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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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The novel begins with Alex Rider spending New Year with [[List of characters in the Alex Rider series#Sabina Pleasure|Sabina Pleasure]] and her family in [[Scotland]].<ref name="Actual Novel" /> Attending a New Year's party hosted by the rich businessman [[List of characters in the Alex Rider series#Desmond McCain|Desmond McCain]], founder of the fictitious charity First Aid.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> As Alex, Sabina, and her father drive home, a sniper shoots the tire of their car causing them to lose control and crash into a [[loch]].<ref name="Actual Novel" /> Alex swims from the vehicle, back to the surface, also saving the lives of Sabina and her father.<ref name="Actual Novel">{{cite book|last=Horowitz|first=Anthony|title=Crocodile Tears|year=2009|publisher=Walker Books|isbn=1406328642|authorlink=Anthony Horowitz}}</ref> |
The novel begins with Alex Rider spending New Year with [[List of characters in the Alex Rider series#Sabina Pleasure|Sabina Pleasure]] and her family in [[Scotland]].<ref name="Actual Novel" /> Attending a New Year's party hosted by the rich businessman [[List of characters in the Alex Rider series#Desmond McCain|Desmond McCain]], founder of the fictitious charity First Aid.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> As Alex, Sabina, and her father drive home, a sniper shoots the tire of their car causing them to lose control and crash into a [[loch]].<ref name="Actual Novel" /> Alex swims from the vehicle, back to the surface, also saving the lives of Sabina and her father, they are helped by a mysterious man.<ref name="Actual Novel">{{cite book|last=Horowitz|first=Anthony|title=Crocodile Tears|year=2009|publisher=Walker Books|isbn=1406328642|authorlink=Anthony Horowitz}}</ref> Alex chooses to keep secret the fact that someone shot at them. |
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A few |
A few weeks later, Alex's problems becomes more complicated when a journalist, Harry Bulman, who knows Alex's MI6 activities, forces Alex to co-operate with him to write articles of his adventure. Alex, helplessly, has to turn to MI6 for help. |
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Alex is asked to steal information from Greenfields, a fictitious [[genetically-modified]] crop facility which [[MI6]] suspects of illegal activities.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> During a school trip, Alex infiltrates the facility, stealing the information. At the same time he discovers that Leonard Straik, the director of Greenfields, is working for Desmond McCain.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> Attempting to escape, Alex steals a sample of a biological substance, and is nearly killed by armed security guards during his escape. While in the poison dome sector he slices open a chemical suit and killing a worker.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> |
Alex is asked to steal information from Greenfields, a fictitious [[genetically-modified]] crop facility which [[MI6]] suspects of illegal activities.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> During a school trip, Alex infiltrates the facility, stealing the information. At the same time he discovers that Leonard Straik (who MI6 are investigating), the director of Greenfields, is working for Desmond McCain.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> Attempting to escape, Alex steals a sample of a biological substance, and is nearly killed by armed security guards during his escape. While in the poison dome sector he slices open a chemical suit and killing a worker.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> When reviewing the tapes, Desmond recognizes Alex at Greenfields, he knew that the sabotage has something to do with Alex. |
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In return MI6 deal with Bulman by showing how easy it is to make him disapear, he agrees to leave Alex alone. However Bulman is approached by McCain who pays him to reveal everything he knows about Alex to him, before shooting him. |
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Alex is suspended by his school for a day for endangering others by opening an emergancy exit door of the coach, which Alex had used as an excuse to get himself back on the coach at greenfields. Alex decides to check out a film set that he had over heard being talked about at Greenfields. Alex finds the studios deserted apart from one and sees Bennett who'd he met at Greenfields leaving with two others. Alex goes inside and finds that it is a set of an African landscape ravenged by a natural disaster. At this point the doors are locked and the building is set on fire, Alex has to climb out of the building. |
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⚫ | The sample that Alex stole from the Greenfields plant was a fungal agent that activates genes in the GM crops that produce [[Ricin]]. The fungal spores will then spread to other fields and poison all crops they come into contact with, killing millions in the process.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> McCain shows Alex a charity advertisement that First Aid have made, ready to respond to the disaster and take in donations around the world. However, McCain informs Alex that the poison cannot be stopped and, although it decimate African countries, he will make hundreds of millions of pounds during the first few months of the plague; he then intends to steal the money before running away and assuming a new identity in [[South America]]. <ref name="Actual Novel" /> |
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⚫ | After promising not to get in any more trouble to Jack. Alex leaves to return to school after being suspened, he is drugged and kidnapped then subjected to drug treatment to make him appear mentally handicapped and smuggled into [[Kenya]] by Desmond McCain.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> Placed under the guard of [[Kikuyu]] tribesmen loyal to McCain, Alex is taken to see his kidnapper. Desmond McCain reveals that he created his charity, First Aid, to steal money from the general public, responding to disasters that he creates himself. Preparing his charity for these engineered disasters, First Aid arrives on the scene first and gains a large sum of money. In addition, McCain exposes his connection with Greenfields; they have engineered a poison for crops that will kill half the population of Africa. He also confessed that he gave the command to shoot the Pleasure's car after overhearing Alex and Sabina's dad talking about GM crops, thinking that they knew his plans. Near the end of the conversion, McCain tells Alex he crammed a [[Conus marmoreus|poisonous snail]] down Straiks throat killing him. <ref name="Actual Novel" /> |
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With explosives stolen from Indian Special Operations agent Rahim, Alex targets a dam and plants the explosives which destroys it, causing the flooding and destruction of the infected fields. Alex is saved from the exploding dam by grabbing onto a rope dangled by a plane flown by the agent, Rahim. Shortly after, they land at an airstrip were Alex meets McCain again. There is a confrontation; as they land the plane McCain shoots Rahim in the head and then goes after Alex with the gun. Alex hides behind a set of oil barrels in the hangar, and uses his remaining explosive pen from Smithers in attempt to destroy the barrels. As McCain is about to kill Alex, he is killed by exploding oil barrels which also badly injure Alex. Knocked unconscious by the explosion he is taken to the same hospital as he was after Scorpia's assassination attempt in [[Scorpia (novel)|Scorpia]]. While there Jack visits him and reminds him that his fifteenth birthday is approaching and that she has already organized presents and a group of friends to celebrate with him. |
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⚫ | The sample that Alex stole from the Greenfields plant was a fungal agent that activates genes in the GM crops that produce [[Ricin]]. The fungal spores will then spread to other fields and poison all crops they come into contact with, killing millions in the process.<ref name="Actual Novel" /> McCain reveals that when Alex pulled a leaver with whilst on a plane flight with Bennett Alex had unwittingly spread the poison over the crops which will become active 36 hours later. McCain shows Alex a charity advertisement that First Aid have made, ready to respond to the disaster and take in donations around the world. However, McCain informs Alex that the poison cannot be stopped and, although it decimate African countries, he will make hundreds of millions of pounds during the first few months of the plague; he then intends to steal the money before running away and assuming a new identity in [[South America]]. <ref name="Actual Novel" /> |
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Alex is tortured by McCain whilst hanging to a pipe with crocadiles snapping under neath. He tells McCain the truth in order to get out of the predicament. McCain decides to let him die anyway, and leaves Bennett to watch him die. Bennett mocks him but then is stabbed and falls to the cocadiles to her death, by the mysterious man from Scotland. The Man reveals himself to be working for the Indian special forces instucted to kill McCain, in a way which can't be traced back to them, in an act of revenge for a disaster that McCain created in India. The man calls himself Rahim, but unfortunatly he injured himself when landing in the area and plans to blow up McCain's plane. Due to his injury Rahim become unconscious. Alex takes the bomb and is chased by McCain's men and targets a dam and plants the explosives which destroys it, causing the flooding and destruction of the infected fields. Alex is saved from the exploding dam by grabbing onto a rope dangled by a plane flown by the Rahim. Shortly after, they land at an airstrip were Alex meets McCain again. There is a confrontation; as they land the plane McCain shoots Rahim in the head and then goes after Alex with the gun. Alex opens the crops dusting and manages to jump out before McCain can shoot, but Alex hurts his ankle. Alex hobbles and hides behind a set of oil barrels and uses his remaining explosive pen from Smithers and attaches it to a barrel. Alex roles the barral over to McCain who places his foot on top of it. Alex is now bowed down before McCain, the way McCain wants him to be before he kills him. As McCain is about to kill Alex, he is killed by exploding oil barrel which was under his foot, which causes the rest of the barrels to explode which burns Alex. On his return to the UK Alex is taken to the same hospital as he was after Scorpia's assassination attempt in [[Scorpia (novel)|Scorpia]]. While there Jack visits him, and argues with Mrs Jones. Jones says that Alex has a habit of getting involved. Jack reminds Alex that his fifteenth birthday is approaching later that week. |
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== References == |
== References == |
Revision as of 19:19, 1 August 2010
First edition cover | |
Author | Anthony Horowitz |
---|---|
Language | English |
Series | Alex Rider series |
Genre | Adventure, Spy novel |
Publisher | Walker Books |
Publication date | 12 November 2009 (UK) 17 November 2009 (US) [1] |
Publication place | United Kingdom |
Pages | 408 |
Preceded by | Snakehead |
Followed by | Scorpia Rising |
Crocodile Tears is the eighth novel in the Alex Rider series by British author Anthony Horowitz. It was released in the UK on 12 November 2009, published by Walker Books, and in the US on 17 November 2009. On 17 December 2008, the title was revealed (in code) to be Crocodile Tears.[2]
Plot
The novel begins with Alex Rider spending New Year with Sabina Pleasure and her family in Scotland.[3] Attending a New Year's party hosted by the rich businessman Desmond McCain, founder of the fictitious charity First Aid.[3] As Alex, Sabina, and her father drive home, a sniper shoots the tire of their car causing them to lose control and crash into a loch.[3] Alex swims from the vehicle, back to the surface, also saving the lives of Sabina and her father, they are helped by a mysterious man.[3] Alex chooses to keep secret the fact that someone shot at them.
A few weeks later, Alex's problems becomes more complicated when a journalist, Harry Bulman, who knows Alex's MI6 activities, forces Alex to co-operate with him to write articles of his adventure. Alex, helplessly, has to turn to MI6 for help. Alex is asked to steal information from Greenfields, a fictitious genetically-modified crop facility which MI6 suspects of illegal activities.[3] During a school trip, Alex infiltrates the facility, stealing the information. At the same time he discovers that Leonard Straik (who MI6 are investigating), the director of Greenfields, is working for Desmond McCain.[3] Attempting to escape, Alex steals a sample of a biological substance, and is nearly killed by armed security guards during his escape. While in the poison dome sector he slices open a chemical suit and killing a worker.[3] When reviewing the tapes, Desmond recognizes Alex at Greenfields, he knew that the sabotage has something to do with Alex.
In return MI6 deal with Bulman by showing how easy it is to make him disapear, he agrees to leave Alex alone. However Bulman is approached by McCain who pays him to reveal everything he knows about Alex to him, before shooting him.
Alex is suspended by his school for a day for endangering others by opening an emergancy exit door of the coach, which Alex had used as an excuse to get himself back on the coach at greenfields. Alex decides to check out a film set that he had over heard being talked about at Greenfields. Alex finds the studios deserted apart from one and sees Bennett who'd he met at Greenfields leaving with two others. Alex goes inside and finds that it is a set of an African landscape ravenged by a natural disaster. At this point the doors are locked and the building is set on fire, Alex has to climb out of the building.
After promising not to get in any more trouble to Jack. Alex leaves to return to school after being suspened, he is drugged and kidnapped then subjected to drug treatment to make him appear mentally handicapped and smuggled into Kenya by Desmond McCain.[3] Placed under the guard of Kikuyu tribesmen loyal to McCain, Alex is taken to see his kidnapper. Desmond McCain reveals that he created his charity, First Aid, to steal money from the general public, responding to disasters that he creates himself. Preparing his charity for these engineered disasters, First Aid arrives on the scene first and gains a large sum of money. In addition, McCain exposes his connection with Greenfields; they have engineered a poison for crops that will kill half the population of Africa. He also confessed that he gave the command to shoot the Pleasure's car after overhearing Alex and Sabina's dad talking about GM crops, thinking that they knew his plans. Near the end of the conversion, McCain tells Alex he crammed a poisonous snail down Straiks throat killing him. [3]
The sample that Alex stole from the Greenfields plant was a fungal agent that activates genes in the GM crops that produce Ricin. The fungal spores will then spread to other fields and poison all crops they come into contact with, killing millions in the process.[3] McCain reveals that when Alex pulled a leaver with whilst on a plane flight with Bennett Alex had unwittingly spread the poison over the crops which will become active 36 hours later. McCain shows Alex a charity advertisement that First Aid have made, ready to respond to the disaster and take in donations around the world. However, McCain informs Alex that the poison cannot be stopped and, although it decimate African countries, he will make hundreds of millions of pounds during the first few months of the plague; he then intends to steal the money before running away and assuming a new identity in South America. [3]
Alex is tortured by McCain whilst hanging to a pipe with crocadiles snapping under neath. He tells McCain the truth in order to get out of the predicament. McCain decides to let him die anyway, and leaves Bennett to watch him die. Bennett mocks him but then is stabbed and falls to the cocadiles to her death, by the mysterious man from Scotland. The Man reveals himself to be working for the Indian special forces instucted to kill McCain, in a way which can't be traced back to them, in an act of revenge for a disaster that McCain created in India. The man calls himself Rahim, but unfortunatly he injured himself when landing in the area and plans to blow up McCain's plane. Due to his injury Rahim become unconscious. Alex takes the bomb and is chased by McCain's men and targets a dam and plants the explosives which destroys it, causing the flooding and destruction of the infected fields. Alex is saved from the exploding dam by grabbing onto a rope dangled by a plane flown by the Rahim. Shortly after, they land at an airstrip were Alex meets McCain again. There is a confrontation; as they land the plane McCain shoots Rahim in the head and then goes after Alex with the gun. Alex opens the crops dusting and manages to jump out before McCain can shoot, but Alex hurts his ankle. Alex hobbles and hides behind a set of oil barrels and uses his remaining explosive pen from Smithers and attaches it to a barrel. Alex roles the barral over to McCain who places his foot on top of it. Alex is now bowed down before McCain, the way McCain wants him to be before he kills him. As McCain is about to kill Alex, he is killed by exploding oil barrel which was under his foot, which causes the rest of the barrels to explode which burns Alex. On his return to the UK Alex is taken to the same hospital as he was after Scorpia's assassination attempt in Scorpia. While there Jack visits him, and argues with Mrs Jones. Jones says that Alex has a habit of getting involved. Jack reminds Alex that his fifteenth birthday is approaching later that week.