The Covert Academy by Peter Laurent Read Free Book Online

the Nyctalopia,’ he said and stretched out a hand to shake. ‘I’m Richard. Clever name eh? The ship’s I mean, not mine, ha ha! I call her Nicky for short. Bit easier than nik-tah-low-pee-yah! And you’re Joshua right?’ He didn’t wait for a confirmation. ‘Cool, well, lets get some food in ya, damn you look like you could use a good feed bro, ha ha! No worries... this way.’
    He turned and walked back the way he had come, leaving Joshua staring after him.
    ‘Don’t mind him,’ said Sarah. ’He just likes to show off his boat. But I could go for some chow too.’ She walked after Richard, with Joshua hurrying to catch up.
     
    They found him in what was clearly the galley. There was row upon row of plastic wrapped meals stacked on shelves, three microwave ovens, coffee and tea set out on a circular table in the middle, and a fridge filled with treasures Joshua could only imagine.
    So this is what heaven is like , he thought.
    ‘Help yourself mate,’ said Richard. ‘I’d go for the microwavable stuff, it’ll warm you up a bit. Nicky here zaps a good bowl of noodles, among other things, ha ha.’ He patted the wall. ‘But be quick eh, we’ve gotta lift off ASAP.’
    Joshua looked at him. ‘Lift off? I thought you said this was a ship.’
    Richard just grinned and raised his eyebrows while Sarah sat down at the table and strapped herself in. She sipped at a water bottle, and took a perfect kiwifruit out of her front pocket, all at ease. She began to peel away the skin with her sword.
    ‘Stop teasing the poor boy, Richard,’ she said.
    ‘Ahem. Boy?’ Joshua stood at his full height, which was well over what someone with his lack of nourishment would normally reach. He had always struggled to grow a beard, but he could use his boyish looks to his advantage on the streets. There were still good people with some small reserve of pity in them for the throngs of the needy. ‘You can’t be much more than me. How old are you two?’
    Richard answered for Sarah, ‘We’re both twenty, which my guess is the same as you mate.’ Joshua threw him a look. ‘Jeez don’t fret, she was just joshin’ ya, Joshua. We were even in the same class for a while, until...’
    ‘I think we should let Case explain the details, Richard,’ Sarah cut in, popping half the kiwifruit in her mouth.
    ‘Right. Well, y ou two strap yourselves down, I’ll go get Nicky ’s engine running.’ He winked and walked out, disappearing up a ladder in the hallway.
     
    Joshua walked over to the shelf and picked an item with densely packed sugar content. He poured it into a bowl.
    ‘I could defin itely get tired of dry rat meat,’ he said aloud, then remembered Sarah was still there. He put his hand over his mouth. ‘Oh sh-’
    ‘Forget it,’ said Sarah. ‘You did what you had to in order to survive. Most people in your position wouldn’t have made it a day. The last twenty years have proven that if nothing else.’
    Joshua let out a breath. ‘Thanks.’ He turned away, blushing again, his bowl of dessert forgotten. ‘So will you answer my questions now?’
    ‘I thought I had.’ Sarah looked blank.
    ‘No. You dodged the questions faster than you dodged those soldiers. You killed them. You didn't have to do that.’
    ‘I was saving your ass. What else do you need to know?’
    ‘You can’t be dragging me along on this secret spy tour just so I can sell my little eye to your boss. The way you overpowered the soldiers...’ Joshua shook his head remembering. ‘You could have just taken it from me. So why bring me along instead?’
    Sarah nodded slowly. ‘Fair question.’
    ‘...And where are we going?’ Joshua continued, then as if on cue, the bottom of his stomach dropped away. His ears popped. So “ Nicky ” was airborne now. ‘And what is this thing we’re on? And just who are you?’
    Sarah sighed patiently. ‘My name is Sarah Jensen. I’m taking you to the head trainer of the Academy in the Pacific Ocean.