Secret Army by Robert Muchamore Read Free Book Online Page B

next to Troy?’
    ‘You haven’t officially joined yet,’ Paul said to Troy. ‘I guess Mason can stay there, for tonight at least.’
    ‘I am joining,’ Troy said. ‘This is a billion times better than the last place we were at. I don’t mind danger or tough training, as long as people treat you decently.’
    As Paul stepped into the corridor he saw Mr Takada and jolted with shock. Takada was barely taller than Troy, but his angular face and greased-back hair made him look sinister. He wore army trousers, round glasses and a white vest hugging a broad hairless chest.
    Takada’s training programme was complicated by the fact that he spoke Japanese and a stilted version of English, but not a word of French, which was the native language of most trainees.
    ‘You are the new arrivals,’ Takada said, before giving a little bow. ‘You are welcome.’
    Mason was better at English than his older brother. ‘We’re glad to be here,’ he replied.
    ‘I come from Japan,’ Takada said. ‘I can train you in many special techniques. My training is hard, but I accommodate you. I will be fair if you not shirk.’
    Mason looked up at his brother and spoke in French. ‘Did you understand all that?’
    ‘I got the gist,’ Troy said, before speaking directly to Takada in English. ‘I look forward to working hard for you, sir.’
    Takada smiled and bowed again, but as Paul led the boys away Takada’s tone radically altered.
    ‘Paul stay ,’ Takada said firmly. ‘You two await him in classroom B.’
    Paul looked warily at Takada as Troy and Mason disappeared into the classroom.
    ‘How is your ankle? Better I think?’
    ‘Not too bad,’ Paul said, as he lifted his left leg off the ground and grimaced as he flexed his foot up and down. ‘It’s improving. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back in training early next week.’
    ‘I see,’ Takada said. ‘Because I feel you greatly exaggerate your injury.’
    ‘I haven’t,’ Paul squirmed, as his voice rose several octaves. ‘Did Luc tell you that? Because you know he doesn’t like me. He’s just stirring up trouble.’
    Takada tapped two fingers on his glasses. ‘With my own eyes!’ he said angrily. ‘I saw you with Mrs Henderson, racing around the garden collecting food for her spiders. You ran very well.’
    ‘Oh,’ Paul said, as his jaw dropped. ‘The thing is, I get twinges. It comes and goes.’
    Takada smiled. ‘You will resume training tomorrow with the others and I’ll report your mischief to Superintendent McAfferty.’
    ‘Yes, sir,’ Paul said curtly. He didn’t dare smile, but McAfferty was a softie when it came to discipline. He reckoned he’d get away with a stiff lecture on taking responsibility and working as a team.
    ‘And rather than always doing your combat training with Marc, you’ll be working with Luc for tomorrow’s session.’
    Paul spluttered with shock. ‘But Luc’s enormous , sir, and he doesn’t like me. He’ll squish me like a bug!’
    Takada raised one eyebrow mischievously. ‘Trainees must not lie to me,’ he stated. ‘And what’s that English saying? Whatever doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger.’
    ‘Please be reasonable, sir,’ Paul begged. ‘I’ll run laps, or scrub the corridors. But I’m skinny! I mean, have you seen the size of Luc’s muscles?’
    ‘Oh yes,’ Takada nodded. ‘He’s very much stronger than you are. But you lied your way out of two days’ training and you’ll repay dishonour with pain and sweat!’

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Marc often dreamed about the fall of France. Bombs and bodies flashed through his mind’s eye, but that night stirred fresh memories. A tyre yard had caught fire while he’d been staying in Paris six months earlier. His sore throat and the rubber seal on his oxygen mask triggered the memory of acrid smoke and he kept waking up, clutching his throat and gasping for air.
    ‘You need to calm down,’ the ward sister told him. ‘You’re safe here.’
    But sleep