9789127420168

Polar Fish

– a crime story Finally he was near the front of the airport security queue. Only two people were in front of him now.

Lucas held his black bag tight in his hand. He tried to breathe normally, tried not to smile – not to look guilty.

Because if they caught him – if they found what was in the bag – then something very bad would happen.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

ISBN 978-91-27-42016-8

9 789127 420168

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Andy Coombs 10-06-09 17.23.35

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10-06-15 14.42.38

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In an airport queue Lucas looked at his book. He was on page 8.

He had been on page 8 for forty-five minutes.

But he was not reading. He was pretending to read.

He was too scared to read.

He was standing in an airport queue – a long queue for the X-ray machine. Lucas looked at the book, so he didn’t look at the police with guns. His eyes wanted to look at them – to see if they were looking at him. But he knew that would make them suspicious. His back was wet with sweat that stained his white shirt. It was hot – but not that hot.

Only two people were in front of him now.

Lucas held his black sales bag tight in his hand.

He tried to breathe normally, tried not to smile – not to look guilty. Because if they caught him – 3

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if they found what was in his bag – then he didn’t know what would happen.

He opened his bag and took out his laptop.

He put it in a green plastic box with his jacket and keys. The box slid into the X-ray.

‘Next,’ said the guard.

Lucas walked forward. The machine peeped.

‘Have you any metal on you?’ said the guard.

‘No, I don’t think so,’ replied Lucas.

‘Keys? Mobile phone?’

‘No.’ The guard took Lucas to one side. He used a hand held machine to slide up and down his body. It peeped next to his wrist. Of course. His watch. He’d forgotten his watch. He walked back through the X-ray and took off the watch. Then he walked back through. No peep. It was OK. But it wasn’t. The guard sitting down looking at the X-ray screen, had stopped the moving belt.

He was looking hard at Lucas’ box. He called over another guard. They both looked at the X-ray of the bag and they both stared at Lucas.

Lucas smiled. He wanted them to know he wasn’t 4

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worried – he had nothing to hide. But they didn’t smile back. The belt moved again. The second guard picked up the box and took it to a table.

She called Lucas over to her.

‘What’s in here?’ she asked.

‘Just some papers and presents for my son.’

The guard was opening the bag. Lucas stopped himself from grabbing the bag and running.

‘And what’s this?’ The guard pointed to a sample case.

Lucas picked it up and opened it. There was no point trying to hide it any more. He just hoped the guard didn’t understand what was inside.

‘Look,’ he said and smiled again. ‘Just some flowers to give to my kid. He loves flowers and you have so many beautiful ones here. So many beautiful flowers. You have a beautiful country.’

Lucas’ throat was dry. Maybe he’d said too many nice things about the country. Would it make the guard suspicious?

The guard said something in her language to the other guard. He shrugged. The guard gave the sample case back to Lucas.

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‘OK,’ she said. ‘You can go.’

Lucas closed his bag and put his jacket back on.

He walked away – trying to breathe normally.

Then he felt a hand on his back. He turned and there was another man in uniform.

‘Can you come with me please sir?’ The man smiled.

‘Um … I need to catch my flight,’ said Lucas. He felt the fear returning like ice water in his throat.

‘I’m sorry sir, please follow me. This won’t take long.’ The guard took Lucas’ arm. He lead him away.

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Polar Fish

– a crime story Finally he was near the front of the airport security queue. Only two people were in front of him now.

Lucas held his black bag tight in his hand. He tried to breathe normally, tried not to smile – not to look guilty.

Because if they caught him – if they found what was in the bag – then something very bad would happen.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

ISBN 978-91-27-42016-8

9 789127 420168

moons_eye.indd 1

Andy Coombs 10-06-09 17.23.35