Senseless by Steve Cole

Author:Steve Cole
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781800900608
Publisher: Barrington Stoke Ltd

CHAPTER 7

Feel the Heat

Can you imagine how scared I felt? How stupid. I mean, I was the kid who gets in the van with the stranger cos he’s promised a sweet. They didn’t need to kidnap me. I’d got on a plane and smiled as they dropped me in the lion’s den …

I looked out across the night and saw the planes still on the airfield. “They didn’t head back to the mainland?”

“I heard there’s a hurricane blowing up,” Vik said. “The planes can’t fly tonight.”

“Right,” Squirrel said, “and Admin Guy doesn’t want the pilots or crew to see something they shouldn’t.”

“So I guess the pilots aren’t staying at Hotel Escape,” said Blink. “Where are they?”

Squirrel read an email. “They’re sleeping overnight where the staff stay. There’s plenty of space, just now. Most of Sensia’s workers were given a free holiday this weekend and packed off home.”

“So they’re out of the way too.” I bit my lip. “Sensia must think that the fewer who know what’s going on, the better.” Every detail made the trick seem more real. And our situation even worse.

But, no. I couldn’t afford to think that way. Whatever game I play, I find my strength in my opponents’ weakness. I work out someone’s weak spot, then play on it until I win.

We just had to work out the weakness here.

“If we can find the pilots,” I said, “and tell them what’s going on … Maybe they’ll help us get out of here.”

Vik shook his head. “They’d never believe us.”

“Far as they know, we’re all here for the UltraState tournament,” Blink added. “They’ll think we’re stupid kids out to wind them up.”

“Hey! The tournament network is set up and good to go in the Video Arena,” Squirrel put in. “This email says so.”

“That’s so cool.” Blink’s voice was full of scorn. “Maybe we can play before they stick their needles of death into us.”

“Sorry.” Squirrel looked sad. “I was just saying …”

“I don’t understand,” I said. “Why did Sensia set everything up, only to move in tonight before the tournament starts?” I frowned. “Hold on. Think about this. The UltraStates are connected over the network, so we can play each other, yeah?”

“You, um, want to play, K-Boy?” Squirrel said.

“Point is,” I said, “if you can hack into that network direct – from a computer plugged right into it in the Video Arena – then it might be easier to crack their security and find a back way onto the web.”

“Then we can shout out for help!” Vik broke in.

“We can film what’s going on and post it all over the internet,” Blink added.

“We need real proof now to nail Sensia.” Vik looked down at Squirrel. “You sure you can’t find anything?”

“I’m sorry. I’m trying!” Squirrel peered at the screen. “I told you, even with Admin Guy’s password, I can’t get to the hot stuff.”

“Can you get us off this roof?” I begged.

“All the doors in the hotel can be unlocked at once,” Squirrel muttered. “I just need to find a way to make that happen without Sensia knowing.

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