White Ninja by Tiffiny Hall Read Free Book Online Page A

now,’ I whisper. ‘I’m about to take on a man in a fat suit.’
    â€˜Come with me,’ he says, grabbing me by the wrist.
    â€˜YOU!’ Private Lincoln thunders. My heart stops. He’s pointing at me. He turns his index finger to the roof and wiggles it, summoning me to him.
    I step forwards.
    â€˜No!’ he yells. ‘Not you, you!’
    The boy with emerald eyes steps out from beside me.
    â€˜Front and centre,’ Private Lincoln orders, and the boy walks hesitantly to the front.
    I notice Hero’s eyes flash with rage — and recognition. Does he know this boy? From his last school maybe?
    â€˜Since you have so much to say, you can go first,’ Private Lincoln tells the boy. ‘Show everyone how it’s done.’
    The boy’s shoulders slouch and he looks at the floor. He must be terrified. Fair enough. I feel sorry for him. He’s going to get pummelled in his first week at school and it’s all my fault.
    â€˜Ready ready?’ Private Lincoln shouts.
    The boy doesn’t move.
    Private Lincoln launches at him with his arms in the air and for a second the boy is completely enveloped in the fat suit. I gasp. Then the soldier’s arms fly backwards as the boy leaps up level with his shoulders and double-knees him playfully in the chest. He rebounds off the suit, spins once, extending his back leg like a scorpion, then his supporting leg shoots into the air and he hits Private Lincoln in the right shoulder, knocking him sideways. Private Lincoln teeters for a moment, before the boy jumps in the air again, forceps the soldier’s neck between his ankles and flips his body over his head. Private Lincoln lands on his back and the boy leaps onto his stomach and takes a slight bow. The class cheers.
    â€˜Cease and desist,’ Private Lincoln commands, still on his back. He’s unable to stand in the fat suit.
    But the boy ignores him and continues to play to the crowd. We cheer louder and louder until Sergeant Major storms into the gym and pulls the boy off Private Lincoln by the scruff of his neck. Private Lincoln stands up and takes his position at the front of the line again.
    â€˜Next,’ he says and points to me with a wiggling finger. I approach him with a turtle shuffle.
    â€˜Ready?’ he says, and I dive for his shoelaces, yank them upwards and send him rolling onto his back again.Then I drive my shoe into his private parts, imagining he’s a stranger about to mug or kidnap me.
    The class silences. They haven’t seen this side of me before — although I’m not sure if they know any side of me, possibly even my name. But since rescuing Rescue in the boys’ toilets, I’m imbued with a confidence that hardens me against whatever the class may think.
    â€˜Cease and desist!’ Private Lincoln yells in a high-pitched voice.
    Sergeant Major, still holding Green Eyes by the scruff of his neck, launches at me with his other hand and catches me by the back of my T-shirt. Holding on tight, he leads us away. I swallow hard. I’ve never been in trouble before. Ever. I suddenly regret even coming to school this morning.
    â€˜Beating up Private Lincoln was not the point of the exercise,’ Sergeant Major growls. ‘Self-control is the path between where you are and where you should be.’
    I am too embarrassed to look at Green Eyes, but I notice every girl’s eyes on me as we’re led away together. I’m guessing they are wishing it was them being hauled off to detention with him, instead of me. Most of them haven’t had the chance to meet him yet and flick their hair, hoping he’ll notice.
    Sergeant Major drops us near the equipment cupboard in the far corner of the gym and tells us to ‘Stay’. EvenGreen Eyes doesn’t dare disobey him and we sit there in silence until the class finishes, the gym empties and all that’s left of Stranger Danger is Private