Instructors Capstick and McEwen were happy to let everyone chill out and play video games, but training had started in the water on day one, and after a PS4 FIFA tournament resulted in comprehensive victory for the Currents, consensus grew that the only proper way to finish training was to tip a hundred coloured balls in the swimming pool.

In Kerry’s absence, Tovah joined Bruce, Kyle, Lauren and James on the Crusty team. And James laid down the rules.

‘I don’t want anyone else getting injured,’ he yelled. ‘So it’s one twenty-minute round only and keep the physical stuff sensible.’

When the whistle sounded, Bruce and Alfie formed a new definition of sensible that involved getting into a massive ruck in the middle of the pool. It had to be broken up by Capstick diving in and, when it erupted for a second time, Capstick yelled, ‘That’s your lot,’ and had both players red-carded from the game.

The eight remaining players duked it for the full twenty minutes. James was in his best shape since leaving CHERUB six years earlier. Kyle had tanned and was now fit enough to keep the pace until the final whistle blew, with a few nice moves along the way.

Bodies dripped as James put his neck collar back on and exhausted players watched the training assistants counting up balls at opposite ends of the pool. Shouts went back and forth as both scores passed 190, with just a few left in each dumpster.

‘One-ninety-six, to the Crustys,’ an assistant shouted.

At the other end, Leon and Daniel jumped for joy as the assistant counted one-ninety-nine, before adding a final five-point blue ball to make two hundred and four for the Currents.

‘Still best,’ Leon shouted, as he high-fived his brother.

Alfie couldn’t resist getting right in Lauren’s face. ‘You still lose, Grand Canyon butt.’

As Lauren shoved Alfie in the pool, James grabbed his phone off a sunlounger and saw a message from Chairman Ewart Asker.

‘Bad news, guys,’ James announced, after he’d read the message. ‘I’m gonna have to disqualify the Current team for fielding an ineligible player. Apparently Ryan Sharma is no longer a CHERUB agent.’

Ryan looked shocked, as Ning burst out laughing and told James to get stuffed.

Kyle put a friendly arm around Ryan’s wet back. ‘You OK there, pal?’

‘Nervous,’ Ryan admitted, as the twins scrambled out of the pool and approached. ‘But I guess I got what I wanted.’

The twins hugged their older brother.

‘So, I guess you two won’t get kicked out of CHERUB before me after all,’ Ryan said.

‘Just don’t go getting yourself killed,’ Daniel said.

Leon nodded and grinned. ‘I don’t personally give a crap, but Theo will be devastated if you’re not around to protect him from me and Daniel.’