Captain Mack (9 page)

“No, wait a minute, will ye?” He pulled his arm free. “I've got something I want to give young Snell here, and I'll not be rushed. Give me that wee box out of yer bag there, lad.”

Danny gave him the small tin box, and he carefully removed the lid. He reached in and took out something small and brown, which he handed to Danny. It was cold and heavy, and when Danny looked down he saw that it was a star-shaped medal, dull bronze in colour, with a deep-red ribbon.

“For an act of bravery, lad,” Captain Mack said. “I'll not be needing it in a while, so ye should have it.”

“Dad!” said William. “What are you doing?” He looked like he was about to stop breathing forever. “Dad, you can't —”

Captain Mack held up his hand. “Hold yer noise, William.”

“He gets a bit, a bit … you know,” William explained to the group. “Dad —”

“Don't talk about me like I'm daft, son,” Captain Mack said in a strong, authoritative voice. “I know sometimes I'm not entirely with ye, but I'm in possession of my senses tonight, and I know what it is I'm giving the lad.”

“But Dad, it's your —”

“I know what it is, William, and ye're right, it's mine. And what's more it's for bravery, so what makes ye think ye deserve it over young Snell? Ye've not done a brave thing in ye life, but Snell here listened to me and helped me escape. Think about it, lad, then ye'll have no argument.” He took a deep breath, straightened up as well as he could, and adjusted his eye-patch. “Come on, then, what are we standing here for?” he said to the nurse, and they set off down the corridor.

William stood there for a moment, clearly unsure whether he should follow his father or stay in the foyer to argue about the medal. “Wait right here,” he ordered at last, pointing fiercely at Danny. “I'll be back. Don't you move an inch.”

As soon as he was out of sight Ellie put her hand on Danny's arm and gave it a light squeeze. “Well, is it worth hanging around for?”

“No way,” said Danny, still admiring the medal.

“Great. Then let's go.”

THIRTEEN

Danny didn't sleep very well that night. He couldn't stop thinking about Captain Mack, back in the nursing home, with the air-conditioner grate rattling above his head. He wondered if the old man was having trouble sleeping as well. He had seemed very calm and brave about the whole recapture thing.

Then there was the medal — that was keeping him awake too. He'd placed it on his desk, right next to his pillow, and from time to time he'd reach out a hand from under his blankets to touch its cold metal, or to feel its ribbon. He couldn't wait to show it to Mr Cullen. He'd be impressed, that was for sure. He'd probably even know what kind of medal it was.

When Danny came downstairs the next morning, Dad was eating his toast as he read the paper. “Ready for school so soon?” he asked when he saw Danny fully dressed. “What's the rush?”

“I'm catching the early train today,” Danny said.

“Really? Why?”

“There's someone at school I want to see. It's nothing important,” he added when he saw Dad raise his eyebrows.

“Everything all right, Dan?” Dad asked. “Nothing you need to tell me?”

What did he know? Had he already spoken to Ellie? But Ellie was starting early today, so when would they have seen each other? The coast seemed clear.

He shook his head. “No, everything's fine,” he said.

“OK then,” said Dad cautiously. “As long as you're sure.”

“Yes, I'm sure.”

“Well, I'll see you tonight then. Here, you need this first,” he said, holding out his plate of toast. “I'll make some more.”

“Thanks. See you,” Danny said with a full mouth as he headed for the door.

Danny was waiting outside the history room when Mr Cullen rushed up. “Hi Danny. What's up? I'm running late,” he said as he flipped through his keys.

“Have you got a minute? I want to show you something.”

Mr Cullen glanced at his watch. “Will it take long, because I've got to get a pile of books up to the staff room before first period. Can it possibly wait?”

“I could help carry the books,” Danny suggested.

“There aren't that many,” Mr Cullen said. “Look, I'm in a mighty rush, so later would be good, Daniel. Is that OK?”

“Um … yeah, I guess so,” said Danny, disappointed. “I've got history straight after lunch. I could show you then.”

“That'd be better,” Mr Cullen said, finally getting the door open. He smiled briefly. “I'll see you in class.”

“Where did you get to this morning?” Caleb asked Danny at the lockers just before first period. “I waited at the station for ages, and you never showed.”

“Yeah, sorry,” Danny said. “I had to get here early. Hey, I've got something to show you.” He took the medal out of his pocket and handed it to Caleb.

“Where'd you get this?” Caleb asked, admiring it.

“Where do you think? Captain Mack gave it to me.”

“For planning the Great Escape?”

Danny nodded.

Caleb turned the medal over in his hands and stroked the short ribbon. “Pretty impressive,” he said approvingly. “What's it worth?”

“I don't know.”

“It might be really rare.”

Danny shrugged. “Maybe.”

“You could sell it.”

Danny took the medal back. “I don't want to sell it.”

“You might want to if it's worth heaps.”

Danny returned it to his top pocket and patted it. “I think I might just hang onto it for now.”

Maybe Caleb's right, Danny thought. Perhaps the medal is a rare and valuable one. William McAuliffe's reaction when his dad gave it away had been pretty intense.

At recess he hurried to the library and went straight to the long rows of encyclopedias, gold bands on their spines all lined up evenly. After a bit of looking he finally found what he was looking for under
Medals, War.
He carefully took Captain Mack's medal out and laid it on the page of black and white photos in the heavy book. It matched the one right at the top, the one labelled
The Victoria Cross.

This didn't mean much to him until he read what was written about it. The text said that the Victoria Cross is only handed out for acts of great bravery, and that such an award is extremely valuable. He was so excited to read this that he didn't even hear the second bell and had to be reminded by a gruff Mr Whaley, who was lurking in the biology section, to get to his next class. Danny returned the medal to his top pocket and quickly left the library.

At lunchtime Danny and Caleb were sitting in their usual spot under the willow discussing what the library book had said about the medal when Shaun and Grant wandered over.

“Gidday Smell,” Shaun said. “What's that you're so interested in?” He tried to get a look at the Cross, which Caleb was holding.

“Nothing you need to know about,” Caleb said, reaching over and dropping the medal into Danny's shirt pocket.

Shaun's eyes lit up. “I might not
need
to know about it, but I'd
like
to.” He held out his hand and smiled menacingly. “Come on, Smell, cough it up.”

“Get lost,” Caleb said.

“Hey! I'm not talking to you, Farty, so keep your mouth
shut
,” Shaun snapped at Caleb. “Now, Smell, let's see it.”

Danny shook his head. “It's private.”

“Private, eh?” Shaun said, and he glanced at Grant, who stepped forward and grabbed Danny by the shoulders. As he did that, Shaun buried his hand deep in Danny's pocket and pulled out the Cross. “What's this?”

“Looks like a medal,” Grant said, letting go of Danny.

“Well done, Genius,” Caleb said. “Can you spell that? It starts with an M, then there's an E —”

“Shut up, you,” Shaun ordered. “So tell me, Smell, where would you get something like this?”

Danny tried to stay calm. It wouldn't be wise to get too excited about the medal at this point — not while Shaun was holding it. “It a gift,” he said calmly.

“From who?”

“A friend.”

“Is it worth much?”

“No, not much at all.” For someone not in the habit of lying Danny thought he did a pretty good job.

“It's completely worthless,” Caleb added. “Not worth a cent.”

Shaun eyed them sideways. “Is that right? In that case I might have to get it valued, mightn't I? You know, just to find out how worthless it really is.” He shoved it into the pocket of his trousers. “I'll get back to you,” he said over his shoulder as he began to wander away.

Grant flashed a smug grin at them and trotted off after Shaun.

“So what happens now?” Caleb said.

“I get it back, that's what,” Danny replied, standing up and striding after the two boys.

“Leave it, man,” Caleb said. “Talk to the teachers about it or something. You'll get it back eventually.”

“But I want it back now,” Danny said. He could see Captain Mack's Victoria Cross disappearing forever, lost in a pile of junk in Shaun Gilmore's bedroom, and it wasn't a nice thought. But it was as much
who
had given him the medal that made him do what he did next. He accelerated, running full speed at Shaun, leaping onto his back and riding him to the ground.

They fell heavily, and Danny managed to turn him over and sit on his chest. For once Shaun looked surprised. “Give it back,” Danny demanded as he pinned Shaun's arms to the ground with his knees and grabbed the front of his blazer with both hands.

Shaun's look of amazement had been disturbingly brief. Almost instantly he seemed perfectly calm again. “Make me,” he sneered.

Danny knew that this might present a problem. Wrestling Shaun Gilmore into the dirt was one thing, but once you had him there, what did you do next?

He didn't have to decide, because Grant grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him off Shaun and onto the ground. He held Danny so tightly that there was nothing to be done but watch as Shaun got slowly to his feet and stood above him.

“Leave him alone!” Caleb shouted.

“Bug off, Farty.” Shaun grimaced and twisted his neck around a bit, playing up to the small crowd of boys forming around them. Then he reached into his pocket and held the medal out at arm's length, so it was hanging by its stumpy ribbon. “You want this, Smell?” he asked menacingly. “You
really
want this? Then have it.” He slowly drew his arm back, preparing to throw it as hard as he could, right at Danny's face.

“Hey hey hey, hang on a minute there!” said a man's voice, and Mr Cullen pushed through the group. “Hang about, lads! Shaun, what's going on here?”

“Nothing, sir,” Shaun said, lowering his arm and putting his right hand back into his pocket.

Mr Cullen frowned. “It certainly doesn't look like nothing. Let Daniel up thanks, Grant,” he ordered. “Now, who's going to start explaining?” he asked as Grant and Danny brushed themselves off.

No one said anything. Instead they all looked at the ground. The watching group murmured.

“Danny, let's start with you,” Mr Cullen said.

“It's nothing, sir. Just an argument.”

Mr Cullen gave a tight-lipped smile and shook his head. “Sorry, Daniel, but I don't believe that it was nothing.” He held out one hand towards Shaun. “Let's see it.”

“See what, sir?” Shaun asked with a straight face.

Mr Cullen made a beckoning motion with his hand, and Shaun reluctantly took out the medal and handed it over.

“So this is yours, Daniel?” Mr Cullen asked.

“Yes sir. It's a war medal. I think it might be a Victoria Cross.”

Shaun laughed. “A war medal? Yeah, as if.” He grinned at Grant, who smirked in reply.

“A Victoria Cross?” Mr Cullen said, raising his eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

“Well, no, I'm not really sure,” Danny said. “But it looked a lot like the picture in the encyclopedia.”

Mr Cullen turned slightly so he could examine it in full sunlight.

“It's not a Victoria Cross, is it, sir?” Shaun said, the hint of a laugh in his voice. “Smell's just being a show-off, isn't he? He's a lying show-off.”

Mr Cullen didn't answer him. Instead he turned back slowly until he was facing Danny, although he was still peering closely at the medal. Then he raised his eyes. “Where did you get this?” he asked solemnly.

“He stole it,” Shaun said. “He must have.”

“Shh.” Mr Cullen's eyes hadn't moved from Danny's face. “Daniel?”

“A friend gave it to me,” Danny replied.

“Your Scottish friend?”

“His what?” Shaun said. Grant snickered.

Mr Cullen turned and glared at them. “Boys, I hope you realise that what Daniel has here is the real thing. It's the genuine article, lads — a Victoria Cross. At least, I'm pretty sure it is, and if so it's worth a great deal. And I think you probably also owe him an apology.”

“What for, sir? He attacked me,” Shaun said, his eyes wide.

Mr Cullen bit the side of his bottom lip as he thought. “It's hard to imagine why he'd want to launch an unprovoked attack on you, Shaun.”

Shaun screwed up his face. “Huh?”

“What I mean, Shaun, is that I think you're a bully. Teachers do talk in the staff room, despite what you might think, and far too often I hear stories about you niggling away, trying to start these types of things. Young man, if anything develops out of this I'm going to fall on you from a remarkable height. I clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Shaun muttered.

“And you, Grant?”

“Yes, sir,” said Grant.

“Right then.” Mr Cullen returned the medal to Danny. “Take good care of that, Daniel. You don't want to lose it again.”

As Mr Cullen walked away Shaun leaned close to Danny's ear and said in a low voice, “Don't think that this is over, Smell. You might be Teacher's Pet here, but school finishes at three o'clock, so you'd better watch your blind side.” And as he walked away he bumped his shoulder hard into Danny's.

It might have been because he could feel Captain Mack's medal weighing down his shirt pocket, but for some reason Danny didn't feel the slightest bit scared.

“I'd like to talk about something different today, rather than the Snowy River Scheme,” said Mr Cullen. He smiled. “I know it's straight after lunch, and if today is anything like every other Tuesday you'll all be falling asleep anyway, so let's talk about something interesting instead.” He walked between the desks to where Danny was sitting. He held out his hand. “May I borrow your medal, Daniel?”

Danny took it from his pocket and handed it over, and Mr Cullen held it high.

“Folks, what you see here is a Victoria Cross. It is the greatest military honour in the Commonwealth. There have been very few of these minted, and they are certainly not handed out willy-nilly. They are earned. Anyone fortunate enough to have one of these pinned on their chest has invariably endured a great deal and performed acts of incredible bravery. What Daniel did to win his is an interesting tale, I'm sure, and you'll each no doubt hear it in time. Another thing of which I am certain is that Daniel was not its original recipient.” He turned the medal over and examined its back closely. “Captain F. G. McAuliffe was awarded this Cross. Daniel, do you know how he came to earn it?”

Danny looked up from the grafitti scratched into his desktop. He could feel the eyes of every boy in the classroom fixed on him, especially Shaun's.

“No, sir, I don't.”

“Then you should ask him.”

“Yes, I will,” he mumbled.

“Good.” Mr Cullen placed the medal on Danny's desk. Its weight made a heavy clunk which rang clearly around the room. “When you know, be sure to tell us.”

“OK,” Danny said. He stole a sideways glance across the room and saw Shaun and Grant glaring at him. Suddenly he wasn't feeling quite so brave any more. I'm dead, he thought. I'm so, so dead.