What happened next

Ghost of Casanova? 'Follow me' he whispered into her ear. Bertha wolf whistled to get the other's attention 'Follow me, this rather tasty ghost has told me to follow him' she smiled following Casanova. A group conga developed as the group followed Bertha and her new friendly ghost of a friend.

Where was this leading or more to the point where or what was the ghost leading them to? Suddenly this became irrelevant as music of tambourine and accordion filled each head and the most energetic tarantella had them whirling and surging around in the very small house, the room they were in expanding like the early universe and

morphing into a Hollywood set. The walls and ceilings expanded already festooned with cobwebs and straw on the floor-dark and atmospheric. the whirling dervish-like group, castanets clacking were stamping the floor and occassionally snaking into the conga. At the windows, lightening flashed and thunder rumbled (just like the best horror movie) The armosphere was electric and brooding. The sounds were echoing from the walls. If they were honest all the group were scared - out of their comfort zone - but not wanting to lose face in front of the other-worldies. They were stuttering and cluttering trying to communicate to each other, trying to make sense of the group and their own terror of what they were observing with their antenna. The grey-suited were peering in at the windows. It was as though the whole of the universe were playing their own roles and yet, strangely, synchopating. Some sort of commonality and yet seperate.Cedric was swaying, trance-like when.................

he began to levitate and as he rose ever higher he pointed up spearing into the interstellar region only to suddenly collapse back down to the solid straw littered dance floor squashed flat into a disc od sinew, muscle and crushed bone his face still showing in profile rendering him coin-like and ready for the purse or grave. William with a snarl of vicious mirth sprang forward and flipped Cedric, sent him spinning and called heads. Before heads or tails could be recognised Bertha snatched him on the way down and shoved him into the maw of a slop-machine, jerked down on the handle and won

Cedric's body flipped out and Bertha opened his mouth and blew into it, she took another deep breath and blew into Cedric's mouth again his chest expanded more to his normal size. Melissa watched as Bertha put her hand in the pocket of her blue pinafore and brought out her little book. scrambled to find the page she wanted and put her hand on Cedric's heart. Bertha looked so frightened, Bertha looked over at Melissa crouched on the straw covered floor and gave her a weak smile. Melissa stood up and walked over to Bertha she crouched down and put her arm around a shaking Bertha. 'Do what you have to do to bring him back to use' Melissa said quietly.

Bertha let out a long sigh. Cedric was worth it or so she thought. He could be a prat but at heart she knew he was a nice guy. Suddenly Cedric's chest deflated again - "William de Smythe pray give me your scabbard at once and empty the bladder of your magic elixir. Cedric ails because of your dastardly action" With a flash she grabbed Will's sword and swiped at Cedric's neck. She thrust the sccabbard into the hole she had made, attached the bladder and pumped at it! Melissa, dumbfounded looked on as did the other-worldies and the grey-suited peering in at the windows. Silence filled the house as all looked on. the thunder and lightning ceased. All held their breath. (Well all those who could breathe) "Come hither Will and pump his chest" "I can't do that" said Will. "I might do him some hurt!" Lengthened silence surrounded them. The world seemed to have stopped breathing. Amazingly Cedric................(Don't do this at home unless you are a paramedic-real life is a tad different)