
Oi! Jailbird! Hannah called
through the rehab centre window.
Hannah! You came back! Patrick appeared at the bars.
Yeah.
Are you going to let me out?
Hmm... Hannah thought hard. She wasn't so sure now.
It had seemed a good idea back in the 'Little Llama', but that
could have been the effect of the acoustics.
Please! Patrick begged.
Where's Jimmy?
Asleep. I threw a boot at him earlier. But he'll come
around soon! There's not much time!
I don't think I should let you out. Jess would kill
me.
But I'm cured! I don't need gambling any more! I'm
fine!
I don't believe you, Hannah said, indignantly.
I bet you I am! Patrick said.
Hannah shook her head. See?!
That was nothing! A momentary lapse! It could happen to anyone! Hannah sighed apologetically and turned away sadly. She took
three steps before she heard, I bet you couldn't get me
out.
She turned. What?
I said - 'I bet you couldn't get me out'.
Hannah
scowled. Is that a challenge?
Yes.
She pulled herself up to her full height. What do you bet?
I haven't got any actual money...
What else could we use? asked Hannah, determinedly.
Clothes?
Can't. Jess glued me into these, Hannah said,
indicating to her t-shirt and shorts.
Oh.
So what can we bet?
They both thought for a minute.
I know, said Patrick. If you don't get me out,
you have to kiss me.
WHAT?! asked Hannah, wide-eyed.
I am that certain I'm going to win, he said.
You'll never get me out. Before Patrick had finished, Hannah was off over the
horizon in a cloud of dust.
Hannah had paced up and
down 'Little Llama' for the past hour, bumping into famous
customers all the time.
So? Dylan made Hannah jump.
I didn't bust him out, but I've got to!
Otherwise...otherwise...I've got to kiss him! Hannah
made a 'being sick' gesture.
Oh, right...you'd better let him out then. Dylan
concluded.
Yeah! Yeah, you're right! Thanks Dylan! She ran out
of the shop.
People are far too easy to sort out...maybe it's my Irish
charm. He chuckled to himself.
Hannah walked along the
main beach trying to think of a way to bust Patrick out. The only
person who could help in this situation would be Jimmy, but he
was in the rehab centre too.
Hannah, looking like someone had just burst the bubble that was
her world, walked into the Star Bar and sat down at a table.
After a few minutes, Brandon came over, shortly followed by
Terror the Tiger who plonked himself across the seat that she was
sat on and rested his head on her lap.
Hi, said Brandon. You
look p*ssed off.
I am.
Why?
I've got to bust Patrick out from the rehab centre or the
consequences will be DIRE.
How dire?
Hannah opened Terror's mouth and placed her
head inside. This dire.
That's...dire, said Brandon.
Hannah removed
her head from Terror's mouth and patted his head.
Can I help? Brandon asked.
Have you got a crowbar? Hannah asked sarcastically.
As it happens... said Brandon, opening his bag.
...Yes. He held up the crowbar.
Great! said Hannah. Follow me!
Hannah and Brandon jogged along the beach.
Right, said Hannah, pointing to the rehab centre.
Go smash in those bars.
With pleasure. Brandon went and started prying the
bars apart with his crowbar. Patrick's head appeared at the
window.
A-ha! he said on seeing Hannah. I knew
you'd come back! All you needed was an incentive!
You do know that this is blackmail, said
Hannah.
Yes...but I don't care, because I'm just two smashes from
freedom... said Patrick.
Suddenly there came a
rumble and the ground shook, then another rumble, then another.
Brandon and Hannah looked around in fear but they couldn't see
anything.
Just one more smash Brandon! He got no reply because
the two saviours were running away towards the hotel as fast as
possible; Patrick looked up and saw the sun being blocked out by
a 20 foot mechanical llama, guarding the rehab centre.
Ooh, that's gonna make things hard for you, Jimmy
commented, waking up and looking out of the window.
Brandon and Hannah only
stopped running when they fell onto the main beach and gave up,
panting hard. They spotted Jess, Dylan
and Ian standing at the doors of the hotel.
What in God's name is that? Hannah asked, looking
back at the giant llama.
Dylan told me you were trying to let Patrick out.
Jess said coldly. Firstly, the llama is there to prevent
you doing so, and secondly - WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING?!
Hannah looked at Dylan. Dylan...!
I'm sorry, he said. I wanted to see what would
happen if you didn't get him out.
Oh...arse!
So, you can forget busting Patrick out until he's
better, Jess said, walking back into the hotel. After a
second she reappeared. Ian, that's your cue, she
prompted.
Oh, sorry. Ian followed her. Yes mein
Furher.
Hannah collapsed on the sand. NO! What am I going to do?!
Why don't you go tell Patrick the situation and see if
he'll be reasonable? asked Dylan.
Yeah! Yeah, you're right...thanks, Dylan! Hannah ran
off down the beach.
Dylan collapsed in hysterics.
Hannah! What's going on? asked
Patrick, peering out of the window at both Hannah and the giant
llama.
Look, here's the situation - I'm afraid I CAN'T get
you out after all...I know I said I could, but I can't
now, said Hannah. So if you just lean forward a bit I
can give you a quick peck on the cheek and go back to the
hotel--
What?! Patrick exclaimed. I don't want a
s*dding 'peck on the cheek' - I want out of here!
But you said--
It was blackmail! A reason for you to get me out! He
banged his head on the bars. GET ME OUT!
I CAN'T!!
Hannah screamed. UNLESS YOU'VE FORGOTTEN THERE'S A
MECHANICAL LLAMA OUT HERE!!
Patrick looked beside Hannah at the mechanical face of the llama.
It beeped at him.
Hi there Mr Llama. said Patrick.
Oh, that is it, exulted Hannah, stomping off
and calling back to Patrick, You really have lost a
screw!!
� Jess and Hannah 2002