The Extraordinary Scam

By Lee Kendrick

In London's Victoria station the posh ceremony began with a brass band playing, as dignitaries standing on a red carpet prepared to launch the… 'Around The World'train journey. The train, a replica of the famous now Flying Scotsman ll… is connected to 20 cars; containing diner cars, recreation, and sleepers for 100 passengers including celebrities, politicians, Billionaires, Royalty, security, the press and train staff.

It will be the longest ever train journey, covering over 24,000 miles…at speeds of 150 mph…Taking 90 days. The price, one million dollars per passenger!

Journalist James Sorenson was assigned by his newspaper to go along as one of the guest press. He took some notes as photographers flashed their cameras at the famous personalities boarding the train.

The Fireman sweated buckets as he stoked up the fire to produce enough steam to launch the Flying Scotsman. Finally The signal man whistled and the train driver tugging his line twice, producing two loud high-pitch sounds, forcing jets of steam into the air. The steam engine now chug! chugged! gracefully pulling away with its powerful metal wheels.

Meanwhile, on the train a guide showed Sorenson his plush compartment. His nose twitched as he caught the smell of lavender; his eyes widened as he spotted red velvet draped curtains; red silk bed covers and a red carpet; An ornate lamp and a kettle sat on the bedside cupboard.

Moments later, there was a knock at his door. It was the ticket inspector:

"Tickets please. Evening sir." He said punching Sorenson's ticket.

"Dinner will be served at 5 o'clock in dining car 2." The Inspector said

"Thank you." Answered Sorenson.

An hour past when Sorenson walked into the dining car; he glanced at some of the familiar faces sitting at their tables: There was the Princess Alice of Norway, wearing a tiara, sitting with some people whom he didn't recognise. Opposite her table were four top sportsmen one of them being the well known footballer from Juventus, Alberto Mancini.

Sitting at Sorenson's table was Nathan Parkes, an American billionaire, owning three fortune 500 businesses. The two other guests were unknown to him, a young man and woman. Parkes leant forward smiling and asked:

"So what do you do sir?"

"Hi, I'm one of the team of journalists on the train!" Sorenson smiled.

Parkes face grimaced, and turned to the other guest at the table. Ignoring Sorenson the rest of the evening.

The nearest table to Sorenson's left sat the British Royals… Prince Manfred and his wife, Princess May. They seemed to be enjoying themselves as they were laughing away with the other guests.

After everyone had finished their dinner there was a sudden big entrance as the boss of the train company, Whitestar Nigel Sedgwick walked in with a large Havana cigar in his mouth;, two burly men stood on either side of him as he introduced himself to all the passengers.

"Hello fellow passengers," he said in his gruff, Yorkshire accent:

"Let me say how excited i am to be here with you all. I thank you for taking part in this historic train voyage!

I'd like now for the wonderful press to come forward, and don't be shy in asking me any searching questions."

With that the press with photographers rushed forward, nudging each other as they competed to be first to the front.

A fellow journalist fired a searching question and so did another. An embarrassing silence filled the air as Sedgewick's face reddened; he seemed caught by surprise as both journalists grinned at him with satisfaction and disrespect.

Seconds later, Sedgewick clicked his fingers and the two Mafiosa-like men grabbed both journalists and pulled them out of the diner car... pushing them off the train!…luckily the train had stopped at a station earlier.

Sorenson then saw his chance and nervously asked Sedgewick:

" How many of these 'Around the World' trips would there be a year?"

"Well, Mr Sorenson do the maths, if each journey last 90 days or three months we can only possibly do four a year! He replied laughing! It remains for me to say to everyone... 'Bon voyage'!"

After dinner, Sorenson lay on his bed reading more of his crime novel. An hour passed when he felt a gentle tug and heard the train pull away from the station, now on its way to Spain.

By early morning the Flying Scotsman was steam rolling through the Spanish countryside, hills and mountains. A couple of hours past; Over the horizon a glow brightened as the sun threatened to paint the hills with red shafts of light.

By midday Sorenson decided to stretch his legs; his brow covered with beads of sweat as he walked unsteadily along the corridor. The train chugged along. as He saw shafts of yellow sun beams through the windows. Outside he spotted the rugged hills covered with scores of goats, grazing on the grass.

Eventually Sorenson reached the diner car and walked inside to ask for some more milk for his tea. Inside he was surprised to see a dozen black- haired olive faced men. Some of them glared back at him in distaste. A waiter upon seeing him explained:

"Sir passengers are only allowed here at meal times. Here is some milk... just this once!" He said handing him a small metal pot of milk.

Strolling back through the corridor with his milk. Suddenly Sorenson heard a terrible screech; he was forced back momentarily then propelled forward, heading towards the two Royals he'd seen yesterday in the diner. Rather than bash into the couple... he dived to the floor. The train had just breaked, narrowly missing a cow on the track. The Royal couple bent down and kindly helped him to his feet.

"Are you okay?" Princess May asked looking concerned.

"Yes, thank you your majesty!" he replied brushing back his hair.

After the steam engine had been travelling for a few days, it arrived in Portugal. Luckily the train's air conditioning system kept the passengers cool because the sun was blisteringly hotter than in Spain.

Due to the long journey the passengers needed plenty to occupy them. And the Whitestar had supplied various amenities to facilitate the passengers' needs: a casino, with roulette, poker,backgammon; along with an arcade of games... and next door was a mini cinema.

Sorenson felt he should start to mingle with the other passengers and find some news for his paper, enjoying himself at the same time...After all, his Editor told him to have some fun on the voyage... with the hansome allowance he was given for the trip.

Having won $200 at the casino and being able to interview a couple of distinguished personalities, Sorenson was pleased with himself as he walked back to his compartment a little tipsee and ready for bed.

Back in his compartment Sorenson could hear the relaxing AMSR sounds of the train... chugging and signalling, causing him to fall asleep.

in the middle of the night Sorenson had to get up to pee. Feeling restless he walked down the corridor. Looking outside he noticed the silhouetted mountains and the moon which seemed strangely low.Afterwards he went back to bed.

Just as he got back to bed he had a nagging thought… OMG!

Before he was a journalist he was working for TV as a Greenscreen expert. He could make audiences believe anything what they saw was real...But what was going on here was fantasticly amateurish!

He realised that the train wasn't really moving. And whoever was working this Greenscreen had made a momentous mistake...The moon was too low in the sky…so low it was slightly in front of the mountains!

What's worse, the starry sky was blending in the foreground.

He had to see for himself that the train wasn't really moving. He crept out into the corridor and as quietly as he could... he opened the train door.

Just as he thought...although through the windows there was the illusion of the train moving; He'd noticed a gap where Green screens were in front of the windows. Where scenery projections would make it look like there were real mountains, sky, moon etc.

Rushing back to his compartment he made some tea and sat on the bed thinking:

But why do all this? He thought.

The whitestar company must be in on it. That's it…they would make millions each trip without hardly travelling far…in reality about a week ...Not 90 days!

End