White Ninja Read Online Free PDF Page B

immaculate row of bristles lined up against a pile of alphabetised folders and shoves it into Rescue’s pocket, which she pats as she sits down. ‘I can’t find him,’ she whispers in a quivering voice.
    I can’t risk searching for Rescue while Sergeant Major is taking class. If I get caught with the kitten, I’ll get intotrouble. Sergeant Major will make me run fifty laps of the oval and even though my last name is ‘Ran’, no one’s that fit. I turn my attention to my notebook to take my mind off Rescue until after class.
    Things that make me feel good , I write.
    1. Cleaning out drawers.
    2. Spying on Lecky.
    3. Receiving mail.
    4. Organising my desktop.
    5. Eavesdropping on other people’s conversations, even though I know I shouldn’t.
    6. Stapling stuff.
    7. Wrapping presents.
    8. Cuddling hot plates from a fresh dishwasher cycle.
    9. Checking out what books people are reading.
    10. Cuddling pets in pet shops.
    11. Inventing conversations between my favourite foods.
    12. Bending paperclips into baby coathangers.
    Hero returns to class. His taunts interrupt my train of thought. ‘Sweat Queen and Pimple Dimple,’ Hero whispers and laughs.
    Cinnamon is sobbing now. She looks so defeated, so vulnerable, that I can’t wait any longer.
    â€˜I’ll find Rescue,’ I tell her. ‘Cover for me.’
    I slip out of class just as Sergeant Major switches off the lights to show us a video I am sure we’ve all seen before.

FOUR
    Cinnamon was walking Rescue around in the toilets so that’s where I begin my search. I creep down the hall, alert for teachers, and slip into the girls’ toilets. I look under the bathroom stalls, behind the sinks, out the window — but no Rescue. I call his name quietly, but I don’t think he’s even had a chance to learn it yet.
    â€˜Kitty Kat! Kit Kit? Little Puss! Rescue?’ I whisper, but nothing.
    I am feeling light-headed and put it down to the stress of casual clothes day. My body is unusually hot, the hair at the base of my ponytail wet. My heart is racing and I feel like I’m getting sick.
    The boys’ and girls’ toilets are located in one large fluorescent-lit room with a high dividing wall between them. There’s a narrow space at the base of the wall, just big enough for a kitten to crawl through. The boys try to use the space as a spy hole. I crouch down, nose to the tiles, but I can’t see the kitten.
    A pair of boxing boots enters the boys’ toilets. There’s a rustling sound, then the opening of a cubicle door, then I hear a noise that drains the blood from my face. A tiny mew.
    â€˜Rescue!’
    I leap to my feet and throw myself towards the top of the dividing wall. I misjudge the distance and hit my head on the roof as I go over, and smash to the ground. I expect to feel Hero’s boot in my cheek, but when I stand, he has his back to me. I look in disbelief over my shoulder at the wall. It’s twice my height and yet I leaped over it!
    I look down at my torso and hands: they’re invisible. My skinny jeans and ballet flats are standing here all on their own.
    Hero turns slowly and I see that he’s holding Rescue’s tiny black and white body over the toilet bowl by the scruff of the kitten’s neck. His other hand’s resting on the flush button.
    â€˜I know it’s you,’ he says, even though he can’t see my face. ‘Don’t come any closer or I’ll flush it!’
    His eyes flicker furiously as he tries to see me. He seems unperturbed that half of my body is invisible. Serrated black clouds move across the whites of his eyes. His hair becomes hard like stone and his skin turns the colour of rock.
    â€˜Let go of him and I won’t tell,’ I say.
    As soon as I speak, my arms and torso become visible again. Hero smiles evilly.
    â€˜I knew it was you,’ he says.
    â€˜What do you mean?’ I say. I try to