From 491fa99893f768e174939272f952119287bf9ea8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Malcolm McLean Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2024 20:01:24 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] spaced --- docs/StToms/Chapter11.html | 257 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--- docs/StToms/Chapter12.html | 271 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--- docs/StToms/Chapter13.html | 213 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++-- docs/StToms/Chapter14.html | 146 ++++++++++++++++++-- docs/StToms/Chapter15.html | 210 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++-- docs/StToms/Chapter4.html | 24 ++-- 6 files changed, 1041 insertions(+), 80 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/StToms/Chapter11.html b/docs/StToms/Chapter11.html index a765a4b..4564136 100644 --- a/docs/StToms/Chapter11.html +++ b/docs/StToms/Chapter11.html @@ -15,53 +15,270 @@

Chapter 11. Adam makes a speech

-

There was a frission of excitement as Albert turned on the recording in the dorm. They had made sure that Adam wasn't present. "Pity" said Albert, "Adam would have given anything to hear this." "It's just too dangerous" said James. "Let's hear what we discussed" said Sebastian, "these mysteries are forever captured. I bet no-one has tried to say Compline while high before." "They do in Eastern monasteries" said Ibrahim, "probably in this one too, if truth be known." "So which monk do you think is stoned?" asked James. "Br Damian" said Ibrahim, and they all laughed. "Br Kieran too, I wouldn't put it past him" said Sebastian, "I reckon all the monks, over the vacs, are high on weed. It's the motor that keeps monastic life ticking over. But pray, Albert, proceed." He had started the recording at the end of the Psalm.

+

There was a frission of excitement as Albert turned on the recording in the dorm. They had made sure that Adam wasn't present.
+ "Pity" said Albert, "Adam would have given anything to hear this."
+ "It's just too dangerous" said James.
+ "Let's hear what we discussed" said Sebastian, "these mysteries are forever captured. I bet no-one has tried to say Compline while high before."
+ "They do in Eastern monasteries" said Ibrahim, "probably in this one too, if truth be known."
+ "So which monk do you think is stoned?" asked James.
+ "Br Damian" said Ibrahim, and they all laughed.
+ "Br Kieran too, I wouldn't put it past him" said Sebastian, "I reckon all the monks, over the vacs, are high on weed. It's the motor that keeps monastic life ticking over. But pray, Albert, proceed."
+ He had started the recording at the end of the Psalm.

I rely on you, Lord, My spirit relies on your promise, My soul hopes in the Lord, More than the watchman for daybreak.

As the watchman hopes for daybreak So let Israel hope in the Lord.

-

The Psalm sounded rich and full. There was a bit of silence. The boys waited expectantly. "Cor, man" said a voice. It was James. "That's where it's at", Sebastian. There was more silence. Then, "Peace, peace, peace is where it's at. We're gonna unite all humanity." Sebastian again. "Man." "That pattern."

+

The Psalm sounded rich and full. There was a bit of silence. The boys waited expectantly.
+ "Cor, man" said a voice. It was James.
+ "That's where it's at", Sebastian.
+ There was more silence. Then,
+ "Peace, peace, peace is where it's at. We're gonna unite all humanity."
Sebastian again.
+ "Man."
+ "That pattern."

-

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son" The lines were kind of slurred, the notes not together. "Surely we can get the doxology right" said Sebastian. "And to the Holy Spirit, as was, is now" the notes faltered, "And to the Holy Spirit,as was, and is now." "Man, that's where it's at."

+

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son"
+ The lines were kind of slurred, the notes not together.
+ "Surely we can get the doxology right" said Sebastian.
+ "And to the Holy Spirit, as was, is now" the notes faltered, "And to the Holy Spirit,as was, and is now."
+ "Man, that's where it's at."

-

Albert turned off the recording, embarrassed. "That was just meaningless gibberish." he said. "It seemed so meaningful at the time" said Sebastian, "I thought we'd solved the problems facing the world and found the one true religion." "You can't understand it unless you're high" said James. "Oh, well, never mind" said Albert, "I'll erase this."

+

Albert turned off the recording, embarrassed.
+ "That was just meaningless gibberish." he said.
+ "It seemed so meaningful at the time" said Sebastian, "I thought we'd solved the problems facing the world and found the one true religion."
+ "You can't understand it unless you're high" said James.
+ "Oh, well, never mind" said Albert, "I'll erase this."

-

Adam realised that the other boys were excluding him. There was hardly a scrap of free time when all five were together, the other four were always on their own. At breaktime they would talk together, then change the subject, look embarrassed, and find an excuse to move away when he joined the group. Even their games of five-a-side at lunchtime were slowly being reduced. Often Adam was the only one there, so the second years played with the third years, and he was left on the sidelines, watching. The girls were no better. Blonde Mary seemed to have taken against him, and all the girls, even short Mary, seemed to kowtow to her these days. He tackled Albert after prep. "Let's go to the woodwork room and get that first bow finished" said Adam. "Maybe," said Albert, "it's a bit of a kid's game, really." "You mean you want to smoke some weed tonight?" said Adam. "Adam," said Albert, "you're not mature. Relax, and chill." "You're not a pot-head" said Adam, "Albert, it's not you. You're not one of them. You know you're not." Albert shrugged and went away. Adam went by himself to the woodwork shed. "I can finish the bow by myself" he thought. He hadn't realised how deeply he was dependent on Albert. Working alone just wasn't the same. There was no joy to it, no-one to turn to when he had no idea how far to trim the wood, or how feathers were attached to the shaft. He wasn't sure how to operate the lathe, or to clean out the socket of the arrowhead so that the shaft would fit inside. Albert knew all these details. However he stuck at it, there was nothing else to do. "If I have to do it myself" he thought, "I will shoot a deer." Two days later, he finally finished the first bow, and the next day the first three arrows. He put the arrow to the notch, and drew the bow back for the first time. A sense of power came over him. He realised that he carried in his hands a weapon capable of killing another person. He left the woodwork shed, and shot the arrow as far as it would go. It travelled about a hundred yards, far further than he had imagined possible. "Albert got the draw strength right" was his only thought. But Albert wasn't with him any longer. He was on his own.

+

Adam realised that the other boys were excluding him. There was hardly a scrap of free time when all five were together, the other four were always on their own. At breaktime they would talk together, then change the subject, look embarrassed, and find an excuse to move away when he joined the group. Even their games of five-a-side at lunchtime were slowly being reduced. Often Adam was the only one there, so the second years played with the third years, and he was left on the sidelines, watching. The girls were no better. Blonde Mary seemed to have taken against him, and all the girls, even short Mary, seemed to kowtow to her these days.
+ He tackled Albert after prep.
+ "Let's go to the woodwork room and get that first bow finished" said Adam.
+ "Maybe," said Albert, "it's a bit of a kid's game, really."
+ "You mean you want to smoke some weed tonight?" said Adam.
+ "Adam," said Albert, "you're not mature. Relax, and chill."
+ "You're not a pot-head" said Adam, "Albert, it's not you. You're not one of them. You know you're not."
+ Albert shrugged and went away. Adam went by himself to the woodwork shed. "I can finish the bow by myself" he thought.
+ He hadn't realised how deeply he was dependent on Albert. Working alone just wasn't the same. There was no joy to it, no-one to turn to when he had no idea how far to trim the wood, or how feathers were attached to the shaft. He wasn't sure how to operate the lathe, or to clean out the socket of the arrowhead so that the shaft would fit inside. Albert knew all these details. However he stuck at it, there was nothing else to do.
+ "If I have to do it myself" he thought, "I will shoot a deer."
+ Two days later, he finally finished the first bow, and the next day the first three arrows. He put the arrow to the notch, and drew the bow back for the first time. A sense of power came over him. He realised that he carried in his hands a weapon capable of killing another person. He left the woodwork shed, and shot the arrow as far as it would go. It travelled about a hundred yards, far further than he had imagined possible.
+ "Albert got the draw strength right" was his only thought. But Albert wasn't with him any longer. He was on his own.

-

"I've noticed a sudden deterioration in the first years' academic work" said Br Dominic, at the staff meeting. "Seconded" said Br Kieran. One by one all the monks agreed. The first years' work had got markedly worse over the last week or so. "The one I'm mainly worried about is Adam" said Br Dominic, "he seems positively tortured these days, as though carrying some burden. I had thought that we had reached a turning point with his Latin, but it seems not. His last prep was awful." "Ibrahim maths, it no good" said Br Jumbo. "Ibrahim is going to have to leave" said Br Kieran, "sorry, but no two ways about it. He doesn't get basic science, he doesn't ask any questions in class, he doesn't answer anything unless you push him and then a shortly as possible." "He does have a reasonable voice though" said Br Bernard. "It's early days, brothers" said Fr Abbot, "we're only into the first term. Let's not worry too much about this problem. Don't make a fetish of examination success." Adam felt strangely flat after the bow was finished. Now there was nothing to do. He found himself taking another walk by the beach, wrapped in his overcoat against the bitter cold. "Though a thousand fall at my left hand, and ten thousand at my right", he thought, "it shall not approach me. I will only look with my eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked. For the Lord is my refuge, the Most High, my dwelling place". The waves lapped in sympathy. The next lines of the psalm came to him. "You will tread upon the lion and the cobra, the lion cub and the serpent you shall strike down". Adam suddenly realised what he had to do. He spent the rest of the evening staring out into the black sea, gathering strength. Then he went to Abagail.

+

"I've noticed a sudden deterioration in the first years' academic work"
+ said Br Dominic, at the staff meeting.
+ "Seconded" said Br Kieran. One by one all the monks agreed. The first years' work had got markedly worse over the last week or so.
+ "The one I'm mainly worried about is Adam" said Br Dominic, "he seems positively tortured these days, as though carrying some burden. I had thought that we had reached a turning point with his Latin, but it seems not. His last prep was awful."
+ "Ibrahim maths, it no good" said Br Jumbo.
+ "Ibrahim is going to have to leave" said Br Kieran, "sorry, but no two ways about it. He doesn't get basic science, he doesn't ask any questions in class, he doesn't answer anything unless you push him and then a shortly as possible."
+ "He does have a reasonable voice though" said Br Bernard.
+ "It's early days, brothers" said Fr Abbot, "we're only into the first term. Let's not worry too much about this problem. Don't make a fetish of examination success."
+ Adam felt strangely flat after the bow was finished. Now there was nothing to do. He found himself taking another walk by the beach, wrapped in his overcoat against the bitter cold.
+ "Though a thousand fall at my left hand, and ten thousand at my right", he thought, "it shall not approach me. I will only look with my eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked. For the Lord is my refuge, the Most High, my dwelling place".
+ The waves lapped in sympathy.
+ The next lines of the psalm came to him. "You will tread upon the lion and the cobra, the lion cub and the serpent you shall strike down".
+ Adam suddenly realised what he had to do.
+ He spent the rest of the evening staring out into the black sea, gathering strength. Then he went to Abagail.

-

"Abbey," he said, "I want to put through a JC motion, and I want you to second it." "What" asked Abagail. "This JC supports the imprisonment of cannabis users." "Adam" said Abagail, "you've gone far enough with this nonsense. You're embarrassing me, and no, I don't agree with you." "So you're one of them" he said. "Everybody is" said Abagail, "Adam, it's not us and them, it's you and everybody else. Why can't you be just normal?" "So whose giving you the drugs?" asked Adam. "It's ten pounds a wrap and we club together to pay for it" said Abagail. "Abbey, we can't afford that sort of money." said Adam. The sense of betrayal was total. "It's vulgar to worry too much about money" said Abagail. "That's because poor people like us have to" said Adam, "Abbey, Cecilia and the Marys get allowances from their parents. We get almost nothing." "Well we can ask Mummy for more." said Abagail, "Anyway, blonde Mary sometimes pays it." "Abbey, your body is not to be poisoned." said Adam. "I can do what I want." said Abagail. "No you can't." said Adam. "Why not?" Abagail demanded. "Because it is not your property. You did not buy it, you did not make it, it was given to you from on high". said Adam. "Adam, please drop this." said Abagail.

+

"Abbey," he said, "I want to put through a JC motion, and I want you to second it."
+ "What" asked Abagail.
+ "This JC supports the imprisonment of cannabis users."
+ "Adam" said Abagail, "you've gone far enough with this nonsense. You're embarrassing me, and no, I don't agree with you."
+ "So you're one of them" he said.
+ "Everybody is" said Abagail, "Adam, it's not us and them, it's you and everybody else. Why can't you be just normal?"
+ "So whose giving you the drugs?" asked Adam.
+ "It's ten pounds a wrap and we club together to pay for it" said Abagail.
+ "Abbey, we can't afford that sort of money." said Adam. The sense of betrayal was total.
+ "It's vulgar to worry too much about money" said Abagail.
+ "That's because poor people like us have to" said Adam, "Abbey, Cecilia and the Marys get allowances from their parents. We get almost nothing."
+ "Well we can ask Mummy for more." said Abagail, "Anyway, blonde Mary sometimes pays it."
+ "Abbey, your body is not to be poisoned." said Adam.
+ "I can do what I want." said Abagail.
+ "No you can't." said Adam.
+ "Why not?" Abagail demanded.
+ "Because it is not your property. You did not buy it, you did not make it, it was given to you from on high". said Adam.
+ "Adam, please drop this." said Abagail.

-

Having failed to secure Abagail's support for his motion, Adam went to tackle Albert. "I've done the first bow, care to try it out?" A flicker of interest crossed Albert's face. "Come on Albert, you've put more work into this than me." said Adam. The two boys made their way to the woodwork shed. Albert took the finished bow. "Fire" said Adam. "You don't fire a bow", said Albert, "you shoot it." "Shoot, then" said Adam. "That sounds kind of funny" said Albert. "Like shooting heroin?" "Kind of like." said Albert. "That's what you'll be doing before you know it" said Adam, "Cannabis is a gateway drug." "Gateway drug?" "It opens the gate to the harder stuff." "Me, never?" said Albert. "You'd have said that about pot three weeks ago." said Adam. "It's not you, Albert, you know it isn't. Anyway, shoot." Albert stretched the bow back, and shot off the arrow. "Owch" The arrow had burned a big red mark on his hand. "We need gloves." said Albert, "The metalwork ones will do for now. I'll get some proper protectors made up." "See how far that arrow went?" said Adam. "Impressive" agreed Albert. "So we can take a deer at two hundred yards." said Adam. "Not necessarily. It depends what accuracy we can get. Then the arrow loses power as it gets to the end of its flight. I'm worried as it is that we don't have enough firepower to take down a deer. But promising, yes." said Albert. "Albert" said Adam, "I'm putting a motion through the JC, calling for the imprisonment of cannabis users. Will you second it." "That's supporting imprisonment of myself." said Albert. "You're already imprisoned, on this island." said Adam. "That's true," said Albert, "you won't drop this one-man anti- drugs crusade, will you Adam?" "No" said Adam. "You make yourself very unpopular" said Albert. "But you're still my friend" said Adam. "I'm still your friend" said Albert, "look, I'll second it so that it can be proposed, but don't expect me to defend it. Then maybe you'll realise what an idiot you are being, when no-one agrees with you."

+

Having failed to secure Abagail's support for his motion, Adam went to tackle Albert.
+ "I've done the first bow, care to try it out?"
+ A flicker of interest crossed Albert's face.
+ "Come on Albert, you've put more work into this than me." said Adam.
+ The two boys made their way to the woodwork shed. Albert took the finished bow.
+ "Fire" said Adam. "You don't fire a bow", said Albert, "you shoot it."
+ "Shoot, then" said Adam.
+ "That sounds kind of funny" said Albert.
+ "Like shooting heroin?"
+ ; "Kind of like." said Albert.
+ "That's what you'll be doing before you know it" said Adam, "Cannabis is a gateway drug."
+ "Gateway drug?"
+ "It opens the gate to the harder stuff."
+ "Me, never?" said Albert.
+ "You'd have said that about pot three weeks ago." said Adam. "It's not you, Albert, you know it isn't. Anyway, shoot."
+ Albert stretched the bow back, and shot off the arrow.
+ "Owch" The arrow had burned a big red mark on his hand.
+ "We need gloves." said Albert, "The metalwork ones will do for now. I'll get some proper protectors made up."
+ "See how far that arrow went?" said Adam.
+ "Impressive" agreed Albert.MBR> + "So we can take a deer at two hundred yards." said Adam. "Not necessarily. It depends what accuracy we can get. Then the arrow loses power as it gets to the end of its flight. I'm worried as it is that we don't have enough firepower to take down a deer. But promising, yes." said Albert.
+ "Albert" said Adam, "I'm putting a motion through the JC, calling for the imprisonment of cannabis users. Will you second it."
+ "That's supporting imprisonment of myself." said Albert.
+ "You're already imprisoned, on this island." said Adam.
+ "That's true," said Albert, "you won't drop this one-man anti- drugs crusade, will you Adam?"
+ "No" said Adam.
+ "You make yourself very unpopular" said Albert.
+ "But you're still my friend" said Adam.
+ "I'm still your friend" said Albert, "look, I'll second it so that it can be proposed, but don't expect me to defend it. Then maybe you'll realise what an idiot you are being, when no-one agrees with you."

-

Next evening Adam was back on the beach, preparing his great speech for the Sunday evening JC meeting. He rehearsed it slowly in his head. He knew that it was a no-hoper motion, but that wasn't the point. "Adam wants us in prison" said blonde Mary, to Mandy. "How come?" asked Mandy. "He's put a motion through to the JC calling for cannabis users to be sent to prison." said blonde Mary. "The idiot." said Mandy, "You can debate legalisation, that's reasonable. But this is so ridiculous. Sean should have ruled it out." "Well he hasn't done" said blonde Mary, "Mandy, we've got to be careful. He might be trying to flush us out." "You mean sneak on us?" said Mandy. "That's what I mean. Abbey already knows, but I don't think she's told him. But it's only a matter of time before he finds out." said blonde Mary. "Anyway, I've got to go" said Mandy.

+

Next evening Adam was back on the beach, preparing his great speech for the Sunday evening JC meeting. He rehearsed it slowly in his head. He knew that it was a no-hoper motion, but that wasn't the point.
+ "Adam wants us in prison" said blonde Mary, to Mandy.
+ "How come?" asked Mandy.
+ "He's put a motion through to the JC calling for cannabis users to be sent to prison." said blonde Mary.
+ "The idiot." said Mandy, "You can debate legalisation, that's reasonable. But this is so ridiculous. Sean should have ruled it out."
+ "Well he hasn't done" said blonde Mary, "Mandy, we've got to be careful. He might be trying to flush us out."
+ "You mean sneak on us?" said Mandy. "That's what I mean. Abbey already knows, but I don't think she's told him. But it's only a matter of time before he finds out." said blonde Mary.
+ "Anyway, I've got to go" said Mandy.

-

Adam saw a light far off. Initially he thought it was the ferry, but it veered from the normal ferry course. It seemed like it was about to circumnavigate the island. "I wonder if I can catch it" thought Adam, idly. He had a torch. It was impossible to run along the path that encircled the island when all was dark, but you could still go at a reasonable pace. From his new elevation he could see it. It was impossible to tell what distance it was at. "If I walk round the island I should be back for Compline" thought Adam, checking his watch, "And I can see where that ship is going." He followed it round for some distance. Suddenly, it started flashing. Adam stared at it. It flashed again, directly at him. "My torch" he thought, "they can see my torch from the sea". He turned it off and lay down. The light seemed to come nearer and nearer, though again it was difficult to judge distance. Adam realised that it was approaching the disused jetty. Fear seized him. "What if they are coming to get me?" He wondered how quickly he could make it to the monastery. "Get off the path" he thought. He couldn't travel any distance without a torch, and a light would give away his position. It was safest to hide and wait. The light flashed again, and there was another light, flashing from the shore. The light on the shore then moved all the way up the jetty, a tiny pinprick of light, but very visible in the blackness. The lights merged. "They've landed" thought Adam, in panic, "and they'll know I saw them. Oh God, come to my aid." The little pin-prick of light left the main light a couple of minutes after, and the lights separated. Adam hid himself. ` Footsteps were coming up the path, little light ones. Adam risked a peek. He could see a torch moving. Then the figure came within a few feet of where he had concealed himself. He recognised that silhouette. It was Mandy. Adam waited a safe time, then legged it back to the monastery in the opposite direction. Mandy, as good as gold, was at Compline. "You've put in a motion to send us to jail" said James, that night, accusingly. "Well, you deserve to go to jail" said Adam. "How come. Adam, I'm going to beat you up. This is your way of sneaking on us." said James. "You deserve to go to jail, well wait for my speech to find out why." said Adam, "James, you don't impress me." "Then maybe this will impress you" said James, landing him a punch on the face. Adam punched back, but missed. "Hey up" Sebastian intervened, "Adam, you've got to choose between us or the school. How can anyone trust you?" "For God's sake just smoke some dope and have this nonsense over with" said Albert. "No way" said Adam, "how many times have I said, I do not do drugs." "We're not addicted, you know" said Ibrahim. "Your brain is addled, Ibrahim" said Adam, "if you want the truth." "Which you are going to say, at the JC meeting" said James. "No, I'm not going to say that" said Adam. "Then what are you going to say?" James demanded to know. "Albert, you seconded this stupid motion, why did you do that?" "Get it out of his system." said Albert. "So if you lose the vote, will you take some dope?" asked James. "No" said Adam. "But if you win you will expect us to stop taking it" said James. "Yes" said Adam. "Don't you see how completely unreasonable that is, Adam? We've had enough of your self-righteousness." said James. Br Dominic was heard on the staircase calling for lights out, and still angry the boys pulled the covers over themselves.

+

Adam saw a light far off. Initially he thought it was the ferry, but it veered from the normal ferry course. It seemed like it was about to circumnavigate the island. "I wonder if I can catch it" thought Adam, idly. He had a torch. It was impossible to run along the path that encircled the island when all was dark, but you could still go at a reasonable pace. From his new elevation he could see it. It was impossible to tell what distance it was at.
+ "If I walk round the island I should be back for Compline" thought Adam, checking his watch, "And I can see where that ship is going."
+ He followed it round for some distance. Suddenly, it started flashing. Adam stared at it. It flashed again, directly at him.
+ "My torch" he thought, "they can see my torch from the sea".
+ He turned it off and lay down.
+ The light seemed to come nearer and nearer, though again it was difficult to judge distance. Adam realised that it was approaching the disused jetty. Fear seized him.
+ "What if they are coming to get me?" He wondered how quickly he could make it to the monastery.
+ "Get off the path" he thought. He couldn't travel any distance without a torch, and a light would give away his position. It was safest to hide and wait.
+ The light flashed again, and there was another light, flashing from the shore. The light on the shore then moved all the way up the jetty, a tiny pinprick of light, but very visible in the blackness. The lights merged.
+ "They've landed" thought Adam, in panic, "and they'll know I saw them. Oh God, come to my aid."
+ The little pin-prick of light left the main light a couple of minutes after, and the lights separated. Adam hid himself.
+ Footsteps were coming up the path, little light ones. Adam risked a peek. He could see a torch moving. Then the figure came within a few feet of where he had concealed himself. He recognised that silhouette. It was Mandy. Adam waited a safe time, then legged it back to the monastery in the opposite direction. Mandy, as good as gold, was at Compline.
+ "You've put in a motion to send us to jail" said James, that night, accusingly. "Well, you deserve to go to jail" said Adam.
+ "How come. Adam, I'm going to beat you up. This is your way of sneaking on us." said James.
+ "You deserve to go to jail, well wait for my speech to find out why." said Adam, "James, you don't impress me."
+ "Then maybe this will impress you" said James, landing him a punch on the face. Adam punched back, but missed.
+ "Hey up" Sebastian intervened, "Adam, you've got to choose between us or the school. How can anyone trust you?"
+ "For God's sake just smoke some dope and have this nonsense over with" said Albert.
+ "No way" said Adam, "how many times have I said, I do not do drugs."
+ "We're not addicted, you know" said Ibrahim.
+ "Your brain is addled, Ibrahim" said Adam, "if you want the truth."
+ "Which you are going to say, at the JC meeting" said James.
+ "No, I'm not going to say that" said Adam.
+ "Then what are you going to say?" James demanded to know.
+ "Albert, you seconded this stupid motion, why did you do that?"
+ "Get it out of his system." said Albert.
+ "So if you lose the vote, will you take some dope?" asked James.
+ "No" said Adam.
+ "But if you win you will expect us to stop taking it" said James.
+ "Yes" said Adam.
+ "Don't you see how completely unreasonable that is, Adam? We've had enough of your self-righteousness." said James.
+ Br Dominic was heard on the staircase calling for lights out, and still angry the boys pulled the covers over themselves.

-

Albert was shocked when his mark for maths prep came back. The others had also done badly, and he tried to tell himself that it was a hard exercise. However he knew the truth. Maybe it was the dope itself, maybe it was all the fuss over it that had distracted him. Albert had no intention of getting poor marks, and not going to a good university. His parents weren't especially rich, and were cutting back hard on holidays and meals out in order to afford his St Tom's school fees. He was beginning to think that Adam was right all along. When the joint came round the next day he took a tiny puff, and didn't inhale, passing it on as quickly as he dared to James. "Where's Adam?" drawled James. "I don't know", said Albert, truthfully, "maybe he's doing woodwork, or maybe by the beach." "He spends too long at that beach. What's he doing there?" "Just staring out to sea, in the dark." said Albert. "He's getting seriously weird" said James.

+

Albert was shocked when his mark for maths prep came back. The others had also done badly, and he tried to tell himself that it was a hard exercise. However he knew the truth. Maybe it was the dope itself, maybe it was all the fuss over it that had distracted him. Albert had no intention of getting poor marks, and not going to a good university. His parents weren't especially rich, and were cutting back hard on holidays and meals out in order to afford his St Tom's school fees. He was beginning to think that Adam was right all along.
+ When the joint came round the next day he took a tiny puff, and didn't inhale, passing it on as quickly as he dared to James.
+ "Where's Adam?" drawled James. + "I don't know", said Albert, truthfully, "maybe he's doing woodwork, or maybe by the beach."
+ "He spends too long at that beach. What's he doing there?"
+ "Just staring out to sea, in the dark." said Albert.
+ "He's getting seriously weird" said James.

In fact Adam was doing a survey of shipping. He wanted to know how many ships or boats were usually to be seen in the vicinity of the island, and whether any more of them made secret landings on the old jetty. In fact the stretch of water between the island and the mainland was fairly quiet. Big ships never went though it. Occasionally there was a small pleasure craft embarking or disembarking from the village, and the ferry would make periodic visits to the island. The only other vessel he saw was a lobster-fishing boat, which visited and revisited buoys moored in the strait. But that was about it. Otherwise boats were very rare. If you walked right round the island they became more common, but they were mainly big vessels, in the distance, making their way to Belfast or to Liverpool. In the dark you couldn't tell a big, fast ship at far distance from a slow, small ship in the near distance, but the big ships kept mainly on the same lane. Adam was reasonably confident that he could discount them. However nothing came to dock at the old jetty.

-

Blonde Mary allowed short Mary to smoke with the other girls for a couple of more occasions, to get her established as a regular cannabis user. Then it was time for revenge. They were back in the old graveyard, before Compline. "We play a game" said blonde Mary, "we stretch a bit of tissue paper over a cup, and put a coin on top of it. Each time you take a smoke, you have to either burn a hole in the tissue, or burn out a bridge. If you don't do it, penalty five puffs. If the coin drops, you lose the game, and you buy the next joint." "OK" said Abagail, a bit dubiously. She couldn't afford to buy too many joints, on her own. Blonde Mary arranged matters so that she was to the left of short Mary, and Mandy was to the left of her. They had played this game before with Jade and Olivia. Mandy had her head screwed on well enough to give blonde Mary easy holes, whilst blonde Mary could make life as difficult as possible for short Mary. Abagail and Cecilia just played for themselves in a sporting spirit. Initially it was easy, then as more and more holes were burned in the tissue, it became harder and harder to find a hole or bridge to burn that would not precipitate the coin to the bottom of the beaker. Blonde Mary deftly burned most of the way round for short Mary, leaving the coin suspended by a thread. Short Mary took a tiny nibble out of the edge, and received a five puff penalty. Abagail tried to burn out a bridge, and the coin clinked in the bottom of the glass. Abagail scowled and produced a ten pound note. "Finish this joint first" said blonde Mary, "Mary?" Short Mary took the joint and took a puff. Blonde Mary took it back, and took a slight puff. "None for you, Abbey" she said, "Mandy?" Mandy obligingly smoked a small amount. "Finish it off, Mary" said blonde Mary, giving it to short Mary. Short Mary did so. The second joint went round. Short Mary by now was losing a bit of concentration. One of her holes got too big and became a nibble, and she received another five puff penalty. Abagail made the same mistake. Cecilia passed correctly, then Mandy deftly made a small hole, leaving an easy bridge for blonde Mary to burn out. The task went to short Mary. She tried to burn a small hole, and the tissue paper flared up. The coin clinked in the bottom and the girls laughed. "Ten pounds" said blonde Mary, "but to sweeten the blow for you a little, dearest, the rest is yours." Abagail scowled again, but there was nothing she could do. Short Mary smoked the rest of the joint, and then the bell went for Compline. "Don't go to Compline, Mary" blonde Mary warned her, and the others deserted her. It was forbidden to miss Compline if you were in easy hearing of the bell, and prefects occasionally did sweeps. Short Mary wondered what to do. If she had been thinking straight she would have realised that she could leg it off to the beach with minimal danger, but she wasn't thinking entirely straight because of the drug. She decided to go to Compline. Blonde Mary didn't file into chapel with the others, but hung back a while to wait to see what short Mary would do. She was going to give a hint to a prefect that short Mary was deliberately absent. In the event, however, short Mary appeared down the corridor. Adam was slightly in front of her. "Adam", said blonde Mary, all concern, "short Mary isn't feeling well." Adam frowned. He had got to recognise the symptoms of drugs by now. "What are you going to do about it?" asked blonde Mary. "I'm going to get drugs out of this bloody school, that's what I'm going to do" said Adam. "Mary," he spoke sharply to short Mary, "just go to your dorm." "Oh Adam, don't take things too seriously. Yeah, I'll go to the dorm when I'm ready." said short Mary. Compline began. Br Bernard could tell quite easily that short Mary was in trouble, and in any case some of the others had overheard Adam and blonde Mary talking. He took short Mary aside after the office, and asked her what was wrong. "Nothing" said short Mary, obviously spaced out. "I think you'd better go to the sick bay" said Br Bernard, "and to Fr Abbot in the morning."

+

Blonde Mary allowed short Mary to smoke with the other girls for a couple of more occasions, to get her established as a regular cannabis user.
+ Then it was time for revenge.
+ They were back in the old graveyard, before Compline.
+ "We play a game" said blonde Mary, "we stretch a bit of tissue paper over a cup, and put a coin on top of it. Each time you take a smoke, you have to either burn a hole in the tissue, or burn out a bridge. If you don't do it, penalty five puffs. If the coin drops, you lose the game, and you buy the next joint."
+ "OK" said Abagail, a bit dubiously. She couldn't afford to buy too many joints, on her own.
+ Blonde Mary arranged matters so that she was to the left of short Mary, and Mandy was to the left of her. They had played this game before with Jade and Olivia. Mandy had her head screwed on well enough to give blonde Mary easy holes, whilst blonde Mary could make life as difficult as possible for short Mary. Abagail and Cecilia just played for themselves in a sporting spirit.
+ Initially it was easy, then as more and more holes were burned in the tissue, it became harder and harder to find a hole or bridge to burn that would not precipitate the coin to the bottom of the beaker.
+ Blonde Mary deftly burned most of the way round for short Mary, leaving the coin suspended by a thread. Short Mary took a tiny nibble out of the edge, and received a five puff penalty.
+ Abagail tried to burn out a bridge, and the coin clinked in the bottom of the glass. Abagail scowled and produced a ten pound note.
+ "Finish this joint first" said blonde Mary, "Mary?"
+ Short Mary took the joint and took a puff. Blonde Mary took it back, and took a slight puff. "None for you, Abbey" she said, "Mandy?"
+ Mandy obligingly smoked a small amount.
+ "Finish it off, Mary" said blonde Mary, giving it to short Mary. Short Mary did so.
+ The second joint went round. Short Mary by now was losing a bit of concentration. One of her holes got too big and became a nibble, and she received another five puff penalty. Abagail made the same mistake. Cecilia passed correctly, then Mandy deftly made a small hole, leaving an easy bridge for blonde Mary to burn out. The task went to short Mary. She tried to burn a small hole, and the tissue paper flared up. The coin clinked in the bottom and the girls laughed.
+ "Ten pounds" said blonde Mary, "but to sweeten the blow for you a little, dearest, the rest is yours."
+ Abagail scowled again, but there was nothing she could do. Short Mary smoked the rest of the joint, and then the bell went for Compline.
+ "Don't go to Compline, Mary" blonde Mary warned her, and the others deserted her.
+ It was forbidden to miss Compline if you were in easy hearing of the bell, and prefects occasionally did sweeps. Short Mary wondered what to do. If she had been thinking straight she would have realised that she could leg it off to the beach with minimal danger, but she wasn't thinking entirely straight because of the drug. She decided to go to Compline.
+ Blonde Mary didn't file into chapel with the others, but hung back a while to wait to see what short Mary would do. She was going to give a hint to a prefect that short Mary was deliberately absent. In the event, however, short Mary appeared down the corridor. Adam was slightly in front of her.
+ "Adam", said blonde Mary, all concern, "short Mary isn't feeling well."
+ Adam frowned. He had got to recognise the symptoms of drugs by now. "What are you going to do about it?" asked blonde Mary.
+ "I'm going to get drugs out of this bloody school, that's what I'm going to do" said Adam. "Mary," he spoke sharply to short Mary, "just go to your dorm."
+ "Oh Adam, don't take things too seriously. Yeah, I'll go to the dorm when I'm ready." said short Mary.
+ Compline began. Br Bernard could tell quite easily that short Mary was in trouble, and in any case some of the others had overheard Adam and blonde Mary talking. He took short Mary aside after the office, and asked her what was wrong.
+ "Nothing" said short Mary, obviously spaced out.
\ "I think you'd better go to the sick bay" said Br Bernard, "and to Fr Abbot in the morning."

-

"Are you crazy?" Mandy rounded on blonde Mary that evening, "she'll tell over all of us." "All of us?" said blonde Mary, "listen, Mandy, Fr Abbot is not so stupid that he won't realise that there's a drug problem at St Tom's sooner or later. This way short Mary comes to be seen as the source of the problem. It deflects attention from us. If she tells tales, which she won't, then everyone takes drugs except Adam. Adam will be the only one left. So there's nothing much Fr Abbot can do. He's no way of knowing where they're coming from, and if push comes to shove they're from Jade and Olivia. But she won't tell tales. She's not secure enough to do that, because then everyone will hate her. What she doesn't know is that everyone is going to hate her, anyway."

+

"Are you crazy?" Mandy rounded on blonde Mary that evening, "she'll tell over all of us."
+ "All of us?" said blonde Mary, "listen, Mandy, Fr Abbot is not so stupid that he won't realise that there's a drug problem at St Tom's sooner or later. This way short Mary comes to be seen as the source of the problem. It deflects attention from us. If she tells tales, which she won't, then everyone takes drugs except Adam. Adam will be the only one left. So there's nothing much Fr Abbot can do. He's no way of knowing where they're coming from, and if push comes to shove they're from Jade and Olivia. But she won't tell tales. She's not secure enough to do that, because then everyone will hate her. What she doesn't know is that everyone is going to hate her, anyway."

-

Surprisingly to the children Fr Abbot simply gave short Mary a punishment run, and there was no further fuss made. "Did he warn you?" asked Abagail. "No" said short Mary. "Well did he get you to tell him where you'd got them from?" "No" said short Mary. "Then you must have sneaked on us" said Abagail, "what did he do?" "He just said that to successfully conceal drug usage it is necessary to smoke moderate amounts, outside, and after lights out. Take a punishment run, Miss Walker please." "He didn't ask anything?" demanded Abagail, again. "No" insisted short Mary. "It's your fault, anyway" said Abagail, "why did you go to Compline when blonde Mary warned you? You've put us all at risk." "I was afraid of being picked up by a prefect" said short Mary. "Oh nonsense" said Abagail, "they hardly ever do sweeps, and you can hide."

+

Surprisingly to the children Fr Abbot simply gave short Mary a punishment run, and there was no further fuss made. + "Did he warn you?" asked Abagail.
+ "No" said short Mary.
+ "Well did he get you to tell him where you'd got them from?"
+ "No" said short Mary.
+ "Then you must have sneaked on us" said Abagail, "what did he do?"
+ "He just said that to successfully conceal drug usage it is necessary to smoke moderate amounts, outside, and after lights out. Take a punishment run, Miss Walker please."
+ "He didn't ask anything?" demanded Abagail, again. "No" insisted short Mary.
+ "It's your fault, anyway" said Abagail, "why did you go to Compline when blonde Mary warned you? You've put us all at risk."
+ "I was afraid of being picked up by a prefect" said short Mary.
+ "Oh nonsense" said Abagail, "they hardly ever do sweeps, and you can hide."

-

"Mary, you are put on warning" said blonde Mary, the next evening before lights out, "you have put all of us at risk. Do that again and you are out." "Well the boys did the same" said short Mary, "they turned up to Compline high." "That was different" said blonde Mary, imperiously. "Mary, sweetest, we tried to warn you. What can we do if you won't take advice? Nothing, except we're going to ration the amount that you take from now on. For your safety and for ours, you understand. Do you agree, Mary?" Short Mary was forced to say 'yes'. After all, Fr Abbot, in his inimitable way, had warned her to smoke moderately. Blonde Mary was saying the same. She began to feel rather foolish. "Now just Adam to sort out" said blonde Mary, "Keep it buttoned, girls, for this stupid, stupid motion."

+

"Mary, you are put on warning" said blonde Mary, the next evening before lights out, "you have put all of us at risk. Do that again and you are out."
+ "Well the boys did the same" said short Mary, "they turned up to Compline high."
+ "That was different" said blonde Mary, imperiously. "Mary, sweetest, we tried to warn you. What can we do if you won't take advice? Nothing, except we're going to ration the amount that you take from now on. For your safety and for ours, you understand. Do you agree, Mary?"
+ Short Mary was forced to say 'yes'. After all, Fr Abbot, in his inimitable way, had warned her to smoke moderately. Blonde Mary was saying the same. She began to feel rather foolish.
+ "Now just Adam to sort out" said blonde Mary, "Keep it buttoned, girls, for this stupid, stupid motion."

-

"Short Mary didn't get expelled" said Mandy, when she and blonde Mary were together again. "No, sweetest" said blonde Mary, "I was kind of hoping she'd get into more serious trouble than she did. However a punishment run can be very nasty. Just ask Cecilia. Don't worry, we haven't finished with short Mary yet. Soon she'll be crying for that vulgar Mummy of hers."

+

"Short Mary didn't get expelled" said Mandy, when she and blonde Mary were together again.
+ "No, sweetest" said blonde Mary, "I was kind of hoping she'd get into more serious trouble than she did. However a punishment run can be very nasty. Just ask Cecilia. Don't worry, we haven't finished with short Mary yet. Soon she'll be crying for that vulgar Mummy of hers."

In fact short Mary cried herself to sleep that night, after the others had fallen asleep. She hadn't achieved the acceptance by the others that she had craved, and she had lost her status as the responsible one of the first form. She regretted ever getting mixed up in cannabis.

-

"Oh Adam", Fr Abbot caught him in the corridor. "Yes sir?" said Adam. "I just thought I'd offer you luck with your motion." Fr Abbot grinned, "As staff I have to remain neutral on JC resolutions, of course." "Why thank you, Sir" said Adam. Sunday evening came all too quickly for Adam, who was working hard on his motion. He knew that every single one of the first years was against it, even Albert who had seconded it out of friendship to him rather than any shared belief. He had been speaking to Ibrahim. Ibrahim smoked a lot. Previously, when you got Ibrahim on his own, you had been able to get quite a lot of sense out of him on Pakistan, or the deficiencies of St Tom's, or atheism. That had stopped. "Yeah, relax man. Don't do the Jesus stuff too heavily. You're heavy, you know that?" That was about the level of argument you got from Ibrahim these days. He had never been interested or engaged, and now he was withdrawing into himself even more, motivated only by a desire to get the next smoke. A shell, thought Adam, of a human being. Because the cannabis offered him pleasure and comfort in a way, but it was empty pleasure, comfort that in fact could never supply the security they all craved. "Fight back" That was all he could think, these days. He thought about mentioning Ibrahim in his speech, but he couldn't, not by name.

+

"Oh Adam", Fr Abbot caught him in the corridor.
+ "Yes sir?" said Adam. "I just thought I'd offer you luck with your motion." Fr Abbot grinned, "As staff I have to remain neutral on JC resolutions, of course."
+ "Why thank you, Sir" said Adam. Sunday evening came all too quickly for Adam, who was working hard on his motion. He knew that every single one of the first years was against it, even Albert who had seconded it out of friendship to him rather than any shared belief.
+ He had been speaking to Ibrahim. Ibrahim smoked a lot. Previously, when you got Ibrahim on his own, you had been able to get quite a lot of sense out of him on Pakistan, or the deficiencies of St Tom's, or atheism. That had stopped.
+ "Yeah, relax man. Don't do the Jesus stuff too heavily. You're heavy, you know that?"
+ That was about the level of argument you got from Ibrahim these days. He had never been interested or engaged, and now he was withdrawing into himself even more, motivated only by a desire to get the next smoke. A shell, thought Adam, of a human being. Because the cannabis offered him pleasure and comfort in a way, but it was empty pleasure, comfort that in fact could never supply the security they all craved.
+ "Fight back" That was all he could think, these days. He thought about mentioning Ibrahim in his speech, but he couldn't, not by name.

-

There were a couple of motions, one on the quality of coffee in the JC, and and to bar members of the royal family from the calefactory, which was defeated. Then Sean read out the next motion. "This JC believes that cannabis users should be imprisoned. Proposed Adam, seconded Albert" "I'm not involved in this motion" said Albert, with a laugh. "Then I call on Adam to propose the motion" said Sean.

+

There were a couple of motions, one on the quality of coffee in the JC, and and to bar members of the royal family from the calefactory, which was defeated. Then Sean read out the next motion.
+ "This JC believes that cannabis users should be imprisoned. Proposed Adam, seconded Albert"
+ "I'm not involved in this motion" said Albert, with a laugh.
+ "Then I call on Adam to propose the motion" said Sean.

-

"Ladies and gentlemen" said Adam, "it seems the only debate you are allowed to have about cannabis is whether it should be legalised or not. Well why should that be the only debate? Why should laws always get more lenient and never stricter? "You will also have heard it said that the drug pushers are the really evil people, and the poor users the innocent ones. Well let's start right there. Who are the drug pushers? Not the sinister man standing at the school gates. Oh no. The drug pushers are the ordinary boys and girls, just like me and you, who try cannabis and offer a bit to their friends. That's who pushes drugs. So this idea of evil pushers and poor, innocent, victimised users, I don't buy it. "The other thing that is often said is 'no victim no crime'. Who is the victim? You could say the victim is the cannabis smoker who wastes his money and his life - notice we're happy to say the users are the victims when we're pretending it's all the fault of the evil drug pushers. But can you make yourself a victim? I'm not sure if you can - I'm open to persuasion on that one. No, there are victims. Who are the victims? Firstly, everyone who has to put up with the stupidity and self-righteousness of cannabis smokers?" There were protests. "Oh yes, how self-righteously they pretend to be superior, peaceful, natural people, because of their drug. This wonderful drug which has the potential to solve all human conflict and many human diseases as well. This wonderful drug which a cruel government is denying to them. And the way that they talk. All the while dropping marks and losing interest in anything that is constructive. Pathetic, I say. Stupidity and self-righteousness rolled into one. "No, cannabis smokers waste their money. Worse, they put money into the hands of criminals. That's where the real victims are. Everyone who suffers as a result of a criminal culture. Broken down estates. Abused children. Gang violence and intimidation. These are the real victims of the pot-heads. Not us, safely in a private school, but poor people, who can't insulate themselves from crime. "Now what you could say is that, if cannabis was legal, there wouldn't be this criminal culture around it. I'd say that, for us, that is a total red herring. There's not one of us, ladies and gentlemen, over eighteen. No-one proposes to make cannabis legal for children. But who smokes it? Teenagers, of course. "But this isn't a debate about legalisation. Let the pot-heads argue that one out in their boring, druggy way. This is about the penalty for cannabis possession. If we give a caution for cannabis use, what message does that send? That we don't really believe in the law. That legalisation is just round the corner and the pot-head is in the vanguard of social change. Well we've got to really mean our laws. And that means imprisoning people because it's the only way they will take the law seriously. It's the only way you will take the law seriously." There were catcalls. "See. Cannabis use is illegal in this country, and the hecklers are openly admitting to taking it. They wouldn't dare if the law were properly enforced. Now how would be jail everyone? I admit it would be difficult at first. So you would ramp up the fines for possession, and jail a few people as an example to the rest. Then as the number of criminals fall, you start jailing every user. There are solutions to these problems. There are too many people ignoring the law, because it is not enforced. That's why I plead for you to pass this motion." Adam sat down. "Any speeches against the motion?" Sean asked, and a forest of hands shot up. "Adam," said a second year, "would you jail us for drinking and smoking? Because that's illegal under 18 too, but everybody does it. Why should cannabis be the exception?" "I think it's insulting to describe users as pot-heads" said Jade, "it's a total misconception that everyone who takes drugs is a sad loser. In fact successful people often take drugs. It helps them cope with the pressures of high-powered positions. Adam is just ignorant and peddling stereotypes. Besides, it's only cannabis we're talking about here, not real drugs like heroin or cocaine. It's called a soft drug because everyone knows it's almost harmless." "Adam has never seen a prison" said an earnest fifth year, "I have. It's a totally corrosive, soul destroying environment. And people get exposed to drugs whilst they are on the inside. It costs many thousands of pounds a year to keep someone in jail, and when they get out they almost always reoffend. We need to keep minor criminals, like cannabis users, out of the custodial system." "Any speeches in support?" asked Sean. "Yes," said a voice from the back, "my brother-in-law, or ex-brother-in-law I should say, is actually in prison as a result of using cannabis, or in a secure mental hospital if truth be know. Cannabis-induced psychosis. It is not harmless. Let no-one tell you that cannabis use is harmless." "That link hasn't been scientifically proven" said someone else, "for every person with cannabis-induced psychosis there is another person who is helped by it. Like people with multiple sclerosis, for example." "I want to say", said Cecilia, "that it is our right to do what we want with our own bodies. Some people smoke, some people drink, some people do lots of exercise and get an adrenaline high, some smoke cannabis. Whatever. That is your right. I'm not having some government say to me that you are going to jail because of what you smoke in the privacy of your own home, or this drug is allowed and this one is banned. That's what you don't seem to have taken on board, Adam. And another thing, no-one is pushing drugs. People take it because they want to, not because someone forces them to do it." "OK, at this stage we normally call on the seconder," said Sean, "but he's decided to play a purely technical role, so I'll hand back to Adam to wrap up." "Ok," said Adam, "we hear this argument a lot. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal, so why not cannabis? I'd say there's a difference, and that's the spiritual baggage that goes with cannabis. Cigarette smokers know they they are addicted to something that will give them cancer. It may have been cool to smoke at first, but that pretty soon wears off. Alcoholics know that they are in the gutter of society. But pot heads? They think they are making a statement. Not just a social statement, not just a political statement. No, ladies and gentlemen, the pot head thinks he is making a religious statement. Because smoking pot gives you the feeling that you are better than everyone else. It's that we've got to break. "Then there's Cecilia's point, that it's your right to do what you want with your own body. Well no it isn't. Self-harmers are even a bigger bunch of losers than cannabis-users" Protests. "Order, order. Adam, please conclude." said Sean. "Self-harmers, and suicides. A suicide is the definition of a loser. These people deserve no sympathy" said Adam, "and nor do cannabis users. They are damaging themselves, and everyone around them, because ultimately they are living a lie. Happiness doesn't come from a herb, only stupidity and self-delusion. So I say we've got to eradicate this scourge from our society. Support this motion, and jail users." There was a round of applause. "Votes for" said Sean. Adam looked round. There was a handful, including Albert. "And against" A massive number of hands went up. "Decisively defeated" said Sean, "now to the next item on our agenda. A petition to allow the use of stereo systems in dormitories."

+

"Ladies and gentlemen" said Adam, "it seems the only debate you are allowed to have about cannabis is whether it should be legalised or not. Well why should that be the only debate? Why should laws always get more lenient and never stricter?
+ "You will also have heard it said that the drug pushers are the really evil people, and the poor users the innocent ones. Well let's start right there. Who are the drug pushers? Not the sinister man standing at the school gates. Oh no. The drug pushers are the ordinary boys and girls, just like me and you, who try cannabis and offer a bit to their friends. That's who pushes drugs. So this idea of evil pushers and poor, innocent, victimised users, I don't buy it.
+ "The other thing that is often said is 'no victim no crime'. Who is the victim? You could say the victim is the cannabis smoker who wastes his money and his life - notice we're happy to say the users are the victims when we're pretending it's all the fault of the evil drug pushers. But can you make yourself a victim? I'm not sure if you can - I'm open to persuasion on that one. No, there are victims. Who are the victims? Firstly, everyone who has to put up with the stupidity and self-righteousness of cannabis smokers?"
+ There were protests.
+ "Oh yes, how self-righteously they pretend to be superior, peaceful, natural people, because of their drug. This wonderful drug which has the potential to solve all human conflict and many human diseases as well. This wonderful drug which a cruel government is denying to them. And the way that they talk. All the while dropping marks and losing interest in anything that is constructive. Pathetic, I say. Stupidity and self-righteousness rolled into one.
+ "No, cannabis smokers waste their money. Worse, they put money into the hands of criminals. That's where the real victims are. Everyone who suffers as a result of a criminal culture. Broken down estates. Abused children. Gang violence and intimidation. These are the real victims of the pot-heads. Not us, safely in a private school, but poor people, who can't insulate themselves from crime.
+ "Now what you could say is that, if cannabis was legal, there wouldn't be this criminal culture around it. I'd say that, for us, that is a total red herring. There's not one of us, ladies and gentlemen, over eighteen. No-one proposes to make cannabis legal for children. But who smokes it? Teenagers, of course.
+ "But this isn't a debate about legalisation. Let the pot-heads argue that one out in their boring, druggy way. This is about the penalty for cannabis possession. If we give a caution for cannabis use, what message does that send? That we don't really believe in the law. That legalisation is just round the corner and the pot-head is in the vanguard of social change. Well we've got to really mean our laws. And that means imprisoning people because it's the only way they will take the law seriously. It's the only way you will take the law seriously."
+ There were catcalls.
+ "See. Cannabis use is illegal in this country, and the hecklers are openly admitting to taking it. They wouldn't dare if the law were properly enforced. Now how would be jail everyone? I admit it would be difficult at first. So you would ramp up the fines for possession, and jail a few people as an example to the rest. Then as the number of criminals fall, you start jailing every user. There are solutions to these problems. There are too many people ignoring the law, because it is not enforced. That's why I plead for you to pass this motion."
+ Adam sat down.
+ "Any speeches against the motion?" Sean asked, and a forest of hands shot up.
+ "Adam," said a second year, "would you jail us for drinking and smoking? Because that's illegal under 18 too, but everybody does it. Why should cannabis be the exception?"
+ "I think it's insulting to describe users as pot-heads" said Jade, "it's a total misconception that everyone who takes drugs is a sad loser. In fact successful people often take drugs. It helps them cope with the pressures of high-powered positions. Adam is just ignorant and peddling stereotypes. Besides, it's only cannabis we're talking about here, not real drugs like heroin or cocaine. It's called a soft drug because everyone knows it's almost harmless."
+ "Adam has never seen a prison" said an earnest fifth year, "I have. It's a totally corrosive, soul destroying environment. And people get exposed to drugs whilst they are on the inside. It costs many thousands of pounds a year to keep someone in jail, and when they get out they almost always reoffend. We need to keep minor criminals, like cannabis users, out of the custodial system."
+ "Any speeches in support?" asked Sean.
+ "Yes," said a voice from the back, "my brother-in-law, or ex-brother-in-law I should say, is actually in prison as a result of using cannabis, or in a secure mental hospital if truth be know. Cannabis-induced psychosis. It is not harmless. Let no-one tell you that cannabis use is harmless."
+ "That link hasn't been scientifically proven" said someone else, "for every person with cannabis-induced psychosis there is another person who is helped by it. Like people with multiple sclerosis, for example."
+ "I want to say", said Cecilia, "that it is our right to do what we want with our own bodies. Some people smoke, some people drink, some people do lots of exercise and get an adrenaline high, some smoke cannabis. Whatever. That is your right. I'm not having some government say to me that you are going to jail because of what you smoke in the privacy of your own home, or this drug is allowed and this one is banned. That's what you don't seem to have taken on board, Adam. And another thing, no-one is pushing drugs. People take it because they want to, not because someone forces them to do it."
+ "OK, at this stage we normally call on the seconder," said Sean, "but he's decided to play a purely technical role, so I'll hand back to Adam to wrap up."
+ "Ok," said Adam, "we hear this argument a lot. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal, so why not cannabis? I'd say there's a difference, and that's the spiritual baggage that goes with cannabis. Cigarette smokers know they they are addicted to something that will give them cancer. It may have been cool to smoke at first, but that pretty soon wears off. Alcoholics know that they are in the gutter of society. But pot heads? They think they are making a statement. Not just a social statement, not just a political statement. No, ladies and gentlemen, the pot head thinks he is making a religious statement. Because smoking pot gives you the feeling that you are better than everyone else. It's that we've got to break.
+ "Then there's Cecilia's point, that it's your right to do what you want with your own body. Well no it isn't. Self-harmers are even a bigger bunch of losers than cannabis-users"
+ Protests.
+ "Order, order. Adam, please conclude." said Sean. "Self-harmers, and suicides. A suicide is the definition of a loser. These people deserve no sympathy" said Adam, "and nor do cannabis users. They are damaging themselves, and everyone around them, because ultimately they are living a lie. Happiness doesn't come from a herb, only stupidity and self-delusion. So I say we've got to eradicate this scourge from our society. Support this motion, and jail users."
+ There was a round of applause.
+ "Votes for" said Sean.
+ Adam looked round. There was a handful, including Albert.
+ "And against"
+ A massive number of hands went up.
+ "Decisively defeated" said Sean, "now to the next item on our agenda. A petition to allow the use of stereo systems in dormitories."

-

"That was an idiotic speech" said Mandy, "why can't he just see that nobody agrees with him." "Actually I thought it was rather good" said Abagail, family loyalty stung. "It wasn't brilliant, just controversial" said short Mary, "there is a difference you know" "As if you'd know" said Abagail. "Adam is a very good debater" said a fifth year, and that settled it.

+

"That was an idiotic speech" said Mandy, "why can't he just see that nobody agrees with him."
+ "Actually I thought it was rather good" said Abagail, family loyalty stung.
+ "It wasn't brilliant, just controversial" said short Mary, "there is a difference you know"
+ "As if you'd know" said Abagail.
+ "Adam is a very good debater" said a fifth year, and that settled it.

diff --git a/docs/StToms/Chapter12.html b/docs/StToms/Chapter12.html index b4de67a..77008c5 100644 --- a/docs/StToms/Chapter12.html +++ b/docs/StToms/Chapter12.html @@ -15,11 +15,80 @@

Chapter 12. In vino veritas

-

"Amy, sweetest?" said Rupert. "Yes, dear Rupert?" They were in the library. Strictly talking was illegal but the rule wasn't rigorously enforced for the senior years. "Can you find out for me who Jade and Olivia are hanging around with?" "Why do you want to know, dearest Rupert?" "Oh, I'm curious about these things. Burning with eagerness to find out the girls' gossip." said Rupert. "Well it's blonde Mary, as the first years call her, and the sidekick Mandy." said Amy. "What do they see in her?" asked Rupert. "Dollar signs" said Amy. "I've got money" said Rupert, mock petulantly. "I know you have sweetest" said Amy, making up to him, "but it's all in the bank of Mummy and Daddy. Only the crumbs for Rupert, until he grows up." "I dare say blonde Mary doesn't have her own chequeing account either" said Rupert, "what do they have that I don't have, for them to be friends with me?" said Rupert. "Oh Rupert, stop it." said Amy, "If you must know, blonde Mary supplies hashish on a pro bono basis, and Mandy is the fall guy in case anything goes wrong." "What are you reading, Amy?" "The 12 Secrets of Highly Effective People", said Amy. "Ovid's Metamorphoses" said Rupert. "In Latin?" "Of course." "Oh look, here's Abbey, my enemy. She should just wait until I'm a prefect next year." said Amy. They fell silent to avoid Abagail overhearing any more of their conversation. "Thanks for supporting me, Albert" said Adam. "Look, I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that you were right all along." said Albert, "What if I got caught like short Mary? What if my parents got to hear about it? They'd be mortified." "Well Fr Abbot seems to have let short Mary get away with it" said Adam. "Maybe if he'd have heard your speech he'd have sent her to jail." said Albert. "Maybe" said Adam, "I think I get too worked up. Good speakers are cool and collected." "Hitler wasn't" said Albert. The two boys laughed. "Back to the archery" said Adam. "We need to get the others on board" said Albert. They set up a target consisting of a plywood board with a bullseye painted on it. The initial results were disappointing. Neither of them could hit the board, let alone the bullseye, from any sort of reasonable distance. "We'll get better with practice" said Albert, "the English archers used to do a hour every Sunday." "Every time the arrow lands, it get blunter" complained Adam. "No problem" said Albert, "just turn them again on the lathe". Eventually Albert got a shot. The arrow smashed through the plywood board, and was fixed halfway through. "Way hey!" said Adam. "That's a powerful arrow" said Albert. "plywood's no good. We need a solid target." With some difficulty he cut the board with a hacksaw and extracted the arrow. "What we really need to know is how far it will go into flesh at a hundred paces." said Albert. "Hush" said Adam, "Br Peter will hear you." "Archery successful boys?" said Br Peter, coming to inspect the damage. "We're just getting the hang of it, Sir" said Albert. "How's the lobster pot?" asked Br Peter. "Finished." said Albert. "Then you should catch a lobster. Though in these parts it's more likely to be a crab." said Br Peter. "I can't Sir" said Albert, "It's a bit embarrassing, with the boat and all that." "Oh, I wouldn't let a little thing like that worry you" said Br Peter, "Everyone will have forgotten that trip by now. Besides, it was my boat that you borrowed." "Your boat?" asked Albert. "I made it, with my own hands" smiled Br Peter, "if you're wondering what we do in the summer holidays, that's what. Fr Abbot uses me as the community general carpenter." "I'm so sorry" said Albert. "At least you brought it back in one piece." said Br Peter, "Get some of the seniors to take you out crabbing. As for these bows, not a bad job, not a bad job at all. It's a lot harder to make a decent bow than it looks." He took the bow from Albert and flexed it. "Should fly nicely. We'll have an archery competition sometimes."

+

"Amy, sweetest?" said Rupert.
+ "Yes, dear Rupert?"
+ They were in the library. Strictly talking was illegal but the rule wasn't rigorously enforced for the senior years.
+ "Can you find out for me who Jade and Olivia are hanging around with?"
+ "Why do you want to know, dearest Rupert?"
+ "Oh, I'm curious about these things. Burning with eagerness to find out the girls' gossip." said Rupert.
+ "Well it's blonde Mary, as the first years call her, and the sidekick Mandy." said Amy.
+ "What do they see in her?" asked Rupert.
+ "Dollar signs" said Amy.
+ "I've got money" said Rupert, mock petulantly.
+ "I know you have sweetest" said Amy, making up to him, "but it's all in the bank of Mummy and Daddy. Only the crumbs for Rupert, until he grows up."
+ "I dare say blonde Mary doesn't have her own chequeing account either" said Rupert, "what do they have that I don't have, for them to be friends with me?" said Rupert.
+ "Oh Rupert, stop it." said Amy, "If you must know, blonde Mary supplies hashish on a pro bono basis, and Mandy is the fall guy in case anything goes wrong."
+ "What are you reading, Amy?"
+ "The 12 Secrets of Highly Effective People", said Amy.
+ "Ovid's Metamorphoses" said Rupert.
+ "In Latin?"
+ "Of course."
+ "Oh look, here's Abbey, my enemy. She should just wait until I'm a prefect next year." said Amy.
+ They fell silent to avoid Abagail overhearing any more of their conversation.
+

+

+ "Thanks for supporting me, Albert" said Adam.
+ "Look, I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that you were right all along." said Albert, "What if I got caught like short Mary? What if my parents got to hear about it? They'd be mortified."
+ "Well Fr Abbot seems to have let short Mary get away with it" said Adam.
+ "Maybe if he'd have heard your speech he'd have sent her to jail." said Albert. "Maybe" said Adam, "I think I get too worked up. Good speakers are cool and collected."
+ "Hitler wasn't" said Albert.
+ The two boys laughed.
+ "Back to the archery" said Adam.
+ "We need to get the others on board" said Albert.
+ They set up a target consisting of a plywood board with a bullseye painted on it. The initial results were disappointing. Neither of them could hit the board, let alone the bullseye, from any sort of reasonable distance.
+ "We'll get better with practice" said Albert, "the English archers used to do a hour every Sunday."
+ "Every time the arrow lands, it get blunter" complained Adam.
+ "No problem" said Albert, "just turn them again on the lathe". Eventually Albert got a shot. The arrow smashed through the plywood board, and was fixed halfway through.
+ "Way hey!" said Adam.
+ "That's a powerful arrow" said Albert. "plywood's no good. We need a solid target."
With some difficulty he cut the board with a hacksaw and extracted the arrow.
+ "What we really need to know is how far it will go into flesh at a hundred paces." said Albert.
+ "Hush" said Adam, "Br Peter will hear you."
+ "Archery successful boys?" said Br Peter, coming to inspect the damage.
+ "We're just getting the hang of it, Sir" said Albert.
+ "How's the lobster pot?" asked Br Peter.
+ "Finished." said Albert.
+ "Then you should catch a lobster. Though in these parts it's more likely to be a crab." said Br Peter.
+ "I can't Sir" said Albert, "It's a bit embarrassing, with the boat and all that."
+ "Oh, I wouldn't let a little thing like that worry you" said Br Peter, "Everyone will have forgotten that trip by now. Besides, it was my boat that you borrowed."
+ "Your boat?" asked Albert.
+ "I made it, with my own hands" smiled Br Peter, "if you're wondering what we do in the summer holidays, that's what. Fr Abbot uses me as the community general carpenter."
+ "I'm so sorry" said Albert.
+ "At least you brought it back in one piece." said Br Peter, "Get some of the seniors to take you out crabbing. As for these bows, not a bad job, not a bad job at all. It's a lot harder to make a decent bow than it looks."
+ He took the bow from Albert and flexed it.
+ "Should fly nicely. We'll have an archery competition sometimes."

-

"If we can get the other first years off the dope" said Adam, after he had left. "Look Adam" said Albert, "I agree with you. But I'm not ready to tell the others yet. Don't expect me to join you, not just yet anyway." Free time was up, and they went back to the school.

+

"If we can get the other first years off the dope" said Adam, after he had left.
+ "Look Adam" said Albert, "I agree with you. But I'm not ready to tell the others yet. Don't expect me to join you, not just yet anyway."
+ Free time was up, and they went back to the school.

-

They were back in Br Jumbo's maths class. "What's a natural logarithm, Sir?" asked James, "see, on my calculator it says log ten and ln. Why do you have two?" "Log to the base ten is because we have ten finger. No other reason" said Br Jumbo. "But what's a natural logarithm, then?" asked James. "You do not need to know this, just the logarithm." said Br Jumbo, "But I will tell you. Natural logarithm is logarithm to the base e." "What does e stand for?" asked Adam. "e for Euler, the man who invented this." said Br Jumbo. James pressed the buttons on his calculator. "2.718281828459045 it's like PI, it goes on forever." he said. "It is irrational" said Br Jumbo. "Like Adam," said Cecilia, "Adam is irrational." Adam flushed. "Let's not have the cheeking" said Br Jumbo. "I know what it is," said Albert. "Natural logarithm is not on the examination" said Br Jumbo, "and is too difficult for you now. We need practise the multiplication and division with normal logarithm." "Oh, go on, Br James" said James. "Very well," said Br Jumbo, "Albert, go to the white board." Albert went to the white board and wrote up

+

They were back in Br Jumbo's maths class.
+ "What's a natural logarithm, Sir?" asked James, "see, on my calculator it says log ten and ln. Why do you have two?"
+ "Log to the base ten is because we have ten finger. No other reason" said Br Jumbo.
+ "But what's a natural logarithm, then?" asked James.
+ "You do not need to know this, just the logarithm." said Br Jumbo, "But I will tell you. Natural logarithm is logarithm to the base e."
+ "What does e stand for?" asked Adam.
+ "e for Euler, the man who invented this." said Br Jumbo.
+ James pressed the buttons on his calculator.
+ "2.718281828459045 it's like PI, it goes on forever." he said.
+ "It is irrational" said Br Jumbo.
+ "Like Adam," said Cecilia, "Adam is irrational."
+ Adam flushed.
+ "Let's not have the cheeking" said Br Jumbo.
+ "I know what it is," said Albert.
+ "Natural logarithm is not on the examination" said Br Jumbo, "and is too difficult for you now. We need practise the multiplication and division with normal logarithm."
+ "Oh, go on, Br James" said James.
+ "Very well," said Br Jumbo, "Albert, go to the white board."
+ Albert went to the white board and wrote up

1 + 1/1! + 1/2! + 1/3! + 1/4! + 1/5! ....

@@ -27,31 +96,201 @@

1/0!

-

"0 factorial is one. 0 times itself 0 times is one, but I do not expect you to understand this. This is the Euler number. Albert knows it. Now if you like we can explain what is the natural logarithm." said Br Jumbo. "This is a bit beyond me" said blonde Mary. "If it is not on the examination, it's a waste of time" said short Mary. "No, I didn't say that, Mary" said blonde Mary, "I said it was beyond me, not a waste of time for the others." "There's more to life than passing exams" said Cecilia. "Much more", said blonde Mary, "you just don't get it, do you, Mary?"

+

"0 factorial is one. 0 times itself 0 times is one, but I do not expect you to understand this. This is the Euler number. Albert knows it. Now if you like we can explain what is the natural logarithm." said Br Jumbo.
+ "This is a bit beyond me" said blonde Mary.
+ "If it is not on the examination, it's a waste of time" said short Mary.
+ "No, I didn't say that, Mary" said blonde Mary, "I said it was beyond me, not a waste of time for the others."
+ "There's more to life than passing exams" said Cecilia.
+ "Much more", said blonde Mary, "you just don't get it, do you, Mary?"

-

Br Jumbo was taken aback by the hostility in blonde Mary's tone. "Mary is right" he said, ambiguously, "we proceed with the multiplication by logarithms exercise. Turn to page 46 in your books." Short Mary sensed that for some reason she was unpopular with the rest of the class, including those with no interest in natural logarithms. Br Jumbo talking on was much more enjoyable than doing multiplications and divisions by logs. There were more for prep. It was a tedious exercise. Even Albert, who could munch through maths problems like a machine, was bored with it.

+

Br Jumbo was taken aback by the hostility in blonde Mary's tone.
+ "Mary is right" he said, ambiguously, "we proceed with the multiplication by logarithms exercise. Turn to page 46 in your books."
+ Short Mary sensed that for some reason she was unpopular with the rest of the class, including those with no interest in natural logarithms. Br Jumbo talking on was much more enjoyable than doing multiplications and divisions by logs. There were more for prep. It was a tedious exercise. Even Albert, who could munch through maths problems like a machine, was bored with it.

-

The next day, at lunchtime, all the children came to the woodwork shed to admire Adam and Albert's new bows. "We can get a range of about 400 feet ", Albert said, "but that's by shooting at 45 degrees. You can't get any accuracy that way. I'd say a hundred feet is reasonable." James gave it a try, and immediately shot an arrow into the centre of the target. "Cool". "You could kill someone with that" said Abagail. "Not allowed to" said Adam, "Br Peter made us promise never to point an arrow at another child, even as a joke. Abbey, you have a go." Abagail strained at the arrow. "The draw strength is too high for her" said Albert. She struggled and shot off an arrow, but it flew wide of the mark. "We'll measure you up" said Albert, "Cecilia?" Cecilia was better, missing the target but not by a long way. "See how far it goes" said Albert. "I'm not Diana the huntress" said blonde Mary, "archery isn't for a girl like me." Mandy also shook her head, following blonde Mary. "Mary?" asked Adam, offering the bow to short Mary. "No." "You don't have to do everything that blonde Mary says" said Abagail, "you're pathetic sometimes, Mary." "Look, I don't want to do it" said short Mary, "is that not OK?" Blonde Mary smiled. Albert hurriedly gave the bow to Sebastian. "St Sebastian my namesake was shot with arrows" he said, "maybe I should be target instead of shooter". However he hit the target. Ibrahim tried last and missed. "Never mind" said Adam, "I can't get it either." "It comes with practice" said Albert, "and I think you might be a bit over-drawn." Rupert meanwhile was checking out Mandy and blonde Mary. With the pretext of talking to Amy he was spending a lot of time in the girls' calefactory. He noticed that the two went up to the dorm together a lot, where of course he could not follow. "They'll keep their stash in the dorm, the idiots" he thought to himself. The question was what to do about it. The next morning, he absented himself from Sexte, and sneaked into the first year girls' dorm. He knew where the drugs would be, somewhere near the toilet. He found them easily enough. "If I just flush these away they'll get new supplies pretty soon" he thought, "and I can't exactly shop them to Fr Abbot. I wonder if Adam will do it for me. He's pretty militantly anti-drug. Shame I managed to fall out with him at the beginning of term." He checked all round the dorm. It was similar to a boys', only more neatly decorated. There was even a vase of flowers, provided by Matron. However it was dangerous to be there. If caught, people could conclude anything. So he left, and rejoined the school after the office, giving the excuse that he'd just gone to the next class by accident, don't know how I could have been so stupid, which Br Bernard accepted.

+

The next day, at lunchtime, all the children came to the woodwork shed to admire Adam and Albert's new bows.
+ "We can get a range of about 400 feet ", Albert said, "but that's by shooting at 45 degrees. You can't get any accuracy that way. I'd say a hundred feet is reasonable."
+ James gave it a try, and immediately shot an arrow into the centre of the target.
+ "Cool".
+ "You could kill someone with that" said Abagail.
+ "Not allowed to" said Adam, "Br Peter made us promise never to point an arrow at another child, even as a joke. Abbey, you have a go."
+ Abagail strained at the arrow.
+ "The draw strength is too high for her" said Albert.
+ She struggled and shot off an arrow, but it flew wide of the mark.
+ "We'll measure you up" said Albert, "Cecilia?"
+ Cecilia was better, missing the target but not by a long way.
+ "See how far it goes" said Albert.
+ "I'm not Diana the huntress" said blonde Mary, "archery isn't for a girl like me."
+ Mandy also shook her head, following blonde Mary.
+ "Mary?" asked Adam, offering the bow to short Mary.
+ "No."
+ "You don't have to do everything that blonde Mary says" said Abagail, "you're pathetic sometimes, Mary."
+ "Look, I don't want to do it" said short Mary, "is that not OK?"
+ Blonde Mary smiled.
+ Albert hurriedly gave the bow to Sebastian.
+ "St Sebastian my namesake was shot with arrows" he said, "maybe I should be target instead of shooter"
+ . However he hit the target. Ibrahim tried last and missed.
+ "Never mind" said Adam, "I can't get it either."
+ "It comes with practice" said Albert, "and I think you might be a bit over-drawn."
+ Rupert meanwhile was checking out Mandy and blonde Mary. With the pretext of talking to Amy he was spending a lot of time in the girls' calefactory. He noticed that the two went up to the dorm together a lot, where of course he could not follow.
+ "They'll keep their stash in the dorm, the idiots" he thought to himself. The question was what to do about it.
+ The next morning, he absented himself from Sexte, and sneaked into the first year girls' dorm. He knew where the drugs would be, somewhere near the toilet. He found them easily enough.
+ "If I just flush these away they'll get new supplies pretty soon" he thought, "and I can't exactly shop them to Fr Abbot. I wonder if Adam will do it for me. He's pretty militantly anti-drug. Shame I managed to fall out with him at the beginning of term."
+ He checked all round the dorm. It was similar to a boys', only more neatly decorated. There was even a vase of flowers, provided by Matron. However it was dangerous to be there. If caught, people could conclude anything. So he left, and rejoined the school after the office, giving the excuse that he'd just gone to the next class by accident, don't know how I could have been so stupid, which Br Bernard accepted.

-

"Adam" Rupert said. "What the hell is it?" said Adam, immediately cautious. "Your speech was good, you're a good debater" said Rupert. "Why thank you" said Adam. "I suppose you deserve to know whose responsible for the drug problem at St Tom's. Well it's your year. Mandy and blonde Mary. They keep the drugs in the cistern of the toilet in their dormitory. Do what you want with this information." "You're not telling me anything new, Rupert" said Adam, not entirely truthfully, "But why not shop them, if you feel so strongly about it?" "Fr Abbot would thank you for it" said Rupert, "think of the wrecked lives you could save." "I'll think about it" said Adam. "If you know about it, and say nothing, you are complicit" said Rupert. "You are complicit then" said Adam. "The difference" said Rupert, "is that I don't agree with you on the evils of cannabis. But I respect you for your position, Adam, I really do. Everyone respects you." However the taboo against sneaking was so strong that even Rupert could not break it down. Eventually he had to admit defeat. It was time for a more drastic plan.

+

"Adam" Rupert said.
+ "What the hell is it?" said Adam, immediately cautious.
+ "Your speech was good, you're a good debater" said Rupert.
+ "Why thank you" said Adam.
+ "I suppose you deserve to know whose responsible for the drug problem at St Tom's. Well it's your year. Mandy and blonde Mary. They keep the drugs in the cistern of the toilet in their dormitory. Do what you want with this information."
+ "You're not telling me anything new, Rupert" said Adam, not entirely truthfully, "But why not shop them, if you feel so strongly about it?"
+ "Fr Abbot would thank you for it" said Rupert, "think of the wrecked lives you could save."
+ "I'll think about it" said Adam.
+ "If you know about it, and say nothing, you are complicit" said Rupert.
+ "You are complicit then" said Adam.
+ "The difference" said Rupert, "is that I don't agree with you on the evils of cannabis. But I respect you for your position, Adam, I really do. Everyone respects you."
+ However the taboo against sneaking was so strong that even Rupert could not break it down. Eventually he had to admit defeat. It was time for a more drastic plan.

-

He waited until the evening, and went to the girl's calefactory to talk to Amy, as usual. This time, however, he brought a plastic bag containing some bottles, which were swaddled with more plastic so it wasn't obvious what they were. In fact they contained whiskey. "Malt, too" he thought to himself, "what a waste." When the news came on television, which bored blonde Mary, she and Mandy went up to the dorm, as they quite often did. Abagail, Cecilia and short Mary were still in the calefactory, short Mary looking very down in the dumps as Cecilia and Abagail chatted. Rupert took his chance, and went up the stairs to the first year dormitory. He deliberately stepped heavily on the staircase. "That was a man" said Mandy, sensitised to such things. "It's a bust," said blonde Mary, "I know it's a bust. Quick, into the toilet." The girls locked themselves in the toilet cubicle. Rupert entered the dormitory. His plan was working perfectly. There was a wooden chair, which he dragged under the door handle of the toilet, where it blocked the handle from going into the down position. The girls were trapped. The toilet flushed as they realised what was happening. Rupert then poured the whiskey all over the chair, and over the carpet. Then he threw on a match, and made his escape.

+

He waited until the evening, and went to the girl's calefactory to talk to Amy, as usual. This time, however, he brought a plastic bag containing some bottles, which were swaddled with more plastic so it wasn't obvious what they were. In fact they contained whiskey.
+ "Malt, too" he thought to himself, "what a waste."
+ When the news came on television, which bored blonde Mary, she and Mandy went up to the dorm, as they quite often did. Abagail, Cecilia and short Mary were still in the calefactory, short Mary looking very down in the dumps as Cecilia and Abagail chatted.
+ Rupert took his chance, and went up the stairs to the first year dormitory. He deliberately stepped heavily on the staircase.
+ "That was a man" said Mandy, sensitised to such things.
+ "It's a bust," said blonde Mary, "I know it's a bust. Quick, into the toilet."
+ The girls locked themselves in the toilet cubicle.
+ Rupert entered the dormitory. His plan was working perfectly.
+ There was a wooden chair, which he dragged under the door handle of the toilet, where it blocked the handle from going into the down position. The girls were trapped. The toilet flushed as they realised what was happening.
+ Rupert then poured the whiskey all over the chair, and over the carpet. Then he threw on a match, and made his escape.

-

The smoke alarm went off almost immediately, and there was general panic. Matron was in a meeting with Fr Abbot at the time, so two minutes were lost. She assumed of course that the alarm had been set off as a prank, so she was annoyed as she assembled the girls in the yard. The boys also had to be counted. It was bad time for a drill, because it wasn't possible to know where everyone was supposed to be. "Mary O Rourke and Mandy Campbell missing" said Matron, "does anyone know if they went to the beach?" Adam caught sight of Rupert's eye. "They're in the dorm" he said, to James. "How do you know?" said James. "I just know" said Adam. "No harm to check" said James, and the two boys scooted off before anyone could stop them. As they arrived, the window to the toilet in the first year girl's dorm was smashed. Glass tinkled to the floor. However it was too small to permit a girl to climb out of it. "You can't get out that way" shouted James, "get to the fire escape." Mandy screamed. "They're trapped" said Adam. "Don't talk, come" said James, and leapt onto the fire escape. Adam followed him. James took his blazer off and smashed in the window leading to the dorm. Acrid smoke billowed out. James put the blazer over the broken shards of glass, and climbed in, landing on Abagails' bed, which fortunately was not yet ablaze. However the next bed was. They couldn't see for the smoke. James went in. Adam tried to follow, but was overcome by the fear of the smoke, and the only half protected glass. "James" he called. James was floundering. He could hardly see anything, and his lungs filled with smoke. However he knew the way to the toilet door. It was only a matter of a yard. "James, Adam, you idiots, come out at once". It was Br Dominic, racing for the fire escape. However he could hear Mandy's screams from the window. He realised at once that his long, flowing Benedictine habit would catch fire, so he had to use precious seconds stripping it off. James saw that there was some kind of burning framework that appeared to be blocking the toilet. He kicked it away with his foot, the plastic sole of his shoe melting slightly as it hit the burning wood. Then he felt in the blinding smoke for the toilet door handle. He found it easily. It was painfully hot. "Is James in there?" Br Dominic was up the fire escape. He had to make an immediate decision. "Adam, hold my hand" He dived into the dormitory, with one hand held by Adam so he could get his way back. "James, take hold of my hand". By now Mandy and blonde Mary were out. The three males formed a human chain, and Mandy and then blonde Mary were passed out, first to James, then to Br Dominic, and were finally received by Adam and dragged to the safety of the fire escape. James was next out, coughing and spluttering, then Br Dominic. At that point a group of prefects and monks, with masks on and armed with fire extinguishers, broke through the door and started tackling the fire. "Are we all safe?" said Br Dominic, "Adam and James, that was so stupid. But the main thing is that everybody is out." "Sorry James" said Adam, "I saw the smoke and I ..." "Never mind" said James, generously, and the two boys were friends again.

+

The smoke alarm went off almost immediately, and there was general panic. Matron was in a meeting with Fr Abbot at the time, so two minutes were lost. She assumed of course that the alarm had been set off as a prank, so she was annoyed as she assembled the girls in the yard. The boys also had to be counted. It was bad time for a drill, because it wasn't possible to know where everyone was supposed to be.
+ "Mary O Rourke and Mandy Campbell missing" said Matron, "does anyone know if they went to the beach?"
+ Adam caught sight of Rupert's eye.
+ "They're in the dorm" he said, to James.
+ "How do you know?" said James.
+ "I just know" said Adam.
+ "No harm to check" said James, and the two boys scooted off before anyone could stop them.
+ As they arrived, the window to the toilet in the first year girl's dorm was smashed. Glass tinkled to the floor. However it was too small to permit a girl to climb out of it.
+ "You can't get out that way" shouted James, "get to the fire escape."
+ Mandy screamed.
+ "They're trapped" said Adam.
+ "Don't talk, come" said James, and leapt onto the fire escape. Adam followed him. James took his blazer off and smashed in the window leading to the dorm. Acrid smoke billowed out. James put the blazer over the broken shards of glass, and climbed in, landing on Abagails' bed, which fortunately was not yet ablaze. However the next bed was. They couldn't see for the smoke. James went in. Adam tried to follow, but was overcome by the fear of the smoke, and the only half protected glass.
+ "James" he called.
+ James was floundering. He could hardly see anything, and his lungs filled with smoke. However he knew the way to the toilet door. It was only a matter of a yard.
+ "James, Adam, you idiots, come out at once".
+ It was Br Dominic, racing for the fire escape. However he could hear Mandy's screams from the window. He realised at once that his long, flowing Benedictine habit would catch fire, so he had to use precious seconds stripping it off.
+ James saw that there was some kind of burning framework that appeared to be blocking the toilet. He kicked it away with his foot, the plastic sole of his shoe melting slightly as it hit the burning wood. Then he felt in the blinding smoke for the toilet door handle. He found it easily. It was painfully hot.
+ "Is James in there?" Br Dominic was up the fire escape. He had to make an immediate decision.
+ "Adam, hold my hand"
+ He dived into the dormitory, with one hand held by Adam so he could get his way back. "James, take hold of my hand".
+ By now Mandy and blonde Mary were out. The three males formed a human chain, and Mandy and then blonde Mary were passed out, first to James, then to Br Dominic, and were finally received by Adam and dragged to the safety of the fire escape. James was next out, coughing and spluttering, then Br Dominic. At that point a group of prefects and monks, with masks on and armed with fire extinguishers, broke through the door and started tackling the fire.
+ "Are we all safe?" said Br Dominic, "Adam and James, that was so stupid. But the main thing is that everybody is out."
+ "Sorry James" said Adam, "I saw the smoke and I ..."
+ "Never mind" said James, generously, and the two boys were friends again.

-

All four were sent to the sick bay, but Adam was discharged within a few minutes. James was the worst affected, his lungs filled with smoke. "He'll never be quite the healthy boy he was before" said the doctor, who came to examine them later, "the lung can't recover from smoke inhalation". “Where does it hurt, James?” asked Adam. “All over my chest” said James, “it feels dry and sore, and every breath is rough, as thought he air had sand in it”. Adam laid hands on him. “You were brave, James”, he said, “you rescued others. Now may the Lord rescue you in your distress.” “Thanks, Adam” said James, “it feels better already.”

+

All four were sent to the sick bay, but Adam was discharged within a few minutes. James was the worst affected, his lungs filled with smoke.
+ "He'll never be quite the healthy boy he was before" said the doctor, who came to examine them later, "the lung can't recover from smoke inhalation".
+ “Where does it hurt, James?” asked Adam.
+ “All over my chest” said James, “it feels dry and sore, and every breath is rough, as thought he air had sand in it”.
+ Adam laid hands on him.
+ “You were brave, James”, he said, “you rescued others. Now may the Lord rescue you in your distress.”
+ “Thanks, Adam” said James, “it feels better already.”

-

After Mass the next morning Fr Abbot publicly thanked Br Dominic for saving four children. James didn't get a mention. "St Tom's prefers live cowards to dead heroes" said Sebastian, "everyone knows that it was you with some help from Adam who saved Mandy and blonde Mary." A huge bunch of flowers for James arrived from blonde Mary's mother, who of course had been told of the incident. There was also a box of very nice chocolates for Adam, so at least they got some recognition. Br Dominic accepted a bottle of finest malt whiskey, which he had to share with the other monks, because all things were held in common. Within a couple of days, James was out.

+

After Mass the next morning Fr Abbot publicly thanked Br Dominic for saving four children. James didn't get a mention.
+ "St Tom's prefers live cowards to dead heroes" said Sebastian, "everyone knows that it was you with some help from Adam who saved Mandy and blonde Mary."
+ A huge bunch of flowers for James arrived from blonde Mary's mother, who of course had been told of the incident. There was also a box of very nice chocolates for Adam, so at least they got some recognition. Br Dominic accepted a bottle of finest malt whiskey, which he had to share with the other monks, because all things were held in common. Within a couple of days, James was out.

-

The girls' dormitory was out of action. Girls were not allowed within the monastery proper. Therefore the boys were moved to a spare cell in the monastery, whilst the girls took over their dormitory, whilst their own was put back into a liveable condition. Fortunately the damage was contained largely to one room. The fire investigator was called, and was distinctly puzzled. He realised that Mandy and blonde Mary were not being straight with him when it came to an account of what had happened, and James seemed highly confused. He concluded that they had been playing with setting light to alcohol, and then for some reason locked themselves in the toilet, which was the report he gave to Fr Abbot. Since there were no fatalities or serious injuries, and damage was minor, the investigation didn't get the priority that in truth it deserved, and the investigator left dissatisfied. "I tried to tell him that the toilet was blocked by a chair" said James, "and he just said a chair wasn't heavy enough." "Well how did it block blonde Mary and Mandy in?" asked Adam, "Why didn't they just go to the fire escape?" "I don't know" said James, "I couldn't see." It was Albert who got the solution. "You put a chair under the handle, and it blocks the handle going down. Result, someone trapped in the toilet." "You mean?" said James. "Then the chair burns away, and no-one realises what you have done." Albert continued. "So it was done deliberately?" said James. "That's about the size of it. But since you kicked the chair away, and you couldn't see it clearly anyway through all the smoke, who's to prove it?" Albert concluded. Adam went away with a sickening feeling in his stomach.

+

The girls' dormitory was out of action. Girls were not allowed within the monastery proper. Therefore the boys were moved to a spare cell in the monastery, whilst the girls took over their dormitory, whilst their own was put back into a liveable condition. Fortunately the damage was contained largely to one room. The fire investigator was called, and was distinctly puzzled. He realised that Mandy and blonde Mary were not being straight with him when it came to an account of what had happened, and James seemed highly confused. He concluded that they had been playing with setting light to alcohol, and then for some reason locked themselves in the toilet, which was the report he gave to Fr Abbot. Since there were no fatalities or serious injuries, and damage was minor, the investigation didn't get the priority that in truth it deserved, and the investigator left dissatisfied.
+ "I tried to tell him that the toilet was blocked by a chair" said James, "and he just said a chair wasn't heavy enough."
+ "Well how did it block blonde Mary and Mandy in?" asked Adam, "Why didn't they just go to the fire escape?"
+ "I don't know" said James, "I couldn't see."
+ It was Albert who got the solution.
+ "You put a chair under the handle, and it blocks the handle going down. Result, someone trapped in the toilet."
+ "You mean?" said James.
+ "Then the chair burns away, and no-one realises what you have done." Albert continued.
+ "So it was done deliberately?" said James.
+ "That's about the size of it. But since you kicked the chair away, and you couldn't see it clearly anyway through all the smoke, who's to prove it?" Albert concluded.
+ Adam went away with a sickening feeling in his stomach.

-

"Rupert is so evil, he's a potential murderer" he said to Abagail. "You hypocrite, Adam" was Abagail's only response.

+

"Rupert is so evil, he's a potential murderer" he said to Abagail.
+ "You hypocrite, Adam" was Abagail's only response.

-

"Get that gas cylinder out of the dorm" Adam told Albert, "who knows what might happen if Rupert tries it again?" "Good point" said Albert, "but how do you know it was Rupert?" "I just know" said Adam. "How do you 'just know'?" "From the way he's been behaving" Adam said, "he tried to get me shop Mandy and blonde Mary to Fr Abbot. All in all he's taking too much interest in them. Then I caught his eye as we all stood in line for the register during the fire. Guilty as hell." "You might be right" said Albert, "but that won't stand up." "I know," said Adam.

+

"Get that gas cylinder out of the dorm" Adam told Albert, "who knows what might happen if Rupert tries it again?"
+ "Good point" said Albert, "but how do you know it was Rupert?"
+ "I just know" said Adam.
+ "How do you 'just know'?"
+ "From the way he's been behaving" Adam said, "he tried to get me shop Mandy and blonde Mary to Fr Abbot. All in all he's taking too much interest in them. Then I caught his eye as we all stood in line for the register during the fire. Guilty as hell."
+ "You might be right" said Albert, "but that won't stand up."
+ "I know," said Adam.

-

Adam had already told Abagail about their stash of wine. Albert removed the gas cylinder and James' knife, but left the bottles. There was nowhere much in the monk's cell to conceal things. It was spartan in the extreme. Five beds were pulled in where there had been only one, and the desk taken out to make room. However as compensation they were allowed the use of another cell adjacent to it, where they put their personal belongings. Albert hid their contraband in a big tin which he put to the back of a chest of drawers. It wasn't ideal but it was reasonably secure. "They won't know whether it is ours or theirs" he said. The washing facilities were down the corridor. The monks' shower, Adam noted, was quite a bit warmer than the one they had been using. Monks had some privileges. The worst was they had to get up earlier, for Prime. If you had a cell in the monastery, you said Prime, no exception was made for them. It was tiring, and they found themselves going to bed immediately after Compline. There was no reporting to Br Dominic. "We're monks now" said Adam. "I couldn't live like this" said James, "not week in, week out, for all my life. I need my bedroom with its warm duvet, and the model aeroplanes hanging from the ceiling, and a glass of milk when I want it." "Homesick?" asked Adam. "Kind of" admitted James. "You've left it a bit late, haven't you? Not long to go now." said Adam. Another nice thing about the monastery proper was the library. This wasn't a room. Books were lined along the corridor to the chapel. There was a section titled "useful arts" which included volumes on beekeeping. Then there were lives of saints, theology, moral philosophy, history sacred and profane, books in Hebrew and books in Latin, a book, on its own desk and secured by a chain, which was handwritten in some indecipherable script. "Who would have thought that there could be so many books, on subjects so abstruse?" thought Adam. With the exception of the handwritten book, you could just take them back to the cell. Adam found a tome on St Teresa of Avila, and read it through. Sebastian tried a biography of GK Chesterton. James took down a thick volume of "The theology of love" and amused the others by reading bits out. Nothing was forbidden to them, and they could spend as long as they wanted there, talking in almost complete privacy. No other pupils came in, though occasionally they saw a wandering monk, deep in his dusty books, browsing the titles for the piece of information wanted. "I would take forever to read through this lot" said Adam. Albert had found a book on brewing beer. "I wonder" he said, "could we set up a secret brewery?" "It's something to think about" said Adam, "Our wine has gone to the ladies."

+

Adam had already told Abagail about their stash of wine. Albert removed the gas cylinder and James' knife, but left the bottles. There was nowhere much in the monk's cell to conceal things. It was spartan in the extreme. Five beds were pulled in where there had been only one, and the desk taken out to make room. However as compensation they were allowed the use of another cell adjacent to it, where they put their personal belongings. Albert hid their contraband in a big tin which he put to the back of a chest of drawers. It wasn't ideal but it was reasonably secure.
+ "They won't know whether it is ours or theirs" he said. The washing facilities were down the corridor. The monks' shower, Adam noted, was quite a bit warmer than the one they had been using. Monks had some privileges.
+ The worst was they had to get up earlier, for Prime. If you had a cell in the monastery, you said Prime, no exception was made for them. It was tiring, and they found themselves going to bed immediately after Compline.
+ There was no reporting to Br Dominic.
+ "We're monks now" said Adam.
+ "I couldn't live like this" said James, "not week in, week out, for all my life. I need my bedroom with its warm duvet, and the model aeroplanes hanging from the ceiling, and a glass of milk when I want it."
+ "Homesick?" asked Adam.
+ "Kind of" admitted James.
+ "You've left it a bit late, haven't you? Not long to go now." said Adam. Another nice thing about the monastery proper was the library. This wasn't a room. Books were lined along the corridor to the chapel. There was a section titled "useful arts" which included volumes on beekeeping. Then there were lives of saints, theology, moral philosophy, history sacred and profane, books in Hebrew and books in Latin, a book, on its own desk and secured by a chain, which was handwritten in some indecipherable script.
+ "Who would have thought that there could be so many books, on subjects so abstruse?" thought Adam. With the exception of the handwritten book, you could just take them back to the cell. Adam found a tome on St Teresa of Avila, and read it through. Sebastian tried a biography of GK Chesterton. James took down a thick volume of "The theology of love" and amused the others by reading bits out. Nothing was forbidden to them, and they could spend as long as they wanted there, talking in almost complete privacy. No other pupils came in, though occasionally they saw a wandering monk, deep in his dusty books, browsing the titles for the piece of information wanted.
+ "I would take forever to read through this lot" said Adam.
+ Albert had found a book on brewing beer.
+ "I wonder" he said, "could we set up a secret brewery?"
+ "It's something to think about" said Adam, "Our wine has gone to the ladies."

-

Adam had told Abagail about the secret compartment under the carpet, and the stash of wine, long before the fire. Pretty much the first thing the girls did on settling in was to roll the carpet back and uncover it. "The rotters" said Cecilia, "they had all this lot, and they never shared. There are tons of bottles in here. Where did they get them from?" "Smuggled out of the kitchen" said Abagail. "You're right, Cecilia. Let's have a party." Abagail set an alarm for two O'Clock in the morning, and placed the watch under her pillow. She wondered whether or not to wake short Mary, but in the end decided to include her. All girls were swiftly awake, a torch was lit, and they sat on the floor of the dorm in nightdresses and pajamas. "I've still got some dope" said Cecilia, "but only enough for one joint." "Not in the dorm" said blonde Mary, "too risky." "I'm getting a new stash tomorrow" said Mandy. "We can do without dope" said Abagail, "wine should be enough." She unscrewed the bottle. "Here's to our hero, James." "To James" said the girls, and clinked toothbrush beakers. "This is nice" said blonde Mary, "is it communion wine?" "No" said Abagail, "it was meant for our parents." "My Mum used to drink it mixed with Coca-Cola" said Mandy, "said it made in drinkable." "I've never heard of that." said Cecilia. "It's what you do with three pound plonk" said short Mary, "the winos do it because even they can't drink it straight." Mandy winced. "Have more" said Cecilia, and poured large measures, opening another bottle when the first ran out. "You know, Cecilia, I like you so much" said Mandy. "Funny way of showing it" said short Mary. "Oh, that was all ages ago" said Cecilia, "I thought we were friends now. Mary, stop stirring things." "No one has liked me so much as when I came here." said Mandy. "You've really found your feet" said Abagail. "We love you, don't we Mandy?" said blonde Mary. "James obviously thinks you're worth saving" said Abagail, "and Mary too." "And Adam" said Cecilia, "he was in there as well." "Adam sneaked on me to Fr Abbot" said short Mary. "No he did not" said Abagail, "you brought that on yourself." "Everyone was smoking, but only I got caught. It must have been a sneak." said short Mary. "So why would Adam do that, I wonder?" said blonde Mary, "why sneak on you out of all the other girls?" "Because" said short Mary. "Because you're a stuck up and priggish cow" said Mandy. "Mandy!" said Abagail, "besides, he didn't." "How do you know he didn't?" asked Mandy. "My brother doesn't do things like that." said Abagail, "The fact is" said short Mary, "someone got me into trouble. And if it wasn't Adam, who was it?" "It was all of us" said blonde Mary, "all of us girls, anyway. We're fed up of you, and we thought it was time to teach you a lesson. The boys think that too." "I was wondering whether to wake you or leave you out" said Abagail, "and I decided to wake you, Mary. I made a mistake. You just spoil things, and you're spoiling things now." Tears began to sting at short Mary's eyes. "Cry-baby" said Abagail. "Just like Adam." said short Mary. Furiously Abagail punched her and slapped her two or three times round the face. Mandy and blonde Mary smiled. "Your turn now, if you want to" said blonde Mary to Mandy. Mandy raised her hand, and short Mary cowered back in fear. Tears of physical hurt and humiliation streaked her face. "Oh my God" said Cecilia, "Mandy, you can't hit people and get away with it. You just can't." "Then make that bitch apologise for everything she has done over the last ten weeks" said Mandy. "Let's have more wine and think it over" said blonde Mary, "this is turning into a swell party." Cecilia refilled all the glasses, including short Mary's. "Class is a real grief because of you" she said to short Mary, "Mary is embarrassed because you show her up about her mother, or about not being good at maths. Mandy you are always picking on. Every joke of Abagail's you manage to spoil. Then the boys. Haven't you picked up that Adam, Albert and James are actually interested in the subjects? But every time they manage to get something interesting going you come along and derail it?" "Who are you to judge?" said short Mary. "It's not just what Cecilia thinks. It's what we all think." said Abagail. "Now you just cry if you want and you keep on crying. And we'll let you cry until you cry yourself out. There's no Mummy here to protect you. No one cares anything about your parents, in case you haven't noticed." "Just drink more, and stop caring about yourself so much" said Cecilia. "Swallow that." Short Mary obeyed. "Now drink this" and she poured short Mary another glass. "I feel sick" said short Mary, and made for the toilet. Indeed, she had drunk too much, and violently vomited. "Peace" said Cecilia, "just finish this bottle off, and we'll all go back to bed." So that's what they did.

+

Adam had told Abagail about the secret compartment under the carpet, and the stash of wine, long before the fire. Pretty much the first thing the girls did on settling in was to roll the carpet back and uncover it.
+ "The rotters" said Cecilia, "they had all this lot, and they never shared. There are tons of bottles in here. Where did they get them from?"
+ "Smuggled out of the kitchen" said Abagail. "You're right, Cecilia. Let's have a party."
+ Abagail set an alarm for two O'Clock in the morning, and placed the watch under her pillow. She wondered whether or not to wake short Mary, but in the end decided to include her. All girls were swiftly awake, a torch was lit, and they sat on the floor of the dorm in nightdresses and pajamas.
+ "I've still got some dope" said Cecilia, "but only enough for one joint."
+ "Not in the dorm" said blonde Mary, "too risky."
+ "I'm getting a new stash tomorrow" said Mandy.
+ "We can do without dope" said Abagail, "wine should be enough." She unscrewed the bottle. "Here's to our hero, James."
+ "To James" said the girls, and clinked toothbrush beakers.
+ "This is nice" said blonde Mary, "is it communion wine?"
+ "No" said Abagail, "it was meant for our parents."
+ "My Mum used to drink it mixed with Coca-Cola" said Mandy, "said it made in drinkable."
+ "I've never heard of that." said Cecilia.
+ "It's what you do with three pound plonk" said short Mary, "the winos do it because even they can't drink it straight."
+ Mandy winced.
+ "Have more" said Cecilia, and poured large measures, opening another bottle when the first ran out. "You know, Cecilia, I like you so much" said Mandy.
+ "Funny way of showing it" said short Mary.
+ "Oh, that was all ages ago" said Cecilia, "I thought we were friends now. Mary, stop stirring things."
+ "No one has liked me so much as when I came here." said Mandy.
+ "You've really found your feet" said Abagail.
+ "We love you, don't we Mandy?" said blonde Mary.
+ "James obviously thinks you're worth saving" said Abagail, "and Mary too."
+ "And Adam" said Cecilia, "he was in there as well."
+ "Adam sneaked on me to Fr Abbot" said short Mary.
+ "No he did not" said Abagail, "you brought that on yourself."
+ "Everyone was smoking, but only I got caught. It must have been a sneak." said short Mary.
+ "So why would Adam do that, I wonder?" said blonde Mary, "why sneak on you out of all the other girls?"
+ "Because" said short Mary.
+ "Because you're a stuck up and priggish cow" said Mandy.
+ "Mandy!" said Abagail, "besides, he didn't."
+ "How do you know he didn't?" asked Mandy.
+ "My brother doesn't do things like that." said Abagail,
+ "The fact is" said short Mary, "someone got me into trouble. And if it wasn't Adam, who was it?"
+ "It was all of us" said blonde Mary, "all of us girls, anyway. We're fed up of you, and we thought it was time to teach you a lesson. The boys think that too."
+ "I was wondering whether to wake you or leave you out" said Abagail, "and I decided to wake you, Mary. I made a mistake. You just spoil things, and you're spoiling things now."
+ Tears began to sting at short Mary's eyes.
+ "Cry-baby" said Abagail.
+ "Just like Adam." said short Mary.
+ Furiously Abagail punched her and slapped her two or three times round the face. Mandy and blonde Mary smiled.
+ "Your turn now, if you want to" said blonde Mary to Mandy.
+ Mandy raised her hand, and short Mary cowered back in fear. Tears of physical hurt and humiliation streaked her face.
+ "Oh my God" said Cecilia, "Mandy, you can't hit people and get away with it. You just can't."
+ "Then make that bitch apologise for everything she has done over the last ten weeks" said Mandy.
+ "Let's have more wine and think it over" said blonde Mary, "this is turning into a swell party."
+ Cecilia refilled all the glasses, including short Mary's.
+ "Class is a real grief because of you" she said to short Mary, "Mary is embarrassed because you show her up about her mother, or about not being good at maths. Mandy you are always picking on. Every joke of Abagail's you manage to spoil. Then the boys. Haven't you picked up that Adam, Albert and James are actually interested in the subjects? But every time they manage to get something interesting going you come along and derail it?"
+ "Who are you to judge?" said short Mary.
+ "It's not just what Cecilia thinks. It's what we all think." said Abagail. "Now you just cry if you want and you keep on crying. And we'll let you cry until you cry yourself out. There's no Mummy here to protect you. No one cares anything about your parents, in case you haven't noticed."
+ "Just drink more, and stop caring about yourself so much" said Cecilia.
+ "Swallow that."
+ Short Mary obeyed.
+ "Now drink this" and she poured short Mary another glass.
+ "I feel sick" said short Mary, and made for the toilet. Indeed, she had drunk too much, and violently vomited.
+ "Peace" said Cecilia, "just finish this bottle off, and we'll all go back to bed."
+ So that's what they did.

diff --git a/docs/StToms/Chapter13.html b/docs/StToms/Chapter13.html index cf0e147..d8f5a2c 100644 --- a/docs/StToms/Chapter13.html +++ b/docs/StToms/Chapter13.html @@ -15,25 +15,218 @@

Chapter 13. Busted

-

"Some of you boys have been asking about natural logarithms?" said Br Kieran, "in which case I can advance an exercise we first intended to hold in summer. It's a real fun exercise, with a trip out." The class was all agog. "The question is, what is better, broadleaf forest or introduced conifers." "Broadleaf" said Cecilia. "You say that instantly" said Br Kieran, "so give us the spiel." "Broadleaf forest is the native woodland type to the British Isles, and supports a greater variety of animal and insect life than non-native conifers, which are planted for their commercial timber value." "So what do we do in science?" said Br Kieran, "test hypotheses. And you've got a hypothesis there. So instead of just reading about it, we're going to test it. Now how would we do that?" "Go to the wood and count the insects" said Adam. "Exactly" said Br Kieran, "and that's what we're going to do. We'll set down insect traps in the broadleafed forest and in the conifer plantation, and see whether we catch a greater variety of insects. Now suppose the results come back like this." he wrote on the whiteboard.

+

"Some of you boys have been asking about natural logarithms?" said Br Kieran, "in which case I can advance an exercise we first intended to hold in summer. It's a real fun exercise, with a trip out."
+ The class was all agog
. + "The question is, what is better, broadleaf forest or introduced conifers."
+ "Broadleaf" said Cecilia.
+ "You say that instantly" said Br Kieran, "so give us the spiel."
+ "Broadleaf forest is the native woodland type to the British Isles, and supports a greater variety of animal and insect life than non-native conifers, which are planted for their commercial timber value."
+ "So what do we do in science?" said Br Kieran, "test hypotheses. And you've got a hypothesis there. So instead of just reading about it, we're going to test it. Now how would we do that?"
+ "Go to the wood and count the insects" said Adam.
+ "Exactly" said Br Kieran, "and that's what we're going to do. We'll set down insect traps in the broadleafed forest and in the conifer plantation, and see whether we catch a greater variety of insects. Now suppose the results come back like this." he wrote on the whiteboard.

-

Broadleaf Conifer Greenfly 80 190 Bluebottles 50 3 Moths 40 1 Butterflies 30 1 Ladybirds 0 1 Ground beetles 0 1 Spiders 0 1 Midges 0 1 Little flies 0 1

+

Broadleaf Conifer
+ Greenfly 80 190
+ Bluebottles 50 3
+ Moths 40 1
+ Butterflies 30 1
+ Ladybirds 0 1
+ Ground beetles 0 1
+ Spiders 0 1
+ Midges 0 1
+ Little flies 0 1

-

"Which of those is more diverse?" "The conifer" said Cecilia, "because it's got more species in it." "The broadleaf" said Abagail, "because it's more balanced." "That doesn't matter" said Cecilia. "Does", said Abagail, "can't you see that your conifer forest effectively supports only greenfly?" "It's got a ladybird. Yours doesn't have any ladybirds at all." said Cecilia. "Well personally I prefer butterflies" said Abagail, "and you've only got one as opposed to thirty." "Maybe they're the same?" said blonde Mary. "We need a metric" said Albert. "Exactly" said Br Kieran, "we need a metric. And what we are going to use is the Shannon biodiversity index. The idea is to balance richness with number of species. And the way we do it is this." He wrote a big number like a capital E on the board. "Anyone know what that symbol means?" No-one did. "It means sum. And what do is we first divide through each count by the total number of insects, to get a number in the range 0 to 1. Call that p for each species. Then we multiply by the natural logarithm of p. All the numbers are in the range 0 to 1, so the logarithms are negative. But we invert the sign. The logarithm of one is zero, so if you have only one species in your set, the Shannon index is zero. The logarithm of zero is minus infinity, so if you have a huge number of species the logarithms go very high. However this is corrected because the number of observations, p, is very small. So the index balances evenness with numbers of species." "So all we need is to calculate the Shannon index for the two examples shown, and we will see whether Cecilia or Abbey is right." James was right to it with his calculator. "1.39 versus 0.266" he said, "so Abbey was right." There was a bit of a cheer. "So, we're going to do this in late autumn, instead of summer, and there'll be fewer insects about. And in fact it is interesting for me as well, because I already know what the answer is for summer. We go to the forest, and split into two groups, one for the conifers and one from the broadleaf wood. Then we set down insect traps, leave them for as long as possible, and come back and collect them at dusk. The we take the insects back to the lab, assign them to species, which is the hard part, and calculate the Shannon index for the two types. Sound good?" Everyone agree that it was a good idea. "We'll have two prefects to help. During the spare time between setting the traps and collecting them they'll take you on a nature trail round the forest."

+

"Which of those is more diverse?"
+ "The conifer" said Cecilia, "because it's got more species in it."
+ "The broadleaf" said Abagail, "because it's more balanced."
+ "That doesn't matter" said Cecilia.
+ "Does", said Abagail, "can't you see that your conifer forest effectively supports only greenfly?"
+ "It's got a ladybird. Yours doesn't have any ladybirds at all." said Cecilia.
+ "Well personally I prefer butterflies" said Abagail, "and you've only got one as opposed to thirty."
+ "Maybe they're the same?" said blonde Mary.
+ "We need a metric" said Albert.
+ "Exactly" said Br Kieran, "we need a metric. And what we are going to use is the Shannon biodiversity index. The idea is to balance richness with number of species. And the way we do it is this." He wrote a big number like a capital E on the board. "Anyone know what that symbol means?"
+ No-one did.
+ "It means sum. And what do is we first divide through each count by the total number of insects, to get a number in the range 0 to 1. Call that p for each species. Then we multiply by the natural logarithm of p. All the numbers are in the range 0 to 1, so the logarithms are negative. But we invert the sign. The logarithm of one is zero, so if you have only one species in your set, the Shannon index is zero. The logarithm of zero is minus infinity, so if you have a huge number of species the logarithms go very high. However this is corrected because the number of observations, p, is very small. So the index balances evenness with numbers of species."
+ "So all we need is to calculate the Shannon index for the two examples shown, and we will see whether Cecilia or Abbey is right."
+ James was right to it with his calculator.
+ "1.39 versus 0.266" he said, "so Abbey was right."
+ There was a bit of a cheer.
+ "So, we're going to do this in late autumn, instead of summer, and there'll be fewer insects about. And in fact it is interesting for me as well, because I already know what the answer is for summer. We go to the forest, and split into two groups, one for the conifers and one from the broadleaf wood. Then we set down insect traps, leave them for as long as possible, and come back and collect them at dusk. The we take the insects back to the lab, assign them to species, which is the hard part, and calculate the Shannon index for the two types. Sound good?"
+ Everyone agree that it was a good idea.
+ "We'll have two prefects to help. During the spare time between setting the traps and collecting them they'll take you on a nature trail round the forest."

-

"This is our chance" said Adam to Abagail, "we can go into the forest, and hunt a deer. We've just got to think of a way of losing those prefects." "What will you catch the deer with?" asked Abagail. "The bows, silly, why did you think we made them?" said Adam. "Duh" said Abagail, "then blonde Mary, short Mary and Mandy are ruled out. Good riddance, I would say." "Oh, no" said Adam, "I want everyone cut in on this." "You don't know how bad things are" said Abagail, "honestly, Cecilia is the only one I'd trust an inch." "Because of the drugs?" said Adam. "Yes Adam, partly because of the drugs. But not only that. It's just silly. Put five girls with totally incompatible personalities into a dorm together and is it any surprise that they fight. Short Mary is getting on my nerves with her spitefulness, and blonde Mary and Mandy ..." "I know," said Adam, "sell drugs. Which is why Rupert tried to burn them to death. And he'd burn you to death, as well, if you crossed him. Abbey, I don't want you mixed up in this." "Well I'm not sure about that" said Abagail, "Adam, we've had this discussion so many times. And I've had to defend you. Short Mary thought you went to Fr Abbot about her." "Surely she realises it was Br Bernard who caught her?" said Adam. "She just doesn't see sense." said Abagail, "As I said, it's dire in our dorm." "Mandy gets the drugs from a boat that calls in at the old jetty, doesn't she?" said Adam. "I'm not sure about that" said Abagail, "she seemed to know when she would get some, though?" "When?" asked Adam. "Tomorrow" said Abagail, "at least she said that yesterday, if three O'Clock in the morning is yesterday. So I guess she means today." "Look" said Adam, "I might have to go to Fr Abbot about this. But I will not sneak. I will tell everybody what I am doing, and why." "Everyone will hate you, Adam" said Abagail. "No" said Adam, "you won't, and Albert won't. Sebastian won't if he personally isn't shopped. Cecilia doesn't hate anyone. No-one whose opinion matters will hate me, only the idiots. But I'm not decided what to do yet. Incidentally, did you like the wine?" "Oh yes," said Abagail, "most revealing." "OK, so it's agreed. Deer hunt during our trip to count insects. If it's OK to trap a midge then it's OK to trap a deer. They're all biodiversity. And everyone in." said Adam. "If they're not expelled by the time you're finished" said Abagail.

+

"This is our chance" said Adam to Abagail, "we can go into the forest, and hunt a deer. We've just got to think of a way of losing those prefects."
+ "What will you catch the deer with?" asked Abagail.
+ "The bows, silly, why did you think we made them?" said Adam.
+ "Duh" said Abagail, "then blonde Mary, short Mary and Mandy are ruled out. Good riddance, I would say."
+ "Oh, no" said Adam, "I want everyone cut in on this."
+ "You don't know how bad things are" said Abagail, "honestly, Cecilia is the only one I'd trust an inch."
+ "Because of the drugs?" said Adam.
+ "Yes Adam, partly because of the drugs. But not only that. It's just silly. Put five girls with totally incompatible personalities into a dorm together and is it any surprise that they fight. Short Mary is getting on my nerves with her spitefulness, and blonde Mary and Mandy ..."
+ "I know," said Adam, "sell drugs. Which is why Rupert tried to burn them to death. And he'd burn you to death, as well, if you crossed him. Abbey, I don't want you mixed up in this."
+ "Well I'm not sure about that" said Abagail, "Adam, we've had this discussion so many times. And I've had to defend you. Short Mary thought you went to Fr Abbot about her."
+ "Surely she realises it was Br Bernard who caught her?" said Adam.
+ "She just doesn't see sense." said Abagail, "As I said, it's dire in our dorm."
+ "Mandy gets the drugs from a boat that calls in at the old jetty, doesn't she?" said Adam.
+ "I'm not sure about that" said Abagail, "she seemed to know when she would get some, though?"
+ "When?" asked Adam.
+ "Tomorrow" said Abagail, "at least she said that yesterday, if three O'Clock in the morning is yesterday. So I guess she means today."
+ "Look" said Adam, "I might have to go to Fr Abbot about this. But I will not sneak. I will tell everybody what I am doing, and why."
+ "Everyone will hate you, Adam" said Abagail.
+ "No" said Adam, "you won't, and Albert won't. Sebastian won't if he personally isn't shopped. Cecilia doesn't hate anyone. No-one whose opinion matters will hate me, only the idiots. But I'm not decided what to do yet. Incidentally, did you like the wine?"
+ "Oh yes," said Abagail, "most revealing."
+ "OK, so it's agreed. Deer hunt during our trip to count insects. If it's OK to trap a midge then it's OK to trap a deer. They're all biodiversity. And everyone in." said Adam.
+ "If they're not expelled by the time you're finished" said Abagail.

-

Adam spent the evening watching the sea for lights. He knew the smuggler's vessel the instant he saw it. He ran to get Albert. "Mandy's boat is coming with a supply of drugs" he said, "we've got to intercept it." "Intercept a drug smuggler?" said Albert. "No, you dope" said Adam, "intercept Mandy, when she comes back with the drugs. Then we can get rid of them." "She's vicious, you know" said Albert, "remember what she did to Cecilia." "That's why I need you. There are two of us." "Why not hold her up with the bows?" asked Albert. "A promise is a promise" said Adam, "but I agree, we need overwhelming force." He went to the utility cell, opened the tin in the chest of drawers, and took out James' knife. He hid it in the sleeve of his blazer. "That should do." Albert nodded. The two boys grabbed torches and ran off. "Careful with the torches" said Adam, "they can see them from the sea. Always point the light towards land. And make sure we don't bump into Mandy." They made their way to the place where Adam had previously seen Mandy make rendezvous with the boat, and waited. They didn't have long to wait before the boat started flashing. "That's the signal to Mandy" said Adam. "Are you sure this is safe?" asked Albert, in a whisper, although there was no chance of him being overheard. "As safe as can be" said Adam, "if we see any smugglers with Mandy, we just stay hidden. But there won't be."

+

Adam spent the evening watching the sea for lights. He knew the smuggler's vessel the instant he saw it. He ran to get Albert.
+ "Mandy's boat is coming with a supply of drugs" he said, "we've got to intercept it."
+ "Intercept a drug smuggler?" said Albert.
+ "No, you dope" said Adam, "intercept Mandy, when she comes back with the drugs. Then we can get rid of them."
+ "She's vicious, you know" said Albert, "remember what she did to Cecilia."
+ "That's why I need you. There are two of us."
+ "Why not hold her up with the bows?" asked Albert. "A promise is a promise" said Adam, "but I agree, we need overwhelming force." He went to the utility cell, opened the tin in the chest of drawers, and took out James' knife. He hid it in the sleeve of his blazer. "That should do."
+ Albert nodded.
+ The two boys grabbed torches and ran off.
+ "Careful with the torches" said Adam, "they can see them from the sea. Always point the light towards land. And make sure we don't bump into Mandy."
+ They made their way to the place where Adam had previously seen Mandy make rendezvous with the boat, and waited. They didn't have long to wait before the boat started flashing.
+ "That's the signal to Mandy" said Adam. "Are you sure this is safe?" asked Albert, in a whisper, although there was no chance of him being overheard.
+ "As safe as can be" said Adam, "if we see any smugglers with Mandy, we just stay hidden. But there won't be."

-

Mandy flashed her torch to give the signal, and the boat flashed back. She went along the old jetty, and waited for it to draw in. Chris, Lionel, and Mike were there. Chris hugged her. "Good to see you, Mandy" he said, "How are you doing?" "Fine" said Mandy. "Your mother is happy" said Chris, "I keep sending her supplies. I've got another letter out for you. You're doing her proud. Anyway, I need three hundred pounds." "I've only got two hundred" said Mandy. Chris's eyes narrowed, "And why?" "There was a fire at the boarding house, and the stash got burned" Mandy half lied. "I'll handle this" said Mike. "The drugs were burnt in the fire" said Mandy, "it was real. You can read about it on the Internet. So I can only take 200 worth this time. That's alright, isn't it?" "We need to keep the business going" said Mike, "I appreciate that sometimes accidents happen and stock has to be sacrificed. So what we'll do, Mandy, is we'll take the two hundred, and lend you a hundred pounds. But I don't want to hear of this again. If you mess up again, Mandy, I'll get Lionel to give you a good beating." Mandy looked at Lionel, and shuddered. "But that won't happen, because you're a good girl" said Mike, "Now onto nicer subjects. We've got a new line." He drew a wrap from his pocket, and unwrapped it slightly, to reveal a white powder. "That is cocaine. All the best, most successful people are on it. Except present company, of course. Don't take this yourself, Mandy. The nice thing about it is that it costs ten pounds a wrap, like cannabis, but a wrap is only one line. So it's a rich kid's habit." "OK, that's all wrapped up" said Chris, "love you and leave you, and take care." They hugged, and the boat cast away.

+

Mandy flashed her torch to give the signal, and the boat flashed back. She went along the old jetty, and waited for it to draw in. Chris, Lionel, and Mike were there.
+ Chris hugged her. "Good to see you, Mandy" he said, "How are you doing?"
+ "Fine" said Mandy.
+ "Your mother is happy" said Chris, "I keep sending her supplies. I've got another letter out for you. You're doing her proud. Anyway, I need three hundred pounds."
+ "I've only got two hundred" said Mandy.
+ Chris's eyes narrowed, "And why?"
+ "There was a fire at the boarding house, and the stash got burned" Mandy half lied.
+ "I'll handle this" said Mike.
+ "The drugs were burnt in the fire" said Mandy, "it was real. You can read about it on the Internet. So I can only take 200 worth this time. That's alright, isn't it?"
+ "We need to keep the business going" said Mike, "I appreciate that sometimes accidents happen and stock has to be sacrificed. So what we'll do, Mandy, is we'll take the two hundred, and lend you a hundred pounds. But I don't want to hear of this again. If you mess up again, Mandy, I'll get Lionel to give you a good beating."
+ Mandy looked at Lionel, and shuddered.
+ "But that won't happen, because you're a good girl" said Mike, "Now onto nicer subjects. We've got a new line." He drew a wrap from his pocket, and unwrapped it slightly, to reveal a white powder. "That is cocaine. All the best, most successful people are on it. Except present company, of course. Don't take this yourself, Mandy. The nice thing about it is that it costs ten pounds a wrap, like cannabis, but a wrap is only one line. So it's a rich kid's habit."
+ "OK, that's all wrapped up" said Chris, "love you and leave you, and take care."
+ They hugged, and the boat cast away.

-

Adam saw with satisfaction the big light and the tiny light parting at approximately equal speeds. It meant that Mandy was on her own. They moved to nearer the path, and Adam and Albert waited, crouched behind a gorse bush. They saw the tinkling light of Mandy's torch. "Now" said Adam, and they jumped her. "Leave me alone" said Mandy, startled. Albert grabbed her from the front, whilst Adam grabbed her from behind. He took James' knife out and pressed it to her skin. "If you fight back I will rip your throat out, and I mean that Mandy" he said. Mandy knew that the game was up. "Take her coat off and search it" said Adam. Albert rummaged through Mandy's coat in torchlight, and soon located a plastic bag full of foil wraps. "So what are these, Miss Campbell?" demanded Adam. Mandy turned white. "Chuck them into the sea" ordered Adam, and Albert complied, scattering the foil wraps over a high rock that overlooked the dark and swelling ocean. The drugs disappeared, irretrievable. "Adam, I", they could let Mandy go now, "they weren't mine, they were borrowed. They will kill me for this." "That's already nearly happened once" said Adam, "Who do you think set fire to your room? You'd have died in that fire if James didn't have more courage than I'll ever have." Mandy began to cry, pouring her heart out, and all her troubles since her father walked out on her mother when she was a baby. "Mandy" said Adam, "this is your responsibility. I've got to go to Fr Abbot. Do you understand that? This is too serious for considerations of sneaking to apply." Compline was already taking place when they returned to the monastery. "OK, go to Fr Abbot" said Mandy, "let me go to the dorm, to cry some more." "I think we've got to do it" said Adam to Albert. "I don't know" said Albert, "It seems a big thing." "Too big for us to deal with" said Adam. They had decided to go to Fr Abbot, when they saw Cecilia outside his door. "I was waiting for you" she said. "look I agree that you've got to go to Fr Abbot about Mandy. But the users are the real culprits, not her. Isn't that what you said, Adam?" Adam had to admit that this was true. "So all three of us have to go in. But let me handle it, Adam." said Cecilia.

+

Adam saw with satisfaction the big light and the tiny light parting at approximately equal speeds. It meant that Mandy was on her own. They moved to nearer the path, and Adam and Albert waited, crouched behind a gorse bush. They saw the tinkling light of Mandy's torch.
+ "Now" said Adam, and they jumped her.
+ "Leave me alone" said Mandy, startled. Albert grabbed her from the front, whilst Adam grabbed her from behind. He took James' knife out and pressed it to her skin.
+ "If you fight back I will rip your throat out, and I mean that Mandy" he said. Mandy knew that the game was up.
+ "Take her coat off and search it" said Adam.
+ Albert rummaged through Mandy's coat in torchlight, and soon located a plastic bag full of foil wraps.
+ "So what are these, Miss Campbell?" demanded Adam.
+ Mandy turned white.
+ "Chuck them into the sea" ordered Adam, and Albert complied, scattering the foil wraps over a high rock that overlooked the dark and swelling ocean. The drugs disappeared, irretrievable.
+ "Adam, I", they could let Mandy go now, "they weren't mine, they were borrowed. They will kill me for this."
+ "That's already nearly happened once" said Adam, "Who do you think set fire to your room? You'd have died in that fire if James didn't have more courage than I'll ever have."
+ Mandy began to cry, pouring her heart out, and all her troubles since her father walked out on her mother when she was a baby.
+ "Mandy" said Adam, "this is your responsibility. I've got to go to Fr Abbot. Do you understand that? This is too serious for considerations of sneaking to apply."
+ Compline was already taking place when they returned to the monastery.
+ "OK, go to Fr Abbot" said Mandy, "let me go to the dorm, to cry some more."
+ "I think we've got to do it" said Adam to Albert.
+ "I don't know" said Albert, "It seems a big thing."
+ "Too big for us to deal with" said Adam.
+ They had decided to go to Fr Abbot, when they saw Cecilia outside his door.
+ "I was waiting for you" she said. "look I agree that you've got to go to Fr Abbot about Mandy. But the users are the real culprits, not her. Isn't that what you said, Adam?"
+ Adam had to admit that this was true. "So all three of us have to go in. But let me handle it, Adam." said Cecilia.

-

They knocked on the door. Fr Abbot beamed to see them. "What can I do for you?" he said. "Well, Fr Abbot" said Cecilia, "all of us have been taking drugs. All except Adam, that is." "Sit down, please" said Fr Abbot, "we need a long talk. Whiskey, anybody?" "Adam discovered who was bringing the drugs into the school, which was a first year, and wondered whether he was obliged to give you the name. But he felt that would be unfair, because everyone is taking the drugs and so equally guilty, and it is wrong to single this person out. So we agreed that we three would come and see you together" Cecilia said. "Children" he said, "we thought that by establishing the school on an island we could establish a sort of separation between it and the wickedness of the world outside. That was completely naive. Almost every boarding school has some sort of drugs problem, and St Tom's is no exception. If there was an easy answer someone would have found it. You can't even keep drugs out of high security prisons, let alone out of schools. I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do." "We don't need money for anything except a few sweets and stationery" said Adam, "if you took money away you wouldn't have any drugs." "That's a very pertinent point, Adam" said Fr Abbot, "money is truly at the root of all evil. But you need to think, with that sort of regime, what would that do for independence? Particularly I am thinking of older years. Should parents have to buy train tickets home and post them to the school office?" "If you get one joint amongst five that's only two pounds each" said Cecilia, "that's about the same as a quarter of sweets. You'd have to keep people very poor for them not to afford that sort of money. But I do want to see an end to drugs at St Tom's. I didn't at first, but now I agree with Adam." "Everyone seeks God in his own way" said Fr Abbot, "And I'm not here to give you easy answers. But certainly if you feel that drugs are a blind alley, and I'd be inclined to agree with you, you must not be bullied or pressurised into taking them. However we don't give you a choice about your company. That option, of separating yourself from the problem, is taken away." "So you don't care that some people are selling drugs?" said Cecilia. "I said we don't give you the option of separating yourself from them" said Fr Abbot, "which normally you will have in adult life. You have to fight it out amongst yourselves, whether the year is to go down a drug path or another path. But if you are convinced that you are right, then truth will always win in the end." "So we don't have to give you any names" said Cecilia. "I don't know" said Fr Abbot, "but I can easily guess. And the decision was taken earlier on, much earlier on in fact, that this person has already experienced enough disruption in her life, and therefore not to expel this person. I'd rather not be embarrassed by having her crimes brought to my attention." "She herself is in danger" said Adam, "she told me that her suppliers would kill her." "Whatever for?" asked Fr Abbot. "Because Albert and I grabbed her stash of drugs and threw them into the sea." said Adam. "Good for you" said Fr Abbot, "Tell her that if she feels any danger, my door is always open. But ultimately she's got to take responsibility for her own life. And drug traffickers aren't always nice people. Shout too, Adam, if anyone threatens you. You have every right to protect yourself." The children smiled, and sipped their whiskeys. "What you've got to remember is that drug dealing is a rational crime, and rational people do not commit murder or serious assaults unless they know they can get away with it. And it is difficult to commit an undetectable murder. So don't make it easy for them." said Fr Abbot. "It's so hard not to join in, that's the problem" said Cecilia, "Cannabis doesn't do anything for me personally. I just want to be one of the crowd." "Which is maybe why you are popular, Cecilia" said Fr Abbot. "But surely what she is doing is wrong" said Adam. "Thanks, Adam" said Cecilia. "I took it, but it wasn't me" said Albert, "Adam was right. I was trying to be someone that I'm not. But I'm not so sure it's wrong for you." "So you're saying that my true vocation in life is as a pot-head" said Cecilia. Adam laughed. "Albert and I are never going to be cool. You and Abbey are, maybe. But I don't want Abbey mixed up with drugs, and if you didn't take them she wouldn't either" he said. "But then Fr Abbot said I wouldn't be as popular" said Cecilia, "but I see what you're getting at. It's not everything, and I'm not the only person affected by my own use. Which was what you've been trying to say all along, Adam." Fr Abbot smiled. He allowed them to talk until way into the night, long past official bedtimes. "So he'd already decided not to expel Mandy" said Albert. "Seems unfair. Whatever she does, she can get away with." "Then don't anyone tell her" said Cecilia, "Fr Abbot's right. I was here to stop her being expelled myself." "Why?" said Adam. "Because" said Cecilia, "just because." "You just love that girl, don't you?" said Adam. The three grinned at each other, and parted to go off into the blackest night.

+

They knocked on the door. Fr Abbot beamed to see them.
+ "What can I do for you?" he said.
+ "Well, Fr Abbot" said Cecilia, "all of us have been taking drugs. All except Adam, that is."
+ "Sit down, please" said Fr Abbot, "we need a long talk. Whiskey, anybody?"
+ "Adam discovered who was bringing the drugs into the school, which was a first year, and wondered whether he was obliged to give you the name. But he felt that would be unfair, because everyone is taking the drugs and so equally guilty, and it is wrong to single this person out. So we agreed that we three would come and see you together" Cecilia said.
+ "Children" he said, "we thought that by establishing the school on an island we could establish a sort of separation between it and the wickedness of the world outside. That was completely naive. Almost every boarding school has some sort of drugs problem, and St Tom's is no exception. If there was an easy answer someone would have found it. You can't even keep drugs out of high security prisons, let alone out of schools. I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do."
+ "We don't need money for anything except a few sweets and stationery" said Adam, "if you took money away you wouldn't have any drugs."
+ "That's a very pertinent point, Adam" said Fr Abbot, "money is truly at the root of all evil. But you need to think, with that sort of regime, what would that do for independence? Particularly I am thinking of older years. Should parents have to buy train tickets home and post them to the school office?"
+ "If you get one joint amongst five that's only two pounds each" said Cecilia, "that's about the same as a quarter of sweets. You'd have to keep people very poor for them not to afford that sort of money. But I do want to see an end to drugs at St Tom's. I didn't at first, but now I agree with Adam."
+ "Everyone seeks God in his own way" said Fr Abbot, "And I'm not here to give you easy answers. But certainly if you feel that drugs are a blind alley, and I'd be inclined to agree with you, you must not be bullied or pressurised into taking them. However we don't give you a choice about your company. That option, of separating yourself from the problem, is taken away."
+ "So you don't care that some people are selling drugs?" said Cecilia.
+ "I said we don't give you the option of separating yourself from them" said Fr Abbot, "which normally you will have in adult life. You have to fight it out amongst yourselves, whether the year is to go down a drug path or another path. But if you are convinced that you are right, then truth will always win in the end."
+ "So we don't have to give you any names" said Cecilia.
+ "I don't know" said Fr Abbot, "but I can easily guess. And the decision was taken earlier on, much earlier on in fact, that this person has already experienced enough disruption in her life, and therefore not to expel this person. I'd rather not be embarrassed by having her crimes brought to my attention."
+ "She herself is in danger" said Adam, "she told me that her suppliers would kill her."
+ "Whatever for?" asked Fr Abbot.
+ "Because Albert and I grabbed her stash of drugs and threw them into the sea." said Adam.
+ "Good for you" said Fr Abbot, "Tell her that if she feels any danger, my door is always open. But ultimately she's got to take responsibility for her own life. And drug traffickers aren't always nice people. Shout too, Adam, if anyone threatens you. You have every right to protect yourself."
+ The children smiled, and sipped their whiskeys.
+ "What you've got to remember is that drug dealing is a rational crime, and rational people do not commit murder or serious assaults unless they know they can get away with it. And it is difficult to commit an undetectable murder. So don't make it easy for them." said Fr Abbot.
+ "It's so hard not to join in, that's the problem" said Cecilia, "Cannabis doesn't do anything for me personally. I just want to be one of the crowd."
+ "Which is maybe why you are popular, Cecilia" said Fr Abbot.
+ "But surely what she is doing is wrong" said Adam. "Thanks, Adam" said Cecilia.
+ "I took it, but it wasn't me" said Albert, "Adam was right. I was trying to be someone that I'm not. But I'm not so sure it's wrong for you."
+ "So you're saying that my true vocation in life is as a pot-head" said Cecilia.
+ Adam laughed.
+ "Albert and I are never going to be cool. You and Abbey are, maybe. But I don't want Abbey mixed up with drugs, and if you didn't take them she wouldn't either" he said.
+ "But then Fr Abbot said I wouldn't be as popular" said Cecilia, "but I see what you're getting at. It's not everything, and I'm not the only person affected by my own use. Which was what you've been trying to say all along, Adam."
+ Fr Abbot smiled. He allowed them to talk until way into the night, long past official bedtimes.
+ "So he'd already decided not to expel Mandy" said Albert. "Seems unfair. Whatever she does, she can get away with."
+ "Then don't anyone tell her" said Cecilia, "Fr Abbot's right. I was here to stop her being expelled myself."
+ "Why?" said Adam.
+ "Because" said Cecilia, "just because."
+ "You just love that girl, don't you?" said Adam. The three grinned at each other, and parted to go off into the blackest night.

-

The other girls, meanwhile, hadn't got any sleep, waiting anxiously for Cecilia to return. "I'll be expelled" said Mandy, fretfully. "I don't care if I am" said blonde Mary, "there are better schools to go to than St Tom's". "Well not everyone is situated like you" said Abagail, "Anyone knows what is going to happen to us." "My mother will kill me" said short Mary. "You're safe" said Mandy, "you've already been found out. What about me?" "Yes, Mary" said Abagail, "you should have thought about that before letting Mandy take the risk." "Well it's your brother who got us into this" said blonde Mary. "Look, I tried to make him see sense, but he just wouldn't listen. I don't control his actions just because he's my twin" said Abagail, "We've just got to wait for Cecilia. No point blaming each other." "It was you who started this drugs nonsense" said short Mary, "I wish I'd never heard of them." They waited in silence for a while, then went back to fretting. "What exactly did Fr Abbot say to you?" said Abagail to short Mary. "I've told you," said short Mary, "That to successfully conceal drug usage it is necessary to smoke moderate amounts, outside, and after lights out. Take a punishment run, Miss Walker please. It was all over in about two minutes." "That was it?" asked Abagail. "That was it" said short Mary. "Then maybe we'll just get the same" said Abagail. "He'll be stricter next time" said Mandy. "I can't understand it" said blonde Mary, "I think he just wants to leave us in suspense. Why does Adam have to be such an idiot?"

+

The other girls, meanwhile, hadn't got any sleep, waiting anxiously for Cecilia to return.
+ "I'll be expelled" said Mandy, fretfully.
+ "I don't care if I am" said blonde Mary, "there are better schools to go to than St Tom's".
+ "Well not everyone is situated like you" said Abagail, "Anyone knows what is going to happen to us."
+ "My mother will kill me" said short Mary.
+ "You're safe" said Mandy, "you've already been found out. What about me?"
+ "Yes, Mary" said Abagail, "you should have thought about that before letting Mandy take the risk."
+ "Well it's your brother who got us into this" said blonde Mary. "Look, I tried to make him see sense, but he just wouldn't listen. I don't control his actions just because he's my twin" said Abagail, "We've just got to wait for Cecilia. No point blaming each other."
+ "It was you who started this drugs nonsense" said short Mary, "I wish I'd never heard of them."
+ They waited in silence for a while, then went back to fretting. "What exactly did Fr Abbot say to you?" said Abagail to short Mary.
+ "I've told you," said short Mary, "That to successfully conceal drug usage it is necessary to smoke moderate amounts, outside, and after lights out. Take a punishment run, Miss Walker please. It was all over in about two minutes."
+ "That was it?" asked Abagail.
+ "That was it" said short Mary.
+ "Then maybe we'll just get the same" said Abagail.
+ "He'll be stricter next time" said Mandy.
+ "I can't understand it" said blonde Mary, "I think he just wants to leave us in suspense. Why does Adam have to be such an idiot?"

-

Eventually Cecilia returned to the dorm, long after lights out. "Well?" said Abagail. "Talked him out of it" said Cecilia. "What about me and Mary?" asked Mandy. "Your name wasn't mentioned, Mandy." said Cecilia. "But Adam said he'd shop me to Fr Abbot" said Mandy. "Adam was thinking in a hurry" said Cecilia, "your name was never mentioned. We told him that everyone in first year was smoking drugs, with the exception of Adam. We agreed that everyone was equally guilty - which is what Adam said in his speech - and it wasn't necessary to name names." "So what's he going to do?" asked Mandy. "I don't know" said Cecilia, "he was very nice, not shocked at all." "So what did Adam say?" asked blonde Mary. "Adam let Albert and me do most of the talking" said Cecilia, "I told him to do that before we went in." "He'll still find out" said Mandy, "then I'll be expelled." "No, I wouldn't worry about being expelled, Mandy" said Cecilia, "Fr Abbot is going to keep you here until." "Until what?" Cecilia thought. "Until you learn to accept unconditional love, Mandy. He'll keep you here until that happens." "No-one loves me" said Mandy, "I look out for myself." "I wouldn't be so sure of that, Mandy" said Cecilia. "Oh yes, Cecilia" said Mandy, "I've heard it all before." Adam and Albert returned to meet a hostile reception from the other three. "So, what?" said James. "Whiskey with the boss" said Adam. "Who gave you the right to sneak on Mandy?" asked James, "And what about us. Do you think we're safe as well?" "Albert and I intercepted Mandy with a carrier-bag full of drugs" said Adam, "so there was no choice. Look, James, she and blonde Mary were really careless. I said, in public, that I was anti-drug, but even I found out in a few days who was doing the dealing. And for the record, I didn't give Mandy's name to Fr Abbot. He already knew." "How do we know that?" said James. "Use a bit of common sense" said Adam, "Short Mary goes into Compline as high as a kite, and Br Bernard bawls her out. So he knows that drugs are amongst the first years. And he knows it won't be short Mary spreading them. So you think he won't try to find out where the drugs are coming from? As I said, Mandy and blonde Mary are careless. Their vocation in life is not as drug dealers." "Now you're sounding like Fr Abbot" said James. "I've just spent about two hours chatting with him, and drinking his whiskey. Maybe he's infectious." "Cecilia and me were in there too" said Albert. "This sounds like a stitch up" said James. "It was getting out of hand" said Albert. "Now it's in the open" said Adam, "I don't know what he will do, but he can't exactly expel a whole year. Everyone is in the same boat now" "Except you" "Except me. It had to happen, James, it couldn't go on forever as it was going" said Adam. "No-one will ever trust you again" said James. "Mandy will. Cecilia stopped Fr Abbot from expelling her." said Adam. "That was Cecilia, not you" "Cecilia would never have gone in to talk to him without me" said Adam, "It's in Mandy's best interests what we've done. This way, she gets to stay on." "You do have a point, Adam" said Sebastian, "but wouldn't it have been easier just to tell Mandy the game was up, and to shop herself, rather than running with tales to Fr Abbot?" "She won't do that" said Adam. "Not a classy enough lady. Not yet, anyway" said Sebastian, "never mind. Adam, you've sneaked on her and you've sneaked on us. We can't allow that.” “I did not sneak” said Adam. “Then what is sneaking?” said James, “Tomorrow, Adam, in the ruins.” “Tomorrow” said Adam, turning white. It was well past lights out, but neither of them got much sleep that night.

+

Eventually Cecilia returned to the dorm, long after lights out.
+ "Well?" said Abagail.
+ "Talked him out of it" said Cecilia.
+ "What about me and Mary?" asked Mandy.
+ "Your name wasn't mentioned, Mandy." said Cecilia.
+ "But Adam said he'd shop me to Fr Abbot" said Mandy.
+ "Adam was thinking in a hurry" said Cecilia, "your name was never mentioned. We told him that everyone in first year was smoking drugs, with the exception of Adam. We agreed that everyone was equally guilty - which is what Adam said in his speech - and it wasn't necessary to name names."
+ "So what's he going to do?" asked Mandy.
+ "I don't know" said Cecilia, "he was very nice, not shocked at all."
+ "So what did Adam say?" asked blonde Mary.
+ "Adam let Albert and me do most of the talking" said Cecilia, "I told him to do that before we went in."
+ "He'll still find out" said Mandy, "then I'll be expelled."
+ "No, I wouldn't worry about being expelled, Mandy" said Cecilia, "Fr Abbot is going to keep you here until."
+ "Until what?"
+ Cecilia thought. "Until you learn to accept unconditional love, Mandy. He'll keep you here until that happens."
+ "No-one loves me" said Mandy, "I look out for myself."
+ "I wouldn't be so sure of that, Mandy" said Cecilia.
+ "Oh yes, Cecilia" said Mandy, "I've heard it all before."
+

+

+ Adam and Albert returned to meet a hostile reception from the other three.
+ "So, what?" said James.
+ "Whiskey with the boss" said Adam.
+ "Who gave you the right to sneak on Mandy?" asked James, "And what about us. Do you think we're safe as well?"
+ "Albert and I intercepted Mandy with a carrier-bag full of drugs" said Adam, "so there was no choice. Look, James, she and blonde Mary were really careless. I said, in public, that I was anti-drug, but even I found out in a few days who was doing the dealing. And for the record, I didn't give Mandy's name to Fr Abbot. He already knew."
+ "How do we know that?" said James.
+ "Use a bit of common sense" said Adam, "Short Mary goes into Compline as high as a kite, and Br Bernard bawls her out. So he knows that drugs are amongst the first years. And he knows it won't be short Mary spreading them. So you think he won't try to find out where the drugs are coming from? As I said, Mandy and blonde Mary are careless. Their vocation in life is not as drug dealers."
+ "Now you're sounding like Fr Abbot" said James.
+ "I've just spent about two hours chatting with him, and drinking his whiskey. Maybe he's infectious."
+ "Cecilia and me were in there too" said Albert.
+ "This sounds like a stitch up" said James.
+ "It was getting out of hand" said Albert.
+ "Now it's in the open" said Adam, "I don't know what he will do, but he can't exactly expel a whole year. Everyone is in the same boat now"
+ "Except you"
+ "Except me. It had to happen, James, it couldn't go on forever as it was going" said Adam.
+ "No-one will ever trust you again" said James.
+ "Mandy will. Cecilia stopped Fr Abbot from expelling her." said Adam.
+ "That was Cecilia, not you"
+ "Cecilia would never have gone in to talk to him without me" said Adam, "It's in Mandy's best interests what we've done. This way, she gets to stay on."
+ "You do have a point, Adam" said Sebastian, "but wouldn't it have been easier just to tell Mandy the game was up, and to shop herself, rather than running with tales to Fr Abbot?"
+ "She won't do that" said Adam.
+ "Not a classy enough lady. Not yet, anyway" said Sebastian, "never mind. Adam, you've sneaked on her and you've sneaked on us. We can't allow that.”
+ “I did not sneak” said Adam.
+ “Then what is sneaking?” said James, “Tomorrow, Adam, in the ruins.”
+ “Tomorrow” said Adam, turning white. It was well past lights out, but neither of them got much sleep that night.

"Fifteen, all right Rupert" said Jade, the next day. Rupert was triumphant. His customers were returning, and he even had the hope of new ones, amongst the first years.

diff --git a/docs/StToms/Chapter14.html b/docs/StToms/Chapter14.html index a1ee08a..fa85a84 100644 --- a/docs/StToms/Chapter14.html +++ b/docs/StToms/Chapter14.html @@ -15,27 +15,153 @@

Chapter 14. Another fight, and a plan

-

The next evening, before Compline, the first years assembled in the ruins. James had chosen Sebastian as his second, whilst Adam had Albert. The others formed a semicircle around the combatants. It was dark, and everyone had brought torches, lighting up the scene like a stage, and shedding an eerie light over the crumbling tombstones. James pulled off his blazer, and gave it to Sebastian. “Adam”, he said, “you are accused of sneaking on Mandy and all of us, to father Abbot”. “I never did” protested Adam. “Well that's what this fight is going to decide” said Sebastian. Adam was shaking so much he could hardly remove his blazer. Eventually Albert took it off for him. The two boys sized each other up. “Adam never sneaked on Mandy” said Cecilia, “look, Mandy is still here.” “He said himself that he did” said James, “went to Father Abbot to say Mandy was dealing drugs. Can't think of a clearer case of sneaking.” “I was there,” said Cecilia, “and you weren't. Adam never did sneak on Mandy, honestly.” “I call on the Lord our God to give victory to His own” said Sebastian. “Too right” said short Mary, “get on with it.” “Come on Adam, afraid?” taunted James, “You're shaking like a spastic.” “You can thump him, Adam” said Abagail. James closed in on Adam, and slapped his face. There was a cheer. “Now the sneak's getting what he deserves” said blonde Mary. Smarting from the blow, Adam realised he was committed to the fight. He lunged at James. James stepped aside, and punched him. Adam felt the taste of blood in his cheek. He grabbed at James tie, and the pushed him in a crude judo throw. To his surprise, James went over, tripping over a jagged piece of wall, and landing heavily on the grass beyond it. “Kick him, Adam” said Abagail. Adam looked at the prone figure before him in the torchlight, but was somehow paralyed into inaction. James regained his feet. “I can get you back for that Adam.” he said, squaring up for another attack. “Look what does this prove?” said Cecilia, “that James and Sebastian are bigger than Adam and Albert? Any idiot can see that.” “Adam should have thought of that, before sneaking” said James. “And if you cared for Mandy you'd never have bought drugs off her.” said Cecilia, “We can all go to other schools if we're expelled, she can't. It's back in the council care home for her if she's found out. So don't pretend to care for Mandy. You're just a big bully, James.” “And Adam could have stamped you in the face, if he'd wanted to” said Abagail. “Why didn't he then?” said blonde Mary. “Maybe because he's not a vicious thug” said Cecilia, “I don't know why he ever agreed to this fight in the first place. Drop it.” “Mandy?” asked Sebastian. Mandy looked shy and frightened. “Do you still accuse Adam of sneaking on you?” asked Sebastian. “I don't know” said Mandy, “I wish I'd never started all this.” “It's not just Mandy he sneaked on” said blonde Mary, “Adam has sneaked on all of us.” “If Mandy's not sure then the fight's over”, said Sebastian, ignoring her. “Shake hands, gentlemen.” “Shake hands with a sneak?” said James. “You've got Albert and Abbey and Cecilia and now even Mandy against you” said Sebastian, “I'd call that an even split. Time to call it quits, James. Adam's got a right to oppose drugs if he wants to. I'm not saying I agree with him. But he's a right to his opinion. Shake hands.” Reluctantly James agreed. The two boys shook hands, stiffly, and the meeting broke up. Adam and James had just washed off the evidence when it was time for Compline.

+

The next evening, before Compline, the first years assembled in the ruins. James had chosen Sebastian as his second, whilst Adam had Albert. The others formed a semicircle around the combatants. It was dark, and everyone had brought torches, lighting up the scene like a stage, and shedding an eerie light over the crumbling tombstones.
+ James pulled off his blazer, and gave it to Sebastian.
+ “Adam”, he said, “you are accused of sneaking on Mandy and all of us, to father Abbot”.
+ “I never did” protested Adam.
+ “Well that's what this fight is going to decide” said Sebastian. Adam was shaking so much he could hardly remove his blazer. Eventually Albert took it off for him. The two boys sized each other up.
+ “Adam never sneaked on Mandy” said Cecilia, “look, Mandy is still here.”
+ “He said himself that he did” said James, “went to Father Abbot to say Mandy was dealing drugs. Can't think of a clearer case of sneaking.”
+ “I was there,” said Cecilia, “and you weren't. Adam never did sneak on Mandy, honestly.”
+ “I call on the Lord our God to give victory to His own” said Sebastian.
+ “Too right” said short Mary, “get on with it.”
+ “Come on Adam, afraid?” taunted James, “You're shaking like a spastic.”
+ “You can thump him, Adam” said Abagail.
+ James closed in on Adam, and slapped his face. There was a cheer.
+ “Now the sneak's getting what he deserves” said blonde Mary.
+ Smarting from the blow, Adam realised he was committed to the fight. He lunged at James. James stepped aside, and punched him. Adam felt the taste of blood in his cheek. He grabbed at James tie, and the pushed him in a crude judo throw. To his surprise, James went over, tripping over a jagged piece of wall, and landing heavily on the grass beyond it.
+ “Kick him, Adam” said Abagail.
+ Adam looked at the prone figure before him in the torchlight, but was somehow paralyed into inaction. James regained his feet.
+ “I can get you back for that Adam.” he said, squaring up for another attack.
+ “Look what does this prove?” said Cecilia, “that James and Sebastian are bigger than Adam and Albert? Any idiot can see that.”
+ “Adam should have thought of that, before sneaking” said James.
+ “And if you cared for Mandy you'd never have bought drugs off her.” said Cecilia, “We can all go to other schools if we're expelled, she can't. It's back in the council care home for her if she's found out. So don't pretend to care for Mandy. You're just a big bully, James.”
+ “And Adam could have stamped you in the face, if he'd wanted to” said Abagail.
+ “Why didn't he then?” said blonde Mary.
+ “Maybe because he's not a vicious thug” said Cecilia, “I don't know why he ever agreed to this fight in the first place. Drop it.”
+ “Mandy?” asked Sebastian.
+ Mandy looked shy and frightened.
+ “Do you still accuse Adam of sneaking on you?” asked Sebastian.
+ “I don't know” said Mandy, “I wish I'd never started all this.”
+ “It's not just Mandy he sneaked on” said blonde Mary, “Adam has sneaked on all of us.”
+ “If Mandy's not sure then the fight's over”, said Sebastian, ignoring her.
+ “Shake hands, gentlemen.”
+ “Shake hands with a sneak?” said James.
+ “You've got Albert and Abbey and Cecilia and now even Mandy against you” said Sebastian, “I'd call that an even split. Time to call it quits, James. Adam's got a right to oppose drugs if he wants to. I'm not saying I agree with him. But he's a right to his opinion. Shake hands.”
+ Reluctantly James agreed. The two boys shook hands, stiffly, and the meeting broke up. Adam and James had just washed off the evidence when it was time for Compline.

-

“That was disappointing” said blonde Mary, to Mandy, later that evening, “I was looking forward to my first real fight. I wanted James to win, of course, but when Adam threw him over, wasn't it so exciting? To see the underdog winning. Trust Cecilia to step in and stop it just when it started getting interesting.” “Fights aren't so interesting” said Mandy, “once you've seen a few. But what are we to do, Mary? Sneaking or no sneaking, it's obvious that Father Abbot knows about us. And I owe Mike three hundred pounds for the drugs Adam and Albert threw into the sea.” “I'm not sure he does know” said blonde Mary. “He knows we're using, sure, Adam told him that. But then if he has any sense at all he'd know that already, everybody does. It's the dealers they're after. So we've got to sit tight, and make them think it came from Jade and Olivia.” “Then what happens to Jade and Olivia?” asked Mandy. “It's their rap” said blonde Mary, “they should have thought of that before they started pushing. We won't shop them, of course, but lead Father Abbot to the conclusion that they are the source.” “But if we don't sell, how can I make the money to pay Mike?” asked Mandy. “He'll get it back eventually” said blonde Mary, “sometimes in this life you've just got to give people bad news. It's not as if he can go to the police”.

+

“That was disappointing” said blonde Mary, to Mandy, later that evening, “I was looking forward to my first real fight. I wanted James to win, of course, but when Adam threw him over, wasn't it so exciting? To see the underdog winning. Trust Cecilia to step in and stop it just when it started getting interesting.”
+ “Fights aren't so interesting” said Mandy, “once you've seen a few. But what are we to do, Mary? Sneaking or no sneaking, it's obvious that Father Abbot knows about us. And I owe Mike three hundred pounds for the drugs Adam and Albert threw into the sea.”
+ “I'm not sure he does know” said blonde Mary. “He knows we're using, sure, Adam told him that. But then if he has any sense at all he'd know that already, everybody does. It's the dealers they're after. So we've got to sit tight, and make them think it came from Jade and Olivia.”
+ “Then what happens to Jade and Olivia?” asked Mandy.
+ “It's their rap” said blonde Mary, “they should have thought of that before they started pushing. We won't shop them, of course, but lead Father Abbot to the conclusion that they are the source.”
+ “But if we don't sell, how can I make the money to pay Mike?” asked Mandy.
+ “He'll get it back eventually” said blonde Mary, “sometimes in this life you've just got to give people bad news. It's not as if he can go to the police”.

-

“We've got the face it, we've got a split” said Sebastian, in the dorm that night, “Adam will never agree to the use of cannabis, James will never agree to stop using it. It's irreconcilable. We've tried arguing, we've tried a vote in the JC, we've tried a fight. Still no solution.” “No-one's forcing Adam to smoke if he doesn't want to” said James, “but why is he trying to impose his view on the rest of us? I've got a right to smoke if I want to.” “No you don't” said Adam. “Shut up, Adam” said James, “we've had enough of your stupid opinions. You can't stop me from doing what I want.” “Then light up a joint now” said Adam. “What, in this dorm, with all the monks crawling about?” said James. “Precisely” said Adam. “Adam's got a point” said Sebastian, “if a monk overheard you, you'd be out of this school, James. We can't smoke in this dorm, because it's in the monastery proper. So we smoke outside, and Adam and Albert don't have to know about it.” “And what when we come back high?” said James, “are you going to sneak us up, Adam?” “I don't sneak” said Adam, “but if you're going to turn yourself into a dopehead, everyone will know you're a dopehead. You've just got take that risk, James”. “It's a poor do when you can't even trust your own dorm-mates” said James. “Then don't smoke” said Adam. “Look Adam,” said James, “I can appreciate that you yourself will never touch dope. OK. But how does it affect you? How does it affect you, what we choose to do?” “You said it James” said Adam, “It's a poor do when you can't even trust your own dorm-mates.” “It's irreconcilable” said Sebastian, “you can't both have your own way. One has got to give.” “Well it won't be me” said James. “I won't be me” said Adam.

+

“We've got the face it, we've got a split” said Sebastian, in the dorm that night, “Adam will never agree to the use of cannabis, James will never agree to stop using it. It's irreconcilable. We've tried arguing, we've tried a vote in the JC, we've tried a fight. Still no solution.”
+ “No-one's forcing Adam to smoke if he doesn't want to” said James, “but why is he trying to impose his view on the rest of us? I've got a right to smoke if I want to.”
+ “No you don't” said Adam.
+ “Shut up, Adam” said James, “we've had enough of your stupid opinions. You can't stop me from doing what I want.” “Then light up a joint now” said Adam.
+ “What, in this dorm, with all the monks crawling about?” said James.
+ “Precisely” said Adam.
+ “Adam's got a point” said Sebastian, “if a monk overheard you, you'd be out of this school, James. We can't smoke in this dorm, because it's in the monastery proper. So we smoke outside, and Adam and Albert don't have to know about it.”
+ “And what when we come back high?” said James, “are you going to sneak us up, Adam?”
+ “I don't sneak” said Adam, “but if you're going to turn yourself into a dopehead, everyone will know you're a dopehead. You've just got take that risk, James”.
+ “It's a poor do when you can't even trust your own dorm-mates” said James.
+ “Then don't smoke” said Adam.
+ “Look Adam,” said James, “I can appreciate that you yourself will never touch dope. OK. But how does it affect you? How does it affect you, what we choose to do?”
+ “You said it James” said Adam, “It's a poor do when you can't even trust your own dorm-mates.”
+ “It's irreconcilable” said Sebastian, “you can't both have your own way. One has got to give.”
+ “Well it won't be me” said James.
+ “I won't be me” said Adam.

-

That same night, Mike entered the great double doors of a luxurious mansion, set in five hundred acres of forest grounds. The butler greeted him, and ushered him in past a metal detector arch and two sets of security doors. All the woodwork was polished oak, and the rooms were decorated with marble statues of figures from Greek myth. Priceless original paintings hung upon the walls, together with Persian rugs painstakingly hand-knotted by child labour. There were also trophies of foxes and of deer, their stuffed heads mounted on wooden shields, and many antique weapons. Real log fires roared in the fireplaces. After the last set of security doors Mike reached the inner sanctum, the office of Mr Baines himself. The great man was seated on a huge leather chair, smoking a cigar. A police superintendent, in full uniform, was sitting opposite, the two men in deep conference. Neither invited Mike to sit down. Mike proffered a wad of notes. Mr Baines flicked through it, not bothering to count it accurately. “Is that all?” he asked, in a deep voice. “We're developing St Tom's, Sir”, said Mike, “I need a bit of time to get the market established. And we've got competition.” “Competition?” “There's another guy who was already supplying the older years. I've had to reduce prices to try to get him out.” “We'll see if we can't close him down”, said the big man. The superintendent nodded sagely. “Mike, don't give me this rubbish. I want full penetration of that school. We've got new supplies coming through from Pakistan, serious, quality cannabis resin. I want to raise prices on it. Don't let me down, Mike, no-one's making any money on five quid a twist.” He lit another cigar. “Make sure the kid understands that”, he said, “She's got to work for her money”. Mike drove away along the long darkened drive, trees shading his car from above. He was worried. The few pieces of cannabis Mandy was selling were nowhere near enough to satisfy Mr Baines.

+

That same night, Mike entered the great double doors of a luxurious mansion, set in five hundred acres of forest grounds. The butler greeted him, and ushered him in past a metal detector arch and two sets of security doors. All the woodwork was polished oak, and the rooms were decorated with marble statues of figures from Greek myth. Priceless original paintings hung upon the walls, together with Persian rugs painstakingly hand-knotted by child labour. There were also trophies of foxes and of deer, their stuffed heads mounted on wooden shields, and many antique weapons. Real log fires roared in the fireplaces. After the last set of security doors Mike reached the inner sanctum, the office of Mr Baines himself. The great man was seated on a huge leather chair, smoking a cigar. A police superintendent, in full uniform, was sitting opposite, the two men in deep conference. Neither invited Mike to sit down. Mike proffered a wad of notes. Mr Baines flicked through it, not bothering to count it accurately.
+ “Is that all?” he asked, in a deep voice. “We're developing St Tom's, Sir”, said Mike, “I need a bit of time to get the market established. And we've got competition.”
+ “Competition?”
+ “There's another guy who was already supplying the older years. I've had to reduce prices to try to get him out.”
+ “We'll see if we can't close him down”, said the big man. The superintendent nodded sagely. “Mike, don't give me this rubbish. I want full penetration of that school. We've got new supplies coming through from Pakistan, serious, quality cannabis resin. I want to raise prices on it. Don't let me down, Mike, no-one's making any money on five quid a twist.” He lit another cigar. “Make sure the kid understands that”, he said, “She's got to work for her money”.
+ Mike drove away along the long darkened drive, trees shading his car from above. He was worried. The few pieces of cannabis Mandy was selling were nowhere near enough to satisfy Mr Baines.

-

Things were still very frosty with James, but there was no further violence. James and Sebastian couldn't get drugs easily from Mandy any longer, as she had run out of supplies. It was also very difficult if not impossible to smoke in the monastery proper. James and Sebastian reluctantly accepted the situation. Ibrahim, however, continued to get drugs from Jade and Olivia. Adam could tell he was still smoking. His eyes were dull, and he answered in the languid monotone of cannabis users that made Adam want to hit him. Cecilia was as good as her word and had made a private resolution never to touch the stuff again. Abagail, blonde Mary and Mandy got drugs from Jade and Olivia, but didn't dare to pass them onto the boys for fear of Adam. They also cut out short Mary. Short Mary initially consoled herself with the thought that she didn't really want to get involved in cannabis anyway. There was one little difficulty. Short Mary found herself craving something. She didn't know what it was, but it wasn't the sickly smell of cannabis. It kept her distracted all night and all day, an itch she couldn't scratch. Then, outside the boy's boarding house, she came across a still-smoking butt discarded by one of the third years, and she realised what it was. She was addicted to nicotine. She picked up the butt and raised it to her lips, and instantly felt relief. Cigarettes were just as much contraband as cannabis at St Tom's, of course, but at least they were not illegal. She could obtain them quite easily from the upper years. Which she did, only one or two a day, but it was a constant habit and a constant discipline. It also ate away at her pocket money. A box of twenty was over five pounds, and individual cigarettes cost 30p from the third years. Her father was a doctor, so of course she had been exposed to constant anti-smoking ads and propaganda. "I'm going to get lung cancer" she told herself, "I know I'll die of lung cancer." It was a high price to pay for a few days of social weakness. Adam, Abagail, Cecilia, and Albert met up the next day to discuss plans for the hunt. “We need a way of getting the bows and arrows and other equipment into the forest, and a way of slipping the prefects when we get there.” said Adam. “That's impossible” said Cecilia. “No, it's easy” said Abagail, “There's a train station in the village near the forest. All we need is for someone to get permission to get off the island for some reason – a family wedding, or someone ill, something like that. They take the bows in their suitcase, buy a ticket to that small station, and hide them somewhere. We can pick them up days later, if need be.” “Short Mary's got a cello case” said Cecilia, “that'll hide a set of bows and arrows.” The prefects were more difficult. Abagail wracked her brains in pursuit of a trick. She spoke to the second years and got the general idea. If the pattern followed that of the previous year, the class would be split into two groups, each under a prefect, to lay the traps, one in the broadleaf and one in the conifer forest. Br Kieran would remain with the minibus in case of any emergencies. The prefects would then take each group on a nature walk, and they would have lunch. This was meant to be a picnic held outside, but Abagail had it on certain intelligence that the prefects went to a country pub for a quick pint. Then late in the afternoon the groups would split again, go back to the insect traps, and collect the samples to take back to the school for analysis. "Somehow we just need to get those pesky prefects out of the way" thought Abagail, "but I don't know how to do it. Everything else is so perfect. It would be a shame for Adam and Albert to have wasted so much time in making the bows and arrows, all because of a little thing like that. Why can't Br Kieran just let us roam freely in the forest?" She thought about it all through Vespers, and at dinner, and at prep. Prep was religious education. The question read "Summarise the events leading up to Pharaoh's decision to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. How historically accurate do you think the Bible's account is?" Abagail got out her Bible, and turned to the relevant chapter of Exodus. She read

+

Things were still very frosty with James, but there was no further violence. James and Sebastian couldn't get drugs easily from Mandy any longer, as she had run out of supplies. It was also very difficult if not impossible to smoke in the monastery proper. James and Sebastian reluctantly accepted the situation. Ibrahim, however, continued to get drugs from Jade and Olivia. Adam could tell he was still smoking. His eyes were dull, and he answered in the languid monotone of cannabis users that made Adam want to hit him.
+ Cecilia was as good as her word and had made a private resolution never to touch the stuff again. Abagail, blonde Mary and Mandy got drugs from Jade and Olivia, but didn't dare to pass them onto the boys for fear of Adam. They also cut out short Mary.
+ Short Mary initially consoled herself with the thought that she didn't really want to get involved in cannabis anyway. There was one little difficulty. Short Mary found herself craving something. She didn't know what it was, but it wasn't the sickly smell of cannabis.
+ It kept her distracted all night and all day, an itch she couldn't scratch. Then, outside the boy's boarding house, she came across a still-smoking butt discarded by one of the third years, and she realised what it was. She was addicted to nicotine. She picked up the butt and raised it to her lips, and instantly felt relief.
+ Cigarettes were just as much contraband as cannabis at St Tom's, of course, but at least they were not illegal. She could obtain them quite easily from the upper years. Which she did, only one or two a day, but it was a constant habit and a constant discipline. It also ate away at her pocket money. A box of twenty was over five pounds, and individual cigarettes cost 30p from the third years. Her father was a doctor, so of course she had been exposed to constant anti-smoking ads and propaganda.
+ "I'm going to get lung cancer" she told herself, "I know I'll die of lung cancer." It was a high price to pay for a few days of social weakness.
+ Adam, Abagail, Cecilia, and Albert met up the next day to discuss plans for the hunt.
+ “We need a way of getting the bows and arrows and other equipment into the forest, and a way of slipping the prefects when we get there.” said Adam.
+ “That's impossible” said Cecilia.
+ “No, it's easy” said Abagail, “There's a train station in the village near the forest. All we need is for someone to get permission to get off the island for some reason – a family wedding, or someone ill, something like that. They take the bows in their suitcase, buy a ticket to that small station, and hide them somewhere. We can pick them up days later, if need be.”
+ “Short Mary's got a cello case” said Cecilia, “that'll hide a set of bows and arrows.”
+ The prefects were more difficult. Abagail wracked her brains in pursuit of a trick. She spoke to the second years and got the general idea. If the pattern followed that of the previous year, the class would be split into two groups, each under a prefect, to lay the traps, one in the broadleaf and one in the conifer forest. Br Kieran would remain with the minibus in case of any emergencies. The prefects would then take each group on a nature walk, and they would have lunch. This was meant to be a picnic held outside, but Abagail had it on certain intelligence that the prefects went to a country pub for a quick pint. Then late in the afternoon the groups would split again, go back to the insect traps, and collect the samples to take back to the school for analysis. + "Somehow we just need to get those pesky prefects out of the way" thought Abagail, "but I don't know how to do it. Everything else is so perfect. It would be a shame for Adam and Albert to have wasted so much time in making the bows and arrows, all because of a little thing like that. Why can't Br Kieran just let us roam freely in the forest?"
+ She thought about it all through Vespers, and at dinner, and at prep. Prep was religious education. The question read
+ "Summarise the events leading up to Pharaoh's decision to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. How historically accurate do you think the Bible's account is?"
+ Abagail got out her Bible, and turned to the relevant chapter of Exodus. She read

"5:1 Moses and Aaron then went to Pharaoh and said, 'This is what YHVH, God of the Hebrews, declares: 'Let My people leave, so they can sacrifice to Me in the desert.' ' 5:2 Pharaoh replied, 'Who is YHVH that I should obey Him and let Israel go? I do not recognize YHVH. Nor will I let Israel leave.' 5:3 'The God of the Hebrews has revealed Himself to us,' said [Moses and Aaron]. 'Please, allow us to take a three day journey into the desert, and let us sacrifice to YHVH our God. Otherwise, He may strike us down with the plague or the sword.' "

-

Abagail thought, there was her answer. "Adam," she said, "what's the breviary for the day of the trip?" Adam was silent for a moment to dodge the patrolling prefect, then he looked up the office and passed it to Abagail. "Perfect" thought Abagail.

+

Abagail thought, there was her answer.
+ "Adam," she said, "what's the breviary for the day of the trip?"
+ Adam was silent for a moment to dodge the patrolling prefect, then he looked up the office and passed it to Abagail.
+ "Perfect" thought Abagail.

-

The children were excited as the trip to the forest approached. "This is a diagram of a coal-fired power station" said Br Kieran, "now what do you think of the location?" The diagram consisted of a river, a town, a wood and an airport. There was a soft grey ring about two miles wide around the site of the power station, labelled, "zone of maximum pollution from 200 yard chimney." "The zone of pollution goes over the wood" said Abagail, "it will kill the wildlife." "Where would you rather it go?" asked Br Kieran. "Over the sea." said Abagail. "We're talking about mild smoke pollution" said Br Kieran, "not a blanket smog that will asphyxiate everything." "We could take samples from the polluted wood and the one outside the zone of pollution" said Adam, "And compute the Shannon indices". "I see" said Br Kieran, "you're all pepped up about the trip. Very well, let's put this book about power stations away, and start talking about biodiversity. Who can give me an example of a diverse environment?" "The tropical rainforest" said everyone. "And a non-diverse environment?" That was a bit more difficult. "The polar icecaps?" suggested James. "Not bad" said Br Kieran, "and what do you find in the high north, in Scandinavia and Canada?" "Coniferous forests." said James. "Generally all of the same species" said Br Kieran, "you might have one or two species of pines. Huge stands of trees, all the same, stretching as far as they eye can see. Totally different from the tropical forest. And the interesting thing is that no-one really knows why this is. The temperate broadleaf woodland is intermediate. You don't have anything like the same number of species as in the tropical forest. And you do have large woods all of oak, for instance. But generally there is more diversity than in the colder forests." "So it's temperature" said Mandy, "the hotter it is, the more fertile the land." "But why would that lead to more species?" said Br Kieran, "Anyway, the coniferous forest you will be investigating is artificial. It was planted by humans deliberately all of one species, to provide uniform timber. The broadleaf forest is seeded naturally. So we can't use species counts of trees to conclude anything. But the forests are at approximately the same latitude, so any difference in insect count will not be due to temperature, directly." "Diversity breeds diversity" said Adam, "as the trees become more diverse, they offer more different kinds of homes for the insects. The as the insects become more diverse, the insects and birds that feed on them become more diverse. So the effect is runaway." "So how would you test that?" asked Br Kieran. Adam was stumped. However James, without putting up his hand, came to the rescue. "You said the broadleaf forest had areas of the same trees, and areas of different trees" he said , "so put some traps in areas where all the trees are the same, and some where they are different. Then you can separate out the effect from diversity from the effect of being a conifer." "Very good" said Br Kieran, "so now we're beginning to plan this." "Oh yes, we've planned the expedition, Sir" said Abagail.

+

The children were excited as the trip to the forest approached.
+ "This is a diagram of a coal-fired power station" said Br Kieran, "now what do you think of the location?"
+ The diagram consisted of a river, a town, a wood and an airport. There was a soft grey ring about two miles wide around the site of the power station, labelled, "zone of maximum pollution from 200 yard chimney."
+ "The zone of pollution goes over the wood" said Abagail, "it will kill the wildlife."
+ "Where would you rather it go?" asked Br Kieran. "Over the sea." said Abagail.
+ "We're talking about mild smoke pollution" said Br Kieran, "not a blanket smog that will asphyxiate everything."
+ "We could take samples from the polluted wood and the one outside the zone of pollution" said Adam, "And compute the Shannon indices".
+ "I see" said Br Kieran, "you're all pepped up about the trip. Very well, let's put this book about power stations away, and start talking about biodiversity. Who can give me an example of a diverse environment?"
+ "The tropical rainforest" said everyone.
+ "And a non-diverse environment?"
+ That was a bit more difficult.
+ "The polar icecaps?" suggested James.
+ "Not bad" said Br Kieran, "and what do you find in the high north, in Scandinavia and Canada?"
+ "Coniferous forests." said James.
+ "Generally all of the same species" said Br Kieran, "you might have one or two species of pines. Huge stands of trees, all the same, stretching as far as they eye can see. Totally different from the tropical forest. And the interesting thing is that no-one really knows why this is. The temperate broadleaf woodland is intermediate. You don't have anything like the same number of species as in the tropical forest. And you do have large woods all of oak, for instance. But generally there is more diversity than in the colder forests."
+ "So it's temperature" said Mandy, "the hotter it is, the more fertile the land."
+ "But why would that lead to more species?" said Br Kieran, "Anyway, the coniferous forest you will be investigating is artificial. It was planted by humans deliberately all of one species, to provide uniform timber. The broadleaf forest is seeded naturally. So we can't use species counts of trees to conclude anything. But the forests are at approximately the same latitude, so any difference in insect count will not be due to temperature, directly."
+ "Diversity breeds diversity" said Adam, "as the trees become more diverse, they offer more different kinds of homes for the insects. The as the insects become more diverse, the insects and birds that feed on them become more diverse. So the effect is runaway."
+ "So how would you test that?" asked Br Kieran.
+ Adam was stumped. However James, without putting up his hand, came to the rescue.
+ "You said the broadleaf forest had areas of the same trees, and areas of different trees" he said , "so put some traps in areas where all the trees are the same, and some where they are different. Then you can separate out the effect from diversity from the effect of being a conifer."
+ "Very good" said Br Kieran, "so now we're beginning to plan this."
+ "Oh yes, we've planned the expedition, Sir" said Abagail.

-

Albert finally plucked up courage to ask the prefects to take him and his lobster pot out onto the high sea. "OK" grinned the prefects, and they were off. "Very nice lobster pot you have there, Albert. Fortunately the sea within 300 yards is ours, so we'll take you up to the limit and put the pot down. Wouldn't do to trespass on the local fishermen's territory." "The crabs just move as they want" said Albert. They put a few mussels in the pot as bait, then attached it to a long rope with a buoy on the top. The pot was lowered and the whole event took less than a few minutes. "Now for a bit of a sail" said one of the prefects, and made course round the island. ` Albert felt the spray ion his face, and the fresh sea air in his chest, somehow salted and different in quality to the air only a few feet on shore. He was gloriously happy. The boat neared an outcrop of rocks. "We can land on these rocks" said the prefect, "though it's some way up." He hosted Albert onto the lowest ledge, which was slippery with spray. There was an iron staple fixed into the rock. The prefect passed a rope through it. "Must be safe" he said, and tied the other end round Albert's waist. "Now all you need do Albert" said the other prefect, "is keep a watch on the buoy to see nobody nicks it, and wait." Albert gave a little cry, but they were off, the boat swiftly putting distance between them and the rocks. There was nothing for it but to wait. As the tide got up the spray got fiercer, and there seemed to be more of a wind. Albert tried to keep out of it, but eventually the battle was lost, and his shirt and trousers were sodden to saturation. Then real cold set it. The worst was the boredom. There was nothing to do except watch the seabirds as the soared and dived. Once one came out of the sea with a fish in its beak. However it was a monotonous few hours. They didn't keep him there for longer than the afternoon. Before dusk, the boat reappeared, with the same two prefects as crew. "That was to get you back for stealing our boat" said the prefects, "now let's get the lobster pot up." They sailed the few hundred yards to the buoy. Albert yanked it up. "Why, the jammy little brat" said a prefect. Albert's face lit up with delight. "A lobster." Indeed, there it was, all strange and intimidating-looking, with its tentacles investigating the rope mesh of the cage, and with vicious, slightly dirty looking claws. "Not a crab even, but a lobster." said the prefect, "Well done Albert." He took out some tape and, grasping the lobster deftly, taped shut its claws. "A bit unsporting" he said, "but those things are vicious. We'll put it in a pail of water to keep it alive, and you're going to dine tomorrow, Albert."

+

Albert finally plucked up courage to ask the prefects to take him and his lobster pot out onto the high sea.
+ "OK" grinned the prefects, and they were off. "Very nice lobster pot you have there, Albert. Fortunately the sea within 300 yards is ours, so we'll take you up to the limit and put the pot down. Wouldn't do to trespass on the local fishermen's territory."
+ "The crabs just move as they want" said Albert.
+ They put a few mussels in the pot as bait, then attached it to a long rope with a buoy on the top. The pot was lowered and the whole event took less than a few minutes.
+ "Now for a bit of a sail" said one of the prefects, and made course round the island.
+ Albert felt the spray ion his face, and the fresh sea air in his chest, somehow salted and different in quality to the air only a few feet on shore. He was gloriously happy. The boat neared an outcrop of rocks.
+ "We can land on these rocks" said the prefect, "though it's some way up." He hosted Albert onto the lowest ledge, which was slippery with spray. There was an iron staple fixed into the rock. The prefect passed a rope through it. "Must be safe" he said, and tied the other end round Albert's waist. "Now all you need do Albert" said the other prefect, "is keep a watch on the buoy to see nobody nicks it, and wait."
+ Albert gave a little cry, but they were off, the boat swiftly putting distance between them and the rocks. There was nothing for it but to wait. As the tide got up the spray got fiercer, and there seemed to be more of a wind. Albert tried to keep out of it, but eventually the battle was lost, and his shirt and trousers were sodden to saturation. Then real cold set it. The worst was the boredom. There was nothing to do except watch the seabirds as the soared and dived. Once one came out of the sea with a fish in its beak. However it was a monotonous few hours.
+ They didn't keep him there for longer than the afternoon. Before dusk, the boat reappeared, with the same two prefects as crew.
+ "That was to get you back for stealing our boat" said the prefects, "now let's get the lobster pot up."
+ They sailed the few hundred yards to the buoy. Albert yanked it up.
+ "Why, the jammy little brat" said a prefect.
+ Albert's face lit up with delight.
+ "A lobster."
+ Indeed, there it was, all strange and intimidating-looking, with its tentacles investigating the rope mesh of the cage, and with vicious, slightly dirty looking claws.
+ "Not a crab even, but a lobster." said the prefect, "Well done Albert." He took out some tape and, grasping the lobster deftly, taped shut its claws.
+ "A bit unsporting" he said, "but those things are vicious. We'll put it in a pail of water to keep it alive, and you're going to dine tomorrow, Albert."

-

Br Damian asked him who he wanted it with, and he chose Abagail. So Abagail and Albert were called to the kitchen the next day and shown how to make lobster thermidor. The sauce was made with cream, fish stock, Parmesan cheese, mustard, onions, and brandy. The lobster was thrown alive into a big pan of boiling slated water, at which point it screamed. "Lobsters can't scream" explained Br Damian, "it's just the air coming out of its shell. It dies instantly." Not quite reassured, Albert and Abagail cut it in half, mixed up the meat with the sauce, and stuffed it back into its shell. They had to eat it in the kitchen to avoid exciting envy. "This is delicious" said Albert. "First time I've had lobster thermidor" said Abagail, "and, with any luck, we'll have venison next week, St Tom's is looking up. I'll have those specs, Albert" she said, grabbing Albert's spectacles. “Hey, I need those to see” said Albert. “I know you do.” said Abagail, “Unfortunately you lost them in the sea when you were tied to that rock. It's an emergency and you need to go to the opticians to get new ones. Father Abbot's got to give you permission.” “They saw that I had my glasses on” said Albert. “They won’t notice” said Abagail.

+

Br Damian asked him who he wanted it with, and he chose Abagail. So Abagail and Albert were called to the kitchen the next day and shown how to make lobster thermidor. The sauce was made with cream, fish stock, Parmesan cheese, mustard, onions, and brandy. The lobster was thrown alive into a big pan of boiling slated water, at which point it screamed.
+ "Lobsters can't scream" explained Br Damian, "it's just the air coming out of its shell. It dies instantly."
+ Not quite reassured, Albert and Abagail cut it in half, mixed up the meat with the sauce, and stuffed it back into its shell.
+ They had to eat it in the kitchen to avoid exciting envy. "This is delicious" said Albert.
+ "First time I've had lobster thermidor" said Abagail, "and, with any luck, we'll have venison next week, St Tom's is looking up. I'll have those specs, Albert" she said, grabbing Albert's spectacles.
+ “Hey, I need those to see” said Albert.
+ “I know you do.” said Abagail, “Unfortunately you lost them in the sea when you were tied to that rock. It's an emergency and you need to go to the opticians to get new ones. Father Abbot's got to give you permission.”
+ “They saw that I had my glasses on” said Albert.
+ “They won’t notice” said Abagail.

-

So it proved. Albert was told to get the boat that very next morning, to replace his spectacles so he could see and do schoolwork. He set off early, with the bows and arrows packed into a cello case he had borrowed from short Mary. He also took James' knife, some rope, matches and a few barbecue utensils. "What are you doing with a cello, Albert?" asked one of the second years, "I didn't know you even played it". Albert motioned for him to shut it, and then he was on the ferry and on the road to freedom. He checked in at the railway station, and instead of buying a ticket straight through, bought one that stopped off at a little station in a village near the forest. A long driveway led from the village to the huge mansion of the owner of the estate. Like most estates in Scotland, there were paths through it which were open to the public, as long as they kept to the marked right of way. Albert entered a short way onto the estate, and concealed the cello case in a hole by a tree, taking a note of the position with his GPS phone. Then he returned to the village, and completed the visit to the optician's in Saltcoates. who tested his eyes and had new lenses specially ordered for him. He got back last thing that night. All was set for the big trip out.

+

So it proved. Albert was told to get the boat that very next morning, to replace his spectacles so he could see and do schoolwork. He set off early, with the bows and arrows packed into a cello case he had borrowed from short Mary. He also took James' knife, some rope, matches and a few barbecue utensils.
+ "What are you doing with a cello, Albert?" asked one of the second years, "I didn't know you even played it".
+ Albert motioned for him to shut it, and then he was on the ferry and on the road to freedom. He checked in at the railway station, and instead of buying a ticket straight through, bought one that stopped off at a little station in a village near the forest. A long driveway led from the village to the huge mansion of the owner of the estate. Like most estates in Scotland, there were paths through it which were open to the public, as long as they kept to the marked right of way. Albert entered a short way onto the estate, and concealed the cello case in a hole by a tree, taking a note of the position with his GPS phone. Then he returned to the village, and completed the visit to the optician's in Saltcoates. who tested his eyes and had new lenses specially ordered for him. He got back last thing that night.
+ All was set for the big trip out.

diff --git a/docs/StToms/Chapter15.html b/docs/StToms/Chapter15.html index be28d8f..c5cf72a 100644 --- a/docs/StToms/Chapter15.html +++ b/docs/StToms/Chapter15.html @@ -15,11 +15,63 @@

Chapter 15. The white stag,

-

Monday morning the boys rose a hour before the rest of the school for Prime as usual, then they met Br Kieran and the two prefects by the minibus. Albert had his GPS phone handy. The girls arrived five minutes later. They were all dressed in old clothes, not school uniform, with the exception of Br Kieran who still wore his habit. "Everyone got their lunch, waterproofs?" Br Kieran called out, "bring your mobile phone if you have it, just to be on the safe side. Mary, you cannot walk through the Caledonian forest in those ridiculous shoes. Get proper boots on right away." Blonde Mary walked haughtily back to the dorm. Eventually they were all present and correct. "Breviary?" said Abagail. Adam nodded. "We need to set up the traps by dawn" said Br Kieran, "to give us maximum time to catch some insects. Particularly because there won't be as many this late into autumn."

+

Monday morning the boys rose a hour before the rest of the school for Prime as usual, then they met Br Kieran and the two prefects by the minibus. Albert had his GPS phone handy. The girls arrived five minutes later. They were all dressed in old clothes, not school uniform, with the exception of Br Kieran who still wore his habit.
+ "Everyone got their lunch, waterproofs?" Br Kieran called out, "bring your mobile phone if you have it, just to be on the safe side. Mary, you cannot walk through the Caledonian forest in those ridiculous shoes. Get proper boots on right away."
+ Blonde Mary walked haughtily back to the dorm. Eventually they were all present and correct.
+ "Breviary?" said Abagail. Adam nodded.
+ "We need to set up the traps by dawn" said Br Kieran, "to give us maximum time to catch some insects. Particularly because there won't be as many this late into autumn."

-

The ferry was already docked, and Br Kieran drove the minibus onto it. The children clambered aboard, and the ferryman loosed the mooring, and they were away, over the still dark strait separating the island from the mainland. "Thanks", Br Kieran tipped the ferryman, and everyone piled into the minibus, "I want that seat" said Abagail. "I was here first" protested blonde Mary, "get your own seat." "Two of the boys are going to have to lie on the floor" said Br Kieran, "it's not far." After a bit of squabbling Adam and Ibrahim were picked on by the prefects, who were named Mark and Gillian, to surrender their seats. So they lay in the narrow corridor between the banks of seats. Br Kieran drove for about half an hour, then the minibus pulled into a layby. "I stay here" he said, "two traps each, and separate into two groups of five. On second thoughts, I'll do it for you. Boys and girls. The prefects will show you how to set them up." Mark took a map and led the boys into the conifer forest. Gillian took the girls in the other direction. "Meet you at the Royal Mile" Mark said to Gillian after they had parted from Br Kieran. Abagail smiled. The traps consisted of two small buckets, with a steel cover that prevented leaves and other detritus from dropping directly into them, but was lifted up an inch or so above the bucket rim to allow the insects to enter. The bucket was filled with half an inch of water, to which was added honey, ethanol, and propene glycol to kill the insects. A pinch of a foul smelling powder called dentonium benzoate was added to deter small animals from drinking the solution. The buckets were arranged in pairs, about two feet apart, with a steel guide vane between them. An insect, crawling on its way, would reach the guide vane and, unable to cross it, follow it along either to the left or the right. Eventually it would reach a bucket, and drop in. You had to dig a hole for the bucket, add the ingredients, and then cover it with the metal cover. Then the trap was set up. It didn't take too long. Getting the right location on the map was the trickiest part. Abagail secreted away some of the ethanol. "Do they die of drink?" Abagail asked Gillian. "I think so" said Gillian, "the propene glycol won't do them any good either. It kills them and acts as a preservative." "So it's just normal alcohol, like you get in beer?" Abagail persisted. "It's ethanol, yes, exactly the same as normal alcohol" said Gillian, "But ask Br Kieran. I'm just the prefect." Abagail smiled. Gillian couldn't watch all five of them. Even if she was suspicious now, it was too late. The ethanol had been poured a few minutes ago into Abagail's water bottle. It took about an hour and a half to set up all the traps, by which time the Sun was firmly into the sky. They saw deer, and chaffinches. "OK, now we start the nature walk" said Gillian, "I want you to note down the species of all the trees that we pass, and take leaf samples of each new one." The girls groaned. This was boring. They worked their way slowly through the forest, painstaking noting down trees.

+

The ferry was already docked, and Br Kieran drove the minibus onto it. The children clambered aboard, and the ferryman loosed the mooring, and they were away, over the still dark strait separating the island from the mainland.
+ "Thanks", Br Kieran tipped the ferryman, and everyone piled into the minibus,
+ "I want that seat" said Abagail.
+ "I was here first" protested blonde Mary, "get your own seat."
+ "Two of the boys are going to have to lie on the floor" said Br Kieran, "it's not far."
+ After a bit of squabbling Adam and Ibrahim were picked on by the prefects, who were named Mark and Gillian, to surrender their seats. So they lay in the narrow corridor between the banks of seats. Br Kieran drove for about half an hour, then the minibus pulled into a layby.
+ "I stay here" he said, "two traps each, and separate into two groups of five. On second thoughts, I'll do it for you. Boys and girls. The prefects will show you how to set them up."
+ Mark took a map and led the boys into the conifer forest. Gillian took the girls in the other direction.
+ "Meet you at the Royal Mile" Mark said to Gillian after they had parted from Br Kieran. Abagail smiled.
+ The traps consisted of two small buckets, with a steel cover that prevented leaves and other detritus from dropping directly into them, but was lifted up an inch or so above the bucket rim to allow the insects to enter.
+ The bucket was filled with half an inch of water, to which was added honey, ethanol, and propene glycol to kill the insects. A pinch of a foul smelling powder called dentonium benzoate was added to deter small animals from drinking the solution.
+ The buckets were arranged in pairs, about two feet apart, with a steel guide vane between them. An insect, crawling on its way, would reach the guide vane and, unable to cross it, follow it along either to the left or the right. Eventually it would reach a bucket, and drop in. You had to dig a hole for the bucket, add the ingredients, and then cover it with the metal cover. Then the trap was set up. It didn't take too long. Getting the right location on the map was the trickiest part.
+ Abagail secreted away some of the ethanol.
+ "Do they die of drink?" Abagail asked Gillian.
+ "I think so" said Gillian, "the propene glycol won't do them any good either. It kills them and acts as a preservative."
+ "So it's just normal alcohol, like you get in beer?" Abagail persisted.
+ "It's ethanol, yes, exactly the same as normal alcohol" said Gillian, "But ask Br Kieran. I'm just the prefect."
+ Abagail smiled. Gillian couldn't watch all five of them. Even if she was suspicious now, it was too late. The ethanol had been poured a few minutes ago into Abagail's water bottle.
+ It took about an hour and a half to set up all the traps, by which time the Sun was firmly into the sky. They saw deer, and chaffinches.
+ "OK, now we start the nature walk" said Gillian, "I want you to note down the species of all the trees that we pass, and take leaf samples of each new one."
+ The girls groaned. This was boring. They worked their way slowly through the forest, painstaking noting down trees.

-

The boys had a better time of it. As Br Kieran had said, all the trees in the coniferous forest were of the same species anyway. Mark had a guidebook, and contented himself with identifying small shrubs and plants they found on the forest floor. "Those mushrooms" he flipped through the guidebook, "anyone any idea what those are?" "It's either Coprinus comatus or Phallus impudicus" said James, "doesn't look much like a phallus to me." "We'll go for Coprinus comatus then", said Mark, "shaggy inkcap". "This one is green elf-cup" said Sebastian, "I've seen it before." Indeed it had stained a fallen branch green. They gradually made their way to the Royal Mile pub. A blue plaque said that it had been founded in 1203, as a post for Royal soldiers who protected the King of Scotland's hunting rights in the forest. The "Mile" wasn't a mile at all, but a corruption of the Latin miles, for soldier. "This would be where they stayed and rested after duty" said Mark, "and the King stayed here too. Now you lot are too young to drink. So just stay quiet whilst Gillian and I enjoy a quick pint." Gillian and the girls arrived a couple of minutes later. They had obviously synchronised their watches. "Two pints" said Mark. The children got their lunch boxes out. The proprietor didn't seem to mind. Abagail opened her water bottle, now full of pure ethanol. "Distract them" she whispered to Cecilia. ` "There's a golden eagle" said Cecilia, and ran to the window. She dug Sebastian in the ribs. "See it?" "Oh indeed I do" said Sebastian, "there's a golden eagle, circling low." Albert was on his feet, straining to see it. "I can't see it" he said. "It's gone from sight" said Sebastian, "no, there it is, see it Albert." Soon everyone except Abagail was clamouring around the tiny window. "Maybe we'll get a better view if we go outside" said Cecilia, and went to the door. Somewhat wearily, Mark and Gillian went to follow the first years. Seizing her chance, Abagail tipped out some of their beers onto the floor, and filled up the quantity with ethanol. Then she went to the door with the rest. "It was so low" said Cecilia, "surely it will come round again." Eventually they gave up. "Well never mind" said Sebastian, "well get another chance to see it." "Time to pray" said Abagail. "What?" said Mark. "Abagail is right" said Adam, "it's noon." He dived into his satchel for the breviary. "You can't possibly sing Sexte in a pub" said Mark, "beside, we're away from the monastery." "OK" said Adam, "we'll do it outside. Anybody coming?" One by one all the children filed out. Sebastian took the position of cantor, and sang with a pure, clear note. "Oh God come to our aid" "Oh Lord make haste to help us"

+

The boys had a better time of it. As Br Kieran had said, all the trees in the coniferous forest were of the same species anyway. Mark had a guidebook, and contented himself with identifying small shrubs and plants they found on the forest floor.
+ "Those mushrooms" he flipped through the guidebook, "anyone any idea what those are?"
+ "It's either Coprinus comatus or Phallus impudicus" said James, "doesn't look much like a phallus to me."
+ "We'll go for Coprinus comatus then", said Mark, "shaggy inkcap".
+ "This one is green elf-cup" said Sebastian, "I've seen it before." Indeed it had stained a fallen branch green.
+ They gradually made their way to the Royal Mile pub. A blue plaque said that it had been founded in 1203, as a post for Royal soldiers who protected the King of Scotland's hunting rights in the forest.
+ The "Mile" wasn't a mile at all, but a corruption of the Latin miles, for soldier.
+ "This would be where they stayed and rested after duty" said Mark, "and the King stayed here too. Now you lot are too young to drink. So just stay quiet whilst Gillian and I enjoy a quick pint."
+ Gillian and the girls arrived a couple of minutes later. They had obviously synchronised their watches.
+ "Two pints" said Mark.
+ The children got their lunch boxes out. The proprietor didn't seem to mind. Abagail opened her water bottle, now full of pure ethanol.
+ "Distract them" she whispered to Cecilia.
+ "There's a golden eagle" said Cecilia, and ran to the window. She dug Sebastian in the ribs. "See it?"
+ "Oh indeed I do" said Sebastian, "there's a golden eagle, circling low."
+ Albert was on his feet, straining to see it.
+ "I can't see it" he said.
+ "It's gone from sight" said Sebastian, "no, there it is, see it Albert."
+ Soon everyone except Abagail was clamouring around the tiny window.
+ "Maybe we'll get a better view if we go outside" said Cecilia, and went to the door. Somewhat wearily, Mark and Gillian went to follow the first years. Seizing her chance, Abagail tipped out some of their beers onto the floor, and filled up the quantity with ethanol. Then she went to the door with the rest.
+ "It was so low" said Cecilia, "surely it will come round again." Eventually they gave up.
+ "Well never mind" said Sebastian, "well get another chance to see it."
+ "Time to pray" said Abagail.
+ "What?" said Mark.
+ "Abagail is right" said Adam, "it's noon." He dived into his satchel for the breviary.
+ "You can't possibly sing Sexte in a pub" said Mark, "beside, we're away from the monastery."
+ "OK" said Adam, "we'll do it outside. Anybody coming?"
+ One by one all the children filed out. Sebastian took the position of cantor, and sang with a pure, clear note.
+ "Oh God come to our aid"
+ "Oh Lord make haste to help us"

Sebastian give the reading

@@ -27,22 +79,156 @@

After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him."

-

"Some rum kids you've got there" said the barman, "another pint?" "OK, just one" said Mark. "Scarper" said Abagail, and everybody ran, not waiting for the concluding Psalm.

+

"Some rum kids you've got there" said the barman, "another pint?"
+ "OK, just one" said Mark.
+ "Scarper" said Abagail, and everybody ran, not waiting for the concluding Psalm.

-

Within a few minutes, tired, they were well clear of the Royal Mile. "Poor prefects" said Cecilia. "They'll have to admit that they were in a pub, and they left us to pray the office on our own before they lost us" said Abagail, "and the best thing is, I managed to spike their drinks. So they'll be totally out of it." "How do you know it wasn't meths?" asked Cecilia, concerned. "I asked, silly." said Abagial, "It's pure ethanol. You know, the same stuff that is in beer and whiskey." "GPS time" said Albert. Within a couple of minute's he'd located a route to where he had hidden the bows and arrows. "You've ruined my cello case" said short Mary. "Never mind" said James, "It's only there to protect the cello. Our bows and arrows are dry, and here's my knife. Stick the arrows into your satchels, like a quiver." Then they took off their outer garments and rolled them in the mud. Then James and Adam streaked mud onto everybody's face. "Come on Mary," James said to blonde Mary, "you don't want the deer to take fright at you." he streaked mud into her face, and she suddenly looked more glamorous, like a film star. "OK, now, after a deer. And don't let anyone see you." Bows in hands, they strode back into the forest. The walked for maybe a mile on narrow tracks until they saw a group of five deer in a clearing, browsing contentedly on the leaves. Two were does, one was a big stag, and there were two first year stags with new antlers. One of the young stags was a light colour. Abagail's order was immediate. "Get that white stag". Cautiously, they approached, notching arrows to their bows. Blonde Mary, Mandy, and short Mary, who had refused to take part in the archery, brought up the rear. James drew his bow to full weight, and shot an arrow deliberately and accurately at the white stag. It hit it in the side, and the barbs Albert had provided it with meant that it stuck in. All five deer instantly ran away into the forest. "James, you idiot" Sebastian said, "Now we've got to follow that wounded animal up. We've got an awful job. Why couldn't you have waited?" "Sorry" said James, "at least I got it." "We're going to have to search the forest" said Sebastian, "otherwise it will die slowly and horribly. We must find that white stag." They went in the direction in which it had disappeared, but there was nothing to be seen, not even a trail of blood. "We need a dog" said Cecilia. "This is hopeless" said Adam, "we can't outrun a deer" "Well we've got to try" said Sebastian, "it's not going to go far with an arrow in its side." They tried for a few more minutes, but Adam was right, it was hopeless. Then Mandy screamed. A snake had slithered out of the underground, and menaced her leg. She froze, rooted to the spot in sheer terror. The eyes and tongue of the snake moved, very much alive, as it pondered what to do with her. Adam dived in and picked it up. It was warm to the touch, not slimy at all. Its coils slipped around his arms. He stroked it. "Adam, what are you doing?" said Cecilia, "Put that down. It's an adder." Adam put the snake down gently. Cecilia shook her head. "Come on, let's get out of its way" she said. They went another few hundred yards along the path, until they came to a small, fenced field. A horse was grazing in the middle of it, and jumps were set up for it to practise jumping over. There seemed to be nobody about. Sebastian and Cecilia looked at each other. "Does anyone have a mint?" asked Cecilia. Adam rooted in his pocket and took out an old packet. Cecilia went up to the horse and offered it the mint. "Now I've made friends with you" she said, stoking it's muzzle, "I'm going to have to borrow you. All in a good cause." "Go girl" said James and Sebastian, and lifted her onto its back. The horse was a magnificent animal, obviously used from show jumping in some of the top competitions. Cecilia had ridden Trumpert bareback before, but only round the yard. Now she had to do it in earnest. "Give me the rope" she said. The boys cut it and she made a crude bridle. It wasn't much, but it was just enough to give some control of the horse's direction. "Now go like the wind" said Cecilia, and slapped him. The horse went off at a brisk canter. Cecilia had the ride of her life. She had never ridden so expensive, so able an animal. The horse for his part had the ride of his life also. Never before had he had so small and light a rider as Cecilia on his back, and without a saddle either. It was like running free. They cantered through the forest, then broke into a full gallop for the broader paths. With the horse under her like a pair of wings, Cecilia could cover a lot of ground. Eventually she spotted the white stag, the arrow still sticking from his side, still with the other four deer. She turned the horse round, and went to inform the others. By the time they got there the group of deer had moved on, but by now Cecilia had less forest to search. it took her only a few minutes to find them again. She brought the horse to a slow walk by the others. The children fanned out, bows in hands, approaching cautiously so as not to startle their quarry, determined this time not to break discipline. Six arrows - Cecilia was still on the horse - were notched into bows, and drawn back. James nodded. At the same instant all six were loosed. Adam and Abagail missed. Ibrahim hit but bounced off. James, Sebastian,and Albert’s went full in, and the white stag sprang into the air. The other deer fled. It was left alone in the centre of the circle, and the children reloaded. They shot again, and this time every single arrow hit. "Grab it" said James, "disable its legs, or it will give us a nasty kick" Two children went for each limb, with James at the head. The stag was still alive, but obviously fatally wounded. James got out his knife and looked at Adam. "Lord look with favour on this sacrifice" said Adam, "as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest, Melchizedek" "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands" said Abagail, "for the praise and glory of His name, For our good and the good of all His Church." "Do it, James" said Adam. James closed his eyes, and drew the knife across the stag's throat. Blood spurted out, and it surrendered its life. Adam and James butchered the carcass, cutting off the fat thighs. There was fat round the thighs which they cut off also, and wrapped round them. By this time Sebastian and Albert had got a fire ready, on a platform they built out of stones. Adam put the thighs with the covering of fat on the fire, and they caught light, giving a sickly sweet aroma. Blue smoke ascended upwards. James cut another few joints. "This is Mandy's first kill" said Cecilia. Adam and James took some of the blood, and daubed it on Mandy's face. It mingled with the mud and washed some of it off. It was a solemn moment. "You are now one of us" said Abagail. Tears stung at Mandy's eyes, but they were tears of pleasure. A group of six young men and women in leather jackets appeared from the undergrowth. "Having a barbie?" asked the leader, a young woman in a fringed leather jacket, a short skirt, and glass beads threaded all over her shirt, which was loose and of a heavy cotton material. "Sure, join us" said James, in reality unsure about these people. Two young men had guitars, and another had a small drum. They set these up. "There's plenty of meat" said Sebastian, "the first portion should be ready now." He gave it to Abagail, who filled her mouth with solid venison. It tasted good. The second bit, as seemed only fitting, he offered to the young woman who seemed to be the leader. She nodded slightly as she took it. "We've got booze" said another young woman, and drew a box of wine from her satchel. The children all had drinking bottles or cups, and she filled each one in turn, starting with Abagail. "Cheers" said everyone. "We've got some bread rolls too. Help soak up all that meat." And they took some burger buns out of their satchels. By now everyone had a portion of meat in his hand. "What are you kids doing here, anyway?" asked the leader. "Collecting insects" said Abagail. Abagail took out her mobile phone and took a photo of the dead stag and the fire. She turned it on one of the men with guitars. "No photos" he said, and pushed the phone gently away. They started a song. Everyone was experienced in singing after nearly a term at St Tom's, and they soon picked up the tune. It was a haunting melody, unlike anything anyone had ever heard before. Adam felt the wine going to his head. Someone started a dance going, and it was impossible not to join in. The three men played the guitars and the drum and the rest danced in a circle round the fire, which was now reduced to hot embers. "You're a rock band, aren't you?" Adam was wildly guessing. The leader woman just smiled at him. "Move your feet, one, two, one, two" she led him in the dance. His accustomed clumsiness fell all away, and he was happy and part of the pulsating circle of dancers. The musicians changed tune again, and they danced in the opposite direction. All was lightness and laughter. "Which of these girls do you like best?" the woman asked Adam. "Abbey" said Adam. "You can't dance with Abbey" she laughed, "who else." "So hard to tell." "You must choose." "Cecilia." Cecilia flushed with pleasure. The leader paired them and they danced in the centre of the circle, their faces reddening in the hot fire. Then the musicians lay down their instruments, and the children collapsed, exhausted, on the soft grass. The leader handed round some more wine. There was some talk, but Adam was too tired to follow it. Imperceptibly, he fell asleep. When they woke the rock band were gone. There was also no trace of the white stag, though the ashes of the fire were still warm. Also their bows and arrows had disappeared. The horse was gone as well. "Don't worry, I expect he'll find his own way back home" said Cecilia. "We'd better get back" said Albert, "Br Kieran will be out looking for us". They used Albert' GPS to find the Royal Mile. Mark and Gillian were still there, looking the worse for drink, but trying to hide it. "Where on Earth have you been?" demanded Mark, "It's time to go back to the traps already." "I could have sworn we spent several hours" said Cecilia, quietly, "plus time asleep." "Well don't worry about it" said Abagail, "don't get us into trouble."

+

Within a few minutes, tired, they were well clear of the Royal Mile.
+ "Poor prefects" said Cecilia
+ "They'll have to admit that they were in a pub, and they left us to pray the office on our own before they lost us" said Abagail, "and the best thing is, I managed to spike their drinks. So they'll be totally out of it."
+ "How do you know it wasn't meths?" asked Cecilia, concerned.
+ "I asked, silly." said Abagial, "It's pure ethanol. You know, the same stuff that is in beer and whiskey."
+ "GPS time" said Albert. Within a couple of minute's he'd located a route to where he had hidden the bows and arrows.
+ "You've ruined my cello case" said short Mary.
+ "Never mind" said James, "It's only there to protect the cello. Our bows and arrows are dry, and here's my knife. Stick the arrows into your satchels, like a quiver."
+ Then they took off their outer garments and rolled them in the mud. Then James and Adam streaked mud onto everybody's face.
+ "Come on Mary," James said to blonde Mary, "you don't want the deer to take fright at you." he streaked mud into her face, and she suddenly looked more glamorous, like a film star.
+ "OK, now, after a deer. And don't let anyone see you." Bows in hands, they strode back into the forest. The walked for maybe a mile on narrow tracks until they saw a group of five deer in a clearing, browsing contentedly on the leaves. Two were does, one was a big stag, and there were two first year stags with new antlers. One of the young stags was a light colour.
+ Abagail's order was immediate.
+ "Get that white stag".
+ Cautiously, they approached, notching arrows to their bows. Blonde Mary, Mandy, and short Mary, who had refused to take part in the archery, brought up the rear. James drew his bow to full weight, and shot an arrow deliberately and accurately at the white stag. It hit it in the side, and the barbs Albert had provided it with meant that it stuck in. All five deer instantly ran away into the forest.
+ "James, you idiot" Sebastian said, "Now we've got to follow that wounded animal up. We've got an awful job. Why couldn't you have waited?"
+ "Sorry" said James, "at least I got it."
+ "We're going to have to search the forest" said Sebastian, "otherwise it will die slowly and horribly. We must find that white stag."
+ They went in the direction in which it had disappeared, but there was nothing to be seen, not even a trail of blood.
+ "We need a dog" said Cecilia.
+ "This is hopeless" said Adam, "we can't outrun a deer"
+ "Well we've got to try" said Sebastian, "it's not going to go far with an arrow in its side."
+ They tried for a few more minutes, but Adam was right, it was hopeless. Then Mandy screamed. A snake had slithered out of the underground, and menaced her leg. She froze, rooted to the spot in sheer terror. The eyes and tongue of the snake moved, very much alive, as it pondered what to do with her.
+ Adam dived in and picked it up. It was warm to the touch, not slimy at all. Its coils slipped around his arms. He stroked it.
+ "Adam, what are you doing?" said Cecilia, "Put that down. It's an adder."
+ Adam put the snake down gently.
+ Cecilia shook her head. "Come on, let's get out of its way" she said. They went another few hundred yards along the path, until they came to a small, fenced field. A horse was grazing in the middle of it, and jumps were set up for it to practise jumping over. There seemed to be nobody about. Sebastian and Cecilia looked at each other.
+ "Does anyone have a mint?" asked Cecilia.
+ Adam rooted in his pocket and took out an old packet. Cecilia went up to the horse and offered it the mint. "Now I've made friends with you" she said, stoking it's muzzle, "I'm going to have to borrow you. All in a good cause."
+ "Go girl" said James and Sebastian, and lifted her onto its back.
+ The horse was a magnificent animal, obviously used from show jumping in some of the top competitions. Cecilia had ridden Trumpert bareback before, but only round the yard. Now she had to do it in earnest.
+ "Give me the rope" she said. The boys cut it and she made a crude bridle. It wasn't much, but it was just enough to give some control of the horse's direction.
+ "Now go like the wind" said Cecilia, and slapped him. The horse went off at a brisk canter. Cecilia had the ride of her life. She had never ridden so expensive, so able an animal. The horse for his part had the ride of his life also. Never before had he had so small and light a rider as Cecilia on his back, and without a saddle either. It was like running free. They cantered through the forest, then broke into a full gallop for the broader paths. With the horse under her like a pair of wings, Cecilia could cover a lot of ground. Eventually she spotted the white stag, the arrow still sticking from his side, still with the other four deer. She turned the horse round, and went to inform the others.
+ By the time they got there the group of deer had moved on, but by now Cecilia had less forest to search. it took her only a few minutes to find them again. She brought the horse to a slow walk by the others.
+ The children fanned out, bows in hands, approaching cautiously so as not to startle their quarry, determined this time not to break discipline. Six arrows - Cecilia was still on the horse - were notched into bows, and drawn back. James nodded. At the same instant all six were loosed. Adam and Abagail missed. Ibrahim hit but bounced off. James, Sebastian,and Albert’s went full in, and the white stag sprang into the air. The other deer fled. It was left alone in the centre of the circle, and the children reloaded. They shot again, and this time every single arrow hit.
+ "Grab it" said James, "disable its legs, or it will give us a nasty kick"
+ Two children went for each limb, with James at the head. The stag was still alive, but obviously fatally wounded. James got out his knife and looked at Adam.
+ "Lord look with favour on this sacrifice" said Adam, "as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest, Melchizedek"
+ "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands" said Abagail, "for the praise and glory of His name, For our good and the good of all His Church."
+ "Do it, James" said Adam.
+ James closed his eyes, and drew the knife across the stag's throat. Blood spurted out, and it surrendered its life.
+ Adam and James butchered the carcass, cutting off the fat thighs. There was fat round the thighs which they cut off also, and wrapped round them. By this time Sebastian and Albert had got a fire ready, on a platform they built out of stones. Adam put the thighs with the covering of fat on the fire, and they caught light, giving a sickly sweet aroma. Blue smoke ascended upwards.
+ James cut another few joints.
+ "This is Mandy's first kill" said Cecilia.
+ Adam and James took some of the blood, and daubed it on Mandy's face. It mingled with the mud and washed some of it off. It was a solemn moment.
+ "You are now one of us" said Abagail.
+ Tears stung at Mandy's eyes, but they were tears of pleasure.
+ A group of six young men and women in leather jackets appeared from the undergrowth.
+ "Having a barbie?" asked the leader, a young woman in a fringed leather jacket, a short skirt, and glass beads threaded all over her shirt, which was loose and of a heavy cotton material.
+ "Sure, join us" said James, in reality unsure about these people. Two young men had guitars, and another had a small drum. They set these up.
+ "There's plenty of meat" said Sebastian, "the first portion should be ready now." He gave it to Abagail, who filled her mouth with solid venison. It tasted good.
+ The second bit, as seemed only fitting, he offered to the young woman who seemed to be the leader. She nodded slightly as she took it.
+ "We've got booze" said another young woman, and drew a box of wine from her satchel. The children all had drinking bottles or cups, and she filled each one in turn, starting with Abagail.
+ "Cheers" said everyone.
+ "We've got some bread rolls too. Help soak up all that meat." And they took some burger buns out of their satchels. By now everyone had a portion of meat in his hand.
+ "What are you kids doing here, anyway?" asked the leader. "Collecting insects" said Abagail.
+ Abagail took out her mobile phone and took a photo of the dead stag and the fire. She turned it on one of the men with guitars.
+ "No photos" he said, and pushed the phone gently away.
+ They started a song. Everyone was experienced in singing after nearly a term at St Tom's, and they soon picked up the tune. It was a haunting melody, unlike anything anyone had ever heard before. Adam felt the wine going to his head. Someone started a dance going, and it was impossible not to join in. The three men played the guitars and the drum and the rest danced in a circle round the fire, which was now reduced to hot embers.
+ "You're a rock band, aren't you?" Adam was wildly guessing. The leader woman just smiled at him.
+ "Move your feet, one, two, one, two" she led him in the dance. His accustomed clumsiness fell all away, and he was happy and part of the pulsating circle of dancers. The musicians changed tune again, and they danced in the opposite direction. All was lightness and laughter.
+ "Which of these girls do you like best?" the woman asked Adam.
+ "Abbey" said Adam. "You can't dance with Abbey" she laughed, "who else."
+ "So hard to tell."
+ "You must choose."
+ "Cecilia."
+ Cecilia flushed with pleasure. The leader paired them and they danced in the centre of the circle, their faces reddening in the hot fire.
+ Then the musicians lay down their instruments, and the children collapsed, exhausted, on the soft grass. The leader handed round some more wine. There was some talk, but Adam was too tired to follow it. Imperceptibly, he fell asleep.
+ When they woke the rock band were gone. There was also no trace of the white stag, though the ashes of the fire were still warm. Also their bows and arrows had disappeared. The horse was gone as well.
+ "Don't worry, I expect he'll find his own way back home" said Cecilia.
+ "We'd better get back" said Albert, "Br Kieran will be out looking for us".
+ They used Albert' GPS to find the Royal Mile. Mark and Gillian were still there, looking the worse for drink, but trying to hide it.
+ "Where on Earth have you been?" demanded Mark, "It's time to go back to the traps already."
+ "I could have sworn we spent several hours" said Cecilia, quietly, "plus time asleep."
+ "Well don't worry about it" said Abagail, "don't get us into trouble."

-

They split up again to collect the traps, which had a reasonable collection of insects in them, mainly different types of beetle. These were all labelled and transferred, with some of the preserving fluid, to plastic beakers for identification in the lab. "Nice time kids?" said Br Kieran, who was in the minibus, reading a newspaper by the light of the passenger lamp, for it was now dusk. "Oh yes" said Abagail. They were soon back at St Toms, and fast asleep.

+

They split up again to collect the traps, which had a reasonable collection of insects in them, mainly different types of beetle. These were all labelled and transferred, with some of the preserving fluid, to plastic beakers for identification in the lab.
+ "Nice time kids?" said Br Kieran, who was in the minibus, reading a newspaper by the light of the passenger lamp, for it was now dusk.
+ "Oh yes" said Abagail.
+ They were soon back at St Toms, and fast asleep.

-

The next day Abagail was checking the local paper on the Internet. She pulled up a story. "Rare white stag killed by poachers. A rare white stag, said to be worth over three hundred thousand pounds, was today reported missing, assumed brutally killed by poachers. The animal, which was one of only two in the world, had a genetic condition called leucism, which caused pigment in his skin to degenerate. Landowner Mr Baines, who owns the animal, was going to auction the right to hunt him to the highest bidder. Bids had already been accepted from as far away as Japan. Police are investigating." "Oh crumbs", said Abagail. There was only one thing to do, and she got a USB connector to her mobile phone. "Gillian" said Abagail and Cecilia, sweetly, "we'll do your room out as a thank you for taking us on the trip yesterday." Prefects had shared study bedrooms that were a bit bigger and nicer than everybody else's. They had their own washbasins and a place they could put down a sandwich or a cup of coffee, though like everyone else they were forbidden from cooking in bedrooms and had to use the prefect's kitchen. They could also have their own music and computers. There was quite a bit to tidy. That evening Abagail, on Albert's advice, took video clip after video clip, filling the memory of her phone several times over.

+

The next day Abagail was checking the local paper on the Internet. She pulled up a story.
+ "Rare white stag killed by poachers. A rare white stag, said to be worth over three hundred thousand pounds, was today reported missing, assumed brutally killed by poachers. The animal, which was one of only two in the world, had a genetic condition called leucism, which caused pigment in his skin to degenerate. Landowner Mr Baines, who owns the animal, was going to auction the right to hunt him to the highest bidder. Bids had already been accepted from as far away as Japan. Police are investigating."
+ "Oh crumbs", said Abagail.
+ There was only one thing to do, and she got a USB connector to her mobile phone.
+ "Gillian" said Abagail and Cecilia, sweetly, "we'll do your room out as a thank you for taking us on the trip yesterday."
+ Prefects had shared study bedrooms that were a bit bigger and nicer than everybody else's. They had their own washbasins and a place they could put down a sandwich or a cup of coffee, though like everyone else they were forbidden from cooking in bedrooms and had to use the prefect's kitchen. They could also have their own music and computers. There was quite a bit to tidy.
+ That evening Abagail, on Albert's advice, took video clip after video clip, filling the memory of her phone several times over.

-

"This is gross" complained blonde Mary, "even worse than the mice. All these dead beetles, and we're supposed to identify them." "Shut up Mary" said Br Kieran, and handed her the identification guide. "Use a magnifying glass if you have to." "Mainly woodlice in mine" said Albert, "they're not beetles at all. I think the situation is clear, the conifer forest is less diverse." "You certainly have fewer insects in your traps" said Br Kieran, "but maybe that means that the girls are better at setting them. You need to calculate the Shannon index." They did. Eventually, after a whole day's field trip with the entire class, and another good two hours' work in the lab, they were left with two numbers. 1.56 for the broadleaf forest, and 1.03 for the conifers. "That's it" said Br Kieran, "there's our result."

+

"This is gross" complained blonde Mary, "even worse than the mice. All these dead beetles, and we're supposed to identify them."
+ "Shut up Mary" said Br Kieran, and handed her the identification guide. "Use a magnifying glass if you have to."
+ "Mainly woodlice in mine" said Albert, "they're not beetles at all. I think the situation is clear, the conifer forest is less diverse."
+ "You certainly have fewer insects in your traps" said Br Kieran, "but maybe that means that the girls are better at setting them. You need to calculate the Shannon index."
+ They did. Eventually, after a whole day's field trip with the entire class, and another good two hours' work in the lab, they were left with two numbers. 1.56 for the broadleaf forest, and 1.03 for the conifers.
+ "That's it" said Br Kieran, "there's our result."

-

“I need some defence” complained Albert, pulling the ball for the third time from the bushes behind the two jerseys. The second years were beating them as usual. “You’ve got Sebastian, and Adam” said James, “how can we give you any more? “Why can’t we play 3 - 1?” asked Albert. “Some do” said Sebastian, “I’ve heard of it.” “OK, Ibrahim also back.” “No, not Ibrahim. He’s useless.” “Who else is there?” asked James. The obvious answer struck him. “If I’m back I won’t score any goals.” “But they won’t score any either.” said Albert, “it’s the difference that counts, not how many goals you score personally.” “It’s easier to defend than attack.” said Sebastian. “Which is why the best player is always the forward.” said James. “But we didn’t score any goals anyway against St Dunstan’s” said Sebastian. “So what does it matter. Go for nil-nil”. “You always get some chances” said Albert, “always.” James shook his head. They continued playing, and the second years scored a fourth goal. James suddenly realised what he must do, and played back. The St Dunstan's team arrived two days later for the big match. It was held inside, in the gym. Since it was only a first year event there was no compulsion on the whole school to attend, but the girls were there on the balcony, watching, and also the second years with whom they played at lunchtimes. Andrew, who was captain of games, was there in his professional capacity and there were a few higher years who had nothing better to do. They had a pep talk from Br Gwilliam. "You can win this match" he said, "just play as a team, and show some attacking spirit. You've got your support behind you". "Everyone back except Ibrahim" said James, "just kill that game. Let nothing get through to Albert." St Dunstan's won the toss and kicked off. They instantly went forward. Sebastian intercepted, and passed to James, who kicked it up to Ibrahim. None of the St Tom's boys went forwards. Ibrahim was swiftly dispossessed by the St Dunstan's defender, and the ball came back onto the attack. James and Sebastian squabbled with the St Dunstan's boys over it in midfield, and then eventually passed it back to Albert, who kicked it out to Adam. Adam tried a pass up to Ibrahim but it went wide. St Dunstan's had a shot on goal, but Albert saved it. It went back up to Ibrahim, and was swiftly lost. At this stage, the St Dunstan's boys began to get over confident, leaving Ibrahim unmarked. Sebastian won the ball, and made a long pass to Ibrahim. Ibrahim was clear in front of the St Dunstan's goal, and made a shot. It hit the post. The St Dunstan's goalkeeper called out, as if to say "where is my defence?" After that St Dunstan's learnt their lesson, and were more cautious. As James had said, St Tom's killed the game. Time after time it the ball was won, and instead of building an attack, it was passed back to Albert, or passed up to Ibrahim. Only rarely, when a really good chance presented itself, did James or Sebastian risk going forwards in support. It wasted a lot of time. The spectators were cheering less loudly, looking bored. Eventually St Dunstan's did break through James and Sebastian, and then pushed easily past Adam. It should have been a save for Albert, but he mishandled it, and put the ball into his own net. One nil to St Dunstans. The ball was in play for a few minutes more, and it was the second half. "That's respectable" said James. "We just need lady luck" said Sebastian.

+

“I need some defence” complained Albert, pulling the ball for the third time from the bushes behind the two jerseys. The second years were beating them as usual.
+ “You’ve got Sebastian, and Adam” said James, “how can we give you any more?
+ “Why can’t we play 3 - 1?” asked Albert.
+ “Some do” said Sebastian, “I’ve heard of it.” “OK, Ibrahim also back.”
+ “No, not Ibrahim. He’s useless.”
+ “Who else is there?” asked James. The obvious answer struck him.
+ “If I'm back I won't score any goals.”
+ “But they won’t score any either.” said Albert, “it’s the difference that counts, not how many goals you score personally.”
+ “It’s easier to defend than attack.” said Sebastian.`
+ “Which is why the best player is always the forward.” said James.
+ “But we didn’t score any goals anyway against St Dunstan’s” said Sebastian. “So what does it matter. Go for nil-nil”.
+ “You always get some chances” said Albert, “always.” James shook his head. They continued playing, and the second years scored a fourth goal. James suddenly realised what he must do, and played back.
+ The St Dunstan's team arrived two days later for the big match. It was held inside, in the gym. Since it was only a first year event there was no compulsion on the whole school to attend, but the girls were there on the balcony, watching, and also the second years with whom they played at lunchtimes. Andrew, who was captain of games, was there in his professional capacity and there were a few higher years who had nothing better to do. They had a pep talk from Br Gwilliam.
+ "You can win this match" he said, "just play as a team, and show some attacking spirit. You've got your support behind you".
+ "Everyone back except Ibrahim" said James, "just kill that game. Let nothing get through to Albert."
+ St Dunstan's won the toss and kicked off. They instantly went forward. Sebastian intercepted, and passed to James, who kicked it up to Ibrahim. None of the St Tom's boys went forwards. Ibrahim was swiftly dispossessed by the St Dunstan's defender, and the ball came back onto the attack. James and Sebastian squabbled with the St Dunstan's boys over it in midfield, and then eventually passed it back to Albert, who kicked it out to Adam. Adam tried a pass up to Ibrahim but it went wide.
+ St Dunstan's had a shot on goal, but Albert saved it. It went back up to Ibrahim, and was swiftly lost. At this stage, the St Dunstan's boys began to get over confident, leaving Ibrahim unmarked. Sebastian won the ball, and made a long pass to Ibrahim. Ibrahim was clear in front of the St Dunstan's goal, and made a shot. It hit the post. The St Dunstan's goalkeeper called out, as if to say "where is my defence?"
+ After that St Dunstan's learnt their lesson, and were more cautious. As James had said, St Tom's killed the game. Time after time it the ball was won, and instead of building an attack, it was passed back to Albert, or passed up to Ibrahim. Only rarely, when a really good chance presented itself, did James or Sebastian risk going forwards in support. It wasted a lot of time. The spectators were cheering less loudly, looking bored.
+ Eventually St Dunstan's did break through James and Sebastian, and then pushed easily past Adam. It should have been a save for Albert, but he mishandled it, and put the ball into his own net. One nil to St Dunstans.
+ The ball was in play for a few minutes more, and it was the second half.
+ "That's respectable" said James.
+ "We just need lady luck" said Sebastian.

-

They kept the same tactics going in the second half. The St Dunstan's boys were getting frustrated, because they were outnumbered four to two, in the St Tom's half. Their superior play couldn't defeat those odds. Yet they daredn't bring the other two forwards, because Ibrahim was always lurking, always getting balls passed to him and losing them again. Sebastian saw a hole and a good chance, and rushed through it, delivering a powerful shot on target. The St Dunstan's goalkeeper just saved it, and there was a cheer. It bounced off, and to Ibrahim, who promptly put it into the back of the St Dunstan's net. There was a great cheer from the girls. St Dunstan's came back onto the attack, but couldn't penetrate the web of St Tom's defence. Eventually James and a St Dunstan's forward went for the same ball, collided, and went down in a heap. The St Dunstan's boy tried to get up, then fell back down again, clutching his calf. Br Gwilliam and the St Dunstan's teacher, Mr Warren, went onto the field. "It's a ham-string" said Mr Warren, "he'll have to come off." "In which case we lose one member" said Br Gwilliam, "James, who do you want to retire?" "Ibrahim" said James, instantly. Br Gwilliam looked at him curiously. "Have you really looked at your team?" he said. "Yes" said James, "Ibrahim goes off." "Well, it's your decision" Br Gwilliam shrugged. Ibrahim went off to applause.

+

They kept the same tactics going in the second half. The St Dunstan's boys were getting frustrated, because they were outnumbered four to two, in the St Tom's half. Their superior play couldn't defeat those odds. Yet they daredn't bring the other two forwards, because Ibrahim was always lurking, always getting balls passed to him and losing them again.
+ Sebastian saw a hole and a good chance, and rushed through it, delivering a powerful shot on target. The St Dunstan's goalkeeper just saved it, and there was a cheer. It bounced off, and to Ibrahim, who promptly put it into the back of the St Dunstan's net. There was a great cheer from the girls.
+ St Dunstan's came back onto the attack, but couldn't penetrate the web of St Tom's defence. Eventually James and a St Dunstan's forward went for the same ball, collided, and went down in a heap. The St Dunstan's boy tried to get up, then fell back down again, clutching his calf. Br Gwilliam and the St Dunstan's teacher, Mr Warren, went onto the field.
+ "It's a ham-string" said Mr Warren, "he'll have to come off." "In which case we lose one member" said Br Gwilliam, "James, who do you want to retire?"
+ "Ibrahim" said James, instantly.
+ Br Gwilliam looked at him curiously. "Have you really looked at your team?" he said.
+ "Yes" said James, "Ibrahim goes off."
+ "Well, it's your decision" Br Gwilliam shrugged.
+ Ibrahim went off to applause.

-

By now the game was looser. However St Dunstan's had lost their best player. James and Sebastian were winning against the other three. There were more chances, and the game became more exciting. Albert pulled off some spectacular saves, and the teams were still level. Albert distributed the ball out to Adam. He passed to James, who beat one of the St Dunstan's boys. He was in a clear space, and looked for Sebastian. Sebastian was being marked by the other two. The only possibility was Adam. The St Dunstan's goalkeeper thought James was planning a shot and came out to close him down. James passed to Adam. Adam controlled it. There was just a foot or so of space between the goal and the keeper. Adam closed his eyes and struck it. Oh joy! The ball sailed through the space, behind the goalkeeper and into the net. A few minutes later the final whistle blew. 2-1 to St Tom's. "It's the first we've ever won!" James was jubilant, "I knew Ibrahim was getting exhausted. My decision was right. But well done Ibrahim too, for getting our first."

+

By now the game was looser. However St Dunstan's had lost their best player. James and Sebastian were winning against the other three. There were more chances, and the game became more exciting. Albert pulled off some spectacular saves, and the teams were still level.
+ Albert distributed the ball out to Adam. He passed to James, who beat one of the St Dunstan's boys. He was in a clear space, and looked for Sebastian. Sebastian was being marked by the other two. The only possibility was Adam. The St Dunstan's goalkeeper thought James was planning a shot and came out to close him down. James passed to Adam. Adam controlled it. There was just a foot or so of space between the goal and the keeper. Adam closed his eyes and struck it. Oh joy! The ball sailed through the space, behind the goalkeeper and into the net. A few minutes later the final whistle blew. 2-1 to St Tom's.
+ "It's the first we've ever won!" James was jubilant, "I knew Ibrahim was getting exhausted. My decision was right. But well done Ibrahim too, for getting our first."

-

St Tom's laid on a decent supper for the players. The St Dunstan's boys got a cell next to them in the monastery. "It's kind of creepy in here" said one of the St Dunstan's boys, as they got ready for bed. "We're used to it" said Adam, "but I suppose it is. All those monks and statues and old graves." A parcel arrived for Albert on the ferry, and turned out to be the bows and arrows. It didn't have any address of a sender, and there was no letter with it. "We can go on another deer hunt" he told Abagail. "No we can't" said Abagail, "the police are coming. Just play dumb." As Abagail had predicted, the police arrived a day later, with no lesser man than the superintendent in charge. anxious to interview everybody about the day's events in the forest. At Abagail's instructions, everyone just said they had been together, played in the woodlands, and seen nothing suspicious. Meanwhile Mark and Gillian weren't honest about being drunk when they should have been looking after the first years, and suspicions were aroused. The police searched their possessions, taking away some of them for analaysis. They returned a day later, and tackled Gillian on why a picture of a dead white stag had been found on her phone. "I told you I'd get revenge on the prefects" said Abagail. "Abbey" said Cecilia, "that wasn't called for. Gillian is nice." "She's a prefect and that's what counts" said Abagail, "now she'll have all sorts of awkward questions to answer." Meanwhile the police also called in Jade. Apparently someone somewhere had accused her of dealing in cannabis. Sure enough, a substantial amount, too much for merely personal use, was found amongst her possessions. Fr Abbot was forced to suspend her pending the outcome of the trial. “We have zero tolerance to drugs” said the superintendent solemnly, addressing the whole school in the refectory. Fr Abbot saw the back of the police that week. His school could finally get back to normal, or so he thought.

+

St Tom's laid on a decent supper for the players. The St Dunstan's boys got a cell next to them in the monastery.
+ "It's kind of creepy in here" said one of the St Dunstan's boys, as they got ready for bed.
+ "We're used to it" said Adam, "but I suppose it is. All those monks and statues and old graves."
+ A parcel arrived for Albert on the ferry, and turned out to be the bows and arrows. It didn't have any address of a sender, and there was no letter with it.
+ "We can go on another deer hunt" he told Abagail.
+ "No we can't" said Abagail, "the police are coming. Just play dumb."
+ As Abagail had predicted, the police arrived a day later, with no lesser man than the superintendent in charge. anxious to interview everybody about the day's events in the forest. At Abagail's instructions, everyone just said they had been together, played in the woodlands, and seen nothing suspicious.
+ Meanwhile Mark and Gillian weren't honest about being drunk when they should have been looking after the first years, and suspicions were aroused. The police searched their possessions, taking away some of them for analaysis.
+ They returned a day later, and tackled Gillian on why a picture of a dead white stag had been found on her phone.
+ "I told you I'd get revenge on the prefects" said Abagail.
+ "Abbey" said Cecilia, "that wasn't called for. Gillian is nice."
+ "She's a prefect and that's what counts" said Abagail, "now she'll have all sorts of awkward questions to answer."
+ Meanwhile the police also called in Jade. Apparently someone somewhere had accused her of dealing in cannabis. Sure enough, a substantial amount, too much for merely personal use, was found amongst her possessions. Fr Abbot was forced to suspend her pending the outcome of the trial.
+ “We have zero tolerance to drugs” said the superintendent solemnly, addressing the whole school in the refectory.
+ Fr Abbot saw the back of the police that week. His school could finally get back to normal, or so he thought.

diff --git a/docs/StToms/Chapter4.html b/docs/StToms/Chapter4.html index de7ba8a..32adf17 100644 --- a/docs/StToms/Chapter4.html +++ b/docs/StToms/Chapter4.html @@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ "But you partly blame yourself" asked Father Abbot.
"I thought she was a friend, Sir, but now I realise she never was."
"And you're completely sure you hit her first?"
- Cecilia nodded though clenched teeth. + Cecilia nodded though clenched teeth.
"Thank you Cecilia for your account," said Father Abbot, gratefully. "We'll have Mandy."

Mandy was summoned in, Cecilia remaining still in the room.

@@ -323,9 +323,9 @@ "I will never speak to you again, Mandy" said Cecilia.

Brother Dominic was next in Father Abbot's office.
- "That was a really nasty attack" said brother Dominic. + "That was a really nasty attack" said brother Dominic.
"She needs a good beating" said Father Abbot. "
- She's had plenty of good beatings," said brother Dominic, "that's half the problem." + She's had plenty of good beatings," said brother Dominic, "that's half the problem."
"Fortunately," said Father Abbot, "Cecilia elected to take half the blame. Which makes things a whole lot easier for us."
"Maybe it was a mistake to have Mandy" said brother Dominic.
"No," said Father Abbot, "Mandy is not a mistake."

@@ -337,12 +337,12 @@ "That's for boys" said Abagail, "you don't need to pretend anything. She attacked you."
"This is a boy's school, isn't it?" said Cecilia.
"Oh, look, there she comes" said Abagail, "look, let's none of pretend we can even hear her."
- "Cecilia," said Mandy, "I need to talk to you." + "Cecilia," said Mandy, "I need to talk to you."
"Did I hear a mouse squeak?" said Abagail.
- "No it was definitely human" said short Mary, "or humanoid, should I say. Something in an accent we can't understand." - "Anyway, as I was saying," said Cecilia, "this is a boys' school, so I'd say that the rules are rules for the boys. It doesn't make sense to have one set for them and one set for girls, because that demeans us." - "Right you are, Cecilia" said short Mary, turning her back on Mandy, "but physical violence is unladylike. It has no place between us." - "Oh, I'd say the same for the boys" said Cecilia, "I don't see how violence is any more acceptable between boys than it is between two girls. What's your opinion, Abbey?" + "No it was definitely human" said short Mary, "or humanoid, should I say. Something in an accent we can't understand."
+ "Anyway, as I was saying," said Cecilia, "this is a boys' school, so I'd say that the rules are rules for the boys. It doesn't make sense to have one set for them and one set for girls, because that demeans us."
+ "Right you are, Cecilia" said short Mary, turning her back on Mandy, "but physical violence is unladylike. It has no place between us."
+ "Oh, I'd say the same for the boys" said Cecilia, "I don't see how violence is any more acceptable between boys than it is between two girls. What's your opinion, Abbey?"
"Oh, I'd take a cat fight more seriously" said Abagail, "but that makes it sound more trivial than it is. You've been hurt pretty badly, Cecilia."
Actually Abagail didn't know half of it. Mandy had kicked and punched Cecilia in such a way as to inflict maximum physical pain, whilst leaving a minimum of external injury, as she herself had frequently experienced herself. All Cecilia's joints were aching from the inside.

@@ -353,11 +353,11 @@

Meanwhile the boys were mainly interested in five-a-side. It was Albert who got the key. The second years were older and more able than the first years, and sliced through the first year defence, bombarding Albert's goal with shots as the St Dunstan's boys had done.
"I need some decent defence" said the goalkeeper, "at the moment we play Sebastian and James forward. Which means that there's no-one to protect the goal when they come through."
- "The best players are forward to score the goals" said James - "But it's not like we're scoring many goals anyway," said Albert, "the play is always in our half. We need to pull one of you two back, to win it, then pass it up to the forwards to keep them under pressure.” + "The best players are forward to score the goals" said James
+ "But it's not like we're scoring many goals anyway," said Albert, "the play is always in our half. We need to pull one of you two back, to win it, then pass it up to the forwards to keep them under pressure.”
“Sebastian, then” said James, “but I won't score as many without another forward to back me up”.
- "We're not looking to win, we're looking to told them to less than ten nil. We need a good player back. That's the reality, James.." - "So who can be second forward?" "Let's face it, Adam will never score a goal. So keep him back. Ibrahim goes forwards and tries to get it to you. We play a strong right, with you and Sebastian, and a weak left with Adam and Ibrahim." + "We're not looking to win, we're looking to told them to less than ten nil. We need a good player back. That's the reality, James.."
+ "So who can be second forward?" "Let's face it, Adam will never score a goal. So keep him back. Ibrahim goes forwards and tries to get it to you. We play a strong right, with you and Sebastian, and a weak left with Adam and Ibrahim."
Albert had argued James into it.

Playing the new system at lunchtimes, it worked surprisingly well. The first years still lost regularly, but it was by two nil or three nil. Sebastian could intercept the ball and get it up to James, who placed the opposing goal under a constant mild threat. They didn't really have many chances but it was enough to make the second years think and pull back. Sometimes they forgot themselves and pushed all four outfield players forwards, in which case James and Sebastian could break and get shots on goal. Adam was always back, so the first year goal always had a thin layer of defence. He could often get it up to Ibrahim, who passed it sharply over to James. They got a few chances that way. The problem was that James was invariably tackled, tried to pass back to Ibrahim, and lost possession. But Sebastian was back to intercept the inevitable attack, so second year breaks didn't translate to shots on goal so often. Often of course they lost their shape, and the game degenerated into a crowd of eight chasing after the ball, with no-one to receive passes on the other part of the field. But it was fun, and it filled the lunch hours.