Gerry didn’t fancy the dark, wet tunnel, but there was nothing he could do: he couldn’t let his brother embarrass him.
\n\u201cI can’t see a thing. At least in the game, you have a flashlight\u201d he groaned after squeezing through the narrow opening.
\n\u201cWhat about your pen with a light? You’re always using it under the desk to cheat, now you can finally use it for something useful.\u201d
\n\u201cYou are right, it\u2019s here in my pocket!\u201d Gerry was relieved. The tunnel didn’t get any warmer or wider, but at least they could see something now. Jack climbed relatively easily on all fours in the front, but Gerry was bigger and could barely fit in the narrow passage.
\n\u201cOh no, a fork! Which way to go now?\u201d Jack stopped. \u201cRight or left? I wonder which way George went? Give me the pen! Maybe he left some kind of track behind.\u201d
\nJack lit up first the left and then the right passage. He couldn\u2019t see anything. But suddenly, in the tunnel on the right, somewhere on the ground a long way off something gave off a faint red light.
\n\u201cMaybe it’s my keychain. It must have fallen off my bag. Let\u2019s go right.\u201d” “\u201cI don’t see anything there! I think George went left for sure, in the game he goes left more than he goes right too.\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe, but he always leaves traces there! We are going right and that’s it!\u201d Jack said in an uncompromising tone, and off he went. They had been climbing for at least twenty minutes when they heard a noise that kept getting louder and louder. Suddenly the tunnel shook around them, and the noise soon became deafening. Gerry panicked.
\n\u201cLet’s turn back! Tell me this is just a bad dream, Jack, I’m really scared!\u201d Gerry said, no longer worried about what his brother thought of him. He couldn’t breathe and wanted to get out.
\n\u201cJack, this thing is going to collapse on us! Look, the stones are breaking off the wall! The tunnel is shaking!\u201d
\n\u201cRelax! That can only mean that we are close to the stop! Do you hear that? That\u2019s the tube train, passing us now!\u201d
\nAnd indeed, the noise, as it grew louder, suddenly faded away, and slowly the earthquake subsided as well.
\n\u201cAnd at the end of the tunnel, there’s the light, look!\u201d Something was flickering in the distance. Maybe it is the stop.” “\u201cWhat’s up, buddy, want your bag? Come on then, take it!\u201d laughed the man in the leather jacket, who was sat on top of the ticket machine when the two brothers, dirty and sweaty, finally clambered out of the tunnel. Gerry found his courage again.
\n\u201cYou took my brother’s bag, you bully! I\u2019ll get you!\u201d said Gerry, as he ran to the vending machine and lunged at George’s leg, but the man in the leather jacket was quicker. He leapt to the ground and started running with the bag at high speed towards the escalator.
\n\u201cGet him! If we don’t catch him on the escalator, he disappears and its Game Over!\u201d Jack started to run after the man in the leather jacket, who was already scoffing at them from the escalator.
\nHe almost caught the edge of the leather jacket, but then George hurled himself over to the other staircase in one bound.
\n\u201cJump, Jack! If you don’t jump over too, you won’t catch him! You can do it!\u201d yelled Gerry, who had meanwhile also reached the escalator. But Jack hesitated. The two boys were racing up the escalator, while the man in the leather jacket was stood on the rapidly descending staircase parallel to them sticking his tongue out at them. Gerry grabbed the handrail and jumped over without any hesitation.” “\u201cThat’s it! You’re awesome, Gerry!\u201d Jack cheered his brother, who had almost knocked George over with his huge leap. Both of them fell, but Gerry managed to grab one of the straps of Jack’s bag.
\n\u201cCome on, Jack! Jump too, we’ll just make it to the next underground train and we’ll clear the level!\u201d he shouted to his brother, who was still getting further away.
\nJack was scared. This was real, not a joystick. Not a controller. Not a game. How remembered how they had been taught to jump in gym class?
\n\u201cGain momentum, take a hold, then swing over,\u201d he could do it!
\nAnd with that, he jumped and didn\u2019t even stumble. He charged downstairs to help Gerry gets the bag back.
\nBy the time he reached the scuffling couple, Gerry was already holding the other strap of the bag. Jack suddenly pulled out the pen with the light and flashed it into George’s eyes. This startled the man in the leather jacket so much that the let go of the bag.
\n\u201cCome on, Gerry! Here comes the train!\u201d
\nThey had just reached the purple train, which was rolling into the station.
\n\u201cGerry, there is no driver!\u201d
\nThey had to act quickly.” “Jack took charge.
\n\u201cJump!\u201d They leapt onto the last carriage of the train just in time, holding on tightly to pieces of protruding iron.
\n\u201cNow you have to go to the front of the train and get into the driver\u2019s cabin. Can you do it? You’re better at that sort of thing\u201d said Gerry, encouragingly.
\nThere was no other choice: Jack held on tightly with one hand, and with the other he pushed on the door of the rear carriage to see if it would open. Meanwhile, the underground train was flying along at a dizzying pace.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve got it! It’s open! I’ll run to the front and stop the train! Climb in too!\u201d he shouted back at Gerry, after he had squeezed himself into the back of the carriage.
\nAfter a few moments, Gerry noticed that the train was slowing down and then stopped. We\u2019ve done it!
\nJack soon reappeared in the back carriage.
\n\u201cThat was close.\u201d
\n\u201cBut at least you have learned to jump\u201d replied Gerry, relieved.
\n\u201cReady for the next level?\u201d said Jack with a grin.
\n\u201cSure… But let’s get to school first. Can you drive the underground train there?\u201d
\n\u201cOnly two more stops,\u201d winked Jack, as he strode towards the driver\u2019s cabin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1245,"template":"","class_list":["post-1248","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n