Underworld by Cathy MacPhail

Author:Cathy MacPhail
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2012-10-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Zesh could feel Angie tugging on his rucksack as he moved steadily forwards through the cold black tunnel. ‘What is it, Angie?’ He sounded annoyed. Couldn’t help it.

‘Nothing. I’m just holding on, Zesh.’

She flashed her light along the tunnel. ‘Do you think this might be the way?’

It has to be, Zesh was thinking. He couldn’t think straight, yet he had to. Trying to remember all that Mr Marks had told him. He took a step forwards and jumped back quickly as rubble broke loose under his feet. He looked all around, waiting for the whole tunnel to collapse.

‘I don’t think this is any good here,’ he said.

‘If you say so, Zesh.’

He would never admit it, but he was glad it was Angie who was there with him. She didn’t moan or argue. She just followed quietly. And he didn’t want to be alone.

‘You’re probably wishing you’d never come to this school.’ He wanted to talk, to hear their voices in the black tunnel.

‘Oh no, I love it here. Everyone’s so nice.’ She giggled. ‘Well, maybe not everyone. But you are, and so’s Fiona.’

You honestly think Fiona’s nice, Angie? thought Zesh. He didn’t look behind but he could imagine her face, beaming with enthusiasm.

‘She’s the best friend I’ve ever had.’

You’re sad, Angie, he was thinking. If Fiona’s the best friend you could ever get, you are really pathetic.

‘What school did you go to before?’ he asked her, realising then that he knew nothing about Angie. None of them did.

‘We were abroad,’ she said at once. ‘My dad’s got this absolutely brilliant job. He works for the government.’

Her words were cut off as Zesh grabbed at her, and tugged so hard on her arm he almost pulled her over.

‘My foot’s gone down a hole.’ He tried to say it as calmly as he could, but he was losing his balance, and if he did, he would slip down. ‘Pull, Angie. Help me.’

Angie turned her light down into a deep dark hole that had seemed at first to be just a crack in the ground. She caught her breath, gripped Zesh and hauled him back on to firm ground.

Zesh was breathing hard. ‘We’ll have to tell them all to be careful.’

‘It’s lucky for you I was here,’ Angie said.

And though Zesh hated to admit it, she was right. ‘Come on, we’re going back.’ They backed out, this time their lights scanning the floor of the tunnel for any more of these booby traps. He felt there was danger in every step. How he wished he was home.

‘Do you think we’ll ever get out of here?’ Angie asked him.

Zesh didn’t answer. In the dark he took the inhaler from his pocket and drew in a lifesaving breath.

‘Was that you using your inhaler?’ Angie asked.

He drew in another breath quickly, this time with shock. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘You do use an inhaler, don’t you? It’s not a secret, is it?’

Zesh waited till his breath was calm again before he answered her. ‘I don’t want the rest of them to know.

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