BIGGLES SEES TOO MUCH

by Captain W. E. Johns

6. SHOCKS (Pages 56 – 62)

Bertie has trouble sleeping as he has a lot on his mind. In the morning, he goes downstairs where a police constable and police sergeant are talking to the proprietor of the hotel, Mr. Stephen Brunner. The new barman is also with them. Bertie tries to walk past, but the police sergeant quizzes him about Tom. Bertie says that he saw Tom last night. The police want to know if Tom was sober or not his normal self. Bertie says he noticed nothing unusual and asks why, only to be told that Tom is dead. He was found that morning on the beach below the end of the cliff. “We’re wondering how it could have happened unless he was drunk; or if it was a case of suicide”. Bertie goes for his breakfast and shortly after, Mr. Stephen Brunner arrives at the next table. Brunner starts a conversation with Bertie, designed to find out what he knows about Tom. Brunner says that in the circumstances he will have to ask Bertie and “Mr. Bigglesworth” to leave “as the earliest possible moment”. Bertie says he will pass the message on to his friend. Bertie sets off to Penlock again. “He (in the first edition of the book there is a typo here where this word is spelt “Hs”) felt he was bulging with news and was anxious to unload it on Biggles as quickly as possible”. Bertie is confident he will find Biggles at his lodgings and it was likely that Ginger would be there as well). Bertie knocks at Fernside Cottage and Mrs. Cator tells him that Biggles is not there and his bed has not be slept in. Bertie sits in the car and thinks about what to do. “Algy had better know what had happened. At least he would be someone to talk to. He put the car into gear and set off for Morven Flying Club airfield”.