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come with us? You won't be working over Christmas, will you?'
    The general leaned back and shared a look with Alex's dad. 'Unfortunately, I have something else to do. We are tracking a consignment of concentrated sulphuric acid. There are five drums of it on a truck which is driving south through Colombia right now. The truck should cross the border into Ecuador some time later tonight.'
    'Sulphuric acid?' asked Alex. 'Why is that so important?'
    'It's a vital part of the cocaine production process,' explained Alex's dad. 'This is the best break we've had so far. If we can successfully track this consignment of acid to the cocaine factory, then we will catch our drugs baron.' He looked across at the general. 'Sure you can spare me for a few days, Luis?'
    'There's nothing you can do right now. We need to keep everything low key. If the drugs baron hears of a bunch of tough-looking gringos hanging around, he might get a little bit suspicious.'
    'Yes, but--'
    'Don't worry.' The general pointed to the radio clipped to his belt. 'I have two of my best men following this truck. If there are any problems, they will contact me. We will track the consignment to the factory, then keep the whole thing under surveillance until you get back.'
    'OK.'
    Alex sighed with relief. For a few seconds, he had thought their Galapagos holiday was under threat.
    'What about the street-kid connection?' asked Alex's dad. 'Did your informers have anything?'
    The general shrugged. 'Just the usual rumours.'
    'What rumours?' asked Alex.
    'The word on the street is that the drugs baron is using street kids as mules,' explained Alex's dad. 'A mule is someone who carries drugs to dealers and suppliers in other countries. We've heard he might be using young street kids to carry the cocaine because they're less likely to arouse suspicion.'
    Alex thought about the little girl with the big, dark eyes who had been selling roses at the traffic lights. He nodded in understanding. Nobody would suspect a little girl like her of drug-smuggling. 'But how does he get the street kids to carry the cocaine?'
    The general shrugged again. 'The rumour is, the street kids think they're going to visit some rich Americans who want to adopt them. They're told they're going to end up on a big estate with a huge house and lots of land.' He shook his head and his brown eyes were suddenly full of sadness. 'It's every street kid's dream. Many of them are orphans. They'd give anything to be part of a family again.'
    'So,' said Alex's dad, 'when the adoption men come looking for them, the street kids are fighting to be picked.'
    'How do they get the drugs across the border?' asked Alex.
    'We're not sure,' his father replied. 'But it's easy to imagine how it might happen. Off they go, carrying a beautifully wrapped "gift" for their new family.'
    'Only it's cocaine inside the wrapping,' guessed Alex.
    'That's what I think. Of course, the kids don't know what's in the parcels.'
    'Yeah, but wouldn't street kids just rip them open?'
    Alex's dad shook his head. 'The stakes are too high. They wouldn't risk losing the chance to be part of a wealthy family. Once they've served their purpose, they just disappear.'
    'What happens to them?' Alex asked, although he thought he knew the answer.
    'We think they are murdered,' sighed the general. 'When they don't come back, it fuels the rumours amongst the street kids here that they're living happily with their new, rich families, so the "adoption" men always have plenty of fresh volunteers.'
    'Is it worth trying to follow up the rumours?' asked Alex's dad.
    The general shook his head. 'Street kids are usually very suspicious of adults, especially when the adult is wearing a uniform. We wouldn't get anywhere near them. Besides, we can't run around investigating every rumour. The streets are full of them. There's a very persistent one about some guy called the Rat-catcher who goes round in a black car with mirrored windows, hunting for street kids to