group of youngsters might come by advanced martial arts skills like that? Can you imagine the fuss that would have been caused if one of the boys you assaulted had been seriously injured? I know youte all trained in unarmed combat and had the good sense to use minimal force, but freak accidents can still happen.
On top of that, you can count yourselves extremely lucky that I have connections at the local police station. I had to use all my leverage to ensure that the five of you arent sitting in a police cell at this very moment facing criminal charges. So, your punishments.?
It was midnight. The kids had been tired and fidgety while they listened to the lecture, but they snapped to attention at the mention of punishments, anxious to know what they were going to get.
Airst of all, youte all banned from going into town for the next four months,?Mac announced. Tecondly, wete always short of pupils at CHERUB and right now wete getting desperate for new blood e
Mac reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a pad of pre-printed mission briefings. James let out a little groan as he realised he was about to be sent off to some strange childrene home to recruit a new CHERUB agent. James had never been on a recruitment mission before, but everyone he knew who had said they were a complete nightmare.
3. WILDLIFE
It was near midnight when Lauren and Bethany finished readying the snowmobile for its journey the next morning. The vehicle was designed to be taken from its packing crate and assembled, lubricated and fuelled by anyone who could follow basic instructions.
The girls zipped their sleeping bags together and snuggled up. If you believed the cold weather survival manual, sleeping in individual bags was warmer. But textbooks dont take into account the comfort factor of falling asleep beside your best friend, even when the fleece-covered arm she wraps around your back stinks of petrol.
*
A few streaks of light penetrated the container when the first sun crept over the horizon, despite the bits of cardboard the girls had pushed into the gaps around the metal doors to keep out the draught.
Lauren and Bethany were sleeping heavily when their wristwatch alarms began bleeping, just a few seconds apart. The girls were taking no chances. Theyt set two alarms in case one of them made a mistake, or one of the watches went wrong. Any kind of error could lead to them missing the final checkpoint and their ninety-nine days of suffering would all be for nothing. They tried keeping thoughts of failure out of their minds, but it was like being trapped in a burning building and trying not to think about the flames creeping towards you.
Lauren pulled back the zip and slid out of her sleeping bag, then stood up and lit one of the gas lamps. The floor of the container was freezing cold on her socked feet. Bethany was always a slow starter and like every other day since training began, it took a nudge from Lauren to get her moving.
Come on, lazy head,?Lauren said. Hou start packing up our equipment, I抣l make the porridge. It抣l be safest if we get going the second ite light enough.?
As she said this, Lauren squatted over a metal bucket in the middle of the floor and began the undignified process of peeling off the outer fleece suit and thermal underwear shet slept in.
Lhy couldnt I have been a boy??Lauren asked rhetorically, as Bethany sat up on the sleeping bag and pushed the detachable linings into her boots. I penis would make this lark so much easier.?
imagine what our brothers are doing right now,?Bethany said. Lith the time difference, ite bedtime over there. I bet theyte sitting in front of their TVs, with hot drinks and chocolate biscuits.?
Lauren laughed. 慘nowing James, hee out on the athletics track running punishment laps.?
Drobably alongside Jake,?Bethany grinned. Ly brothere almost as bad as yours.?
Hou want to use the bucket before I sling this lot outside??Lauren asked, as she adjusted her underwear and pulled up the zip on her fleece suit.
Heah. Hand it over, It busting,?Bethany said. i hope that beare gone.?
Lauren smiled. if not, hee about to get woken up by having a bucket of pee chucked over his head.?
After Bethany had peed, Lauren cautiously pushed the metal door open with her shoulder. It was hard to shift because half a metre of snow had blown against it during the night. The cold air stung