After school, Pete, Nancy and Krish jumped on their bikes and cycled up North Road towards Hilltop.
The sky was darkening. The freezing air pinched at their faces and a cold mist hung over the fields each side of the road. The lights of Crooked Oak twinkled behind them like lonely stars.
“Sophie saw lights on Saturday night,” Pete said as he rode between Nancy and Krish. “The same night the sheep disappeared.”
“Exactly,” Krish said. “And she found the gunk the next morning. There must be a connection, right?”
“Yeah,” Nancy agreed. “And the farmer wasn’t making it up. Sophie’s photo proves that.”
North Road was steep, snaking upwards in the dark. At the top of the hill, they stopped by a turning on the left. A road full of potholes cut between the fields, heading towards Hilltop House. Long grass and tall hedges lined each side of it. There was a white barrier across the road, stopping vehicles from getting past.
Attached to the barrier was a sign that read “No Entry”. Beside it another sign read “Private Property: Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted”.
At the far end of the road, Hilltop House stood like a haunted mansion on the hill. There was no hint of life inside. Not a single light in any of its windows. Beside the house, the shapes of greenhouses and polytunnels lurked in the dusk. Behind the house stood an enormous single-storey building. Windows ran around the top of this building, just below the roof, and each one shone brightly in the evening.
“That must be the Vault,” Pete said. “The place Miss Wan told us about.”
“Well, that’s as far as we go then,” Krish panted. He was exhausted from keeping up with Nancy and Pete. “It’s out of bounds.” Krish pointed at the sign. “Anyway, it’s getting late. We should probably go home.”
“Out of bounds?” Pete said. “When did that ever stop us?” He ducked and wheeled his bike under the barrier. “Oops. I seem to be accidentally trespassing.”
Krish sighed.
Nancy grinned.
“Let’s go and have a look!” Pete said as he climbed back on his bike and set off along the road.
Nancy followed without hesitating.
Krish stood by the barrier. He glanced back at the comforting lights of the village of Crooked Oak, then turned to his best friends. They were already disappearing into the misty darkness of the road.
“You guys!” Krish called after them. “Wait for me!”
Halfway along the road, they heard an engine on North Road behind them. They turned to look back and saw bright lights stop at the barrier. A moment later, the lights were heading straight towards them.
“Quick!” Pete said. “Get off the road!” He steered to the side and jumped off his bike, letting it fall into the long grass.
Nancy and Krish did the same. The three of them hurried to the hedge and ducked down to hide.
A few seconds later, a huge lorry thundered past, its engine roaring, lights blinding. It brought clouds of dust and the smell of farmyards.
“Blimey!” Nancy said, turning to watch the red tail lights of the lorry race towards Hilltop House. “Did you see what that was?”
There had been just enough light to see that the back of the lorry was a giant container with slatted sides. Hundreds of woolly faces had been peering out between the slats.
“It was a sheep lorry,” Pete said. “So? What’s the big deal?”
“Think about it,” Nancy told him. “This place does plant research. Why would they need a load of sheep?”
“Maybe they’re doing something they shouldn’t be,” Krish said, sounding suspicious. “Some kind of animal research?”
“Like melting sheep?” Pete suggested.
“Well, maybe not that exactly, but they’re definitely up to something,” Nancy said as she climbed onto her bike. “And I want to find out what it is.”
“Yeah, but shouldn’t we come back tomorrow?” Krish asked. “When it’s light?”
“I’m right behind you, Nance,” Pete said, grabbing his bike.
“Of course you are.” Krish sighed. “All right. Let’s go.”