saw you at my party I’d be in as much trouble as you.’
15. TOWN
James swore he’d never drink again. It was a rough night. Throwing up, head floating, dry mouth and a throat like sandpaper. Lucky it was only three steps to the bathroom. It was 3 a.m. before James settled into an uneasy sleep. He kept jerking awake from weird dreams where everything was spinning.
‘James,’ Kyle shouted.
It was 7 a.m., Saturday morning.
‘Wake up, man.’
James sat up in bed rubbing his eyes.
‘You got drunk, didn’t you?’ Kyle said.
‘Ugh.’
‘This room stinks of beer.’
‘I feel like I’m dying,’ James groaned. ‘How did you get in here?’
‘Picked the lock. I did knock first but you didn’t answer.’
‘Can’t you leave me to die?’
‘James, shut up and listen. There’s a mission in London tonight. Nine of us are spending the day up there hanging out. You’re not supposed to come, but it’s all been thrown together at the last minute and it’s a Dennis King production so we can smuggle you on to the train.’
‘What’s a Dennis King production?’
‘He’s one of the mission controllers,’ Kyle explained. ‘He’s a sweet old guy, but he’s a bit doddery and he’ll never notice an extra kid tagging along.’
‘I’ve got a hangover,’ James said. ‘And I’m sick of always getting in trouble.’
‘Don’t you want to visit your sister then?’
‘How will we do that?’ James asked, excitedly kicking off his duvet and swinging out of bed. ‘Ron won’t let me in the flat.’
‘If Lauren’s home, we’ll find a way. I wanted to help you visit her when we were at Nebraska House, but I couldn’t without breaking my cover. This is your only chance. Once you start basic training, you’re cut off from everything for three months.’
‘When are we leaving?’ James asked.
‘Twenty minutes. Have a quick shower, put on civilian clothes and get your butt downstairs.’
*
It was weird being back. London seemed dirty and noisy, even though James had lived here until a few weeks before. The kids all split up when they arrived at King’s Cross station. A bunch of girls were going shopping in Oxford Street. Most boys in the group were going to Namco Station, a big amusement arcade opposite Big Ben. They all had to meet outside Edgware Underground at 6 p.m. for the mission. Bruce wanted to go to Namco, but decided to stay with Kyle and James once he heard what they were doing.
‘You’ll get bored,’ Kyle said. ‘We’re just going to James’ old neighbourhood to visit his little sister.’
‘You might need me for protection,’ Bruce said.
Kyle laughed. ‘Protection from what, Bruce? Come if you want. Just don’t whine all day if you get bored.’
Bruce had never been on the Underground before. He looked at the map and counted how many stops like a five-year-old. Ron lived behind Kentish Town station, a couple of streets from the estate where James used to live with his mum.
‘What do we do?’ James asked when they reached the flat.
‘Ring the doorbell,’ Bruce said.
‘Ron won’t let me in, dummy,’ James said. ‘I wouldn’t need you guys if I could just ring the doorbell and get in.’
‘Oh,’ Bruce said. ‘I could kick the door down.’
‘Like his stepdad isn’t going to notice somebody kicking his front door down,’ Kyle said sarcastically. ‘What’s your sister likely to be doing if she’s inside?’
‘Either drawing in her room or watching TV,’ James said.
‘And Ron?’
‘He’ll have been out drinking last night. Probably won’t be out of bed for another hour.’
Kyle stuck his lock gun in the keyhole. He turned the lock but the door wouldn’t budge.
‘Bolt on the inside,’ Kyle explained.
‘Ring the doorbell,’ Bruce said again.
‘We can’t. I just told you,’ James said.
‘You and Kyle hide. I’ll ring the doorbell,’ Bruce said. ‘You said your stepdad is probably asleep, so I bet your sister answers. If she
15. TOWN
James swore he’d never drink again. It was a rough night. Throwing up, head floating, dry mouth and a throat like sandpaper. Lucky it was only three steps to the bathroom. It was 3 a.m. before James settled into an uneasy sleep. He kept jerking awake from weird dreams where everything was spinning.
‘James,’ Kyle shouted.
It was 7 a.m., Saturday morning.
‘Wake up, man.’
James sat up in bed rubbing his eyes.
‘You got drunk, didn’t you?’ Kyle said.
‘Ugh.’
‘This room stinks of beer.’
‘I feel like I’m dying,’ James groaned. ‘How did you get in here?’
‘Picked the lock. I did knock first but you didn’t answer.’
‘Can’t you leave me to die?’
‘James, shut up and listen. There’s a mission in London tonight. Nine of us are spending the day up there hanging out. You’re not supposed to come, but it’s all been thrown together at the last minute and it’s a Dennis King production so we can smuggle you on to the train.’
‘What’s a Dennis King production?’
‘He’s one of the mission controllers,’ Kyle explained. ‘He’s a sweet old guy, but he’s a bit doddery and he’ll never notice an extra kid tagging along.’
‘I’ve got a hangover,’ James said. ‘And I’m sick of always getting in trouble.’
‘Don’t you want to visit your sister then?’
‘How will we do that?’ James asked, excitedly kicking off his duvet and swinging out of bed. ‘Ron won’t let me in the flat.’
‘If Lauren’s home, we’ll find a way. I wanted to help you visit her when we were at Nebraska House, but I couldn’t without breaking my cover. This is your only chance. Once you start basic training, you’re cut off from everything for three months.’
‘When are we leaving?’ James asked.
‘Twenty minutes. Have a quick shower, put on civilian clothes and get your butt downstairs.’
*
It was weird being back. London seemed dirty and noisy, even though James had lived here until a few weeks before. The kids all split up when they arrived at King’s Cross station. A bunch of girls were going shopping in Oxford Street. Most boys in the group were going to Namco Station, a big amusement arcade opposite Big Ben. They all had to meet outside Edgware Underground at 6 p.m. for the mission. Bruce wanted to go to Namco, but decided to stay with Kyle and James once he heard what they were doing.
‘You’ll get bored,’ Kyle said. ‘We’re just going to James’ old neighbourhood to visit his little sister.’
‘You might need me for protection,’ Bruce said.
Kyle laughed. ‘Protection from what, Bruce? Come if you want. Just don’t whine all day if you get bored.’
Bruce had never been on the Underground before. He looked at the map and counted how many stops like a five-year-old. Ron lived behind Kentish Town station, a couple of streets from the estate where James used to live with his mum.
‘What do we do?’ James asked when they reached the flat.
‘Ring the doorbell,’ Bruce said.
‘Ron won’t let me in, dummy,’ James said. ‘I wouldn’t need you guys if I could just ring the doorbell and get in.’
‘Oh,’ Bruce said. ‘I could kick the door down.’
‘Like his stepdad isn’t going to notice somebody kicking his front door down,’ Kyle said sarcastically. ‘What’s your sister likely to be doing if she’s inside?’
‘Either drawing in her room or watching TV,’ James said.
‘And Ron?’
‘He’ll have been out drinking last night. Probably won’t be out of bed for another hour.’
Kyle stuck his lock gun in the keyhole. He turned the lock but the door wouldn’t budge.
‘Bolt on the inside,’ Kyle explained.
‘Ring the doorbell,’ Bruce said again.
‘We can’t. I just told you,’ James said.
‘You and Kyle hide. I’ll ring the doorbell,’ Bruce said. ‘You said your stepdad is probably asleep, so I bet your sister answers. If she
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