Free Night on Terror Island by Philip Caveney Page A

You’ll be able to catch up with it any other night this week.’
    ‘But, Dad—’
    ‘No buts, Kip. This is an emergency and I’m counting on you.’ Dad turned and hurried towards the entrance doors. ‘I should be back by the end of the film,’ he called over his shoulder. ‘If you have any problems, ring me.’ And then he was gone, hurrying back in the direction of the house to collect his car.
    Kip stood there, his mouth open. This couldn’t be happening. Not on a Friday night! Not for the opening of
Terror Island!
    With a sigh, he led Rose through into the ticket office and began to unpack her things onto Dad’s desk: books, crayons, her favourite toys. She watched impassively as he set everything out for her.
    ‘You’ll be fine,’ Kip told her.
    ‘I’ll be
bored
,’ she insisted.
    ‘Please, Rose, help me out here. Do some colouring in or something.’
    He went through to the confectionary booth and switched on the popcorn maker. Mr Lazarus followed him.
    ‘You have fully recovered from your little trip in to the world of film?’ murmured Mr Lazarus.
    Kip glanced towards the open door, hoping that Rose wasn’t listening – but she seemed totally intent on playing with her toys.
    ‘I guess,’ said Kip. ‘Looking back, it seems like something I dreamed.’
    ‘It
is
incredible,’ said Mr Lazarus. ‘What you youngsters call “mind-blowing.” But, of course, you were only in there for a few minutes. Next time, we’ll have to see if we can’t put you in for a little longer.’
    Kip looked at him incredulously. ‘I already told you, there’s not going to be a next time.’
    ‘You said that. But don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.’
    ‘Yeah, I’ve
thought
about it. But I don’t know … it would have to be a safe film. Definitely not something like
Terror Island
. I really don’t fancy getting chewed up by a sabre-toothed tiger, thanks very much.’
    Mr Lazarus nodded.
    ‘I can see why you’d be nervous about that,’ he admitted. ‘It isn’t the most appealing idea. But listen, I spent some time last night making a few adjustments to the Retriever. I think it’s even better than it was. It’s my belief that it might now be possible to bring a live character
out
of the film.’
    Kip stared at him.
    ‘But … I thought you said that if you were there when the credits rolled, you couldn’t ever get out.’
    ‘That’s true of
real
people, like you and me. But film characters are different. You remember I told you they’re like ghosts of themselves? I think now the prism could actually give those ghosts solid form. It’s very exciting.’
    ‘Look, could we talk about this another time?’ hissed Kip, glancing nervously towards the open office door.
    ‘Oh yes, of course. Point taken.’
    ‘And listen,’ added Kip. ‘You
have
covered up the equipment, right?’
    ‘I’ve thrown a sheet over it. At least, over the parts I don’t use to improve the film image. And don’t worry, I won’t remove it again, not unless you ask me to.’
    ‘Don’t hold your breath,’ Kip told him.
    The entrance doors opened and Beth stepped into the foyer. She came over to Kip and smiled, but when the smile wasn’t returned, she sensed that something was different tonight. She watched as he glumly filled a box with popcorn.
    ‘Problem?’ she asked.
    ‘Yeah. Grannie’s had a fall, Dad’s had to shoot off to Blackburn and now I’m going to have to miss the film so I can keep an eye on Rose.’
    Beth frowned. ‘Oh, that’s a pain,’ she said. ‘Can’t we talk her into watching the film with us? It’s only a twelve A.’
    ‘No you can’t!’ said Rose’s voice from the office.
    Beth smiled.
    ‘There’s nothing wrong with
her
hearing,’ she observed.
    ‘No,’ said Kip, nervously, thinking about what he and Mr Lazarus had just been discussing. ‘Anyway, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll be stuck out here.’
    ‘Maybe there’s a solution,’ said Mr Lazarus.