The Taken Child by Maria Frankland

Author:Maria Frankland [Frankland, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

You told me I depressed you,

that you hated to be around me,

yet you wouldn’t leave me alone.

TWENTY-THREE

MIA

As Catherine lands, a symphony of cheers erupts from the children, echoing through the air. Despite her being so strict, she’s definitely more popular with them than she is among the staff.

A few minutes later, Jeanette also lands, not to quite the same volume of applause but I guess it’s only natural they should reserve more of their enthusiasm for the headteacher. Especially one who’s normally so stoic and buttoned-up when we’re in school.

It’s our turn now for the zip wire. I force myself to look down at the children from our hundred and fifty feet vantage point. My stomach churns. On the fastest part of the descent, it’s possible to get up to thirty miles an hour.

‘Right I’m going first,’ Leonie says. ‘Seeing as though David seems to have completely buggered off.’

‘You might as well,’ I reply. I’m certainly not going to volunteer.

‘Why does he always get the first shot anyway?’ Leonie casts a glance behind her as if expecting David to materialise out of thin air.

‘It was actually supposed to be Kirsty.’

‘Until he muscled in.’ She steps to where the rucksacks containing our harnesses are stacked beside the anchor point. ‘Anyway, he’s not here to argue, is he?’

There wasn’t a great deal of training required for this – there’s far more needed for the abseiling. The zip wire, so we’ve been told, is merely a case of buckle up, sit in the harness and go. By the time we reach the end of it, we’ll have slowed right down on the straight and there’ll be a centre member waiting there to unclip and release us.

‘Where is David?’ Frances asks, having emerged at our point of descent to help us on our way, now the abseilers are down. ‘We won’t be able to wait up here for long after the two of you have landed.’

‘He’s just at the loo, I think,’ I tell her as I look to the path up the side as I notice movement out of the corner of my eye. But it’s Emma, one of the centre staff, who’s on her way up here, rather than David. ‘He’s been a while though.’

‘The kids will be getting antsy down there.’ Leonie peers over the edge. ‘Not to mention hungry. I know I’m starving.’

‘Me too.’

‘Oh look.’ Leonie points at Jeanette, who’s separated herself from the others since she landed. ‘What a surprise – Jeanette’s texting again.’

‘That she’s still alive after her abseil.’ I laugh as she looks up.

Leonie pulls a face. ‘Sadly.’ A hint of resentment colours her tone.

‘Let’s get this show on the road then. Which one’s mine?’ She glances at Frances. ‘I’m sure it had a sticky label on before.’

I bend to the bags and pick mine up. ‘Mine’s got one.’ I slide my harness from inside it.

‘It honestly doesn’t matter,’ Frances says. She tucks a stray curl behind her ear as the rest of them dance in the breeze.

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