Pillow Squawk

Notwithstanding the predictions of crumpled fortune cookie messages, questionable fortune tellers and paranormal horror scopes (pun intended) the future remains stubbornly unpredictable: fortunate for some and less fortunate for others. For the ambitious young Millie Carter, Susan Turner and Tamara Aldwych, two out of the three are lucky. For ambitious young Italians Alberto Pontevecchio and Carlos Berio; Frenchman Michel Coulon, South African Piet Van Der Merwe and American Nat Levinson: three out of five are favoured. Enter a sinister serial killer with a penchant for Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado whose anatomisation of Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner, sees his "little list" of the chosen few embracing their so-called "executions" across continents. Will Millie, with aspirations of becoming a top lawyer achieve her goal? Likewise, will Susan become a respected veterinary surgeon-cum-writer and Tamara an adored, international super star? Will Alberto achieve his ambition becoming international super star and super stud while Carlos seeks fame and fortune in America? Will Michel achieve his ambition of restoring the family fortune and will Piet achieve his goal as a successful academic-cum-vintner? Last, but certainly not least, what exactly does Nat eventually achieve? All seems well and should end well until William Barlow Junior - aka Ko-Ko the Lord High Executioner - enters their lives: aided and abetted by Dingbat, his loyal, four-legged sidekick. Appetites suitably whetted, be prepared for a sure-fire feast of unsavoury delights.