this instance, I expect Dr McAfferty will issue you with an alternative punishment, which you can expect to be a lot less pleasant than a few weeks in local authority care.
Lhen you arrive at the childrene home, your job is to check everyone out. Youte looking for a potential CHERUB recruit, which means a smart, physically fit kid. Family ties are a big no-no. Foreign language skills and identical twins will be looked upon very favourably. Ite all in the mission briefing.?
Zara leaned across her desk and handed James, Kyle and Gabrielle a photocopy of the standard briefing for recruitment missions.
Lood candidates can get shipped off to foster homes in no time,?Zara continued. To if you spot someone who looks the business, get on to me or one of the assistant mission controllers straight away and we抣l arrange to have the kid drugged and brought here to undertake the recruitment tests e
There was a gentle knock on Zarae open door.
Lohn,?Zara said, breaking into a smile. Lood to see It not the only mission controller who comes in on Sunday afternoons.?
James turned around and instantly recognised the silver-rimmed glasses and pale, bald head of John Jones. John had only just taken a job as a CHERUB mission controller, but James had worked with John the year before when he was still employed by MI5, the adult branch of British intelligence.
i thought I spotted James in here,?John said awkwardly. Houte not sending him out are you??
Ne got himself in another spot of bother,?Zara explained. Lac wants him to go on a recruitment mission, but It sure he抣l yield if youte got James pencilled in for something important.?
James?heart leapt at the prospect of escape.
John Jones nodded. Derhaps I could have a quick word, in confidence??
Zara looked at the kids. Torry,?she said. Lould you step out into the corridor for a jiffy??
As soon as James shut Zarae office door, Kyle glowered at him.
i cant believe youte gonna weasel your way out of this, James,?he said indignantly.
James folded his arms and broke into a smug grin.
It was ten minutes before Zara pulled her door open and the three kids filed back in. Lell, James,?Zara said. i just rang Dr McAfferty and youte off the hook, provided you accept the mission John is going to offer you at a briefing later this evening.?
To jammy,?Kyle whispered under his breath.
James couldnt help smiling.
i wouldnt look so satisfied if I was you,?John Jones said. Hou might decide yout prefer the recruitment mission when you see what Ite got lined up for you.?
5. ROPE
Eleven kids had started basic training three months earlier. Lauren stood to attention in the snow with the five others whot made it to the final checkpoint on their snowmobiles. Mr Large, the head instructor, was eyeballing her.
Can anybody here tell this young lady what polar bears do in the winter??he shouted.
A couple of kids grumbled a response: Nibernate.?
Thate right, Miss Thicko,?Large grinned. They dig a big hole under the ice and they drift off to snoozy land until the daffodils pop up in springtime. If yout bothered to study the training manual, yout also have seen that bears eat fish and live on the ice floes near the coast. Not out here, over a hundred kilometres inland. Is that understood??
Hes, sir,?Lauren said meekly.
Ind the radio. Why did you forget to switch on the encryption device??
i was cold and tired, and e Lauren saw Mr Largee eyes bulge out behind his snow goggles and realised she was giving the wrong answer. Torry, sir ?No excuse, sir,?she said sharply.
Mr Large shoved Lauren to the ground and plunged his size-fifteen boots into the snow on either side of her head.
Lhen I woke up this morning, Lauren Adams,?Large spat, Ly back hurt. It hurt the same way ite hurt every single morning since a nasty little girl hit me with a spade five months back. Can you remind me who it was that did that??
Le, sir??Lauren inquired innocently.
if It had my way, you would have been permanently excluded from CHERUB.?
Lauren had been surprised that Mr Large hadnt made training harder for her from day one. Now she had the horrible realisation that het saved up his revenge for the very end.
Ind so,?Mr Large said, To the ultimate test of courage that was mentioned in all of your mission briefings. Theree been a slight change of plan. The briefing should now read, Ultimate test of Laurene courage.?
Lauren felt a tear welling up behind her snow goggles as the icy ground chilled