Without the distraction of hammering Mr Bambuckle with rules and guidelines from her folder, Miss Frost’s focus was well and truly on the children that morning.

‘You shall not sit any closer than two metres from the fire.’

‘Brush your teeth again – bacon and eggs are a nasty combination and the taste should be scrubbed away.’

‘Tidy your tents or face my wrath.’

‘Wear two pairs of socks as you’ll be doing a lot of running today.’

‘Go to the toilet before we start … Not on the side of a tree, Hairball McDarryl. This isn’t the Scottish highlands – detention back at school!’

The students looked to Mr Bambuckle for help. His attention, however, was with Dodger. He was whispering mischievously to the blue jay, who fluttered excitedly on his shoulder.

Miss Frost signalled for the students to gather on the logs around the smouldering fire. ‘A minimum of two metres,’ she reminded them. ‘And where are Vex and Peter?’

‘They’ll be sitting this activity out,’ explained Mr Bambuckle, who had a knack for knowing when to intervene. His voice carried well-timed authority, and the assistant principal didn’t press further. Peter was free to be absent, and Vex was free to continue resting.

Miss Frost’s icy stare subdued the students into complete silence. ‘I have a … challenge for you – one that will cover a number of outdoor education outcomes, as well as test your orientation skills.’

Mr Bambuckle rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

‘I have not forgotten the abhorrent crime one of you inflicted on me when I taught in room 12B,’ continued Miss Frost. She looked directly at Scarlett. ‘You there, stand up.’

‘Me?’ said Scarlett.

‘Who else do you think I’m speaking to?’

Scarlett rose, biting her bottom lip.

‘I am not so easily fooled,’ said Miss Frost. ‘I know it was you who schemed to get rid of me, Starlett. I know it was you who caused all sorts of strange things to happen when you were on the computer. I know it was you who zapped me to Ecuador.’

Scarlett could only tremble in reply. Everything the assistant principal said was true. She had used a computer program – PhotoCrop – to transport Miss Frost to South America.

‘Do you deny it?’ said Miss Frost.

Scarlett glanced at Mr Bambuckle, and even though she only brushed his gaze, there was something about the sparkle in his green eyes that told her to take heart. ‘It’s true,’ she said boldly.

The rest of the students wriggled uncomfortably, terrified of the outcome of this admission.

‘That wasn’t so hard, was it?’ hissed Miss Frost. ‘And now, I have you right where I want you.’

Mr Bambuckle winked at Scarlett, who was looking pale at the unfolding nightmare.

‘Back to the task at hand,’ said Miss Frost, now addressing everyone. ‘It would appear your classmate is in deep trouble. There will be severe consequences for her actions.’

Scarlett’s face drained of all colour.

‘But since I too can enjoy a good game,’ said Miss Frost, ‘I’m giving you a chance to save your classmate. If Starlett is to be spared from punishment, one of you must defeat me in a challenge.’

Mr Bambuckle could barely contain his grin. He fidgeted with the excitement of a schoolboy before his first football match.

Myra raised her hand.

‘Yes, Miley?’

‘It’s Myra. What exactly is the challenge?’

Miss Frost’s diamond bobby pin flashed coldly. ‘The challenge is plain and simple, and it involves a touch of technology – something I am beginning to grow quite fond of. How ironic that Charlotte’s fate will depend on technology …’

‘But what do we have to do?’ pressed Myra.

‘I will give each of you a tracking band to wear on your wrist. You’ll then have a ten-minute head start to run off into the bush. After that time, I will come searching for you, tracking your signals. Consider it a giant game of hide and seek, with an element of tag. If I find you and catch you, you’re out.’

‘That’s not fair,’ said Sammy. ‘All you have to do is follow the GPS signals.’

A wicked grin spread across Miss Frost’s face. ‘Then you will need to keep moving at a rapid pace.’

Sammy crossed his arms.

‘If I track all of you down before noon,’ continued Miss Frost, ‘Scarborough will be disciplined severely. However, if I fail to catch just one of you, she will be spared. You must stay within the borders of the broader camp site – no crossing the river or any roads. Those are your boundaries.’

Mr Bambuckle was now bursting at the seams. ‘The best part is,’ he said, ‘Miss Frost was a state champion in athletics at high school. She even captained the National Team!’

Miss Frost’s jaw dropped. ‘How could you possibly know that?’

‘I know everything,’ said Mr Bambuckle.

‘How is that a good thing?’ said Sammy. ‘She’ll win easily!’

The blue suit of the teacher dazzled the way it did before something unusual happened. ‘It’s a good thing,’ he replied, ‘because it will make your victory even sweeter.’

Miss Frost dismissed the possibility of Mr Bambuckle’s remark with a smirk. ‘We’ll see about that.’

Two students, meanwhile, sat tapping small sticks on the logs they sat on. Albert and Myra had entered into a private conversation.