going to be some old fart from outside.?
As Zara stepped on to the plane, everyone started clapping, cheering and chanting chairman, chairman, chairman. Zara broke into a big smile and turned bright red.
T hope you're all this enthusiastic when you get in trouble,?Zara said. Thank you.?
Now can she be the chairman??Rat asked.
Lauren shrugged. Maybe sheEl be the chairwoman.?
Mr she could have a sex change,?James said.
The pilott voice came over the intercom. Aood morning, everyone. Ire just been told that all our passengers are on board. The stairs are being rolled back and the cockpit doors are closing as we speak. Could all passengers fasten their seat-belts, secure their tray tables and remain seated until were reached a cruising altitude. Were been given an immediate take-off slot, so we should be taking to the air in under five minutes.?
A big cheer went up as the plane started to roll. They were flying out of a small military airfield near to CHERUB campus and it took less than a minute to taxi to the beginning of the runway. After a jarring halt and a brief pause, the pilot opened the engines up to full blast and all manner of interior fittings began flapping and groaning as the aged jet belted down the runway.
Tou know itt so cool,?James grinned to Kerry. Tou, me, Lauren, Kyle and Bruce all getting to go to the hostel at the same time this year.?
Bity about Gabrielle getting a mission at the last minute,?Kerry said. But I still reckon itt gonna be the best summer ever.?
In the next row forward, Lauren reached into her Nike gym bag to pull out a Just Seventeen magazine and noticed a mysterious dark object at the bottom. It felt greasy to the touch and she immediately pulled it out and scowled back at her brother through the gap in the seats.
Lames,?Lauren screamed over the roar of the engines. That the hell is this??
Looks like lamb chop to me,?James said, as Kyle smiled and Rat burst out laughing.
Ttt not funny you know,?Lauren yelled. That was a beautiful, living animal.?
Beautiful with mint sauce and gravy,?James smirked.
As the aircraft left the ground, Lauren aimed the chop at her brothert head.
Tou just wait till that seat-belt light goes off, James. I'll gonna kick your arse.?Then she turned around and thumped Rat on the arm. Ttt not funny.?
James looked at Kerry, but got a disapproving look.
Areat start,?Kerry huffed. Tou and Lauren will probably be on punishment for fighting before we even arrive.?
James smirked at Kyle, who thought James was mean but couldn't help laughing.
Tou think shet angry now,?James whispered. Lust wait until she finds the chicken nugget hidden inside her swimming costume.?
EPILOGUE
RHIANNON JULES, a.k.a. JO, was one of twenty-three people brought to trial in connection with the Animal Freedom Armyt kidnapping of Nick Cobb. Following a three-week trial she was sentenced to eighteen years in prison. KENNET MARCUSSEN a.k.a. MARK, ADELAIDE KENT and VIV CARTER were each sentenced to twelve years in prison and JAY BUCKLE was sentenced to nine. Because of his youth and relatively slight role in the kidnapping and torture of Nick Cobb, TOM CARTER received a sentence of four years.
Subsequent police investigations into Animal Freedom Army members revealed deep-rooted links to the original target of the CHERUB mission, the Animal Freedom Militia. Several militia members were tried and convicted, including two men who received seven-year sentences for blinding Christine Pierce.
There have been no recent attacks by the AFM and police believe that the group has now disbanded.
RYAN QUINNt stormy relationship with Zebra Alliance leader MADELINE LAING led him to quit the group in September 2006. A few weeks later, Ryan launched a website and fundraising initiative for a new, non-violent, liberationist group called Zebra 06. It is believed that Ryant new outfit will closely resemble the original Zebra 84 group, with tightly focused campaigns run by a small but loyal group of activists.
Of the seventy-three BEAGLE PUPPIES rescued by the Zebra Alliance, four were destroyed by the vet because they were suffering from serious infections brought on by the unsanitary conditions at RIDGEWAY KENNELS.
The sixty-nine dogs who survived the clean-up process were distributed to sanctuaries and homes around the country. RIDGEWAY KENNELS closed down briefly before being sold to new owners, who have improved conditions and demolished the isolation shed where animals were bred for experimentation.
The original kennel owners were fined
In late 2006, MALAREK RESEARCH announced that it would be winding down its facility at Corbyn Copse over an eighteen-month period. After striking a lucrative deal with a property developer to turn the site into more than three hundred homes, a statement to Malarek shareholders said that it would commence construction of a new, state-of-the-art animal laboratory at an undisclosed location in East Asia.
The company said that: The new facility will enable Malarek Research to carry out vital scientific research in a lightly regulated, low wage environment, with the full support of the local government and a licence to run our own security force to protect our business from the ongoing threat of terrorism.?
NICK COBB survived, but the effects of drinking Cobb-brand sink and worktop cleaner caused irreversible damage to his digestive system. Following seven operations in the UK, Cobb flew to an exclusive private clinic in Switzerland to complete his recuperation.
Cobb Cleanse Inc eventually settled out of court with the three-year-old girl from Alabama. The exact amount of damages paid was not disclosed, but sources close to Cobb have described the settlement as An eight-figure sum?
July 28th 2006 marked DR TERENCE MCAFFERTYt last day as the chairman of CHERUB. With over half the population of campus holidaying at the summer hostel, he spent the morning writing up guidelines for Zara in his office before taking his usual lunchtime jog around campus.
Mac said he didn't want a leaving party, but he did call a few members of the senior staff into his office after lunch for a farewell drink. The following day, he set off on a four-week Caribbean cruise with his wife.
Mac expects to return to campus in September 2006, along with more than five hundred other retired CHERUB agents, to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the organisation founded by his father.