Spy Cat (12 page)

The professor waded through the river to try and lose them but he could still hear the dogs. He paused for a moment, listening intently. He imagined them, tails raised, noses to the ground, slobbering in pursuit. They were getting closer. He ran for the safety of the trees, his feet squelching. He was trying to stay low in case the enemy was close. The professor wasn't cut out for this. He was the wrong side of middle age and his liking for late-night snacks meant his midriff was rounder than it should be. He trained spy animals but wasn't spy material himself. Yet here he was, being hunted.

He
slumped at the base of the tree, chest heaving. The lens in the left eye of his spectacles was shattered, the frame bent. Sweat seeped from his eyebrows, blurring his vision even more. He tugged the lab coat from his shoulders.

‘It's making me an easy target,' he cursed, noticing that it was now more red than white. The professor winced, wondering how many times he'd been hit. He pressed his hand against his upper arm.
Red
. ‘These enemy agents are good,' he grimaced, suspecting the end was near.

Professor Cortex peered round the tree, squinting into the forest. He covered his left eye to help him focus. He remembered the map and was fairly sure that if he could just get through the clearing, there was a cabin.

Maybe it's got Wi-Fi or a phone
, he thought.
It's my only chance.

His thinking was dulled by a sudden pain in his chest. He rummaged for his pillbox, opened it and scoffed a handful. He coughed as the pills got stuck in his dry throat.

The enemy agent pricked his ears. A cough was enough. He settled into position, eye pressed
to the sight of the gun. He was hidden halfway up a tree.

Perfect for a sniper
, he breathed. He scanned the clearing. He'd hit him once and knew the old man was struggling.
Chances are he'll be making for the cabin. I can wait
, he thought, scanning again through the sights of the rifle. The cross picked out a white lab coat and his body stiffened. ‘Bingo!'

The professor swallowed hard, three times, and the pills finally disappeared. The barking was getting louder. He liked dogs, but not
these
dogs! He took one last squint into the clearing and went for it. He'd seen Spy Dog run from baddies and he knew that he had a better chance if he zigzagged. For some reason, he couldn't help yelling.

The agent in the tree relaxed. He'd been taught by the best. The old man was doing the slowest zigzagging run in history.
And all that noise? Tut tut – big mistake, old man.

The sniper eased the trigger and Professor Cortex fell, clutching his leg. The assassin smiled.
Down but not quite out.
This is fun!
The
man was up again, staggering across the clearing, red footprints in the dirt. The second shot caught him on the shoulder and he reeled in agony.

‘No more!' he yelled. ‘Please. Enough!' He was on his knees, hands held high, shouting into the trees. ‘See? No weapon. I'm unarmed. Have mercy.'

The hunter licked his lips, his eyes unblinking. His mission was clear. Eliminate the professor.
I can't remember any instructions about second chances and there was never any mention of mercy.
The cross moved to the man's forehead and the trigger was pulled one final time.

Professor Cortex fell face first into the dirt.

Spy Dog series in reading order
SPY DOG
CAPTURED!
UNLEASHED!
SUPERBRAIN
ROCKET RIDER
SECRET SANTA
TEACHER'S PET
ROLLERCOASTER!
BRAINWASHED
MUMMY MADNESS
STORM CHASER
Spy Pups series in reading order
TREASURE QUEST
PRISON BREAK
CIRCUS ACT
DANGER ISLAND
SURVIVAL CAMP
Spy Cat series in reading order
SUMMER SHOCKER!
BLACKOUT!
SAFARI
SPY DOG JOKE BOOK