Revenge (18 page)

Ray Steed paced up and down the airport lounge, waiting for his son's plane to land. The Boeing 707 rumbled into its gate. Ray watched the passengers walking down the steps, holding small bags and newspapers.

He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with tears in his eyes when he saw his son. Jason walked along the tarmac toward the terminal, his blond hair blowing across his face in the autumn wind. He looked tiny compared to the two MI6 officers surrounding him.

As Jason emerged in the airport lobby, he noticed his father. Tears ran down his smiling cheeks. Jason ran at his father with his arms open, and Ray kneeled down to catch him. Ray was almost knocked over by his son as Jason collapsed into his father's arms. For a few moments, they said nothing. Jason finally relaxed and felt safe at last. Ray kissed Jason's forehead and face. He inhaled deeply, smelling his son's neck. He ignored everyone around him and cherished his son's scent and touch.

“I was so worried, Jason. Please don't do anything like this again. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you.”

“Sorry, Dad. I know you said don't get involved but—”

Ray put his finger up against his son's lips. He lovingly pressed his nose against Jason's forehead. “What's done is done. The main thing is you are home.” He kissed him again and looked up at two MI6 officers who were standing over them. Ray stood and picked up Jason, who still had his arms around his father, and shook their hands.

“Thank you. He will be safe now.” Ray carried Jason to the parking garage. Jason snuggled his nose into his father neck. He enjoyed feeling like a small boy again. Once in the car, Ray turned and looked at Jason. Jason was surprised to see that his father had tears in his eyes. Ray was just over six feet tall and rarely showed emotion. Jason had never seen his father shed a tear before.

“What's wrong, Dad?” he asked, taking his father's hand.

“I thought I was going to lose you.

“It's fine, Dad. I can look after myself.”

“I'm not, Jase. Oh, I know you're a tough little trooper and you always seem to bounce back, but I can't go through that again. Please don't put me through that ever again.”

Jason leaned forward and kissed his father. He wiped his father's face and gave a smile.

• • •

Scott went directly to the Steeds' house from school. The boys were playing chess in Jason's room, with his cassette player at high volume playing Paul McCartney's latest album,
Band on the Run
.

“I brought Scott's overnight bag,” said Dr. Turner, who was dropping Scott off. “I can take a look at Jason now. As soon as he is better, I'd like to get him in for surgery. Broken nose, you say?” Dr. Turner asked as he shook Ray's hand.

“Yes, go on up. Just follow the sound of the music,” Ray said.

“I wouldn't call it music, but it's been so quiet here these past few months without him, it's great to hear all the noise again,” interrupted Mrs. Beeton. “I'll bring you up a tray of tea.”

Dr. Turner made Jason lay on his back while he examined his nose.

“Ouch,” Jason said, trying to pull away.

“Yes, sorry, Jason. I want to feel what damage is done.” The doctor gently felt the boy's nose and moved it slightly from side to side. “Is this all…this time? No bullet wounds? What happened to your arm? Were you attacked by a lion?”

“It was a leopard,” Jason squealed, trying to pull away from the doctor's fingers.

“It's a clean break. It will be a simple fix. You have a healthy body, Jason. Try to take better care of it. I'm sure these scratches and cuts will heal without scars. How did you do it?”

“I told you. A leopard,” Jason said, sitting back up. Dr. Turner didn't know if he should believe him or not, but where Jason was concerned, anything could be true.

• • •

A letter soon arrived for Jason from China:

Dear Jason,

Saying “thank you” hardly seems sufficient to express my gratitude.

But if these words can reflect what is buried deep within my heart, you will know how much I appreciate you and all that you've given.

I know I could never take the place of your girlfriend just like no one can take your place in my life. You will always live in my heart like another soul inside of me.

As long as I draw breath, I will always love you.

Joanne XXX

He never wrote back. He kept the letter and hid it under his bed, where he kept his secret items, which included a pass code to get into SYUI offices, private phone numbers of the royal family, his pilot's license, and a large pocketknife.

Over the next few weeks, normality came back to Jason's life. It was a shock: one day, he was being chased across Europe by gangsters and police, and the next, he was getting told off at school for running down a corridor. Did he miss it? The danger and excitement? “No” was the answer he gave everyone—except Scott. Together, they shared the same desire for adventure.

Jason knew his life would never be the same again. British intelligence now had an ace up its sleeve, and Jason had to overcome his fears and deal with the secret world he was now a part of. He would have to grow a tough shell around himself. Despite his many friends, his grandparents, and the love of his father, he was painfully aware he was very much alone in this world. When it came down to it, there was only one person he could rely on in the world, and he was called Jason Steed.

Hiya. You may have noticed that smelly George Young speaks weirdly. I'm from North London, so I speak normal. George is from East London, where they talk in slang. “Cockney rhyming slang” is bloody difficult to understand but kinda neat once you get the hang of it. Here's a guide to help you understand what he is talking about:

Apples and Pears,
Stairs

Bloody or Bleeding,
Curse words used by most British; deemed inoffensive

Brown Bread,
Dead

Butcher's Hook,
Look. Would be used when someone says, “Take a butcher's at this.”

Dog and Bone,
Telephone

Jam Jar
,
Car

Old Bill,
Police

Stitch That,
Said at the moment of physical attack, meaning you're going to require stitches after the injury I'm about to inflict on you.

Trouble and Strife,
Wife

Two and Eight,
State. Would be used when someone says, “You are in a right two and eight,” meaning you are in a right state, mess, trouble.

Whistle and Flute,
Suit. Some Londoners will just say, “I will be wearing a ‘whistle.'”

Mark A. Cooper was born in London, United Kingdom, and later moved to Sarasota, Florida. When his son's grades improved after reading the Harry Potter series, Mark decided to encourage literacy with his own novel. He loves ice cream and writing, and he dislikes wasp stings. Visit
markacooper.com
.