fast, no one will ever know!' Nails went off to start his riding, and the others hurried into the back of Uncle Bean's truck. A few minutes later Nutty had become Jazz. "I hope don't really look like that!' said Jazz. "You hide here until I get back," said Nutty. "And let's hope that Nails does a clear round! Nutty ran out and got onto Spot. She looked up the hill and saw Nails goingwell on Switchback, but there was still no Hoomey. He must be still alive, but where was he? Then the starter called 'Go!', and Nutty was away. Spot, surprised, was galloping before he had time to think. Nutty hurried him on, and he found it easier to jump than to refuse.
They reached the wood safely, and from the top of the hill Nutty saw Nails going fast towards the finish. They could still win As Nutty came out of the wood, she saw the ambulances and cars and a crowd of looking down the hill. She had no time to see what was happening, and turned Spot towards the next jump. Then Bones and Hoomey suddenly appeared, coming up the hill from the main road, and galloping very fast towards the jump in front of her. Bones flew over the jump, clearing it by about two metres, and Hoomey went up in the air and came down again, still on Bones's back. Now they were racing towards the gate, and Nutty, not far behind, could see that Bones wasn't going to stop until he won the race. The official was standing near the gate, but when she saw Bones and Hoomey racing towards her, she ran back to her car. Her son, who was sitting in the car, ready to play "God Save the Queen' for Spot,was frightened to death. He forgot how important it was to start the music, and hid under the seat! Nutty got off spot, went through the gate, and was away before the official and her son hadclimbed outoftheir car. Hoomey had already disappeared. Nutty rode on, a wild hope growing inside her. But she had forgotten that Jazz's parents were there with Biddy and the other parents. They would know that she wasn't Jazz! But she couldn't stop to explain, and rode on past them. She could feel Biddy's glassy stare and saw the mouths of the others fall open, but she kept going and finished with
a clear round. Sherodestraight to the truck where the others were. Inside the truck, Nutty heard that Nails had had a clear round too. We've done it!" she shouted. We've beaten them!' Jazz, putting on his turban again, was laughing. "Have you heard? Hoomey rode two miles down the main road! Not two miles!" said Hoomey And because it was a main road, he had to go down to the roundabout before he could come back.' "What! Hoomey, you didn't!' Bones jumped over on to the road. couldn't stop him. Hooney was white and shining when he spoke. And you went round the roundabout? Hoomey looked a bit uncomfortable. "I thought it was the right thing to do, but the traffic was a bitcross. But Nutty, Bones was wonderful! By now, Nutty had cleaned her face and she felt wonderful too. We won!" she cried. "We won!' "We cheated," Nails said so did they. It's fair, if you all cheat. Nutty looked at Nails. He was smiling, actually smiling. It had been a great day for all ofthem,Nutty decided. Then she saw everybody walking towards them. There were all the parents, Biddy, the Greycoats teacher and Sam Sylvester and Seb and his team. "You cheated!" Seb called out to Nutty Oh yes?" Nutty said. "Who cheated? "You rode twice.
"And Colin didn't swim.' "You can't be sure about that. Nobody will believe you." "Well, you can't be sure that I rode twice. "Everybody could see it was you. It's the way you ride. We'll tell the competition officials. And we'll tell them about Colin notswimming. And we'll get someone to look at "God Save the Queen" in Antony's mum's car by the gate.' Have you all gone crazy?' Biddy asked s The adults were all staringatthe two teams,some amused, somenot understanding. The Greycoats teacher looked cross. there's been some cheating, then there are no real winners or losers," he said, "and you'll all have to do the competition again next year.
That's just what think," said Biddy. The eight competitors looked at each other and fell silent in horror. Nutty couldn't believe it, The pain of all that running and swimming when you were half-dead But the adults loved the idea, They had had a nice day out, and thought that tetrathlon sports were very good for young people They all began to make plans, Sam Sylvester said that the school would help next time, and Biddy told Nutty to forget about the money for the riding lessons. The talking and laughing went on for some time as the adults discussed the day. And did you see old Bones," said Uscle Bean, gallopingdown the main road? Even the police car couldn't catch him! What a horse And that was how it all ended. No winners, no losers.
Except that Jazz was invited by the Greycoats teacher to join a competition swimming team. And Jazz was very. pleased about that because he really liked swimming. And Biddy offered Nails a job riding her horses, a room to sleep in, and a home for Firelight and her foal. Nails didn't say much but he smiled. And Nutty knew that she had been a good captain. Perhaps one day she would be the captain of an Olympic riding team. And Hoomey-well, Hoomey knew what he wanted in life now. Who said he had no ambition? The dreamy look was back in his eyes. Hecould be a famous rider, flying over the jumps on his horse like a bird of freedom Perhaps tomorrow everything would seem different. But today today was all right.