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				HOLIDAY by Katie Oliver Chapter Two: Holidays       The next morning found Virgil and Alan pouring over a map of the world. They had packed their bags, and checked over and refuelled the little two-seater jet they would use to reach their holiday destination. Tin-Tin came in with coffee.       "Thanks, honey," said Alan. He took a cup from the tray and looked at the pretty girl who was his best friend. "Why don't I ask father again. Perhaps I could persuade him to let you come."       Tin-Tin shook her head. "I would love to come with you, Alan, but Mr Tracy has already said no. With both you and Virgil off the island, I am needed here."       "I know, but perhaps I could make him change his mind."       "I don't think you could,' said Virgil. "He's made his mind up, you'll not budge him now."       Alan looked mutinous, but said nothing.       Tin-Tin pointed to the map. "Why not go to New Zealand? I don't think any of you have been there before."       "Yes we have," replied Virgil. "We did that bridge rescue, near Auckland, remember Alan?"       "That wasn't me, I was in Thunderbird Five. John went on that shout."       "Oh, yes, I remember."       "I've never been to New Zealand at all. That's a great idea Tin-Tin, perhaps you should stow away with us!"       "Oh, no, Alan," she said. "I would never do that!"       Lunchtime found the two brothers ready to go. They would fly direct to Christchurch, on New Zealand's South Island, and then they would go site seeing from there. It was January so the middle of the southern hemisphere summer. No skiing, but they planned on trying jet boating and bungee jumping. As soon as they had finished lunch they went down to the little jet.       "Enjoy yourselves, boys, and don't watch the news!"       "S'long dad. Come on Alan, let's go. I'd rather do the flight in daylight."       "That's going to be unlikely," put in Scott. "Its after lunch here, it'll be evening in New Zealand already."       "So it will. Bye folks." And they were off.       With Virgil at the controls the jet made good time and they found themselves requesting permission to land at Christchurch international airport in the early hours of the morning. They organised care for the jet, in a hanger, and cleared customs to find themselves outside the city at 6am. It was already warm, and promised to be a lovely day. A quick call to Hertz provided a car and they drove into the city, and procured a room at the unlikely named Camelot Hotel.       A hearty breakfast took the place of the supper their body clocks were expecting and then they retired for a nap. After lunch they walked the short distance to the city centre. They found Cathedral Square, a large open space, surrounded by stone buildings, amongst the oldest in New Zealand. Trams completed the olde worlde effect, and the two brothers began to make their way across the square to the tourist information centre. They had just stopped by a game of chess; the board marked out with black and white paving slabs and pieces the size of a child, when the ground began to shake.       Immediately both brothers threw themselves to the ground. They had experienced earthquakes before and had no desire to injure themselves by falling over. They waited for the tremor to stop. New Zealand was known for its frequent tremors but they were rarely serious. The shaking did not stop. After a brief pause it began again with renewed vigour. Masonry fell around them and they were soon blinded by dust. People began screaming and calling out, and then a tremendous sound blotted out all other noises.       "That's a building collapsed," Virgil roared in his brothers ear. "Follow me, there was a bench behind us."       They rolled a few feet and found the bench. Crawling under it they waited for the shaking to stop and the dust to clear. Virgil activated his watch.       "Go ahead Virgil," came the calm tones of his father.       "Dad, we're in an earthquake, and it's a big one," Virgil called. The ground had stopped moving by this time, but the sound of terrified people and falling masonry continued.       "Are you both alright?"       "Yes, we're under a bench, but there's stuff still falling. I think you'd better send Scott and John at once. There's going to be a lot of people trapped in the rubble."       "FAB, Virgil. Keep me posted and don't do anything rash until the boys and the equipment gets there."       "Sure thing dad, but tell them to hurry. The dust is settling now. This is one big mess!"       They crawled out from their bench refuge and looked around. The first thing they noticed was the cathedral spire was missing, so was the tourist information centre, and a large stone building that had been behind the cathedral. People were running about shouting for friends or relatives. Others were offering first aid to the injured, or simply wandering around looking dazed. They moved across to the pile of rubble that had been the tourist information centre. A woman was clawing at the rubble with her hands.       "The children," she screamed. "They were behind me. I fell down the steps when the earthquake started. They were still in the building."       "Virgil gazed at the rubble. "Oh my God" he whispered. He turned to the woman. "How many people were in there?"       "It was packed out," came the chilling reply.       Virgil had soon organised a team of people to start shifting the debris, to try and find a way through to the people trapped inside. He knew it was likely there would be many people still alive inside. He also knew the emergency services would be pushed beyond their limits. An earthquake like this resulted in people needing help in all areas.       Alan was at the top of the pile, trying to create a tunnel into the building. Suddenly he thought he heard shouting. "Silence!' he roared. The team at once stopped and stood still. Alan heard the noise again.       "Help, we're trapped."       "We're on our way, hold on," he replied.       The digging team renewed their efforts and soon they came to a large slab. Four men moved this and beneath it a hole appeared. They were looking down into a room from above. It was full of people.       "Pass the kids up first," shouted Alan. Eager hands began lifting children up and Alan and Virgil caught hold and passed then over to the other rescuers. The adults followed and soon almost fifty people had been pulled from the wreckage. The last man out wore the uniform of a security officer. He had blood running down his face.       "That's the lot that I could find," he said. "We were all in the main hall. The trouble is there are several other rooms, but I couldn't get through to them. You're going to need lifting equipment."       "Thanks, mate," said Virgil. "You'd better get that gash seen to, it looks nasty." He helped the injured man down the rubble and then looked back for Alan, whom he had assumed was following him. He had vanished. Before he could do anything the woman who had lost her children accosted him.       "They weren't there. They didn't get out. Please find them." Tears were running down her face, making trails in the dust that covered her face.       Virgil made his way to the top of the heap again. Lying on his stomach he peered down into the hole.       "Alan!" he called. There was no reply. He activated his watch. "Alan, where are you?"       "I'm Ok Virg. I heard a kid crying down here. I'm trying to tunnel through. I'm out of the main hall, but it's all a bit chaotic in here."       "Alan, come back. We haven't got the equipment for you to do this it's not safe. Remember there may be after shocks."       By using their watches the boys had also made contact with base. Their father had heard the conversation.       "Alan get out of there at once," he said. "Wait for Scott to get there with the equipment."       "It's OK dad. I'm getting near now."       "Alan, get out of there at once! Do you hear me?"       As their father gave this order the ground began to shake again. Virgil, exposed on the top of the pie of rubble, lay face down and covered his head. The shaking was of only a few seconds duration, but when Virgil looked down into the hole again it was ominously full of dust. He activated his watch.       "Alan, are you OK? Alan, come in!" There was no answer. He called base. "Dad, there was an after shock. I've lost contact with Alan."       "Virgil, this is Scott. I've been listening in. Hang on in there. I'm less than an hour away, and John is right behind me in Thunderbird Two. We'll be able to locate him on the trackers. Where in Christchurch are you?"       "Cathedral Square, right in the centre of town. He glanced around. You should both be able to land, it's a big space but we'll have to clear the people."       "Get to it then. I'll be with you soon."       "Dad, I'll blow my cover if I tell them you are on your way. Could you contact the authorities from your end?"       "FAB."       For the next hour Virgil was everywhere, seemingly at once. With the help of the two police officers who had been in the cathedral kiosk, he organised three teams of diggers. One for each of the three collapsed buildings. The injured were taken to the ground floor of a hotel that had survived the quake, and were attended to by three student nurses from Japan who had been part of a guided tour. He constantly returned to the site of the tourist information building, but although the diggers had pulled two more women from the wreckage there was no sigh of Alan.       A familiar roar from overhead signalled the arrival of Thunderbird One. He went to the nearest police officer and pointed up.       "Look! Is that International Rescue?"       "It is," she replied. "We'd just heard on our radios that they were on their way. Could you help us clear a landing space? It will have to be a large one, I believe another craft is on its way."       The crowd could see the craft by now and recognising the International rescue logo moved willingly out of the way. Thunderbird one landed to one side of the square, near the tramlines. Virgil made his way to the edge of the crowd surrounding the Thunderbird.       Scott climbed down. He swung his gaze around the crowd, but did not at first see Virgil. The police officer walked over.       "We're very pleased to see you. There are there collapsed buildings, two at least have people trapped inside, I'm not sure about the third."       "Are you in charge here? Asked Scott.       "There are two police officers in this area, and another man who I suspect is military. He has been organising the diggers."       "Good. Where is this man?"       Virgil came out of the crowd. Scott was shocked to see the state he was in. His hands were bleeding from pulling at the blocks of masonry and the sweat had been pouring down his face, making streaks in the dust and grime. He looked exhausted. Scott took him by the arm and led him aside.       "Where's Alan?"       "Tourist Information building. He went after some trapped kids, and then there was an after shock. I can't contact him."       Scott turned to the police officer. "Could you start moving these people to the nearest civil defence shelter. The injured had better stay where they are for the moment. I think we'll start with the Tourist Information Building."       Scott produced a mobile tracking device from his pocket. "Show me where to go," he said.       Virgil led the way to the heap of rubble that had once been a stone building. Scott activated the device. "I've got him, but according to this he's buried under several tons of rubble.