She spun on her heels and turned frantically to look for Charlie – He was there, white-faced by his desk, his hand over his eye. Without warning, he stumbled and gave a groan of agony. ‘Charlie?’ said Ms Slaviero, alarmed. ‘Are you –?’ ‘We’ve got to go!’ Amelia yelled. She was vaguely aware of the whole class gaping at her, but it was totally irrelevant. Without waiting for the bell to ring, or bothering to grab her bag, Amelia ran to Charlie and pulled him from the room. ‘Amelia!’ Ms Slaviero cried out after them, but Amelia ignored her. Charlie lagged heavily for a few seconds, and Amelia had to drag him along, but he rallied by the time they reached the school gates. Together they ran with hectic speed up the steep hill to the headland. Grawk joined them halfway, bursting from the bushes as they passed. He gave Charlie an anxious sniff, and then bolted ahead of them to the gate. This time, when they reached the hole, Amelia’s ears rang with the shrill whine of the sphere.
