Hit Squad (9 page)

What about the driver?

He must have panicked. I just saw him jump out of the driver’s cab
, Nico thought-spoke. You
have to stop the train. Stop it then get away.

What? Me stop it?
What was he talking about?
How?

Like this.

Without warning, my legs lifted off the ground. I opened my mouth to scream as I soared into the air. The scream died in my mouth as I rose up into the sky. Nico was doing this. He was moving me
using telekinesis. Jack and Ripley and Knife Man were all yelling at him. Their shouts faded as I zoomed away . . . as Nico teleported me across the field. With a terrible jolt, I realised I was
heading for the speeding train. It was getting closer.

I flew through the air. ‘Aaagh!’ I yelled. I’d totally lost the connection with Nico. What was he thinking? I couldn’t process it. I was too shocked. I mean, I’d
been teleported by Nico before but never without warning – or at such high speed.

I tried to focus. To get back inside Nico’s head.

What are you doing?
I yelled in thought-speech.

I’m putting you on the train
, Nico thought-spoke.

I looked down. The train was, indeed, looming up beneath me.

Suddenly Nico plunged me downwards.
Get ready to land
, he urged.

No, I can’t.

You have to. Land and stop it crashing. Then get away. Get help.

But it’s moving
, I shrieked.

The train zoomed up. It was right there, just two metres below me.

One metre.

Stop the crash
, Nico thought-spoke.
Get to safety. Get help.

I braced myself.
Wham!
I landed with a thud on the top of the train. I lay spread-eagled for a long, terrifying second, and then I felt Nico release me, the force of the wind take me and
–
no
– my body slid across the roof. Down I slipped. Down.

I flailed for a handhold. But the roof was hot, smooth metal.

I was on the edge of the roof. About to fall.

Falling.

Hands flailing, I grabbed at the ridge that ran along the edge of the train roof. My legs were off the roof completely, dangling in mid-air. The train was running downhill
– steep and fast. My eyes watered as the air rushed into my face.

Nico!
My thought-speech was a scream.

Got you.

As Nico’s words registered in my head, I felt a force against my body, pushing me back onto the roof of the train. I lifted one hand from the roof ridge and placed it on the smoother metal
beyond. With a grunt, I brought my legs round so they were on the roof too. I could feel Nico’s telekinesis, trying to hold me in position. I crawled a little further, until I was in the
centre of the train roof. I lay panting, my cheek against the hot metal.

I was sweating and shivering all over.

Get up, Ed. Hurry!

What was Nico shrieking about now? For a second, I felt a flicker of annoyance. I’d almost been flung off a train to my death; the least I needed was a moment to recover.

And then I remembered where the train was heading.

I looked up. The mountain loomed ahead, a massive expanse of thick grey rock – huge and lethal. The train full of people was careering towards it at top speed and Nico was unable to do
anything to stop the crash. It was up to me.

I inched forward on the roof. I was right at the end of the carriage. There was just one more before the driver’s cab at the very front. Nico was still holding me on the train, using
telekinesis. I could feel the force of his energy, pushing me down, counteracting the force of the wind which was pushing me up and back. I reached out and grabbed the raised iron bars in front of
me. I peered over the end of the carriage. The iron bars were actually the top of a set of metal steps that led down the back of the carriage. Clinging onto the bars, I eased myself around and
found the steps with my feet. As I crept down the steps into the shelter of the carriage in front, the wind dropped. For the first time since I’d been flung into the air, I took a breath.

Nico?
I thought-spoke, desperate to reach him.
Are you sure you can’t stop this thing?

Yes, I’m sure.
Nico’s thought-speech was a yell.
The driver’s cab is open, though. You need to get into it and put the brakes on.

What?
He surely couldn’t be serious?

I’ve done what I can. You’re the only person who can stop the train now
, Nico thought-spoke.
They’re about to spray me with Med—

The telepathic connection between us disappeared – I could only remote mind-read others with full Medusa powers and Nico’s telekinesis had clearly been taken away from him. This
meant I was no longer being ‘held’ against the train. If I’d still been on the roof, the shock might have toppled me right off it but – as it was – I was clinging to
the steps that led down the back of the carriage. I tightened my grip. The train was still hurtling downhill towards the mountain. I looked across the coupling to the carriage that lay between me
and the driver’s cab. A set of steps led up to the roof, just like the ones I’d just climbed down to get to the driver’s cab. I was going to have to cross the coupling, climb up
onto the roof of the next carriage and down the other end.

What’s more, I had to do it right now.

Trembling all over, I balanced on the bottom step. I took one hand off the rungs behind me. The hill the train was speeding down was a blur on either side of me. I focused on the carriage in
front. Sweat beaded on the back of my neck.

With a yell, I threw myself across the divide between the two carriages. I lunged for the steps on the other side.
There.
I gripped the rungs. The metal felt clammy under my sweating
hands. My heart pounded in my ears.
No time.

I reached up to the rung above, finding a foothold on the bottom step as I did so. Up I climbed, hand over hand. Seconds later I was at the top. I inched onto the roof of the train. Nico was, of
course, no longer holding me in place but I was used to the train’s motion now. It took an effort, but slowly I crawled forward along the roof. The mountain was looming ever closer. How far
away was it? Less than two hundred metres I was guessing. Which gave me just a few minutes to reach the front of the train and apply the brakes. As I made my way, commando-style, across the roof, I
could hear screams from the passengers inside. I speeded up.

Come on.
A few moments later I reached the end of the carriage. I swung myself round. Down the steps. The driver’s cab was opposite the coupling. The door at the back swung open,
banging against the side of the cab. Inside it was empty.

I steadied myself, waiting for the open door ahead to swing completely open.
There.
I jumped across the coupling. Into the cab. I landed in a heap on the floor. My arm hurt. My whole body
was bruised. My heart was thundering in my ears. I scrambled to my feet. Looked up. The mountain was just metres away.

I looked down. Desperate. Where were the brakes? The display of knobs and electrical controls in front of me was bewildering. I had no idea what to touch . . . what to do . . . I glanced
sideways. A huge lever stuck out from the panel to my left. I grabbed it. Yanked it back. The train let out a screech.
No.
It was going faster.

I pushed it in the opposite direction, bracing myself against the side of the cab.

With a groan, the train slowed.
Yes.
I looked up again. The mountain was almost here. I clung to the lever, forcing it down as far as it would go. The train was still slowing. But not
fast enough.

‘STOP!’ I pushed at the lever again.

The train grew slower. Slower. The mountain right in front. Just metres away. It was terrible. Heart-stopping.

‘AAAGH!’ The lever was flat down, the train’s gears grinding.

The mountain was so close I could see the ridges on the rock face.

I pressed down on the lever, closed my eyes and waited for the crash.

With a final groan, the train stopped. I opened my eyes. The mountain was centimetres in front of the driver’s cab – less than half a metre from where I stood. I
stared at the rock as the realisation of just how close the train – and I – had come to crashing into it sank in.

My legs trembled and I sank to the floor of the cab. I felt utterly exhausted. My body was drenched in sweat and my heart was still pounding. Behind me, I could hear the doors of the train
carriages open. People were spilling out onto the field, shouting and yelling in a language I didn’t understand. The relief in their voices, however, was unmistakable.

I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. I’d made it.

But there was no time to rest. Jack, Ripley and Knife Man were close by. I had to get away from here now . . . find my way back to civilisation and alert the authorities.

At least I had my telepathic ability back. I sat up, trying to ease the trembling in my limbs. It was hard to focus on mind-reading. My brain was skipping about, refusing to relax enough to make
remote contact.

I got to my feet, taking deep, calming breaths. I reached out for Nico. But his mind was still unavailable to me. I tried to make contact with Ketty. Nothing. I tried Cal, then Dylan. Still
nothing. Had their escape attempt been foiled? Or were they free, just under the control of the Medutox for another few minutes?

It was possible that all four of them were still captives. Or worse.

I swallowed hard. Well, that meant getting help was down to me. I couldn’t let them down. As I staggered to the door of the train driver’s cab, I remembered Amy – my sister
back in Sydney. As soon as I thought of her, I made contact.

Amy?
I could feel her mind, slow and sluggish, coming to an awareness I was there.
Amy? It’s Ed!

Ed?
Amy’s thought-speech sounded bewildered.
Are you all right?

Yes, Amy, listen. We’re in a place just outside Lovistov in Kima. I’ve got away but the others are . . . at least they might be . . . prisoners.

Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.
Amy’s thought-speech had suddenly gone from nought to sixty miles an hour.
Are you all right?

I’m fine. Did you hear what I said? Jack Linden is here too, but he’s working for someone. They’re developing the drug. The Medusix. It’s definite. We—

Slow down, Ed
, Amy’s thought-speech interrupted.
Where are you again?

Lovistov. There’s a castle not far outside the town. We’re near that right now. There was a train.
I hesitated, trying to collect my thoughts.
The others are trying to
escape. But Nico is with Jack.

The others are on a train?
Amy sounded confused.

No.
I peered outside the driver’s cab. People were milling about . . . hundreds of them, mostly still shrieking their heads off. I jumped down and joined them. Everyone was talking,
some on their mobile phones. No one took any notice of me.

My legs were still shaky and my throat unbearably dry. The sun was high in a clear blue sky. It beat down, its heat fierce on my face. I peered into the distance. I could just make out the line
of trees where we’d all been standing when Nico teleported me onto the train. The chances were high that Jack, Ripley and Knife Man had got back in their cars and were already on their way. I
had to get out of here.

Ed?
Amy’s voice sounded in my head again.
What’s going on?

Jack Linden and another man I don’t know captured us
, I thought-spoke.
I’ve got away but I don’t know about the others. Tell Dad. And Fergus Fox. I’m going to
go now . . . it’s a castle near Lovistov. Tell them, Amy.

Okay, but Ed, oh my gosh, will you contact me again soon?

Sure.
I broke the connection with my sister and looked around again. Two young men were deep in conversation beside me. One of them had dropped his backpack. It was open at his feet, a
bottle of water peeking out of the top. Beside the water I could just make out the edge of a black leather wallet.