Max was totally covered by toffee caramel as the hundreds and thousands made their way toward her.
‘It was the only way I could get close enough to you to try and save you. Ahhchoo!’ he explained.
‘Wait until I get off here. Ahhchoo!’ Max warned, the sprinkling process falling on her like coloured snow.
‘Do you want to be freed or not?’ Linden asked, a little of the evil-inducing ingredient making him unusually impatient with Max.
Ella noticed the blades of the slicer getting closer and closer.
‘Maybe you two should talk about this later?’ she suggested anxiously.
‘Ahhchoo! Ahhchoo! Ahhchoo!’ Kronch sneezed as he stumbled into a bag of flour which powdered over everyone.
‘No. I’d like to talk about it now,’ Max insisted, before sneezing again.
‘Mmmm mmmm mmm,’ Blue mmmed again from inside his biscuit mix bag.
‘Max!’ Alex shouted.
‘And another thing —’ Max began.
‘Max! The blades!’ Ella cried.
Max looked up and saw shafts of glisten-ing steel fall just centimetres in front of her face. The next slice was meant for her. Just before they fell, Linden lunged forward and grabbing her arms, dragged her off the conveyor belt and onto the floor.
‘Ahhchoo!’ Max and Linden sneezed together.
Ella and Alex breathed a deep sigh as the Moons of Mars confectionery machine continued to whir on as if nothing had happened.
Max, Linden and Ella stood in front of Harrison’s desk holding fresh tropical juices Steinberger had made them. Actually, Ella and Linden were holding theirs while Max’s drink perched on a high stool near her face with a long straw in it because the Moons of Mars toffee mixture made it hard for her to move.
They each sipped and watched as Steinberger tried to help Harrison unhook his sling from a rack of fishing lines he’d become entangled in. He was wearing a sling because of an accident he’d had that morning, during a meeting with the Brazilian Foreign Minister, when he was reaching for a rare and unique garden gnome that was perched a little too high on the mantelpiece. He stretched up to the gnome, grabbed its foot, but unable to get a proper hold, stumbled backwards. He only just managed to catch the gnome with one hand as the other became twisted behind a marble carving of himself that was given to him as a present from the people of the Congo — when it used to be known as the Congo.
If Max could have moved or made any facial gestures, she’d have firmly folded her arms across her chest and be scowling at having spent the entire journey from Blue’s Foods to Spyforce bent into Sleek’s sidecar, while Linden and Ella chatted incessantly like a pair of lorikeets at sunset. They were all gush and froth as they talked about the mission and what was even more sucky, was Linden was saying some of it in French which he’d started studying at school after Ella had told him she lived in Paris as a kid.
Blah blah blah, they went on and on. Ooh-la-la and big deal, thought Max. She was still angry with Linden for lying to her during the mission and making her feel like he’d turned his back on her. She’d never felt so alone in her whole life and here he was laughing and talking to Ella like it was nothing.
Finally, after a tricky struggle, Steinberger freed Harrison from the fishing rods and left him to make his way to his seat behind his desk.
‘Team,’ he said importantly, straightening his tie with his one good arm. ‘Well bum … I mean, well done. On behalf of Spyforce I’d like to thank you for helping uncover the evil plans of Blue. Linden, the drink sample you brought back for us to test was put through the SAM and came up exactly as we thought. The special forces have been sent in and we hope to have Blue behind bars where he belongs.’
Ella sent Linden a warm smile that Max would have called ‘soppy’ if anyone had asked her. Which they didn’t.
‘Awesome! Aaachoo!’ Linden still had traces of sneeze powder in his system.
‘Oh, and Max?’
Max’s heart tripped over itself.
‘Yes?’ she asked eagerly, hoping perhaps he had something special to tell her.
‘Sorry there isn’t time to let you get cleaned up but Sleek has got the plane fired up and you know how he is about keeping to schedules.’
‘That’s okay,’ she lied, thinking her journey home couldn’t be any more uncomfortable. She was still wearing that stupid pink dress while the other two stood around in their own clothes.
‘Spyforce is so proud of you three and would like to take this opportunity to officially declare Mission Blue’s Foods a success.’
Harrison held his juice aloft as Steinberger pressed the play button on the tape machine and a chorus of celebration music sounded throughout the room. He then burst into an impulsive and hearty round of applause. Ella and Linden clinked their glasses together while Max sucked on her straw and felt an itch on her nose start up.
But that wasn’t the only thing bugging her.
‘Mr Harrison? Where’s Alex?’
‘Alex doesn’t like to hang around for the festivities. Neverhas. She’s an elusiveone, our Alex.’
Max tried not to sound obvious. ‘Did she leave any messages?’
‘Once a mission is finished, she just takes off. She’s not too fond of goodbyes.’
Max was disappointed. She knew she and Alex hadn’t got along too well but she was sure they’d be brilliant friends if they got to hang out a little more.
For now, though, there was something else she had to tell Harrison.
‘There’s one more thing I need to tell you about the mission, sir. One of your Spyforce officers is a double agent.’
Linden and Ella looked at each other.
Harrison’s face clouded over.
‘Tell us what you blow … That is, what you know.’
Max knew what she had to say was going to shock everyone and she could hardly wait to tell them.
‘It’s Dretch.’
Steinberger frowned.
‘I thought we’d been through this already, Max. Dretch is one of our most loyal members and has been with the Force since its inception.’
Harrison took the accusation very seriously.
‘Let her speak, Steinberger. Tell us how you know this, Max.’ Harrison put his sling on the table and prepared to listen.
‘When we arrived he made it clear he didn’t like us and warned us we may not make it out of Spyforce alive. And his cat, Delilah, is his spy. Turning up to gather information just when it is needed. Dretch always flinched when he heard your name and he snuck into the lab and tampered with my laser so that it failed during the mission.’
Steinberger and Harrison exchanged a solemn look.
‘Steinberger. Ask Dretch to come in, will you?’
The tall lanky man did as he was asked. Max stood by and contemplated how proud Harrison would be of her now that the mission was completed and she was about to uncover a double agent.
‘You have made a very grave accusation, Max.’ Harrison’s voice was low and measured. ‘Let’s hope you’re not jumping to conclusions.’
‘I have no doubt, sir.’ But hearing the tone of Harrison’s voice made Max’s certainty falter.
Within a few short minutes Dretch was standing among them.
‘Max tells us you might be a double agent,’ Harrison got straight to the point.
Dretch spun his head so fast towards Max she stepped back.
‘Did she now?’ His voice was full of anger. ‘And what makes her think that?’
‘Max? I think it’s best if it comes from you at this point,’ Harrison invited.
Max swallowed to moisten her suddenly dry throat.
‘Every time Harrison’s name was mentioned to you, you’d flinch, almost as if in disgust.’
Dretch dug his hands deep into his pockets.
‘I never knew it was a crime to feel loyalty towards someone who is one of the most clever and brave men I know. We’ve worked on many missions together and Harrison always thought about o
thers before himself. It will take my whole life to repay the kindness this man has shown.’
Max swallowed again.
‘And what about you sneaking into the lab just before we got our packs and my laser not working when I tried to use it during the mission?’
Dretch fixed her with a iron stare.
‘Quimby asked me to fix some equipment of hers. She was present every second I was there and can vouch for everything I did.’
‘And what about the threat you made to me about not making it out of here alive?’
Max suddenly became more confident, remembering the venom in his deadly warning.
‘If you must know I think it’s dangerous to have kids working on missions when they aren’t trained and can’t make proper judgments. I was just letting you know that what you were stepping into wasn’t fairyland but real and dangerous work.’
If Harrison wasn’t present, Max was convinced Dretch would have jumped across the room and flattened her toffee-coated body into a million sweetened pieces.
‘I’m sorry for the interruption, Dretch. You can go back to what you were doing.’
Max felt about five centimetres tall.
Harrison fixed her with a stern eye.
‘Max, what just happened must never happen again. It’s pleasing to see you are keeping so aware of your surroundings, but a good agent is sure of all their facts. Dretch is as fine and loyal an agent as any I’ve met. In fact during our last mission together, he saved my wife … I mean, life.’
A tear pricked the corner of Max’s eye as she realised she’d gone from hero to sugar-coated idiot in the space of about ten minutes.
Beep, beep, beep, beep!
Steinberger looked at his beeper.
‘It’s Sleek. He’s got the jet ready for Australia and another pilot to take you home, Ella.’
Steinberger saw Ella’s face fall.
‘But maybe you could walk us to the VART and we can say goodbye together?’
Ella smiled. ‘I’d like that.’
Harrison beamed at all three of them. ‘Your mission is done and I’m proud of all three of you. Until bed time. We’ll be in fudge,’ he said before wincing and correcting himself. ‘I mean, until next time. We’ll be in touch. Au revoir.’
On their way to the terracotta ride, Max lagged a little behind the others as she struggled with her extra sweet, toughened layer and her sadness at disappointing Harrison. As she turned a corner towards the elevator, she ran headlong into the sallow features of Dretch.
‘I told you to keep out of my way,’ he sneered.
‘I … I …’ Max stammered as the others moved ahead.
‘I’m not interested in excuses and if you ever try to muddy my name again, you might just find yourself adrift in some gooey mess you won’t be able to get out of so easily. Just stay away from me, got that?’
He disappeared as Steinberger reached the elevator and turned around to see how she was doing.
‘You okay, Max?’ he asked jovially.
‘Sure,’ she answered, again feeling the icy chill customary with meeting Dretch. She’d really earned his anger in Harrison’s office and now he hated her even more, but there was something in her that knew he wasn’t telling the whole truth and she was sure going to keep an eye on him next time they met.
After a brief terracotta ride they arrived at the VART, where Sleek had the jet ready and waiting.
Steinberger walked a little slower to stay with a slow-moving Max. He thanked them a million times for their work and recounted over and over again how successful the mission was and what it meant for the world. He told her not to feel bad about Dretch. He was a good guy, not the easiest to get along with, but he wouldn’t hold any grudges about her mistaken conclusion. He spoke so fast it was a wonder his lips could keep up. What he said made her feel better, but suddenly Max wasn’t worried about his lips or what he was saying or about Dretch, she was more concerned about trying to overhear what Linden and Ella were whispering about in front of her.
She missed most of it and what she did hear was all in French.
Why did she spend most of her life looking silly and feeling like she was the odd one out?
When they reached the end of the ramp, it was time for Ella and Steinberger to say goodbye. Sleek, as usual, had the invisible jet prepared for take-off.
‘There’s a jet there?’ Ella exclaimed.
‘Sure is, and you should see inside,’ Linden answered.
The engine sounded out an eager jet thrust.
‘Maybe next time.’ Steinberger was well aware of Sleek’s need to keep schedules.
‘Max?’ Linden asked, hoping she’d get the hint and move away so he could say a quiet goodbye to Ella.
‘Yes?’ she said innocently, knowing full well what he wanted.
‘Maybe you should get on the jet first. Make yourself comfortable,’ he suggested.
‘No, I’ll wait for you,’ she offered kindly, not wanting to leave them alone for a second.
All four of them stood in heavy silence as Sleek climbed out of the cabin.
‘Everyone ready?’ he asked. Then seeing Max’s sweetened layer, he broke off a piece of toffee and plonked it in his mouth. ‘We leave in one minute.’
Linden and Ella tried to cover their smiles as Sleek climbed back in the jet.
‘Bye, Ella. I’ll call you when we get back to Australia.’
‘That’d be great. Bye, Max.’
‘Bye,’ Max mumbled.
Steinberger hurried them along. ‘Sleek has been known to leave without any passengers,’ he warned.
‘Bye, Steinberger. Thanks. For everything,’ Max managed through toffee-stiff lips.
Max followed Linden as he climbed into the jet and found his seat. As they buckled up, the hatch closed and they waved goodbye.
‘We did it,’ said Linden warmly.
Max tried to smile.
‘Yeah we did,’ she said feeling a little better as the invisible jet taxied out of the VART and carried them away from their first successfully completed Spyforce mission.
‘When were you working for Spyforce?’ Max and Linden had arrived back on the farm and after a very long bath that dissolved her toffee coating Max was now sitting at the table facing Ben and Eleanor over banana sandwiches and orange juice.
‘Most of the time we were in London,’ Ben said matter-of-factly, taking another bite out of his sandwich. ‘In fact, once you’ve been inducted you’re members for life, but I guess Harrison told you that. They’ve got great fringe benefit offers too.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘They’re a secret organisation, Max, you know that. We can’t tell anyone.’
‘Even me?’
‘Even you,’ Ben said, taking a slurp of juice as if he was telling just another everyday story.
Eleanor leant across and held Max’s hand. ‘We knew you’d been recruited and that you’d gone to London to be inducted into the Force. We got an email from Spyforce before you left. They are a world class operation and take very good care of their spies. It’s a good career. As long as in your everyday life you act just like any other kid. We’re so happy for you.’
This was so bizarre. Ben and Eleanor not only knew about their London mission — minus the details, of course — they were once spies themselves. A few times they were involved in missions, but mostly they worked in the labs.
‘Does Mum know?’
‘No,’ Eleanor answered gently, trying to soothe Max’s shock.
‘Another sandwich?’ Ben asked, reaching for his third.
‘No thanks. I think I might just go to bed.’
It was the last day of Max’s visit to the farm and she was waiting in the front room for her mother. She hadn’t seen much of Linden over the last few days because he was busy helping his father. And also because she was doing her best to avoid him since she was still upset with him for lying to her during the mission.
And for liking Ella more
than her.
Trouble was, as she rested her chin on her arms and stared out the window, feeling small in the long, sinking lounge, she missed Linden and was feeling sad that he hadn’t come to say goodbye. She heard the back door slam and Eleanor’s voice drifted down the hall.
‘She’s in the lounge room packed and ready to break our hearts by leaving us to our quiet lives again.’
There was a short moment where Max heard nothing before she turned to see Linden standing next to her.
‘How do you do that?’ she asked.
‘Do what?’ he frowned.
‘Just turn up behind people?’
‘Not sure. I guess it’s the angelic side of me kicking in before its time.’
Max didn’t smile.
‘Can I sit with you until your mum comes?’ he asked.
She moved to the end of the lounge, leaving him heaps of room to sit down, then she stared at the carpet in front of her.
There was this annoying silence that sat between them like a stranger.
‘Ella called.’
Just the name made Max clench her fingers.
‘She said Blue’s Foods is being shut down and there are TV reports that a big Japanese firm is going to buy the company and keep making all the favourite foods as they were originally.’
Max pretended not to be too interested but was hanging off Linden’s every word.
‘By the time the police reached the factory,’ he continued, ‘all the evidence had been destroyed and Blue had disappeared leaving no trace that he was even connected to the company except for his name.’
‘They didn’t lock him up?’
‘Nope. Couldn’t find a trace of him.’
‘That means it won’t be long until he plans another scheme.’
‘Yeah,’ Linden agreed, happy Max had started to talk to him.
There was another one of those long silences. Max had so much she wanted to say to Linden but nothing would come out.
‘Max,’ Linden began uneasily. ‘I know you’re still mad at me for what I did at Blue’s factory, but I was only doing what I thought best.’
Max didn’t budge. Sometimes she could be so stubborn Linden was sure if he looked up the word in the dictionary it would say, ‘See Max’.
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