CHERUB: The Sleepwalker - Robert Muchamore Page 0,19

mission? And wouldn’t it be weird if some kids on campus had parents while others were orphans?’

‘There are obviously issues to resolve,’ Ewart sighed. ‘No doubt this is the last place some ex-cherubs would want to send their children, but even though you spend time away on missions your kids get an outstanding education. And besides, if I wasn’t prepared to send my own child on an undercover mission, why should I be happy to send you, or Lauren, or Dana?’

‘I see your point,’ James said.

Joshua stopped on the path in front of James and placed his hands on his hips.

‘You’re boring, James,’ Joshua complained. ‘Play with me.’

James grinned. ‘How about if I turn you upside down and dip your head in the lake?’

‘You’re silly,’ Joshua smiled, shaking his head as he walked towards the buggy and grabbed a football from the storage tray.

‘OK, I’ll play,’ James nodded.

‘I’ll be Arsenal,’ Joshua said.

‘Oh you reckon,’ James snorted. ‘I’ll be Arsenal; you can be the Chelsea girls’ team.’

‘No way,’ Joshua growled, stamping his foot determinedly.

Ewart shook his head. ‘James, I can’t believe you’ve turned my only son into an Arsenal fan.’

‘I tell you what, Joshua,’ James said, as he put his foot on top of the ball. ‘We’ll both be Arsenal and I’ll do this.’

James took two steps back from the ball, then made a run up and booted it. The ball swung through the air and hit Lauren hard in the back, making her stumble forward.

Joshua thought this was hilarious, but Lauren didn’t. She turned around and steamed towards her brother with her fists bunched.

‘It was an accident,’ James lied, giving Joshua a wink.

Lauren stopped walking and wagged her finger. ‘Your face will look like an accident if you try that again.’

*

Fahim felt like a bowling ball had been dropped on his head from a great height. It took a few seconds to feel around the single bed, half focus on the tatty wooden cabinet beside it and work out that he was coming around in a hospital.

Memories of smashing the trophy cabinets and the tussle with the science teacher bloomed, then lodged in his brain like fishing hooks. Acts that made sense when Fahim was angry seemed insane now his mood had levelled out.

‘Hey,’ Yasmin said gently. She dabbed her son’s face with the tips of her fingernails.

Fahim tried turning his head, but the tiny movement created an eruption of pain in his temples and a heave from his stomach. Yasmin slid an arm behind his back and raised her son off his pillow as she slid a bedpan into his lap, but the sick was already dribbling down his chin.

Fahim’s eyes shut and his head flopped forward as he momentarily lost consciousness again. He inhaled some of the vomit and Yasmin shouted for a nurse as her son came back to life with a start, before breaking into a desperate coughing fit.

‘Stand clear,’ a nurse shouted, pulling on a disposable glove as she dashed towards the bed. She plunged her fingers into Fahim’s mouth to clear the puke from his airway, as Yasmin backed up in a state of shock.

9. HEAD

James and Dana had been going out with each other for ten months – nine and a half more than most people had predicted. Things had settled into a routine and some aspects of their lives had merged. CDs, T-shirts and socks were shared. James kept a Mach-3 razor in Dana’s room, and although Dana gave the impression she didn’t give a damn about her appearance, you wouldn’t have known it from the half-used creams, sprays and powders that littered the shelves in James’ bathroom.

It was gone eleven and James was snuggled up next to Dana on his bed, with half their clothes off and their backs against the wall.

‘I’d better go,’ Dana said, as she pulled a dead arm out from behind James’ neck and rubbed her muscle to bring it back to life. ‘I’ve got combat training first thing.’

James had early training too, but he’d got comfortable and his neck felt cold without Dana’s arm to rest on. ‘Don’t go,’ he moaned softly, as he grabbed Dana’s wrist. ‘You can stay here. Who’ll know?’

‘Don’t think so,’ Dana said, before pausing as her yawn got out of control. ‘I won’t get any sleep with you tossing and turning.’

‘Just cuddles,’ James said, pressing his bare toes against Dana’s bum as she pulled up jeans and a pair of boxer shorts.

‘Don’t,’ Dana giggled, waddling forward with the trousers halfway up