Polly Pippin and The Tunnel of Death Read Online Free Page A

flew between Hamish, Piers and
Miles. Hamish didn't know why, but he felt immediately comfortable
with these Lads, which was unlike him he usually didn't like
anyone.
    'Hi! Come in, come in, glad you could come.'
Polly opened the door wider.
    Piers introduced his sister Gemma, who was
stunning. Polly mouthed, 'I told you so' to Hamish.
    'Hi,' a female voice came from behind the
group on the doorstep. Lily and her twin Lucy arrived with Nick in
tow, laden down with bottles of champagne.
    'Come in, come in, all of you, and welcome.'
Polly shepherded them all in.
    Alison put on the music, and Nick was
looking for a bottle opener, dancing the salsa as he did. Hamish
put the champagne in the ice buckets and started to sing. The
evening was looking very promising. After everyone had arrived and
was sitting round chatting, Hamish stood and clinked his glass.
    'Okay, time to introduce ourselves and where
we fit in,' Hamish suggested. 'There's nothing worse than being at
a party and not knowing anyone. So starting with my sister, this is
Polly, or Pollump, as she is known by family and close friends.
She's going to be a famous actress. Well, in her own mind
anyway.'
    Cheers and boos exploded around the room.
'And that strange-looking thing in her arms is Minx - a cross
between, a squirrel, a meerkat and a kitten. We are not sure!'
    'Next Alison, our cousin, and Manx - same
cross.' Miles looked directly at Alison and winked. She blushed.
He's so handsome, she thought.
    Hamish continued. 'I'm Polly's elder
brother. I was in the Air Force, finished my tour of duty, and now
I'm a commercial pilot. Oh and I'm single.' Laughs all round.
    Nick stood. 'I'm a doctor. I met Hamish in
hospital. I was lonely and desperate, so he became my new best
friend.' Everyone laughed again. He turned to his left. 'Lily, your
turn.'
    'I've known Polly and Alison since school.
We have a bond as close as I have with my twin. I want to get
married and have three sets of twins - with Hamish, of course!' And
Lily threw her arms round Hamish's neck and gave him a noisy kiss
on the cheek.
    Everyone laughed, and Hamish pretended to
faint. 'Only joking,' Lily added.
    'Dinner is served!' Alison broke into the
laughter as she called from the door.
    'We'll continue this after dinner. And I'll
deal with you later Lily, you little devil,' Hamish said as he led
them all to the dining room.
    ~
    Over dinner, Polly noticed that most of her
guests was left-handed. 'That's an unbelievable coincidence,' Polly
said, 'and so many twins. You Piers, and you Miles and Lily and
Lucy, you are so lucky,' she said to Piers and Miles, I always
wanted to be a twin.'
    'Well, I thank God there's only one of you,
Pollump,' Hamish said deliberately, grinning, knowing Polly hated
her nickname.
    'You are such a beast Hamish. For that, you
can clear the table.' Piers got up to help and followed Polly into
the kitchen.
    'Anything I can do?' he asked. 'Apart from
falling in love with you,' he added.
    'You are such a flirt Piers,' she said and
gave him a nudge. 'Take in the strawberries please, and ask who
would like coffee.' He saluted, and did just what he had been
told.
    'Anything else you want me to do, Pollump?'
Hamish brought the last of the dishes in.
    Ignoring his nauseating humour, she said,
'what do you think of Gemma?'
    'She really is stunning - not my type, but
Nick is smitten. He hasn't taken his eyes off her all night.'
    'Really? Any chance for Barbara?'
    'Great if I wanted a dog - and a cocker
spaniel at that.'
    Trying not to giggle, Polly frowned and
said, 'you are so mean, Hamish. She's incredibly successful, and
looks aren't everything…'
    'They are to me. Come on, sis, I've seen
better-looking in the monkey house.'
    'Yes, I thought the same.' Barbara came into
the kitchen, and Hamish nearly died of embarrassment, she had heard
what he'd been saying. 'Hamster is right, Polly,' she continued.
'Your animals do look sort of like monkeys.'
    Hamish breathed a sigh of relief. Barbara
had