Max laughed.
‘Where’s Blue now?’
‘Toby and I went to the castle to find him, but he got away.’
‘You went after him?’ Linden went to sit up and winced.
‘I’ll tell you all about it later.’
‘Where is he now?’
‘Alex and Suave followed him down a chute that led to the ocean beneath his castle. And an internal escape platform. They think he got away in some kind of submarine.’
‘Hey, don’t hog her all to yourself!’ Toby stood at the door with a small white box. ‘I hope Max told you what kind of hero I am. Do you know how many times I saved her life while you were lying there?’
‘You remember Toby,’ Max said to Linden. ‘The superhero?’
‘Pleased to meet you.’ Toby helped himself to an open box of chocolates.
‘Sure, have some chocolates,’ Max said.
‘I’d hate for them to go to waste.’
‘What’s in the bag?’ Linden asked.
‘It’s a get-well gift, only it got a little flattened because I was stuck in the elevator with this really big guy who squashed me against the wall.’ Toby slipped a lopsided cake out of the bag. Scrawled in icing across the top of the cake were the words ‘Happy Birthday Todd’.
‘Todd?’ Linden asked.
‘It was the only one the shop had. Hip-hip …’
‘Hooray,’ Max answered.
‘Who said the celebrations could start without me?’ In both hands, Irene held a tallish object covered in material and tied at the top with a red ribbon.
‘I have a feeling whatever’s in that bag is going to taste a lot better than Toby’s mushed cake,’ Max said.
Irene swooped in and planted a sloppy kiss on Linden’s cheek. ‘I got here as fast as I could, but I had to make this first.’ She held out the gift.
Linden looked at Max, and they both undid the ribbon with their good hands. The material fell away from a triple-layered chocolate mousse cake made in the shape of his house in Mindawarra.
‘Ben gave me a photo,’ Irene said. ‘I thought you might be missing it after what happened.’
Linden stared at the house. ‘Finch said the best thing for my recovery would be rest, but I think it’s this.’
Irene laid the cake on a table that bridged across the bed.
‘May I?’ She held out her arms.
‘I’ve been hoping for one ever since I woke up,’ Linden barely whispered.
Irene hugged Linden, and he heard her gasped breaths in his ear. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered.
Irene straightened up. Blinked quickly, threw one hand on her hip and stabbed at the air with the other. ‘And if ever do anything like that again, you’ll officially not be my favourite person in the whole world. Got it?’
Linden nodded. ‘Got it.’
‘It’s about time you got back,’ Ben reached in and was about to give him one of his hugs until Eleanor held his arms. ‘He’s been through a lot. Maybe just a hello for now.’ She kissed Linden’s cheek. ‘Even though I agree, it’s about time you got back.’
‘They’re right.’ Steinberger’s face was lifted in every corner by a wide smile. ‘Welcome back.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘And I hate to break up this party but, Toby, I’m afraid you have to go. We’ve covered for you this far, but your parents are expecting you home from a physical fitness camp in the next hour. And Max? Mr Harrison would like to see you. Room 312.’
‘Did he say what he wanted?’
‘I’m afraid not.’
‘See you, Linden,’ Toby said. ‘Maybe next mission you could do some of the work.’
‘I wouldn’t want to take away from your hero status.’
‘No danger of that.’ Toby smiled and waved. ‘See you, fans. Who knows when you’ll have the lucky chance of meeting me again.’
Toby flicked his head and walked outside the room with Max.
‘See you, partner,’ Toby said. ‘We did okay.’
‘You were all right,’ Max said.
‘Who would have thought we’d work so well together when you never liked me at school.’
‘It was you who picked on me, remember?’ Max threw up her hands.
‘Didn’t mean I didn’t like you.’
Max frowned. ‘That’s what Linden said.’
‘Ah, Toby?’ Steinberger tapped his watch. ‘Sleek is ready.’
‘The Hyper Fast Invisible Jet?’
‘The Sleek Machine.’
‘That’s just as good. Can I help fly?’
Steinberger raised an eyebrow.
‘Worth a try. See you for our next mission, Max.’ He waved and walked with Steinberger down the corridor, his voice floating behind him. ‘You should have seen me, Steinberger, “Keep your hands where I can see them.” It was better than a movie.’
Max took a deep breath and walked into room 312.
Chief Harrison was sitting in the lounge chair of an empty patient room with a phone to his ear. He waved her in.
‘Yes Prime Minister, sir. Thank you, sir. Of course, sir. I’ll do it now.’ He folded the phone into his pocket.
‘It’s not every day you get a call from the PM to say spank you.’ Harrison pounded his fist into the arm of the chair. ‘Blast, blast, blast. No one’s in for any spanking, just some good solid thanking.’
‘You wanted to see me?’
Mr Harrison patted the bed beside him.
‘How’s Linden?’
‘He’s awake.’
Harrison’s shoulders softened. ‘Excellent,’ he said softly. ‘The Prime Minister wanted to thank us for finding the culprit behind the collapses. He was less thankful about the fact that we lost him.’
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was going to find Blue,’ Max said. ‘I thought I was doing the right thing, and then I thought we had him, and now I’ve lost him and who knows …’
Harrison held up his hand. His expression grew serious.
‘Agencies around the world are still on high alert to find him, but this time he’s exposed himself in a way that means, with the few places he can hide, he’ll be a virtual prisoner for the rest of his life.’ Harrison sighed. ‘I know you may find this hard to believe, Max, but I had great respect for Theodoran. Not for who he became but for who I once knew him to be. We were friends and colleagues, and losing that has always been a great sadness to me.’
He shook his head. ‘And now to your actions.’
Max looked down.
‘In the time I have known you, you have broken more rules than any other agent. Probably all my agents combined.’
‘Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. I’m trying, I really am, but I have this habit of –’
‘Of being a truly good person.’ Harrison’s eyes glistened. ‘You’re a natural at it. A person who won’t be stopped when they believe what they are doing is just. When there is someone who needs them. You have a good heart and good instincts. It’s wise to trust them both.’ He smiled. ‘It is truly a delight to know you, Max Remy.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ Max paused. ‘Will Spyforce be okay?’
‘Steinberger already has a team of architects and designers working with the heads of departments on the new plans for the Force. Even when I am long gone, when Steinberger, Frond and Quimby have retired and moved to the country to fish and play golf and write books, Spyforce will still be here. What we have lost is a building, but nothing will destroy the desire to make the world a just place – and that alone will mean Spyforce will outlive us all.’
‘And London?’
‘Master craftspeople and builders, historians and architects from all over the world are gathering now to rebuild the monuments to their former glory.’
‘You heard about the Time and Space Machine?’ Max asked.
Harrison nodded. ‘Destroyed by Blue. Ironic considering how badly he once wanted it. But I’d prefer that the Machine blocked Blue’s electric rays than got you. Now it’s tim
e for me to be one of the many who tell Linden how happy we are to have him back.’
In the corridor, Max and Chief Harrison watched Frond leave Linden’s room and slam headlong into Steinberger. They rubbed their heads, and when Steinberger tried to move out of Frond’s way, he accidentally stepped on her toe. She hopped and clutched her foot but lost her balance and pushed Steinberger into a vase of flowers on a hall table that crashed to the floor.
‘Sir, do you think it’s time this was sorted out?’ Max asked.
‘Way overdue, I would say,’ Harrison replied.
Frond’s hand flew to her cheeks, and she spilled apologies to Steinberger.
‘Ah, Dr Frond,’ Mr Harrison said. ‘Been visiting our little friend?’
‘Yes, sir.’ she smiled. ‘It’s a relief to know he’s going to be fine.’
‘And how are the plans for the new Plantorium going?’
‘Very well, thank you, sir. I’d better get back to the planning meeting. Lots to do.’ She nodded and turned briskly down the corridor.
The Administration Manager watched without breathing as Frond left.
‘Steinberger?’ Max said.
He stood unmoving. Unbreathing.
‘Steinberger!’
He gulped in a huge breath, as if he’d been trapped underwater. ‘Yes?’
Max crossed her arms. ‘It’s time you did something about this.’
‘About what?’
‘Your crush on Frond.’
Steinberger’s face blossomed red. ‘You know I like Dr Frond?’
‘I figured it out.’
He looked either side of him. ‘Who else knows?’ he whispered.
‘Oh, you know …’ Max shrugged. ‘Everyone.’
‘But how …’
‘Steinberger, I hate to say it,’ Harrison laid his hand on his shoulder, ‘but we have all known for quite some time.’
Max picked a white rose from the floor. ‘Now go after her, give her this and tell her you like her.’
‘I … I … I couldn’t,’ Steinberger stammered and gasped for breath. ‘What if she doesn’t feel the same way?’
‘Trust me,’ Harrison said. ‘She does.’
‘Really, sir?’
‘Yes, and we’re staying right here until you tell her.’ Max gave Steinberger a shove.
The Administration Manager brushed over his already perfect hair, straightened his already straightened suit and wiped his fingers against his teeth. He stared at Frond, who was at the security desk signing out.
He paused before turning back.
Max shook her head and pointed him the other way.
Steinberger obeyed with a pained look. He stumbled towards Dr Frond who, with her beehive hair, gentle smile and red rose glasses, was showing her security pass.
When Steinberger was behind her, he stopped. He turned to Max, looking like someone on a rollercoaster about to lose his lunch on a big dip. She gave him a thumbs up. He took a deep breath and tapped Dr Frond on the shoulder. She shrieked and dropped her pass. The two bent down simultaneously to pick it up and bumped heads again.
‘Oh, boy.’ Max was about to take charge when Steinberger took Frond’s hand and helped her up. He handed her the flower and began speaking. Frond’s face bloomed into a wide smile as she nodded her head.
Steinberger gave a loud whoop and Frond laughed. He kissed her lightly on the hand and spun away on his heel, his face awash with a smile that Max suspected went all the way to his toes.
‘Well done, Max. I’ve been wanting that to happen for years,’ Harrison said. ‘Now to visit Linden.’
Steinberger said goodbye to Frond and skipped towards Max.
‘She’d love to come to dinner with me,’ he staggered. ‘She’d love to.’ He shook his head. ‘If only I’d known sooner, I would have asked earlier. That makes me one lucky guy.’
‘If you ask me, that makes her one lucky girl.’
Steinberger blushed. Max slowly folded her arms around him.
‘What’s all this for?’ Steinberger asked.
‘It’s my new policy of making sure I hug all the good people I know.’
Steinberger smiled through teary eyes. ‘That’s a good policy.’
‘It’s taken me quite a few years to develop it, but I think I’ll stick with it.’ Max paused. ‘I’ve also worked out something else. It’s okay to let people help you, instead of wanting to be so independent all the time. It doesn’t make you weak. Sometimes people just … like you.’
‘Sounds very wise to me.’ Steinberger grinned.
On a fur-covered chair, surrounded by the cool blue glow of his new home, sat Blue. He sat before a chessboard wearing a large bearskin coat, raccoon-skin hat, mufflers and gloves.
He frowned and rubbed his bandaged hand against his chin. After several seconds he smiled, reached across and moved his knight forward two spaces and once to the left.
‘See what you can do with that?’
Blue sat back, the smug look he had perfected for years melted across his face. Opposite was an empty chair. He waited for the computer-operated board to light up, indicating its next move.
Outside the sea rose and fell in long slow swells. Dotted along the horizon were icebergs, shaped not unlike his new home, some as tall as buildings, bathed in the glow of perpetual Arctic summer daylight.
The Hyper Fast Invisible Jet hovered in the air, the wind from the engines stirring the dusty ground into a tornadoed flurry while making a slow and gentle landing.
‘Thanks, Sleek.’ Ben unbuckled himself from his seat. ‘Smooth as ever.’
‘Did we make better time than before?’ Eleanor asked.
‘Twenty-six minutes London to Mindawarra.’ Linden checked his watch. ‘I think that’s the best you’ve ever done, Sleek.’
‘Why have we stopped here?’ Max looked out the window to see acres of wheat fields around them and an old falling-down shed.
‘This way we make sure we’re not seen arriving out of nowhere,’ Ben answered.
‘You live on a farm in the middle of nowhere. Who’s going to see you?’
‘You never know.’ Eleanor waved a finger. ‘Some days it’s quiet as a church, next day everyone decides it’s time for a visit.’
The four spies stepped down the hatch. Ben pushed it closed with a loud click before slamming twice on the invisible body of the jet. They waved to an invisible cockpit and moved away. The engine revved, wind bustled against them and the sound of the jet lifted beside them before it sped away in a fraction of a second.
‘Eleanor, give me a hand will you?’ Ben and Eleanor struggled to open the barn doors. They creaked like a temper tantrum before finally lurching open. ‘Jump in everyone.’
‘Will it work?’ Max asked.
‘Sure it will.’
Inside the barn sat what looked like a car plucked from early last century. It was long and pink with white striping running along the body and ending in two wingtips at the back.
Max looked in through the window. ‘It’s packed with camping gear.’
‘Just in case we run into anyone we know.’ Ben grabbed hold of the driver’s door with two hands and gave it three hard tugs before it opened. ‘I would have put the gear in the boot, but I haven’t been able to get that open for years.’
‘That surprises me.’ Max rolled her eyes and climbed in the car with the others. ‘Maybe this isn’t making any sense because I’m tired and just need a good long sleep.’
‘Maybe,’ Linden smiled and bounced on the seat beside her. ‘Still has good spring in the seats.’
Ben turned over the engine. ‘Oh, she’ll be going long after we’re all gone.’
Max wound down the window, which got stuck half-way. She took a long deep breath. ‘Smells good.’
She spotted Ben and Eleanor’s house in the distance. ‘Someone’s at your house.’
Eleanor squinted. ‘Looks like everyone has decided it’s time for a visit.’
‘Lucky we look l
ike we’ve just come back from camping.’ Ben winked at Eleanor.
‘There’s Mum and Linden’s dad and Francis.’ Max frowned. ‘And Ralph and Larry wearing a suit.’
‘Maybe it’s a special occasion,’ Linden said, looking suspiciously innocent.
‘There’s Geraldine and her chickens,’ Max said. ‘No one even knew what time we were coming home.’
Ben pulled up in front of the house. ‘There’s nothing like a spot of camping to make you feel refreshed,’ he boomed.
Max opened her door and was met by her mother’s overly energetic hug.
‘I missed you so much, Max.’
‘It was only a few days.’
‘I know.’ She wiped her eyes. ‘But this time I really felt it. What happened to your hand?’
‘Hurt it chopping wood for the fire. It’s nothing.’ Max’s eyes narrowed. ‘I thought you were on tour with a new show.’
Her mother’s eyes shifted towards Ben and Eleanor. ‘I fudged the truth a little.’
Linden’s dad threw his arms around his son. ‘And your arm?’
‘I slipped on a mossy rock trying to fish,’ Linden said. ‘Max tried to stop me going there, but I wouldn’t listen.’ He shot her a quick look. ‘Lucky we weren’t too far from the nearest town, and the doctors there had it sorted in lightning speed.’
‘Thanks for trying at least, Max.’
‘No problem, Mr Franklin.’
‘That makes me sound like an old man. Please, call me Harry.’
Max offered Francis a cheeky smile. ‘How was your trip to America?’
‘It was very fruitful,’ he smiled. ‘I’ll tell you all about it.’
‘But first, we’ve got something for you.’ Max’s mum lifted a cloth off the karaoke machine and looked at the animals. ‘Ready everyone?’
‘I think my mum’s lost it,’ Max whispered to Linden.
The karaoke machine launched into the beginnings of ‘Happy Birthday’, which Larry snorted along to in full force, accompanied by the backup singing of Ralph, Geraldine and her chicks positioned next to Larry’s homemade heart.
‘Happy birthday, Max!’ the humans shouted.
‘But it’s not until tomorrow,’ Max said.
Her mother brushed away her fringe. ‘Turning thirteen deserves a whole weekend of partying at least.’
The Final Curtain Page 14