Low Flyer

Actually, that's true. It's well known down our way.

Yes, but "the rest" includes Joel and Lisa.

But which wedding venue are Bridget's troops at? I have a very bad feeling that some of the central characters aren't going to survive. I'm particularly worried about Lisa and Joel. And Benji's right to remind us of the 30-06. Nothing else in this story has happened without cause so it's inconceivable that it won't come into play soon.

Everything is suspect except what the narrator says. That has to be true.

Not much comfort to the boys, I wouldn't have thought. It's one of her more highly developed senses, it seems to me.

Sorry, I must have misunderstood, I thought you were implying that getting the tape to the FBI would take the heat off the boys whilst Bridget concentrated on saving herself. It might be a short-term relief, but I just think that, as long as she's alive, Bridget will have Trev and Shane in her sights.

A good theory, Benji, but Bridget doesn't seem like the "forgive and forget" type to me. I think that, as long as she's alive, she'll be working to kill Trevor and Shane.

The goat had a lawyer!

There's an episode of Mythbusters where they poured loads of sugar into the petrol tank of a car. It made no difference whatsoever to the engine - it ran smoothly throughout.

If they've disabled an Argentine Coastguard boat, I should imagine that the Argentine government would throw anything necessary at them, including aircraft so the outcome of the race would be a foregone conclusion. Given the history between the two countries, I'm not at all sure that getting into Chilean waters would be any protection and, in any case, there's at least 200nm of Argentine sea on the direct path to the Falklands. That's at least 12 hours at maximum speed and they'd have to be awfully lucky for the sabotage not to be discovered before then. I do like the idea of them luring Bridget to British territory where she might be arrested. Even if it was just Xavier and his goons, it would be something. I don't suppose what police they have in the Falklands, though, are actually armed so I don't envy them the job of making the arrests...

It's called False Hopes and The End of the World in the version you sent me...

As far as we know, the history included in the chapter is not actually relevant – we could simply have been told that Argentine immigration and customs procedures are open to corruption. However, it may be that we’re about to find out that getting into Chilean water is (or is not) a safe place for Atlantis. It seems to me, though, that sabotaging an Argentine warship is a lot further up the “likelihood to piss off the authorities” scale than not completing the customs forms completely. More than likely, I’d have thought, it would be sufficient to provoke the Argentine navy to violate the border – as we know they’ve done in the past. You could say that quite a lot of the “travelogue” scenes aren’t necessary either but I, for one, have thoroughly enjoyed them. I’ve been following them around on Google maps and vicariously enjoying their various stops. I can’t think of any purpose to the potato-throwing other than to establish whether the patrol boat is manned or not but what the boys do with that information is still a mystery. I’d have thought their safest option if she’s unmanned is to slip away quietly and get over into Chilean waters ASAP and thence out to the open Atlantic. It’s debatable whether the Argentine authorities would bother chasing after a single yacht.

The goat is perfectly capable of throwing curve balls but it's a heck of a coincidence if Grundig is on Bridget's side. Not even Trevor knew he'd be going ashore at Carnarvon after all. That said, it doesn't seem impossible that the cartel might have an insider in the customs office of a small, remote port where they can ship their product without the scrutiny it might get at a more major harbour. Or, Gray was Bridget's informant and, when he disappeared so did her contact... And "somebody in the police" is not Gray - he's not in the police. BUT, I say again, we're dealing with the goat here. On balance, I think Benji's probably right!

I'm expecting it within 48 hours. By the time I'm done and CJ's compiled all the suggestions into a finished article, I think we're probably looking at the normal Monday night/Tuesday morning posting.

The problem with the two-book solution (or a two-film solution) is where to break it. And there would still be an awful lot of story to pack into two episodes. Perhaps we could get Trev to Australia in part one and the rest into part two? The multi-night mini series might be the best option...

Me too. Please, someone reassure me that I wasn't the only one who went off and googled it. There are whole episodes on YouTube!

The boys already know this - they played the tape on the Australian VCR on Kookaburra back in chapter 130. I suppose Trevor's just looking for a professionally made copy somewhere.

Three points: Trevor definitely has some suspicions. In chapter 142: "I also think the Maori originally came from what’s now called Raiatea in the Society Islands.” Trevor shuddered slightly as he heard that name. Tahiti is the largest of the Society Islands. Now I'm wondering about Bridget and her daughter. Yes, as Winemaker pointed out, she does seem to be genuinely sad about it and, yes, she blames "drugs" for it - whatever that means. Now she's about as high in a drugs cartel as it's possible to get. How can those two points be reconciled? How on earth is the Goat going to get round the problem of anyone who's seen the tape being marked for death by the remnants of the cartel? I just can't see how they can get round that. I can't wait for the Goat to get back from his holidays and put us all out of our misery!

That's a good question. Practically nothing in this story has been introduced for no reason. Even Trevor's clapped-out old car was important for the "charity auction" and the tins of hot dogs kept Trev alive in the Southern Ocean. So, what is the purpose of the 30-06 if not to shoot up the cartel's boat?

True. Hadn't thought about that.

As WInemaker pointed out, Trevor has Julie's email address and we know he has internet access via his satellite phone.

I have no doubts about Grundig at all - I don't think there's any evidence whatsoever that he's anything other than he claims. I could be wrong - second-guessing the Goat is a fool's game! I don't expect ever to hear from Grey again. He's vanished off the radar and has no desire to reappear any time soon. I suspect that he's probably quite good at disappearing.

Gosh. That's uncanny. It was as if the Goat were in the room...

Oh you just had to pop in to rub our noses in the fact that you're in the Alps! Oh well, make sure you stay safe on the slopes - you have a story to finish!