Base Camp Read Online Free Page A

there.’
    Zac looked up. Something was glinting in the moonlight up ahead of them.
    It was a tall metal pole, as high as a street sign. At the top of the pole was a silver sphere as big as a beach ball.
    â€˜What’s that?’ Zac asked.
    â€˜It’s a Sensor Scrambler,’ Agent Cougar explained. ‘There are 24 of them in a circle all around our base camp. They send out microwave pulses that block this whole area from being seen by satellites and passing planes.’
    â€˜So that’s why the GPS couldn’t create a map of this part of the jungle,’ said Zac.
    â€˜Right,’ said Cougar. ‘Come on, not far now.’ He sounded very relieved to be getting close to the base camp.
    They kept moving, and a few minutes later they finally reached the GIB building. It was small and square, and had been camouflaged to blend in with the surrounding jungle.
    Ignoring Agent Cougar’s protests, Zac flicked the SpyPad’s torch back on and quickly circled the building.
    â€˜All clear,’ Zac whispered when he’d finished. ‘Let’s head inside.’
    He walked up to the front of the building with Agent Cougar a few steps behind.
    Zac tried the door. It was unlocked. He pushed the door open and crept inside.
    The room was pitch black except for the light from a few computer screens at the far end of the room.
    Zac cautiously shone his torch around in the darkness. More computers. Filing cabinets. Desks scattered with files and coffee cups.
    Looks like a typical science lab, Zac thought. There was no-one there, and no sign of a struggle.
    â€˜All clear,’ he whispered to Cougar, and then he stepped into the next room.
    There were a few couches, a little TV and a couple of laptops on a wooden table. But still there was nothing broken, nothing out of place. No sign that anything had gone wrong.
    â€˜All clear,’ Zac said again. ‘I think we’re OK. Can you turn on the lights?’
    Agent Cougar flicked a switch and light flooded the room. No-one in this room either.
    â€˜Where are they?’ Zac wondered out loud. ‘Where is everyone?’
    â€˜Maybe they got away,’ Cougar said hopefully. ‘Maybe they –’
    THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
    â€˜What was that?’ Cougar asked.
    The noise had come from behind a door on the other side of the room.
    Zac walked over to the door.
    â€˜What’s that noise?’ said Cougar, looking scared.
    But Zac ignored him and swung the door open. He reached over and flicked on the light.
    Tied up on the floor of a little laundry room were four more GIB agents, all dressed in the same white uniform. Their eyes lit up at the sight of Zac.
    â€˜Hi,’ Zac said with a grin. ‘Need a hand?’
    He leant back and stuck his head into the other room. He could see Cougar crouched down behind one of the couches.
    Zac rolled his eyes. ‘Come on, you big baby! Untie your friends while I set up the beacon.’
    Cougar got up sheepishly and walked into the laundry.
    Zac dropped his backpack down on the wooden table and pulled out the emergency beacon.
    He crouched down and pressed a button underneath the device. Three legs shot down to the ground so that the beacon stood up like a tripod. Zac hit another button and the beacon hummed into life.

    Mission completed, he thought, pleased.
    When he stood back up, Zac could hear whispering coming from the laundry.
    â€˜It’s Agent Rock Star ,’ hissed Cougar.
    â€˜Rock Star?’ another man whispered back. ‘Why would they send him here? He could mess up the whole operation!’
    Zac walked back across to the laundry.
    â€˜Shhh!’ said Cougar. ‘He’s coming!’
    The whispering stopped.
    What was that about? Zac wondered. He decided to let it go for now.
    â€˜I’ve set up the beacon,’ he said, stepping back into the laundry.
    By now Agent Cougar had untied the other agents. There were two men, a woman, and