‘Really?’ Bird Girl turned to Kai. ‘Does Mole actually think that there’s gold down here.’
‘He don’t be thinkin’ it.’ Leo laid his finger along the side of his nose. ‘He be knowin’ it.’ And he laughed loudly as he left the den.
Kai nodded his head. ‘Mole’s been living in these tunnels for ages. Said his grampa sheltered here when he was just a boy – during the Blitz in the Second World War. His grampa told him that he and his brother went exploring one night when the adults were asleep. They crawled through an air vent and found a whole stash of gold: bars and sovereign coins. Reckoned it was connected to the secret bunker where Churchill and the War Cabinet held meetings to be safe from the bombs. They worked out that it was probably a hoard to help the Resistance if Britain was invaded. His grampa and his brother went to find it a few nights later, but there was another bombing raid on London and an unexploded bomb was lying in the way. Saw the tail fin sticking out of the debris. They were going back up the tunnel to report it when there was an explosion. They were lucky to survive. When they next managed to return, the whole area was blocked. Mole’s grampa made a map ’cos he reckoned that the gold was still buried under there.’
‘Why didn’t Mole’s grampa go tunnelling when the war was over?’
‘There was a sudden heavy raid one night and Mole’s grampa’s family didn’t get to the shelters. His grampa’s parents and brother were killed and Grampa himself was taken in by relatives out in the country. When he came back into London as an adult, he tried to locate the place using the map he’d made as a child.’
‘He’d made a sort of treasure map?’
‘Exactly. Mole’s grampa got a job working for London Underground so he could research every line, vent and crawlspace. Mole was brought up by his grampa. I don’t think he was in school much – told me they spent most of their days in the tunnels. Said his grampa was obsessed with finding the hidden gold.’ Kai shrugged. ‘I guess he passed on his obsession to Mole.’
‘So Mole has nothing to do with Spartacus or the Cage Fighters for Freedom project?’
Kai shook his head. ‘I’m not quite sure how they met up, but in exchange for supplies Mole led Spartacus to this abandoned Tube station where we could make an HQ and build dens. He gave us a map of entry and exit routes. He never goes to the surface at all now ’cos Spartacus keeps him stocked up with food and water, and’ – Kai recalled the boxes in the lock-up – ‘digging tools. Every time you meet him he says he’s almost reached the treasure.’
‘Do you reckon it’s true?’ Raven asked Tech. ‘That there’s this stash of gold still buried underground?’
‘Nah,’ said Tech. ‘Spartacus told me that there were tons of bunkers containing various items hidden under the London streets, but after the war they were removed so the Underground transport system could be extended. He reckons that the Ministry of War would have taken the gold right out of there when the bomb landed. Then they probably exploded the bomb deliberately to cover any trace of the secret location. And even if it didn’t happen that way, there was always a record of these stores. He said that, with modern technology, it would have been recovered by now.’
The Cage Fighters started to disperse. Sarema and Gita, who did their monitoring duty together, took their places for the night shift. As Bird Girl moved her stool beside them she asked Kai a question:
‘Do you think Mole will do what he said he would tonight? Make contact with my sister again?’
‘Definitely,’ said Kai. ‘In the weeks we’ve been here I’m the only Cage Fighter who liked to go topside as much as I could. Often Mole would pop up and keep me company along the route. I’ve got to know him and he’s a genuinely nice person. I’d trust him completely.’
‘Thanks…for everything.’ Bird Girl raised her hand as if she would touch Kai’s face. Then she let it drop by her side.
Tech checked his watch. He patted Raven on the shoulder. ‘You should get some rest ’cos you’re fighting tomorrow.’
‘Let’s hope Bird Girl is happier now that Mole is on the case,’ Kai said, falling into step beside Raven as she headed towards her den.
‘Yeah,’ said Raven. ‘Bird Girl being happy – that’s my biggest hope of the year!’
Kai twisted his head to look at her. ‘What’s up? Is my talking about Bird Girl annoying you?’
‘Bird Girl, Bird Girl, Bird Girl. Every sentence you say recently has her name in it. How could that possibly annoy anyone?’
‘She doesn’t mean anything to me.’ Kai’s voice came out less convincing than he intended. It wasn’t true that Bird Girl meant nothing to him. He had sympathy for her mission to find her sister and felt some responsibility for bringing her underground. Kai attempted to explain his thoughts. ‘I suppose I do feel drawn to her, but that’s not the same as the feelings I have for you. What we have is special.’
Ravens stopped and rounded on Kai. ‘We don’t have anything special. Don’t ever think that we do, Kai. I don’t do “special” feelings for anyone. I’m no one’s “special” girl.’
‘OK, OK.’ Kai tried to lighten the tone. ‘In that case, why is it when I mention her name it bothers you so much?’
‘Her name!’ said Raven. ‘Exactly that! I am the girl who can fly. The one person here who chose to be a bird. A bird with wings. And I was the only bird girl until she arrived.’
‘Oh,’ said Kai, ‘I see.’ Now he understood Raven’s irritation. It wasn’t the sting of love rivalry that was riling her. It was jealousy over the name. ‘I’m sorry. When I called her “Bird Girl”, I wasn’t thinking too deeply. It was because she was taking photographs of those birds in the park.’ He tried to make a joke. ‘Stupid pigeons. Waddling about. Can’t fly without bumping into things. A pigeon isn’t a proper bird. The cartoons of pigeons in Mary Poppins look more like real birds than actual pigeons do. No one takes pigeons seriously.’
They’d reached Raven’s den. She unlocked it and went inside. Sitting on her bed she unpinned her hair grips. Raising her face to the ceiling she shook her head. Her hair cascaded out, a sleek and shining ebony waterfall down her back. It draped over her shoulders, covering the thin straps of her fight vest and merging with the detailed feathered wings painted on her back and arms. When she moved, her hair and skin rippled as feathers in a gentle breeze.
‘Look in your mirror, Raven,’ Kai said softly. ‘There’s only one Cage Fighter who is truly a bird, and her name is Raven.’
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
The next morning Kai went to relieve Medusa, who’d taken over from the twins during the early hours. Tech was still asleep in his curtained-off bunk so they chatted in whispers before she left.
‘Everything was quiet in the tunnels last night,’ Medusa told Kai, ‘apart from Mole going backwards and forwards to Langsdaine with material from the storeroom. He took his last load up at five a.m. and he’s still there.’
‘He’s probably working,’ said Kai. ‘I’m not sure he ever sleeps.’
‘Well, you know him better than anyone.’ Medusa hesitated. ‘Kai…’
‘What?’
‘Watch out when you’re in the Cage with Leo for the final fight.’
‘I’m always on the alert with that sneaky beggar,’ said Kai.
‘I know,’ said Medusa, ‘but be especially so now.’
‘Why especially now?’
‘Things have changed – in the Cage, I mean. When I was fighting Boudicca I was almost glad I was weaker than her. I felt that if I’d been able to resist then she might have…I don’t know…done something…cruel.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll be ready for Leo,’ said Kai. ‘But anyway, Spartacus said he’d go over the rules with us before we fight.’
‘Yeah…right.’
‘Everything OK?’ Tech appeared, yawning, from his bunk.
Kai updated him. ‘Mole seems to have spent the night at Langsdaine.’
‘He must have decided it was more importa
nt to make the roof safe before running the cable in.’ Tech pointed to the carrier bag he’d filled with surveillance equipment which was still on his worktop.
‘And to let Dove sleep?’ suggested Medusa.
‘Hope Bird Girl managed to get some rest too,’ said Kai.
‘You’re very concerned about her, aren’t you?’ Medusa gave Kai a mischievous look.
‘Brought some breakfast for you guys!’ Raven came in and plonked a tray of muffins and coffee on Tech’s workshop. ‘Don’t do your usual guzzle of the chocolate-chip ones please, Tech.’
‘Too busy trying to make a good profile for you when you’re such a difficult subject,’ Tech teased her back.
He was on his keyboard experimenting with sound and visuals. A ball of phosphorous light rotated on the big screen. To the clamour of beating wings and wildly cawing crows Raven stepped from the centre. Clad in black leather trousers and thigh-high boots with wings arching above her shoulders she strode towards the camera.
‘Fabulous!’ said Raven.
Their heads bent close as they became absorbed in weaving sound and visuals together.
Sitting at the monitor gave Kai time to think. Medusa had been warning him about Leo. As if he needed any warnings about being wary of unexpected violence. That had been the pattern of his life before he’d run away from home. And he realized that he’d begun to collude in it. To avoid involving his mum in any confrontation with Eddy he’d make up stories to explain new bruises by mentioning rough tackles at football practice or a fall from a skateboard.
Kai’s mind was still in turmoil when Boudicca arrived ahead of schedule for her shift on the monitor. ‘Oh!’ Her face clouded with disappointment. ‘I thought Leo was on duty.’
‘No sign of Mole coming back yet.’ Kai gave her the handover report.
‘OK.’ Boudicca glanced to the door. ‘Wonder where Leo is…’
‘He was in the café, deep in conversation with Spartacus, when I was getting the breakfast muffins,’ said Raven.
‘Didn’t ask you,’ Boudicca retorted.
‘Thanks for coming in early.’ Kai stood up to give her his stool. ‘It means I can watch the fight between Magog and Beowulf.’
‘I’d better get along to the Arena.’ Tech picked up the camcorder and slung the strap across his shoulder.
‘Hang on until I fix this for you.’ Raven reached up with both hands and straightened the strap around Tech’s neck.
Kai imagined what it would be like to have Raven’s arms around his own neck. Then he blinked the thought away and they were walking out of the den.
Spartacus was standing outside the Cage speaking to both boys. Beowulf was nodding but Magog was shaking his head. Leo joined them and it seemed that, whatever the discussion, Magog was the only one disagreeing.
‘What’s happening?’ Tech asked Leo as he broke away and came over to them.
‘Spartacus wants to inject some “pizzazz” – as he put it – into what could otherwise be rather a dull fight. Beowulf was up for it but Magog is refusing.’
‘What kind of “pizzazz”?’ asked Tech.
‘Magog is never going to win this,’ said Leo, ‘so he’ll be on the lowest bonus payment. You’d think he’d be happy to do anything to get more cash.’
‘It’s not always good to do anything for more cash,’ Raven commented.
Tech focused the camera on Beowulf and his breath whistled from between his teeth. ‘He’s not wearing a gum shield either!’
‘Get your camera ready,’ joked Leo, ‘in case he sinks his choppers into Magog’s neck!’
Tech ignored him and walked with Kai to the far side of the Cage, where Spartacus was introducing the fighters.
‘From the Land of Giants, we have Magog! Our Man Mountain and Grisly Gargantuan who guards London!’
The gold braid on Magog’s green and crimson tunic glinted in the light as he stood in the centre of the Cage. Casting aside his staff and cloak, Magog beat his chest with his fists.
‘And now, our Demon Destroyer! Bold Beowulf from the Badlands!’
Beowulf somersaulted into the Cage and stood up. He was dressed in criss-crossed laced leggings, with a multitude of intricate whorls and knots and magic symbols inked on his helmet, vest and body.
‘Can the Colossus crush the brawny Beowulf?’ Spartacus’s voice resounded around the Arena. ‘Or will Brave Beowulf bring down the Magnificent Magog?’
The bell rang, and the fight began. Magog was taller, but hadn’t the speed of Beowulf, nor the experience to counter blows from an opponent who was left-handed. Swinging his fists, he lumbered about the Cage while Beowulf evaded him. When it was his turn to fight Magog, Kai had gone easy on the big guy as he was aware that Magog was the rawest recruit to the project and had little training.
This fight was going in a different direction. In the first minute Beowulf had bested Magog, flooring him with a double leg takedown. But strangely, he didn’t follow through. Instead he skipped away to his own corner, dallying until the end of the round.
In the second round, Beowulf put a choke hold on Magog. He released his grip almost at once, so that Magog, who by now had a bemused look on his face, was able to carry on until the bell sounded.
‘What’s going on?’ Kai asked Tech. ‘Do you think Spartacus asked them to spin it out?’
‘If he did’ – Tech’s attention was on the screen of the camcorder – ‘then I don’t think Magog is in on it. Beowulf’s baiting him, playing a game of cat-and-mouse.’
‘Spartacus has to have awarded higher points to Beowulf in the first two rounds,’ said Kai. ‘Maybe Beowulf will let Magog get some strikes in the third so he’s not completely put down.’
‘Don’t think so.’ Tech shook his head. ‘Beowulf’s saving something for the finish.’
The bell rang.
Beowulf sprang from his stool and within seconds he was in under Magog’s guard – their bodies so close that Magog hadn’t room to use his height and longer reach to his own advantage. Beowulf aimed a right-handed punch. Magog blocked by raising his own right arm.
Leaving his back exposed.
Beowulf pivoted and, with all his strength behind it, drove a thunderous left hook towards Magog’s ribs.
‘Jeez!’ Kai exclaimed. ‘A liver shot!’
Magog doubled up in excruciating pain. His legs folded beneath him and he crumpled to the floor.
Spartacus declared a Technical Knock Out and awarded the win to Beowulf.
‘There was no need for that extreme viciousness!’ Kai had never seen Tech so rattled as he snapped the camera closed. ‘This isn’t what I wanted to film and promote.’
It should mean nothing to Kai who won this contest, yet he was unhappy. The atmosphere was curdled. Was it the way Beowulf was swaggering about the Cage? But why shouldn’t he? He’d won third place. It was his right to show off.
But…there was a definite change among the fighters. Spartacus would blame Bird Girl, even though she was less disruptive now that she trusted Mole to make sure her sister was OK. Maybe it was the prospect of the bonus money that was bringing out bad feeling?
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
As they left the Arena Kai noticed that Leo had dropped his pace to be level with Raven.
‘Just wanted to thank you again for the new bottle of special orange nail varnish,’ he said.
Kai zoned out the noise around him so that he could hear their conversation.
‘I assumed you wouldn’t manage to get it,’ Leo went on, ‘with the nuisance of getting caught up in another of Kai’s missions of mercy.’
‘After I sent the last text from Bird Girl’s phone I did a detour to the only shop I know that sells it,’ said Raven. ‘Bought you half a dozen bottles so you won’t run out.’
‘I’ve only one more big fight to go,’ said Leo.
‘Yeah. But after this is over you might want to keep on wearing it.’ Raven smiled at him. ‘Definitely your thing!’
>
‘Wish I was better at applying nail varnish.’ Leo splayed his fingers to show his nails. ‘It goes on so blobby when I do it. And I make a mess over my fingers.’
‘I’ll paint your nails for you if you like,’ Raven offered.
‘Would you?’ Leo threw Kai a mocking smile. ‘I’d be ever so grateful.’
A jealous pang jumped through Kai. As Raven and Leo peeled off towards her den Kai kicked at a stone lying on the ground ahead of him. He decided to go to the café where Bird Girl and the twins were eating lunch.
He slumped into a chair. Even Gita sliding a snack bar across the table could hardly raise a smile. Kai waved a thanks for the bar at her, and then shoved it in his pocket.
Spartacus was discussing the audio track with Tech, but he paused as he walked past. ‘I’m calling our Meet earlier today. We’ll have it before Raven and Boudicca’s fight tonight. I’ve left a note for Mole asking him to report back to us then.’ He nodded at Bird Girl. ‘I went into the Langsdaine tunnel this morning. He’s getting that roof well propped up.’
‘Thank you,’ Bird Girl replied in a polite voice.
‘Meanwhile, I’ve got to go out to post this fight so I’m relying on you, Kai, to keep an eye on things. I need to know that I can trust you.’
‘You can trust me!’ Kai said indignantly. ‘Of course you can.’
Spartacus gave him a long look. ‘We’re side by side on this journey, Kai,’ he said. ‘Please don’t let me down again.’
There was silence at the table for a minute after Spartacus left and then Bird Girl said, ‘I’m curious about the name of your leader.’
‘Why?’ Kai asked.
‘You each choose your own name. Right?’
‘Uh,’ said Kai. His eyes were on Raven and Leo where they’d stopped outside her den. Leo was adopting his usual posture of leaning up against a wall. He was taller than Raven and he’d placed his arm and hand high above her head. Kai saw him manoeuvre his position so that Raven was under his arm. It looked as if he was protecting her.
More than that. As if they were an item.
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