Laura nodded, “I can do that, I think. I’ll make the rifles and guns part of the change too, but the bind can’t change in size or nature. We will need to carry our binds in our teeth.”

  “Make us black rats, Laura, it will make it easier.”

  They explained slowly and carefully what they were going to do until they were sure the girls understood. Laura constructed her binds on the smallest piece of paper that could hold the words, leaving them unfinished until they were needed. She wrote the bind for the girls so they would be fit when they became rats.

  They went to the tunnel and walked in to it as far as they dared. Laura changed Tom first and he found himself a rat wearing tiny human clothes. The guns and rifles had shrunk with him and Laura carefully tied them around his tummy using cotton thread. She folded his bind as small as she could and gave it to him. He held it in his teeth.

  Laura changed the girls in turn and handed them their binds. She folded her own as tight as she could while leaving the place for the last word visible. Then she completed the bind. She thought her piece of paper was going to be difficult to manage as it was partially open, but she soon discovered that a rat’s front paws are as dexterous as human hands. They found it easy to see in the tunnel as rats’ eyes were better than human ones in the dark.

  When they got to the door it was closed. This was something they hadn’t considered when they made their plan. Tom tried to force his body under the door, but the gap was too small. They were large rats.

  Tom looked at the gun tied across his middle and had an idea. He motioned the girls to get back from the door and then banged on the door with his gun.

  “What was that?” someone on the other side of the door asked. Tom banged again, putting rhythm into his knocks.

  “Open the door. I’ll cover you,” another voice said.

  Tom backed away from the door as it opened.

  “I can’t see anything.”

  Tom slipped past the guard and into the dark cellar beyond. It was easy to find a place to hide among the stacked barrels.

  “In think I saw a rat.”

  “Rat’s don’t knock on doors.”

  The girls slipped past the guard one by one. If it hadn’t been so dark they could never have managed it.

  “Shut the door. The cave must be infested with rats.”

  “I didn’t see any.”

  “Then you must be blind as well as stupid.”

  Tom and the girls made their way to the far end of the cellar and hid behind a convenient stack of barrels. Tom tore his bind with his paws and snuffed out the flames in human form. One by one he took the binds from the girls’ mouths and tore them. There was some bumping of bodies in the confined space behind the barrels, but luckily the guards didn’t hear.

  There was enough light for Laura to complete her other bind. The rock above the tunnel mouth fell inwards, blocking it. The collapse was so severe the guards had to jump back to avoid being crushed.

  “The Captain aint gonner like that,” one of the guards said as he looked at the pile of rubble.

  “We might as well go tell him,” his companion said morosely. “Ain’t nothin’ ‘ere left to guard.”

  As soon as the guards were gone, Tom led the way to the kitchen where they hoped they might find Nan.

  Chapter 29 Soldiers Perks

  Cam examined Daisy critically and then pulled down the top of Daisy’s dress to reveal more cleavage. Daisy slapped her hand away.

  “We are supposed to be maids, not streetwalkers.” She pulled the top up again.

  Tompkins had been watching the girls put the finishing touches to their disguises. “I think Cam has a point, Daisy. All I have ever noticed about the serving girls is the amount of flesh they are showing.”

  “That is because your mind is in the gutter, Arnold,” Cam told him sternly. “And why have you suddenly become so bright and cheerful now we all face death?”

  Tompkins took the question seriously. “It made me realize that wasting my life being miserable is not what David would have wanted. I may not have many days left, but I plan to use them making up for my past mistakes.”

  “How do you think I look?” Cam spun on up on her toes to give Tompkins the complete picture.

  “More cleavage,” Tompkins said sagely and ducked the pillow Cam threw at him.

  Virtue Williams stuck her head around the door. She was a tall, pretty girl with long straight blonde hair that Cam envied. They’d sent her to find where the soldiers were stationed as she was good at talking her way out of trouble, especially when men were involved.

  “There are two soldiers, one at the end of each the main ways out.” Virtue grimaced at the memory of talking to them. “Not the kind of men you would want to meet in a dark alley. You two be careful. I think one of them would have molested me if he wasn’t on duty.”

  “What about the servants’ passages?” Daisy asked.

  “Locked. You’ll need keys unless Camilla has finally learnt how to pick locks.”

  “I am working on it,” Cam said haughtily. Then she sighed. “But it’s hard work.”

  Her face brightened. “However, in this case, all will be well. Come on Daisy, or should I call you Nancy? You need a proper serving girl’s name.”

  “I shall call you Blossom if you do.”

  “You most certainly won’t.”

  “How about Titty?”

  “Blossom is better.”

  Tompkins grinned at Virtue as he watched his friends make their way down the corridor arguing. “I know naught of the enemy, but they certainly scare me.”

  Virtue put a hand on Tompkins arm and squeezed.

  “Do you think we will be alive by Monday?” she asked urgently.

  “I think that will depend on Laura Young and Thomas Carter, wherever they are.”

  Cam searched in the place Tom and Laura had told her about. When her fingers caressed the rough iron key a feeling of triumph ran through her followed by a momentary twinge of concern for Laura. She hoped her friend was safe

  The girls flitted along the empty corridors of Hobsgate. One thing they were looking for was a safe way out. Routes they might use to escape with the others. Cam had decided that must be their first priority. Only when the students were safe could they take action to stop the Captain.

  Cam edged to a window overlooking the fields in front of the building. Closely mown they offered no cover at all and she had spotted several regular patrols. Another two went past below the window and paused to scan their surroundings. The soldiers carried rifles at the ready.

  “It’s as if they don’t trust us,” she whispered to Daisy. There must be at least eight men guarding the grounds.

  “I can’t think why they would feel like that,” Daisy whispered back. “After all this is only a military academy filled with magically talented spies.”

  “Empathizing with them is not going to help,” Cam said tartly.

  “Empathizing with them is your job. I’m just a Precog.”

  Investigating further, they discovered that the servants were being held captive in the kitchens. Two soldiers were on guard. The girls were staring at the guards who had their backs to them when strong hands cupped over their mouths and they were dragged backwards. Cam was ready to fight for her life when she was spun round, but then she saw it was Nan who had grabbed them.

  Nan motioned them to stay quiet and led them up a set of stairs and into a storeroom. She pulled at a wall of shelves, which turned out to be a door. Behind that was a room with a bed. The bed was occupied by Mick was sitting up and looking at them.

  Cam was delighted on seeing the man. “Mick, I’m so glad you’re better,” she said, and then felt shy as she realized she only knew the man through stories and their brief encounter after he was shot. She had begun to think of him as an old friend, but they had not yet been introduced.

  “Yer’ll be Camilla, I ‘spect. Miss Young told us all about yer.”

  “Yes, er Cam and this is Daisy,” she said, waving at her friend who was smiling broadly at Mick as though she had known him all her life.

  “Yer seem ‘appy for some ’un in mortal danger?” Mick made his words a question as he viewed Daisy suspiciously. Laura and Tom had talked a lot about Cam, but they had never mentioned Daisy.

  “Everything that gives us a chance is happening, just as I dreamed it.” Daisy said happily.

  “Yer seen this before, girl, in yer head?” Mick asked quickly.

  Daisy nodded.

  “Yes, and only if certain things happen can we survive. All the other paths lead us to death.” Daisy sat down. “That’s why I came with Cam. I have to be here in this room right now.”

  “That’s all well and good,” said Nan briskly, “But we ain’t got time to waste. Dan and me are s’pposed to be in the cold store, sortin’ food for the evenin’ meal.”

  Mick shook his head. “Happen yer ‘ave to make some time, Nan. I’m more meself now and know when the tides are. Laura and Tom will ‘ave ‘ad to wait on t’ cliffs for hours till the tide got low enough. They may not ‘ave made it. I should never ‘ave sent ‘em.”

  “Tom and Laura are out on the cliffs?” Cam was horrified.

  “It’s all right,” Daisy said, a smile still covering her face, “There’s a cave they found. They were fine.”

  Up in the Headmaster’s study, Snood was getting bored. The Captain had gone to sleep, his cap pulled down over his face and he was snoring loudly. Snood had the urge to take action, but could not think what that action to take. He did not dare attack the Captain, even in his sleep. The man had senses like a cat and stirred whenever he went near him.

  The Headmaster also seemed to be feeling restless and paced the other side of the room.

  “I’m outa here,” he told Snood. “Tell the Captain I’ll be back soon enough.” With that he went to the door and left the room. Snood decided to follow him to see what he was up to. It was better than staying with the Captain.

  The Headmaster set off at quite a pace. Snood soon deduced that he was making his way to the students’ quarters. He kept well back, so the man would not see him. It was a game of follow my leader that gave Snood some pleasure. He hid behind a corner when the Headmaster encountered a soldier guarding the entrance to the students wing. The two men spoke and joked with each other though he couldn’t hear what was being said. Then the Headmaster entered the students’ quarters, taking a hearty slap on the back from the guard as he departed. Rather than risk an encounter with the soldier, Snood decided to stay where he was and see if the Headmaster returned.

  The dorm room was packed with students. They were waiting somewhat anxiously for Cam and Daisy to return as they had been gone for hours. The door burst open and the Headmaster strode in. His face was contorted into an excited leer. For just a moment, Tompkins was convinced he was going to tell them he had killed Cam and Daisy.

  “You’ll do, girl,” the Headmaster said pointing at Virtue. He put out a hand to help her to her feet. “Had my eye on you for a while.”

  Virtue was terrified and didn’t know how to respond. But force of habit as much as fear made her take the Headmaster’s hand, allow him to pull her to her feet and follow him out of the room.

  The Headmaster pulled Virtue down the corridor and out past the guard.

  “Give her one for me,” the soldier said cheerfully and made an obscene gesture before breaking into ribald laughter. Snood heard the noise and a quick glance around the corner gave him warning to hide. He slid into a closet and closed the door as the Headmaster strode past dragging a stumbling Virtue after him. Once they were clear, Snood stepped out of the closet and followed them, being sure to keep well back.

  By the time they reached the room the Headmaster had chosen, Virtue was sobbing. The Headmaster pulled the girl into the room and slapped her across the face. The force of the blow shocked her into silence. Then he pulled a wickedly glinting skinning knife from beneath his jacket.

  “I’m a gonner have my way with you. I’ve been waitin’ for this chance for the last year.” He brandished the knife in front of Virtue’s face and she stared at its wicked blade in terror. “If you’re lucky, I’ll only cut you a little. Now get your clothes off.”

  Virtue knew that if she was going to survive she had to do whatever this man asked of her and think of England. She pulled off her blouse as slowly as she dared.

  Snood stood outside the door wondering what on Earth was going on inside. Was the Headmaster interrogating the girl? Surely she knew nothing of value? He was in a quandary, should he enter and find out what was going on or stay outside? He decided to wait for the time being.

  The Headmaster fondled Virtue’s naked breasts. She kept as quiet as she could in the hope it would placate him, but he kept squeezing and twisting them without mercy, forcing little gasps of pain from her. His knife pressed against her throat as he rubbed against her. Then he stopped crushing her breasts. The knife left her throat and she hoped that it might be over, shutting her eyes so she did not have to look at his face.

  She screamed as the knife sliced into her left breast. She opened her eyes and stared into the Headmaster’s grinning, excited face. Sweat ran from his brow.

  “Now we’re really going to have some fun, girly.” He cut her other breast and she screamed again.

  Snood reached for the door handle after Virtue’s first scream, his hand reaching for the knife concealed under his coat. He stepped into the room and saw Virtue pinned against the wall. She was naked to the waist with the Headmaster pressing his body hard against hers. Snood eyes were drawn to the rivulets of blood flowing from long cuts across her breasts.

  “Howdy Partner!” the Headmaster said cheerfully. “Might’ve known you’d want to get in on the action. The Captain gonna kill all the kids tomorrow so I thought I’d have me some fun first.”

  “May I?” Snood enquired bringing his knife out of his jacket. He inclined his head towards Virtue.

  “Didn’t know you liked that sorta thing, but she sure is tasty, ain’t she?”

  Virtue watched in horror as Snood stepped closer with knife in hand. The Headmaster shifted to her side, using his arm across her neck to keep her pinned in place.

  Snood shifted the point of aim of his knife from one of her breasts to the other as if unsure which one to cut. The Headmaster watched in fascination, his hand holding his knife dropping down as he waited for Snood to strike. He licked his lips in anticipation and the blow took him completely by surprise.

  Virtue heard the Headmaster gasp and wondered why she had felt no new pain. She opened one eye and saw the Headmaster cough blood that dribbled down his chin. His arm shuddered at her neck, and then his fingers clutched feebly across her breasts as he sank to the floor.

  As the Headmaster fell, Snood twisted the knife as viciously as he could, spilling the man’s guts over the floor. The Headmaster died with a puzzled look on his face.

  Virtue started to scream and then found she couldn’t stop. Snood grabbed hold of her and shook her.

  “Shut up girl. You’re alive. Don’t bring them down on us. Get your clothes back on. We will need to find somewhere to hide you.”

  Virtue stopped, more from fear of the bloody knife in Snood’s hand than any other consideration.

  Snood looked at the body on the floor and had an idea. He took the Headmaster’s knife and stabbed it deep into the hole his own knife had made.

  “Come here girl, I need a bit of your dress.”

  Virtue had recovered a little and reluctantly shuffled over to Snood. He tore off a strip of her dress and put it into the Headmaster’s hand and curled the man’s fingers over it.

  Blood still poured from Virtue’s breasts and had soaked the front of her blouse. Snood knew he had to get her out of here. He checked that the corridor was empty before heading towards the kitchens with Virtue in tow.

  Daisy stood up. There was no hesitation when she spoke and what she said was an order.

  “We have to go to the kitchens now. Come on.”

  Without looking to see if anyone was following her, she left the room. Cam and Nan followed, more with the intent of stopping her than anything else. But Daisy moved quickly and stayed ahead of them. Mick made an attempt to get out of his bed, but fell back as dizziness overcame him.

  Daisy reached the intersection of two corridors at a set of stairs.

  “It’s all right. You can come,” she said loudly as Cam reached her. Snood and Virtue came down the stairs as Tom and Laura rushed up them with three strange girls in tow.

  “Come with me. Quickly now,” Daisy said as the three groups stared at each other in confusion. She harried them back to the room she had just come from. It proved to be a tight squeeze.

  “Tom, heal Virtue,” Daisy commanded and Tom went over to her, seeing the blood on her blouse for the first time. Tom had performed a lot of healing in the last few hours and healing Virtue exhausted him. Nobody spoke while he healed her. Daisy had taken command and even the presence of Snood did not dismay her.

  Snood for his part, was trying to take in the fact that he had found a place to hide Virtue and that the two or them would not be caught in the next few minutes. He thought their fate had been sealed the moment he intervened.

  As Tom healed Virtue, she sobbed out what had happened to her, and how Snood had saved her life. Snood found it difficult to cope with the admiring looks he received and the claps on the back. He had never been a hero before and he found it felt good.

  Chapter 30 The Last Meal

  “I have to go,” Snood looked around him, at Virtue who was weeping in a corner with Daisy holding her hand, to Tom and Laura with their strange new friends and at Cam who would not meet his eyes. He ignored Mick and Nan as they were merely servants. “With Virtue hidden here I can go back to the Captain and pretend I’ve had nothing to do with the Headmaster’s death. I intend to kill the Captain if I get the chance, but in any case you must do what you must.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25