Thunder Raker by Justin Richards Read Free Book Online Page A

the long arms and stepped back.
    Slowly, Sam’s wheelchair pitched forwards and he fell out. “Bit too heavy,” he said.
    â€œGo on a diet,” Chloe advised.
    â€œNot me—Beth’s metal arms.”
    Harry looked stunned. “Beth has metal arms?”
    â€œWe just need to hang on the back of the chair and balance it,” said Alice.
    With the rest of Class 3D hanging on the back and the metal arms sticking out and up from the front, Sam’s wheelchair moved very slowly even at full speed.
    â€œYou’ll burn my motors out,” he complained.
    â€œSam’s got motors?”
    â€œBe quiet, Harry,” Jack said. “You know he has.”
    â€œThere, you see,” said Beth as they continued to roll forwards. “I told you this would work.”
    Then the wheelchair reached the door. Usually it fit through easily. But not now. One metal arm collided with the wall on one side
    of the doorway. The other one tangled in the handle of the open door. The sudden jolt knocked everyone off the back of the chairand it toppled forwards into the doorway, the two new metal arms twisting off and landing in a shattered heap on either side.
    â€œThat was Alfie’s fault,” Chloe said. A bit unfairly, Alfie thought.
    â€œSo what do we do now?” Alice asked. “Those SPUD agents won’t be fooled by the fake crash site for long.”
    â€œI think,” said Alfie, “that we should play a game of football.”
    After some discussion about who should go in goal, Alfie managed to explain why he really wanted to play football.
    Chloe shook her head and folded her arms. “Wasting more time,” she said. “I saw three SPUD agents heading for Mrs Prendergast’s just now.”
    â€œLet’s hope they’re on their tea break,” said Beth.
    â€œI don’t think they are,” Jack told them. “They’re searching the garden—you can see them through the fence, look.”
    Everyone agreed they’d better start playing football at once. Sam had just about recovered from his ordeal with the metal arms, but even so he said he’d sit the game out rather than whiz round and knock the ball about.
    â€œJust as well,” Alice told Alfie. “He’s lethal in that thing. Doesn’t just go for the ball. Sent Harry flying last time we played. Scooped him up on the foot rests and then couldn’t see where he was going. They both disappeared out of the grounds and Sergeant Custer had togo after them in the school Armoured Personnel Carrier.”
    â€œI think that as we couldn’t arrange my badger plan, I should be the one to do it,” Jack said.
    Alfie shrugged. “Fine by me. You know what to say?”
    Jack nodded.
    â€œLet’s play for a few minutes first,” Alfie said, “just so it doesn’t look suspicious.”
    â€œNot too long,” Chloe warned.
    After five minutes, they all agreed it was time. Jack took a tremendous run-up and gave the ball a colossal kick. It flew high up in the air.
    â€œOh, my goodness,” Jack announced loudly. “Well, will you look at that. Sorry, looks like it’s going over.”
    â€œOh, Jack!” everyone said as the ball flew over the fence and into Mrs Prendergast’s garden. SPUD agents dived for cover and hid in the shrubbery.
    â€œI suppose,” Jack said loudly, “that I’d better go and ask if I can get it back.” He winked, and ran off towards the main school gates.
    Everyone waited expectantly. Soon Jack ran back triumphantly. He was holding a round object about the size of Harry’s head but with no ears. “I got it!” he exclaimed. “The ball landed right next to the satellite. What luck!”
    They all stared at what Jack was holding. “That’s our football,” Alfie said.
    â€œWell, yes. I kicked it over the fence and wentto get it back, remember. But it worked,