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wearing a traditional Chinese tunic padded silently across the stage in matching slippers.
    â€˜Welcome, cadets, to Theruse Abbey,’ he said without a trace of an Oriental accent. ‘As you have already seen, a lot is expected of you. The Socioeconomics Faculty encompasses History, Geography, Economics and Politics. It is the interaction of these disciplines that shapes society. Similarly to the Science Faculty, on completion of your transition year you will have been taught enough to pass the higher-level Leaving Certificate exams in Economics, History and Geography. In freshman and sophister years we hold weekly seminars to keep students up to date with world events, including those not reported in the media.’
    Master Qing nodded to the class and returned to his seat.
    â€˜All that on top of a double load of Science,’ Ben whispered to Jess.
    â€˜And I don’t think he’s the last one to speak either,’ said Jess.
    â€˜Crap,’ said Matt.
    â€˜Thanks, Master Qing,’ said Lieutenant Parry. ‘You will also see Master Qing in your daily Fitness Training and if ever a language teacher is called out on assignment, Master Qing will fill in for them. Now I’d like to introduce you to Ms Pimsleur, Head of Languages.’
    A petite woman of indeterminate ethnic origin stood up.
    â€˜I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your commencement here at Theruse Abbey,’ she began. ‘Some of you are looking a little overwhelmed, so I’ll be brief. The list of languages on offer is quite extensive. At a minimum we expect you to attain an ordinary-level Leaving Certificate standard in all six of the official languages of the United Nations. Although some of you may be in more advanced classes, the teachers for transition year are: Mr Hamid for Arabic, Miss Kwan for Chinese, Mr James for English, myself for French, Señor Carreras for Spanish and Ms Dvoynev for Russian.’ Each teacher nodded as Ms Pimsleur introduced them. ‘Native speakers of those languages must sit the higher-level exams. Everyone must pass the higher-level exam for Irish.’
    â€˜ What ?’ exclaimed Matt, loudly enough for everyone in the auditorium to hear.
    â€˜Did you have something to say, Mr …?’ began Ms Pimsleur, looking directly at Matt.
    â€˜Sykes,’ said Matt. ‘Matt Sykes.’
    â€˜Very James Bond,’ chuckled Lieutenant Parry.
    â€˜Did you have something to say, Mr Sykes?’ continued Ms Pimsleur.
    â€˜Why do we have to study Irish?’ asked Matt.
    â€˜You’re one of our international students, I take it?’
    Matt nodded.
    â€˜First and foremost,’ explained Ms Pimsleur, ‘Irish is the only compulsory subject in the Irish school system at Leaving Certificate level. Second, it gives us a great advantage as secret agents. There are less than one hundred thousand native speakers, and there are less than two million people worldwide who speak any Irish at all. This makes the ability to communicate in Irish one of our greatest assets – kind of a code without a code, if you see what I mean.’
    Matt nodded, but the look on his face spoke volumes.
    Ms Pimsleur turned her attention back to the rest of the students.
    â€˜Unlike Science and Socioeconomics, the language programme is continuous over the full three years at Theruse Abbey. And as Principal Metsen already pointed out, we have also made some revisions to the programme, running more language labs in local dialects. Field agents will have to pass additional tests before being admitted to a region, even after graduation. Any further questions?’
    The class remained silent.
    â€˜I’ll see you all in French class. Enjoy your time here.’
    â€˜Just quietly, if I were you I’d hope you never see her in combat training. Ms Pimsleur is a black belt in five separate martial arts disciplines,’ said Lieutenant Parry. He made