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Probably going toTokyo for the Confest. Brilliant games creator. Was slow getting off the plane because he was reading his rule-book. Those R.P.G.s live in another world.’
    He explained that a Confest was an international game convention. New games were tried out and the best ones sold. ‘Why would he need those photos?’ asked Christopher. ‘And where would the others like the photo of the Ming vase come from?’
    â€˜Dunno. Clues for his game perhaps. Props for dress-ups. R.P.G. s are mad about playing. In this job, you pick up a bit about trends. And there’s a big market for new R.P.G.games now. And for sports cards. The other mixed up photos could have belonged to passengers on this flight. The shop would have tried to get them ready for the plane’s departure time.They do special frames.’ Amy remembered Samuel saying his reprints weren’t ready in time.
    â€˜Would he use a sword in a game?’ Christopher wondered about the weapon he had felt in Red’s saggy bag.
    â€˜Might. Wouldn’t be a real one though. Just a fake,’ said the guard. ‘Or he wouldn’t have passed through security. They look after all weapons until the end of the flight. Then they give them back.’
    That sword had felt real enough, thought Christopher.
    Amy wondered if being a guard might be boring. After all, the paintings couldn’t talk to you. Guarding people might be more fun.
    â€˜Does much happen when you’re on guard?’
    The guard smiled. ‘Need to make sure cargoes aren’t switched and fakes put in for real ones. Experts plan those switches. Then sometimes cargoes are ratted. That’s why we have to watch.’
    â€˜What’s ‘ratted’ mean?’ Christopher imagined giant rats opening giant mouths so they could yawn and at the same time swallow cargo.
    â€˜Thieves open cartons, hoping to find something valuable they can sell quickly. They like to ‘rat’ expensive watches like Rolex because these are easy to sell. Although those watches do have individual numbers.’
    That Brut had a Rolex, but so did lots of the passengers. Now Christopher imagine rats with Rolex watches like dog collars. Often, inside his head was like a cartoon program. He thought in moving pictures.Christopher loved funny cartoons. He watched them on TV in any country. The language didn’t matter. He laughed anyway. Some cartoons had sub-titles but he could usually work out what was happening from the pictures. On the wall above them a TV screen was on. A cartoon was ending, so Christopher glanced across, his neck stretched back.
    The guard said,’Sometimes blackmailers threaten to destroy one-off artwork that can’t be replaced and the authorities have to strike a deal.’ The guard fiddled with his mobile. ’That’s our worry with the Rembrandt. A one-off and priceless. Not an easy job for us.’
    Meanwhile, Amy had been thinking about artnapping. ‘What if someone took a valuable vase or coin and threatened to wreck it unless the owner paid some money?’
    â€˜Or a sword?’ suggested Christopher quickly. Amy looked across at him, but just then Tess re-appeared.
    â€™Couldn’t get through to my friend.No-one’s answering the phone.’ She turned to the guard.’ If you’re here, is anyone guarding the painting now?’
    Both twins wondered why she needed to know.

Chapter 8
The Mysterious Mr Ng
    Music sounded for the start of the news on the TV screen high on the wall.
    Amy ripped out Mr Ng’s advertisement.
    Tess had been in Amsterdam. Was that a clue? But so had Brut.
    Where would you hide a Ming vase? Would it break easily? How big was it? If western buyers would pay big money for just the one vase from an ancient family shrine, it would be worthwhile for the thief. If Tess was carrying one in her luggage, did it belong to her? Was she an artist or was she just a thief? Mr Kei with