Robin Hood 9 by Robert Muchamore

Author:Robert Muchamore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Books UK
Published: 2025-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

23. RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES

As two Rangers closed on the bloody scene at the service counter, Robin and Josie crossed the men’s locker room and ran out of a rear door into the gym.

The gym’s treadmills had been lined up in front of large windows with an impressive view across the former resort’s golf course and Sherwood Forest beyond. Robin couldn’t stand around and stare, but he glimpsed Rangers getting on quad bikes, as if they were about to leave.

‘Definitely a smash-and-grab raid,’ Robin said.

‘But are they all leaving?’ Josie asked warily. ‘Including the team sent to find you?’

They left the gym through a fire exit. As they headed down a bare metal staircase, there was no sign of anyone coming after them.

‘Rangers must have had an informant,’ Robin noted. ‘They knew exactly where to find everyone – and where the Super was.’

Josie opened a door from the stairway into a first-floor corridor near to School Zone. A rebel security officer named Ed slumped against a wall, worried and badly out of breath. Ed was a big guy, though he wasn’t the smartest, and was usually given routine tasks like repairing fences or searching visitors.

‘At least there’s one important person they didn’t get,’ Ed said, cracking a relieved smile when he recognised Robin. ‘Nice weapon – did you take out a Ranger?’

‘We did,’ Robin said. ‘Lucky the little Maid kids woke me up early and I was out at the chicken sheds when the bad guys arrived.’

‘Shot one,’ Ed said. Then he looked at Josie. ‘I saw them march your dad away.’

‘I was in the room when they took him,’ Josie said, pulling up her dad’s baggy shirt to reveal a bloody welt across her rib cage. ‘Got a kicking too.’

Robin was horrified by the wound. ‘Does that hurt?’

Josie looked at Robin like he was the world’s biggest idiot. ‘Of course it hurts. But there’s no point making a fuss.’

‘They got all the Scarlocks,’ Ed said.

Robin nodded. ‘I saw that. Did you see any of the Maid family? Indio, Karma, Marion, the little kids?’

‘Down by the kitchens,’ Ed said. ‘They had backpacks and stuff.’

Josie smiled. ‘They must have got out the back way.’

‘Karma was packing all day yesterday,’ Robin explained. ‘Was it all of them?’

‘I wasn’t counting,’ Ed said. ‘Definitely saw Indio and Karma, but I don’t know all their kids’ names. And your other mate up there got dragged off in a proper state.’

‘Alan?’ Josie quizzed.

‘All arms and legs with that big afro,’ Ed said.

‘Yeah, that’s Alan,’ Robin said. ‘What do you mean in a state?’

‘Badly beaten, shot in the leg,’ Ed said.

Robin gasped. ‘Maybe he held the Rangers back while the others escaped.’

‘Alan never struck me as the heroic type,’ Josie said.

‘What’s your plan, Robin?’ Ed asked hopefully.

‘We’re going back to Josie’s room to get trousers, warm jackets, gloves.’

‘I think there’s a tent and space blankets on top of our wardrobe,’ Josie said.

Ed didn’t look happy. ‘You think I should leave?’

‘Everyone should leave,’ Robin said. ‘We’ve got no cameras, no communication, holes in the fences and all our best people in handcuffs.

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