Free Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz Page B

forward, into each other.
    Alex
didn't dare look behind him, but he felt the train as it reached the
mouth of the tunnel and plunged in, traveling at 105 miles per hour. A shock
wave hammered into them. The train was punching the air out of its way, filling
the space with solid steel. The horse understood the danger and burst forward
with new speed, its hooves flying over the ties in great strides. Ahead of them
the tunnel mouth opened up, but Alex knew, with a sickening sense of despair,
that they weren't going to make it. Even when they got out of the tunnel,
they would still be hemmed in by the sides of the bridge. The second gate
crossing was a hundred yards farther down the line. They might get out but they
would die in the open air.
    The horse
passed through the end of the tunnel. Alex felt the circle of darkness slip
over his shoulders. Fiona was screaming, her arms wrapped around him so tightly
that he could barely breathe. He could hardly hear her. The roar of the train
was right behind him, and as the horse began a desperate race over the bridge,
he sneaked a glance around. He just had time to see the huge, metallic beast
roar out of the tunnel, towering over them, its body painted the brilliant red
of the Virgin colors, the driver staring in horror from behind his window.
There was a second blast from the train whistle, this one all-consuming,
exploding all around them. Alex knew what he had to do. He pulled on one rein,
at the same time kicking with the opposite foot. He just had to hope the horse
would understand what he wanted.
    And somehow
it worked. The horse veered around. Now it was facing the side of the bridge.
There was a final, deafening blast from the train. Diesel fumes smothered them.
Alex kicked again with all his strength. The horse jumped.
    The train
roared past, missing them by inches. But now they were in the air, over the
side of the bridge. The railcars were still thundering past, a red blur. Fiona
screamed a second time. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion as
they fell. One moment they were next to the bridge, a moment later underneath
it and still falling. The green river rose up to receive them.
    The horse
with its two riders plummeted through the air and crashed into the river. Alex
just had time to snatch a breath. He was afraid that the water wouldn't
be deep enough, that all three of them would end up with broken necks. But they
hit the surface and passed through, down into a freezing, dark green whirlpool
that sucked at them greedily, threatening to keep them there forever. Fiona was
torn away from him. He felt the horse kick itself free. Bubbles exploded out of
his mouth and he realized he was yelling.
    Finally, Alex
rose to the surface again. The water was rushing past and, dragged back by his
clothes and shoes, he clumsily swam for the nearest bank.
    The train driver
hadn't stopped. Perhaps he had been too frightened by what had happened.
Perhaps he wanted to pretend it hadn't happened at all. Either way, the
train had gone. Alex reached the bank and pulled himself, shivering, onto the
grass. There was a splutter and a cough from behind him, and Fiona appeared.
She had lost her riding hat, and her long black hair was hanging over her face.
Alex looked past her. The horse had also managed to reach dry land. It trotted
forward and shook itself, seemingly unharmed. Alex was glad about that. When
all was said and done, the horse had saved both their lives.
    He stood up.
Water dripped out of his clothes. There was no feeling anywhere in his body. He
wondered whether it was because of the cold water or the shock of what he had
just been through. He went over to Fiona and helped her to her feet.
    "Are
you all right?" he asked.
    "Yes."
She was looking at him strangely. She wobbled, and he put out a hand to steady
her. "Thank you," she said.
    "That's
all right."
    "No."
She held on to his hand. Her shirt had fallen open and she threw back her head,
shaking the hair out of her eyes.