CHERUB: Man vs Beast - Robert Muchamore Page 0,18

Her kept his nose clean for three and a half years, earning himself the right to spend the last four months of his sentence in a minimum security prison.

It was a sunny afternoon as Zara drove up to a striped barrier in a small BMW. She waved visiting papers out of her window at a tubby prison officer stepping out of his kiosk.

Ehan't be seeing you again,?he said to Zara, as he gave the papers a cursory glance. Mr Quinnt heading out next week isn't he??

T certainly hope so,?Zara nodded. Te're supposed to be getting married.?

Mh, well done,?the guard smiled. Those are all the kids??

All mine.?

The guard held his gut and boomed with laughter as he squinted through the back window at Lauren and James. A few weeks living with that lot and heEl probably be begging us to let him back in here.?

Lauren smiled at the guard, but her expression changed once Zara had driven them through the gate and out of the guardt earshot. There he goes,?she said caustically, The funniest man in the world.?

Kyle burst out laughing. Tho rattled your cage??

T can't stand men who talk down at you like you're a five-year-old,?Lauren tutted.

They cruised over speed bumps towards the car park, passing flowerbeds and a couple of bare-chested inmates pushing Flymos over the grass.

Call this a prison??James carped, as he stepped out of the car and studied the lines of magnolia-painted dormitories where the inmates slept. Looks more like a holiday camp to me.?

Zara led the way past the lines of cars towards the visiting block. It was a single storey building and the mixture of plastic stacking chairs and prisoners?artwork on the walls reminded James of the classrooms at his old primary school.

Because it was a nice day, most inmates had taken their visitors outdoors to sit in the sun. The only company for the lonely-looking attendant was a couple snogging madly in a dim corner.

Ryan Quinn had been allocated one of the private rooms where inmates met their solicitors. Zara led the kids in and grabbed a seat at the table. There were only three chairs, so James and Kyle leant against the wall.

James thought Quinn looked more like a drama teacher, or someone who worked for the council, than a criminal. He wore naff looking plastic sandals, drainpipe jeans and a stonewashed rugby shirt that came straight out of the 1980s. He was the type who must have been skinny in his prime, but middle age had granted him a gut and great tufts of hair that bristled out of each nostril when he exhaled.

Eo this is the governmentt secret weapon,?Ryan said, smiling wryly at the kids as he spoke in his heavy Belfast accent. The most outrageous example of state fascism Ire ever encountered, all logoed up for the benefit of Nike, Metallica and Arsenal Football Club.?

Sice to meet you too,?Kyle said, leaning forward to shake Ryant hand. That was very cutting. I do what I can to keep the multinationals grinding the jackboot of oppression down on the developing world, though Ire actually got a bit of a sideline as a gay liberal.?

Quinn was surprised by Kylet knowing response and his startled expression made Zara laugh.

Mne of the reasons cherubs do so well, Ryan, is that people like you underestimate them,?she grinned. Kyle plans to study Law at Cambridge when he leaves CHERUB. James just aced his maths A-level four years early, after studying for less than ten months. Lauren is a second dan Karate black belt, shet practically fluent in Russian and Spanish and last year she almost killed a man four times her size with a hotel Biro. All three have received advanced espionage training and their capabilities are in line with adult special forces.?

Mr a Zebra eighty-four training camp,?Kyle smirked.

Ryan cracked up laughing. Toure done your research, young Kyle. Maybe when you're too old for CHERUB, you can come over and work for the good guys??

James nodded. Teah, youre got a lot in common with each other. I mean, vegetarians and homosexuals, itt all the same kind of thing isn't it??

James only opened his mouth to prove he was paying attention, but regretted it as soon as he saw everyone turn and scowl at him.

Lames, why don't you go dig a great big hole and jump in it??Kyle asked.

T was just ?Jesus, Kyle, theret no need to get all touchy.?

Kyle tutted. Neret a tip, James: from now on, have a go at using your brain before you open