Ultimate Justice Page B

went swimming. Shaun showed me how to float… when can we go again, Mr Pero?”
    â€œOh. I don’t know. That’s up to Mr Zookas. Perhaps if you all write him a nice thank you letter…”
    â€œOh we will.”
    â€œHow did Adnak save the boys?” asked Jalli of one of the leaders.
    â€œAt football. He was… what did Shaun call him?”
    â€œGoalkeeper?” suggested Jack.
    â€œYes. That’s it. He jumped right over and landed on his side but his hand stopped the ball. He was very quick.”
    â€œSo he didn’t go off anywhere?”
    â€œOnly when we all did at the beginning, to look around,” said Jeno. “But he wasn’t allowed upstairs in the house and had to keep on the paths like the rest of us.”
    â€œThen he came when the boat went hoot and we had our picnic,” added another.
    â€œHe kept all the rules,” confirmed Fran. “We all did except the papzi man. But he wasn’t there to hear Kloa tell us them.”
    â€œHow did he get there?” asked Jalli.
    â€œI expect he was dropped off round the back of the island to spy on us,” replied Adnak. “He could have clearly read the first rule. The stairs were properly barred with a danger warning.”
    â€œBut we kept all the rules and none of
us
got hurt,” explained a little girl dying to contribute to the conversation.
    â€œThat’s good. That’s very good,” said Jalli.
    â€œAre you Kakko’s mum?” asked Jess.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œShe’s very good at telling stories. She told us all about Gollocks and how she got to stay with the three furry people in the wood for ever.”
    â€œOh. You mean bears?”
    â€œYes. There was Daddy Bear,” said a little girl in a low voice, “and Mummy Bear…”
    â€œAnd Baby Bear!” squeaked the little girl.
    â€œWell, you have all had a wonderful time it seems. And now Kloa,” said Mr Pero, “I think the house-mother and her team have got something cooking. So perhaps it’s time to walk back to the centre.”
    They all walked back together.
    â€œYou had a good time?” asked Jalli of her daughter.
    â€œBrilliant, Mum. And you?”
    â€œI am pleased… Oh, we’ve had a quiet time visiting Mr Zookas in his great big villa and then had lunch at Paradise House.” Jalli was cross with herself for allowing herself to doubt her daughter. She resolved to be less doubting in future. The teenage girl in Paradise House was right: coming from a loving home makes a difference.
    Jack read his wife’s thoughts, “I bet she behaves twice as grown-up when we aren’t around. Away from us, our daughter is an adult…”
    â€œI know, but she doesn’t behave like that sometimes,” sighed Jalli.
    â€œMostly at home where she has always been the child.”
    â€œI guess that’s it. Perhaps we ought to trust her a bit more than we do.”
    ***
    That evening Mr Pero entertained them in his restaurant. It was good, he said, to sit with them and not have to concern himself with what was happening in the kitchen – but, of course, he did. But at the end of the meal he was satisfied. He had ordered the best for his guests and the kitchen had delivered. Of course he knew the panic that must have entered the hearts of the staff having to cook him, their greatest critic, the most complicated dish.
    â€œBy the way,” said Mr Pero, “apparently, that photographer is expected to make a full recovery. I got a message from his family. They are very grateful to you all for saving his life.”
    â€œLet’s hope he learned his lesson about spying,” said Jalli.
    â€œDoubt it. But he might have learned that you should obey the rules of the leader if you want to be safe. I don’t think he has much of a sense of moral values.”
    â€œYou never know,” said Jack. “People change don’t