Rat-Catcher (13 page)

'I thought you might say that,' said Alex's dad. He turned to the off-roader and looked at Amber, who was still clutching the key to the bracelets. 'Take off the rest of the bracelets,' he instructed her in Spanish. 'Then throw them over here, with the key.'

Amber hurried to carry out the instructions as Alex's dad turned back to the general. She started with Alex. Once the bracelet was off, Alex's eyes widened as he spotted the tell-tale ring of white skin that had been revealed beneath. No street kid had skin that pale. Quickly Alex hid his hand behind his back, but his father had not noticed. He was busy with the general.

'You have two choices, Luis,' said Alex's father. He held up his cellphone. 'One: you can call the Justice Department and all the national newspapers right now, stating who you are and making a full confession.'

The general laughed. 'And the second choice?' he asked.

Alex's father picked up the bracelets from the ground where Amber had thrown them. Then he bent and retrieved the final bracelet from the hand of the Quechua Indian. He linked all the bracelets together, leaving the one at the end of the chain open. He stepped forward and clipped this final bracelet around the general's wrist.

'The second choice,' he said, holding up the little metal box, 'is to take your chances with the dogs.'

There was a long silence as the two men stared at one another. Finally Alex's father spoke again. 'Do any of you kids drive?' he called in Spanish, without turning his head away from the general.

'I do,' replied Paulo.

'Then get out of here,' ordered Alex's dad. 'All of you.'

Paulo clambered over the seats, hanging onto the roll bars of the off-roader, and settled himself in the driver's seat. Eliza scrambled after him, her eyes big with panic in case he was planning to leave her. She pressed herself against his side and Paulo smiled down at her reassuringly. Quickly he checked the controls. They were pretty much the same as the off-roaders he was used to driving on his ranch. Paulo started the engine and put the off-roader into gear. He hesitated, looking over at the SAS men.

'Go!' ordered Alex's dad.

Paulo hit the accelerator and the off-roader took off down the track in a cloud of dust. Alex stared back at the silent group of men standing by the track until they disappeared from view.

A few minutes later they all heard the dreadful baying of the dogs start up again.

The general had made his choice.

Amber shuddered and moved closer to Hex in the back of the off-roader. He put an arm around her shoulders.

'That was close,' said Li, in a shaken voice. 'We were nearly finished.'

'Remind me to thank Leo next time I see him,' said Hex.

'That was my dad, you know,' said Alex proudly.

'We guessed that,' said Amber.

'He didn't even recognize me.'

'That doesn't surprise me,' said Amber. 'Have you looked in a mirror lately?'

Alex leaned forward and stared into the rear-view mirror. His face and hair were completely caked in drying mud and green weed. He grinned at the sight and his teeth shone brightly against the dirt.

'Where to?' asked Paulo from the front seat.

'Are you OK to drive?' asked Alex.

Paulo nodded. 'I am fine. Just bruised.'

'Then let's head back to Quito,' said Alex

'OK,' said Paulo, 'but you had better settle down now and put on your seatbelts. I do not have a licence, so we must not draw attention to ourselves.'

Alex, Li, Hex and Amber looked at one another in the back seat. They were all dressed in thermal longjohns and plastered with mud.

'Oh, yeah, that'll do it,' spluttered Amber. 'Once we put our seatbelts on, we won't stand out at all!'

They all collapsed in the back seat. All the tension of the last few days poured out in wild, hysterical hoots of laughter. Paulo tried to frown seriously, but soon he was laughing too. The laughter was infectious and even little Eliza joined in, even though she had no idea what the joke was.

The off-roader reached the end of the track, turned onto the busy Pan-American Highway and headed for Quito, trailing hoots of laughter behind it all the way.

E
IGHTEEN

Sister Catherine's House was a large old building in the heart of the Old Town. The paint was peeling and the plaster was crumbling, but the big double doors to the courtyard were open wide and a warm light was shining out onto the cobbled street.

The five members of Alpha Force climbed out of the taxi and stared up at the old house. Paulo reached back in to help Eliza out onto the street while Amber paid the taxi-driver. They all looked a lot better than they had two days earlier. The swelling around Paulo's eye had nearly gone, although the bruising was now a spectacular combination of green and purple. The doctor Amber's uncle brought to the hotel had given them all a thorough physical and declared them fit and well. He had given Paulo painkillers and anti-inflammatories, and he had treated Eliza for worms and lice.

For two days they had lain low in the hotel, eating, resting and getting their strength back. Now it was Christmas Eve and they had a plane to catch. Amber's uncle had flown back to New York earlier that day. Alpha Force were flying out to Argentina later that night to spend Christmas together on Paulo's ranch, but first they had one final task to complete.

Alex took a hasty look up and down the street before he stepped into the circle of light coming from the courtyard. He knew his father was still out at the general's estate and would be there for the next few days, gathering the information to convict as many members of the drug-smuggling ring as he could, but Alex was still a little nervous, half-expecting his father to come striding around the next corner.

Eliza held back, staring up at the big house apprehensively, so Paulo scooped her up on one arm and picked up her overnight bag with the other. Eliza looked completely different. Her hair shone, her cheeks had a healthy glow and the sores and scabs on her skin were healing fast. The only thing that had not changed was the sad look in her eyes. Paulo looked at her little face and felt his heart twist. It was going to be hard to leave Eliza here, but he knew it had to be done.

They walked through the double doors into the courtyard and stopped in astonishment. A huge party was going on under the stars. The bushes were festooned with lanterns and a long row of tables had been set against the end wall. They were piled high with the food that all Quito families ate together on Christmas Eve. There were huge stuffed turkeys, bowls of grapes and raisins, massive platters of rice and cheese and piles of steaming sweetcorn. Tureens of hot chocolate and baskets filled with cookies stood on the end table. Street kids swarmed everywhere, filling their plates or chasing one another in and out of the courtyard arches. Some of them were adding Christmas party hats to the traditional Quito life-sized Nativity scene in the corner, helped by a plump young woman dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

Paulo took Eliza off to the tables of food, while the other four made their way over to the young woman. Amber cleared her throat and tried out her best Spanish. 'Excuse me,' she said. 'We are looking for Sister Catherine.'

The young woman turned to face them. Her face was flushed and her eyes sparkled. 'It's OK,' she said. 'You can speak English.'

Amber grinned with relief. 'Phew! My Spanish isn't that good. Quite a party you have going on here.'

'Yeah, well, we have a lot to celebrate,' said the young woman. 'The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Quito! Can you believe an anonymous donor has given us millions -- and I mean
millions --
of dollars?' She hugged herself with excitement. 'I still can't quite take it in. We have such plans! More houses, of course, and schools, and--' The young woman stopped and smiled at them. 'But you don't want to hear all that. How can I help you?'

'We're looking for Sister Catherine,' said Li.

'You've found her,' said the young woman.

'You're Sister Catherine?' Alex gaped openly before he remembered his manners.

Sister Catherine laughed. 'Not all nuns wear habits and drift about looking holy, you know! So, how can I help?'

Amber's face grew serious. 'We have someone we want you to look after,' she said, pointing out Eliza, who was still clinging to Paulo. 'Her name is Eliza. She's been through a lot. Her parents and her older brother are dead. She left her younger brother Toby here for adoption eight months ago, so she's all on her own.'

Sister Catherine nodded understandingly. 'Eliza will be welcome here. And, now we have all this money, we can offer her great things! Health and education. Perhaps even a place at university if she chooses. Great things!'

'The thing is,' said Li, 'I think there might be a scene when we try to leave her. She's become very attached to Paulo.'

Sister Catherine smiled. 'I think I know what to do about that. The best thing a person can do when they are feeling small and lonely is to take care of someone else. I will bring one of the younger boys down and ask Eliza to take care of him. Then she will have a reason to stay. Wait here.'

Sister Catherine hurried off and the four of them were left standing in the middle of the courtyard. Amber looked around and spotted a familiar figure lurking in the shadows beyond the arches. He was stuffing turkey into his mouth and glaring around as though someone might try to steal it from him. Amber grinned broadly. 'Leo!' she yelled, waving madly.

Leo jumped, then glared out at her for a few seconds before slipping away.

'Gracias,
Leo!
Gracias!'
called Amber after his retreating back. Leo flinched as though she had hit him.

'Here we are!' said Sister Catherine, behind them. They turned to see her holding the hand of a little boy of three. He was in his pyjamas and was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

'Hello,' said Li, smiling down at the little boy and holding out her hand.

He glared up at her, then, quick as a snake, tried to bite her hand. Li snatched it away just in time.

'He does that a lot,' said Sister Catherine calmly. 'Mainly to people he thinks are going to try to adopt him.'

'I'm not sure this is going to work,' said Alex, looking from the ferocious little boy to Eliza, who was still clinging to Paulo's neck.

'Oh, it will work,' said Sister Catherine. 'This is a very special little boy. Watch.'

She turned and called across the courtyard. 'Eliza!'

Eliza turned in Paulo's arms and looked at Sister Catherine, who pointed down at the little boy. Eliza followed the pointing finger, then her eyes widened in delighted astonishment. She jumped out of Paulo's arms and ran across the courtyard. The little boy spotted her and gave a wordless cry, full of yearning and relief. Eliza grabbed the little boy up in her arms and held him tight as he burst into noisy tears. Eliza pushed the blond curls away from his face and wiped his eyes with her sleeve, talking to him softly in Quechua. The tears were flowing down her own face, but she did not seem to notice.

'Toby,' said Amber wonderingly. 'This is Toby?'

'Yes,' smiled Sister Catherine.

'But Eliza was sure he would be adopted quickly,' said Paulo, coming up behind them. 'Because of his blond hair.'

'Oh, he could have been adopted twenty times over,' said Sister Catherine, 'but he kept biting them. Said he wasn't leaving because his sister Eliza would be back for him. Seems he was right.'

Eliza led Toby over to the tables of food and started picking out the tastiest morsels for him. He followed, clinging to her skirt and looking up at her as though she might vanish again at any minute.

'Happy endings,' said Amber, her voice full of tears. 'Don't cha just love 'em?'

She looked over to Sister Catherine and saw Leo lurking just behind her. Sister Catherine continued to smile over at Eliza and Toby, but her hand whipped behind her and caught Leo's hand in a grip of iron, just as he was sliding her wallet out of the back pocket of her jeans. She twisted her hand, still smiling at Eliza and Toby, and Leo bent over behind her, his face a silent picture of pain.

Leo had just met his match.

'Sometimes,' said Sister Catherine pleasantly, 'I put a mousetrap in there. So watch out.'

She let go of Leo's hand, still not looking round at him. Leo slunk away into the shadows, rubbing his crushed fingers.

'You sorted him out!' grinned Hex, but Sister Catherine's face was sad as she looked at him.

'That one, he's been on the streets too long. We can hope, but it may be too late for him.' She looked back at Eliza and Toby and her face brightened again. 'But those two, now that's a completely different story.'

'I think,' said Paulo, 'it would be better to just slip away.'

Sister Catherine nodded. 'Merry Christmas,' she called softly, as Alpha Force headed for the door.

They stepped out onto the cobbled street and walked away from Sister Catherine's House, each wrapped in their own thoughts. It had been quite a week. There had been a lot of deaths and a lot of danger. They were all feeling sad to be leaving Eliza but happy to have successfully completed their first mission. The night sky was clear and full of stars. Alex looked up, just as the first of a series of huge fireworks exploded over the Old Town of Quito.

'Merry Christmas, Alpha Force,' said Alex, beginning to smile.

'Merry Christmas!' replied Li, Paulo, Hex and Amber, smiling too.

The five members of Alpha Force moved closer together in the quiet street, content just to watch for a while as giant streamers of colour fizzed across the night sky above them.

CHRIS RYAN'S TOP TEN TIPS FOR SURVIVAL IN MOUNTAIN CONDITIONS

If you're stuck on a mountain, whether it has forested slopes or is covered in snow and ice, it will almost certainly be high, inhospitable, difficult to travel across - and it will be hard to find someone lost there. The sheer scale of the surrounding terrain may make you feel that survival is impossible. It's NOT- not if you keep your head and make use of any survival skills you have.

1. PREPARATION IS THE FIRST ESSENTIAL

If you are heading off into mountain regions, make sure you tell the relevant authorities - like the police or mountain rescue - where you are going and how long you plan to be gone. If there is a disaster, rescue attempts will be made sooner and it will be easier for them to find you. Certain basic equipment is also advisable:

MY BASIC SURVIVAL KIT CONTAINS

- ropes

- a small shovel or other digging equipment

- a sleeping bag or poncho or large waterproof sheet for shelter if necessary

- a knife

- waterproof matches

- medical equipment including: painkillers (broken limbs are possible in mountainous conditions), plasters or butterfly sutures for wounds, antiseptic

- sun goggles if going into a snowy area, to protect your eyes

- tea bags and stock cubes to make hot drinks

- mini-flares for signalling

- vitamin pills

- thermal and waterproof clothing

2. STAY CALM AND STAY PUT

If you have told the authorities where you plan to be going, it's a good idea to stay close to your planned route to help any rescue efforts, finding the best nearby place to shelter. You can then use your energy for survival until rescue, rather than just heading off blindly into what could be a worse situation.

The higher you go, the thinner the air is too, so you will probably find yourself getting tired more easily and suffering the first signs of altitude sickness: breathlessness, a fast pulse, headaches and dizziness. Conserve your energy, don't panic and try and work out what your best course of action is to be.

If you must move . . .

3. PUT SAFETY BEFORE SPEED

Mountain slopes can be very slippery -- especially slopes covered with scree, or loose rocks, and you don't want to risk a fall. Snow can cover up deep crevasses, so move very carefully, testing the ground ahead of you with a stick before taking a step. If going downhill, go backwards, using your heels and a stick as a brake. If going uphill, climb in a zig-zag, using a stick for extra support. Believe me, tobogganing down a snowy mountain without a toboggan is not a good idea! Once, when I first joined the regiment, we were climbing in the Alps and two good friends fell to their deaths because they lost their footing, so it is important to take your time when descending from a mountain.

If you're in a group, and the ground is very treacherous, try roping yourselves together with about 10 metres between each of you and move very slowly indeed. Travel only in daylight when you can see where you are going.

4. FIND SHELTER

This is essential in any cold conditions to maintain body temperature. If you start feeling confused or shivery, stumble more than you should and find it hard to get your body to do what you want, you could be showing the first signs of what is known as hypothermia - when your body temperature drops faster than your body can generate heat. Hypothermia can kill you! If you've ever got soaked on a cold, wet day, you'll know how miserable you can feel and, believe me, it only gets worse if you are out in these conditions for a long period of time. Hypothermia, which is no joke, is something I have suffered from and watched two friends die from it. Remember, though, that if you lose heat slowly, you also need to warm up bit by bit, rather than all at once. Try to get out of the wind and into shelter, create a source of heat, eat or drink something warm and replace wet clothes with dry (one piece at a time - don't strip everything off at once). Huddling together can also help: it's amazing how much heat another body can provide.

A small cave would make an ideal shelter (as long as nothing's living in it already!), or you could shelter underneath an overhanging rock. If there are trees around, the branches can be pulled down to create a windbreak and in deep snowy conditions, you can dig underneath the branches of trees to create a hollow protected by the tree.

If there is nothing but snow in sight, pile up snow to make a windbreak or dig out a trench, piling the snow up the windiest side. Remember, though, that if you make something out of snow, keep any digging tools with you inside in case you have to dig yourself out again! Also, do think about ventilation. In Norway, I remember being in a snow hole, the hole was blocked and we started to fall asleep. Luckily, one of the team woke, realized we were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning and kicked a hole in the roof to get fresh air in.

5. LIGHT A FIRE

A fire will provide heat - and it will cheer you up! You can also heat up food and drink and dry your clothes by it. If you have found shelter in a cave, build the fire as high as possible at the back so that the hot air rises. If you build it at the front, it might fill the cave with smoke so you can't breathe.

6. WATER

Water is always a survival essential. Look for a fresh water supply - at the bottom of a valley is a good place - or leave containers to catch rainwater. In snowy conditions, use a fire to melt ice (ice melts quicker than snow). If you're on the move or don't have a fire, you will still need to replace fluids somehow. Don't eat snow - it will just settle in your stomach as a cold lump and make you colder from the inside out. In an emergency, form the snow into snowballs and hold one in your mouth, allowing it to melt slowly.

7. EAT SOMETHING

Food is another priority if you are likely to be stuck for a long period. Your body needs more food in low temperatures, too. In a group, ration any supplies so that it will last as long as possible.

Vegetation is usually pretty thin on the ground in mountain areas, but birds and their eggs can be a good source of food. Follow their droppings to see where they nest, but take care - a flock of angry gulls protecting their eggs can be vicious. Crawl as close as you can and try and take eggs only if the birds are not present. You might also be able to knock down a bird with stones or sticks, or make a trap to catch them. Once, in a survival situation, I caught some seagulls. These birds didn't taste too good as they are scavengers and will eat anything!

8. WATCH THE WEATHER

Unless you like the idea of being buried under a heap of snow, watch out for the possibility of an avalanche. Try not to make your shelter under smooth, steep snow slopes - a more rugged landscape is less likely to suddenly come loose and land on your head and avoid shouting as this can set the snow off. Finally, if the worst does come to the worst and a heap of snow roars down towards you, try and 'swim' on top of it rather than fighting it. Before setting out, listen to the local radio station for any avalanche warnings. If there is a high risk of one, it would be advisable to wear an avalanche transmitter. If you happen to be buried, this sends out a signal so that the rescue team can then locate you.

9. TREAT ANY INJURIES

It's easy to trip over a rock or put your foot down a hole and broken limbs are a definite possibility in any accident. Immobilise a broken or sprained limb with a splint made out of a straight stick and treat any cuts with antiseptic cream or powder. If you're stuck without supplies, one tip is that you can use your urine to wash out a wound (don't do this without telling the injured person first though - they might take it the wrong way!).

As well as hypothermia, there are several other different health problems that could affect you in cold, mountainous areas. Everyone knows that polar explorers suffer from frostbite but you don't need arctic conditions to get it; vulnerable places like your face, nose, ears, hands and feet can get frostbite if exposed to temperatures of -1degC for long periods (and that can easily happen in cold, windy areas). Watch out for feelings of prickliness, then numb, waxy-looking patches. If you do get it, you will need to thaw out the affected skin slowly, using warm water rather than direct heat from a fire. You could also try the old trick of putting your feet on someone else's stomach (tell them first!).

In snow, snow blindness can also be a problem as the glare of the sun reflects back off the snow. This can happen in as little as fifteen minutes. If you start blinking and squinting to see, then begin seeing everything in a nice rosy glow, you're in trouble. Cover your eyes - blindfold them if necessary -- or you could risk being temporarily blinded. Wearing goggles protects your eyes from this risk and you could also try rubbing charcoal underneath your eyes to reduce the glare.

As the ultraviolet light of the sun reflects off snow, you can also get bad sunburn on any unprotected skin. This includes areas like the inside of your nose!

10. SIGNAL FOR RESCUE

This is going to be a big priority, especially if no-one knows where you are. A fire will produce smoke and attract attention but it's also a good idea to lay out some ground-to-air signals. This can be as simple as laying out stones in a pattern to spell out SOS - or tramping snow down to make these letters. Make it as big as you can so it's easily visible from the air.

If you spot a rescue helicopter or plane, there are some internationally recognized signals which all mountain rescue teams understand, using flares, a whistle or flashes of light from a torch. The most important to know is the one for SOS -- a request for help.

SOS

Flare:
red

Sound:
three short blasts, three long, three short (repeat after a 1-minute interval)

Light:
6 flashes in quick succession (repeat after a 1-minute interval)

BE SAFE!

Random House Children's Books and Chris Ryan would like to make it clear that these tips are for use in a serious situation only, where your life may be at risk. We cannot accept any liability for inappropriate usage in normal conditions.