Free Untouchable by Chris Ryan Page B

carefully, then flopped down on the sand, stretched their cramped limbs and enjoyed freedom.
    Amber crawled over to her kayak and pulled a waterproof bag out of the foot. ‘Chocolate, guys?’
    Paulo didn’t need to be asked twice. As soon as Amber offered the bar of Galaxy his hand whipped it away. She passed another bar to Alex.
    ‘Hope you haven’t got any fish-paste sandwiches,’ said Li. ‘We could get pecked to death.’
    Tiff refused the chocolate and popped a piece of gum into her mouth. ‘Who’s picking us up?’
    ‘No one’s picking us up,’ said Alex. ‘We’re going back the way we came.’
    ‘I can’t,’ said Tiff. ‘I’m knackered.’
    Amber didn’t think Tiff looked any more tired than usual, just bored. She shouldn’t have found the trip that taxing. ‘You could wait for a passing ship,’ said Amber coldly. ‘Flag down a lift.’ She was fed up with Tiff and her difficult moods.
    ‘Have some chocolate,’ said Hex, passing her a bar. ‘It’ll make you feel better.’
    Amber got to her feet and went over to her kayak. She didn’t need anything, she just wanted to get away from Tiff. Otherwise she might say something she’d regret. She pretended to inspect the kayak but instead she looked into the water as the waves rose up the little beach and withdrew again.
    There was a shape in the water, coming towards the shore. In the gloom it was difficult to see it properly. As it came closer she caught a glimpse of eyes and a snout. She stood up. ‘Hey, guys, I think there’s an otter here.’
    Li picked her way over and peered into the water. ‘I can’t see any movement,’ she said.
    The waves came up the beach and withdrew again. Again the glimpse of dark eyes, closer still. But it looked like it was drifting, not swimming. ‘It’s dead,’ she said.
    She picked up her paddle and reached into the water. A wave brought it close and she held it. She turned to the others. ‘It’s a deer.’
    Alex got up and clambered over. ‘A deer?’ He remembered what he’d seen in what he thought was a fishing boat.
    Li looked at the wet hide. There was a long incision in the pale fur along its abdomen. It flapped open. ‘And – uh – this is weird. It’s been gutted.’
    ‘Gutted?’ repeated Amber.
    Alex bent down and gingerly pushed the flap of skin aside.
    Tiff shrieked. ‘Ugh, you are gross.’
    ‘Just checking,’ he said, and carried on.
    Inside was a big red cavity where the heart, lungs, liver and intestines had been.
    ‘It’s quite fresh,’ said Alex.
    ‘Well, it can’t have been in the water long,’ said Paulo, and popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth. ‘The birds will have it in no time.’
    ‘But where did it come from?’ asked Hex.
    ‘Sainsbury’s,’ muttered Tiff. ‘Who cares?’
    Li gave Alex a significant look. Alex knew what it meant. The boat they had seen earlier, taking delivery of deer carcasses.
    ‘Conference later,’ she said quietly. ‘When we’ve got rid of Little Miss Muffet.’
    ‘What are you whispering about?’ said Tiff.
    Li pushed the deer back out with her oar. ‘Just saying a prayer while we bury this dead deer.’
    Instead of floating out, the deer came back in. The waves deposited it at Tiff’s feet. The head bobbed and touched the toe of her boot.
    The friends stood, waiting for the tantrum. But Tiff simply kicked the deer’s nose away. ‘Dead things. In a cave on a desolate rock. What a surprise. I’m having such a good time here. When are we going?’
    Amber looked out towards the cave mouth. Where before there had been a clear blue sky, there was now a wall of grey. ‘Picnic over, guys. We’d better get back. It’s got rather misty out there.’

11
    S EA F RET
    ‘Keep to the middle of the channel, guys, in case there are rocks near the surface.’ Amber led the group cautiously out of the caves. They paddled slowly, in single file.
    One by one they slipped out into the open sea. Immediately the air sang with the