Even before the children had made it to the cover of the hotel entrance, the second noise spread terror across the harbour.
The air began vibrating, a thump-thump-thump becoming louder and louder, as four huge military helicopters appeared from behind one of the mountains, like something out of an action film.
The Squad knew immediately what this was: a major military response. The air full of choppers. A dozen armoured vehicles parked in front of the conference hotel, spilling small squads of blue-capped UN soldiers on to the surrounding streets. There was chaos and confusion everywhere, but the Squad stood firm, looking carefully around, evaluating the threat, working out what to do next.
When the noise of the helicopters and vehicles died down, they heard the announcement:
PLEASE GO TO THE MAIN CONFERENCE
HALL, WHICH HAS BEEN SECURED.
PLEASE GO TO THE MAIN CONFERENCE
HALL, WHICH HAS BEEN SECURED.
PLEASE GO TO THE MAIN CONFERENCE …
Kester ordered the Squad to head straight for the hall.
‘But what if …’ Hatty interrupted.
‘What if we can find something out?’ Kester countered. ‘We have to appear like normal kids. We mustn’t blow our cover. So just walk like everyone else to the main hall, but keep your eyes on everything. And remember it.’
Hatty nodded. She understood that Kester had made the right call.
Kester led them directly past where they had seen the water and ice spill off the boat, en route to the main hall. Everybody else was moving quickly towards the hotel entrance, stopping as if they were worried that the helicopters that were now hovering above the hotel were about to open fire on them.
‘Where’s that girl?’ Lily asked. ‘Can anyone see her?’
‘No,’ Lesh said. ‘She’s gone. But I do have photographs of her.’
‘That’s something,’ Lily said.
‘Come on,’ Kester urged. ‘Inside. Watch everyone. The girl might show up. Look out for people watching, not reacting like they’re scared. They’re the ones who might have something to do with the water attack.’
The Squad entered the hotel foyer just as Rio and most of the rest of the England team did.
‘Come on!’ Rio shouted. ‘The main hall. Now. Those helicopters are coming.’
‘Yeah, come on!’ Georgia shouted. ‘We’re all going to get killed.’
The Squad did as Rio suggested and ran with him, allowing him to take the lead. As they ran, Kester glanced at Hatty to see her screwing up her face.
‘Let them lead,’ he said quietly.
‘But they should know there’s no threat. They’re panicking.’
‘It’s OK. For now. Let them think it. We just need to look scared too. Or our cover will be blown.’
Hatty grimaced, but did as Kester said.
One minute later, all the children from the football teams staying at the hotel, all wearing team tracksuits, were in the main hall with dozens of men and women in smart, expensive clothes.
It was a strange sight. Each set of people was behaving like sheep, grouping in small circles, moving around, chattering. All crowded into the grand dining hall with its wood panelling and oil paintings on the walls.
In the English group, Georgia was making the most noise. ‘What’s going on? Look at the doors! There are armed men on all the doors. We’re going to be bombed. Can you hear the planes over us?’
Hatty longed to tell Georgia that there was nothing to worry about. This was not a major attack but just a few barrels of water off a boat; the noises above were not planes about to bomb them but UN peacekeeping helicopters protecting the airspace.
‘What did you see?’ Hatty asked Rio, trying to sound panicked.
‘Some sort of bomb on a boat. Most of us were waiting outside the main entrance to the hotel. The bus had just drawn up. We got soaked.’ He pointed at his sodden trainers. ‘Then the helicopters came,’ Rio said. ‘But it’s gone quiet. Maybe the helicopters are here to protect us?’
Hatty nodded vigorously, putting her hand on their captain’s arm. ‘I hope you’re right, Rio,’ she said, trying to look like any other teenage girl would when this kind of thing was happening. As she did, she surveyed the other team members – Johnny looked pale and shaken, Finn stood with his mouth agape, and some of the others just looked genuinely scared, two of them crying.
Then a man appeared on the stage of the main hall, demanding silence.
‘LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. CHILDREN. DO NOT BE ALARMED. THERE HAS BEEN AN INCIDENT OUTSIDE THE HOTEL, BUT WE ARE SAFE. THE UNITED NATIONS SOLDIERS ARE HERE AND IN CONTROL.’
A few of the audience shouted out questions or comments. But the man carried on regardless.
‘WE HAVE ARRANGED FOR COACHES TO REMOVE YOU ALL FROM THE HOTEL. YOU WILL BE TAKEN IN MAXIMUM SECURITY TO TROMSDALEN, OUR NEIGHBOURING TOWN, OVER THE WATER. THERE IS TO BE A FOOTBALL MATCH THERE IN ONE HOUR. THE FIRST GAME OF THE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT.
‘THE STADIUM IS A SECURE SITE. PLEASE. IT’S A SAFER PLACE THAN HERE FOR NOW. YOU WILL ALL PROCEED CALMLY. WE MUST SECURE THE HOTEL BEFORE YOUR RETURN.’
‘Great,’ Rio said once the announcement was made, raising his voice above those of the other people talking. ‘I was afraid this was going to mean our game was off.’
Hatty looked at him and was impressed. Rio wasn’t panicking: he was thinking about football, just as some of the others thought they were about to be attacked. He was leading them by taking their minds off the danger.
Hatty smiled. ‘Come on then,’ she said. ‘Let’s go and play football.’