‘Five hundred and fifty boxes of mission control files in the basement of the main building,’ James explained. ‘They were supposed to be moved a week ago, but it got held up by the asbestos removal team and apparently John Jones forgot. So, are you girls up for some heavy lifting?’

Barefoot, dressed only in shorts and T-shirts, Leon led his twin by a couple of paces, weighted down by a huge pack and with a stocky Aussie instructor named Capstick in his ear.

‘Faster, Sharma,’ Capstick roared. ‘If you’re not at the top of this hill in one minute, I will take you down to the bottom. I will put another ten-kilo weight in your sack and I will make you run this whole circuit again from scratch.’

Daniel’s instructor was no less intimidating. ‘Too slow, cupcake,’ Instructor Smoke yelled, kicking him in the back of the legs and sending him sprawling before skimming her boot through a puddle and spraying his face with mud. ‘On your feet, stat!’

Leon glanced back.

‘Don’t look at him,’ Capstick roared. ‘Move your butt.’

Daniel tried to pull himself up, but he’d been drilled since sunup, with planks, push-ups and a half-hour standing with the heavy pack held high above his head. There was no strength in his arms.

‘I can’t,’ Daniel moaned, as he noticed blood between his toes.

‘What’s the matter?’ Instructor Smoke demanded. ‘Nothing wrong with a bit of blood. What do you want, a kiss better? Get on your damned feet.’

Daniel tried, but his arms gave out again.

‘UPPPP!’ Smoke ordered, as she lost patience and yanked Daniel to his feet by the strap of his backpack. ‘Now shift before I kick you down again.’

Leon had reached the top of the hill and groaned with relief as he dumped the pack on the ground before doubling up, gasping.

‘On your knees, both of you,’ Capstick shouted, when Daniel finally stumbled to the top of the hill. ‘Hands on heads.’

The ground was muddy, so the position wasn’t too hard on the knees. Both boys gasped, while Daniel was now feeling the pain in his foot. The two instructors moved right into the boys’ faces and started a verbal barrage.

‘You are pathetic.’

‘Maggots!’

‘You bring shame to the CHERUB T-shirt, maggots.’

‘Wrecked on day one. Do you really think you can take sixty days of this?’

‘Why put yourself through the misery? You can’t beat us, maggots.’

‘Quit now. Go live the easy life. Geography homework and a girl with nice long legs.’

‘Are you crying, Daniel? Is that a tear in your eye?’

‘No sir,’ Daniel lied.

‘You wanna quit, maggots?’ Smoke roared.

‘No ma’am,’ the twins shouted.

The two instructors stepped back, smiling at one another.

‘You boys stay right there on your knees,’ Capstick demanded. ‘Keep hands behind your heads. Don’t speak, don’t move.’