Minutes later, the deal was done, and the boys crept out of their cubicle. They were about to exit when the main door was swung violently open, knocking Eric full in the face. An elderly man lurched inside, his head swathed in a turban of bandages. He turned, bewildered. His pyjamas were loose over hunched shoulders and he had trouble focusing.
‘I’m so sorry,’ he said. ‘I thought this was vacant.’
‘We were just finishing,’ said Rikki.
‘Can we get past, please?’ said Eric, clutching his nose. ‘We’re in a bit of a hurry . . . sir.’
‘Yes,’ said the man. ‘So am I.’
Richard and Rikki stared, their eyes wide with shock.
‘I’ll get out of your way,’ said the old man politely. He looked confused again, and put out a hand, as if to touch Eric. Then his attention was taken by Richard and Rikki, and he peered short-sightedly from one head to the other. ‘Don’t I know you boys?’ he said.
‘Oh God,’ said Rikki. ‘You’re gonna have to hit him again.’
‘Just run,’ said Eric.
‘No, wait,’ said the old man. ‘We’ve met before, I know we have. But I can’t place the faces . . .’ Everyone stood still, as he shook his head wonderingly. ‘I just can’t recall your names. Give me a clue.’
Finally, Eric spoke. ‘It’s me, Mr Barlow. I’m Eric.’
‘Eric!’ The old man smiled. ‘Of course you are!’
‘I didn’t mean to hurt you – honest. I’m more sorry than you’ll ever know, so please don’t tell on us. If you tell on us, they’re going to kill Rikki. You don’t want that, do you, sir?’
‘Oh my word – Rikki . . .’ said Mr Barlow. His smile got broader. ‘It’s coming back to me. Richard too – the most interesting boy I ever taught. An incredible mind.’ He lowered his voice. ‘They’ve got you as well, have they? I’ll tell you something, boys . . . this strikes me as a very bad place. I didn’t want to come here, but they don’t listen! That Warren fellow won’t let me leave, and . . . they say they can cure me. Cure me of what? There’s nothing wrong . . .’
He looked, nervously, over his shoulder.
‘I’ve decided to escape,’ he hissed. ‘I just wish I had a plan.’
CHAPTER THREE
The alarms sounded as Dr Summersby checked the radiation doses. She was in her own laboratory, cross-referencing long, complex calculations, so she hardly noticed the noise at first. When the wall phone buzzed, however, she was jerked back to reality.
‘They’ve gone,’ said a voice.
‘Doctor Warren? Who’s gone?’
‘Richard and Rikki – you haven’t been down? You haven’t seen them?’
‘No, but I can hear the siren. What’s—’
‘Where have you been, then? We’ve got three primates loose – I’ve spent the last twenty minutes chasing them, and . . . I get down here and the boy’s gone. I’m in theatre now, and the bed’s empty.’
‘That’s not possible. How?’
‘I don’t know. We’re looking for another boy as well – Eric Madamba. He might be their accomplice. The wiring’s torn to pieces.’
‘They can’t get out, can they? The exits are controlled?’
‘Every door’s locked, and we’ve got the patrols sweeping upwards.’
‘Have you checked the cameras?’
‘Not yet! I’ve got the three monkeys out as well, so half the staff’s looking for them. They’re scrolling back the tapes but it takes time.’
‘This is bad.’
‘I’ve lost my bloody jacket too, and it’s got keys, phone – everything. Can you call me, in about five minutes?’
‘Why?’
‘I might hear it ring!’
‘I’ll come to your office. You should have sedated them!’
‘You wanted them conscious.’
‘This is a disaster.’
‘It has to be Eric – I’d bet money on it. I should have put him under lock and key. Apart from anything, they’re old friends, and if they realized what the schedule was . . .’
‘They can’t have done, surely. Where are the parents?’
‘I persuaded them to stay home, but—’
‘But they’ll be in tomorrow.’
‘Yes.’
‘That gives us eighteen hours, and we don’t know where they are. The radiation alone takes twelve. Did they let the monkeys out? Is that possible?’
‘I don’t know. And I need to find my jacket – there’s a lot of private stuff in it.’
‘This is not good. Not good at all . . .’
Richard put the finishing touches to Mr Barlow’s disguise. They’d found a porter’s uniform in the next door service cupboard, and had taken their old teacher round the corner to what appeared to be a laundry room. The green overall was a little large, but the wellington boots fitted perfectly. Eric unwound the bandages, wincing as he did so: there was an enormous, mulberry-coloured bruise over the old man’s temple.
Mr Barlow had heard their story, and could not have been more co-operative. ‘We have to fly,’ he said. ‘Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts, that’s what I’m learning. Wish I’d learned it years ago – what day is it?’
‘Sunday,’ said Eric.
‘OK. We’ll get you outside, and then we’ll call your parents, and—’
‘Mr Barlow, sir—’
‘They want to retire me! – can you believe that?’
Eric opened the lid of a large laundry basket, and got one leg over. Then he stopped. ‘What’s happened to your stutter, sir?’ he said.
‘Stutter? Oh, that’s a thing of the past, boy. That crack on the head cleared quite a few tubes, I can tell you. I feel stronger than ever. But they’re making me resign, or trying to! They say I’m no longer fit to teach.’
‘Mr Barlow, can you bend down?’ said Richard. ‘Your cap needs straightening. Then you get us to the lift, OK? Have you got the pass?’
‘Sorry, I’m . . . not being very helpful, am I? I wasn’t popular, you know, boys – after that television nonsense. I was supposed to kick you off the team, Richard, but I said to him, “Not on your life! What’s wrong with a bit of controversy?” The headmaster’s a complete coward, you know.’
‘Mr Barlow—’
‘And a hypocrite. He and that Warren fellow are as thick as thieves – some kind of control fetish, I think. I should have stood up to them properly. How do I look?’
Eric took his hand. ‘You’re looking good, sir. Are you sure you’re ready?’
‘Can we go?’ hissed Rikki. ‘Let’s move it!’
‘What’s the destination?’ cried Mr Barlow. A smile flashed across his face and his eyes went dreamy. ‘Takes me back, this does,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘I was at a little prep school in Sussex, boys, and oh my, the pranks we used to get up to with the laundry baskets. We had a tuck-shop monitor—’
‘Shut up, Mr Barlow!’ said Rikki loudly. ‘You’re screwing it up!’
Mr Barlow jumped. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘You’re right to correct me. Ground floor it is, and—’
‘Then get your skinny arse moving!’
Eric, Richard and Rikki snuggled lower and hauled sheets over their heads.
‘I’m going to buckle in you in,’ whispered Mr Barlow. He closed the lid and pulled the leather straps tight. In a moment, the basket was sealed. ‘We don’t want anyone prying at this stage – and the thing about a prank is it’s got to look authentic. Are you comfortable, boys?’
Rikki swore savagely.
‘Yes!’ cried Richard.
With that, Mr Barlow held the door open with his foot, and started to heave the load out into the corridor. A security guard walked past, talking loudly into his radio, as the sirens wailed. ‘No sign on six,’ he said. ‘Put a man by the incinerators, Ted. Where the animals get dropped: that’s our most vulnerable area.’
A voice crackled back, and the guard moved swiftly on.
All Richard, Rikki and Eric could se
e now were the white walls of the hospital corridor, with the occasional flicker of running feet. They were aware of Mr Barlow’s green trousers, for he was dragging the basket behind him. It slid slowly along, and turned a corner. Ten seconds later, they heard the ‘ping’ of a lift, and the buzz of opening doors.
‘There’s no room for that,’ said a voice.
Rikki and Richard recognized it instantly. It was the rich, authoritative tone of the fat consultant. They could see the grey cloth of an expensive suit. ‘You’d be better off using the service elevator – we’re in something of a hurry.’
‘Out of order, guv,’ said Mr Barlow huskily.
‘Dammit. Doctor Summersby, can you squeeze up a bit? Get the doors closed.’
‘Bring the back end round a bit.’
‘Sorry, darling,’ said Mr Barlow, pushing his way in. ‘The wife’s ill, so I’m in a hurry too—’
‘What floor do you want?’
‘Main exit, please, mister.’
The boys were now looking at a pair of knees under a black skirt and white coat.
‘Oh,’ said the woman quietly. ‘I need to call Doctor Warren. The fool’s lost his mobile.’
‘Really?’
‘He’s panicking too.’
‘Try him in a minute – you won’t get reception in here. Where’s your van parked?’
‘Van?’ said Mr Barlow. ‘Oh, ground floor, guv. Same as usual.’
‘You might yet be delayed, I’m afraid. I’ve just authorized extra security checks at all exits. We’re on red alert, as you can see.’
‘That’s a shame, that is – my old mum’s expecting us, and she gets so confused.’
‘Have you got your pass?’
‘Oh yes.’
‘Then I’d use the door by the service elevator, but you’ll have to lug that down a flight of stairs. That’s the back way into the car park.’
‘What floor?’
‘This one. You’d better be quick – and watch out for monkeys. They bite, so keep your distance.’
Seconds later, the boys felt the basket swinging forward, and there was a minor crunch as they landed again. The dragging resumed, as they slithered briskly up a new corridor. Feet trotted past in the opposite direction, and they heard an alarm bell ringing.
‘That was brilliant, Mr Barlow!’ hissed Richard. ‘We tricked them!’
‘Where he taking us, though?’ whispered Rikki. ‘You think he knows what he’s doing? I think he’s cracked.’
The basket stopped abruptly, and was suddenly turned. They heard the creak of a door, and then they were dragged over a ramp. Eric’s head jarred against Richard’s.
‘Mr Barlow!’ cried Rikki. ‘Let us out now!’
They became aware of a face, close to the basket. ‘I’m afraid it’s going to be a bit bumpy, boys. Hold on tight, and I’ll—’
The boys had no time to do or say anything, because the basket was suddenly shoved hard and keeled over at a dangerously steep angle. Rikki and Richard found themselves rolling onto Eric, who just managed to hold them off. Then there was a back-breaking thump.
‘Mr Barlow, please!’ shouted Richard.
‘Shhh!’ said Eric – but then a knee pushed his face hard against the basket’s side. There was another thump.
‘We’re on the stairs!’ said Rikki. ‘He’s thrown us down the bloody stairs!’
They heard Mr Barlow’s voice. ‘It’s one flight, don’t worry!’ And as he said it, he lost his grip. Eric just had time to shout as the basket teetered up on one end, and then everyone lost all sense of what was up, down or sideways. They somersaulted, bracing themselves against floor and lid, and seconds later smashed down onto the flat ground.
Running feet followed. ‘I’m so sorry about that, boys. You slipped out of my grasp.’
‘Get the lid open!’ cried Rikki.
A mobile phone was ringing.
‘We’re nearly there!’ said Mr Barlow. ‘Dig in and stay low. There’s a door with a kind of . . . I think I have to swipe this card thing. Stay quiet.’
The phone kept ringing, but where it had fallen nobody could tell. They heard an electronic sound, and the swish of an opening door. Then they were dragged forward and dropped another step. Eric’s head crunched against Rikki’s again, and a phone dropped out of his pocket onto the sheets. It was vibrating, flashing and ringing all at the same time.
Rikki snatched it up and pressed green. He wiped blood from his nose. ‘What?’ he said. ‘Who is it?’
A voice replied, ‘Doctor Warren? You’ve found it, I presume?’
Rikki froze. Alarms were still sounding in the distance, and they could feel cool air sweeping through the basket.
‘Who is this?’ said Rikki slowly.
‘It’s Doctor Summersby. Where are you?’
‘I’m not Doctor Warren,’ said Rikki.
‘Who are you, then?’ said Dr Summersby. ‘Have I got the right number? This is Doctor Summersby calling Doctor Warren – is this his phone?’
The lid of the basket was lifting now, and the three heads looked up at a nervous Mr Barlow.
‘I do apologize,’ he said. ‘You boys are rather heavier than I thought.’
‘What boys?’ said Dr Summersby. ‘Who am I talking to?’
Eric was scrambling up towards the steel bars of a fence. ‘Spider!’ he yelled. He put two fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle. ‘Spider!’
Mr Barlow helped Richard and Rikki to their feet, as the tinny voice floated from the phone. It was more agitated than ever. ‘Who is this?’ cried Dr Summersby. ‘Is this Doctor Warren’s phone or not? This is very urgent!’
‘OK, listen, Doctor Death,’ said Rikki quietly. His voice was full of menace. ‘You’re speaking to Rikki Westlake, all right? And I know what you’re up to, Summersby, because I’m smarter than the lot of you. We know what this place is about, and your career is finished – you can tell Warren too. We’re going to get you exposed and prosecuted. Kidnap—’
‘Rikki, wait—’
‘False imprisonment, attempted murder . . . and the abuse of innocent animals. We’ve photographed everything, and you’re all going down.’
There was a short silence.
‘I think we need to talk,’ said the voice.
‘What about?’
‘Are you in the Institute still? Let me find Doctor Warren—’
‘Ha! We’re on the roof. We’re going to jump and you’ll be in every newspaper in the world. You should see our suicide note – it reveals everything!’
‘Stay where you are, Rikki – stay on the roof! We’ll straighten things out. I promise.’
‘You’ve got sixty seconds, brain-thief.’ Rikki grinned, and cut the call. ‘That’s bought us some time,’ he said.
Eric was back. He pushed everyone into a corner of the yard and they huddled in the shadows of a delivery platform. ‘We’ve got problems,’ he hissed. ‘Spider’s here . . . but he can’t get in. They don’t let people in without a pass. There’s police around too.’
‘What’s goin’ on, guys?’ said a voice. A thin teenager in denims was peering through the bars. His pale face looked anxious. ‘What kind of trouble you in?’
‘Shall we just climb over?’ said Rikki.
‘I’m not sure I can,’ said Mr Barlow. ‘We’re sitting ducks here, though.’
‘We’ll have to try!’ said Eric, looking up at the barbed wire. The railings were smooth and high, and a camera sat far above them on a post. ‘Spider – help us!’
Richard laughed and grabbed Eric by the shoulders. ‘Eric!’ he cried. ‘I’ve got a better idea. You took the keys, didn’t you? And we know what car Warren drives. It’s that one there – look! The black one, sticking out.’
A powerful sports car was parked just a few metres away, and the BMW logo was clear on the bonnet. Eric grinned, produced the remote and pressed it. As if by magic, the sidelights flashed. He pressed again, and they heard the clicking of the door-locks. br />
‘Can you handle a sports car?’ said Rikki.
Eric’s eyes were glittering. ‘Spider can,’ he said. ‘Wait and see . . .’
CHAPTER FOUR
Dr Warren was up four flights of stairs in less than a minute. He crashed his way out onto the hospital roof, two guards wheezing behind him. A quick scan suggested the rooftop was deserted, but there was a large water tank that could be a hiding place. The men split up and approached it from opposite directions. Thirty seconds later, it was clear that their prey had fled.
‘Gone,’ panted Dr Warren. ‘Dammit . . . they’re fast.’ He walked to the nearest wall and looked down into the car park. There was a police car manoeuvring in as the gate rolled open, its blue light flashing. A black vehicle waited politely for it, then moved quickly past, onto the road.
‘They’re letting people through,’ he said. ‘I thought you said the exit was sealed?’
‘It is, sir,’ said one of the guards.
‘Well, look at that!’ He pointed as the gate rolled shut again. The black car had paused to let someone clamber in, and now it was revving loudly. ‘Who’s in charge down there? Radio down and tell them to seal all exits!’
‘Come in, Gamma-Foxtrot,’ said the guard. ‘Up on the roof, Brian. Looking down at gate four with Doctor Warren. Seems you’re letting vehicles through?’
There was a crackle.
‘He says they’re only letting top brass out, after—’
‘Keep it shut!’
‘. . . after they show passes.’
‘Tell him to check carefully. Did he check the vehicle that just left? We’re dealing with very clever children!’
The guard radioed down, and there was another burst of croaking static. ‘Bit of confusion, sir,’ said the guard apologetically. ‘He wants to know your location.’
‘What do you mean? I’m here, with you.’
‘Yes, but he sounds a bit anxious. He says you just left – they’ve just let you through!’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘He says how am I talking to you up here, when you drove out just half a minute ago? Black BMW. Smoked-glass windows—’
‘What?’
‘He checked the pass, Doctor. It was all legit, so he waved you through.’