Animal by G S Banks

Author:G S Banks [Banks, G S]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-05T23:00:00+00:00

16. Ice Hell

Seven days since Kelci was taken, Muldoon Academy

Today was the first day I woke up wide-eyed, with a feeling of anticipation for what the day might hold, and a sense that maybe, just maybe, I can make something good happen. I find myself wearing an all-in-one rubber suit, navy blue. Every one of us wears the same thing, forming what looks like a troupe of divers. We are piled into the back of two massive black trucks with monster wheels. The suit covers our heads so it is hard to tell who is who. I pick out Alisdair from his height and Ben from his width and Heather from the fact that she is stood so close to Alisdair and the fact that she pulls the rubber suit look off like no one else ever could.

I try to focus on what skills I have that might be called upon to help me. What am I good at? I hark back to those days with Kelci, battling our way through our self-made challenges. The trouble is we never focused on any one thing in particular, leaving me, well, not that good at anything. Apart from that I’ve read quite a few books, not as many as Kelci, but I was pretty good at school, apart from Geography, and I do have impeccable taste and I’m great with all things fashion. Ha, as if that’s of any use. I look at the rubber-clad bodies around me and am filled with doubt. I try to ignore my palpitating heart.

It takes an hour of jostling and bumping along to reach our destination. The scenery has turned from green to white and unwelcome memories of our first drill come to mind. I tell myself that today I will not be the idiot who falls asleep. I’m still trying to encourage myself as we pile out of the truck onto an enormous flat sheet of ice. I keep my mouth decidedly shut about the Arctic temperatures, while everyone moves from side to side trying to keep warm, like dancing seals.

Artemiz appears in her own version of the all-in-one and we form a line, we’re used to forming lines by now. We’re good at it. It’s harder on ice but our special gripping shoes seem to help. In the hustle and bustle to line up I find myself next to Alisdair. I feel his arm, solid against my shoulder. I remember what Lucy said about him. He doesn’t hate anyone, she said. But is that just a younger sister idolising her brother?

‘Today is the day you take on the famous ‘Ice Hell’,’ says Artemiz.

I refuse to groan. Alisdair seems unperturbed. I suppose this kind of thing is no problem for a Snow Leopard. He’s not even shivering.

‘Today is a race which you all need to embark upon as individuals – a race against each other – and you will be judged, amongst other things, on your finishing position.’

‘Yes,’ I mutter to myself. ‘Must get some points.

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