Part 18 (1/2)

Famine's face became deathly serious. ”I'm in. What's the plan?”

”Dr Black's probably still at the school,” Drake said. ”If we can find out what he did maybe we can figure out how to reverse it.”

”Right then, gents,” War intoned. ”Time to summon our rides. Stick to the ground, though. No going airborne.”

”We'd get there quicker if we did,” Famine said.

”Aye, but we don't want to kick Armageddon into top gear accidentally by riding across the sky, do we?” War said. ”We stick to the ground.”

”Good call,” said Pest, stepping forward. He thrust a gloved hand into the inside pocket of his suit. ”But before we go anywhere...” He pulled out four matching badges. ”If we're going to do this, let's do it properly.”

Drake took the one with *I AM 4' printed on it and balanced it in his palm. It was heavier than it looked, about the weight of a pound coin. He opened the fastener and tried to attach the badge to his robe, but the pin would not go through the thick material.

He tried to force the pin through, but the material refused to give. ”What's this made of?” he asked, pus.h.i.+ng the pin so hard it bent double.

”Solidified darkness,” War said.

”Oh, right,” Drake said, who by this point had stopped being surprised by anything the hors.e.m.e.n told him. He looked up and saw that they were wearing their badges. Even War had found somewhere on his armour to attach the thing. Pest stared at him expectantly.

”Um, the robe bent it,” he explained. ”I'll stick it in the pocket.”

Pestilence gave a sigh. ”I don't know. You try to do something nice...”

”Right,” said War, interrupting him, ”let's do this.”

Pheeeeeep!

Pest's whistle was short and shrill. Even before the sound had faded, a sonic boom raced around the garden.

”*And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder',” quoted War, as the white horse tore through a hole in s.p.a.ce and landed with a thudding of hooves on the gra.s.s.

War himself whistled next, and there came his red horse, leaping from nowhere, its mane spluttering like fire as it clip-clopped to a stop beside them.

Famine stuck two fingers in his mouth. The sound came out accompanied by a spray of saliva, but it was still unmistakeably a whistle.

No horse appeared. Drake stood, watching on expectantly, waiting for the thunder of hooves. He was just about to suggest that Famine try again, when he did hear something. It was a low whine, not unlike the sound of the air conditioning in Dr Black's cupboard, and back in the cave.

A ripple appeared in the air half a dozen or so metres ahead of them. A black shape lurched through, trundling along on its four hard-rubber wheels. The electric engine rose in pitch as the vehicle pa.s.sed them, before returning to a low hum when it stopped by the horses.

”Mobility scooter,” Famine explained. He smiled shyly. ”Like I said, haven't ridden in a while.”

”Your turn,” War said, turning to Drake.

Drake shook his head. ”I... I don't think I can.”

”You can do it,” Pest said encouragingly. ”We believe in you!”

Drake glanced between them all, then gave a single determined nod. ”I can do this,” he said. He curled his thumb and index finger, stuck them in his mouth and blew.

Pffffff.

He blew again, harder this time.

Pffffffllllffff.

”Oh, forget it,” said War. He was already on his horse. In one moved he hoisted Drake off his feet and deposited him on the saddle behind him. ”Seriously,” he told him. ”Worst Death ever.”

”Don't you listen to him,” said Pest, settling himself into his saddle. ”Oh, so you can't whistle. So what?” He smiled and winked. ”It's hardly the end of the world.”

The horses clattered towards the school gates, scattering the crowds that had gathered there. Hundreds of children in matching school uniform lined the fence, held back by men and women in an altogether different type of uniform.

Yellow *Do Not Cross' tape had been draped across the gate. Beyond it, more uniformed officers stood, their eyes trained on a window mid-way along the first floor.

”Police,” Drake said. ”How are we going to get past them?”

War flicked the reins and his horse sped up. A clattering at their back told them that Pest too had picked up the pace. Several hundred metres behind them, Famine twisted the throttle of his mobility scooter, but it was already going at top speed and had nothing more to give.

With a ”Yah!” from War, the horse leaped over the metal fence. Drake heard the gasp from the people below as the animal sailed over their heads. Sparks sprayed into the air as its hooves skidded down on to the school grounds.

Another gasp; another spark shower, and Pestilence's horse touched down beside them. The police were racing over as the three hors.e.m.e.n dismounted.

”Oi, who the h.e.l.l are you? What do you think you're doing?”

War didn't bother to look at them. ”Pest,” he said, waving a hand vaguely.

Pestilence gave a gentle cough, then opened his mouth wide. There was a sound like rus.h.i.+ng air and a faint green haze wafted from within his throat. The first row of police officers toppled backwards as the cloud hit them. The next row froze in confusion, and then they too were falling.

The rest of the police pushed back, even as the crowd began to panic. Their reaction had come too late, though. The green mist rolled across them, filling their airways even as they started to scream.

Like dominoes they fell, those closest to the school first, then the row behind, then the row behind that one. It took just seconds until the only movement beyond the school gates was the steady flas.h.i.+ng of the police car lights.

”Did... did you kill them?” Drake asked.

”What do you take me for?” said Pest, slapping him on the upper arm. ”Temporary narcolepsy. They're all just having a bit of a nap. Be right as rain in twenty minutes.”

”Then we'd better move fast,” War said. He pointed up to the window the police had been so fixated on. ”Is that the cla.s.sroom?”

”Uh, yeah. I think so,” Drake said. ”Looks about right. Should we wait for Famine?”

”He'll only slow us down,” said War. He was already unsheathing his immense sword as he strode towards the door. ”It's up to the three of us. Let's go and get this over with.”

THE WOODEN DOUBLE-DOORS at the front entrance to the school were closed over when they approached. Drake turned the metal ring handles and the doors swung outwards, revealing a solid metal barrier behind them.

Drake rapped his knuckles against the metal. They made a sound like the chiming of some ancient bell. ”He's sealed himself in,” Drake realised. He set off running. ”There's a hole round the side,” he said, racing towards the spot where Dim and Spud had torn through the wall.

He stopped, mid-way across the school yard. A wall of s.h.i.+ny chrome covered the hole like a sticking-plaster. ”We can't get in,” Drake cried. ”He's blocked us out.”

”You know your problem? Well, one of them, anyway?” War growled. ”You give up far too easily.”

The giant hurled his sword. It flipped, end over end, before the blade buried itself in the rectangle of metal. Gripping the hilt with both hands, War dragged the blade across, then down. He pulled the sword free, then fired a kick against the damaged metal. It squealed, then swung inwards.