Read Online CHERUB: The Recruit by Robert Muchamore - Free Book Online Page A

or getting flipped over and springing effortlessly back up. A stern Japanese lady paced among them, stopping occasionally to scream criticism in a mix of Japanese and English that James couldn’t understand.
    Mac led James to a smaller room. Its floor was covered with springy blue matting. A wiry kid was standing at the back doing stretches. He was about four inches shorter than James, in a karate suit with a black belt.
    ‘Take your shoes and socks off, James,’ Mac said. ‘Have you done martial arts before?’
    ‘I went a couple of times when I was eight,’ James said. ‘I got bored. It was nothing like what’s going on out there. Everyone was rubbish.’
    ‘This is Bruce,’ Mac said. ‘He’s going to spar with you.’
    Bruce walked over, bowed and shook James’ hand. James felt confident as he squashed Bruce’s bony little fingers. Bruce might know a few fancy moves but James reckoned his size and weight advantage would counter them.
    ‘Rules,’ Mac said. ‘The first to win five submissions is the winner. An opponent can submit by speaking or by tapping his hand on the mat. Either opponent can withdraw from the bout at any time. You can do anything to get a submission except hitting the testicles or eye gouging. Do you both understand?’
    Both boys nodded. Mac handed James a gum shield.
    ‘Stand two metres apart and prepare for the first bout.’
    The boys walked to the centre of the mat.
    ‘I’ll bust your nose,’ Bruce said.
    James smiled. ‘You can try, shorty.’
    ‘Fight,’ Mac said.
    Bruce moved so fast James didn’t see the palm of his hand until it had smashed into his nose. A fine mist of blood sprayed as James stumbled backwards. Bruce swept James’ feet away, tipping him on to the mat. Bruce turned James on to his chest and twisted his wrist into a painful lock. He used his other hand to smear James’ face in the blood dripping from his nose.
    James yelled through his gum shield, ‘I submit.’
    Bruce got off. James couldn’t believe Bruce had half killed him in about five seconds. He wiped his bloody face on the arm of his T-shirt.
    ‘Ready?’ Mac asked.
    James’ nose was clogged with blood. He gasped for air.
    ‘Hang on, Mac,’ Bruce said. ‘What hand does he write with?’
    James was grateful for a few seconds’ rest but wondered why Bruce had asked such a weird question.
    ‘What hand do you write with, James?’ Mac asked.
    ‘My left,’ James said.
    ‘OK, fight.’
    There was no way Bruce was getting the early hit in this time. James lunged forward. Trouble was, Bruce had gone by the time James got there. James felt himself being lifted from behind. Bruce threw James on to his back then sat astride him with his thighs crushing the wind out of him. James tried to escape but he couldn’t even breathe. Bruce grabbed James’ right hand and twisted his thumb until it made a loud crack.
    James cried out. Bruce clenched his fist and spat out his gum shield. ‘I’m gonna smash the nose again if you don’t submit.’
    The hand looked a lot scarier than when James had shaken it a couple of minutes earlier.
    ‘I submit,’ James said.
    James held his thumb as he stumbled to his feet. A drip of blood from his nose ran over his top lip into his mouth. The mat was covered in red smudges.
    ‘You want to carry on?’ Mac asked.
    James nodded. They squared up for a third time. James knew he had no chance with blood running down his face and his right hand so painful he couldn’t even move it. But he had so much anger he was determined to get one good punch in, even if it got him killed.
    ‘Please give up,’ Bruce said. ‘I don’t want to hurt you badly.’
    James charged forward without waiting for the start signal. He missed again. Bruce’s heel hit James in the stomach. James doubled over. All he could see was green and yellow blurs. Still standing, James felt his arm being twisted.
    ‘I’m breaking your arm this time,’ Bruce said. ‘I don’t want to.’
    James