Read Online The Amazon Experiment by Deborah Abela - Free Book Online Page A

contains sachets of powders and sprays that will ward off most of the animals that you …’ Quimby looked like she was trying to find the right words. ‘That you may come across.’
    â€˜What kind of animals?’ Max asked warily.
    â€˜Oh, you know, the usual South American kind of animals, but I’m sure —’
    â€˜Such as?’
    Quimby took a deep breath. ‘Jaguars, pumas, snakes, alligators, piranhas —’
    â€˜Actually, Quimby,’ Max interrupted, ‘I think that’s all I need to know for now.’
    â€˜These are super-tough covers for your palm computers. After Max’s broke in the Nightmare Vortex, we knew we had to toughen them up.’ Max and Linden took a transparent sleeve each and tucked their computers into them. ‘They are waterproof, shockproof, and will withstand the most incredible pressure.’
    When Quimby turned to outline the final articles in their packs, she momentarily lost her balance and fell against the bench.
    â€˜Quimby?’ Linden sprang forward and caught her, but just as he did, he saw it. The terrible grey pallor of the sleeping sickness. ‘You’ve got it, haven’t you?’
    There was a pause as the scientist got her breath back.
    â€˜I’m afraid I have.’ Her voice was small.
    â€˜We’ve got to get you to Finch’s infirmary.’ Maxwas frightened at how many agents had caught the illness.
    â€˜I’ve sent word,’ she breathed. ‘His assistants are on their way.’
    Quimby turned away. Max didn’t know what to say. As yet they only had a treatment from the Plantorium that could slow down the symptoms. No-one knew if it was possible to create an antidote in time to stop the sleeping sickness from becoming fatal.
    â€˜We’ll find the antidote, Quimby. Trust us.’ Max offered her a confident look.
    â€˜Yeah, and besides,’ Linden added, ‘we can’t let anything happen to you because then we won’t have anyone to equip us for our missions.’
    Max smiled. Even when Linden was scared, he still knew exactly what to say.
    Quimby appreciated Max and Linden’s courage. Her smile was weak, worn down by the sickness and the grave spectre facing Spyforce. ‘Finally, I’ve included your lasers, invisibility cream and antidote and super-concentrate food capsules which have all the goodness of a wholesome, organic meal.’
    Finch’s assistants arrived and carefully placed Quimby on a stretcher, but before they carried her away, she looked at the two eager agents before her. ‘Good luck and come back soon.’
    Max and Linden watched as she was ferried down the corridor, both knowing that not only her fate but that of the whole of Spyforce rested entirely with them.

As the express wardrobe to Harrison’s office plummeted downwards, Max and Linden stabilised themselves by holding onto the rack of old clothes. The plunge unsettled their already nervous stomachs, but when the wardrobe came to a standstill, it also unsettled something else.
    â€˜Ouch!’
    A storm of boaters, bowlers, pith helmets and dust rained down on Max’s head from a round leather hat box.
    â€˜You’d think the top spy agency in the world could work out a more comfortable way to travel.’
    â€˜They need to be discreet,’ said Linden.
    â€˜I’d like to know how I’m going to survive all this discreetness.’
    Linden smiled and went to open the door, but stopped as they heard voices coming from the office, one commanding and serious, the other calm and attentive.
    â€˜Yes, sir … No, sir … You can count on me, sir.’
    Max’s brow creased. ‘It’s Agent Perfect. What’s he doing here?’ As she spoke, the dust from the hatbox nestled firmly into her nose, and an almighty sneeze took hold of her and flung her out of the wardrobe.
    â€˜Max. Linden,’ the Chief of Spyforce