Barefoot and Lost (34 page)

     Feeling a little better, I take the Talisman up to my bedroom and read until lunch. When I come back down, Pop has gone. Lunch is a very quiet affair; no one speaks of the newspaper story. The policeman seems to have made himself at home, even clearing the table, and drying the dishes for
June
. It is supposed to be my job but I am not going to stop him if he wants to do it. I sneak up to my room back to
Sir
Kenneth
; chapter twenty three is much more interesting. But even so, at the back of my mind is Lion, what did they do to him, would they have done the same to me if they had caught me? I wish I knew what sexually assaulted meant, is it the same as
Flynn
putting his dick in Lion’s mouth or something worse. What could be worse than that, I wish I knew I’ll ask Pop, he will explain it to me.

     After tea
John
Langdon
calls, accompanied by Maisy; Reg,
June
and he go upstairs, I’m made to stay with Maisy.

     ‘Maisy, did you see the news about digging up my friend’s body?’

     ‘No
Phil
I didn’t, and if I had I would not be discussing it with you, it is not the sort of thing adults discuss with children.’ I can hear Reg’s limp, clump down the stairs, he looks very drawn. Behind him
June
follows, she has clearly been crying again, the Super looks very grave. ‘
Phil
, I want you to pay attention and listen to what I have to say, and not ask any questions until I ask you to, is that clear?’

     ‘Yes Captain, I understand.’

     ‘Good; clearly, I can’t have someone to guard you, twenty four hours a day, until the investigation and the subsequent trial is over. You have to go to school, therefore it has been decided that you will go to a boarding school. There is one here in
Saint
Leonards
, where you will sleep and attend classes without leaving the premises; it is very secluded and discreet. You will stay there until this investigation is complete. You will have no contact with anyone outside of the school, other than me. I envisage you being there for approximately two months; okay, do you understand?’

     ‘I think so, will I be able to see
June
and Reg or Pop?’

     ‘No
Phil
, no one, only me, it is for your own protection. You have read the paper and have seen what these people are capable of.”

     ‘Why do they want to get me? All I did was write a letter to Pop, I only know what
Flynn
did to me, and what Lion told us, happened to him.’

     ‘That is true, but my belief is that they think you know more than you do, and are a threat to them.’

     ‘Who are they, I don’t know them?’

     ‘We don’t know who all of them are but, believe me there are some very important people amongst them that are quaking in their boots, knowing we are breathing down their necks.’

     ‘Will I be able to swim at this school?’

     ‘You certainly will, they have their own pool, you will like it there I’m sure.’

     ‘Not without
June
and Reg and Jet I won’t.’

     ‘Sorry Phil, you have no say in it
. It
is
in your interest to make the be
st of it, I will collect you at ten o clock tonight, so you had better go and get packed.’

     ‘What tonight?’

     ‘Yes, tonight
Phil
, after all, it is only for eight weeks and then you can come back here.’

    Turning to
June
, ‘Do you have any questions?’
June
shakes her head, ‘Reg what about you?’

     ‘No
John
, you have been very explicit.’

     ‘Then I will be off, see you all tonight.’

    
I am in a room with
three other boys, I can’t see how old th
ey are, they were asleep when I
came in, but they look about my age. The bed is much more comfortable than the one at ST S’s, but it is not my room it’s not fair. The first time I have a room of my own it is taken away from me.
June
cried so much when I left, the Super almost had to drag me away, she was holding me so tight. She said, ‘Don’t despair
Phillip
, we will do everything in our power to get you back.’ Reg told her to be quiet. Why would she say that, I’m only going for eight weeks; or am I? Why did Reg tell her to shut up, do they know something I don’t and are not telling me? Perhaps they have been told they can’t foster me anymore. It’s my fault, if only I had not gone swimming, leaving that note was stupid. What if they can’t, will they tell Awful, or will I have to tell him? I like Awful, but I’m not sure I’d want him for a dad, but it could be fun living in
America
. I think he lives in
Texas
, that’s where the cowboys come from; perhaps I would learn to ride a horse.

     I am woken by someone shaking me. The one doing the shaking is short and about sixteen years old, ‘Pray tell me boy what is your name?’

     ‘Who are you?’ I attempt to sit up but he puts his foot on my chest.

     ‘Don’t answer a question with a question, what is your bloody name?’

     ‘
Phillip
Snell
, what’s yours? Get off, you’re hurting me.’

     ‘Well Snell, this is not hurt, if you cross me or do not do my bidding, you will find out very quickly, what hurt is.’

     ‘You still haven’t told me your name!

     ‘Don’t be insolent with me, the name is Bateman, got that Snell? Remember it well.

     ‘How old are you?’

     ‘Twelve.’

     ‘What month is your birthday?”
     ‘ July.’ the boy in the bed opposite gives a cheer.

     ‘I believe that makes
Snell
two months younger than you
Porter
, is that correct.’

     ‘Yes Bateman.’

     ‘Then you are relieved of your duties
Porter
,
Snell
will take over from you as of now.’

     ‘What duties, what do you mean, like cleaning the toilet, things like that.’

     ‘Yes, things like that. In fact everything I tell you to do, that is your duty.’

     ‘Supposing I don’t want to and refuse?’

     ‘Suppose all you like, but what it comes down to is, my need is your duty, when you hear me shout Snell, you are to come running, Snell sounds very much like the German word Schnell, which means fast, so, when you hear your name, drop whatever you are doing and run to me Schnell Snell, is that understood?’

     ‘Yes, I understand, clearly you are a bloody bully, you can get some other mug to do your needs I will not be running to you and certainly not run away from you.’ Bateman lifts his foot off me and reaches down to grab me. With the only free arm I have above the bedclothes I swing a punch, catching him squarely on the nose. As my fist connects I feel his nose give way, blood spurts all over his face, spraying me as well. Bateman screams, aiming a kick at me but his movement takes him off balance and he staggers back. Leaping out of bed I take another swing at him, but one of the other boys grabs my arm. I turn to free myself feeling a blow to the side of my head which feels like it is being separated from my shoulders, my ear rings, bright lights flash before my eyes, then darkness overcomes me, my knees buckle and I fall to the ground. I come to, still on the floor; I can see a pair of shoes standing and another pair as though sitting. I can hear Bateman’s posh voice, ‘Yes sir, the little blighter attacked me,
and he
came at me like a bull. All I said to him was hello; my name is Bateman, what is yours? With that he flew at me, I had no choice but to hit back, look at my nose, I think it is broken.’

     I try to sit up but a pain in my side catches me and makes me wince, my ear is throbbing and I have a headache, I speak, but it doesn’t sound like me, ‘You’re a bloody liar, you were holding me down with your foot, I just hit you to escape.’

      ‘Now that is a likely story I’ll be bound, why on earth would I wish to stand on you?’

     The standing shoes speak, I recognize the voice of t
he principal from last night, he
was waiting for me when the Super brought me here.

     ‘That is enough Bateman, go to your room and clean yourself up, then get Matron to look at you nose, it doesn’t appear broken to me but get her to check it. Snell, quickly get yourself dressed and come to my office, I will speak with you there. The rest of you stop standing around, you have less than a
n hour before classes begin, so hurry along’.

The throbbing in my ear has reduced to a stinging sensation, but the pain in my side hurts when I walk.
Russell
Saville
is seated at a large, highly polished, dark wooden desk. ‘I accept you to assist a friend and, within less than eight hours, you have turned this school into a battlefield, what do you have to say for yourself?’

     ‘Sir, Bateman bullied me, he held me down with his foot, preventing me from getting out of bed. I won’t be bullied, I have had it happen to me before, so when I got the chance I hit him, he hit me back and knocked me down and, when I was lying on the floor, I’m pretty sure he kicked me, my side hurts a lot.’

     ‘That is not what Bateman is saying, he reckons you, without provocation lashed out at him.’

     ‘That is not true Sir, he is lying, and I’m not. That is something I never do, I never lie, anyway, if he is telling the truth, why would he kick me when I was on the ground?’

     ‘Let me have a look, lift your shirt.’ God I hope this man is not another
Flynn
, but I needn’t have worried, he, just examines my side.  

     ‘Snell, you could be right, I can clearly see a bruise in the shape of a heel, and, without doubt, Bateman was the only one wearing shoes.’

     ‘I told you, I never lie.’

     ‘That is as may be; what provoked this altercation?’

     ‘Bateman told me that I had to run to him when
ever he needed something done.
I’m not his slave and I told him I wouldn’t do it.’

     ‘Well, he was right there, it is a tradition of this school that freshers look after the needs of senior boys, it stems from our founders, and they were Harrow school boys, where they have carried out this practice for centuries. We believe in the principle that, if it is good enough for them, it is good enough for us. After all,
Harrow
has produced some excellent scholars, Lord
Byron
;
Winston
Churchill
to name a couple, the list is endless. As freshers they too, without exception as you put it, were slaves, the practice teaches humility.’

     Well I’m sorry Sir; I won’t do it I am not a slave. I would sooner take my chances on being kidnapped than run around looking after the needs of a toffee nosed bully.’

     ‘I see, I think I should contact
John
Langdon
and review our arrangement. Find your way to the dining room and see if there is any breakfast left for you, then come back here.’

     After cold porridge like glue, and two pieces of toast that shattered into several pieces, I return to find a jolly lady probably about sixty, her smile lights up her face as I walk into the room.

     ‘Ah, there you are
Snell
; an arrangement has been worked out.’

     ‘Yes sir, I know, Bateman will have to run after me when I call.’

     ‘Don’t be facetious Snell; you are to reside with Matron here, in her cottage which is in the grounds, and during the day you will attend classes. Meals will be taken at the cottage, you will not mix with the rest of the pupils, the
only contact you will have with them
will be in class, is that understood?’

     ‘Yes Sir, then I won’t have to run after Bateman?’

     ‘No, but you will be expected to help with the chores at the cottage, and assist Matron whenever she needs help.’ 

     ‘Okay, that sounds good to me.’

     ‘
John
has explained to me the circumstances that have brought you here. I have agreed, as a friend of
John
, to hide you and educate you, I expect you to keep your end of the bargain.
John
assures me it will only be for a couple of months, so your cooperation is mandatory.’

     ‘Yes sir, you won’t even know I am here.’

     ‘I hope not, now, be so good as to follow Matron to your first class which, I believe is English Literature.’

     ‘
Phil
or
Phillip
, which do you prefer?’

     ‘I don’t mind, either is okay, but I don’t like being called Snell.’

     ‘I’m
Jessie
Bainbridge
. In earshot of the pupils you call me Matron, but on our own and in my house, you can call me
Mrs.
Bainbridge
. I’ve never been married but the title traditionally fits the role.’

     Okay
Mrs.
Bainbridge
, what about my clothes, how do I get them?’

     Don’t you worry about them I will move them, to the cottage.’ Jessie knocks
on a heavy oak door, a muffled ‘C
ome in
’
can be heard. On entering I can see there are only seven boys in the class, all about my age, they all look up as I come in.

     I’m introduced to
Mr.
Plant
.

     ‘So you are Snell I’m afraid your reputation has gone before you. In my class I expect you to pay attention, speak only when you are spoken to, is that clear?’

     ‘Yes Sir.’

     ‘Thank you Matron, I’ll take it from here.’ Matron pauses at the door,

     ‘I will meet you outside your class at lunch time.’ I nod she closes the door behind her.

     ‘Sit over there, you will find the necessary books on the desk, our study literature is
Dickens,
‘
A Tale of two Cities.
’
I smile; it is like being back at TSM. 

    
Mrs.
Bainbridge
is waiting in the corridor as I come out of the science classroom,

     ‘Hello Matron, are we going to the dining room for lunch?’

     ‘I’m afraid not
Phillip
, we are going to my cottage for a sandwich, I have strict instructions that you are not to mix with the others.’

     ‘What about Bateman’s nose, is it broken?’

     ‘No, you didn’t do a very good job; you must try harder next time.’

     ‘Then I will have to wait until he bullies me again, that will be the next time.’

     ‘I don’
t think that is likely, that is why you are
not allowed to mix. Here we are
this is my cottage.’ 

     She holds the door open for me and beckons me through. The door opens directly into a small, neatly furnished sitting room. To the left is a narrow staircase, directly ahead I can see a kitchen, to the right of the kitchen is a closed door.

      ‘Phillip, the door next to the kitchen is where you are to sleep, it is really meant to be a store room but the caretaker has fitted a bed and a cabinet, I think you will be quite at home there.’ 

     ‘Where is the toilet and bathroom?’

     ‘Through the kitchen, there is only one, we will have to share. There are a couple of ground rules, when using the bathroom, clean up after you and do not leave the seat up. My bedroom is upstairs, it is the only room up there, and it is
strictly out of bounds to you.
We will get on fine if you pull your weight and help with the chores.’

     My bedroom has been painted white, the single bed has a blue eiderdown over it, my clothes are hung on a rail across one corner, and there is a three drawer cabinet beside the bed. The floor is bare boards, except for a small rug beside the bed, it looks quite cosy, I think I will like it here. Curled up on one of the armchairs beside the fireplace, is a very large, black cat. ‘That is Monty; he always claims the best chair or the best lap.’ Monty
opens one eye doesn’t seem
too impressed with what he sees, and closes it again.