The Amazon Experiment by Deborah Abela

so animated. And then, a little more calmly, he said, ‘That Suave is pretty good.’
    She followed Linden’s gaze up the tree. Suave lay between two branches as if he was reclining on a deckchair, pointing his torch into the belly of the jet’s engine.
    Max smiled. Linden saved people’s lives as easily as most other kids rode bikes. No matter who she’d meet for the rest of her life, she knew Linden would be one of the best.
    And he was right, she admitted to herself, Suave was pretty good.
    Steinberger, on the other hand, was nestled in his Abseiler harness, clinging desperately to the nearest branch, handing Suave tools as he needed them.
    â€˜How do you think Steinberger’s going to like his first mission?’ Linden asked.
    â€˜It’s going to be a steep learning curve,’ Max grimaced.
    â€˜Hopefully one that won’t fall on him and kill him. Watch out!’ Linden grabbed Max as a wrench fell only metres from them. ‘Or us.’
    â€˜Sorry,’ Steinberger called down.
    Linden smiled slyly. ‘I bet on this mission he finally admits what he feels about Frond.’
    â€˜There’s no way! He’s been holding back for years.’
    â€˜We’ll see,’ Linden smiled. ‘How’s your mum’s wedding going?’
    Max was suddenly pulled from their mission smack bang into the middle of the freak show of life back at home. ‘It’s like this huge tornado has landed in our house and won’t go away. It’s always full of designers, cake makers and dress fitters and the phone has been ringing so much that anyminute now it’s going to self-combust from overuse.’
    â€˜So everything’s pretty normal, then?’
    Max laughed. ‘Yeah, I guess so.’
    Now that the initial impact of the crash had passed, a slowly increasing racket of animal and insect noise was firing up all around them. Max and Linden weren’t that fazed by the whistles, screeches, hisses and hoots, and when Linden noticed a giant moth land on his shirt, he gently picked it off and nestled it onto the bark of the tree.
    There was something far more dangerous to be worried about: Steinberger was starting to navigate his ungainly way down with his Abseiler.
    â€˜I think we better stand for this,’ Linden warned Max.
    They watched as he stood on the edge of the jet’s door, ready to abseil down. His shoulders lifted in a confidence-building breath, but just as he jumped, a giant butterfly flapped past his face, and his careful descent became a speedy slide all the way to the ground.
    â€˜Well done, Steinberger,’ Linden said proudly. ‘The Spyforce Gym Team’s going to be calling you up when they hear about this.’
    Steinberger gulped great chunks of air andsmiled when he realised he was still alive. ‘Oh, come now.’ He leant on a tree for support, but felt something strange. It was the spindly legs of a stick insect as it moved gingerly onto his fingers. He pulled his hand from the tree as if it was on fire and shook it vigorously, then tucked it safely into a pocket.
    Meanwhile, Suave had finished his work, packed his tool bag and made his way down with his Abseiler, landing firmly on the ground like a trapeze artist finishing a routine on the high wire.
    â€˜How does it look?’ Steinberger swished bugs from his face and brushed their crawling droves from his clothes.
    â€˜She’s too damaged to fly. I’m not sure if I can fix her, but I can give it a shot.’
    â€˜There’s no time.’ Steinberger looked at his watch. ‘We must get on with the mission immediately. How stable do you think she is?’
    â€˜After that last jolt, she’s settled pretty firmly into some solid branches. I’ve added some Abseiler rope for extra protection.’
    â€˜What about Sleek?’ Linden wasn’t sure leaving the sick pilot behind was a good idea. Even if the jet was stable,