And so once again Agent Rob takes a long overdue troop up the 'The 16 Steps' to visit Agent Johnny at Ice Station MKII, amazed to think that since his last visit The Buccaneers - he perused a distinctly battered copy of the above annual on his last trek - has begun airing on Talking Pictures TV, actor Robert Shaw looking remarkably mature for his 29 years in the title role. Even at that young age he has a rugged, icy quality that suggests a very real inner menace hiding behind his frisky warmth. (Indeed, the episode Rob saw at home even had future Carry On... stalwart Sid James jauntily friggin' in the riggin')....
With several fresh Infinity Magazines to hand there ought to have been no shortage of topics for contented chunterin' - there's Sinbad and The Eye of the Tiger for starters! - only it turned out there was.... so with the Karmi kranked it was left to Talking Pictures to provide the bulk of the stimulation, which they duly did by trotting out their Saturday morning regulars, from the upturned buckets of Radar Men From The Moon to the cold blooded killings of Teenagers From Outer Space and the leery The Outer Limits - starring Robert Duvall of all people! - via the aforementioned vintage swashbuckle of The Buccaneers....
But for whatever reasons, there was no welcome dreamy reverie to be found on this day - likely a genuine 'view to a swill' would have ended in alcohol induced tears - Rob suddenly acutely aware of the time (and lives) trapped between the pages of John's countless books, many, but not all, forgotten records of vanished and rapidly vanishing eras.... Just as our two Agents are trapped in time themselves, slowly vanishing, winding down day by day, knowing the wheel must forever turn - even if they cannot pass muster to voice that they see it, this melancholy elephant in the room - and that all things must pass....
Tonstartssbandht - What Has Happened
