Read Online CHERUB: Shadow Wave by Robert Muchamore - Free Book Online Page A

had been given a hellish ditch-digging punishment for hitting instructor Norman Large with a spade. Kyle had been serving an identical punishment for smoking marijuana on his previous mission.
    ‘Lauren, listen,’ Kyle said soothingly.
    But she wouldn’t let him get a word in. ‘I can’t believe you sneaked off. Now I’m gonna be stuck out there, up to my waist in that stinking filth with nobody even to talk to all day.’
    Kyle felt bad. ‘Look Lauren,’ he explained. ‘It was Christmas morning. I was going upstairs after we’d opened our presents and Meryl Spencer was asking for someone to urgently fly out to Malaysia because one of the training instructors had been injured. Nobody else would go, because it was Christmas, but I snaffled it because it got me out of my last two weeks’ ditch digging.’
    Lauren tutted. ‘Well bully for you, mate.’
    Lauren made the word mate sound like an accusation and Kyle felt guilty.
    ‘I should have told you, Lauren. But I literally had to pack a bag, get in a car and get driven to Heathrow. I knew you’d be upset and I didn’t want to ruin your Christmas day, but I bet you would have done the same if the opportunity to get out of your punishment came up.’
    ‘Maybe,’ Lauren sighed. ‘But I would have at least spoken to you.’
    ‘I know we had some laughs, but your punishment won’t last any longer because I’m not there.’
    ‘I’m just so tired,’ Lauren moaned. ‘Having the odd laugh with you has been the only thing that’s made it bearable.’
    ‘I’ll bring you back something nice, OK? Oh, and tell James that my notes on An Inspector Calls from last year are in the grey file box under my desk if he needs them.’
    ‘Right,’ Lauren muttered. ‘Try not to enjoy yourself too much.’
    As Kyle ended the call, he looked towards the island and spotted a luxurious resort, with a white sand beach and dozens of large huts linked by a network of bobbing pontoons. People could dive from the balconies of plush rooms straight into warm seawater.
    ‘That looks awesome,’ Kyle said admiringly.
    Anger flashed across Aizat’s face. ‘If the governor has his way, our whole island will look like that soon enough.’
    Kyle didn’t know how to reply and decided that it was going to be one of those days where it’s better just to keep your mouth shut.
    Their destination was a beach at the extreme north-western tip of Langkawi. Beyond a sorry stretch of sand strewn with litter and seaweed lay two shabby storeys of the Starfish Hotel. It had peeling white walls and tatty plastic furniture below faded sun shades.
    A girl in short and vest ran barefoot towards the sea as Aizat cut the outboard motors and let the boat drift into shallow water. As he lashed it to a wooden post and stepped into the surf, Kyle jumped from the opposite end of the boat. He ducked under a wave, happy to let warm seawater drench his clothes and wash away the sweat after his long journey.
    ‘How was your flight?’ the girl asked as Kyle waded ashore. Her accent was Scottish. Her brow poured with sweat and her face burned red, as if she’d been exercising hard.
    ‘Long,’ Kyle answered with a smile. He looked the girl up and down. She was eleven or twelve with blond hair down her back. Her limbs were well tanned, but sliced and bruised from ninety-seven days of basic training. He’d seen the girl on campus, but didn’t know her well.
    ‘It’s Iris, isn’t it?’
    ‘Iona,’ the girl corrected. ‘Iona Hardy. Mr Large says he wants you to bring everything ashore, then come over to the pool to see him as quickly as possible.’
    Aizat handed Iona a bag filled with camping equipment. It was too heavy for her to carry up the beach, so she dragged it, leaving a rut in the sand behind her. When they reached the hotel a porter loaded everything on trolleys and wheeled them into a lounge.
    Kyle wanted to know if he could speak freely. ‘Are there any other guests at the hotel?’ he asked