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ask any further questions. The long blast on the coach’s whistle was quickly followed by two more.
    â€˜You’ve been spotted,’ cried Jacko. ‘Leg it – fast!’
    As the others turned to go, Adam hesitated. ‘You ain’t seen the last of us, Taffy Boy,’ he promised. ‘We’ll be back.’
    Young Taffy shrugged. ‘Not if the dogs get you first,’ he said with a sly grin.
    Loud barking could now be heard from the far side of the track.
    â€˜Beat it, Foxy!’ urged Jacko. ‘Those brutes don’t ask questions.’
    â€˜A
fox
hunt!’ cackled Young Taffy. ‘Tally-ho!’
    Adam shot him a dirty look, nodded to Jacko and was gone, lost to sight among the trees. He soon caught up with the rest. Their panicky flight had taken them into the wood on a different course from before and they had halted in a small clearing, trying to get their bearings.
    â€˜Which way now?’ gasped Tom, red-faced.
    â€˜Not sure,’ Gareth confessed.
    â€˜We could try and skirt back round the lake,’ suggested Eddie.
    â€˜What, with them great mutts on the loose behind us!’ exclaimed Adam.
    â€˜He’s right,’ said Gareth. ‘The tunnel’s safer. It can’t be far away.’
    â€˜Just find it, will you,’ Tom demanded. ‘I don’t want to end up as dog meat.’
    It was more by luck than judgement that the group stumbled upon the same path they had used when leaving the tunnel.
    â€˜We’re OK!’ whooped Eddie in relief, pointing to some broken branches. ‘Here’s the trail Foxy got me to make.’
    â€˜Good job you did what you were told for once,’ Adam grinned. ‘Well done, Wonder Boy!’
    They soon found the concealed entrance and disappeared inside the narrow tunnel that led to the brick wall. They scrambled through the gap and waited until Tom found the lever to re-close the wall and switch the light circuit back on.
    â€˜Phew!’ breathed Gareth. ‘That was close. Can’t hear the dogs at all now.’
    â€˜C’mon, let’s get back,’ urged Tom. ‘I’m hungry.’
    â€˜Huh!’ grunted Adam. ‘Don’t worry if you hear any rumblin’ noises, guys. It’s not the roof cavin’ in – just Tom-Tom’s belly playin’ up!’
    In single file, the boys made their way through the tunnel under the lake until they reached the ladder. Gareth clambered up it first and peered through the gap beneath the statue.
    â€˜All clear,’ he announced. ‘We’re in luck.’
    It was only after they had all got out of the hole that a dark figure emerged from the nearby trees. He was not alone. Straining forward on a tight leash was a big, black dog.
    â€˜Reckon our luck’s just run out,’ muttered Adam.
    â€˜Welcome back to B.A.S.E.,’ Blackbeard said grimly. ‘Don’t forget to close that hole. Somebody might get hurt…’
    The boys were confined to their room for the rest of the day after being lectured by Blackbeard for straying off limits. The head coach also made them promise not to say anything to their families during the Open Day about what had happened.
    In exchange for their silence, they would be allowed to stay at B.A.S.E. Camp and complete the coaching course. It was an uneasy – and temporary – truce.
    â€˜Thought human clonin’ wasn’t possible,’ said Adam, sprawled on his bunk.
    â€˜Yes, it’s possible, all right,’ Gareth replied. ‘Just not done, that’s all.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    Gareth shrugged. ‘Not sure. Might even be illegal, for all I know.’
    Tom picked at the remains of the meat-paste sandwiches, which had been sent up to the dormitory as their meal, along with glasses of juice. He was still hungry.
    â€˜Scientists have done it with animals,’ Tom told them, ‘but it’s supposed to be very difficult