Wild Jack by John Christopher Page B

to put up much opposition. Kelly knotted our two blankets together and threw them across the top of the fence, and Sunyo, though more slowly, tied his two blankets onto the end.
    But at the next stage he failed. The idea was that while Kelly and I held on, Sunyo would swarm up the blanket rope and so get out. He did make an attempt—we could hear him scrabbling against the inside of the fence—but had to give up.
    He said, “It’s no good. No strength in my arms. You go back. Thank you for trying, but it’s no use.”
    I was prepared to agree, but Kelly said, “Clive, make a back. I’m going in.”
    He climbed on my shoulders, reached for the top of the fence, and hauled himself up. He gave a gruntof pain as a spike of wood dug into him, then dropped inside. I heard his whispered instructions to Sunyo.
    â€œTake an end and get up on my back. I’ll crouch down.” He called through to me, “Clive, heave on your end when I say the word.”
    The first time Sunyo slipped down before the word could be given, and there was another exclamation from Kelly as he fell over along with him. But he got Sunyo in position again and pushed him up.
    â€œOK, Clive. Now!”
    I pulled hard on my end. The blanket was taut across the top of the fence, and there was the full weight of Sunyo on it as well. I didn’t think I could budge him. But as I sweated and strained, Kelly managed to get his hands under Sunyo’s feet and thrust him higher. I pulled again, and suddenly the tension slackened. A moment later I saw in the moonlight the dim figure of Sunyo on top of the fence. He fell rather than jumped, landing beside me.
    All that remained was to get Kelly out. He pulled himself up by means of the blanket and crashed heavily down on our side. Both he and Sunyo seemed to have made a lot of noise, but fortunately loud music was coming from the direction of the guards’ houses.It still seemed a good idea to get out of the area as quickly as possible.
    Sunyo was very weak, and we had to stop several times on the way to the beach to let him rest. When we got there, he collapsed on the sand and Kelly and I went to the place behind the rocks where we had left the boat. I had half a hope that the guards might have found it and taken it away; the sea, though calm in the moonlight, looked horribly wide and unwelcoming.
    But we found the boat. Kelly said, “I’ll take this end. OK to lift?”
    I said, “Wait a minute.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œI’ve been thinking. Those caves on the far side of the island . . . we could hide him there.”
    â€œHopeless,” Kelly said. “They’d find him in a few hours with a search party. Even if they didn’t, how long do you think it could last? Days at the most, then back to the stockade. Forget it.”
    â€œDays might be enough. It won’t be long before my father gets me out of here. Tomorrow maybe. He might be able to do something.”
    â€œFor you, yes. I don’t doubt that. But not for Sunyo. This place is under the International Police.Your father may be a councillor in London, but he has no authority in Kyoto.”
    I could not dispute that. I racked my brain to find another argument which would persuade him to drop this harebrained scheme.
    Kelly said, “You’ve been a great help, Clive. I mean it. I couldn’t have got him out of the stockade by myself. Just help me get the boat down now, and that’s enough. Take your two blankets back to the tent, and there’ll be no way of tying you in with us being missing. Don’t worry—we’ll make it.”
    â€œMake it where? To the Outlands?”
    â€œAs far as we’re concerned, the Outlands are better than staying here. I promise you.”
    So I helped him carry the boat down. In addition to the plastic sails and ropes there was a collapsible mast. It had metal trimmings which had rusted to