B.A.S.E. Camp Read Online Free PDF

Pierre. Even when the sun did break through for a short time, it was a frustrating experience for most of the athletes. Runners and jumpers were hampered by the wet conditions, while the throwers had to keep drying the equipment to help their grip on the javelin, shot and discus.
    â€˜Blondie said the forecast is better for the weekend,’ Eddie told his roommates. ‘At least it should be fine for the Open Day.’
    â€˜So what about tomorrow, then, guys?’ said Adam. ‘That’s our best chance.’
    â€˜For what?’ said Tom, coming into the room.
    â€˜I’m talkin’ about the statue,’ said Adam. ‘Y’know, checkin’ it out, like.’
    â€˜Sounds a bit dodgy, if you ask me,’ said Tom, pulling a face.
    â€˜Nobody’s askin’ you,’ Adam replied and turned back to the others. ‘Look, we’ve got trainin’ in the mornin’, then we’re free. The coaches have Sat’day afternoon off.’
    â€˜Bet Blackbeard stays here,’ Eddie muttered. ‘He’s never off duty.’
    â€˜Even so,’ Adam went on, ‘I reckon we can still sneak away.’
    â€˜I suppose so,’ said Gareth. ‘But after all this rain, we could be up to our necks in water down that tunnel.’
    â€˜
If
it exists,’ Eddie added.
    â€˜At least it’s worth a look, eh?’ said Adam. ‘What d’yer say, guys?’
    â€˜OK,’ agreed Gareth, reluctantly.
    â€˜Sure,’ Eddie said with a shrug.
    â€˜You must be mad,’ muttered Tom. ‘C’mon, let’s get to that dining room. It’s fish and chips tonight and I’m starving.’
    The clock on the tallest tower of the Old Manor struck twice on the Saturday afternoonas the four boys stood in front of the larger-than-life statue of the young Taffy Jones.
    â€˜Don’t look much like he does now,’ muttered Adam.
    â€˜I bet Gramps will still recognise him if he shows up tomorrow,’ said Gareth.
    â€˜Wonder what they’ll say to each other after all those years,’ said Eddie.

    Tom checked back nervously towards the house, glad that trees were shielding the statue from view. He still didn’t really know why he had agreed to join in, apart from not wanting to be left out. ‘Just hope nobody has followed us,’ he murmured.
    â€˜Quit witterin’, will yer, Tom-Tom,’ Adam snapped. ‘Let’s do it.’
    Taffy had told them how to gain entrance to the tunnel but Adam did not really expect anything to happen. He stamped on the stone discus at the base of the statue, tilting it at an angle. Then, with the grating noise of a rusty mechanism, the front of the plinth began to slide slowly forward.
    â€˜Open, sez me!’ Adam whooped in triumph.
    â€˜It’s not very big,’ said Tom, peering at the black hole beneath the statue.
    â€˜Big enough for a secret passage,’ replied Adam, shining a torch down it. ‘Reckon even you can squeeze in there, if you hold your belly in a bit.’ He led the way, dropping to the ground and squirming backwards into the hole until he stubbed his toes against something solid. ‘Ladder!’ he cried. ‘Just like Taffy said.’
    A dim light suddenly shone from the hole.
    â€˜Good, Foxy’s found the switch as well,’ said Gareth. ‘Taffy told us the tunnel was discovered when his statue was put up. He thinks it must’ve been dug out centuries ago, but he had it all wired up with electric light.’
    One by one, they copied Adam’s entry technique and joined him in a small chamber before shuffling off, half-crouched, down a low, narrow channel with damp walls and a wet, sloping floor.
    â€˜We must be going right under the lake,’ breathed Eddie.
    â€˜Good job it hasn’t flooded,’ hissed Tom. ‘I can’t swim, remember.’
    â€˜If the roof gets any lower, I’ll be doing