Free Ultimate Justice

anyway. They appreciate the opportunity.”
    â€œYou’ve done well,” said Jack.
    â€œAnd now it is time for your trip,” said Pero. “We should go up to the headland and check in with Zookas. You can see the island from there.”
    â€œWe are taking all your time,” said Jalli. “You must have so much to do.”
    â€œI’m retired!” replied Pero. “Today, I can do what I want!”

8

    As soon as the boat was beyond the harbour entrance the children had started to explore every bit of it. The crewmen came to the volunteer leaders and urged them to make sure the kids moved about safely. There was too much to trip up on and they didn’t want anyone overboard. But they needn’t have worried. As soon as the boat began to rise and fall in the swell the children calmed down and found seats inside and outside. This was a new experience for all of them. None of them had ever been on the sea before. Some began to look queasy and Kakko, Shaun, Bandi and the other volunteers were hard at it, reassuring and cuddling where necessary. Kakko soon found that the romance of the trip was to be enhanced for her as she dealt with a child who was sick – fortunately on the lee side of the vessel. She took note of this. Had he been leaning over the other side they would all have got some! As it was, there was not much clearing up. To her surprise as soon as the boy had finished being sick, his colour changed back to normal and within a minute he was happy and chirpy again.
    At first Adnak and his friends kept themselves aloof. But one by one they resigned themselves to the fact that this was not going to be the kind of outing they had envisaged when they set out, and then got involved with the children until it was difficult to distinguish them from the volunteer leaders. One or two held back, Adnak in particular, Kakko noticed. Some of the girls in his party normally turned on by his personal attractions – he was rich, good looking, tall, self-confident – were now succumbing to the lure of the children instead.
    â€œWho needs men when you’ve got kids to amuse you!” said a tall girl about the same age as Kakko.
    Kakko agreed. There was no competition. She struck up a conversation with Kloa, the volunteer leader in charge. Kloa was still getting over being on the boat herself.
    â€œFunny to think that some of these people come from the part of society that wants to get rid of these kids for being on the street,” she remarked. “Even our government would rather deny there is a problem. They have nowhere secure to take them.”
    â€œWhat, nothing else? Is the Paradise Centre the only place for them?” marvelled Kakko.
    â€œThere used to be an institution but it was so bad that many of the children got sick and died in it. It was such a scandal it became an election issue. When the new government came into power they closed it down, but they didn’t put anything in its place. Some of us still say it was more of a cost-cutting exercise.”
    â€œWhat about those children who don’t come to the centre? There must be others.”
    â€œLots of them. We have two outreach workers who try to look after those on the streets,” she said. “They make sure they don’t starve and get them medical care when they can. Most of what they do is just protecting them from the gangs who go round abusing or killing them.”
    â€œKilling them!” Kakko almost shouted. “Killing children?”
    â€œIt doesn’t happen where you come from?”
    â€œNo-way! How can you kill children and not be locked up?” exclaimed Kakko.
    â€œVery easily,” said the girl. “As long as you don’t get caught doing it, it is not regarded as anything serious here. Some people see it as culling vermin, but our outreach workers are there and can call in help if they see anyone with guns.”
    â€œIt sounds a dangerous