With all members of the RCS once again accounted for, Revenant directed everyone back onto the bus.  Nosfer, sitting in the driver’s seat, waited for Oubliette and alicat to arrange their new purchases and take their seats.  At that point Blinddog came down the aisle from the back of the bus pushing a wheeled cart filled with the gourmet meal Revenant had promised prior to taking that final leg of the ride to the Ye Old Woo Train Station.  BD then passed around the beverages of choice and Revenant stood to give his final instructions.

“Ummm…. We got a bit off track here it seems” Revenant started.

“That’s nothing unusual” Blinddog said under his breath and chuckled, Firefly and tea in hand.

Revenant, casting an eye upon Blinddog, continued…. “I’m glad to say that the computers are coming back on line properly and injuries have been healed for the most part.  So let’s regroup, finish this great meal I prepared and move on to our next location, the Ye Old Woo Train Station and onto the hunt for the Randi Express No. 13.”

So, after updates were discussed, stories swapped about investigations observed and photos with celebrities exchanged, the meal concluded with a discussion about interns versus the training of new recruits.  Discussing the pitfalls of training new recruits, it was decided that it was best left to others to deal with the drama and all that surrounds it.  Word is someone is making a television series about that anyway.  Sort of like a version of “Survivor” for the paranormal.  The RCS team’s goal was to go forward with those who didn’t claim to be a medium, psychic or an actor.  We didn’t want to deal with anyone who would throw any one of us under the bus.  We know our strengths and weaknesses but we like each other anyway.  Plus Cookie keeps us in line for the most part.

Suddenly the bus began rumbling, everyone was sitting down, facing forward and Nosfer slowly put his foot on the gas pedal and the bus began to move from its location.

“You know there are increasing clouds today and the temperature is going to rise to near 20 by 1:00 p.m. and then fall to around 9 during the remainder of the day.”  Nosfer announced.  “We’re going to also have wind chill values as low as -5 with a Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming east.  I even think we may see some snow tonight after 11:00 p.m” he continued.  “Hope everyone brought some heavy blankets.”

Alicat then asked "does anyone have any anti-fogging material for me to clean the camera lens?  I seem to have left mine at home for some reason.  I want to make sure I can see very clearly.  Nosfer, did you pick some extra up at Radio Shack?"

TO BE CONTINUED….

I am pleased to inform you that the current season of the RCS will continue shortly.  Technical difficulties are being addressed and we shall be back online with the usual cast of characters…… well, let's just say back with characters……stay tuned folks……..

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Please go to FORUMS - GENERAL PARANORMAL DISCUSSION - IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS

We will return to our regularly scheduled program in the near future.

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Let's just say that, due to technical difficulties, this story shall continue shortly.

Please stay tuned ……………………

After seeing the “next exit” sign, alicat looked to her right and pointed.  “Hey!  There’s another mall!  Since I didn’t get my intern yet” she insisted, “I must go to the mall now.  I promise we’ll be quick.  You guys already got the extra supplies you wanted and I still need luggage and some clothes”.

Revenant, grumbling "I hate malls", leaned back, looked at Nosfer and blinddog and reluctantly agreed.  With his hand extend as far out as he could, Revenant handed alicat the card once again. Nosfer pulled into the mall parking lot and stopped the bus in front of the main entrance.  Oubliette and alicat alighted.  Looking at the kiosk which listed the mall stores, they realized there were just so many stores to choose from it was hard to figure out where to start.

“Quick” said Oubliette.  “Let’s get inside and get shopping before the rest of the RCS follows us.  There’s nothing worse than having men tagging along shopping.  You know they hate it and, frankly, I don’t want to see sulking men asking if we’re done yet.  I want to buy some new shoes!  Hopefully Revenant didn’t cancel the card.”

“Oh, I see where I want to go first!” said alicat as she headed towards the Coach store.  “I need a new leather bag and some luggage.”  After checking the price tags, it was decided that if either Oubliette or alicat wanted to see another day, that another store would be a better for luggage but not before alicat and Oubliette each walked out smiling with their brand new leather satchels.  “A girl has to look good when she’s hunting for ghosts you know” said Oubliette.  They nodded in agreement.

As alicat looked at the kiosk once again, she pointed at the luggage store and said, “Let’s get to that luggage now and then I’ll pick up a few jeans and sweaters.  I have a feeling nice warm sweaters will be important on this ghost hunt.  Image is everything.” They nodded in agreement.  “The best ghost hunters don’t want to walk around in baggy shorts, t-shirts and flip flops all the time” Oubliette said.

After helping alicat purchase her new luggage, jeans and sweaters, Oubliette strolled into the bookstore to pick up a few books for reading along the way.  As the clerk opened the bag alicat could see Oubliette’s choices were “The Strange Laws of Old England”, “The Curious Cures of Old England”, “Kings and Queens of Britain’s Golden Age: The Tudors and Stuarts” and the latest Harry Potter novel for good measure.

“Should we get Revenant a cookbook for letting us use his card?” Oubliette inquired.  “Oh no Oubliette” alicat responded.  “Revenant scorns cookbooks and so does blinddog.  They are masters of cooking and need no instruction from a book.  I have much better ideas for those two and Nosfer will be pleasantly surprised as well, I hope.”

Oubliette and alicat then proceeded to the shoe store via Neiman Marcus, Nordstroms and Michael Kors.  However, before stepping out of the store in their new hiking boots on, they packed away their new 6” heels for later in alicat’s new luggage along with her newly purchased clothing.  It was at that point they spotted 3 suspicious characters attempting to discretely watch from behind the fountains.

“So much for shopping” Oubliette said.  “They’ve spotted us and we’re done.  Let’s go.”

As Oubliette and alicat approached blinddog who was the most visible since he was still wearing his newly acquired fedora, they saw that blinddog had already been to the bookstore to purchase his copy of the just released “The Complete Approach” co-written by the owner of the only known surviving road-kill hat, Mr. Barry Fitzgerald.

“Hey” he said, chuckling out loud.  “Look what my best friend Joe Chin wrote about this new and compelling must have book for paranormal investigators.  Blinddog read the testimonial:  "Delving into the paranormal in no easy task.  Upon reading ‘The Complete Approach’ you will have a better understanding on what is needed to prepare yourself for what lurks in the dark and why.  Working closely with Barry and Dustin has opened my eyes on the Metaphysics and the mechanics therein.  Never have I learned the importance and scientific intricacies of happenings when we leave our shallow and frail outer shell."  "Interesting" blinddog said as he pondered Joe Chin's words.  "Though I think he actually meant to say ‘delving into the paranormal is no easy task’ I’ll give him a pass.  I’m just surprised he knew the words metaphysics and intricacies, let alone how to spell them”.  "Well said blinddog" alicat said nodding her head.

At that, Revenant came over to enquire about his credit card.  Upon watching alicat hand over the credit card to Revenant, Nosfer strolled over and asked “Who’s buying lunch and where are we going to have this hearty meal?”

“Um…..” said alicat.  “We might have a problem with funds.”  I think we maxed you out Revenant.  Sorry about that.”

Startled, Revenant responded “Lunch?  There will be no lunch.  I have packed a sumptuous meal for the trip and, if my intern packed it correctly as instructed, it is on the bus.  Now, let’s all get back on track and alicat, we’ll talk about the card later” he said sternly.  Alicat batted her eyes, winked and smiled.  “Oh yes, we will Revenant, yes we will.”  Little did Revenant know how Oubliette and alicat spent his money.  He would find out as time went on.

 TO BE CONTINUED….

CHAPTER 25

It didn’t take long after boarding the short yellow bus for blinddog to open one of the many bottles of Firefly and tea he brought along in his suitcase for the trip which were carefully packed by his intern.

“Here, mix it with a little of this sweet tea” blinddog said to alicat.

“Sweet!” exclaimed a smiling alicat.

Blinddog then set back in his seat, fedora covering his eyes and smiled mischievously.  “See, I told you so.  This is the nectar of the Gods” he said as he raised his glass.

“Um… you two over there” Revenant said pointing to blinddog and alicat, “Listen up.  We’ve got some planning to do here.”

At that point, Nosfer turned to Oubliette who shook her head and laughed, “Do those two ever stop? 

“Afraid not Oubliette” Nosfer replied now shaking his own head as he said “Some things just never change”.

“Okay” Revenant said in his hoarse voice.  “Now that I have your attention, let’s all decide our next step before we get to the Skeptical Forest”.

“Wait!” blinddog said sitting up and handing out glasses of the new heavenly mixture he had shared with alicat to Oubliette, Nosfer and Revenant.  “First we have to agree to the official RCS beverage.  I can’t keep carrying around all that bourbon and this as well.  My intern is already complaining.”

“Your intern?”  alicat sputtered.  At that point everyone turned to alicat and laughed.  “Okay, alicat.  You shall have an intern but we have to get to the Skeptical Forest and find the Randi Express No. 13 first” Revenant said.

“Alright Revenant, but since I had no intern, I shall have to go to the mall and get some items and some new luggage since you all have your bags packed and on this bus.  If you remember last time, when all the crates came down, my luggage was in one of those crates that was destroyed  Can I borrow your credit card?” alicat asked sweetly.  “Oubliette and I haven’t been to the mall together in ages and it is on the way.”

“Well…” Revenant started.  “Oh for heaven sakes Revenant, give her your card!” Nosfer said.  “She deserves a treat now and then, right dea…” he started to say.  Alicat then shot Nosfer the “evil eye”.  “Don’t finish that word Nosfer!  I was okay with it when Oubliette used it earlier but you know how I hate it!” she laughed.

“Right… right” Nosfer said shaking his head.  “I had forgotten that's a sore spot with you.”

“Here” said blinddog.  “Let’s have another round.  It’s five o’clock somewhere.”

As everyone lifted their glasses, Nosfer said “Revenant, I have another question.  Since Mrs. Higglesworth seems to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances, are we searching for her as well?  She did seem to have some inside information and I never got a chance to question her as completely as I would have liked to since your voice seemed to give out.”

Revenant paused for a moment before responding, looked down noticing he wore just one sock, grinned and said “Yes Nosfer, I think that might be a good idea.  Right now I’m afraid to ask alicat to pick up an extra pair of socks at the mall.”  Handing alicat his credit card he said “Here alicat, knock your socks off!”

Oubliette and alicat then nodded to each other and exchanged smiles.  Blinddog started to say something but wisely decided it best to keep quiet at that point.

TO BE CONTINUED…..