A Che ning Ad nture
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Reflections of Hope and Courage
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Chapter 5 continued...
They rushed outside the church to the grand gates of the House and James punched the number from the photo into the security panel.
No answer. Another dead end.
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The children turned around to start on their way back to Chevening Halt since the road through the estate had been blocked off many years ago. Only ‘The Keyhole’ offered a view of the house now. Sarah started unwrapping the package to look inside.
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A faint whirring noise was heard behind them and the children turned to see the grand gates lazily swing open.
Suddenly a sleek black Jaguar raced into view and the children jumped back towards the mound of grass at the church. A black Range Rover appeared from the direction of the Chevening Cross. The children instinctively turned to run back through the church car park but there too a sinister vehicle had slithered to a halt and doors were being flung open.
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There was no escape. They were surrounded. There was no hope of a Dunkirk style rescue here. The children froze as the men advanced, guns raised. They dared not breathe. What was going on? One of the men gestured to throw the bundle to him and Sarah reluctantly obliged, the silk dropping to the floor as the parcel sailed through the air.
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​“Er… we were told to ask…”
James’ words were drowned out by the unmistakable ‘whump, whump’, of dual rotor blades and the men gestured with their weapons towards the neighbouring field. Slowly, the group walked through the gap in the hedge to see a Chinook helicopter land, tail open.
It was clear this stalwart of the army was meant for them and the children climbed aboard. Even before the rear cargo door was shut, the Chinook started to tear back into the sky as if climbing an invisible rope hand over hand, turning as it did. Sarah strained to look through the tiny portholes at the ground below.
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“Look! Down there, it’s the Colonel!” The children frantically waved.
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But it seemed as if the Colonel was already doing the same back. He had picked up the crest colours and was waving with both hands in the air. James recognised the message immediately but he had missed the first part and the banking Chinook meant that he lost sight momentarily again. When finally it had completed its turn, all that could be seen through the closing cargo door was the Colonel being escorted to the black Jaguar.
He had been caught as well!
This is what James saw...
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Solve the code to work out the 6th word James saw. It is incomplete so you will need to use your judgement. When you think you have worked out the complete word, click on the solution page link.