Chapter Four: Friendship

The next day, Andre was set into a room, and given a red CHERUB shirt. He didn't own anything of his own apart from that. He did have his wallet, which held a little pocket money, an identification photograph of himself and a picture of him with his mother and father, but there wasn't much else. One part of the room was only slightly personalised – but not much. It appeared that Andre had a roommate.

'Leave me alone!' came the shout of a boy's voice out in the corridor. The door suddenly opened, a flash of a boy came in, and the door closed, the deadlock bolted. 'Please don't hurt me!' the boy squeaked at Andre. Obviously this boy was his roommate, but didn't know who he was.

'I'm not here to hurt you,' said Andre, calmly and in a professional manner. 'I'm Andrew Richardson – nope, sorry. Andre Cherub. I'm the newest recruit.'

'Oh,' said the boy. 'I'm the second-newest now. I've been here for a fortnight. Henri Rheon,' he held out to shake hands. Andre accepted. 'So, how did you get here?' Henri asked, eager to make conversation and friends.

'I never found out much about my family until they died,' Andre said. 'Apparently, my father was involved in a terrorist organisation. When he tried to escape, they bombed our house. I was at a sleepover at my friend's house. And to imagine all of that happened just two days ago.'

Henri just stood, mouth gaping.

'And how did you get here?' Andre asked the gape-mouthed boy.

'My family were killed – by French terrorists. One of the largest groups around, apparently. We were walking along a simple footbridge on a holiday in Paris. When the first explosion went, my father threw me onto grass. But he and my mum weren't so lucky…'

Henri stopped, tears filling his eyes as he looked ready to sob. 'How did they die?' Andre asked, quietly.

Henri went into a sudden, seemingly unintelligible rant. 'L'explosion a completement detruit la passerelle. Mon pere est tombe sur un bateau venant en sens inverse, deja morte avec des eclats d'obus le blessant mortellement. Le corps de ma mere a ete brulee un noir charbon des flammes et tomba juste a cote de moi.'

'Is that … French?' asked Andre. 'What does it mean?'

'The blast completely destroyed the footbridge. My father fell onto an oncoming boat, already dead with shrapnel fatally wounding him. My mother's body was scorched a charcoal black from the flames and fell right beside me.'

'Okay.' Andre realised he had another question for Henri. 'Why did you just switch to French?'

'It happens sometimes when I talk about something sad. I was born in France and learnt both French and English.'

'Okay.'

'Have you chosen your subjects?' Henri questioned.

'Nope. Maybe you can help me choose.'

'Well, I'm taking Avance Francais and Espanol Principiantes for my languages. Advanced French and Beginners Spanish. Then I'm taking Level 12 Mathematics.'

'Level 12?'

'At CHERUB, most subjects have levels. The levels are for the normal age their aimed at. You'll be started at Level 9 and your teacher will push you up to whichever level you need.'

'Okay – that makes sense.'

'Then I have Level 10 English, but I'm about to be put into Level 11. Then I have Espionage 2. Espionage isn't age-based – it just goes with levels.'

'Cool.'

There was a knock at the door, and it opened. A carer came in.

'Andre Cherub?'

'That's me,' Andre called.

'You and a friend are needed at Zara's office. Just choose a friend and go.'

'I'll take Henri.'

O

'So, Andre – some of your subjects have already been chosen for you from your schoolwork,' said the Chairwoman to Andre and Henri. 'Starting Monday of next week, you'll be taking Level 13 English and Level 14 Mathematics. Then you'll be taking Espionage 1, Athletics 1 and Training 1. You need to choose any other subjects.'

'Can I take Espanol Principiantes and Nybegynnere Norske please?' asked Andre.

'Beginners Spanish and Beginners Norwegian – sure. Before you go into Basic Training though, be reminded, you need to have complete Espionage 2, Athletics 3 and Training 3, okay?'

'Yes.'

'Andre – with your name, we suggest you learn beginners French as well, is that fine?'

'Yep.'

'Henri – you're going to be placed in Level 13 English and Level 13 Mathematics. Also, you've been upgraded to Espionage 3 and Athletics 2.'

'Thank you, Mrs Asker.'

'Off you go.'

O

Somebody was waiting in their room before they got there.

'Hello, Rheon. I see you've brought me a little friend,' said the boy in a deep voice. He was easily fourteen, but a bit of a thug.

'Leave Andre alone!' shouted Henri quickly.

'Andre? Nice name. I'm Secton – Secton Guide.' Andre was silent the entire time Secton spoke. 'Not a talker, eh?'

'I told you to leave him alone!' Henri shouted again.

'What're you going to do? You're only in Training 2 – you don't have a chance against me.'

'What level are you, then?' Andre asked.

'That's none of your business!' Secton shouted.

The same carer who had told Andre and Henri to see the Chairwoman came barging through the door, not even bothering to knock.

'What on earth is going on in here?!' the carer shouted. She saw Secton in the room, and could figure it for herself. 'Secton, out! You'll be seeing the Chairwoman soon – I'm sick of you causing trouble for new recruits. OUT!'

The carer saw Andre and Henri smiling at each other, and correctly foresaw an amazing friendship blooming between them.