Chapter 5:

Into the Fray

"Daaaaaaammmmmmmmmmn, yoooooouuuuu, Raaaaaaayyyy!" The speeding wind caught Winston's words, stretching them into howls. The four men were speeding down the London roads to the Grand Hall Hotel in Trafalgar Square, wheels skidding on cobblestone.

Perhaps an explanation. Less than half an hour earlier, the four men were standing outside, at the back of Ray's house. In lieu of the recent sunshine, the typical London rain had been replaced with a damp cold.

"Oh, give me a day, that wonderful day, when I laid my eyes on her," sang Peter, trying to stifle his boredom. "Why the devil are standing out here, anyway?"

Egon shrugged. "Ray wants to show off another one of his 'toys', no doubt."

CLANGCLANGCLANG! The back of the house split open, and began to wind apart, revealing the inside of Ray's workshop. A great roaring assaulted their ear's, and a massive smoke-spewing monstrosity rolled out on large, chunky wheels. Ray sat astride the thing in a glass cockpit on the front, grinning like a looney.

''I say this as a friend, Raymond,'' Winston shouted over the din. ''You must get out of that dammed workshop more often.''

Ray ignored him. ''Behold, fair gents, the future of transportation! What I have created here has twice the speed, power, and endurance of a cart and horse. And in honor of our new occupation, I christen her,'' he paused for effect, '' The Ecto-1 automobile!''

Egon fought the urge to roll his eyes. ''Yes, Raymond. You have shamed us with your brilliance once again. Now tell me why we waited this long? The inspector expects us at the Hotel.''

Ray smiled, his teeth as grimy as his hands. ''Hop on, preacher.''

Ray wasn't boasting. The Ecto-1 sped down the London streets like a cheetah with his tail set ablaze, jostling the four occupants like the wind would jostle dust. The motley crew of ghost hunters sped past bewildered city goers and tourists, discussing their plans of operation.

''So, what exactly is it that you expect us to do, Father?'' Peter asked, voice vibrating along with the bumps in the road.

''The Lucifer Collective plans to achieve great power through supernatural means.'' Egon explained, trying not to be sick. ''As of yet, I don't know what they're doing, or how, but whatever it is, it's releasing spirits onto the city. As they gain more power, the weaker the link between the afterlife and our world becomes, prompting more ghosts to cross over. We have to stop these spirits causing trouble, while trying to figure out what it is the Collective are is doing.''

All of the sudden, the Ecto-1 stopped, jerking the three occupants not secured in the cockpit, and sending them flying to the front.

Ray un-did the straps that bonded him. ''We're here.'' he said, a tad amused.

The four men got out, three of them stumbling around like drunkards. They stood in front of the Grand Hall Hotel, tall and majestic. Surrounding the building were policemen, who Egon noticed were attempting to stay as far away from the hotel while still keeping watch over the entrance.

A scrawny, beaked nose policeman ran up to their group. ''Are you the one's the Inspector sent for?'' he asked. They nodded, and apparently satisfied with that answer, he nodded to the door. ''Inspector's waiting for you inside.'' And with that, he ran off.

Ray strode around to the back of the Ecto-1, and, pulling open the doors, pulled a large metal rack on rollers out of the automobile. Hanging on it were the four packs Ray created. He strapped one on, and instructed the others to do the same.

After his friends had struggled with the heavy packs, Ray pointed his nozzle to the sky and let off a shot. All the policemen scattered, the blast frazzling their already edgy nerves.

Ray nodded. ''All systems in order; now it's time ta get ta work!'' He nodded to his friends. ''Ya ready?''

A nod from Egon, and a nod from Peter. ''We are ready, Ray'' Winston said, full of confidence. And with that, the four men flicked on their packs, and strode up into the entrance of the hotel.