[Holbrook]

"Got anything to eat?" Albert asked as the driver stood saying goodbye to the Romans, who were happy to be back on the wall.

"Yes... picnic basket, flask... back seat" The driver answered, watching a post man appear and walk to wards them.

"Do you have to do that?" Holbrook moaned.

"What?" The driver asked as they took a pile of mail from the post man and waved goodbye.

"Bring characters in out of the blue, not very good craft that." Holbrook sighed and reached over to help the mouse move the picnic basket. Holbrook opened it and found a flask of coffee, home made cake, a bottle of lipton's peach tea, wrapped with a freezer bag to keep it cool one bottle of water and a pile of cheese sandwiches.

"Just cheese.." Albert sniffed.

"Can't run to smoked salmon like some people." The driver said as they settled them selves back in the car, reading one of the letters and adding." Besides I didn't bring the postman in out of the blue, it was the rain"

Holbrook slapped his head, knocked his broken nose and groaned.

"Use a napkin and some water and clean yourself up a bit, and I will have some on the peach tea..." The driver commented still reading the letter. "Well that is settled, least for me..." The driver folded the letter up, took a gulp of the tea offered and started the car.

"What's settled?" Holbrook mumbled through a lump of damp paper towel.

"Where I am going. Knew something would come along."

"It is?" Albert prompted removing the cheese from the bread and throwing the bread out the window.

"A Writer's retreat up on moors, " The driver grinned and turned the vehicle south, gaining height fast and narrowly missing a Glasgow bound passenger jet.

"Gods, who taught you to drive" Holbrook bellowed. The Driver looked at him and grinned. "I will have words with him.." Holbrook continued.

"So do I drop you off anywhere or are you coming along?" The driver asked. " It will be full of interesting people on all levels."

Holbrook rubbed his chin and said. "Will there be room and would the other writers mind I mean..."

The driver burst out laughing and angled the car and trailer into a steep dive. "Errrr.. you will fit right in and I doubt the other writers will see you, I mean at these events they tend to be wrapped up in their own creations far too much to see other peoples."

"Oh thankyou that is just what I needed" Holbrook sulked and slumped in his seat. Albert nearly choked on his cheese and all three were silent for the rest of the journey.

**********

The driver parked the car neatly on the gravel in front of the large victorian manor high on the moors. It was getting late and the lights from the windows dabbled the wild surroundings.

"Oh... neat, great atmosphere."Albert said as he scuttled out of the car, burbing loudly.

"Hmmm not bad," the driver said as they pulled their suitcase and silver topped walking stick out of the back of the Punto. Albert climbed up the stick and sat there like he had been carved out of wood.

"You have a case packed?" Holbrook shook his head at the inconstancy of the story line.

"Don't you?" The driver asked winking and began to walk to the manor's front door, the walking stick, tap, tapping on the gravel.

"Yes... actually in the boot, rumble seat... "Holbrook got up onto trailer and pulled at the boot lid. It plopped open, Holbrook screamed and leapt back.

His scream was answered by one from inside the boot, followed by: "You demon! I hate you! I was trying to nap after the lingerie party , you bastard! Then this thing took off and I couldn't get out" Scarlett rose from the boot like a fury, dressed in red, well red bra, with matching garters, stocking and panties, with blue skin and chattering teeth.

"She looks a bit mad." Albert chuckled.

"And cold." The driver said taking off their long cardigan and offering it to the lady.

"How could you..." Scarlett began then she noticed the driver. "Is this her... I don't believe it you ditched me for her???? She is round, old, wears cardigans and has a gammy leg."

"Nice description" Albert commented.

"Scarlett is always well written, " The driver agreed.

"There is nothing between us" Holbrook bellowed back at the shivering beauty before him, taking the offered cardigan and trying to wrap it round the fuming young woman.

"Nooo... Pull the other one." Scarlett sobbed.

"Oh... dear... "The driver sighed and limped towards the trailer. " Look.. can I just say I have known Holbrook from the day he was born, you might say I was there in person up close and personal. Now I want a cup of tea and to speak to our host, I want to know who else has been invited to the writer's retreat."

Scarlett made to reply, her jaw dropped and she looked from Holbrook to the limping old woman and back again. Her jaw dropped more.. "That's not?" She whispered.

"Yes..." Holbrook replied.

"And did she put the lipstick on your collar?"

"Errr."Holbrook began.

"I see." Scarlett huffed and got down from the trailer, storming her way into the Manor.

"Oh brother." Holbrook muttered.

"It's going to be fun. "The limping driver commented.

"Look isn't it about time you used your name?" Albert remarked from on top of the walking stick...

"Yes...or shall we call you pegleg" Holbrook snapped as he found, his and Albert's case and slammed the boot down.

"ok...." Sue sighed.