Blue's Revenge by Deborah Abela

into her shoulders. ‘I’ll meet you in the canteen. I think I just want to wait here for a little while if that’s okay.’
    â€˜Of course it’s okay,’ Ben said with a swooping hug. ‘You take all the time you need, and I’ll get Irene to whip up something extra special.’ But when he let her go, Max could see he didn’t want to leave her alone.
    â€˜Linden, can you stay with me?’
    â€˜Sure.’ Linden stepped forward.
    â€˜We’ll see you both in the canteen.’ Eleanor reached for Ben’s hand and they walked out of the VART. Ben turned for a last glance at his niece and gave a small wave.
    Max waved back and watched as they disappeared from view.
    â€˜It’s okay, Max.’ Linden guessed her thoughts. ‘When they know why we did it, they’ll be okay.’
    â€˜I know it’s risky but I can’t just sit here and do nothing anymore.’ Max sat on the floor. ‘You don’t have to come if you don’t want to. I’d understand,’ she said, even though she knew that without him she might not make it back.
    Linden sat down beside her. ‘How long should we wait before we follow Harrison?’
    â€˜Best to give him a head start, then we’ll follow from a safe distance.’ Max paused. ‘I know Harrison thought using the Time and Space Machine was risky around Blue, but we’ve done it before. I know we can keep it safe. And besides, with our Undetectatrons on, I’m not planning for Blue to even know we’re there.’
    She took out her palm computer and the digital camera ring. She plugged the ring into the topUSB port and within seconds an image of the map she had photographed appeared before her. ‘It’s done a good job.’
    Max activated the locator in the computer to give her the coordinates of where Steinberger was pointing. Within seconds she had them. ‘Latitude 58° 37’ north and longitude 5° 00’ west.’ Max’s joy at having found the meeting point then faded. ‘Oh.’
    â€˜What’s wrong?’
    â€˜The name of the place Harrison is going to is Cape Wrath.’
    â€˜It’s just a name,’ Linden suggested, but he too was nervous about what it might mean.
    Max took the ring from the computer and put it on her finger, knowing they may need it later. She then felt a shiver run through her and rubbed her arms. ‘Do you feel cold?’
    â€˜Kind of. Maybe it’s just nerves.’
    â€˜Or maybe …’
    â€˜What are you kids doing here?’
    Max knew that voice and the reason for her sudden chill. Dretch. Her heart jolted in a breathless panic. She turned off her palm computer and slipped it into her pocket, hoping Dretch had not seen what she had just been doing.
    His footsteps came closer as he walked along themetal boardwalk towards them. His dislike for Max and Linden had been clear from the moment they first arrived at Spyforce. If he found out what they were doing, Max knew he would have great pleasure in demanding they be thrown off the Force.
    â€˜Thought you were supposed to be with Ben and Eleanor?’ He now stood above them and, Max realised with horror, his eyes were focused on the digital camera ring. His eyebrows curved upwards and Max knew they were caught.
    She jumped up, desperate to explain. ‘We were, but …’
    Dretch cut her off. ‘I have something for you.’
    â€˜For me?’ Max could almost hear the crack of icy Dretch vibes spilling all over her.
    He handed her a memory stick. Max took out the small rectangular device and stared up at the scarred face of the man standing beside her. ‘Um, thanks.’
    She was hoping this would be the end of their conversation and the beginning of him turning away and leaving, but Dretch stayed where he was and just kept staring. What was he waiting for, Max thought, a hug?
    The air thickened around them. The chill sank