Extreme! Read Online Free PDF Page B

to ‘Stay still,’ while Clem brushed the dirt out of his eyes.
    ‘You okay?’ asked Darcy.
    ‘Just.’
    ‘What’s she up to?’ said Darcy through gritted teeth as he tried to catch a glimpse of Mio.
    ‘I’d tell you but I’m rather partial to my head,’ said Bryce.
    ‘She’s going to get hurt.’ Darcy eased himself up to peek through a gap in the slats.
    ‘See her?’ asked Bryce.
    ‘Yup.’
    ‘What’s she doing?’
    ‘Running in front of a steamroller.’
    ‘What?’ Both Bryce and Clem flung themselves to look through the slat at the same time, bumping heads and adding to the injury tally.
    Sure enough, there was Mio, standing in front of the steamroller, waving her arms to flag it down.
    Clem nudged Bryce aside, saying, ‘I don’t believe it. She’s going to get squashed.’
    ‘Me no look,’ said Tong. He scrunched up his eyes and braced himself, ready for her agonised howls.
    Another round of dirt found its mark.
    By now the light was fading and the landscapers were packing up. ‘Why don’t they stop them?’ said Clem, her voice quivering with frustration.
    ‘They don’t have to,’ announced Darcy, giving a wry smile as he peeped over the lumber pile.
    ‘Why not?’ asked Bryce.
    ‘Look.’
    What they saw resembled Hannibal riding into battle on his elephant. They saw a big beefy driver at the wheel of a steamroller. And they saw Mio, perched beside him and pointing. Together they rolled across the grass, the drum flattening everything in its path. Closer and closer they got to the skateboarders.
    Suddenly, the air was rent by the blast of a horn. The skateboarders whirled around, their faces going from smug, to shock, to fear. Thesteamroller came nearer and nearer. The skateboarders froze, then leapt to their feet at the second blast of the warning signal.
    ‘Clear off!’ yelled a deep, gruff voice.
    ‘Get lost!’ yelled a high-pitched voice as a swathe of black hair came into view and a tiny hand reached for the horn.
    The skateboarders grabbed their boards and took off. All except for Dunk Dog, who stood his ground, saying, ‘Make me!’
    Mio reached for the horn and rammed it down. The third blast shook the air, making Dunk Dog jump. He flicked up his board, poised for flight, but glared at Mio. The driver rose from his seat making ready to leap down, fist raised, when she shouted, ‘Scoot!’
    This time there was no hesitation. Dunk Dog bolted after his mates with Bryce’s ‘Go, Mio!’ ringing in his ears.
    The Freewheelers watched as Mio and the driver shared a hearty laugh. They were still laughing when they were joined by the others.
    ‘That was amazing,’ said Clem.
    ‘Incredible,’ agreed Darcy.
    ‘Very happy you save us,’ said Tong.
    Bryce wandered over to Mio, who was still in the driver’s cabin, and said, ‘That’s a first. Saved by a stampeding steamroller.’
    The driver chuckled as he turned to Mio and held out a weather-beaten hand. ‘Glad to be of service.’ Mio shook his hand, once, twice. His face registered surprise to find steel under such delicacy. Mio smiled to herself. All those years of karate, striking at the makiwara to strengthen and condition her body, had paid off, so that her hands and wrists were now hard-soft.
    ‘ Do-mo ,’ said Mio slowly, bowing deeply. ‘Thank you.’ Mio hopped down and stood back whilst the driver started up his steamroller again.
    ‘Be careful of that lot,’ he said. ‘Think they own the park.’
    ‘We will,’ said Darcy with a wave.
    ‘Thanks!’
    As the steamroller headed on its way Darcy plucked Mio off her feet and swung her around, saying, ‘You were amazing.’
    Mio shrugged herself out of his grip, irritated to be treated like a doll.
    ‘Mio Shinozaki should be Mio Kamikaze ,’ announced Bryce, giving her a slap on the back.
    ‘You sure took them by surprise,’ agreed Clem.
    Mio gave herself a shake, saying, ‘Took myself by surprise, too.’
    ‘Dunk Dog nearly wet himself,’ said Darcy,