The Bard of the Bodleian (an Alex Rider fanfiction)

Chapter 9: Magdalen Bridge

Disclaimer: all characters and references to Alex Rider, Mission Impossible, James Bond, Narnia, Marvel and any William Shakespeare play are not our own (we're just big nerds).

Together they ran down the street, Alex following Tom as he guided him along the road towards the bridge. Alex was not entirely comfortable with this plan and still wished Tom had stayed behind. But he had little choice. Besides, trying to argue with Tom was a bit like banging your head against a brick wall. Once his best friend had made up his mind about something, there was no persuading him otherwise. His stubbornness was one of his more annoying qualities. Yet Alex couldn't deny that he needed Tom now. Without his directions they would never make it to the bridge in time.

They turned left onto Oxford High Street, running past the tall limestone buildings that are commonplace along the city streets. People stared at them as they ran past, some shouting after them as Alex and Tom weaved through the crowds of tourists, sight-seeing, and shoppers that had come to enjoy the early October sunshine. And then they could see the bridge. Passing a tall church to their left they came to a halt, and looked around, momentarily mystified.

"Where are they?" questioned Tom, confused.

"Are you sure it was Magdalen Bridge?" Alex asked.

"Alex, I may not be a super-spy like you, but I think I can remember the name of a bridge." Alex laughed, despite the urgency of the situation. He couldn't help but think how much more entertaining all his previous missions would've been if Tom had been there providing witty commentary.

"Yeah alright." He looked around. Apart from the usual collection of Oxford pedestrians and the steady flow of cars and buses, nothing was unusual. There was no getaway vehicle ready to whisk the two remaining thieves away, no low-flying helicopter to pick them up from a nearby rooftop. Not even a clue to indicate where they had gone.

Of course there was the river, snaking its way through the city and under the bridge they were standing on, but that couldn't possibly be how Prospero and his companions had planned on escaping, could it? That was when Alex noticed the boats on the river. They were for punting, so that tourists and university students could take in the views of the river and the scenery of Oxford. The perfect undercover escape plan. Quickly, Alex leaned over the edge of the bridge and scanned the people milling around below, preparing to set out on the boats. Prospero and Ariel were not among them. He was about to turn back around in disappointment when a boat appeared from under the bridge, emerging into the afternoon sun. On it were two people. One was a tall man, who was punting, with an I Heart Oxford hat, pale shorts and boat shoes. The other was a small woman wearing an Oxford University t-shirt and big dark sunglasses. To anyone else they were two tourists, enjoying an afternoon punt down the river.

But Alex recognised them. It was the woman's hair that drew his attention and that ruined the disguise, scraped back into a bun with military precision. Ariel.

Without even thinking about it Alex had begun to climb onto the low wall of the bridge.

"Alex... what are you doing?"

"They're on the boat," Alex replied and before Tom had a chance to say anything more he had jumped off the bridge.

It was in the brief moment of falling that Alex thought to himself, I really hope this is Prospero and Ariel. Otherwise some tourists are gonna get the shock of their lives.

And then, with a crash, he landed.