Thunder Raker Read Free

Usually it’s just those men in the black overalls and dark glasses hiding in the shrubbery and taking pictures of the school.” She sniffed. “I give them cups of tea, but they don’t seem very pleased. Oh, well, nice to talk to you. I must put the kettle on.”
    On his way to the school’s big iron gates, Alfie was passed by several more large cars, an armoured personnel carrier and a girl in a pink helmet and goggles on roller skates.
    The roller skates had jets of flame coming out of them and the girl shot past faster than the cars. She gave Alfie a wave as he jumped back out of the way. Then she wobbled and shot off even faster. The uniformed man dragged the gates open just in time for her to zoom through. Black smoke trailed after her.
    Alfie emerged from the cloud of smoke to find himself at the gate. The guard looked down at him.
    â€œI’m here for the start of school,” Alfie explained.
    The guard was holding a clipboard and examined a piece of paper attached to it. “Name?” he demanded.
    â€œAlfie.”
    The guard’s frown turned into a smile. “Alfie—welcome to Thunder Raker.” He tucked the clipboard under his arm and shook the surprised Alfie by the hand. “I’m sure you’ll be very happy here, but anything you need—anything at all…” He winked at Alfie. “Just ask. Any problems, come to me. Sergeant Custer.”
    â€œThank you.”
    Alfie wondered where he was supposed togo, but before he could summon the courage to ask, Sergeant Custer showed him the way to reception. “They’ll be waiting for you,” he assured Alfie. “Oh, and if you happen to be speaking to You-Know-Who…” He winked again, and tapped his nose.
    Alfie didn’t know who You-Know-Who could be, and he felt confused and embarrassed.
    â€œYou know ,” Sergeant Custer insisted. He leaned down and whispered a name in Alfie’s ear.
    â€œBut that’s my dad,” Alfie said in surprise.
    Sergeant Custer looked surprised too. He straightened up quickly and saluted. “It’s all right,” he told Alfie, looking round quickly to check they couldn’t be overheard. “Your secret is safe with me.”
    Alfie followed the drive up to the large, imposing house that was Thunder Raker Manor. The front door was standing open and an elderly man with a beaked nose introduced himself as Mr Trenchard the Head Teacher. He told Alfie he was very welcome, and that Alfie should spend his time at the school wisely. He should learn as much as he could, and then forget it all. For “security reasons”.
    Alfie wasn’t quite sure how it would help to forget everything he learned, but he didn’t like to ask. At that moment a young woman arrived and introduced herself as his teacher, Miss Jones.
    â€œGoodbye, Mr Trenchard,” Alfie said as he followed Miss Jones along to meet Class 3D.
    â€œGoodbye, er, that boy,” Mr Trenchard called after him.
    â€œHe forgets everything,” Miss Jones told Alfie. “Makes a point of it.”
    â€œWhy?” Alfie asked.
    â€œI don’t think he can remember,” Miss Jones replied. She had to shout to be heard over the roaring of some kind of engine. The noise got louder as she opened the door to the classroom. “Now, come in and meet the rest of your class.”

Chapter 3
    The engine noise was even louder inside and the classroom was full of dark smoke.
    â€œBeth!” Miss Jones shouted. “If it’s you making that racket, then stop it now.”
    With the door open, the smoke began to thin and clear. Alfie could see there were half a dozen children in the room, most of them sitting at their desks. The exception was the girl in the pink helmet whom Alfie had seen on his way to school. The flames at the backof her roller skates faded and died as the jet engines coughed and spluttered to a halt. But she was still moving very