CHERUB:Maximum Security - Robert Muchamore Page 0,1

metal doors, creating a boom that would have been deafening if the girls?ears hadnt been shielded by their outdoor clothes.

Lete got even less fuel tonight,?Lauren shouted, as the lamp erupted in an unsteady blue glow. She looked at the single bottle of gas as she peeled off her goggles and outermost set of gloves. Her hands were freezing, but it was impossible to manipulate anything with three sets of gloves on.

On the first night of their week in the Alaskan wilderness, the girls had found two large bottles of gas in their shelter. Theyt heated the room until it was toasty, cooked lavishly and warmed up water to wash with. The fun ended abruptly when the gas ran out in the middle of the night and the indoor temperature rapidly dropped back below freezing. After this harsh lesson, the girls took pains to ration their energy supply.

Bethany fixed a hose from the gas bottle to a small heater and lit just one of its three chambers. This would slowly bring the temperature inside their container above freezing. Until it did, the girls would keep as many of their outdoor clothes on as the task at hand allowed.

They spent the next few minutes rummaging through the supplies that had been left for them. There were plenty of high-energy foods, such as tinned meats, flapjacks, instant noodles, chocolate bars and glucose powder. They also found their mission briefings, clean underwear, fresh boot liners and floor mats. Combined with the pots, utensils and sleeping bags packed in their sleds, it would be enough to make the nineteen hours until the sun returned reasonably comfortable.

Once the girls had ensured that they had all the basics, Lauren couldnt help wondering what was under the tarpaulin at the back of the container.

Thate got to be something to do with our mission for tomorrow,?Bethany said.

They stepped across and dragged the tarp off a giant cardboard box. It was over two metres long and almost up to Laurene shoulders. Scraping at the layer of frost over the cardboard revealed a Yamaha logo and an outline drawing of a snowmobile.

Cool,?Bethany said. i dont think my legs could handle another day trudging through that snow.?

Nave you ever driven one??Lauren asked.

Rah,?Bethany said, shaking her head excitedly. But it cant be much different from the quad bikes we drove last summer at the hostel ?Lete open our briefings and work out what wete got to do tomorrow.?

Let better take our temperatures and radio base camp first,?Lauren said.

There was a radio set already linked up to the aerial on the roof. Its battery was cold and it took several seconds for the orange frequency display on the front panel to light up. While they waited, the girls took turns measuring their body temperatures with a small plastic strip that you tucked under your armpit.

The indicator lit up between the thirty-five and thirty-six degree marks on both of them. It meant the girls were running slightly below normal body temperature, which is exactly what yout expect for two people whot just spent several hours in extreme cold. Another hour would have been enough for them to develop early symptoms of hypothermia.

Lauren grabbed the microphone and keyed up. This is unit three calling instructor Large. Over.?

instructor Large receiving ?Greetings, my little sugar plums.?

It was reassuring hearing a human voice other than Bethanye for the first time in twenty-four hours, even if it was that of Mr Large, CHERUBe head training instructor. Large was a nasty piece of work. Pushing kids through tough training courses wasnt just part of his job; he actually enjoyed making them suffer.

Lust reporting in to say that everything is fine with me and unit four,?Lauren said. Over.?

Lhy arent you using the coded frequency? Over,?Mr Large asked angrily.

Lauren realised her instructor was right and hurriedly flipped the scramble switch on the front of the receiver.

Oh ?Sorry. Over.?

Hou will be tomorrow morning when I get my hands on you,?Large snapped. Linus ten house points for Hufflepuff. Over and out.?

Over and out,?Lauren said bitterly. She put down the microphone and kicked out at the side of the metal container. Lod, I really hate that mane guts.?

Bethany laughed a little. Rot as much as he hates you for knocking him head first into that muddy hole with a spade.?

True,?Lauren said, allowing herself a grin as she recalled the event that had brought her first attempt at basic training to an abrupt end. i suppose wet better get cracking. You start translating the briefing. I抣l go