A Study in Shame by Lucy Salisbury Read Free Book Online Page B

spreading out fast and finding cover from which we can pick them off as they come forward, with only two or three of us near our flag. That will slow the battle down, and we’re smaller and more patient, which will leave us with superior numbers, and that’s what’s going to count.’
    The other girls plainly agreed with her and I was tempted to tell them that they could go their own way and I’d go mine, but Mr Scott was listening to our conversation, along with two of the people from Confidence. When I answered, I was speaking for their ears more than Stacey’s, knowing that I’d be expected to show leadership qualities. ‘I’ll take your advice on board, Sergeant Atkinson. Instead of sixteen back and four forward, we’ll have eight back, eight spread out as you advise and four forward.’
    I adapted my plan to include hers, showing not only leadership but flexibility, which I knew would go down well.
    Stacey wasn’t impressed. ‘We’ll be too thinly spread …’
    ‘I’m in charge. That’s how it’s going to be.’
    I turned away, making for our only team member from the post room, who was dressed in her work overalls and looked completely lost. As I passed Mr Scott, he gave me a nod of approval. I knew Stacey and her friends were going to be furious with me, even if we won, perhaps more than ever if we won, but they hated me anyway. I didn’t even know the girl from the post room, and she obviously needed to be brought into the team, so I did my best to buck her up and let her sit next to me in the front of the minibus as we drove north.
    The girls in the back were muttering together most of the way, but I ignored them, waiting until we’d reached the woods and been issued our guns and protective gear before ordering them to gather around. We’d been given pink paintballs, while the boys had blue. Stacey drew a bead on a tree and hit it from right across the car park, making my stomach tighten at the noise of the gun and the ball as it exploded to mark the tree with a broad pink splat.
    I signalled her over. ‘Sergeant Atkinson, you’re in command of the base team. Both corporals are to be with the middle group, on either flank. I’ll lead the forward team, although we’ll be operating independently.’
    Her face registered immediate disappointment and she was about to speak up, but thought better of it as Mr Scott approached. I made a show of choosing my three companions with care, all young athletic girls who could take care of themselves. Mr Scott rewarded me with another approving nod and walked off towards the male team, who were performing some sort of bonding exercise which involved clumping together as if they were in a rugby scrum and shouting a lot.
    There were staff from both Confidence and the people who owned the site, one of whom told us to follow her to our base camp. As we walked, I quickly realised that the woods were far larger than I’d imagined, which probably meant Stacey was right and we would be too spread out, but I was sure that, if I changed my mind, I’d get marked down as indecisive. I’d also spotted a way to improve my personal chances of getting the flag, and greatly reduce my chances of getting shot. It was cheating, but that only mattered if I got caught.
    My tension was rising fast as I gave the girls their orders at the base, once again ignoring Stacey’s resentful scowl. With everybody knowing what they were supposed to do, I could only wait, with the seconds ticking by painfully slowly until at last the horn sounded and we were on our way. I ran immediately, down through big pine trees and across the path we’d walked along to reach the base. Beyond was thick undergrowth, then more trees and a barbed-wire fence that marked the boundary we were supposed to stay within. On the far side thick hedges ran to either side of a lane.
    I shot a quick glance behind me to make absolutely sure I wasn’t being watched, swung one leg over the fence, slipped on mud, lost