Play@YSDC

The alley was as deserted as it had been when they had arrived. By setting the door in its frame, Archie and Benjamin were able to make sure that it didn't look the slightest bit out of the ordinary. Nobody would know there was anything amiss with it until trying to open it.

Archie nods, satisfied with their work. "Right, Benjamin, I think we should make best time back to the sanitarium. We can show the others what we've found. I suppose we head for the tube but keep an eye out for a taxi."

OOC:   I'm not sure what became of the famous London cabs with petrol rationing. If Archie can see a cab, he'll hail it. He can afford it.

Benjamin started looking around for a cab.

Luck 55%,[dice]0[/dice]

Archie and Benjamin were in luck. When they reached Queensway, they saw a black cab pulled up alongside the curb not far from the Tube station entrance. The driver was a young woman with black hair and a friendly smile. "Hop in, gents!" she said. "Where to?"

Archie gives the driver a friendly nod. "Maxwell's sanitarium if you please old son."

The cabbie guffawed. "I'm neither old nor anyone's son," she said, "but all right." She pulled out once the two men got in and headed east on Queensway.

OOC,It'll take a little while for the other thread to advance enough in time before I merge them, but feel free to converse in the meantime.

Archie laughs. "I do beg your pardon young lady. I was in a world of my own and I'm still used to taxi drivers being generally, ah, men. Please forgive my lack of attention. I don't know where we should be if so many young women were not prepared to start taking on these hard jobs as the men head off to serve."

"Quite all right, sir," said the female cabbie, "and thank you. I'm rather suited to the job. My father's a cabbie too, and he taught me the Knowledge. The name's Rebecca Hanson."

"Delighted to meet you Miss Hanson. Archie Pennyfeather, navy chaplain, at your service. Of course, we've all heard of the famous 'knowledge' that taxi drivers must have. You should be very proud to have achieved that."

"Likewise," said Rebecca. "It isn't easy. I do have an advantage though. I've always had an excellent memory, which is essential for this job. Especially this week. You never know which streets are going to be blocked off by craters or UXBs from the night before. I always have to prepared to find the best alternate route."

Archie nods. "Well, I think you're very brave and clever."

He pauses and thinks for a moment, before going on in a 'making conversation' tone. "Tell me, as a matter of interest, what's the strangest sight you've encountered on the streets in the last few weeks? I imagine you've seen a great deal since the blitz started."

"Thank you kindly," said Rebecca. "The strangest sight? Well, yesterday morning I saw a parachute stuck on a lamppost. At first I had to wonder if maybe a parachutist or a downed pilot had dropped in, but then I saw it had an unexploded mine attached to it. Had it struck the ground or a building nearby it would have gone off. Sheer luck, I suppose. Well, I drove away right quick, found the nearest phone booth, and called it in."

Archie shakes his head. "Heaven forfend! Demonstrating my point about your bravery though. Well, all taxi drivers shall be added to my evening prayers now."

Archie lapses into a meditative silence. A moment later, he turns to Benjamin. "I say old boy, let's have a quick look through that notebook you found. We have a little bit of time."