“Just in case you hadn’t noticed, he’s a skater too. And he doesn’t take kindly to anyone nicking my handmade boards. Which is why I brought him along today. He insisted he wanted to explain to you why you can’t have those three boards. After he’d thrown you to the ground.”
Paolo, who’d been happily counting down, grinned and looked down at Davo as if to size him up. “Five hundred and seventy-nine,” he said slowly.
Davo stepped back. “Well, uh, nice to meet you, Poww-low, erm, we had better be going now. C’mon boys.” He looked at Nathan. “Don’t worry about bringing them extra boards. I was just joking at you I was.” He turned around, shoved his cronies forward and all four of the Sawyer boys stomped their way into school, looking back occasionally at Paolo, who waved, and Nathan who just stared.
He shook his head and realised he had a job to do. “Thanks for coming to the rescue, Paolo! Hey, I’d better run—keep up the counting!”
“I am pleased to have been able to repay a small amount of your kindness,” Paolo’s face became serious, “but I fear we have already lost too much time. Please hurry.”
Small amount of kindness? Those Sawyer boys would probably never bother him again, especially if he learned some juicy Latvian phrases. But now wasn’t the time to be thinking about that. He thrust his skateboard into Paolo’s hand and ran through the gate into school.
“Four hundred and sixty-three,” Paolo said, wondering if he’d ever see the lush valley again.
~~~
Sarina was out of puff as she rounded the last corner and saw the school in the distance. She pulled the last nut-cluster out of the cereal packet and threw the empty box into a garbage bin as she ran past. Lucky it was collection day, she thought. She also thought how strange it was to still have trivial thoughts about such things as cereal packets and garbage collection schedules when you are in the middle of a full-blown crisis, but there you go. She took a deep breath and sprinted as fast as she could up to the school gate, where she could see a huge figure, leaning on the fence, apparently holding two skateboards.
Don’t attract any attention, that’s right Nathan, good plan. She panted as she ran up to Paolo, who looked at her and smiled and said;
“Two hundred and thirty-three.”
Bemused, Sarina was lost for words and stared at Paolo, thinking perhaps he had lost his mind too. Then, remembering the fearful stare of a little boy who looked just like his big brother, she told him about her nightmare.
“Paolo, we have to … get back … as soon … as we can …” She caught her breath and took another deep lungful. “Makthryg has the women and children and—” she looked down, ashamed of the news she was about to break, then looked back at Paolo. “Your mother is alive.”
Paolo buckled at the knees and took a deep breath. “How do you know this?”
“It was in my dream. I recognised your brother and—”
“My mother.” His voice was hoarse. “What does she look like?”
“Like you, of course. But that’s not all. Makthryg plans to kill some of the women unless we get back and give ourselves up.”
She didn’t really want to say ‘Give yourself up’ as it sounded cruel to exclude her and Nathan, but even when she said “give ourselves up”, it triggered her tears again and she flung her arms around Paolo and sobbed.
“Sarina.” Paolo pried her off his tunic. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she said, sniffing, “Makthryg told the women to select their own volunteers. Those who would die first. I think the only thing that would stop him is if we …” She trailed off and looked at Paolo. “I woke up and discovered that you and Nathan had gone. I had to find you.”
Paolo took a deep breath as if searching for strength. “We must go into this school now and find Nathan.” He looked up, doing some mental arithmetic. “Even if I am only down to two hundred and twenty.”
“Then what?” Sarina looked up at Paolo and wiped away her tears, wondering about the significance of two hundred and twenty.
“Then we must find a way to dream together and make our way back to save them; Professor or no Professor.” Paolo grabbed Sarina’s hand and they ran into the school.
They stopped at the double doors at the student entrance, which was empty of students and teachers, as the bell had already rung. Paolo looked at Sarina for help, but she was staring at the doors.
The last time Sarina had stood here, she realised, was at the fateful maths assessment. She looked at Paolo and taking a deep breath, opened the door. They slipped through, Sarina first and Paolo doing his best to look small, which, Sarina thought, was never really going to work.
They tiptoed down the hallway, peering in through the glass at the top of each classroom door, until, turning the corner, they saw Nathan.
He was on his own, speed-walking up the corridor towards them, the grin that broke out onto his face when he saw them turning into puzzlement as he realised that Sarina was not supposed to be there. His mouth opened and started forming the word ‘why?’ then they all froze as they heard the sound of the Principal and Vice Principal’s voices out of sight, striding up from around the other corridor.
Their conversation drifted down towards them.
“Well I certainly haven’t seen the girl since she was taken from here,” the Vice-Principal said. “Why they think she is heading back here I don’t know. I would have thought it would be the last place she would want to come back to.”
Sarina looked at Nathan in panic, who in turn looked around and spotted a door nearby. He held his finger to his lips and motioned to Sarina and Paolo to follow him through.
He closed the door behind him and turned the lock. The light had flickered on automatically as they entered. Paolo was sniffing the air and wrinkling his nose.
“What is this place? It smells bad.”
“Umm, it’s the disabled toilet. But everyone uses it, not just the disabled,” Nathan said, feeling the need to defend the disabled from a reputation of being more stinky than anyone else. “We’ll wait until they pass, then sneak out. They won’t be looking for me, I managed to make my sick excuse work. But it sounds like they are looking for Sarin—” his words were cut off by someone twisting the handle.
“Ah, sorry, occupied!” Nathan shouted through the door, trying to sound sick.
“Is that you, Nathan Goldberg?” It was the Principal. “I thought I heard the office say you had gone home sick?”
“Yes sir. Well that’s what I mean sir. Well actually it’s a, ah, erm a, a ‘runny’ kind of sickness if you know what I mean and I was caught a little short on my way out.” He let out a little moan for good measure, hoping it sounded like someone who had tummy trouble.
“Very well, boy. Do make sure you drink plenty of water. Had the runs myself years ago in Calcutta. Not pleasant at all, not pleasant.”
Nathan cringed at the sudden unwelcome image of the Principal stuck in a toilet in India with his pants around his ankles. He looked at Sarina, who was holding her hand over her mouth, her eyes laughing.
“Shhhh,” Nathan shhhed, listening at the door, waiting until he heard the two men walk off down the corridor.
“OK,” he said, breathing a sigh of relief. “I think we can go now.”
“Thank goodness,” Paolo said, sounding very nasal, “I need some fresh air.”
Sarina looked at him sharply then smiled. He was holding both hands over his nose.
Nathan opened the door a little and looked out. “All clear,” he whispered back, “let’s leg it!”
They ran down the corridor, the two smaller figures running lightly and an over-sized boy tip-toeing comically at high speed.
They opened the double doors and burst out into the sunshine.
And straight into the arms of a well-built policeman. Nathan looked up and groaned. Sergeant Crawford. Not his lucky day.
“Yes, that’s her, Sergeant Crawford,” said a man from behind the policeman.
“And that’s
the boy with her too,” said another authoritative voice, as a more senior policeman walked up looking at Nathan. “You lot are coming with me.” He scowled.
“But Chief Inspector, we only have a warrant for these two.” The Sergeant looked puzzled as he pointed at Sarina and Nathan. “What about this one?” and he jerked his thumb over at Paolo.
“Who are you?” the Chief Inspector said, sizing Paolo up.
“I’m from Latvia,” Paolo said, frowning at the Inspector, a serious look on his face.
“Oh, OK.” The Inspector hesitated, thrown by the sudden inclusion of a foreigner and all the paperwork complications. “Uh, you can move along, um, Mr?”
“Tomas. Paolo Tomas,” said Paolo and moved to leave. He walked around the police and down the path, looking back at Sarina and Nathan as he walked away, the pit in his stomach deepening. Now he was trapped in a strange world, with no one to help him. He thought of Tomas, whose name he had just taken, and resolved to be strong. Tomas would be positive, Tomas could always see a way out. Andreas. Tomas. Were they alive? What about his mother? His heart was heavy as he reached the gate and picked up the skateboards.
A car screeched to a halt in front of the school and a nervous looking woman jumped out and ran awkwardly in high heels through the gate. “Sarina! Oh my Sarina darling, I’m so glad you’ve been found!” She glared at Nathan. “What have you done with my daughter, you disgusting boy!”
Nathan looked at Sarina and rolled his eyes. He wondered how it could get any worse.
“You and you,” Sergeant Crawford pointed at Sarina and Nathan, “come with me. We’re taking a trip to the station. You have some explaining to do.” He gestured for them to follow him out the gate to the white van outside, its lights still flashing red then blue.
That’s how it gets worse, Nathan thought. He followed the Sergeant to the van.
~ 27 ~
The Cell
Sarina and Nathan were sat by themselves and opposite each other in the back of the police van. Nathan glanced at his wrists, then back at Sarina. “Well at least they didn’t put us in handcuffs.”
“What do you think will happen?” Sarina looked around the van, as if it held the answer, then back at Nathan.
“I don’t think they have any reason to hold us for any length of time,” Nathan said. “They’re probably more interested in the fireworks I used. They’ll throw us in a holding cell while they figure it out and ask me stupid questions.”
“I suppose.” Sarina shivered and thought for a minute before continuing. “I hope they don’t send me back to that horrible place.”
Nathan saw the fear in her eyes and tried to reassure her. “I’m sure the police won’t care about that; they’ll just ask for someone to collect you after they’ve finished with us. That would be your Mum, wouldn’t it?”
Sarina nodded. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” She sighed. “I think she thinks I’m going mad. I know Mum has my best interests at heart, but she doesn’t really understand how much I live for painting. She thinks I will be ‘better’ once I’ve sorted out my problems.” She buried her head in her hands and looked through her fingers at Nathan. “And what’s worse, I’ll miss my chance at the Young Artists Competition. Mr Forrester definitely won’t approve my entry after all this.”
“You’re a brilliant painter, Sarina. All those art awards the school has won, those are all down to you. You definitely don’t deserve to miss that competition.”
She sat back up and stared at him. “I thought you hated me, and all the namby-pamby artistic stuff I think you called it?”
Nathan thought he’d better own up. “Um, it’s embarrassing to admit really, but actually it’s because I can’t do it. When I was very young, I tried to draw animals and my cousin, who was staying with us on holiday, used to taunt me.” He looked down and fiddled with his fingers. “He said I was useless and would never be able to draw or paint.” He looked up at Sarina, “So I gave up. I knew I’d never be good at it, so I concentrated on numbers and science. Actually I’ve never told anyone about that.”
“Anyway,” he brightened, “I can help you get better at maths and science very quickly. I learned some shortcuts that make it super easy—and I bet—” he smiled at Sarina, “I bet that you will pick it up fast. You have a quick mind.”
Sarina blushed. “That’s what Paolo said—Oh!” Her hand flew up to her mouth, “Paolo! In all this talking I’d forgotten about Paolo and his mother and brother. Nathan, I didn’t tell you. Paolo’s mother and brother are alive! But Makthryg is planning to kill some of the women and children unless we give ourselves up. What will Paolo do now? He’s in a strange world, with no friends, and he doesn’t exactly look like a normal kid. Oh drat, what have we done?” She looked out the rear window of the van, hoping Nathan wouldn’t see her tears.
Nathan, sensing her discomfort, decided not to say anything, and also looked out the window—and gasped. “Sarina,” he whispered out the side of his mouth.
“Yesh?” She glugged through her tears, still looking out.
“Look over towards the side of the road, and don’t say a thing. I think Paolo is doing just fine right now.”
Sarina wiped her eyes and peered out the window. Over on the side of the road, keeping up with the traffic, but out of sight of the driver’s vision, was what looked like a large security guard skateboarding at great speed, his eyes glued to their van. “Paolo!” she breathed, and looked over at Nathan in shock.
Nathan grinned. “I wonder where he got that security guard uniform? It kinda suits him, don’t you think?”
The van pulled in to the underground car park and they lost sight of Paolo when the security gate clanked shut behind them. Sarina looked at Nathan and her eyes betrayed her panic.
“Just answer their questions truthfully,” he reassured her, “and maybe try to avoid talking about our dreams.”
Sarina took a deep breath. Nathan was right, she had done nothing wrong and no-one had been hurt. For some reason, she always felt guilty every time she even saw a policeman.
After waiting for fifteen minutes in a room empty except for the bench they were sitting on, the door opened and the Sergeant stepped in. “Alright you two, come with me. Time for you to answer some questions.”
He gave them both a look that Sarina was certain he also used on serial killers. Actually if she thought about it, it was the only look she had seen him use. Still, she did feel very guilty.
They walked down the corridor and followed the Sergeant into a room with a table in the middle and two chairs on each side. He motioned for them to sit together on one side.
“Chief Inspector Bolton will be in shortly,” he leaned down breathing into their faces, “and he will be expecting some answers to your capers, you hear.” He looked directly at Nathan. “As for you, I’m sure the Inspector won’t be so easily fooled by your congregational constants as the Professor was.”
He wagged his finger in front of both their noses and clomped out, the door closing behind him with a solid thump.
Sarina, trembling in apprehension of the interrogation, turned and looked at Nathan, who was stifling a giggle. She opened her mouth aghast. “Nathan Goldberg! Have some respect!” she said in a whisper, “These are policemen.”
Nathan looked at her, struggling to keep a straight face.
“What’s so funny?” She realised she was still whispering.
Nathan couldn’t contain himself and blurted out in a half giggle, “Him!” He pointed at the door, bursting into a full cackle. “Pffft shhh kkaaaa,” He collapsed in a fit of laughter and thumped the table.
He looked at Sarina and, attempting a serious expression, took a deep breath. “Mr Policeman Plod! Did you see that ‘You’re nicked’ look?!” He broke out in more laughter—and stopped mid-stream with his mouth gaping, looking at the opening door.
“Something funny, Sonny Jim?” the Chief Inspector said as he strode in through the door, holding a cardboard box which he set
down on the floor beside him. He sat opposite them, glaring at Nathan, who had managed to shut himself up. “You’ve led us on a merry chase and I’d like some answers.” He looked at them with an enquiring eye.
They both nodded. “Yes sir,” Sarina said, feeling the need to speak on their behalf.
“Right then,” the Inspector said, pulling out two small black electronic objects and slapping them on the table in front of them. “Whose are these then?” He leaned back and looked at them both.
Sarina, who had no idea what they were, was about to answer when Nathan piped up.
“Those are mine sir. They are my iPods and I used them to set off a high-frequency whistle that would drive the dogs crazy and distract the guards. It’s an app I found when I was researching …” his voice trailed off when he realised the Inspector was glaring at him.
“Er yes, when I was doing some research. So, anyway, was that it?” Nathan rose up out of his chair.
“Sit down, Sonny Jim, that is most certainly not it,” the Inspector said, and he reached into the mysterious box, bringing out a can of spray paint which he set lightly on the table, like a delicate vase. “We have reports of two kids matching your description breaking into a garden shed at number 51 Drakehurst Gardens.” He eyed them both, “Was this you and did you or did you not deface a large piece of plywood in this shed using this spray can?” He tapped the lid of the can.
Sarina remembered that Nathan had suggested they tell the truth, so she started to answer.
“Yes sir,” she hesitated, “it was me that sprayed the board, sir.”
He raised an eyebrow and waited for her to continue.
“Well, to tell the truth sir, we were escaping from—”
“—a wasp,” Nathan said, looking at Sarina as he continued, “We had run into the shed to get away from an angry wasp, but … but it followed us in there and I passed the can to Sarina, thinking it was fly spray.” He looked at the Inspector with a straight face. “I think we killed the wasp though.”
The Dreamer Chronicles Trilogy Boxed Set Vol I - III: A Sci-Fi Parallel Universe Adventure (The Dreamer Chronicles - Science Fiction For Kids And Adults) Page 18
