School Ship Tobermory by Smith Alexander McCall

Author:Smith, Alexander McCall [Smith, Alexander McCall]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Childrens, Adventure, Young Adult
ISBN: 9781780273334
Amazon: 1780273339
Goodreads: 27217148
Publisher: BC Books
Published: 2015-10-15T07:00:00+00:00

The girl in the dark

That night, as they were preparing for lights-out, Badger asked Ben whether he had spoken to Fee.

“You were going to ask her about last night,” he said. “Did she tell you anything?”

Ben told him about his hurried conversation. “She just whispered something and promised she would tell me, but not just yet.”

“Not good enough,” said Badger. “Saying that you’re going to tell somebody something some time is just not good enough. It’s just another way of saying that you don’t want to tell them.”

Ben knew Badger was right. He could tell Fee was reluctant to share the secret, and he imagined she was hoping he would simply forget all about it. After all, she had said nothing to him at dinner, when she would have had the chance to whisper to him without anybody hearing.

Badger, who had been preparing to get into his hammock, now stopped and sat down on a chair. “I think we should go and take a look ourselves,” he said.

“Now?” asked Ben.

“After lights-out. Nobody will be around then. We can go and see what’s behind that door.”

Ben was uncertain. He had always been brought up to obey the rules, and he did not like the thought of breaking them too often. He had already done so when he went along the passageway that first time. He had got away with it then, but the more often you break the rules the more likely you are to be caught. If he was caught he knew he would be punished – perhaps even made to clean the heads.

Badger was staring at him. “You aren’t scared, are you? Because if you’re scared, then just tell me and I’ll go myself. It’s your sister and Poppy. I think we should figure out the secret.”

It was a challenge, and Ben knew that if he refused to go his friend might think less of him.

He summoned up all his courage. “I’m not scared,” he said, doing his best to sound brave. “I’ll come.”

It was not true, of course, and had he been Flubber, then his ears would have moved as he spoke. But he was not Flubber and Badger seemed satisfied with his response.

They waited until lights had been out for a good ten minutes before they made their move. Badger had a spare torch, and he gave this to Ben so they each had one. “Don’t turn it on yet,” he said. “We can find our way in the dark, but we might need it later.”

Keeping as quiet as possible, they left their cabin and began to make their way along the passageway. This ran the whole length of the ship, and they were only halfway along it when they heard the sound of footsteps. Badger seized Ben’s arm and guided him into a recess in the wall. It was a place where a fire hose was stored, but there was just enough room to hide, if they pressed themselves far enough back.

“Try to breathe quietly,” whispered Badger.

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