Nowhere Boys Read Free

nerd.’ Jake was jogging back down the path towards him.
    Andy stood his ground. ‘Mr Bates said we had to identify the fauna and flora.’
    Jake grabbed Andy’s field guide and shoved it back in his pack. ‘ Mr Bates, Mr Bates . Who cares what Bates says? Jake Riles says if Trent Long beats him then someone’s gonna pay.’ Jake shoved Andy’s backpack onto his shoulder and pushed him roughly back onto the path.
    ‘If you’d listened to Mr Bates you would know that we actually can’t win unless we’ve listed all the –’
    But Jake was already out of earshot.
    Andy sighed. Jake might be Bremin High’s super athlete, but clearly his parents had taught him nothing about manners.
    He adjusted the pack on his back and set off after Jake. He’d spent weeks preparing for this excursion by watching every available episode of Man Vs Wild . He’d watched Bear drink his own urine, kill wild pigs with sticks, and extract venom from a snake and then roast it over hot coals.
    ‘It’s probably a good idea if we all stick together,’ said Felix, falling into step beside him.
    At school Andy spent most lunchtimes hiding in the library to avoid Jake and his friends. But Felix, with his pale face and strange piercings, frightened him even more. Andy smiled nervously.
    Felix handed him the worksheet. ‘We can try to do the flora and fauna stuff as we go, if you want.’
    Andy looked at Felix suspiciously. Why was he being so friendly? Was he trying to lure him into a trap? Was he planning to suck his blood? Andy wondered how far ahead Jake and Sam were. He tried to sound relaxed. ‘Do you know anything about the forest environment?’
    ‘Well I know if it touches my flesh, my skin basically flakes off.’
    Andy looked at him.
    Felix shook his head, grinning. ‘Joke.’
    ‘Oh,’ Andy laughed nervously. Felix was really not funny. Not funny at all.
    ‘Come on, let’s catch the others up.’ Felix quickened his pace.
    Andy struggled after Felix. His back was starting to ache and his new walking boots were giving him blisters.
    Maybe his family was right. Maybe he shouldn’t have come. His parents were terrified by nature. Probably because in Singapore it was a miracle to see a tree that hadn’t been encased in concrete and surrounded by a shopping mall. They had only agreed to sign the permission slip when he’d promised to go adequately prepared for any crisis. He was starting to wonder if carrying a week’s worth of food, insect spray, anti-venom, three changes of clothes and a pack of firelighters was a bigger challenge than facing the dangers of the Australian bush.
    Andy stumbled. His pack seemed to be getting heavier with every step. He should have done some weight-bearing trials before he agreed to carry his body weight in survival essentials. He looked at the path ahead. Even Felix was out of sight now. He could feel the sweat pouring off him. He unlodged a flyswat from the side of his pack and whacked at the persistent cloud of mosquitoes that had taken up a roving residence around his head.
    Jake rounded the corner and hurtled towards him. ‘Right, that’s it. See through the trees? There, at the first checkpoint? That’s Trent’s team. He’s beating us and he’s got real girls on his team.’
    Through the trees Andy caught sight of a group of four moving quickly off from the first checkpoint.
    ‘Girls aren’t necessarily a handicap.’
    Jake pulled Andy’s backpack off his back. ‘No, but you are.’
    Sam and Felix jogged back towards them.
    ‘What are you doing?’ Andy asked, secretly relieved to have the weight off his back.
    Jake unzipped the backpack and turned it upside down so everything inside it spilled out onto the path. Jake, Felix and Sam stared at the contents of Andy’s pack. Andy felt a rush of embarrassment. There really was way too much for a four-hour walk. Plus, he hadn’t realised his grandmother had snuck in her floral poncho.
    ‘Dude, what is all this?’ asked Sam.
    Andy