Thunder Raker by Justin Richards Read Free Book Online

said.
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œSorry,” Harry said. “But, when did we do that?”
    â€œEr,” Jack said.
    â€œDo we actually have any badgers?” Alfie asked.
    â€œMaybe we could use the Chaplain’s electric eel?” Alice suggested.
    Sam shook his head. “I haven’t got a picture of that.”
    â€œRobert might have one,” Harry told him.
    â€œWho is Robert?” Jack asked.
    â€œI thought he was your uncle. Bob for short.”
    â€œSo,” Alfie said quickly, “apart from having no badgers, trained or not, and not knowing exactly where the satellite is in the garden, and not having dug a tunnel under the fence, it’s a good plan.”
    â€œThanks,” said Jack, beaming. “Hey,maybe the badgers could wear specially adapted cameras on their heads and search for the satellite when they get there.”
    â€œDo we have any specially adapted cameras?” Alfie asked.
    â€œWe’ve got as many as we have badgers,” Beth told him.
    â€œThen they can have one each,” Harry said. “And we’ll find the satellite in Mrs Prendergast’s garden in no time.”
    â€œOr,” Alfie said patiently, “we could borrow binoculars from Mrs Nuffink’s Surveillance Classroom, and go up on the school roof and see if we can spot it from there.”
    Chloe sighed. “I thought it was someone else’s turn to come up with a plan.”
    â€œI think it’s a great idea!” Alice said. “We’ll spot the satellite from the roof.”
    â€œYes,” Sam agreed. “I’ll put the badger away.” As the picture rolled up and the metal rod returned to the arm of his wheelchair, he asked: “So, what does SPOT stand for?”

Chapter 10
    Mr Trenchard joined Class 3D on the flat roof over the science block.
    â€œWhat does the satellite look like?” Alfie asked.
    â€œWhat satellite?” Mr Trenchard asked. Five minutes later, after consulting his paperwork, he told them: “It’s a metal ball, about this big.” He pointed to Harry’s head. “Only without a face on it,” he added, in case there was any confusion. “Or ears. Or hair, actually.”
    â€œGot it!” Alice said. She pointed out where she had seen it through her binoculars. Everyone else raised their binoculars and turned to look.
    â€œYes, that’s the fellow,” MrTrenchard confirmed. “You see—no ears at all. So what now? How will you retrieve the satellite?”
    â€œBadgers,” Harry said.
    â€œI think we’ve moved on from that,” Alfie told him.
    â€œI’ve designed this,” Beth said, and unrolled a complicated plan she had drawn. It showed Sam sitting in his wheelchair. From the front, two long grabber arms were extended. Details showed how the arms were jointed and what motors and controls were needed to make them reach over the fence, pick up the satellite and lift it back over.
    â€œOh, this is marvellous,” Mr Trenchard said, examining the plan. “Very impressive. And I’m an expert you know,” he went on.
    â€œOh yes, I used to design secret weapons that could be hidden in fields—at the Department of Advanced Field Technology. It’s better known by its initials, of course.”
    â€œThat’s DAFT,” Alfie said.
    â€œCompletely bonkers,” Trenchard agreed, “but it kept us busy. Right then, over to you.”
    Beth found all the equipment she needed in the science block, and with help from the rest of Class 3D she set about welding and bolting and fixing wide steel arms and enormous motors to the front of Sam’s wheelchair.
    â€œI’m not sure this will work,” Alfie said when they’d finished.
    â€œJust because it wasn’t your idea,” said. Chloe.
    â€œNonsense, it’s perfect,” said Beth. She let go of the metal claw she had just attached to the end of one of