Have Your Cake and Eat It

[Fairblue]

Rules...Only one. Remember it's set in WW2 so no mod cons or gadgets etc. Thank you.

If it wasn't for Jerry the day would have been a perfect flying day. The sun shone from a bright blue sky, light, fluffy clouds adding their little touch to what would, in peacetime, have been a pleasant pastoral scene. Even the flowers which some of the officers had planted under the windows of the Mess were obligingly bright and beautiful.

But Jerry was about and 666 has been sent up to see them off. They had succeeded, and were now coming in, one by one, some seemingly unscathed, others with distinct battle scars. Biggles, first down, taxied across the tarmac to leave room for the others. His eyes cast around for Algy and it was with relief he watched his second-in-command land with no apparent problems. Bertie, with a busted undercarriage, was last and Biggles held his breath as the Flight Commander came in to land.

Somehow, Bertie managed to get his Spitfire down without breaking up into small pieces. The ambulance came roaring up along with the fire truck. Biggles hid a small smile as Bertie leapt from the cockpit and landed a full six feet away from his craft before sprinting even further .

They all looked tired and weary, Biggles thought. They needed a rest, or failing that, something to take their minds off the War for a while. He'd give it some thought, or maybe something would crop up to divert their attention away from their perilous daily existence.

[Kismet]

They walked up to the Mess together. Henry was discussing whether to go to the flicks with Ginger the next night and reminiscing over the confectionary that used to be available in the cinema.

[Fairblue]

"I could never afford any," Ginger confessed, "and now I can, there's not much to buy." He stopped as they passed the pigeonholes where their post was placed by Toddy. Larger items were placed on the top of the rack. Ginger and Henry could see that there was a parcel there now. A funny one, though. It was wrapped in greaseproof paper and tied with string.

[Kismet]

'Why would someone send something disguised as a cake?' Ginger asked. 'Why not disguise it as something likely?'

[Fairblue]

"I don't know," Henry said as he looked at the parcel. "But as it's addressed to Algy I suggest we let him open it and find out. Here he comes now."

[Kismet]

Algy was also puzzled why anyone would send him a cake-shaped parcel. He lifted it down and put it on a table preparatory to opening it.
'It's the right weight,' he laughed. 'What weighs the same as a cake and is shaped like a cake?'

[Fairblue]

"In peacetime, I'd say a cake," Biggles said smiling. "Have you done a sniff test?"

[Kismet]

Algy bent over and sniffed. His eyes widened and he sniffed again.
'Oh, my giddy aunt,' he muttered, 'it can't be.'

[Fairblue]

"What?" Several voices chorused at once.

[Kismet]

Algy ignored them, closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of his parcel deeply.

'I don't want to open it and spoil it all,' he said.

[Fairblue]

"What does it smell like?" Ferocity demanded, pushing his way to the front.

[Kismet]

'It smells,' Algy said reverently, ' like a pre-war Victoria sponge, made with real eggs, a thick layer of raspberry jam and clotted cream.'

[Fairblue]

There were various cries which indicated disbelief, followed by several suggestions that Algy's olfactory senses were not as they should be.

[Kismet]

'Shut up and let me enjoy the illusion a while longer,' Algy ordered. 'I can practically taste it, it's so real.'

[Fairblue]

"Who is it from?" asked Biggles practically, as they watched Algy sniff the parcel again.

[Kismet]

Algy reluctantly opened his eyes and examined the parcel. 'I can't see a return address. Maybe there's a card inside.'

[Fairblue]

His hand hesitated over the knot on the string. It had been tied so it could be undone easily, so it could be used again. Algy noticed that the greaseproof paper had been used before too, but they were all used to having to make do.

[Kismet]

Algy hesitated, but undid the string, putting it to one side. He took hold of the edges of the greaseproof paper.
'One,' chanted Ginger.
'Two.' The rest of the squadron joined in.

[Fairblue]

"Three" Algy finished, throwing back the paper with a flourish. He looked down.

[Kismet]

Algy swore. The situation demanded it. So did some of the other pilots.

[Fairblue]

There, on the greaseproof paper, in all its glory, lay what looked for all the world like a Victoria sponge, with raspberry jam and clotted cream. Algy put out a finger and gave it an experimental light poke.

[Kismet]

It felt like a Victoria sponge.

Algy could feel men crowding around him.
'I think we'd better get a knife to cut a slice and test this,' he said, a little weakly. 'It can't possibly be what it looks like.'

[Fairblue]

Henry rushed off to appear a moment later with one of the kitchen knives, which he handed to Algy as he would pass a ceremonial sword, across his forearm, hilt first.

[Kismet]

Biggles knew he should be ordering that only one person, and that not a pilot, should sample the cake until it was proved harmless, but he was salivating like the rest of them. 'Fetch a plate, Mr Carrington,' he ordered.

[Fairblue]

Tug did. He handed the plate to Biggles, who slid it under the cake as Algy lifted it. The cake gave a very satisfactory cakey wobble.

[Kismet]

Algy raised his knife and inserted the tip. He took a deep breath and moved the blade firmly down through the cake.

[Fairblue]

The knife slid out, with proof of jam and cream over it's shiny surface. Algy made another cut.

[Kismet]

'Who's first?' he asked, holding a fat slice of the beautiful jammy, creamy, perfect cake on the blade of the knife.

[Fairblue]

Toddy stepped forwards. "Perhaps it should be me," He said looking apologetically at Biggles."If it is an attempt to put us out of action, better me than one of you."

[Kismet]

A small moan broke from Toddy's lips as he sampled the cake. 'Oh this is good,' he sighed. 'I don't care if it's poisoned. I can die happy after this.'