CHERUB: The Sleepwalker - Robert Muchamore Page 0,11

our assignments for work experience on the noticeboard.’

Dana’s eyebrows shot up – which was a rare occurrence for someone who acted disinterested as a matter of principle. ‘What did you get?’

‘Angel Graphics,’ Shak said happily. ‘It’s run by an ex-cherub. They do computer graphics and design mostly. 3D animation for adverts, kids’ TV and stuff like that.’

‘Sounds good,’ Dana said. ‘Did you see what everyone else got?’

‘You got Copthorne Racing.’

James broke into a big grin. ‘Cool, we’ll be together.’

Shak made a little grunt. ‘Do you think, Mr Adams?’

James stalled with a forkload of scrambled egg halfway between his plate and his mouth, but then carried on because he knew Shak was more upset about the golf-cart race than he was letting on and a successful wind-up would help him earn back some points.

‘You’re full of it,’ James sneered.

Shak grinned. ‘Go see for yourself. It’s pinned on the board outside Meryl’s office.’

James didn’t want to get sucked into a wind-up, but Dana had nothing to lose by enquiring further. ‘So who’s with me if James isn’t?’

‘Clare Lowell,’ Shak said, as he hooked an entire rasher of bacon on to the end of his fork and squeezed it into his mouth.

‘I thought you were Muslim,’ Connor said.

Shak grinned. ‘Some days I’m more Muslim than others.’

‘So,’ James said, still concerned that Shak was winding him up. ‘If I didn’t get work experience at Copthorne Racing, where am I going?’

‘Oh, that’s the beautiful part.’

Dana was starting to enjoy watching James suffer and she smiled. ‘What did he get?’

‘Deluxe Chicken,’ Shak said. ‘You know that crummy place in the car park outside the leisure centre?’

‘Yeah right,’ James said, shaking his head.

Shak reached across the table and put his hand out to shake. ‘Five pounds says I’m not lying.’

Shak was tight and James’ I don’t believe you expression wilted. ‘You’re really serious?’

Shak wiggled his fingers, inviting a handshake on the bet. ‘Five pounds, James.’

‘But I spoke to Terry Campbell about this,’ James moaned. ‘He knows how much I like motorbikes and he’s an old mate of Jay Copthorne. He all but promised that I’d get it.’

‘All but promised,’ Connor emphasised. ‘And who knows, maybe you’ll learn to love the polyester shirt and those orange and brown striped baseball caps …’

‘It’s chicktacular,’ Callum added, deepening his voice to sound like a man in a TV commercial. ‘Feed the whole family for under a tenner with our summer sizzlers.’

‘That’s not even a Deluxe Chicken advert,’ James said bitterly. ‘They’re so crap they couldn’t afford TV ads.’

‘You guys still haven’t heard the best bit,’ Shak beamed. ‘Guess who James’ little work-experience companion is going to be?’

James was starting to get angry. ‘How should I sodding know? Bugs Bunny?’

‘Think of someone you used to have a very close relationship with,’ Shak teased. ‘And by close, I mean hands down the back of her jeans.’

Dana laughed. ‘Not Kerry.’

‘Bingo bongo,’ Shak whooped.

James shot out of his seat. ‘Meryl’s got to be having a laugh. She knows how awkward it’s been since we broke up.’

‘Since you dumped her, you mean,’ Callum said. ‘Kerry might be going out with Bruce now, but she still hates your guts.’

James shook his head. ‘That’s a bit strong; I don’t think she hates my guts.’

Dana and Shak spoke in unison. ‘Yes she does, James.’

‘Totally,’ Connor nodded. ‘I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there was a little James doll with pins in it in her room.’

‘It must be a mistake,’ James said disbelievingly. ‘If it’s Kerry in Deluxe bloody Chicken I’ll refuse to do it.’

Connor shook his head. ‘Work experience is part of the campus curriculum. It isn’t optional and if you bunk it Meryl will dish out serious punishment laps.’

James grabbed his tray off the table. He threw it on to the conveyor belt that led into the washing-up room before storming off towards the lift. When he got up to the sixth floor, he checked the print-out pinned on the cork noticeboard. Just as Shak promised, his name was next to Deluxe Chicken and Kerry’s was on the next line down.

‘Tits,’ he spluttered, before turning around and pounding on the frosted glass in Meryl’s office door. But the light was out inside and rattling the handle confirmed that it was locked. It was too early for Meryl to be coaching and she hadn’t been in the dining-room, so James figured that she was most likely to be in the staff lounge on the first floor.

As he steamed back down the corridor towards the lift, Rat and