Read Online Bodyguard: Ransom (Book 2) by Chris Bradford - Free Book Online
Authors: Chris Bradford
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pet,’ she muttered, her eyes narrowing.
‘Loser,’ shot back Amir.
Ling made a grab for his mobile. ‘Watch it or I’ll stick that phone where there’s
definitely
no signal!’
‘Settle down, you two,’ said Bugsy, wagging a finger at their childish squabbling. ‘Ling’s got a point, though. The signal range is limited to the coastal areas. Also, only one person hears your call and a mobile can’t be homed in on as easily as a VHF transmission.’
Ling stuck her tongue out at Amir in smug victory.
Bugsy frowned at her behaviour but continued with his lecture. ‘That’s why most boats are equipped with satellite systems featuring voice, data, fax and GMDSS capabilities.’
‘What’s GMDSS?’ asked Jason, struggling to make notes fast enough.
‘Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. It’s a highly sophisticated worldwide distress system that delivers emergency, safety and other communications, such as weather warnings and search-and-rescue messages –’
The class bell rang for lunch and, like all schoolkids, Alpha team began to pack away with impatient urgency.
‘Just one more thing,’ said Bugsy, holding up a bright yellow plastic cylinder with a light and short aerial at one end. ‘This is an emergency position-indicating radio beacon. It transmits a distress signal to satellites and relaysthe information to a rescue coordination centre. EPIRBs are pretty cool gadgets, since they automatically activate upon immersion in water and have a float-free bracket if the vessel sinks.’
Bugsy placed the EPIRB on the desk for the class to examine. Then he stowed away his laptop, popped a piece of chewing gum into his mouth and headed out of the door.
Alpha team gathered their belongings and filed past the EPIRB, giving it the once-over.
Jason picked it up and regarded Connor. ‘Let’s pray there aren’t any Maydays on your mission.’
‘I’m with you there,’ said Connor. Then he caught the odd expression on Jason’s face. ‘Hey, what do you mean by that?’
‘Well, you got shot last time, didn’t you?’
Nettled by the implied criticism, Connor held his rival’s gaze. ‘And I heard on your Caribbean assignment you got second-degree sunburn!’
A moment of tension hung between them. Then Jason’s mouth broke into a wide grin.
‘Fair point,’ he chuckled, putting down the EPIRB and clapping a meaty arm round Connor’s shoulders. ‘That was rather stupid of me, wasn’t it?’ He glanced in Ling’s direction as she left the classroom with Amir, the two of them now laughing together. ‘Look, just watch Ling’s back for me. That’s all I’m asking.’
‘I think she can look after herself,’ replied Connor, indicating the faded shadow of his black eye from the previous week.
‘Sure, she can,’ agreed Jason, ‘but if something goes wrong … you’ve only got each other to depend on.’ His earth-brown eyes searched Connor’s face as if looking for a chink in his armour. Then, with a final encouraging squeeze of his arm, he let go and shouldered his bag. ‘I hear you and Ling are flying out to Oz to meet the girls before the holiday?’
Connor nodded. ‘Yes, by request of Mr Sterling.’
‘Well, enjoy my home turf,’ he said with genuine warmth, heading for lunch. He paused a moment in the doorway as if remembering something. ‘But watch out for dropbears.’
‘Dropbears?’ queried Connor.
‘Yeah, vicious little creatures. Like koalas, only with teeth. My uncle was savaged by one last summer,’ Jason explained. ‘They hang in treetops and attack their prey by dropping on to their heads from above. Just be careful is all I’m saying.’
‘Thanks for the heads up,’ said Connor.
‘No worries,’ replied Jason, smiling.
Connor and Ling entered the logistic supply room to find Amir already there. He stood behind the desk with an eager look on his face as if Christmas had come early.
‘I’ve been waiting all morning to hand over your
‘Loser,’ shot back Amir.
Ling made a grab for his mobile. ‘Watch it or I’ll stick that phone where there’s
definitely
no signal!’
‘Settle down, you two,’ said Bugsy, wagging a finger at their childish squabbling. ‘Ling’s got a point, though. The signal range is limited to the coastal areas. Also, only one person hears your call and a mobile can’t be homed in on as easily as a VHF transmission.’
Ling stuck her tongue out at Amir in smug victory.
Bugsy frowned at her behaviour but continued with his lecture. ‘That’s why most boats are equipped with satellite systems featuring voice, data, fax and GMDSS capabilities.’
‘What’s GMDSS?’ asked Jason, struggling to make notes fast enough.
‘Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. It’s a highly sophisticated worldwide distress system that delivers emergency, safety and other communications, such as weather warnings and search-and-rescue messages –’
The class bell rang for lunch and, like all schoolkids, Alpha team began to pack away with impatient urgency.
‘Just one more thing,’ said Bugsy, holding up a bright yellow plastic cylinder with a light and short aerial at one end. ‘This is an emergency position-indicating radio beacon. It transmits a distress signal to satellites and relaysthe information to a rescue coordination centre. EPIRBs are pretty cool gadgets, since they automatically activate upon immersion in water and have a float-free bracket if the vessel sinks.’
Bugsy placed the EPIRB on the desk for the class to examine. Then he stowed away his laptop, popped a piece of chewing gum into his mouth and headed out of the door.
Alpha team gathered their belongings and filed past the EPIRB, giving it the once-over.
Jason picked it up and regarded Connor. ‘Let’s pray there aren’t any Maydays on your mission.’
‘I’m with you there,’ said Connor. Then he caught the odd expression on Jason’s face. ‘Hey, what do you mean by that?’
‘Well, you got shot last time, didn’t you?’
Nettled by the implied criticism, Connor held his rival’s gaze. ‘And I heard on your Caribbean assignment you got second-degree sunburn!’
A moment of tension hung between them. Then Jason’s mouth broke into a wide grin.
‘Fair point,’ he chuckled, putting down the EPIRB and clapping a meaty arm round Connor’s shoulders. ‘That was rather stupid of me, wasn’t it?’ He glanced in Ling’s direction as she left the classroom with Amir, the two of them now laughing together. ‘Look, just watch Ling’s back for me. That’s all I’m asking.’
‘I think she can look after herself,’ replied Connor, indicating the faded shadow of his black eye from the previous week.
‘Sure, she can,’ agreed Jason, ‘but if something goes wrong … you’ve only got each other to depend on.’ His earth-brown eyes searched Connor’s face as if looking for a chink in his armour. Then, with a final encouraging squeeze of his arm, he let go and shouldered his bag. ‘I hear you and Ling are flying out to Oz to meet the girls before the holiday?’
Connor nodded. ‘Yes, by request of Mr Sterling.’
‘Well, enjoy my home turf,’ he said with genuine warmth, heading for lunch. He paused a moment in the doorway as if remembering something. ‘But watch out for dropbears.’
‘Dropbears?’ queried Connor.
‘Yeah, vicious little creatures. Like koalas, only with teeth. My uncle was savaged by one last summer,’ Jason explained. ‘They hang in treetops and attack their prey by dropping on to their heads from above. Just be careful is all I’m saying.’
‘Thanks for the heads up,’ said Connor.
‘No worries,’ replied Jason, smiling.
Connor and Ling entered the logistic supply room to find Amir already there. He stood behind the desk with an eager look on his face as if Christmas had come early.
‘I’ve been waiting all morning to hand over your
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