Free B.A.S.E. Camp by Rob Childs Page A

best coaches around,’ said Adam, and then added, ‘Well, at least that’s what they say.’
    Gareth smiled and hoisted one of his bags onto the bunk. ‘So who’s got the bed below me?’ he asked, looking at the bulging leather case that had been left there to claim it.
    â€˜Dunno,’ said Adam. ‘But if he can lug that great thing around with him, I reckon he must be a thrower. Y’know, big solid kid – strong in the arm and thick in the head!’ He began to climb down from his bunk and trod on Eddie’s coat, which lay across the pillow. There was the distinct sound of something snapping.
    â€˜Oops! What was that?’
    Eddie put a hand in one of the pockets and pulled out a broken pair of sunglasses. ‘Just as well I’m not going to need them in this weather,’ he murmured.
    At that moment, another boy appeared in the doorway, almost filling the space.
    â€˜See the gang’s all here at last,’ he said, strolling into the room. ‘Name’s Tom.’
    â€˜Where’ve you been hidin’, man?’ Adam asked him.
    â€˜Nowhere,
man
,’ Tom responded in kind. ‘Just having a bit of a snoop around. Then I met some bloke with white hair on the top floor, who told me it was private.’
    â€˜Who was that?’ demanded Adam, suddenly serious.
    Tom shrugged. ‘No idea. He obviously wasn’t one of the coaches.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜Too old and scruffy.’
    â€˜Look who’s asking all the questions now,’ said Eddie, surprised that Adam seemed so interested. ‘He’s probably just the caretaker.’
    Tom grinned. ‘Ought to start taking more care of himself, then. He needed a shave and was wearing some tatty cardigan with holes in it.’
    â€˜So what did you do?’ asked Gareth.
    â€˜I cleared off before he could report me,’ Tom said, opening his case. ‘And when I glanced back, he’d gone.’
    Gareth laughed. ‘Sounds like he could be one of my grandad’s ghosts.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜Long story. I’ll explain later.’
    Adam grabbed his sports bag off the bunk and made for the door. ‘C’mon, you guys, time to go. Last one out the changin’ room has to clean it up.’
    â€˜First I’ve heard about that,’ Eddie complained, gathering up his own kit.
    â€˜Tons of things they don’t tell yer here, Wonder Boy. You have to learn to look after number one at B.A.S.E. Camp.’

Chapter Two
Golden Goals
    â€˜Right, you lot! Time for action, not words,’ boomed the voice of the head coach above the noise in the changing room. ‘You’re going out for a run.’
    A hush fell over the group of young athletes. Each had been given a baggy, white vest to wear, but Tom was finding it uncomfortably tight. He tried to conceal his bulges by not tucking it into his shorts.
    â€˜But it’s still raining… Coach,’ he said, just remembering to add the expected title. ‘Can’t we train inside?’
    The man stroked his beard thoughtfully while he looked Tom up and down. He did not seem impressed by what he saw. ‘So, it’s wet. What’s wrong with that, laddie?’ he sneered.
    â€˜Nothing, Coach, but why…’
    Tom’s protests were cut short.
    â€˜No
buts
at B.A.S.E. Camp. You do whatyou’re told – and you do it quick.’
    The boys were in no position to argue – and nor did they want to. They knew how privileged they were to have been chosen to attend the Academy. It meant they were seen as potential future stars of athletics.
    â€˜Not a good start, man,’ said Adam, as they all jostled into position by the door. ‘It’s only Monday and Blackbeard’s already got you marked down as a troublemaker.’
    Tom gave a shrug. ‘I was just going to ask why we don’t wait till it stops raining.’
    â€˜They don’t like