Free Spyforce Revealed by Deborah Abela Page B

them.
    â€˜Those are some of technology’s finest,’ Steinberger declared proudly. ‘They are Digital Think Amajigs with Triple Megapixel Microdrive and integrated audio with Hyper Blaster Sound compatibility. You can do all sorts of things with these, including ordering food, which you might like to do now. Just tell the computer what you’d like and Roger, our friendly cabin assistant, will bring it to you.’
    Max and Linden typed in their requests on the touch screens. Chocolate ice cream with caramel sauce and hundreds and thousands for Linden and a banana smoothie with yoghurt and honey for Max.
    â€˜Your request will be here directly,’ announced the computers.
    â€˜I knew there was something missing in my home.’ Linden pictured himself with a brand new computer in his room. Then he remembered there was something else he wanted to know as well. ‘How can you make a jet invisible?’
    â€˜Ah, terrific question,’ beamed Steinberger, leaning forward and almost falling off his seat. ‘A few years ago Irene was in the middle of one of her experiments, mixing all sorts of concoctionstogether, when she added a special liquid that was to be the finishing touch and all of a sudden what she was working on just disappeared. At first she thought it was her eyes playing tricks on her — she’s not as young as she used to be, as she’ll probably tell you when you meet her — but when she realised she could see everything else perfectly, she knew she had hit upon something remarkable. After a few more adjustments in the lab, Spyforce perfected and patented it. All rights belong to us and, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, the formula is top secret.’
    Max and Linden were impressed.
    â€˜Is Irene one of your scientists?’ asked Max.
    â€˜No. She works in the kitchen. Does a mean sponge cake.’
    Steinberger’s eyes went droopy just thinking about it.
    The jet sped silently and smoothly through the night sky like a stingray gliding through the ocean.
    â€˜What can you tell us about the meeting?’ asked Max, eager to know more about what they could expect.
    â€˜Ah, that is the one thing I’ve been asked to keep quiet about until your arrival in London. I can say it’s for something very important, but until we get to Spyforce, I’m afraid I can’t say anymore.’Steinberger turned his fingers in front of his mouth like he was locking his lips shut.
    â€˜What can you tell us about Spyforce?’ Max probed further.
    â€˜There’s lots to tell there.’ Steinberger folded his hands in front of him and sat back in his pink fluffy chair. ‘It was created in the early 1960s by Harrison Junior, the father of the current Chief of Spyforce who is also called Harrison. Harrison Junior and his father, Harrison Senior, were top chefs at one of the finest restaurants in London, which was called Harrison’s, naturally enough. Anyway, one day, the two decided they needed a career change and putting their heads together, came up with an international agency for fighting crime everywhere, which they called Spyforce, or the Security Protection Unit For Ousting Rotten Crime Everywhere. That spells Spyforce when you work it out.’
    Max and Linden ran it through their heads.
    â€˜No it doesn’t. It spells Spu-force,’ Linden advised quietly.
    Steinberger shifted uneasily in his chair.
    â€˜Well, the err, Marketing Department thought having an international spy agency called Spu-force might be bad for business. You know. Sounds likespew-force. People might joke and call it Vomit Force. So they decided just to fudge it a little.’
    Just then, the steward arrived with their orders. Linden’s tastebuds turned over themselves as he tucked into the best, creamiest ice cream he’d ever had in his life.
    â€˜Homemade. You can’t take the chef out of the chief,’ Steinberger mused