Liberation (I Am Margaret Book 3) by Corinna Turner Page B

impressively poker-faced. Pope Cornelius waved them to their ease and went to sit at one corner of the rostrum, a small white clad figure among all the dark camo, leaving Bane and Eduardo and Father Mark the centre stage.
    “Sit down, everyone,” said Bane. “We’re going to run through the whole plan. Yes, we’ve been over it a hundred times. I don’t care. Clean out your ears and listen . Any messing around and you’ll be staying here. If you can’t concentrate for an hour, you’re not going to be up to this. Yes, I am talking to you, Ferrari, so stop whispering to Porsche. Any questions?”
    “Yeah, why’ve we got a leader who barely needs razors?” came a mutter from the front. Probably Ferrari, pissed off at being singled out.
    A flash of irritation crossed Bane’s face. Yeah, if the Holy Father and Eduardo thought Bane had proved himself enough to be in charge that should be good enough for everyone! Father Mark, as second in command, surely made up for any experience Bane lacked. And Eduardo had to clear all the plans, anyway…
    Jon must’ve felt me bristling, ‘cause he gave my hand a warning squeeze. Yeah, I’d really been about to leap up on the rostrum and give Ferrari a piece of my mind. Please, Jon! My hormones are fine now .
    “Not sure what leader you’re talking about,” Bane was saying calmly, “I distinctly remember shaving off quite a respectable beard, a month or so back. You must be talking about Eduardo.”
    Which raised a laugh. Bane had brushed the insult off with a joke! Really turning into quite the little leader, wasn’t he?
    “Anyway, you can talk!” called one of Animal team.
    “Okay, let’s get started,” said Bane quickly. “Before one of the backups gets to pretend to be a posh car for a few days.”
    Silence. Ferrari wasn’t going to risk it. First thing when the guards arrived, they’d tested Bane, pushing, pushing to see how far they could go. When they found it wasn’t far at all, they’d quickly settled down, satisfied the guy in charge wasn’t made of jelly.
    I struggled to do as Bane said and pay attention – but I kept seeing towering concrete walls, coils of deadly wire and a room, a white room my mind skittered away from even in memory. My breath came faster and… oh. Jon’s hand was still clasped in my sweaty one. I didn’t let go, and nor did he. Not until the Holy Father stood up to bless us and I needed my hand to cross myself.
    Bane slapped a hand to his chest as though to check the blessing had gone in and said, “Er, thanks,” sparking a few good-natured titters. Oh yes, be with us on this one, Lord ...
    “Okay,” Bane said, when the Holy Father sat down again. “Everyone follow Eduardo to the armoury where you’ll be issued your weapons. Then proceed to the square, where the trucks will be waiting. In order of advance, please, so Colour team first, then Shape, Country, Utensil, Sweets, Sealife, Geography, History, Vehicle, Animal. Any questions about stage one – transfer from Gozo to the French department – last chance.”
    Silence.
    The room emptied, twenty-two by twenty-two. The only problem with being part of the command team – we were always last.
    “Okay, Animal,” called Bane at last. “Follow on.”
    Jon hugged me again, and I hugged him back. For just a moment I buried my nose in his hair, breathing in his calming scent.
    “I’m your prayer support,” he whispered.
    “You and the Almighty on our side,” I whispered back, “how can we fail?”
    “I thought you were marrying the other one,” said Kyle behind me.
    I spun around and actually put my hands to his chest and shoved him a few feet backwards.
    “Shut up, Kyle! What is your problem today?”
    “My problem? Calm down, Sis. I don’t think you’re supposed to push the clergy around, y’know.”
    “You can if they’re your brother and they’re being a...” I used a word I shouldn’t have.
    “Whoa…” Father Mark appeared between us. “What’s