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

questions here,’ Adam told him. ‘And
you
might not like the answers.’
    In preparation for the cross-country run, the boys were put through a series of warm-up exercises that soon had everyone breathing heavily.
    â€˜Phew!’ gasped Tom during a brief lull in the activities. ‘I’m not really built for all this bending and stretching lark.’
    â€˜I can see that,’ Adam grinned, poking Tom’s stomach. ‘Still, you might be gettin’ some practice at throwin’ soon.’
    â€˜How d’you mean?’
    â€˜Throwin’ up!’
    Adam was right. Tom was sick behind a tree before he had covered the first mile of the course through the woods.
    â€˜Must’ve had too much for lunch,’ he groaned, leaning against the trunk for support.
    Adam and Gareth were content to jog along in the main bunch of mud-spattered boys, but Eddie was setting a hot pace out in front by himself. He loved running and had two trophies at home from county and national cross-country championships as proof of his speed and stamina.
    After leaving the woods, Eddie stretched his lead along the driveway and checked over his shoulder to see the next runner just emerging from the trees.
    â€˜Never mind him!’ came a shout from one of the coaches, who chugged across the grass towards him on a motorised buggy. ‘What’s your name?’
    â€˜Eddie, Coach.’
    â€˜Surname.’
    â€˜Peters, Coach.’
    â€˜Make for the lake, Peters, and turn left at the statue.’
    The buggy veered off so that the coach couldyell some advice at the others now pounding along the road.
    Eddie saw that the path forked by the statue and he slowed to make sure he went in the right direction – in this case, to his left. He often got his left and right mixed up.
    Once on the well-beaten track around the lake, Eddie relaxed a little and noticed there was a small island with a number of white crosses beneath a clump of trees.
    â€˜Strange place for a cemetery,’ he murmured.
    Eddie had no more time to take in the scenery. Another backward glance showed him that his nearest rival was making something of a charge and had managed to close the gap between them. He smiled grimly to himself, confident that he had enough energy to hold off any challenge.
    â€˜He’ll have nothing left for the finish, the rate he’s going.’
    Eddie passed a ramshackle boathouse and he could now see a small chapel almost hidden by a screen of oak trees. From there, they had been told to head back up the drive, cross the courtyard and wait by the outdoor swimming pool near the house.
    As the two runners left the lake area, Eddie was about to go round the back of the chapel when he heard a cry from behind.
    â€˜Hey! Wrong way. We turn right here.’
    Eddie faltered, allowing a hint of doubt to enter his mind, but he carried on.
    â€˜Suit yourself,’ came the cackle. ‘See ya!’
    â€˜Sure this was the way they said,’ Eddie muttered, coming to a halt.
    Reluctantly, he doubled back and went round the other side of the chapel instead. He found himself on a narrow path through the oaks, but when he emerged onto the winding driveway, the new leader was out of sight.
    Eddie cursed. ‘I’ll never catch him now.’
    By the time he reached the swimming pool, however, the only person there was Blackbeard. The head coach did not look best pleased.
    â€˜Reckoned you could cheat, did you, Peters?’ he growled.
    â€˜Cheat?’ Eddie gasped, trying to swallow his disappointment at being beaten.
    â€˜Aye, cheat! Taking that short cut past the chapel.’
    â€˜B… but I was just following that other kid, Coach,’ he protested.
    â€˜What other kid?’ thundered Blackbeard, grabbing Eddie by the arm. ‘You know what we do with cheats here, laddie?’
    â€˜I’m not a…’
    â€˜We give them a bath!’
    Almost before Eddie realised