Forest Fire by J. Burchett Read Free Book Online Page B

flinging Ben over the side. Zoe grasped his arm and hauled him back in. They clung together, huddled in one corner of the basket.
    Suddenly the basket gave a huge jolt and came to rest at a crooked angle, swinging from side to side, the balloon envelope tangled in the branches above.

    â€œWe’ve stopped falling!” gasped Zoe, hauling herself up by one of the ropes.
    Ben peered out. “The balloon’s caught on a tree. We’re safe – for the moment.”
    â€œBut look at Mat!” Zoe edged her way slowly over to where their pilot lay in a crumpled heap.
    â€œIs he alive?” Ben clambered round to join her, making the basket rock dangerously.
    Zoe felt his pulse. “He’s unconscious,” she said, hearing the worry in her own voice. “He must have been knocked out.”
    Ben pulled out his BUG. “I’m going to call Uncle Stephen,” he said. “He can get help –”
    He gave a cry as some of the balloon fabric ripped and the basket fell to the branch below.
    â€œThere’s no time for that,” said Zoe urgently. “We’ve got to get down to the ground now.”
    â€œWe can use our EELs,” said Ben. “I’ll take Mat.”
    Zoe pressed the button on her EEL belt. As she leapt out of the basket, she felt the cord fasten to the branches above.
    Ben gripped Mat tightly round the waist and prepared to jump. He knew he had to get them clear of the basket, which was starting to rock dangerously. They couldn’t risk getting trapped as it fell and dragged down to the ground. Then the EEL wouldn’t be able to work. But Mat was like a dead weight in his arms. Ben couldn’t move him at all.
    There was a crack of snapping wood and the basket broke loose from the tree. Ben felt himself being thrown into mid-air. He clung to Mat for all he was worth as they plummeted. Heart in his mouth, he hoped they weren’t too heavy for the EEL. Then, to his relief, he felt the jerk of the cord.
    As soon as Mat was safely down on the ground, Zoe felt his pulse. “It’s very fast,” she said, worried. “And he looks so pale.”
    â€œWe need to get him medical help as soon as possible,” said Ben. “I’ll contact Uncle Stephen now.”
    The chugging sound of a quad bike burst through the trees.
    â€œSomeone must have seen the balloon come down!” he exclaimed. “Help’s arrived!”

    â€œAnd they’ve got transport,” said Zoe excitedly. “They can take Mat to hospital! We’re over here!” She jumped to her feet and waved her arms.
    But the next instant their hope turned to dread as the quad came into view.
    Their rescuer was no rescuer at all. It was Pieter Ostrander.
    He cut the engine, dismounted and came over to them. Out of the corner of her eye Zoe saw Ben’s fingers reaching for his BUG. Surely Ben’s not going to try and alert Uncle Stephen, she thought. It’s too risky. But just in case, she ran forward to Mr Ostrander to block his view.
    â€œThank goodness you’re here,” she cried. “There’s been an accident and Mat’s hurt.”
    â€œI saw the balloon come down,” said Mr Ostrander in a concerned tone that now rang falsely in the children’s ears. “I came as quickly as I could. What a dreadful accident.”
    He strode over to Mat. Mat’s eyes flickered open.
    â€œNo accident,” he groaned. “Talib did this …your man…”
    â€œOh dear,” said Pieter Ostrander. His voice was suddenly hard as he gazed down at Mat. “If you hadn’t worked that out I might have rescued you and carried on playing the supportive friend. But now I can’t let you live to tell your tale. It won’t fit in with my plans at all.”
    A look of utter disbelief spread over Mat’s face. Ben and Zoe stood in stunned silence. They hadn’t guessed the lengths to which Mr Ostrander would