CHERUB: The Fall Read Online Free Page B

hangover.’
    Mr Large clearly had no idea that he was being watched as he unself-consciously scratched between his legs and broke into song:
    ‘ I’ve been a wild rover for many a year, and I’ve spent all me money on whiskey and beer …’
    ‘Total saddo,’ Lauren whispered, stifling a giggle. ‘My dad always sang that when he was off his face.’
    ‘ But now I’m returning with gold in great store …’
    Rat smiled briefly, until he saw Mr Large turn and start walking towards them. The cluster of trees was isolated, which meant they’d be spotted if they tried to run off. All they could do was crouch down low and hope Mr Large didn’t come too close.
    ‘ And it’s no nay never …’ Large sang, as he unzipped his fly and began liberally peeing against a trunk less than a metre and a half from Lauren and Rat. ‘ No nay never, no more. Will I plaaaaaay the wild rover …’
    Lauren covered her mouth and gagged slightly as the smell of alcohol-tinged urine caught on the breeze. But Rat couldn’t help seeing the funny side of Mr Large’s singing and the extraordinary capacity of his bladder as the hot liquid steamed in the moonlight.
    ‘That is sooooooo much better,’ Large told himself happily, as he zipped up and turned back towards the tents.
    Rat cracked up as soon as Mr Large was out of earshot. ‘I thought he was never gonna stop.’
    Lauren screwed up her face. ‘I don’t know why you’re laughing. It’s all soaked into the knee of your trousers.’
    ‘Eww!’ Rat gasped, as he sprang out of the grass.
    ‘Gotcha,’ Lauren giggled, as she tore the wrapping off her Twix.
    She put one chocolate-covered end in her mouth and closed up to Rat, who bit on the other. The idea was to munch towards each other and end with a kiss, but after the first bite they heard a choking noise.
    Lauren looked up in time to see Large’s silhouette doubling over, then crashing on to the grass near the tents.
    ‘Holy shit ,’ Rat said as he jumped up, intending to run over and find out what was wrong.
    But Lauren pulled him back. ‘Maybe he spotted us. It might be one of his tricks.’
    Rat looked at her uncertainly. ‘Even he wouldn’t stoop that low.’
    ‘It’s Mr Large,’ Lauren muttered. ‘He’ll do anything, especially to me. He hates my guts.’
    Large now lay at the side of the dirt road, his legs twitching as he fought for breath.
    ‘You stay here if you want,’ Rat said. ‘It looks serious.’
    As soon as Rat ran out of the trees, Large gave a desperate scream for help, which finally convinced Lauren that he wasn’t play acting.
    ‘Are you OK?’ Rat said nervously, as he leaned over Mr Large.
    Large’s face was white and cold sweat bristled all over his forehead. ‘Do I damn well look OK?’
    Lauren arrived a few paces behind Rat and did a better job of remembering her first-aid training. ‘Have you got pains down your arms or in your chest?’
    ‘Both,’ Large slurred as Lauren undid his belt and loosened his collar.
    ‘He’s clammy all over,’ Rat said. ‘Is it a heart attack?’
    ‘He’s got all the symptoms,’ Lauren nodded.
    The kids hadn’t been allowed to bring their mobiles on the training exercise.
    ‘Sir, I need your phone,’ Lauren said.
    Large managed to briefly point at his trouser pocket before retching violently and erupting into another spasm.
    Lauren flipped the mobile open, staring briefly at the wallpaper image of Large’s beloved Rottweilers before dialling the CHERUB campus emergency number. She held the phone up to her ear waiting for a connection, but all she heard was a metallic bing-bong sound.
    No Service. Please Try Later .
    Lauren gave Rat a spooked look. ‘There’s no signal out here,’ she said anxiously. ‘Arif’s gone off with the truck. We’ll have to figure out some way of getting him to the hospital ourselves.’

3. NUMB
    The six-kilometre run and the birthday messages boosted James’ mood, but it sank as soon as he sighted the