One Shot Kill - Robert Muchamore Page 0,69
a feel for the place in darkness. But Marc’s punishment had to be dealt with first.
‘So what do I do?’ Henderson asked, wearing his best poker face.
It was just starting to get dark and as Marc and Henderson faced off, Luc, Paul, Sam, Rosie, Edith and Goldberg looked on with varying degrees of interest.
Espionage Research Unit B had twenty agents and Marc was the only one Henderson had formed a close bond with. But this was a double-edged sword, because while Marc hoped Henderson would go easy, there was a chance he’d do the opposite to avoid accusations of favouritism. And it definitely wasn’t a good idea being in trouble again so soon after sabotaging Luc’s rifle.
‘Cat got your tongue?’ Henderson asked curtly.
Marc gave a slight shrug and spoke submissively. ‘I know I did something wrong, sir. I’ll accept whatever punishment you give me.’
Henderson smiled. ‘I’m not going to give you a lecture on how you could have endangered our mission by being caught, or having transport problems. You knew the risks when you set off to see your girlfriend and you knew I’d punish you when you returned. But that holds no fear because you’re a tough little bugger. I expect you even calculated that I won’t punish you too severely one night before a critical mission, and might even forget what happened if the operation goes off well.’
Marc looked down into the undergrowth and didn’t speak. Every word Henderson said was true and it was a reminder never to underestimate the captain’s intelligence.
‘So I’m not going to punish you,’ Henderson said.
Marc knew better than to smile as he looked up. ‘I’m truly sorry, sir.’
‘You do that good-little-boy voice so well,’ Henderson said. He laughed, but kept the volume down because sound carried a long way in the forest and there was always a chance of a German patrol. ‘You’re not sorry. If you had another shot at seeing Jae, you’d do it in a heartbeat. But I didn’t say you’re not going to be punished, I said that I’m not the one who’ll punish you.’
Marc looked uneasy, but assumed this meant he’d be put through a tough programme of physical jerks by one of the instructors when – or if – he made it back to campus.
‘Luc,’ Henderson said. ‘Get over here.’
A little uneasy became a lot uneasy as Luc stepped forwards. ‘Sir?’ Luc asked.
‘Go to the nearest willow tree,’ Henderson began. ‘Break a switch off. One about the length of your arm and no thicker than your thumb. Bring it back here, then you can give Marc six of the best on bare buttocks.’
‘What!’ Marc gasped, as Luc cracked an evil smile.
Paul and Sam didn’t like Luc, but they smirked at Henderson’s cleverness: Marc was too tough to worry about a caning or a few hours’ physical training, but baring his arse and taking a thrashing off Luc in front of everyone would cause humiliation far greater than physical pain.
‘He’s evil,’ Marc told Henderson desperately, as Luc rushed towards the nearest willow. ‘You’re stronger than him. It’ll hurt more if you do it.’
Henderson raised one eyebrow and spoke firmly. ‘I’m giving you a direct order to take your punishment,’ he said. ‘If you disobey, I’ll have no choice but to hog-tie you until after tomorrow night’s raid, drag you back to Paris with us and then kick you out of my unit when you make it back to England.’
‘Bloody hell,’ Marc mumbled, and almost followed up with a childish it’s not fair.
Luc came out of the bushes with half a tree balanced between his arms. It was so ludicrously huge that Paul, Sam, Rosie and Edith couldn’t help laughing, even when Marc glowered at them.
‘How’s that thinner than your thumb?’ Henderson asked irritably.
Luc pointed to the tip. ‘It’s thin up this end.’
Even when Marc was the one in trouble, Henderson had no patience with Luc. He snatched the log from Luc’s hands and snapped off the largest branch. ‘Use that, you stupid boy.’
Marc gave Henderson a pleading OK here’s when you tell everyone you’re joking look. But this was no gag and he found himself leaning forward, hands on kneecaps and pale white bum on show. Luc had a massive grin on his face as he took a run up and swooshed the willow cane with all the force he could muster.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The raid on the bunker would involve secret agents, snipers, a dozen members of the Ghost resistance circuit and a squadron of USAF bombers. But