you brooks Jack. Yes,
a familiar form of John, very common back then, back
when you know when Flinch, So it is him, Yes,
it is David said nothing for a moment. Then he
sat back and faced forward. Fuck me, I'm sorry, said Claire.
But are you saying Volkanan? It's someone else, Yes, said Underwood.
Who his name is, Henry Verlaine. He's a pirate.
Speaker 2: And so the masque falls away from mister Deray and
the Master Henry Verlaine is revealed. The last time we
heard mention of him was when Underwood blew up his
ship but the end of Blood and Smoke, leaving him
and his.
Speaker 1: Crew to the sharks. And of course, you may recall
David saw a photo of him in the Secret Arsenal
at Cassa Underwood, way back in Underwood and Flinch in
a picture taken hundreds of years later. So how did
that man become this vampire? And how did this vampire
become the Master of the Mallius and a sect of
vampires that walk among us by both nights and by day.
All will be revealed in the next fantastic novel. In
the ongoing saga of Underwood and Flinch. So there we
are listeners the final episode of season six, and I
hope you enjoyed it. It brings us to the end
of what at Patreon is the sixty episode podcast novel
Underwood and Flinch Underground. And what here in the free
podcast has been the meat and potatoes of season three, four, five,
and six. Goodness, what a big old adventure that was.
Next month I will begin podcasting season seven. But if
you can't wait a month to find out what happens next,
then why not pop over to Patreon and sign up
as an Underwood and Flinch listener, which is the three
dollars pledge level, or you know, the same whatever the
currency is in your country. I think I may have
mentioned that once or twice before, but never mind. You know,
And once you're signed up at Patreon and you've got
the RSS code activated and all the podcasts appear in
your favorite app, or indeed, you may prefer to listen
using the dedicated to Patreon app, which I'm told is
now very good. Scroll down through the podcasts till you
get to the last episode of Underwood and French Underground,
and after that, guess what you should see season seven
begin you'll also see the book title The Devil of Claverton,
but when you start listening, you'll hear me refer to
it as Legion. Why is that, Well, I'll tell you,
because I started the book as an ongoing podcast before
I'd settled on a name, Legion was the placeholder title
and was ultimately replaced by the Devil of Claverton. But
there's more. As you go on through the podcast, you
will notice some episodes are introduced as Underwood and Flinch
Still of the Night. So what's that all about? Well,
Still of the Night was originally going to be a
spin off novel following the adventures of Damo and Rose,
but in the fullness of time and after at one
point declaring that I wasn't going to continue with that
particular story at all, Still of the Night also became
part of season seven. So it's all season seven and
you just listen to it in sequence as you would
any other podcast. You know. This is when I stopped
using novel titles for my underwooden Flinch works and simply
started using season numbers instead. You can see why using
novel titles for podcast seasons just doesn't work in this
day and age. It's not two thousand and six anymore,
is it, cord Those are simpler times. No. Nowadays, all
podcasts are broken into seasons, and it's compulsory that podcasters
label their podcasts as such. So it wasn't just a
case of book titles causing confusion with my listeners, which
was a big factor. It was also a technical requirement
as well. Just focus on listening to the underwooden Flinch
episodes in the order that they appear in the feed,
because that is the order in which they were podcast Okay, splendid. Now,
of course, if you're just going to stay here and
listen to the free podcast, then none of that matters.
It's just going to be labeled as season seven. All
this is just a big reminder that under Wood and
Flinch is a work in progress. The Patreon podcast aren't
just oh no, there's another story there in the bumpers.
You also get to listen to how the work evolved
over time, and of course, you know there's going to
be a lot of old news about the Village Roadshow
TV series that would ultimately never happen. And now, of course,
both Village road Show Pictures and the UK production company
that was going to make this show also no longer exist,
not just my show, but the companies that were going
to make it. Oh, fickle fate. Things that once seemed
set in stone now crumbled to dust. But you know,
one door closes, another one opens, and all that, so
you know, I remain optimistic. As you know, I'm trying
to get another television show off the ground with a
Hollywood friend of mine, so you know, we'll see how
that pans out, and of course I will keep you
posted if anything happens. But that brings us to the end.
I'm afraid, ladies and gentlemen, I will, as I say,
be back here next month when the moon rises again
over Underwood and Flinch in season seven, and I hope
you will join me. Until then, Thank you for listening,
Take care, and farewell.