Lost Cipher Read Online Free PDF Page B

three boys hustled up the hill, following the campers and the counselor ahead of them into the forest above the head of the lake. When they reached the platform at the uphill end of the zip line, a counselor on top was already preparing the first rider. From the base of the platform, where the line was beginning to form, they could see the zip line’s entire route through the trees, out over the lake, and all the way down to the far end near the bathhouse. At the end of the long downhill flight, two other counselors in blue camp shirts waited to receive the riders.
    They watched as the first rider, an older girl, was strapped into the harness dangling from the cable. The counselor gave her some last-minute instructions, then, with a gentle shove, sent her zipping down through the trees and out over the water. Hoots and cheers erupted from the waiting campers when the girl plunged off the platform and hurtled downhill, screaming the entire way. After what seemed like a full minute of zipping high across the water, the girl came to a gentle, gliding stop into the arms of the two counselors at the other end.
    George was in front of the other two boys. “This is going to be awesome!” he declared.
    â€œYeah, if you don’t poop your pants on the way down, George,” joked Alex.
    â€œAre you crazy?” he replied, smacking his hands on his freckled, white belly and grabbing a couple handfuls of flab. “This body was meant for flying!”
    Two girls in line behind them shuddered visibly. One, a skinny girl with frizzy red hair, whispered to her friend, “Did you see him? That was disgusting!”
    George noticed the attention. “Pardon me, ladies, but once you’ve seen the Fabulous Flying Funderburk, you’ll understand the meaning of aerodynamics.” He struck a bodybuilder’s pose, the strain of which caused him to accidentally emit a noisy fart.
    The kids around them erupted in laughter, and the red-haired girl’s friend said, “O…M…G!”
    Lucas turned away, embarrassed, while Alex simply buried his face in his hands, trying not to laugh. “Jeez, George!” he exclaimed through his fingers.
    â€œWhat?” he said, grinning proudly. “That’s my jet power.”
    Just then they heard a loud voice in the line behind them. “Relax, people. I’m just catching up to my roomies.” The blond-haired boy from their cabin was moving up through the line, leaving annoyed campers in his wake. When he reached the two girls behind them, he said, “Excuse me, ladies, but do you mind if I cut in front? These are my roommates.”
    The girl with the red hair pointed at George and said, “No problem. We’re too close to that one’s jet power anyway.” George only struck another ridiculous muscleman pose for them.
    The rich kid stepped up behind his three roommates and greeted them like best friends. “Hey guys, thanks for saving me a spot.”
    â€œYou ain’t takin’ mine,” Lucas replied, turning his back on the older kid.
    â€œWhoa, take it easy, country boy,” their roommate said, putting up his hands and pretending to be scared. “As long as I’m not back with the riffraff, right here’s fine with me.”
    â€œLook,” said Alex, “if you’re gonna pretend we’re your best buddies, maybe you can at least call us by our names. His is Lucas.”
    â€œHey, no problem. Lucas it is. Mine’s Zack. You girls ever ride a zip line before?”
    No one replied, so Zack went on.
    â€œSo I figured. Me, I’m a total beast on these things. Did one in Costa Rica, another one up near Seattle, and, oh yeah, a really extreme one over in the Alps.” He leaned forward and whispered smugly to Lucas, “Those are in Europe, in case you’re wondering.”
    Another rider, a boy in bright green trunks, took a running jump and plummeted toward the lake. He threw