out!â
Tomâs warning was in vain. Eddie failed to see Young Taffy dash out from the trees near the chapel and he was knocked sideways by the unexpected assault. The two boys rolled across the grass, grappling with one another, just as a group of blue-tracksuited men came running towards them, led by a man in black.
âPierreâs here!â cried Tom.
âYeah, but whoâs this pair?â muttered Adam as two more men appeared from the opposite direction.
âAbout time you got here,â Old Taffy yelled at the bodyguards, who had halted 50 metres from the statue when they found themselves outnumbered. âDo something!â
They did. They turned and fled, pursued by four of the armed police officers, who had been smuggled in on the local athletesâ bus.
âCowards!â screamed Young Taffy, who had broken free from Eddieâs grip.
Old Taffy hauled himself stiffly to his feet in a last effort to assert his authority.
âYouâre just in the nick of time, Dubois,â he said, addressing his âFrenchâ coach. âThese hooligans have attacked me. Take them away and lock them up somewhere till they can be dealt with.â
âItâs you weâve come to lock up, Jones,â came the calm reply. âYouâre under arrest!â
âArrest?â repeated Old Taffy, shocked. âWhat on earth do you mean, Dubois?â
âIâll be asking the questions from now on, Jones. My name isnât Dubois. I am Detective Inspector Robins.â
As Old Taffy sank to his knees, head in hands, his clone seemed to give up, too. He went and knelt by the manâs side, as if to comfort him, but then burst into tears. He suddenly seemed like an ordinary, frightened little boy.
âKeep both Taffys under armed guard back at the house while I call up some transport,â Robins told his two remaining officers. He bent over Gramps, who was beginning to stir. âAnd weâll also need an ambulance for this poor chap.â
Chapter Eleven
Future Fortunes
âUuuggghhh!â grunted Tom with the effort of launching the metal ball into the air.
As it plopped into the grass, he was forced to accept defeat in the shot-put event. âNot good enough,â he admitted, shaking hands with the winner.
âCanât win âem all,â the boy grinned. âDonât be too greedy.â
Tom belched in response. He had celebrated his success in the discus by drinking a whole bottle of fruit juice in a single gulp, but he was now regretting that reckless act of bravado. âSoz!â he said, rubbing his belly. âGot a bit of gut-ache.â
The meeting with the local athletes had gone ahead, as planned, despite the drama by the lake. Gareth was absent from the high jump, having gone to the hospital with Gramps, but Adam reported for action in time to take part in the long-jump competition.
Still fired up with adrenalin after what had happened, Adam produced an enormous opening jump. He improved upon his personal best, and achieved his aim of breaking the B.A.S.E. Camp record. When the distance was announced, his raucous hoots of delight were heard right across the arena.
âSounds like Foxyâs enjoying himself,â chuckled Eddie, as he warmed up for his own event on the track, the 1,500-metre race.
The first two laps were too slow for Eddieâs liking, little more than jogging pace, and he surged to the front along the back straight, increasing his lead with almost every stride.
âGo on, Wonder Boy!â Adam shouted as Eddie ran past the long-jump pit for the final time. âBurn âem up!â
Eddie flashed him a grin and changed gear again, proving he still had enough energy left for a fast finish, to claim a comfortable victory.
Adam and Tom went over to congratulate him and were soon joined by D.I. Robins. âWell done to you all,â he said. âYouâve had quite a day, one way and
Tomâs warning was in vain. Eddie failed to see Young Taffy dash out from the trees near the chapel and he was knocked sideways by the unexpected assault. The two boys rolled across the grass, grappling with one another, just as a group of blue-tracksuited men came running towards them, led by a man in black.
âPierreâs here!â cried Tom.
âYeah, but whoâs this pair?â muttered Adam as two more men appeared from the opposite direction.
âAbout time you got here,â Old Taffy yelled at the bodyguards, who had halted 50 metres from the statue when they found themselves outnumbered. âDo something!â
They did. They turned and fled, pursued by four of the armed police officers, who had been smuggled in on the local athletesâ bus.
âCowards!â screamed Young Taffy, who had broken free from Eddieâs grip.
Old Taffy hauled himself stiffly to his feet in a last effort to assert his authority.
âYouâre just in the nick of time, Dubois,â he said, addressing his âFrenchâ coach. âThese hooligans have attacked me. Take them away and lock them up somewhere till they can be dealt with.â
âItâs you weâve come to lock up, Jones,â came the calm reply. âYouâre under arrest!â
âArrest?â repeated Old Taffy, shocked. âWhat on earth do you mean, Dubois?â
âIâll be asking the questions from now on, Jones. My name isnât Dubois. I am Detective Inspector Robins.â
As Old Taffy sank to his knees, head in hands, his clone seemed to give up, too. He went and knelt by the manâs side, as if to comfort him, but then burst into tears. He suddenly seemed like an ordinary, frightened little boy.
âKeep both Taffys under armed guard back at the house while I call up some transport,â Robins told his two remaining officers. He bent over Gramps, who was beginning to stir. âAnd weâll also need an ambulance for this poor chap.â
Chapter Eleven
Future Fortunes
âUuuggghhh!â grunted Tom with the effort of launching the metal ball into the air.
As it plopped into the grass, he was forced to accept defeat in the shot-put event. âNot good enough,â he admitted, shaking hands with the winner.
âCanât win âem all,â the boy grinned. âDonât be too greedy.â
Tom belched in response. He had celebrated his success in the discus by drinking a whole bottle of fruit juice in a single gulp, but he was now regretting that reckless act of bravado. âSoz!â he said, rubbing his belly. âGot a bit of gut-ache.â
The meeting with the local athletes had gone ahead, as planned, despite the drama by the lake. Gareth was absent from the high jump, having gone to the hospital with Gramps, but Adam reported for action in time to take part in the long-jump competition.
Still fired up with adrenalin after what had happened, Adam produced an enormous opening jump. He improved upon his personal best, and achieved his aim of breaking the B.A.S.E. Camp record. When the distance was announced, his raucous hoots of delight were heard right across the arena.
âSounds like Foxyâs enjoying himself,â chuckled Eddie, as he warmed up for his own event on the track, the 1,500-metre race.
The first two laps were too slow for Eddieâs liking, little more than jogging pace, and he surged to the front along the back straight, increasing his lead with almost every stride.
âGo on, Wonder Boy!â Adam shouted as Eddie ran past the long-jump pit for the final time. âBurn âem up!â
Eddie flashed him a grin and changed gear again, proving he still had enough energy left for a fast finish, to claim a comfortable victory.
Adam and Tom went over to congratulate him and were soon joined by D.I. Robins. âWell done to you all,â he said. âYouâve had quite a day, one way and
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