Sucked Under (6 page)

Saffy looked at him and sighed. ‘I really hoped I wouldn't have to do this,' she said, then sent Jasper flying across the room with a sharp kick to his thigh.

Jasper crashed into a nearby table, upending a model that another crew had been huddled around. ‘Hey!' they yelled angrily.

Jasper apologised and meekly walked back to the workstation.

‘Rub my nose in it again and I won't be aiming for your thigh,' Saffy threatened.

Mac just shook his head. ‘Firsties,' he muttered and turned to Saffy. ‘So, how did you get accepted to Monstrum House without being able to swim?'

Saffy grinned. ‘My school records said I was an exceptional swimmer,' she replied. ‘I guess Monstrum House didn't check.'

‘However,' a cold voice announced from behind them, ‘you can expect an intensive regime of swimming lessons when you have finished this Hunt. We have no use for hunters who can't be relied upon.'

Jasper turned to see Stenka standing behind them, glaring at Saffy with her arms crossed.

‘Thanks,
Eugene
, for bringing that to everyone's attention,' muttered Saffy.

Jasper imagined Saffy being thrown into a monster-infested pool and ordered to get out. By the look on Saffy's face, she was imagining something similar.

‘And I will expect you to show us something on this Hunt,' Stenka glowered. ‘Prove yourself. Student reviews have not started yet. Spring any more surprises like this on us, and you may not be offered the option of returning to Monstrum House next year.'

Saffy's face turned steely. She was about to reply when a voice boomed over the intercom: ‘Crew 4 to Dock C. Transport ready to depart.'

Mac looked at his watch. ‘Already? OK, we'll go over the rest when we get there. Let's go.'

‘What, now?' Felix asked.

‘That's what the assignment said.
Tuesday
2.49pm –
or didn't you read that bit?' Mac sounded slightly annoyed.

‘Yeah, but I thought they meant Tuesday 2.49pm next week or month, or something,' Felix mumbled.

Jasper had been thinking the same thing. How were they supposed to go straight into a Hunt?

‘That's what your school lessons are for,' Stenka replied. ‘What do you think we've been teaching you? You need to be able to respond to Hunt calls as soon as the Surveillance Units inform us of monster activity.'

‘We'd better hurry. It's a quarter to,' said Mac.

‘Enjoy,' Stenka said. ‘And stay alert. You are all new at this, so
listen
to Mac, and use
whatever
knowledge you have. I will be keeping track of you.'

Jasper didn't like the fact that Stenka was staring directly at him. Suddenly he was frightened. What if he heard the whispering? What if he couldn't control it? He might put everyone in danger.

He wasn't ready. He didn't want to go on a Hunt. Not yet. ‘What about my, um, medicine?' he asked Stenka quietly.

‘You will just have to make do with what the
nurse
gave you already,' said Stenka.

‘Let's go.' Mac had shoved all the papers and junk from their workstation into a few large backpacks. Everyone hoisted a bag onto their backs. ‘Wish us luck!' Mac called to Stenka as he jogged from the room with Jasper, Felix and Saffy in tow.

‘You'll need it,' Stenka said grimly.

10

Mac didn't slow down. They ran through the hallways of Monstrum House until Mac stopped in front of an old rotting wooden door. He ripped back an ivy plant that was growing over it to reveal a sign:

DOCK C

Jasper had never heard of the docks before.

It was like the school kept sprouting new parts.

‘Transport departing in thirty seconds,' came a monotone voice over the intercom.

‘Quick!' Mac ordered. ‘The transport is on auto-pilot. It won't hang around.' He wrenched open the door to Dock C.

Behind the door, a muddy old military truck rumbled in a garage. A large canopy was open in the back of the truck.

‘That's how we're getting there?' Saffy groaned. ‘This school seriously sucks.'

Mac chucked his backpack into the back of the truck and jumped on board. The others threw their bags up. Felix and Saffy had just clambered in when the garage door swung open automatically.

‘Jump on!' Mac cried.

‘Jasper!' Felix yelled as Jasper slipped in the mud.

The truck took off out the garage door.

Jasper sprang up from the mud and sprinted towards the truck. He might have been worried about the Hunt, but he still didn't want to get left behind at school. He'd
never
live that down.

Mac and Felix stretched their arms out. Jasper just managed to grab hold of Mac's hand. Saffy grabbed him by his hoodie and hoisted him into the truck as it swerved around a corner.

‘Firsties,' Mac sighed again and closed the canopy.

It was dark in the truck, though some sunlight peeked through the cracks in the canopy. Jasper hoped it wouldn't be a long trip. They had only been driving for twenty minutes, and already he was bored.

The truck was empty except for some old cardboard boxes, a few fishing nets and a large pile of oily rags.

‘OK, well, night-night,' Mac yawned and settled down, using one of the backpacks as a pillow.

‘It's three in the afternoon!' Saffy remarked.

Mac opened an eye. ‘It won't be soon. And the more sleep you get now, the better. Trust me. Anyway, the music will start soon.'

‘Hang on, you mean like the music on the plane when we first came to Monstrum House?' Felix asked. ‘I hated that music.'

Soft music began to play over the speakers in the back of the truck.

Mac smiled.‘Exactly,' he said.

‘Can't we – ahhhhh –' Felix yawned and rubbed his eyes. ‘Turn it … turn it
offffffzzzzz.

' Felix's head dropped to his chest and he started to snore.

Saffy had quietly nodded off too. Jasper tried to keep his eyes open – he peered through the cracks in the canopy, trying to see where they were going. But it was hopeless. He lay down against his backpack and instantly fell asleep.

Jasper woke up with a start. He blinked his eyes and rubbed them.
I must be dreaming,
he thought.

‘No way,' Felix murmured behind Jasper.

‘Is this for real?' Saffy joined in.

‘I dunno. Pinch me.' Jasper immediately regretted the invitation. ‘OK, that hurt. So I'm not dreaming.'

‘This is soooooo awesome,' Felix grinned.

They weren't in the truck anymore. Instead, they were in the coolest apartment Jasper had ever seen.

The lounge room was full of stuff Jasper had forgotten even existed: a huge television screen took up most of one wall, and there were computer games, DVDs and a whole bookshelf full of games, cards, comic books, scrapbooks and pencils. Jasper was itching to grab a pencil and start sketching.

His eyes wandered over to a huge desk set out with paper, pens and a range of textbooks. Jasper flicked through
The Massive Manuscript
of Monstering Mechanics
, before he spotted
Sub-
Monster Species and Surrounds
. He looked over his shoulder, but the others were checking out what else was in the room. He quickly flicked to the Scrambler section.

Vernonvex.
He stopped his finger under the name and quickly read the opening excerpt.

The Vernonvex species of Scrambler is one of the most cunning in its order. The Vernonvex preys on shy, young individuals, and will often spend days stalking the victim before striking. Its intent is to confuse and frustrate the victim.

   Although solid, it has a wispy, smoke-like appearance and accesses the brain through the victim's nostrils. The Vernonvex is often a cause of hayfever.

‘No way!' Felix exclaimed again as he opened a fridge full of soft drinks and chocolate bars.

Jasper slammed the book shut.

‘It's like we're in one of those really fancy hotel rooms that movie stars stay in,' Felix said. He took a slurp from a can and then shoved an entire chocolate bar into his mouth.

‘Welcome to the Hunt!' The door to the room swung open. Mac wheeled a shopping trolley full of take-away food boxes into the room.

‘Hamburger and chips!' Saffy cried, helping Mac unpack.

‘One Hawaiian pizza, one supreme pizza, one bowl of wedges, two strawberry milkshakes, two chocolate milkshakes, four chocolate sundaes, a spaghetti bolognese, a sushi platter, hamburgers with the lot, chips, a Greek salad, a fruit salad, and tomorrow night there's Indian, Thai, fish and chips, and a Chinese restaurant to choose from.'

Jasper, Felix and Saffy stood with their mouths hanging open.

‘Beats the food hall, eh?' Mac said as he grabbed a hot chip.

Jasper leapt towards the table, ignoring the plates and cutlery that Mac had laid out. Felix and Saffy were right behind him.

‘This is awesome!' said Saffy.

‘It's one of the perks of being on a Hunt,' Mac explained. ‘All this helps to fill your body with excitement and happiness. When you feel good, it's a whole lot harder for monsters to tap into any negative feelings. If you had this luxury all the time, it wouldn't seem so good, would it?'

Saffy grunted something through her food.

She swallowed, then started again. ‘I don't think I would mind, really.'

Mac smiled. ‘I already ate, so I'm gonna hit the sack. Don't stay up too late. We have a lot to get through in the morning. I'll wake you up at 6.30am. Try to get some sleep.'

‘Six-thirty? That's almost as bad as at school,' groaned Felix.

‘No way, I'd take this place over school any day,' said Jasper, cramming some wedges into his mouth. ‘Do you reckon we have to go back?'

Saffy winked. ‘My thoughts exactly.'

Something told Jasper she wasn't joking.

11

Jasper woke in the middle of the night with a start. He was terrified.
I am becoming a monster!
What if the whispering starts while I'm on the Hunt?