“I’m sorry,” I said in a slightly muffled tone” I didn’t know that that garish green piano was so valuable.” Mum took pity, “Go to your room.” She let me off lightly – considering. As I sauntered past the now black exploded piano I saw something glistening by the light of the sun, I moved towards it with a horrible thought that I hadn’t destroyed the entire piano! However it was a tiny silver capsule. I picked it up. It was surprisingly heavy and I then bit into it – to check that it was real. Paper was wrapped around the outside.
*************
It was Monday and I was still pondering about the mysterious nugget I’d found the day before. It had said meet on Monday however I don’t know when it was planted and when it was meant to be discovered so it could’ve been 1999 for all I know. I stood outside the gates of my school when I saw a shifty looking bloke standing next to me. I reached into my pocket and got the silver tube …
Meet Monday after school – be there.
“Do you own a green piano?” The shifty man questioned not looking at me “Yes.” I replied, he must’ve been looking at me as I unfolded the paper. “Can you say the exact words on the sheet?” “Yes.” I didn’t want to say much, I didn’t want him to know anything. He then turned to me and I, for the first time, saw the running scar from his nose to his mouth. “Speak” he said in a tone that was nearer growling than anything else. “Meet Monday after school – be there” I quoted, I’d given in. It was always going to end up with him winning and me losing besides the quicker that I abided the better, I wanted to get home and by this rate it would be nearly impossible! I want to introduce you to Mr John Smith he would like to talk to. Out of the shadows I saw a man appear, he was wearing a grey suit and his face looked exactly the same colour.
To think that all this started with me losing my temper and smashing the piano, I pondered. I was in Hurst street café, I’d been allowed to call my mum but only said that I was at a friend’s house. I didn’t say which one; I wasn’t exactly the most popular kid in the school and couldn’t class anyone as a ‘friend’. “First of all I must apologize about the secrecy of the whole thing; if you knew what we were doing you’d understand.”
“So what are you doing?” I had a faint idea that it would be bad. “We are MI9,” I nearly fell of my seat in shock! “We are looking for someone your height, age and someone just as agile. Do you know Mr O Riley – the substitute P.E teacher?” “Yes” “He’s been watching you – your pace and strength. He reported with good comments and we’ve decided to test you further.”
“What happens if I say no?”
“We go and find someone else but you seem to need the money the most!”
“Go one.”
“Here’s the deal…”
Great so I’m in Wales at least I think I was never very good at interpreting maps due to my dyslexia however I really strive at all things sport – I suppose that is why they want me. I thought back to when Mum came home and placed the piano in the hall – it had came from Dad’s grave and she had always wondered whether he was still alive. He’d run off with Mum’s sister and had never came back. We got a letter saying with sympathy, the irony made me laugh as it was a grumpy postman that had sent it! We enquired and he was seen jumping off a cliff. I felt a tear trickle down my chin and I thought back to reality. I’d been sent through a 50 mile hike whilst carrying a rucksack weighing 8 kg! I’d been on a bleep test and won, much to the annoyance of the adults also taking the test!
I was coming towards the food chamber when I heard my name being called. “Jack, Jack,” I turned and saw, the man who got introduced as John Smith approach me.”You have shown me that you are capable of many things and I would like to ask you for help.” I was allowed to have my food and I chose a cheese and tomato pasty.”You are a great agent, you’re strong, agile, clever and young you also seem to have a habit of having enemies! So what do you say?” Smith asked – he still was speaking in harsh, husky tone.”How much do I get?”
“Enough to tide you over for your bills. So?” I didn’t answer ” The mission is called Silver Nugget and consists of a very jealous man called Henry Stail who, we think, is trying to over throw the Prime Minister” ”You mean the one who is in charge of compulsory stuff”
“Yeah, but you’ll will need some gadgets subsequently I would like to introduce Graham. L.Banidi but we call him Bani.” I saw a man waddle forward dressed head to toe in yellow. “Hello Jack, I’ve never worked with a 14 year old! Well this was rather fun! I was instructed to not give anything to do with explosives – or guns which made rather a hassle! I will start with some glasses – but don’t worry I’ve made them extra fashionable!” Bani got out some rimless glasses but Jack wasn’t fazed at all, he had gathered that Bani’s fashion sense wasn’t to good “These have got speakers attached to the handle, making you hear anything said by anyone up to 1 mile away. You can also see through bricked walls 1 m thick but only when you press the engraving. Next is the tie which is secretly a video camera reporting strait back to us 24/7! This is also a way to tell us that you want to get out. Last is the camera which is a smoke grenade in disguise – press the shutter button twice and run – make sure you get out in under 10 seconds though! Oh, and make sure you record a diary on your tie!” Bani then waddled away into the hut, his footsteps making booming noises as he went.
“This is your file – you’re going to interview Henry Stail and stay over there the two nights. See what you can find out, you never know you may stumble over a biological disaster!” with that he thrust the folder into my hands, swiftly turned and headed towards the Bentley with tinted windows. I had read through my mission briefing, with ounces of difficulty, and came to a conclusion that I should’ve never have listened to Mr Smith, there is something weird about the man – I can’t call him his first name and he doesn’t portray any emotion what so ever. He’s got no life – that is why this will be my first, and last, assignment. I put on the ‘fashionable’ glasses, did up my tie and slid my makeshift camera into my pocket; it was time to go…
I was walking towards the prime minister, his out-stretched hand inviting me towards him. Mr Smith was smiling ( or rather smirking) it was like a dream in fact, I was sure that it was a dream. A policeman had walked forwards to the taxi driver, talked for a few seconds and he ran back to the policemen and the never ending press were surrounding number 10′s door. Jack, however, wasn’t going to number 10 just yet. He was going to number 12 home of Henry Stail and he could see the man opening the door and for one minute he thought that he was inviting him in but he was only going to try and get interest from the press. Failing, Henry Stail walked back “What are you doing?” Henry Stail asked in away to make me look stupid “I was scheduled to ask some questions for the school news paper, my name is Jack Ward.”
“Ugh, great I’ve got a supper geek staying overnight. Just don’t wet the bed and we will get along just fine!” I disagreed with that straight away.
It was the next day and I got awoken by a butler entering my room, “My name is Flink, and I am an Afghanistan refugee. I was in the war when I lost my use of my leg due to a grenade explosion. I am, however, great at running despite my injured leg so I would be able to cut you off before you get to your destination. I am afraid I have to say that to everyone, not because we don’t trust you it is because it is compulsory!” Flink laughed an evil laugh and exited out of the room.
*************
“So, would you like to be Prime Minister?” It was 12 noon and I was interrogating Henry Stail. “Yes” He wasn’t being very helpful “How long is this going to take – I have got a life here” He stated following with his usual snorting punctuation. “As long as you make it take. Tell me what I want to now and I’ll give you your ‘life’ back!”
“You’re blackmailing me.”
“I’ll ask again, would you like to be prime minister?” I had just come out of the room and I didn’t feel that I did to badly. I now know that he is growing wheat in South America and also something that he seemed very reluctant to tell he’d been in number 10′s cellar every night. My next place to investigate…
7 o’clock was constantly repeated over the shiny yet still foreboding rooftops of Downing Street. Jack had had dinner and lunch alone, apparently Stail had been ‘busy’ doing what? Good or bad work? Questions were rolling around constantly in Jack’s mind. If Stail was doing bad work, he let out a big point. Was he trying to f00l me? Or just stupid? I will find out tomorrow – at 1 pm! Mum wouldn’t be very happy – she always wanted me in bed at 9 despite my protests! A maid entered, resembling an uncanny relationship to mum. She placed a plate, with a cloth over it, on my bed – side table. “Enjoy, “she muttered in a tone way louder than the next statement “and be careful.” She slammed the door behind her and ran quickly yet without a sound.
Jack uncovered the cloth to see a plate of meatloaf before him as he spent the next few seconds rummaging through the stodgy contents before he’d found the gun currently in his hand. He could no longer see ahead or behind however Jack liked it that way – he felt safe, if he couldn’t see nor could any one else – unless they had a torch. Still hyperventerlating, Jack exited the pits of the cellar, and saw the water become iridescent as the sun light floated in from all angles.
