‘My actions are for your own protection,’ he told the Mayor. ‘We have received credible reports that you are in danger. You have been targeted.’
‘Targeted?’ said the Mayor. ‘Who by?’
‘Detergents,’ answered Chief Grivas solemnly.
‘Detergents?’ the Mayor scoffed. ‘Surely not.’
‘I didn’t mean detergents,’ the Chief of Police said angrily. ‘I meant insurgents. They’re a bit like terrorists but –’
‘Cleaner?’ suggested Señorita Ratti.
Chief Grivas gave her a hard stare. Señorita Ratti glared fiercely back.
‘In light of this startling new development,’ announced Chief Grivas abruptly. ‘I am forced to take over.’
‘What?’ The Mayor was outraged.
Chief Grivas nodded. ‘It is clearly set out in the Crime and Punishment Code of Buenos Sueños that if the Mayor is threatened, then democracy itself is threatened. Therefore we must institute martial law. The police must take over immediately.’
‘You mean you’re suspending democracy in order to save it?’ said the Mayor incredulously.
‘Of course,’ replied the Chief of Police. ‘Now, for your own protection I order you to remain here under the supervision of these officers while I run Buenos Sueños until such time as it is deemed safe enough for you to assume control again.’
‘And who will judge that?’
‘Me,’ said Chief Grivas confidently. And now, flushed with power, he lit his cigar, inhaled deeply and blew black smoke into the Mayor’s face.
‘I will not allow this,’ said the Mayor, coughing. ‘Not until I have finally seen the Buenos Sueños Crime and Punishment Code for myself.’
‘Unfortunately it is not currently available,’ Chief Grivas explained. ‘Trainee Officer Anna-Luis Grivas is currently studying it for her final exams tomorrow.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ cried the Mayor, who could feel his power ebbing away. ‘You have shown no evidence that there is a threat to me and, until you do, I will not submit to your orders.’
‘You have no choice,’ snapped the Chief of Police. ‘You must obey my orders.’
He had tired of the Mayor’s protests. He put on his deluxe earmuffs with superior padding for all-round protection, saluted his officers and nodded a perfunctory farewell to Señorita Ratti, Calico Jack and Adam.
Then he looked once more at Calico Jack. And this time he looked hard.
Horrified, Adam realised that his grandfather had forgotten to don his disguise again after showing the Mayor he wasn’t a Russian. Too late, now, did Calico Jack jam his bearskin on his head and alter his expression. The Chief of Police tugged off his earmuffs and then whipped a photograph out of his pocket.
‘What have we here?’ he demanded, holding the photo up next to Calico Jack’s face.
‘I am Ivan Ivanovich Ivanivov –’
‘No, you’re not,’ said Chief Grivas. ‘You are Calico Jack, escaped murderer, robber, thief, fraudster, confidence trickster, swindler, smuggler and litter lout.’
‘I was framed for the litter,’ said Calico Jack.
‘Arrest him!’
Adam expected his grandfather to do something amazing. But for once he seemed lost. Dumbfounded at his stupidity at forgetting to put his disguise back on, Calico Jack allowed himelf to be led away by two officers.
Then Grivas’s eye fell on Adam.
‘What about this little chico here?’ he sneered. ‘Whenever there is trouble, I always run into him.’
The Chief of Police stared at Adam so hard that he felt as though Grivas could see inside him – almost as if he could read his thoughts. Adam shrank back against the door that led into the Mayor’s private apartments in a vain attempt to escape such harsh scrutiny.
‘Perhaps,’ mused Chief Grivas, ‘he too is a threat.’
Fearing the same fate as Calico Jack, Adam slipped his hands behind his back and tried the door handle. The door was locked.
‘Yes,’ continued Grivas. ‘The more I think about it, the better it would be for everyone if this chico was locked safely away in prison too.’
‘But I haven’t done anything,’ protested Adam.
The Chief of Police allowed himself an evil smile.
‘Who can tell me,’ he asked, turning to the other police officers in the room, ‘what we arrest people for when they haven’t done anything?’
‘Murder,’ suggested Trainee Officer Xavi Grivas.
‘Don’t be so stupid,’ said the Chief, rounding on his officers. ‘To arrest someone for murder you have to have a body.’
Behind him, Adam heard a little clunk. Someone had just inserted a key into the lock.
‘Arson?’ suggested another officer.
Chief of Police Grivas snorted.
‘Is my police force full of idiots?’ he cried. ‘Of course not arson. For arson you need a burning building.’
Adam heard a tiny squeak as the key turned in the lock.
‘I’m going to have to tell you, aren’t I?’ he announced angrily. ‘The answer is conspiracy: the crime you can always arrest non-criminals for.’
‘But conspiracy to do what?’ said Trainee Officer Grivas.
‘Anything you like,’ replied the Chief of Police. ‘That is the beauty of it. You can be guilty of it even if nothing has happened. Police work would be so much harder without it.’
Behind him, Adam sensed the handle turn.
Chief Grivas swung round and pointed his cigar directly at Adam. ‘Arrest him for conspiracy.’
Two officers stepped forward to obey the command, but before they could reach Adam, the door behind him clicked open and an arm shot out and pulled him through.
Taken by surprise, Adam lost his footing, stumbled and fell backwards. ‘Ow!’
Crash! The door was slammed shut again. Clunk! The key was turned in the lock.
Adam looked up to see his rescuer.
Anna, the Mayor’s daughter.
She was oblivious to the pounding on the door behind her.
‘Open this door immediately!’
‘How did you know what was happening?’ Adam asked, getting to his feet.
Anna pointed to the keyhole.
‘You looked through there?’
Anna nodded.
‘And lipread what everyone was saying?’
Anna nodded again.
‘It’s not true, you know,’ said Adam. ‘I’m not a conspirator.’
Anna pointed to herself.
‘You are?’
Anna nodded and shook her fist in the direction of the door.
‘You’re a conspirator against the Chief of Police?’
Anna nodded again, nodded so hard her head might have fallen off.
Adam smiled.
‘If you are, then I am too.’
Anna offered him her hand. Adam shook it. They really were conspirators now.
‘If we’re going to stop the Chief of Police taking over Buenos Sueños, then we need to rescue my dog, my dad, my grandad and my mum,’ said Adam.
Surprised, Anna held up four fingers to check she had read his lips correctly.
Adam nodded. ‘Everyone I know seems to get taken prisoner by someone.’
He realised that the pounding on the door had stopped.
‘Is there another way into this room?’ he asked Anna.
She nodded.
PHEEP!
‘I think they might’ve found it.’
Calmly, Anna signalled that he should follow her.
The two of them sprinted past the long dining table that spanned the room and out of the far door on to a landing. Adam grabbed Anna as she was about to launch herself down the staircase.
She couldn’t hear, but the police were on their way up the same flight of steps. They headed up the stairs instead, climbing until they reached the top floor.
‘Is there another set of stairs we can go down?’ Adam asked Anna.
She shook her head.
‘We’re trapped?’ he said in alarm.
Anna shook her head and pointed up. Directly above them was a skylight.
‘We can’t reach it,’ Adam shouted. ‘The police are going to be here any second.’
Apparently unconcerned, Anna motioned to a bookcase against the wall. They hurriedly pulled out all the books and swept the ornaments off the shelves, then dragged the bookcase out so that it stood under the skylight. Using the empty shelves as steps, Anna began to climb up.
‘You! Conspiracy chico! Stop!’
The police were on their way up the last flight of stairs.
Adam leapt on to the bookcase and climbed rapidly after her. Above him, Anna pushed open the skylight and heaved herself out on to the flat roof.
‘Come down here at once!’
Adam was horrified to see a policeman running towards him. He had no intention of obeying, of course. He scrabbled up on to the top of the bookcase and reached for the skylight.
The bookcase shuddered as the policeman leapt on to it, tipping Adam off balance. He wobbled dangerously for a moment, riding the top of the rocking bookcase like a surfboard. As soon as it felt steady again, he stretched for the skylight and, gripping the edge, began to pull himself up.
The policeman made a swipe for Adam’s dangling legs. He missed. He took another step up the shelves. He wouldn’t miss a second time. Anna grasped Adam under his arms and helped to heave the rest of his body up and through the skylight. Adam felt the policeman’s fingers just clip his shoe as he scrambled safely on to the roof.
From there they could see the whole of Buenos Sueños stretched out around them. But there wasn’t time to appreciate the view – the head of the policeman popped out of the skylight.
Anna and Adam sprinted across the rooftop of the town hall.
‘Stop!’
Still running, Adam chanced a glance behind. More policemen were pulling themselves up through the skylight and giving chase. He reached out and tapped Anna on the shoulder. She turned and smiled when she saw their pursuers, then pointed ahead – there was another skylight.
Adam understood. Anna had lured the police up there in order to get past them. They’d be able to slip through the second skylight, rush down the stairs and disappear into the narrow streets of Buenos Sueños before the policemen could catch up.
Anna put on a spurt of speed and reached the skylight. She tugged at it. And tugged again. Worry creased her face. It wouldn’t open. Adam caught up with her and together they gave the skylight a mighty tug. It didn’t move at all. This time it was locked. Anna frantically looked about for an object with which to smash the glass, but there was nothing.
Now that the policemen could see that the children were trapped, they slowed to a walk, determined to savour this capture and to make the waiting children suffer. The open skylight was the only way off the roof and they blocked access to it. Adam and Anna had nowhere to go.
But Anna wasn’t beaten yet. She gestured to Adam to follow her. The policemen watched with amusement as she led the way to the edge of the roof, which had a thick terrace wall running round it, and with a defiant toss of her dark hair climbed on to it.
‘What are you doing?’ shouted Adam.
Anna motioned for Adam to get up alongside her. Adam had other ideas.
‘It’s too dangerous!’
Like a gymnast, Anna danced a few steps along the wall to show how dangerous she thought it was.
‘Be careful,’ cautioned Adam.
Anna did a cartwheel.
This display had galvanised the policemen. They wanted their captives alive.
‘Get down!’ they shouted, and they started running again.
Anna reached down and grabbed Adam. The last thing he wanted was to be hauled over the terrace.
‘All right, I’m coming,’ he said. ‘Just don’t pull me.’
Anna let go and Adam clambered on to the terrace and stood up. Anna pointed to the next building. It was lower than the town hall and a narrow street separated them. She grabbed hold of his hand.
‘You want us to jump?’ Adam cried. ‘You’re crazy!’
He looked down – the ground was far below him. It began to sway. He felt sick and dizzy. Anna gripped his hand tightly. Adam shook his head. Anna nodded. Adam sighed. Together they took two steps forward. And jumped.
‘Aiieeeeeeee!’ cried Anna.
It was the first sound Adam had ever heard Anna make. Would it be the last? They were falling fast. Were they falling too fast? If they didn’t reach the roof of the next building, the street below was ready to rush up to them and welcome them with a mighty crunch.
‘Aiieeeeeeee!’ cried Adam.
Hand in hand, the two of them flew through the air and landed on the roof of the building opposite.
‘Aieeeee . . . Eeooow . . . Ow!’ cried Adam, crashing down, tumbling over and banging his knee hard.
Next to him, Anna rolled into a graceful and painfree landing. It seemed the dark-haired girl had much more experience when it came to death-defying leaps. This did not surprise Adam.
Behind them, the policemen were furious. Already they were wondering how they were going to explain to Chief Grivas that they had been outwitted by two children. None of them wanted to face his wrath.
The fear gave Officer Jordi Grivas an idea. He unholstered his pistol and pointed it at the children.
‘Yikes!’ commented Adam.
‘Stay exactly where you are,’ ordered the officer. ‘Or we shoot.’
Adam froze. Anna stuck out her tongue and did a backflip.
‘What are you doing?’ cried Adam. ‘They’re pointing a gun at you.’
Anna waved her hand contemptuously. She knew the policemen wouldn’t shoot at children.
Bang!
It turned out she was wrong. Things in Buenos Sueños were getting very nasty indeed.
.
CHAPTER 23
Adam and Anna dashed for the nearest skylight in a hail of gunshot from the policemen’s revolvers.
Let this one be unlocked, Adam prayed.
Dust flew up in front of him as a bullet ricocheted off the roof and shattered the glass of the skylight.
‘Get down,’ urged Adam.
Nothing seemed to flurry Anna. She lowered herself easily through the frame of the skylight and dropped to the floor. Needless to say, Adam was not so graceful in his hurry to escape the cracks and bangs of the gunfire around him.
‘Ow!’ He had hurt his other knee. He tried to ignore the throbbing pain and looked about him. They had fallen on to a landing. It was empty apart from a huge old wardrobe. Anna waved her hands to indicate he should hurry up.
Adam had just got to his feet when he heard a clunk from inside the wardrobe. The old Adam might have pretended not to hear it. But the new, bolder Adam strode over to the wooden doors and flung them open.
Grandma Marquez was standing inside. She was still knitting a scarf. She blinked angrily at Adam.
‘How did you find me?’ she demanded.
‘You clunked.’
‘You try knitting in the dark,’ the old lady said defensively.
‘I was just explaining,’ said Adam.
‘Are you the police?’ she asked suspiciously. ‘Because I warn you, if you are, I have a knitting needle and I’m prepared to use it!’
‘No,’ Adam replied. ‘Actually, we’re on the run from the police.’
Anna clenched her fists in frustration. Adam’s honesty
would surely get them caught.
‘I’m on the run from the police too,’ confided Grandma Marquez.
‘Really?’ asked Adam, in surprise. ‘Why?’
‘I don’t remember exactly. It was sixty years ago or so,’ said Grandma Marquez, ‘but I committed a crime – something to do with peas.’
‘Peas? You’re sure you can commit a crime with peas?’
The old woman nodded.
‘I thought I’d got away with it,’ she said. ‘But just the other day the police found me and I’ve been forced to hide in my sister Jordina’s wardrobe ever since. It is a terrible way for an old woman to spend her declining years. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with a coat hanger?’
Adam shook his head. Next to him, Anna suddenly came to life. Her hands flew backwards and forwards.
‘What is the matter with your friend?’ asked the old lady, looking alarmed.
‘She doesn’t talk,’ explained Adam, without taking his eyes off Anna. He had to concentrate hard to understand her gestures.
‘Anna wants to know if anything unusual happened just before the police came into your house?’
Grandma Marquez thought for a moment and then nodded.
‘Two children I’d never seen before rode through the dining room on a bicycle.’
‘That was us,’ said Adam.
‘I hope for your sake you don’t run into my daughter-in-law,’ said the old lady. ‘You got oil on her favourite rug.’
‘You don’t understand,’ Adam began.
‘What’s there to understand?’ said Grandma Marquez. ‘There is oil on a rug. She will kill you.’
‘No,’ said Adam. ‘Not the rug. The police. They were after us. They didn’t know anything about you and the peas.’ The old lady looked confused. ‘It means that you don’t need to worry about staying in this wardrobe for the rest of your life.’
Her face broke into a wide wrinkly smile as she realised this was true. She stepped out on to the landing.
‘I am free,’ she said. ‘Thank you, chicos. You must let me do something for you in return.’
From three floors below there was a tremendous banging on the door.
‘I wonder who that could be,’ she said.
Adam and the Arkonauts Page 14
