“If we leave the path to go north now, the next time we get to the path we’ll be at the meeting place,” Tayo said.
Sam looked at Mrs Tritton, feeling horrified. Now that they’d reached the path, he didn’t want them to leave it again. It might be slower, but it was safer and easier.
“Right then. Let’s get going,” Mrs Tritton said, and smiled. She looked at the map and checked the group compass, then pointed into the trees again. “That way.”
Sam’s heart sank into his toes. They’d got away with it the first time. Would they get away with leaving the path again?
Chapter 8
We’re Lost!
Fifteen minutes after they’d left the path, they started travelling down a hill. The ground grew worse and worse. For the next twenty minutes, all they did was slip and slide and fall. The mud now seemed more like slippery ice. The wind began to howl around them like a screaming ghost, and the rain kept getting into everyone’s eyes and blinding them.
Sam took out his compass, but huge droplets of rain covered the face. As soon as he had wiped them off, new ones would fall on the glass to take their place. Sam looked around. He couldn’t see much beyond the relentless grey curtain of rain. But he could see that they were halfway down the hill. Sam licked the rain off his lips and swallowed nervously. They’d come some way down. The trees weren’t so packed together here. But the rain was still pouring down.
“As if we weren’t wet enough,” Sam muttered.
At least when they’d been further up, the trees had given them some shelter from the rain. Sam looked down the hill. The trees were closer together towards the bottom.
“Typical!” Jack said from next to him. “There’s shelter everywhere apart from where we are!”
Sam smiled. Jack smiled back.
“Stop a minute, everyone,” Mrs Tritton shouted over the roar of the wind. “I want to look at the map again.”
They all stood in silence as Mrs Tritton studied it. She shook her head.
“We should have met up with the path again by now,” Mrs Tritton said at last.
Brandon and Tayo swapped a look.
Yeah! You don’t look so smart now, Sam thought with disgust.
Sam and the other boys watched each other, all of them waiting for someone else to speak.
“We’re lost, miss, aren’t we?” Jack shouted.
“According to the contour lines on this map, we should be heading uphill towards the path by now, not downhill,” said Mrs Tritton.
“So we are lost,” Sam said.
Mrs Tritton’s lips thinned. “There’s no need to panic,” she said. “We’ll be all right. I think we should retrace our steps back to the path and carry on from there.”
“All the way back up that hill?” Tayo asked.
“Let’s use our whistles. Maybe we’re near another group,” Mrs Tritton shouted, but she didn’t sound like she believed it.
They all took out their whistles and blew as hard as they could. The sound was swallowed up by the wind and faded to nothing.
“If there is another team around here,” Tayo said, “they’d have to be almost sitting on us to hear that.” It was what they were all thinking.
Mrs Tritton drew herself up to her full height.
“Come on,” she said. “Standing here isn’t going to get us anywhere. Let’s retrace our steps.”
Sam looked up the hill. It hadn’t seemed this steep when they’d been clambering down it.
“Now then, all link arms so that no one slips too far,” Mrs Tritton suggested. “I’ll go first.”
Mrs Tritton held on to Brandon’s arm, who in turn linked arms with Tayo. Then Tayo linked with Sam, who linked with Jack. Mrs Tritton started up the hill. For every step any of them took, they all slid back at least three steps.
After five minutes, Tayo straightened up. The wind lashed at them, and the rain hit them like slaps across the face.
“This isn’t working,” Tayo shouted. “We’re wasting our time trying to get back up there. It’s too slippery. There’s nothing to hold on to.”
Sam looked up at the dark grey sky. He’d never seen rain as bad as this. It was like each drop was at least a bucket’s worth. Would it never ever stop?
“OK, then,” Mrs Tritton shouted out. “Tayo, you keep blowing on that whistle. Blow every ten seconds or so. Understand? I’ll keep the map. Jack, you look after the compass. I think that somehow we’ve gone too far north-east of the path and the meeting place.”
Sam took out his own compass for another speedy look.
“We’ll turn back down the hill,” Mrs Tritton continued. “And then try to work our way to the west and south by going around it. Jack, you make sure that we keep travelling the same way until we get to the bottom of this hill. Everyone keep your arms linked. Brandon, you lead the way and then Tayo. I’ll go next and, Sam, you follow behind me. Jack, you can bring up the rear.”
They set off, slipping down the hill. Sam could hardly hear Tayo’s whistle over the wind and the rain, and he was not far behind him.
“Miss, I’ll blow my whistle too,” Sam said. “We’ll have more chance of being heard that way.”
“Good idea,” said Mrs Tritton. “Go ahead.”
Sam blew his whistle with Tayo. That was better! Much louder.
“Cheer up, everyone,” Mrs Tritton shouted out. “We’re going to be just fine. We’re not going to be first, but we’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
They carried on down the hill.
Then Sam heard a strange sound. A distant rumbling, rushing, roaring noise. It could be heard behind the howling wind and driving rain, but you had to listen carefully to separate the two similar sounds. Sam looked down the hill and could see nothing past the mass of tree trunks and leaves.
But something was definitely there. Something alarming. Something dangerous.
Chapter 9
Help Me!
“Mrs Tritton …” Sam said, tapping her on the arm. “Mrs Tritton, there’s something down there.”
“Down where?” Mrs Tritton asked with a frown. She wiped rainwater off her soaking face.
Sam pointed. Tayo blew his whistle again.
“What’s down there?” Jack shouted from behind Sam. “I can’t hear anything.”
The hill was getting steeper. They were all sliding rather than walking now.
“Miss! Miss! I think I see something,” Brandon called out from the front.
“So do I!” Jack cried.
Brandon and Tayo stopped linking arms and pushed themselves forward to slide down the hill.
“There’s something down there,” Brandon shouted. Sam could only just hear him.
“Boys! Stop!” Mrs Tritton yelled.
“Miss …” Jack said, and moved forward to follow the others.
Sam grabbed his arm. “No, don’t,” he said.
Mrs Tritton looked at Sam, her face grey with worry.
“We’d better get after them,” Mrs Tritton said. “Link arms and don’t let go, no matter what. Brandon … Tayo …”
Mrs Tritton, Sam and Jack struggled forward. The wind was behind them and pushed them on. They had to dig their heels into the mud and lean back to avoid sliding down too quickly.
Sam began to wonder why he’d been so keen to come on the school trip!
If this is all there is to it, I should have stayed at home, he thought.
The rushing, rumbling sound was louder now. Then Sam realised what the sound was and jerked with fear.
“Miss … it’s water!” Sam said as he turned to Mrs Tritton.
She frowned. “What?”
“It’s …” Sam started to say, but he stopped as he heard something else.
“Help … Help me …”
The shout came from down below them. It sounded like Brandon’s voice – gasping and frantic.
Mrs Tritton turned into the wind to slow herself down, and pushed further forward. Jack and Sam scrambled down after her. Sam was more
on his bum than his feet as he slid down.
“Mrs Tritton, be careful,” Sam shouted. “There’s a river or something down there. That rumbling sound is water.”
Sam’s warning came just in time. Sam, Jack and Mrs Tritton slid to a stop just at the edge of a high bank, past the line of trees. If they’d gone half a metre more, they would have tumbled into the rushing water below them. That was what had happened to Brandon. Tayo was dangling from an over-hanging root at the edge of the bank. Tayo’s feet were only centimetres above the water. Brandon was just below him, struggling to hold on to Tayo’s leg with one hand. His other arm thrashed in the air. The raging river pulled at Brandon’s legs and body, trying to pull him under.
“Help …” Brandon yelled.
Brandon’s head sank under the frothing, foaming water. When he surfaced again, coughing and spluttering, his eyes were huge with terror.
Above Brandon, Tayo kicked his legs around frantically as he tried to find a foothold. But with each kick, Brandon’s fingers slipped down Tayo’s leg.
“Hold on, Tayo,” Mrs Tritton said. “I’m coming, Brandon.” She pulled off her anorak.
“Miss, you can’t go down there,” Jack said.
“Miss … Miss, I’m falling,” Tayo screamed. “Don’t let me fall. Don’t let me fall!”
The wind whipped around them, howling, roaring.
“Miss …” Jack begged.
“I’ll get Brandon, miss,” Sam shouted. “You get Tayo.”
“No, I should get Brandon,” Mrs Tritton said.
“You can’t,” Sam told her. “Jack and I won’t be able to pull Tayo up without going over ourselves. I’ll help Brandon. I’ll pull him out using my anorak.”
“All right then,” Mrs Tritton said. “Be careful, Sam. I’ll be right here.”
Sam nodded. “Hang on, Brandon. I’m coming,” he shouted.
Sam stripped off his anorak fast, then his top jumper. He knotted one arm of the anorak to the left arm of the jumper. He pulled off his second jumper and knotted that to the right arm of the first jumper.
Mrs Tritton fell on to her front, so that her head and part of her upper body were over the edge of the bank.
“Jack, hold my ankles to stop me falling,” Mrs Tritton ordered.
“Jack, give me your anorak first,” Sam said.
Jack unzipped his anorak and pulled it off to give to Sam. Then Jack held on to Mrs Tritton’s ankles as she reached over for Tayo.
Sam knotted Jack’s anorak to his jumper. He was soaked and freezing. The rain kept running into his eyes, making him blink rapidly.
“Help me!” Brandon screamed, and his free arm thrashed faster.
Sam fell on to his front, next to Mrs Tritton.
“Brandon, grab hold of this,” Sam shouted. He threw out his makeshift rope of anoraks and jumpers.
“Tayo, take my arm,” Mrs Tritton called out.
The rope of clothes fell away from Brandon, and the rushing water tried to pull it from Sam’s grip. It took every bit of Sam’s strength to hang on to it.
“Sam …” Brandon shouted.
Sam pulled the rope out of the river with a desperate jerk. He shuffled back slightly and threw the rope down again.
“Grab hold, Brandon,” Sam pleaded.
He tried to swirl the rope of clothes closer to Brandon, but it was wet and heavy in his hands. It took all his strength to yank the rope over to Brandon.
Brandon swung his free hand out wildly and only just caught hold of it. Brandon let go of Tayo’s leg and grasped the rope of anoraks and jumpers to him.
“That’s it, Tayo,” said Mrs Tritton. “Hold on, I’ll pull you up. You’re all right. You’re safe. I won’t let go of you.”
Sam saw Mrs Tritton haul Tayo over the top of the bank and to safety.
“Can’t … can’t hold it …” Brandon said. His voice was getting weaker.
Brandon’s fingers slipped down the rope. His head started going under the water. His face looked both desperate and resigned.
“Miss … hold this,” Sam said to Mrs Tritton, and he thrust the end of the makeshift rope into her hands. Sam stood up.
“Sam, don’t …” Mrs Tritton began to shout. But before she could say another word, Sam leaped into the water.
Chapter 10
What Are We
Going to Do?
The moment Sam hit the freezing water, the whole world switched off. The howl of the wind and the rush of the river and the roar of the rain all vanished as Sam plunged downwards.
Sam could hear just one sound now. It took him a few moments to realise it was his heart hammering inside him. He puffed out his cheeks, pushed himself upwards with his hands and kicked with his legs. His lungs felt like they were bursting. Then he was gasping for air, with his head above the water. But now Sam didn’t have time to think about his lungs – or anything else. Brandon’s head was almost all under the water. Sam reached out and shoved his hands under Brandon’s armpits.
“I’ve … I’ve g-got you, Brandon,” Sam coughed and spluttered.
“Sam … are you all right?” Mrs Tritton yelled out from above.
“Yeah …” Sam called back. But he wasn’t. He was having to kick like crazy to keep the river from washing him and Brandon away. He was exhausted. And so cold.
“Grab the anorak, Sam,” Mrs Tritton shouted.
Sam had one hand holding Brandon’s head above the water and snatched at his own anorak with the other. He reached it first time.
The water was less choppy now. The wind was dying down.
“Sam …” Brandon whispered. His eyes were closed.
“Hang on, Brandon. I’ve got you,” Sam said. But he knew that if he didn’t get himself and Brandon out with his first try, then he wouldn’t have the energy for a second attempt.
“Sam, tie the anorak around Brandon’s waist,” Mrs Tritton called.
Sam looked up. He could only see Mrs Tritton’s head and one hand. The rest of her was hidden by the bank.
“Brandon, c-come on,” Sam pleaded, his teeth chattering. “You’ve got to h-help me.”
Slowly Brandon opened his eyes and said, “S-so cold …”
Sam was too tired and too cold to reply. He had to conserve whatever energy he had left. He kicked hard to stay afloat as he passed the anorak around Brandon’s back and tied it at the front. Sam raised his tired head and nodded at Mrs Tritton. Brandon’s body began to move up out of the water as Mrs Tritton pulled on the rope. Sam waited until only Brandon’s legs were still in the water and then let go of Brandon. Sam could hardly kick his legs at all now. He looked up. Brandon was being pulled over the bank. At least he was safe.
“Hold on, Sam,” Tayo called out. “Just hold on.”
But Sam wasn’t sure he could hold on. He was so cold and oh, so tired. Every muscle in his body was screaming out for warmth and rest. Then a sharp stabbing pain shot into his stomach, making him gasp.
“Arrgh …” Sam moaned. He wrapped his hands around his stomach as more pain arrowed into him. He sank under the water like a stone, with his hands clutched around his stomach. The water ran up his nose and down his throat and into his lungs, stinging and making him want to cough. Sam pushed out with his hands.
Right away, his head was above water again. He spluttered and retched, spitting out water. Sam scrambled to find some handhold in the steep bank. He was now about a metre further down. Sam saw Mrs Tritton pull the clothes rope out of the water and shuffle over on her front until her head was right above his.
“Grab the anorak, Sam,” Mrs Tritton commanded.
The arm of the anorak hit the water just in front of Sam. He clutched the anorak to him.
“Hold on. We’ll pull you up,” Mrs Tritton shouted. “Don’t let go, Sam.”
The rain was now just a drizzle. The wind was more of a breeze. Sam clung to his anorak with both hands, his cheek pressed up to the cold, wet material. He kicked out with his legs to stop himself from swinging a
gainst the high bank.
Please don’t hurt again. Please don’t, Sam begged his stomach. He wouldn’t be able to hold on if the pain in his stomach started up again.
Think of other things. Think of …
There was no time to think of anything else. Sam felt many hands snatch at him and pull him over the bank. Sam lay on his stomach on the ground. He began coughing, and once he’d started he couldn’t stop.
“Sam, don’t you ever, ever do that again,” Mrs Tritton said. “It was a very brave but stupid thing to do. You might have drowned.” Mrs Tritton was so angry she was shaking.
Sam didn’t answer. Mrs Tritton turned her head away.
“Are you OK?” Jack asked, worry in his voice.
Sam nodded. He had no energy to do anything else.
“Brandon … Brandon …” Sam whispered. He raised his head to look around for him.
“I’m f-fine,” Brandon said. He was right next to Sam.
But Brandon didn’t look fine. His face was pale and grey. His eyes were almost closed, and he was shivering violently.
“Let’s cover Brandon and Sam with the anoraks and the jumpers,” Mrs Tritton said. “Tayo, Jack, you wring out the jumpers first. They’ll be damp, but they’re better than nothing.”
Mrs Tritton’s face twisted as she tried to smile. But Sam could tell from the wild, haunted look in her eyes that Mrs Tritton was terrified. She’d been badly frightened and was frightened still. Drizzle ran slowly down her cheeks. Then Sam realised that it wasn’t drizzle at all.
Brandon lay still while Tayo and Jack covered him from head to toe in the damp clothes.
“Miss … I-I don’t feel well,” Brandon whispered.
“Don’t worry, Brandon,” Mrs Tritton said. “The other teachers must know that we’re missing by now. They’ll be out looking for us. So we’ll soon be found, and then you’ll be as right as rain in no time.” But Mrs Tritton’s voice was too jolly.
Sam looked at Tayo and Jack. They were thinking the same thing he was.
By now the teachers would know that the Green group were missing. But they hadn’t followed Mrs Jenkins’ route, so the teachers would be looking in the wrong place.
A Dangerous Game Page 3