Extreme! by J A Mawter Read Free Book Online Page B

p’raps?’
    Mio shook her head and started to back away.
    ‘Musical instruments? Although, your lot always play violin and we don’t have any of them.’
    ‘Not interested,’ said Mio, whose Bouvier violin at home was one of the best.
    Tong grabbed Mio’s sleeve to pull her away saying, ‘We go now,’ while the others headed towards the door. But just as Clem was about to go through, the door flung open, its bell jangling.
    Bella yelped as the frame whacked her nose and scooted backwards in a frenzied dance of claws on floorboards as a boy hurtled into the shop.
    ‘You again!’ said Clem, squatting to comfort Bella, who was cowering behind her.
    In the time it would take to strike a match the boy sussed out the scene, swung his skateboard under his arm, and backed off.
    ‘Dunk Dog!’ called Mio.
    But Dunk Dog exited like a fox out of a rabbit hole.
    ‘Wait!’ yelled Mio, hurtling after him. ‘I want to talk to you about this skate park thing.’
    In no time, Dunk Dog was way down the street.
    With a toss of black hair Mio followed, calling to the others, ‘I’m going to catch him up.’

Chapter Nine
    Tong, Bryce and Darcy bolted after her, leaping on their bikes and donning helmets as fast as triathlon athletes.
    ‘You go and I’ll catch you,’ said Clem, trying to shove a resisting Bella into her basket.
    Dunk Dog had the advantage. Firstly, there was only one of him, and secondly, with a skateboard rather than a bike it was much easier to manoeuvre through the congested streets.
    Dunk Dog ran a few steps, threw his skateboard down and leapt on as Mio swooped in behind him. His left leg was pushing and his arms were pumping as he propelled himself down the pavement. Mio’s legs were pumping, too. Mio was gaining and Dunk Dog knew it. Crouching low he skated down anembankment, rolled a few metres, then jumped down a set of stairs. Mio kept up with him, her face serious as she matched him move for move with her bike. Not far behind were Tong, then Darcy and Bryce. With Bella safe in her basket Clem had joined the chase but she was too far away to pose a threat to anyone and was happy to just keep them in sight.
    ‘Stop!’ yelled Mio, hopping up a kerb, then double hopping over two street grates.
    Dunk Dog headed for the park. Mio wondered if he was going to jump the low hedge and was surprised when Dunk Dog stopped, threw his board over, then followed with a giant leap. Running and scooping up his board at the same time he took some stairs, two by two, then skated away down the footpath, whooping with victory. But victory can be very short-lived.
    Mio picked up speed, moulding into the frame of her bike, then leapt the fence, pleased as she made the perfect landing. She glanced up at the stairway, counted the number of steps, then gritted her teeth. She’d never ridden up so many steps in one go before. But Dunk Dog’s gloating cries floated down from above and she grew more determined. Pedalling as fast as she could she lifted her front wheels and scaled the stairs, surprised and relieved when she emerged at the top. Behind her, the boys were preparing for theirown ascent. Realising that the task would be impossible with the extra weight of Bella in her basket, Clem decided to ride the perimeter of the park, hoping to find a more welcoming entrance.
    Mio’s sudden appearance skittled Dunk Dog. Confident that he’d lost her, he’d stopped and was leaning against a tree, pulling up his camouflage pants with one hand and pulling down his eXtreme cap with the other.
    ‘I want to talk to you!’ yelled Mio.
    At the sound of her voice Dunk Dog staggered back, tripping over his skateboard, and going step-shuffle-step to regain his balance. Then he flipped his body, snatched up his skateboard and started running through some grass and shrubs. If it had only been grass Mio could have caught up easily, but with trees and bins and flowerbeds the area was an obstacle course.
    Dunk Dog side-stepped, his arms