Podric Moon and the Corsican Tyrant by Barney Broom

Author:Barney Broom
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Book Guild
Published: 2018-09-23T16:00:00+00:00

For a little while after the housekeeper had departed neither Archie nor Podric spoke. When their reverie did break, the intrusion was caused by Podric’s phone vibrating, Barbara replying to her son’s text. Archie sighed.

“I’ve got to go back.”

His voice sounded tired but fatalistic.

“No, you don’t.”

Podric got up, went to the fridge and took a beer.

“Want one?”

“Yeah.”

Removing another, Podric handed it to his partner.

“What happened when you got out?”

“I nearly got him, Podric, I nearly got him!”

“You didn’t, Archie.”

“Who says?”

“I do.”

“I damned well did – I know I did!”

Archie stood up and began pacing around the room.

“We were storming that ‘Convention’ redoubt – fighting hand to hand. I was in front of him. I thought I’d shot him but some clod got in the way. I fell and got trampled. When I came to at the bottom of the defile, the French were bayonetting bodies. I didn’t fancy getting stabbed so I activated UAR… but I’ve got to go back.”

Pulling the tab on his beer can, Podric had a swig.

“Archie, I’m running out of ways to tell you about UAR. When you’re in it, you’re in a game’s world.”

He took another gulp of his beer.

“Although it feels real when we’re inside – for the umpteenth time, it’s only a computer game.”

“I don’t care. I want more of it – it’s where I want to be.”

Archie was passionate.

“But it isn’t reality.”

“That’s rich coming from you. You created the damn thing! Anyway, it is to me. It’s as real as I’m standing in front of you now.”

Archie allowed himself a chuckle.

“You’ve done too good a job, Podric. You’ve created an alternative reality and it really is the ultimate.”

Standing by the window, Podric enjoyed his drink.

“Archie, I invented UAR as an alternative reality to escape into for adventure, but I didn’t want it at a cost of my real life.”

“Really? I don’t think you’re right, Podric. I think you wanted to create a dimension which, in some way, might connect you with your dad.”

Speaking more intimately, Archie leaned forward.

“You told me he was keen on computer games and apart from father – son, your being the player you are – it was something that bound you both.”

Opening his own beer can, Archie took a swig.

“I’ve also wondered about our meeting… If it was random, it was an amazing coincidence. I think it was meant.”

“Why should it have been? We just met, that’s all.”

“Ha. You can say what you like and fine, it doesn’t matter what your intention was – even subconsciously. But I’m going back because I want to escape where I am right now.”

Gulping down his beer, Archie tossed his empty can in a trash bin. He was heading for the door when Podric spoke.

“Two things. Don’t try and go in right now and if you do I’ll disable it!”

Podric was strident.

“Nothing will change until you return inside, Archie, because UAR only activates when you enter it.”

“Why should I wait?”

“Because having been in, there are some things I want to finesse – or at least understand more before either of us go again.

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