A big chalkboard sign in the driveway read: Welcome Agents!
“Looks like we found the right place,” Grandfather said. He parked the car, and the five of them got out, looking over the hills and valleys sparkling with fresh snow. It had taken most of the afternoon to arrive, and the sun was just starting to set.
“Those hills look perfect for skiing,” said Jessie. She was a good skier, though it had been a while since she’d been on a slope as steep as the ones they were looking at. Most of the time, she helped Violet learn on the bunny hill in Greenfield.
“They certainly are,” Grandfather said, his warm breath puffing in clouds. “Those hills and mountains are full of ski resorts. This is a very popular area for winter sports. I used to come out here to ski all the time when I was a young man. Boy, it gets dark out fast in the winter, doesn’t it?”
“Bonsoir!”
An older man in a black tuxedo was waiting for them on the path to the manor. The man had a thick gray mustache and a large mole over his right eyebrow.
“Hello, hello. You must be the Aldens,” he said with a heavy French accent. “I am Benedict, A.D. Ashton’s butler. You must be James Alden, the children’s grandfather. So good to meet you. Will you be staying in the manor? The competition is scheduled for the entire weekend.”
“Oh, no, thank you,” Grandfather said. He winked at the children. “You know those ski resorts I visited as a lad? Well, the truth is, I booked myself a room at one. While you are exercising your sleuthing skills, I’ll be enjoying a hot mug of coffee and gazing out over the beautiful vista. Good luck in the competition. I’ll see you afterward!”
Grandfather tipped his hat and waved good-bye.
“Very well. Let us go inside where it is warm,” Benedict said, and he led the Aldens inside to a reception hall, where he gave a bow. “Now then! Allow me to welcome you to the Great Spy Showdown.”
It may have only been the entryway, but it was quite grand. The floor tiles were white, and the woodwork in the trim and along the staircase were dark brown. A large glass case showed off dozens of golden awards and medals, surrounded by framed diplomas and certificates. But the most impressive thing in the room was an eye-catching portrait of a woman, which hung on the wall across from the door. She wore a fancy, peach-colored dress and held up a pair of opera binoculars, hiding her eyes. Her lips had a slight smile, as if she was keeping a secret.
Violet gasped. “This looks just like the manor that Agent Ada lives in with her uncle. It’s like we’ve walked right into the Agent Ada books.”
“I wonder if there are trapdoors and hidden rooms here too!” said Benny.
“That would be quite mysterious, non?” said Benedict. Then he cleared his throat. “Welcome to the Ashton Manor, where A.D. Ashton, the author of the Agent Ada series, lives and does all of the writing.”
“All twenty-eight books?” Violet asked.
“All twenty-eight,” Benedict said with a proud nod. “Now…let me explain the competition. There will be three rounds, each focusing on skills any successful spy should have. In each round, one team will be eliminated. And as you saw in the invitation, the last team standing will be awarded the opportunity to meet A.D. Ashton.”
“And we’re staying here in the manor?” Jessie asked.
“Indeed. Your rooms have been prepared. However, right now we have some preparations to make for the competition. As you know, it is vital for a spy to make the most of the technology at their disposal. Accordingly, using technology will be an important part of this competition. Two of you will now report to the Gadgetry, where you will be trained on the equipment you will be using. The other two will come with me for a brief tour of your living quarters. There you will leave your things and find the rest of the gear for the competition. Afterward, we will all proceed to dinner before retiring for the evening. The competition begins first thing tomorrow morning.”
Henry nodded toward the sounds of voices from down the hall. “Have the other teams arrived already?” he asked.
“Oui,” Benedict said with a nod. “There are four teams in all, and each has been designated a number. You four are Team One. Each team is made of four agents ages six to sixteen. Benny, you are the youngest, but do not fear. Agent Ada was also very young when she first began her spy training.”
Benny stood up a little straighter. He liked the idea of getting a head start on his spy training.
“Are the other teams brothers and sisters like us?” asked Violet.
“Non. You are the only team that is siblings,” said Benedict. “And you are the final team to arrive. And so, time is of the essence. Your first decision must now be made: Who will be going to the Gadgetry, and who will be going on the tour?”
“I’d like to see the Gadgetry,” Violet said.
“And I want to see the rest of the manor,” Benny said. He took Jessie’s hand. “And maybe find something to eat…”
Jessie chuckled. “I guess you’re going with Violet then, Henry.”
“Great,” Henry said. “All right, Aldens, missions are confirmed. Let’s split up.”
TO FOLLOW HENRY AND VIOLET TO THE GADGETRY, PRESS HERE.
TO FOLLOW JESSIE AND BENNY ON THE TOUR, PRESS HERE.
The Gadgetry
“Very well,” Benedict said. “Henry and Violet, head down this hall to the Gadgetry. It is at the end of the west wing and will be difficult to miss. Dr. Sharpe will be introducing the technology very soon.”
Violet and Henry went where Benedict indicated. As they walked, they noticed more certificates and diplomas hanging in neat rows. Although Violet didn’t have time to stop and look closely, she did notice something strange.
“There aren’t any names on these certificates,” she said. “I think A.D. Ashton must really want to keep his identity a secret.”
Henry glanced at one of the certificates. It was an award for Electronic Lock Picking. Henry had seen Grandfather’s university diploma hanging in his office. On it, Grandfather’s name, James Henry Alden, was written clearly at the bottom. But A.D. Ashton’s certificates and diplomas were very different. On the line where a name might go, there was only a blank line and the word Agent.
“Maybe that’s how they do it in spy school,” said Henry.
“Agent Ada always says a spy’s most important tool is their identity,” Violet said. She shivered. “How mysterious!”
At the end of the hall was a set of doors that opened to a large room with a high ceiling. The room reminded Henry of the science lab at school, with four worktables in two rows. At the far end, a brown desk sat in front of tall windows overlooking the surrounding hills.
The voices quieted when Henry and Violet entered. Two members from each of the other three teams were already there. Each pair stood at their own worktable, where they had opened a metal briefcase to reveal a collection of gadgets. Each table also had a sign with a team number on it. Everyone hushed to watch Henry and Violet find their place at the Team One worktable.
At first, Violet wasn’t sure how to react to the other teams. They were the competition, after all. But just as she and Henry took their seats, one of the children from the table next to theirs waved and gave a friendly smile. Violet let out a breath and waved back. After a moment, the quiet conversations in the room started up again.
“The gadgets must be inside the cases,” Violet said. “I can’t wait to see what’s inside. My favorite Agent Ada gadgets are invisible ink and those nano-hook gloves she uses to climb walls like a gecko.”
“I hope we get to use a grappling hook,” Henry said. “Let’s open it up!”
Henry flipped open the case. The inside was padded with black foam to protect the equipment inside. Henry and Violet took all the gadgets out carefully and laid them side by side on the table.
The first item was a computer tablet. It was about the size of the notebook Jessie used to keep lists. Violet set it beside two headsets, which each came with a small watch to control the settings.
Henry took out the biggest gadget in the case, which looked sort of like a toy helicopter Violet had seen at the store.
“What is that?” Violet asked.
“It’s a drone,” Henry said, setting it down gently. The drone was made of black plastic and had four arms, each with a little propeller. In the center was a glass lens that Violet realized was a camera. Henry showed her the controller, which was small, with two joysticks and a few buttons. “We can control it with this. I bet the camera in the center feeds into the tablet.”
“So cool!” Violet said quietly. “Jessie’s going to love the tablet for taking notes, and Benny’s going to have a lot of fun playing with the drone.”
“Remember, this isn’t all about fun,” Henry said. “These are expensive pieces of equipment. We’ll also have to be careful with them. Hey, I think I see something else in the case. What’s that?”
Henry was right. Violet looked and found one final gadget resting in the case. But when she set it on the table, it didn’t look nearly as high-tech as the rest of the gadgets. It was just a pair of regular sunglasses.
“Hmm,” Henry said as they looked them over. “I bet there’s something special about them. Let’s wait for Dr. Sharpe, who I’m sure will explain.”
As if on cue, a shrill voice rang out as a tall woman came into the room, carrying yet another metal case. “Good evening, agents!” She seemed even taller thanks to a high-tech-looking helmet with a ridge that stuck up on the top. The woman stood in front of the desk and introduced herself.
“I am Dr. Elizabeth Sharpe, A.D. Ashton’s technology consultant. Whenever A.D. Ashton writes a new book that involves technology, I help make sure the description is accurate. I’m also a professor of experimental engineering. I was asked to come in today to train you all on the gadgets you’ll be using for the competition. Please follow along as I review the equipment.”
Dr. Sharpe set her case on the desk and opened it. One at a time, she removed the items and explained.
“This is a tablet, also called an electronic notebook. You can use it to take notes and photographs. Remember that documenting your observations is an important part of being a good spy. The tablet is also linked with the drone, and the video captured by the drone’s camera will automatically show up on the tablet, so you can view it.”
Next she took out the drone. She set it on the desk and turned it on using the controller. The lights blinked, the propellers spun, and after a moment, it gently lifted into the air, gliding smoothly in a figure eight overhead.
“These drones are controlled with the handset. Use the two joysticks to control direction and height. To turn on the camera, use the button in the center. You may find the drones useful for looking at things you couldn’t otherwise see. Remember, Agent Ada always says, ‘If you’re ever stuck, try looking at things from a different angle.’”
The third thing Dr. Sharpe went over were the headsets. “The headsets can be tuned to two channels—one open channel that is shared between all of the headsets. Use that one in case of any emergencies. The second channel is a private channel, which is only shared between the two headsets in your team. And lastly”—Dr. Sharpe held up the glasses—“I won’t say much about these except to tell you that they will prove invaluable. Someone on your team should be wearing them at all times. Now! Take a moment to familiarize yourself with your gadgets. I’ll come around and answer any questions you may have.”
The room burst into conversation as the teams started experimenting with the equipment. Violet put on one of the headsets and turned on the tablet while Henry powered up the drone. A moment later, Violet saw the video feed from the drone’s camera appear on the tablet.
“Here we go,” Henry said. He pushed forward on one of the joysticks, and the drone started to hover. But as soon as Henry touched the other joystick, the drone began to jerk and wobble. Henry chewed on his lip, eyes focused.
“This is a lot harder than Dr. Sharpe made it look,” he said.
“Wow, look at Team Three’s drone,” Violet said, nodding with her chin.
Although Team Two and Team Four were having the same challenge as Henry, Team Three’s drone was swooping through the room quickly and smoothly. The boy controlling it was about her age, ten or eleven, Violet guessed. The boy watched the drone with a little smile.
“Looks like Team Three has a real techno whiz,” Henry said, arching his eyebrow. He concentrated on their own drone, eyes sparkling with determination. “I’ll really have to practice now!”
While Henry worked on flying the drone, Violet turned her attention to the headset. Using the watch, she found that the headset had two settings, 0 and 1. She pressed the first one and listened.
“Once we win, we’ll have to make sure to get a photo with A.D. Ashton.”
Violet looked around the room. Someone was broadcasting on the open frequency. Team Three was distracted watching the drone, and Team Four was trying on the glasses. It was the two members from Team Two that were using the headsets.
“Yes, we’ll have to get a photo if we want our plan to work,” said the older of the pair, a boy about Henry’s age. He was whispering, but Violet could hear him because he was wearing the headset. Violet turned off her headset and took it off.
“Henry, I just heard something strange,” she said quietly. “The members of Team Two are talking about getting a photo of A.D. Ashton and some kind of plan. I think they were talking about it on the open frequency by accident…I don’t know what they meant, but it didn’t sound very nice.”
“Hmm, that does sound strange,” said Henry. “Let’s keep an eye on Team Two.”
A little later, Dr. Sharpe returned to the front of the room.
“Good work today, agents,” she said. “Now, unless anyone has any other questions, you’re free to bring your equipment up to your rooms and join the others for dinner. Tomorrow your first mission will begin.”
The four teams packed their gadgets into the cases. As they all got ready to leave, Dr. Sharpe cleared her throat.
“Oh, one more thing that I almost forgot. The winning team gets to keep the gadgets they used for the competition,” she said. The children gasped with excitement. Even Violet couldn’t help but imagine what fun she and her siblings could have with the drone and the tablet and the headsets—even the mysterious glasses. Dr. Sharpe winked and waved them off.
“Very good, now hurry along,” she said. “And good luck to you all!”
CONTINUE
THE TOUR
Benedict gave Henry and Violet directions to the Gadgetry, then turned back to Jessie and Benny. With an elegant gesture, he waved them toward the staircase at the back of the entryway.
“This way, please!” he said.
The manor was large, though not as big as some of the historic mansions Jessie and her siblings had visited. She and Benny followed Benedict up to the second floor, then down a hallway with plush gray carpet.
“The manor has two main wings,” Benedict explained as they walked. “This is the west wing. On the first floor is the kitchen, the dining hall, and the Gadgetry. On the second floor is where each team’s suite is located. You are welcome to explore the manor during the day, but we ask that you do not enter the east wing. That is A.D. Ashton’s private living space, and out of respect, please do not venture there unless requested.”
“Understood!” Jessie said.
Benny nodded and repeated, “Understood!”
At the end of the hall was an open room with a fireplace, sofas, and a television. Despite being in such a fancy manor, the room was cozy, almost like the family room at Grandfather’s house.
“This common area is for the four teams to share during the competition. You can think of it as your home base,” Benedict explained. Surrounding the common area were four doors, each with a sign saying what team they were for. When Benedict reached the first door, he unlocked it and handed Jessie the key.
“This will be your room for the duration of the co
mpetition,” he said, opening the door and waving them inside. “There are four beds and a private shower. I hope you will find everything satisfactory.”
“Thank you so much,” Jessie said. “I’m sure it will be.”
Benedict bowed. “Now then, I must go and prepare supper. Please make yourselves at home, and when you are ready, join us in the dining hall.” Then he turned and left them to take in their room.
It was like Benedict had said: a medium-size room with four beds, a dresser, and a big window overlooking the snowy hills outside. Jessie set their luggage down in the closet and took off her coat.
“This home base is really nice!” Benny said. “Wow, cool! Check this out!”
On one of the beds sat four sets of black clothing. The outfits were each made up of a pair of black pants with many pockets, a simple black T-shirt, a black utility belt, and a sharp-looking black jacket. Even though the jacket wasn’t as bulky as Jessie’s winter coat, she could tell from the thick lining that it would be plenty warm.
“These are so cool!” Benny said. He tried on the smallest jacket. It fit perfectly. “Do I look as cool as Ada?” he asked with a big smile.
“I don’t know if anyone can look as cool as Ada,” Jessie said, teasing him. She slipped on her own jacket. It fit just right too. She wanted to try on the utility belt—the whole outfit, really—but they’d have plenty of time for that later. She took off the jacket and put it back on the bed. She saw an envelope lying next to the black spy outfits. It said TEAM 1 on the front.
“What’s it say?” said Benny.
Inside the envelope was a note and four blank place cards. Jessie read the note: “‘All good spies use code names to protect their secret identities. All competitors will use code names for the competition. Once you have picked code names for your team, join the other teams in the dining hall for supper.”
“Code names?” Benny asked. “I’ve always wanted a code name! I want to be…Boxcar Benny!”
The Great Spy Showdown Page 2
