What Happens in France

by What Happens in France (retail) (epub)

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  MONDAY, 24 JULY – EVENING

  The library seemed tiny with all the contestants and film crew crushed into the space. There was not one but three cameramen filming each of the teams. Roxanne wasn’t with them. She’d gone to join the other teams at their hotel and now all that connected them to her was a television screen which currently showed her sitting with the other four contestants. Laura and the crew were making sure the link stayed live and were waiting to be counted in. The public had already been watching the very first episode of What Happens in… and had no doubt already decided on who they liked and wanted to win. In two minutes, all their anxious faces would be beamed out on national television and one pair would be sent home. The thought was terrifying. She shifted in her seat and pulled at her blouse. Lewis, next to her, sat with a concentrated mien. She wondered if he was as nervous as her.

  Bryony had spent the last half an hour trying to dispel anxieties that had appeared as she’d prepared for the live show. Lewis had gone for a walk around the grounds to give her space to get ready. She’d wished he’d stayed because left to her own thoughts she could only dwell on their dismal performance and speculate as to how badly they’d done. Back in the UK people were now glued to the show and would see her clinging to the grab handle of the car. She shuddered at memories of her screaming at Lewis to slow down. People would hate her.

  Laura lifted a finger. One minute to go. Oscar, to her right, appeared to be as nervous as her. His knee bounced up and down rhythmically as he waited for the result. Biggie Smalls had decided he didn’t want to be on camera and had disappeared under a chair for a snooze. On the television screen in front of them, the other four teams looked to be equally nervous.

  Somebody said, ‘Action’ and a deep voice that came from the television, spoke. ‘It’s Monday evening and the end of day one of the hugely anticipated show, What Happens in… Our fourteen contestants are waiting eagerly to hear the results of today’s challenge and find out which of them has made it through to day two, and the next round of What Happens in… Coming live from France on this sunny Monday evening, we have all of our intrepid contestants staying in not one but two châteaux. Bonsoir, contestants!’

  ‘Bonsoir,’ everyone chorused back.

  ‘Laura do you have the results for your three teams, over there at Hotel Petit Château?’

  ‘I do. Oscar and Jim, you completed the course in eight minutes, fifteen seconds. You incurred only thirty seconds of penalties which means you did it in eight minutes forty-five seconds.’

  ‘Is that good?’ asked Oscar.

  Laura smiled a reply. ‘Donald and Nicola, you completed the course in nine minutes and incurred fifty seconds of penalties which means you did it in nine minutes fifty seconds.’

  Nicola squirmed in her chair and glanced at Donald who gave a confident nod. Laura stopped talking and the voice on the screen took over.

  ‘Thank you, Laura. Now let’s go across to Grand Maison Bretagne.’

  Bryony interlocked her fingers to prevent her hands from shaking. Having flattened so many cows, they’d gained ninety seconds of penalties. It was too much. It was unlikely they’d beaten the others. Laura had not disclosed their results because they were last. Now on the large television screen were the faces of the other contestants in Grand Maison Bretagne sat in a room not dissimilar to theirs at Hotel Petit Château: Avril and Declan, a couple in their forties, who’d started the game off, then Evan and Thomas, two men from Wales both with beards and glasses who looked like brothers but weren’t related, next, Hugh and Terri, who’d travelled from Scottish islands to be on the show and finally, Deepan and Mira, a cheerful couple from the south of England. Bryony watched as one by one the teams learned their times and faces broke into smiles of relief and she guessed it was over for her and Lewis. She fought back disappointment. They’d not even made it beyond the first day. She couldn’t look at Lewis who’d tried to win the game for them but who’d in fact, lost it with his outrageous tactics.

  ‘And so with all the times in for the contestants at Grand Maison Bretagne, let’s return to Hotel Petit Château, and find out how our final team, Bryony and Lewis, got on.’

  She lifted her head at the mention of her name and looked at the camera, willing viewers to remember her and Hannah. Laura read from a white card. ‘You completed the course in six minutes twelve seconds and having squashed all your cows on the return journey, had ninety seconds added to your time, giving you a total of seven minutes forty-two seconds. Which was an incredible time. Congratulations Bryony and Lewis, you are actually tonight’s winners!’

  The room filled with applause like the soft wings of a thousand butterflies lifting as one towards the sky. Bryony’s mouth dropped open and she found herself swept in an embrace. She barely registered the television screen now showing the disappointed faces of Avril and Declan, over in the other château. Heart racing, she turned her full attention to what was happening, sorry for the pair who were leaving and relieved it wasn’t her and Lewis.

  ‘Sadly, we have to say goodbye to one team and tonight we’ll be saying au revoir to Declan and Avril, our couple from Liverpool.’

  Avril, wearing similar overalls and scarf to those she’d worn during the day, wiped a tear from her eye, then she and Declan stood up and shook hands with their fellow contestants Grand Maison Bretagne and waved to the camera before walking away. The screen changed again as they began broadcasting from Hotel Petit Château. A cameraman moved silently towards Lewis and Bryony. Laura stepped forward to join them.

  ‘Lewis would you like to say a few words?’

  He squeezed Bryony’s hand. ‘It’s thanks to Bryony we won. She gave me the lowdown on Citroën 2CVs and how they were built for farmers. We took a chance, based on her logic and it paid off.’

  ‘Bryony, have you got anything you’d like to add?’ Laura asked.

  Bryony swallowed. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see herself on the screen above the fireplace, eyes wide and cheeks flushed with success. ‘I have but it’s not to do with France. I’d really like to put out a request or a plea, even. My sister, Hannah Masters, ran away when I was a kid. I’ve missed her every day since. I need her to get in touch with me, so if anybody knows her, please tell her I’m on this show and I love her. That’s Hannah Masters. I don’t know what surname she uses today, or even what she looks like now, but she used to have blonde hair and grey eyes similar to mine, oh, and she’s forty-five years old.’

  ‘How can they get in touch with you, Bryony?’

  ‘Via my blog, Searching for Hannah. My contact details are there and photographs of Hannah as a child, so please look at them as see if they remind you of anyone you know.’

  ‘You think you and Lewis can stay in the game and beat the others on What Happens in…?’

  ‘I hope so. We’re determined to do our best. We want to be able to ask the public for their help every day and if that means winning all the challenges, no matter how hard they are, then that’s what we’ll do,’ she said, smiling at Lewis, who nodded his accord.

  Bryony and Lewis, thank you and we look forward to seeing how you get on tomorrow, day two, on What Happens in…’

  * * *

  The cicadas chirped late into the night. With the windows wide open and an agreeable light breeze wafting into the room, Bryony and Lewis lay on the bed and reflected on the events of the day. It had been more exhausting, mentally and physically than either had anticipated and soon she began to drift to sleep.

  ‘Nice here,’ Lewis mumbled. ‘I could live here.’

  ‘I could stay here forever,’ Bryony replied. ‘Maybe I could move into the château next door. Then I’d know where to come if I wanted a decent cup of coffee and cornflake cakes.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  TUESDAY, 25 JULY – MORNING

  ‘Morning, everyone. Did you all sleep soundly?’

  ‘Good thanks, Laura,’ said Lewis.

 
‘I hope you all got a sheet explaining what’s happening today. I asked to have them delivered to your rooms early this morning so you wouldn’t have time to confer with each other or try and work out the route we’ll expect you to take. Apologies again for keeping you in the dark, for confiscating your phones and for banning tablets but we couldn’t have you searching online for everything ahead of today and tomorrow, especially as this part involves logic, map-reading and intelligence.

  ‘Rules me out, then,’ said Oscar with a nervous giggle.

  ‘It’s going to be a busy couple of days. I’ll read through the game rules with you and make sure you’re all clear on them.

  ‘As you’ve now discovered, this challenge is a car-rally scavenger hunt. Anyone ever done a scavenger hunt similar to this before? No? It’s huge fun. Roxanne is going to hand out the vital packs of information that will help you solve clues and get you around the route. There’s also a map and, of course, you’ll get to drive your fabulous vehicles.’ She paused to allow Roxanne to pass the packs to the contestants. Donald, once again in his kilt, was looking less rambunctious than the day before. Nicola wasn’t next to him but had chosen instead to sit near Oscar.

  ‘It’s actually quite simple. On top of each pack is a red envelope. Don’t open it yet. It contains the clue to your first destination and to a treasure you need to collect along the way. You can use the packs of information to help you decipher the clues. The answers are in there somewhere.’

  She stopped to check everyone understood and once satisfied continued, ‘When you decipher the clue and reach the first destination, you’ll discover one of us waiting there. We’ll then ask you a question relevant to the destination. For example, if you had worked out you needed to go to Paris, I would greet you there and I might ask you, “What did Gustave Eiffel build?” No, Oscar, you’re not going to drive to Paris,’ she added, seeing his mouth flap open.

  ‘Mind-reader,’ he retorted.

  ‘Tell us the answer and we will hand over the clues to your next destination and the treasure you will need to collect en route, and so on, until you reach the final destination. If you don’t guess the answer, you pass it. You’ll still receive your clues but you’ll have a point deducted from your final score. Please, no swearing, no cheating and no heated arguments. Actually, you can have heated arguments. In fact, it’ll be more entertaining if you do argue.’

  ‘We’ll be bloody hilarious then,’ mumbled Donald, earning a cold stare from Nicola.

  Jim spoke up. ‘Let me get this right. We’re given clues to a destination and to a treasure we have to find along the way. Once we have worked out both clues, we head to the destination, collecting our treasure as we go. We meet you. You ask us a question about the destination in order to receive the next set of clues. If we don’t know the answer we can pass on it, incurring a penalty point.’

  ‘You got it, Jim. Are the rest of you clear on the rules?’

  The others nodded.

  ‘Who gets to drive? Same as yesterday?’

  ‘You decide which one of you is going to drive. Once you have figured out your destination, you need to plan your route using the map.’

  Jim nodded his head in approval. ‘Maps. The old-fashioned way,’ he murmured.

  ‘Your partner needs to read the file to find out as many facts as he or she can about each destination. It’s been laid out in easy-to-read sections for you.’

  ‘What if we all arrive at the first destination at the same time?’

  ‘It’s unlikely, especially as you have to pick up a treasure on your way to the destination. Also, you’ll be starting from different locations equidistant to the first endpoint. We’ll go with you to the starting points and will tell you when you can open your first envelope. First team to each location wins three points while the second to arrive wins one point. These points will tally up at the end of the day. The team that reaches the final destination the quickest will win an extra three points and the other team will win one point. They will also be added to your final scores.’

  Jim scratched his ear thoughtfully. ‘So, the first team to a destination wins three points and the fastest around the entire circuit wins three points?’

  ‘Correct. You receive one point for every item or treasure you find on the hunt too. It might be an actual item or you might be asked to photograph a monument, a statue, a building or something different. You can use the phone in the glove box for this purpose too. It has a camera.’ She checked that everyone understood the brief.

  ‘Teams have been issued with a picnic in the boot of the car. We’re allowing you one hour for your lunch. You can take the hour whenever you want. It will not be docked from your final time.’ Laura scanned the faces of the group. Satisfied there were no other questions, she continued. ‘Finally, there’s a huge surprise at one of the checkpoints. You’ll know what it is when you get there,’ she announced, a smirk spreading on her face.

  ‘Today, it’s all about finding your way around the region, answering questions about what you discover and having an enjoyable time. By the way, there’s to be no speeding to get to the destinations. You must stick to speed limits. Remember, we have cameras in your cars and we shall be watching your every move.’

  The room was filled with exuberance as contestants wriggled on seats, eager to get going.

  ‘After breakfast, please come back here to let Mattie check you over and wait for the tech guys to check your microphone packs are working. Once we’re ready, Jim and Oscar, you’ll head off with Roxanne to your starting point. Donald and Nicola, you’ll be with Nina and Lewis and Bryony, you’re with me.’

  The contestants bustled out of the room, chattering loudly. Biggie picked up on the excitement and scuttled beside his master, his claws pitter-pattering on the tiles.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  TUESDAY, 25 JULY – MORNING

  ‘This cursed car!

  ‘Now, now. There’s to be no swearing in this car,’ Bryony said, smirking at the look on Lewis’s face. The engine churned again before the two cylinders kicked in. The engine trembled, screeched then whizzed and popped at idle.

  ‘Just when I think I’ve got it, I forget where the gears are. Okay, come on, you little furry pain, let’s get going.’

  ‘It’s quite minimalist in here, isn’t it?’

  ‘That’s one word to describe it. I can think of a few others that aren’t suitable for prime-time viewing,’ he added as the Citroën lurched around the car park.

  ‘The seats are comfortable though. They’re really wide and softly sprung. I’m slumped in mine like it’s an overused sofa.’

  ‘They have to be large and comfy to soak up all the bumps and bounces. Aha! I’m sorted now. I’m going to drive this tin shed like it’s never been driven before. Are you sure you don’t want to have a go at driving?’

  ‘I’ll drive if you don’t fancy it but I am probably the best person to read the files and sort out the clues. I can speed read – it’s one of the skills I picked up while studying at university. I’ll be able to get through the information quickly.’

  Lewis pursed his lips and let out a slow whistle. ‘Brains, looks and can speed read. I’m impressed. Of course, I’ve driven around Silverstone Grand Prix circuit so clearly, I’m more suited to driving.’

  ‘Did you really?’

  ‘I took an Aston Martin around the circuit on one of those track days where lots of petrol-heads turn up wanting to screech around the track like racing drivers. You could almost taste the testosterone in the briefing room before we went out onto the circuit. I managed about three laps in ten seconds. At least, that’s what it felt like. It was probably ten minutes. I was terrified. I think I drove the last lap with my eyes shut! Which pretty much accounts for why I was so good at yesterday’s challenge. Can you read out the first clue again? I’m ready to tackle the road.’

  ‘Locate the flying flea then search for the elephant to discover your first clue.’

  ‘Wasn’t
the flying flea some sort of aeroplane?’ asked Lewis, furrowing his brow.

  ‘Known as “pou du ciel” in French,’ replied Bryony. ‘They were home-made aircraft built in the 1930s, I believe.’

  Lewis shook his head and laughed. ‘You never fail to astound me. How do you know all this stuff?’

  ‘Too much time spent with my nose in a book. Although, you can never have too much time reading,’ she answered. ‘I’m not sure where I picked up that particular piece of information. Dad enjoys watching documentaries on television, especially those about history.’ For a second an image of her father filled her head.

  Bryony relegated the memory to the back of her mind. ‘I expect it was something I learnt from one of those. He was invariably glued to one documentary or another,’ she added absently as she chewed her lip. The pair worked through the file and bandied about ideas until finally Bryony tapped her head with her forefinger.

  ‘Got it!’ she exclaimed, eyes alight with excitement. ‘It’s mentioned in these notes. “Les Machines de l’île built within the once-decaying shipyards of the Isle of Nantes.” I bet we’ll discover a flying flea there along with a few other strange creatures. Come on, chauffeur, let’s go!’ she shouted waving her notes.

  ‘Go to the top of the class, Bryony,’ Lewis replied, and pressing the accelerator pedal to the floor, they exited the car park towards Nantes.

  * * *

  Thanks to some excellent signage, Lewis and Bryony had no difficulty in finding the old shipping area which had become a tourist hotspot. No sooner had they exited the car than they found themselves trailed by a cameraman, one of a group of three, who’d been waiting for their arrival. They followed the queue of visitors into the world of Les Machines de l’île, towards a carousel unlike any other Bryony had witnessed.