Speaker 1: Hello listeners straight in this month with the original Patreon
recap from what at Patreon is still called Underwood Flinch
Underground and probably always will be. I may yet even
decide to release the ebook and audiobook of this podcast
as Underwooden Finch Underground. I don't know. In tenebris may
just be part two of you know, the Big Fat Volume.
You know how big novels are sometimes divided into two halves.
I don't know, you know, it's all still a work
in progress. But anyway, whatever Mike says you, I'll just
shut up and hand over to me. In twenty nineteen,
over to you, Mike. Then, welcome back to Underwood and
Flinch Underground, And this time we're rejoining Underwooden Flinch as
they actually go underground. But we'll get to them in
just a moment. First, we need a quick catch up
on the events that brought us here. The last time
with Underwooden Flinch was season five, episode ten, when they
and Elizabeth Daventry were at the journalist Ronnie Bishop's flat,
where they found Ronnie dead in a pool of his
own blood in an apparent suicide that Underwood explained was
most definitely not suicide. He'd been murdered by a vampire.
But before he died, Ronnie had been looking at an
old copy of the Ater Z of London. The map
book old enough to still have Aldwitch Underground Station on
it as being an open and operational station. Quick historical footnote.
According to Wikipedia, the station closed in nineteen eighty four. Anyway,
Ronnie left a bloody mark on the map of the
underground on the back of the eight Z guide before
he died. At first, our heroes thought he might be
trying to indicate Hoburn's station, but then they realized the
age of the book and that it was in fact
Aldwich that he was indicating. Here's a flashback. That's not
why Ronnie used his last ounce of strength trying to
point out Oldwitch? Is it? He knew I was coming.
He was trying to tell me something And what was that? That?
That's where Daimo went when he ran into the tunnel.
Ronnie knew London, but he must have forgotten about Aldwitch
because it's been gone from the map for so long.
But tonight it must have come back to him. He
got his old aida Z down and checked it, and
sure enough, there it was, just off Hoburn on the
Piccadilly Line, and maybe he was going to ask me
about it. I don't know. But the main thing is,
assuming they haven't walled off the tunnel to Aldwich, that
must be where Daimo went. And if Lady Underwood is
still down there, they could be working together, said Elizabeth. Oh,
that's splendid, said Underwood. That's all I need. And so
later outside Underwood found a set of footprints deeply impressed
into the front lawn. To be that deeply impressed, he
Readson and the person that made them would have had
to have jumped from a high window like Ronnie's. It
was a jump far too high for a human being
to make, and so this for him confirms that the
London Vampire, whoever that may be, killed Ronnie. Now, Ronnie's
laptop and camera had also been taken from the scene
of the crime. And of course, as we know, both
camera and laptop had photos taken by Ronnie of the
people chasing into Hobn Station. Who were those people? Well,
there was Damo chased by David, chased by the OCU
cop Whitmore and lastly the sect operative Glover. If the
London Vampire killed Ronnie in order to get that evidence. Well,
I'll just leave that there for you to mile over,
because now we're going to follow Underwood, David, and Elizabeth
as they go to the place that, at the end
of episode forty, Underwood said was the one place on
earth he genuinely fears to tread. Underwood and Flinch Season
six in Tenebrous Written and performed for podcast by Mike Bennett.
This podcast is intended for an adult audience listener discretion
as advised. Episode ten, David was waiting. He stood on
the pavement of Surrey Street with Underwood and Elizabeth Daventry
at the foot of the few shallow steps leading up
to the house that had once been Underwoods. Underwood stood perfectly, still,
staring at the door as he had been for well
over a minute now. David sighed and turned to Elizabeth.
Maybe you should do it, Elizabeth, do what, said Elizabeth
the honors. He cocked his head to the door, knock
and see if she's in. Without turning, Underwood said, while
we do what, Flinch, hide behind the car like a
couple of frightened schoolgirls. Don't be absurd. Well, I'm not
the one acting like a frighten schoolgirl. My lord, no offense,
but you've been looking at that door for about two
minutes now. Underwood turned to him, annoyed. I'm trying to
work out what to say, aren't I one doesn't just
go blundering into these things. I haven't seen the woman
forever sixty years, and as far as we know, she
thinks I'm dead. What would you have me do? Just
give her a peck on the cheek and say, hello, darling,
I'm home. Mix me a martini. Well, no, of course not.
I was just I don't know. I thought maybe if
Elizabeth knocked, it might take the pressure off you a bit,
get things rolling, you know. Well, I'll thank you not
to concern yourself, flinch. I'm quite capable of managing the
situation myself. He turned back to face the door. And
anyway it could be risky. Her Ladyship's probably not going
to be pleased to see me, so if any one's
going to get lamped with the proverbial frying pan, it
should be me. So I just need a few minutes
to think what I'm going to say. All right, Yes,
my Lord David looked at his watch. It was three
fifteen He wasn't sure what time the sun rose in
London in early May, but it couldn't be more than
a couple of hours before the sky began to brighten.
He sighed quietly and looked around. The streets were silent
but for the occasional car driving along the Strand or
down by the Thames. He turned his attention to the
Aldwitch station building adjacent to Underwood's house. Nowhere on it
was there any signage bearing the station's name, nor the
familiar London Transport roundel. Nevertheless, it didn't look abandoned. It
appeared to be clean and in good repair, its glazed
ox blood tiles gleaming in the glow from the street
lamp behind him. There were four doors, one regular door
with a small window overhead that David presumed had been
used by station staff, two larger doors for passenger traffic,
over which were written exit and entrance, respectively, and a
fourth glass door that looked as if it were part
of a small office. There was a window to the office,
but there were blinds on the other side, making it
impossible to see inside. David wandered over. He placed a
hand against the tiled wall and reflected on the story
he had heard on Arthur and Underwood's tapes. He tried
to imagine what it must have been like during the
blitz in World War II, the families queuing here night
after night to go down to the shelter, their bags packed,
never knowing if come the morning there homes would still
be standing or have been reduced to piles of burning rubble. David,
you are right. David turned at the question spoken softly
behind him. Elizabeth was looking at him with concern. Yeah,
he smiled, just thinking about this place, Aldowitch. She looked
up at the facade. What about it, ah, you know,
the wartime air age shelter and all that rose singing
down there on the platform for the family sheltering from
the bombs, everybody trying to keep happy despite the shit
they were going through. He turned back to the smooth
tile surface beneath his fingers. It's kind of humbling, isn't it,
if you say so. I was actually thinking you might
be upset about the death of your friend, the guy
back at the flat, Ronnie. It was hardly a friend.
I'd only known him for about five minutes. But thanks,
I'm fine, all things considered. Did his Lordship say anything
to you who he thought might have been responsible. I
saw you two looking at something on the lawn outside.
Oh yeah, there was a set of footprints made by
somebody jumping from Ronnie's window. Man sized, so not Lilia's
His lordship thinks it's your friend, Damo. David nodded. Probably. Yeah,
I guess that's what we're here to find out, isn't it.
But you still think he's innocent, at least of the
skip murder. Yeah, I do. He admitted to me that
he'd killed the priest, So if he was feeling confessional
and he had done the other one, why not just
admit to that too. Wouldn't have made any difference. It's
not like I was in a position to do anything
about it. She nodded and was about to reply when
they both turned at the sound of footsteps trotting briskly
upstone steps. Without a word to them, Underwood went up
to the door. Do you think we should go over
or wait here? Asked Elizabeth. I reckon, we should wait here,
give him some room. Underwood paused at the door, having
noticed a small sign on the wall. He turned to Elizabeth,
pointing to it. What's this? It says, Department of Philosophy. Oh, yes,
that'll be the university. I'm afraid I forgot forgive me
the lot. I'm not really o fay with Lady Underwood
as a clad The partners would really be the people too.
Which university? What are you talking about? Well, now that
you pointed out, I remember from talk of her in
the office that she least part of the property out
to a university. She nodded to the house. Apparently that part.
I can call my father if you know, that won't
be necessary. It's patently obvious it's that part. The question
is which part does she still retain? He looked down
to the basement. But she still lives here, does she
asked David, his head swiveling from Elizabeth to Underwood. Oh
she lives here, said Underwood. I can feel her presence,
her sen is. He closed his eyes and, with his
face toward the basement steps, flared his nostrils and sniffed
the air. God, it's been so long, but it's her.
She was here recently. Wait there. He walked around the
railings and opened the gate to the basement level. He
went down the steps and stopped at the window, through
which he saw various desks and chairs facing a whiteboard. Hum, interesting,
what is it, my lord asked David. Underwood pointed at
the window. There's a classroom in here, so she can't
have kept the basement. And yet Elizabeth joined David at
the gate. Well, she definitely kept her home here, the Lord,
perhaps I should call my father. He won't mind, of
course he won't mind. It's Lord and Master calling. Oh,
I go on. Elizabeth walked a few steps away and
took out her phone. When David looked back into the basement,
Underwood was sniffing at the door. Can you still, smiller? Yes,
now it's mingled with other sense. Many people use this
door and the passage beyond, and there's no doorbell either.
It's clearly also part of this bloody university, which leads
me to believe she must have retained only the lower
most levels, and those are connected to the station. Right, Wow,
they were, But who knows what else she is leased
I'd say they are, my lord. It would explain how
Daimo managed to get back to her after I left
him in the tunnels, assuming that's what he did. That's
what he did, all right. His is one of the
other sense that I'm picking up here, but it's changed.
He turned back to David. No doubt about it, flinch.
Our mister Sullivan is indeed now a vampire, my lord,
Elizabeth hurried back, phone in hand. Her ladyship has retained
possession of the lower most levels. She has access from
the same door as well. Yes, that one. Her father says.
He can get the door key from the office and
be here within thirty minutes. If we don't have thirty minutes,
said Underwood. He slid the fingers of his left hand
through the letter box to secure the door, then place
the palm of his right hand flat against the door
by the keyhole. David, realizing what he was about to do,
called out, wait, my lord, they could be too late.
Underwood pushed the door. There was a crack on the
other side as the jam split, then he let the
door swing open. He turned to look back up at David.
What an alarm? An alarm on a school don't be
ridiculous to keep the kids from escaping, perhaps, but not
the other way round. Who'd want to break into a
school there and say? Come on? David scanned the building
for alarm systems. He didn't share Underwood's blithe lack of
concern for its security even if there were no alarm
bells ringing. To Elizabeth, he said, could be a silent
alarm connected to police or private security. She nodded, perhaps,
but I don't see any warning signs or flashing boxes anywhere.
Maybe he's right flinch, Underwood called from inside the basement entrance.
Oh well, I guess we'll no soon enough. David led
Elizabeth down the steps and into the building. Underwood was
waiting by a door in the hallway. Come on, come
on and shut the door behind you. Wait, where's the light?
Said David. It's all right for you, but we won't
see a bloody thing once that shut. Here, said Elizabeth,
then to Underwood, with your permission, my lord, Yes, yes,
Underwood replied. She pulled the front door closed and turned
on the light. All right, now, on the other side
of this door is the lift. It's a noisy old thing,
so it's bound to alert her to our presence. So
once we're on board, get behind me, and just in
case she comes at us, comes in us, said David
with what here? Look, my lord, maybe you should go
down alone at first. You know, sounds like you he
might want some privacy for a while to work things out,
thank you, flench, But there's no time for such considerations.
If Demo is responsible for these murders, then I want
you and Elizabeth on hand as witnesses. Witnesses, so what
to his confession? You know, in case I kill him?
But you're not going to kill him? Well, no, it's
not my plan to. Clearly, Rose has taken him under
her wing, and he's now hopefully behaving like a responsible
member of the vampire community. But between her probably difficult
reaction to seeing me again and my confronting him as
being a rogue, things may get ugly and he may
get hurt. If that happens, questions will be asked in
the family. Not that my word isn't golden, you understand,
but it doesn't hurt to have a few witnesses in
such situations. That and I'm sure you'd like to be
there to ensure he doesn't do anything foolish. Well, yeah, absolutely,
good show. Then let us descend. He tried the lift door.
It was locked, Oh, dear, said Elizabeth. Perhaps we should
wait until morning. I can come back and we can
do this in a more business like fashion. I could
bring repair men for the front door too, and no,
said Underwood. He felt along the top of the door frame,
found the key and held it up for Elizabeth to see.
Fix the door later. By all means, but I need
to know my house is in order to night. And
by that I don't mean this house, I mean the
whole city. There's only one London vampire and I'm it.
And I don't take kindly to others shitting on my doorstep.
He unlocked the door and opened it. The scissor gate
was drawn on the empty cage lift shaft beyond. Underwood
pressed the lift call button and the system jutted into life,
the wheel house at the top of the shaft, squealing
and groaning as it lowered the bird cage lift down
to them. BlimE me, said David. YEA, that will know
we're coming, even if she's down on the station belt
and out. We'll meet again at the top of her voice.
She doesn't belt out anything flinch. She may be mad,
but she has an exquisite voice. Sorry, Millard, no disrespect intended.
The lift arrived, Underwood grasped the handle of the scissor
gate and drew it back all aboard I'll drive. David
and Elizabeth entered the lift, and David recognized the familiar
smell of the underground, carried up on a breeze from below.
He looked out into the blackness beyond the cage, and
in the second before Underwood closed the door on the hallway,
cutting off the only light source, he glimpsed the stone
steps winding round the wall of the ventilation shaft that
enclosed the lift structure. Then the door closed, and there
was only pitch darkness. The scissor gate squealed as Underwood
drew it closed. You didn't think to add a light
when you add this built Millard. I don't need light, yea.
But I mean for your guests in the blackness, he
heard Underward chuckle. Typically flinch. For my guests, darkness is
the least of their fears. He pushed a button and
the lift began its squealing descent. David grabbed on to
the cage. One hand fell upon Elizabeth's, already in place,
her muscles tight with tension. Oh sorry, that's all right,
said Elizabeth. She sounded fearful. Underward watched them with amusement,
their eyes blind wide and staring, searching for a sliver
of light in the black to give some clue as
to where they were. For a moment, he toyed with
the idea of applying the brake just for the fun
of it, But then the lift eased to a stop
as they arrived. Maybe another time, he smiled, Here we are,
then I'd better give her a shout in case she
thinks we're intruders. She might have a shotgun or something
at the ready, here, said David, and if she is you,
she might just use it. Maybe we'd better get down
in litit Rose, Underwood shouted, it's me, Daniel. He listened
for a reply. When none came, he continued, Rose, I'm
going to open the door. Okay, no reply. Underwood turned
back to David and Elizabeth to speak, but saw only
Elizabeth staring ahead. Terrified, he looked down to see David hunkered,
his fingers curled and clinging to the cage. Flinch. What
are you doing? David looked up to the sound of
his voice. What do you mean? What am I doing?
I told you I'm ducking, aren't I If she shoots
you with a shotgun at this range, she shoots all
of us. Well, you can relax she's not there. How
do you know, you mean, besides the fact that she's
not replying. Yeah, Underwood rolled his eye. He drew back
the scissor gate and opened the door on the other side.
There see, now, I bloody don't. For Christ's sake, could
you turn on a light, my lord, I'm as blind
as a fucking bat. Bats aren't blind, you know what,
I David broke off as light flared before him. He
looked away and then turned back, squinting to see Underwood
standing illuminated in the doorway. At his feet were rats.
He counted four, five, six of them, a tangle of
writhing bodies and tails, until they saw David and Elizabeth.
Then they stopped, standing quite still and watching them with
their tiny black eyes. Sorry about the vermin, said Underwood.
I'm afraid it looks as if she's rather let the
place go. Oh my god. Elizabeth recoiled, taking a step
behind David and taking him by the shoulders. My lord, please,
Underwood chuckled. Via aren't they I've never cared for them either,
But Rose always had an affinity for the things, or
at least she did. After she withdrew down to that
bally station, he waved a hand at the rats, go on, shoot.
The rat scurried away as if he had brandished a
blazing torch at them. Wincing, David gently prized Elizabeth's fingers
from his shoulders. Sorry, but to your mind, Elizabeth withdrew
her hands and corrected her posture. I'm sorry, but rats,
you know. Yeah, I know, You're lucky you got behind
me before I could get behind you. I'm not exactly
fond of them either. Well, that's one thing we all
have in common, then said Underwood, come on, let's have
a look around. Elizabeth was hesitant. Are you sure, my lord?
I mean, if Lady Underwood is still resident here, isn't
that a bit trespassy? Is that your legal opinion? Elizabeth? Well,
actually yes, it is that, and she was appalled at
the idea of encountering any more rats. Then I suggest
you dig out the paperwork on my will pertaining to
this property. It should state that it reverts to her
ladyship only in the event of my death or presumed
death should I go missing, an action for which I did.
But as you see, I'm very much in the pink,
So unless I'm mistaken, it's still mine. No, I should
have to look at the will. Well, let's just assume
I'm right, shall we come on? He turned and strode off.
David stepped out of the lift and into a funk
of damp rot and other unpleasant odors. The edges of
the carpet were peppered with rat turds. No doubt there
was rat pea all over it too. He didn't envy
Underwood his heightened the sense of smell. Elizabeth joined him,
Her nose wrinkled as she looked around with disgust at
the moldering flock wallpaper and filled the red carpet along
the center and length of which a dark, shiny path
had been worn. She grimaced as the soles of her
shoes stuck ever so gently to its surface. As she
and David followed Underwood. So you say Damo's been here?
My lord? Is he here now? Asked David. Well, I
can't say for sure, but I suspect not, said Underwood.
Why one can hear the racket of the elevator throughout
the entire premises. If they were here, they would surely
have heard it and so come to investigate. Well, maybe
they thought it was the police. They could be legging
it down to the station even as we speak, I
think not. Why not? Because of the rats? Their behavior?
The rats, what do you mean? They seemed pretty laid
back to me, laid back? Underwood frowned. They weren't reclaining flinch. No,
my lord, it's a it's a modern way of expressing
that they were relaxed, you know, like they were reclining mentally,
so to speak. Underwood raised his eyebrows. Oh, I see, well, yes,
I suppose they were. That was because I just arrived.
But if there were other vampires here, especially the lady
of the house, whom I presume they considered to be
their mistress, they wouldn't have been around the lift at all.
They'd have been laid back, closer to her vicinity. Why
because rats like us, flinch, we have a mastery over
the creatures. How horrible, said Elizabeth. Yes, I know, but
we must knock them. They have their uses. David didn't
feel like he wanted to know what those uses might be.
He said, Okay, So if Rose and Dame I aren't here,
where direct they are? How on earth should I know?
Probably out hunting, I would imagine. Hopefully she's teaching him,
how to do it properly without bringing down the weight
of the law on them and the media, added Elizabeth. Actually,
I think she might have started that teaching already. My
Lord Dama was telling me more or less as much.
When I caught up to him in the tunnel. He said,
he's all right now, he's got a system. No need
to worry about any further cock ups like that. Priest, yes,
you mentioned that, However I remain unconvinced. He pushed open
the two double doors that led into the oak paneled
living room. Anyway, this is or was my n The
sight that greeted him stopped the words in his throat.
Oh my. He stood, staring in silence for a moment,
before walking slowly inside. David followed, but the light from
the hallway barely penetrated the darkness within. He felt for
and found a light switch near the door and flicked
it on. A large crystal chandelier lit up, the strength
of its illumination diffused by the thick cobwebs that wreathed
it like a husk. Elizabeth looked around in consternation. Oh dear,
how on earth can she live like this? Said Underwood.
He turned slowly on the spot, staring appalled at the
neglect of decades. Most of the furniture was draped with
once white dust covers, now gray under thick crusts of
dust and rat turds. David bent to closer examine some
of the feces on a table and saw that many
were fresh. He wiped his fingers on his chest, even
though he hadn't touched anything. Well, I think it's safe
to say she doesn't use this better house too often.
The only thing that's been an ear lately is rats
and spiders, said Elizabeth, having just spotted a huge one
on the chandelier. Evidently, said Underwood. He sounded distracted, and
David turned to see him gazing up at the dusty
portrait of a beautiful woman in george and dress over
the fireplace. David came over to his side. Who she No, one,
said Underwood. He turned and walked a few paces away,
his eyes roving around the room. David, sensing his reluctance
to engage on the topic, decided to let it drop.
So should we go on, my lord? Go on? Where
into the flat? There's more to this place than just
this room, right? Oh, of course, yes, there are other
floors below we could. He turned, and his eyes were
drawn once again to the portrait. Go on in a moment.
There's no hurry, after all, they're not here. Well, yeah,
but we don't know that for sure, do we. Underwood
remained fixed by the painting, and David looked again at
the woman in the picture. She stood against the background
of tall trees, the sky full of smoky clouds. Her
long dark hair fell about her neck and shoulders, and
her ivory skin, even through the film of dust that
covered the surface of the painting, almost glowed with ethereal radiance.
Her soft, dark eyes were looking at something out of
frame that caused a subtle smile to play upon her
small mouth, and her lips, like her cheeks, were a
delicate rose pink. That's not her, ladyship, is it? That
pictures way too old for it to be her now?
So who is it? It's no one, like I said,
just a model, an actress pretending to be someone else.
Well who she pretended to be? Martha? David's eyebrows rose, Martha,
what your Martha? Underwould turned to face him obviously, Martha Flinch.
Do you think i'd pay someone of Gainsborough's stature to
paint someone else's Martha Gainsborough. Elizabeth interjected, this is a Gainsborough,
my lord, Yes, said Underwood, glad to see someone was impressed. Splendid,
isn't it? God, Yes, isn't it? Can you imagine the
stir in the art world if word of this picture
ever got out? Yeah, said David. Even I've heard of Gainsborough,
and you can write what I know about on the
back of a packet of bags. He reached out to
run his fingers over the bottom of the gilded frame,
the dust gathering and tumbling at his touch. My lord,
are you, I mean, do you think you might retrieve this?
It's such a tragedy to have something this magnificent hanging
in this crypt. Again, Elizabeth, I refer you to my
will regarding this place. I imagine right of ownership refers
not just to the property, but all so to the contents.
It usually does. He smiled at David, as you both
know from recent experience. David was about to reply when Underwood,
noticing something in the shadows beneath a table near the fireplace,
waved a hand and cried shoo. Two rats darted out
and scampered across the floor. Elizabeth let out a small
scream and leapt from their path as they ran out
the door. Abandoning protocol, she climbed up on one of
the covered sofas. Shit. I'm sorry, my lord, but I can't.
She closed her eyes as a shudder of disgust ran
through her. If there are any more of those bloody
things in here, I just can't bear the thought of
them coming anywhere near me. Underwood looked around. Oh, don't worry.
I think that's probably the last of them. Yes, well,
if it's all the same to you are I'll just
stay up here just in case. No, no, by all means,
said Underwood. He noticed David had approached the object on
the table that the rats had been lurking beneath. Its
dust sheet had slipped from the bulk of it, revealing
its twin antique tape reels thick with dust. A tape recorder,
said David, pointing to the machine. He turned to Wonderwood.
Is this the one you and Arthur used to record
your memoir? Yes, it's a magnetophon, A far cry from
your MP three players and CDs of today. What added
to the list of possible retrievals, Elizabeth. Now that I've
got the original tapes back in my possession, it'll be
interesting to hear them again on the contraption that recorded them.
Perhaps you'd like to pop Brown one night, Flinch. We
can listen together and I'll fill in any gaps. Thank you,
my lord. I'd like that very much, assuming, of course,
that we get through our current predicament in one piece.
Oh of course we will. We've unmasked Sullivan as being
at least fifty percent responsible for the London vampire crimes,
and once speak to him, I'm confident that we'll uncover
whoever's responsible for the other fifty percent. Well, he doesn't know, Donny.
If that's what you get in at He thought it
was probably you, and I think it's probably him. So
the sooner he and I have our little tete a tete,
the better. What At that point, as if on que,
there came a distant mechanical jolt from somewhere overhead, followed
by the shudder of the elevator wheelhouse groaning into motion.
Underwood cocked his ear toward the sound, ah going up.
If I'm not mistaken, she must be on the roof
the roof, said Elizabeth. Yes, she must have flown home.
His eye was caught by movement out in the hall,
and then everyone noticed a flurry of rats scampering past
the doorway in the direction of the lift. Hallow, there
goes to reception committee. I suppose you'd better go and
join them. Eh. He started for the door, but stopped
when he realized he was proceeding alone. He turned back.
Neither David nor Elizabeth had moved. But come on, if
you don't mind, my lord, said Elizabeth from where she stood,
wobbling slightly on the sofa. I'd prefer to stay hear
until the rats have gone. Unimpressed, but conceding her request,
Underwood turned a questioning eye to David. I, David began,
I have to say, I'd kind of prefer oh, for
God's sacriledge. Underwood snapped, some guardian you would have turned
out to be At the first sign of a few rats,
you buckle and quail like a lily livid girl. Elizabeth
bit back the impulse to rebuke Underwood for his sexism,
but David was quick to question his maths. That's not
a female, lord. There's fucking loads of them. They're not dangerous,
you shivering ninny. I'm not a shivering ninny. I just
don't want to stand in a sea of wild rats
while we're waiting for the lift. And anyway, I'm not
your guardian, and even if I was, there's nothing you
need guarding from, is there no? So then we'll just
wait here while you go and have your reunion with Rose.
In the middle of a swarm of rats, Underwood raised
a warning finger. Are you trying to be funny? Flinch?
No me, Lord, that is the case, is it not.
Underwood scowled at him, unable to deliver a stinging comeback,
and equally unable, due to his reluctance to deal with
the Rose, to confidently leave the room either down the hall.
The lift sank to a juttering halt. They listened as
the scissor gate was drawn back and the door opened.
For a moment, there was only the sound of various
rats squealing for attention. But then, in a tone Underwood
recognized as one to fear, Rose's voice, called down the hall, Daniel,
and so listeners. The hour of Lord and Lady Underwood's
reunion is finally at hand. Will they run into each
other's arms and slow dance to beaches and herbs reunited
or will they tear lucks out of each other? All
will be revealed next time in Underwood and Flinch Season six.
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