CHAPTER ONE

It was a long way down. The stones dislodged by Reuben's feet took several seconds to bounce into the sea far below. The sea swallowed them but wanted more - it wanted Reuben Hibberd. It threw itself at the crumbling, chalky cliff, roaring and stretching long fingers of hissing foam up towards him. The spray drenched Reuben's back and made the tarred rope from which he dangled slippery. He clung on, shutting out his dread of the sea and swinging himself towards the next ledge.