Secret Army - Robert Muchamore Page 0,33

McAfferty said. ‘We must continue to train hard. Two more boys will arrive tomorrow and Group B will commence a full training programme on Monday.’

There was more cheering, apart from Mason who looked downcast because he’d have to move into the dormitory with the other little kids when his brother’s training began.

‘Now, everyone except Group A is dismissed. You have half an hour to go inside and have a break, then come down dressed and ready for Mr Takada’s combat class.’

Once Group B, the little kids and the staff had gone indoors McAfferty and Henderson faced a line-up of Paul, Rosie, Marc, PT, Joel and Luc.

‘Stand to attention,’ McAfferty shouted fiercely, and the six kids obeyed. ‘What happened upstairs last night was a disgrace. We can count our blessings that Captain Ramsgate didn’t see Luc trussed up in that shower and decide to shut down this entire unit on the spot. You should all be ashamed.’

Luc cleared his throat noisily. Henderson charged forward and shouted in his face. ‘Don’t you dare make a sound when the superintendent is speaking.’

‘Do you have something to say?’ McAfferty roared. ‘Spit it out then. Go on!’

‘Respectfully, madame,’ Luc said, with uncharacteristic humility. ‘I didn’t tie myself up.’

‘I’ve asked some of the other children,’ McAfferty said angrily. ‘It was concealed from me, but apparently it’s common knowledge that you’ve been bullying Paul quite nastily for some time. Not that it in any way makes what happened to you in the shower room acceptable. Is that clear?’

‘Yes, madame,’ Luc said sourly.

‘Cut that miserable bloody look off your face,’ Henderson screamed. ‘Because I can think of a million painful ways to change it if you don’t.’

‘You’re going to stand out here in the cold and think about what you’ve done to each other,’ McAfferty ordered. ‘You will not move. You will not eat, drink or take a toilet break. Meantime, Mr Henderson and I will be indoors discussing whatever futures you might have within this organisation.’

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Henderson picked up the ringing telephone on his desk. ‘Unicorn Tyre Repair,’ he answered.

‘Henderson, you sneaky little bastard,’ Air Vice Marshal Walker shouted. ‘Am I or am I not your superior officer?’

‘I respect your authority absolutely, sir,’ Henderson said.

‘Then why am I holding a telegram from the minister of economic warfare? After discussion at cabinet level we have decided to ask you to halt your review of operations for Espionage Research Unit B STOP We feel that the group must be allowed to complete training STOP An assessment of its value to be made solely based upon results of training STOP.’

Henderson sounded affronted. ‘Sir, I can assure you that I had nothing to do with that telegram.’

‘Piffle!’ Walker screamed. ‘It was an internal review in a secret department. Nobody at cabinet level could possibly know about this review unless you blabbed. I don’t know what strings you pulled, Henderson, but you’ve now made an enemy out of me. I am still your superior and I have the power to make your life miserable. And the same goes for that jumped-up Scottish typist who’s supposed to be in charge of your shambolic little unit.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that you feel this way, sir,’ Henderson said, struggling not to laugh. ‘Just out of curiosity, sir, you’ve been operational for six full months now. You’ve set up four training schools and have three hundred pen-pushers working in Baker Street, but am I right in believing that your rather impressive bureaucracy has yet to successfully send a single operative into occupied France?’

Henderson heard a rather odd gurgling sound on the other end of the line. ‘You have no career, Henderson,’ Walker screamed. ‘I’ll have you digging shit trenches in darkest Africa before I’m through with you.’

‘If we lose the war none of us will have careers,’ Henderson pointed out.

‘Maybe I can’t stop your unit, but give me the tiniest excuse and I’ll squash you, Henderson. Nobody goes behind my back to Whitehall and gets away with it, you jumped-up little grammar school oik.’

‘You’re upset with me, aren’t you, sir?’ Henderson said sarcastically. ‘Maybe you should take some deep breaths to calm your nerves.’

‘This is insubordination,’ Air Vice Marshal Walker raged. ‘I could have you brought up on a court martial for this.’

‘Actually we’re in different branches of the service,’ Henderson said. ‘If you wanted to court-martial me, you’d need to go through my naval commanding officer. Superintendent McAfferty is sitting directly opposite. Would you like me to put her on the line, sir?’

Henderson heard a