Tokyo Surprise by Alex Ko Read Free Book Online Page B

reveal a trapdoor that swung open into a deep hole.
    Josh peered down the hole. It was a sheer drop – he couldn’t tell how deep it was, but he could see something blue at the bottom.
    “Follow me,” Granny said, and she stepped gracefully into the hole and disappeared.
    Josh and Jessica exchanged shrugs and jumped. Cold air whipped past Josh and it all went dark for a few seconds before suddenly space opened up all around them and they found themselves falling
through a huge underground chamber and onto a large, bouncy blue crash mat. Jessica giggled as she rolled off the crash mat. Josh got to his feet and jumped after her.
    Granny Murata was standing beside the mat with her arms folded, waiting for them to join her. Josh looked around, and found they were in a cavernous room that had the crash mat at its centre and
four corridors leading off in different directions. But unlike Team O’s control room, this space was filled with people. Men and women in suits, martial arts uniforms and even riot gear
bustled about, crossing the room from doorway to doorway.
    “They don’t seem bothered that there are two kids down here,” Jessica observed, as Granny led them down one of the corridors.
    “This is a top secret government facility, of which Team O is only a small part,” said Granny smoothly. “My grandchildren dropping in are the least of their worries.”
    Everyone who passed bowed respectfully to Granny, even the giant man in anime-style mecha battle gear with what looked like a rocket launcher strapped to each arm.
    “ Ohay ō gozaimasu , Murata-san,” he said, his huge suit of armour clanking.
    Finally they reached a double door at the end of the corridor, and Granny threw it open. Josh gasped. He’d expected more screens and dials, gleaming high-tech robotics – instead they
seemed to be transported back into the samurai dojos of ancient Japan, but on a massive scale. There were tatami mats on the floor, kanji paintings on the walls, and martial artists practising
their skills. As Granny led them across the room, they passed two black belts sparring, aiming swift kicks to each other’s heads. Their high-kicking style told Josh they were probably
tae-kwon-do experts.
    “This is so cool ,” Jessica whispered to Josh. “Imagine if Sensei Neil could see this? He’d have a fit!”
    “Through here,” said Granny, gesturing to a sliding door to their right, “you will find uniforms to fit you. You have five minutes to get changed. And then,” she said,
“your training will begin.”
    “So, can we learn to fight with any of these?” Josh asked, glancing at the racks of weapons laid out along the side of the dojo. There were staffs, daggers, pairs
of nunchakus and wooden tonfa with their polished handles, even a row of gleaming katanas.
    “No,” said Granny Murata. “Hand-to-hand only. Weapons are only tools – it is no use picking up a weapon if your body is not absolutely under your control. Now, I believe
you have had some training in London.”
    “Yes, obaasan ,” Jessica said. “We attend classes...once a week.”
    “Hmm,” said Granny, unimpressed. “I am going to teach you ways to escape an attacker. Remember, the first thing you should do if you are in danger is run away and call for
help. If you cannot do that, perhaps this will be useful. Josh, stand there. Don’t move. I will be your attacker.” She started to walk around him, moving slowly and silently, graceful
and catlike. Josh planted his feet as firmly on the floor as he could and didn’t move his head to follow her. He could sense her moving, was aware of the distance between them. He followed
the shift of Jessica’s eyes as she watched where Granny was going. He judged he had a few more seconds until she was—
    Ack!
    Suddenly Granny’s arm was around his throat. He felt her arm pressing against his windpipe and had to concentrate not to start hyperventilating. He twisted his head to one side, to ease
some of