Poof!!

Whiny voice:     "Lookie 'ere, what have we here?"

Sneering voice: "Ai'nt she pretty?"

Leering voice: " How did you bring such a pretty lady to this wonderful place?"

All around Percival, were the very strange, very nasty creatures of The Black Pub. Crowding around him and Bessie, was the most frightful sight he had ever seen in his life. 

Sharp teeth, dirty long fingernails, tattooed arms, glinting eyes, matted hair was all that he could see. Foul smelling breath, awful body odour was all around him, and his world seemed very bleak indeed. 

"Why on earth did I leave my comfortable life on The Hill?", asked Percival to himself. He was shivering. His heart was pounding, and he wished he could whizz away back home. 

"This is not the adventure we were supposed to have", asked Bessie to herself, in absolute terror, and the wonderful beds and sofa of the ship seemed to be very far away indeed. The partying nights on The Exotic Island already seemed to be a distant memory.

Gradually, Percival and Bessie were backed into a corner, and the dark, heavy breathing was all around them.

"And, what have we here?", suddenly a voice asked softy, and all the strange creatures suddenly retreated, but not too far. 

Percival and Bessie stumbled into the centre of the  room, and a harsh light was suddenly shining down on them. They paused, blinked, momentarily blinded. 

Suddenly, in the deadly hush, they noticed the huge shape of Drago standing before them. 

Bessie squealed with fear. Percival's heart stopped beating. He realised that this was no Basil at whom he could charge in the church.

He froze.

No one moved.

A minute passed by, and an eternity passed by in that minute.

And then, Drago moved around them. 

He spoke softy, kindly. "You should not wander into places like this", he said. "They are most unsafe. You could get hurt". His voice was soft, kind, and silky. 

Percival and Bessie relaxed, and almost fell as the tension left them. 

Bessie sobbed" We were only seeking shelter from the blinding rain"

"But thank you for saving us", blurted Percival. "I think we should leave now. Thank you again"

"Yes, you should leave", said Drago softly, looking straight and hard at Percival.

Percival blinked, not quite catching the meaning of the words. 

Suddenly there was a bang, and a cloud of smoke arose, burning Percival's eyes.

When the smoke gradually cleared, there was Percival, standing in the centre of the room, surrounded by the strange creatures of The Black Pub, who were likewise stunned. 

But, Drago and Bessie were nowhere to be seen...