Cliffhanger Read Free Page B

you sure?’ said Biscuits.
    He was starting to sound as if he was regretting his decision. He shifted from one foot to the other, helplessly trussed up like a turkey.
    â€˜I’m one hundred per cent certain, pal,’ said Jake. ‘Now, you go down at your own pace —’
    Biscuits screwed up his face.
    â€˜What if I get dizzy?’
    â€˜Any time you want to stop you just pull the ropes apart. OK? Now, I’ll just secure myself, right. And then we’re ready for your big moment, Biscuits.’
    â€˜Good luck, Biscuits. I think you’re a hero,’ I said earnestly.
    Biscuits beamed at me – though his teeth had started chattering.
    â€˜OK. Start walking backwards towards the edge, Biscuits,’ said Jake.
    â€˜Er. This is when it starts to get a bit . . .’ Biscuits wavered.
    Even Giles and Kelly looked relieved that they weren’t going first now. The thought of stepping backwards into space made my legs tremble inside my tracksuit.
    â€˜You’ll be fine, I promise,’ said Jake. ‘When you get to the edge stick your bottom out, legs and feet at right angles to the cliff – and don’t let go of the rope! Especially not with your left hand. You walk yourself down. You’re in control. Your bodyweight helps you down.’
    â€˜Then Biscuits’ bodyweight is going to whizz him down mega-fast,’ said Kelly.
    â€˜Shut up, Kelly,’ said Jake. ‘Come on, Biscuits. Over you go. I’ll buy you a chocky biscuit for going first, OK?’

    â€˜How about a huge great
bag
of biscuits?’ said Biscuits.
    He started shuffling backwards to the edge – and then – OVER IT!
    â€˜That’s it. Good boy!’ said Jake. ‘Don’t let go with your right hand. Down you go. Easy does it. Great. Absolutely perfect! One foot after the other. Are you watching, kids? Biscuits is doing a grand job.’
    I couldn’t watch. But everyone suddenly cheered – which meant Biscuits had made it right to the bottom of the cliff.
    I didn’t dare look all the way down but I shouted ‘Well done, Biscuits,’ into the wind.
    â€˜There! I told you it was easy,’ said Jake, hauling the ropes and harness back after Biscuits had unscrewed himself . ‘OK, Tim. You next.’

    â€˜No!’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Jake, coming over to me.
    â€˜No,’ I said.
    â€˜You’ve all got to go sooner or later,’ said Jake.
    â€˜Later,’ I insisted.
    â€˜No. Sooner,’ said Jake. ‘Get it over with.’
    â€˜I can’t,’ I said.
    â€˜Yes you can, Tim,’ said Jake, holding my hand.
    â€˜He’s scared,’ said Giles.
    â€˜We all get scared,’ said Jake. ‘Especially the first time.’ He bent down and looked me straight in the eye. ‘But you’ll see it’s easy, Tim. Trust me. Now. Into the harness.’
    I found I was being strapped in before I could get away. Jake was telling me things about this rope in this hand, that rope in that, but the wind was whipping his words away. I couldn’t listen properly anyway. There was just this roaring inside my head.
    â€˜Don’t let go of the rope, right?’ said Jake.
    I felt as if my head was going to burst right out of my personalized safety helmet.
    This couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be happening to me. If I closed my eyes maybe it would all turn into a nightmare and then I’d wake up in bed at home with Walter Bear.
    â€˜Tim?’ said Jake. ‘Open your eyes! Now, your pal Biscuits is down there waiting for you. Come on. Start backing towards the edge.’
    I backed one step. Then another. Then I stopped.
    â€˜I can’t!’
    â€˜Yes you can,’ said Jake. ‘You’ll see. Over you go. Don’t worry. You can’t fall. You just have to remember, you
don’t
let go of the rope.’
    I stared at him and started backing some more. Then my heels