Well I’ve cobbled together enough photos (and thought up a few words) for the next instalment: try to enjoy…
Two minutes later Bubbles and Barclay were crossing the courtyard that led to the Punting-Modesty Munitions Company officesā¦

Whilst Barclay appeared grim and certain of his fate, Bubbles remained hopeful that they werenāt about to receive their severance papers:
āWhatta we gonna do, Barclay?ā She wailed. āWhat can we say to convince them to keep us on? Shall I show them my knickers or something? Theyāre very frilly. Do you think that would help?ā
She was still trembling when they entered the sales office corridor. In fact she was feeling slightly nauseousā¦

As they passed posters that depicted the companyās most famous productā¦

ā¦Bubbles paused to regard them.
āJust think,ā she said gravely, āthis could be the very last time we ever walk these hallowed corridors and gaze upon our forbearās work of genius.ā
āThe XL5 is a pile of junk,ā Barclay said with a dismissive grunt. āThe only time it was used in anger was in the battle against those sentinel robots from the future: and it was totally rubbish. Couldnāt hit a sodding thing. The Earplug Brothers had to visit Mars in order to find a weapon that worked against their cybernetic foe.ā
He then suggested that they āget this thing over and done with.ā So, thirty seconds later one of the board members became aware of their approach towards the Star Chamberā¦

But by the time that the junior employees had stepped into view, he, or she, had resumed his, or her, position beneath the ultra-violet lighting, in which he, or she, thought that he, or she, looked most intimidatingā¦

āOoh-err,ā Barclay managed after swallowing several times, āIām feeling slightly intimidated, Bubbles: do you think you could do all the talking?ā
Bubbles might have replied in either the positive or the negative, but Barclay never found out which. This was because the Chairman of the Board –Ā Sir Loftus Pupe ā indicated that they both proceed into the room, which of course they didā¦

Under the artificial lighting it was difficult for the young earplugs to discern the true colouring of the Star Chamber personnel. Consequently it was impossible to read their expressions…

But both thought they recognised Sir Loftus sufficiently well to look in his direction. Unfortunately they were both wrong, which slightly amused the board membersā¦

Looking up from a small square of paper, upon which someone had scribbled the names of Bubbles and Barclay, Sir Loftus turned his attention upon them and quickly slipped the note into a pocket, lest they think he lived in an ivory tower and didnāt know his own staff by either sight or name. His yellow eyes glowing in the blue air, Sir Loftus then addressed his āguestsāā¦

āOi, you two; look this way. Iām the boss ā Sir Loftus Pupe. Here, here, you buffoons. Iām over here. Whose stupid idea was it to have ultra-violet lighting? Iām all but bloody invisible!ā
To fellow Star Chamber members, Sopier Clandestino and Leon Solent, the situation appeared to be turning into a comedy sketch. But others, such as Dick Jason and Gilly Charlick, felt less comfortable: they had seen Sir Loftus in a rage previously in their careers: they didnāt care to witness the spectacle again…

Fortunately fellow Star Chamber members ā known locally as Chamber Pots ā Jasmine Greentea and Biggun Browne defused the situation by smiling slightly and putting Bubbles and Barclay at ease. Well Jasmine did: Biggun merely looked stern, but fairā¦

āIf you canāt see Sir Loftus, darlings,ā Jasmine said gently, ājust look for a pair of disembodied yellow eyes.ā
Grateful for this advice, both youngsters did as they were bid.
āJolly good.ā Sir Loftus said as Bubbles and Barclay finally located his position in the darkened room. āNow to business.ā
Well, for the next five minutes the Chairman of the Board proceeded to list all of his junior employeeās inadequacies. He lambasted them for their incompetence and lack of scientific imagination. He let them know, in no uncertain terms that they were useless and of no value to Punting-Modesty. He informed them that he fully intended to release them from their contracts and personally kick them out of the building.
āYeah,ā he snarled, āIām gonna boot you right up the arse!ā
But just as Bubblesā and Barclayās knees thought they could knock no louder, and their dental fillings began loosening, a partial reprieve was presented by Biggun Browne:
āYa get one more chance.ā He said bluntly and with no hint of kindness. āOne final shot at staying aboard. If you can conjure up one idea between you, right here and now, the Star Chamber are willing to listen. We are not without mercy for those who can think on their feet.ā
Both youngsters grabbed this life-line like a plugmutt that has fallen from a cross-channel ferry clutches at rubber rings, discarded deck hatches, old mattresses and other marine flotsam. Desperation and hope gave wings to their minds. After a quick consultation Bubbles replied:
āDespite our best efforts,ā she said with surprising forthrightness, āwe canāt think of any weapon or vehicle that might interest the Museum of Future Technology. But maybe we can steal someone elseās idea. Itās a thought that Barclay and I had once, quite a while ago, in a CafĆ© Puke outlet during a visit to the museum.ā
Noting that Bubbles had piqued the Chamber Potās interest, Barclay joined in. Together they explained their tentative plan to re-visit the museum and steal technology therein; return it to Punting-Modesty, where it could be reverse-engineered, reconfigured, and made useful as a device with defensive capabilities.
āBit of a long-shot, donāt you think?ā Sir Loftus said to this, whilst his eyes scanned the room in search of either doubt or confirmation of his own thoughts in the eyes of the other Chamber Pots.
Jasmine Greentea avoided her Chairmanās eyes. āI think itās a lovely idea, darlings.ā She said. āYou get my vote.ā
āSince when has the Punting-Modesty Munitions Company been a democracy?ā Biggun Browne retorted.
āIām just saying.ā Jasmine replied slightly defensively.
āWell itās the best idea Iāve heard lately.ā Sopier Clandestino offered his help.
āWhat have we got to lose?ā Gilly Charlick added.
Dick Jason threw in his two-penny worth:
āNothing.ā He roared, āLetās give the kids a chance!ā
āIf we donāt have some business plan to offer the companyās bank manager,ā Leon Solent spoke gravely, āheās gonna pull the rug from right under us. Weāll all be out on our arse!ā
Sir Loftus made a characteristically fast decision. āOn your way.ā He instructed his underlings. āBut thereās nothing in petty cash: youāll have to pay your way there. Now sod off to the Museum of Future Technology sharpish: bring us something back we can use. Be gone!ā
So it was a surprised and, quite frankly, invigorated couple of young earplugs who made for the Star Chamber exitā¦

āCan you believe this?ā Barclay whispered to his supervisor.
āYes.ā Bubbles replied. āAnd Iām not overly enamoured with the prospect. I have only fifteen Pluggentos in the bank, and three-fifty in my purse: if weāre going to pay our way to the Museum of Future Technology, you are going to have to cough up the dough.ā
āOh-no,ā Barclay wailed at the news ā rather more loudly than heād planned ā āI was saving up for a nice pea-shucking holiday on the dusty plain below Lemon Stone. Iād even booked a room at Don Quibonkiās stone tower Bed and Breakfast. Oh, Iām so disappointed!ā

Ā© Paul Trevor Nolan 2022
That was a good episode – if you like the colour blue.