The Horses by William Lane

Author:William Lane
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781921924903
Publisher: Transit Lounge

High Price for Hanky Panky Horse Play

The reputation of an expensive and prestigious private boys’ school is under question today. More reports are coming to light of abuse taking place within the school’s boarding houses. According to one boy, a former pupil of the school, boys are assaulted repeatedly. He claims assaults are of a physical, mental and sexual nature. The school’s headmaster, Canon Capon, was unavailable for comment.

‘This – this is hogwash!’ cried Capon. ‘This is Newbold’s doing!’

‘I’d sue them for this, Capon,’ Cobblefield blustered, ‘I’d be ringing Black right now, Capon. Get the best legal team in the country onto it.’

‘Wait,’ said Val.

Capon bent towards Val.

‘Who’s going to believe Oscar Newbold? We can say he’s a disgruntled boy who’s simply being mischievous and ungrateful, which is the truth. Why even acknowledge the report? Remain unavailable for comment, that’s my advice. And ignore the helicopter. It can’t hover forever. Think of the petrol.’

‘Yes, yes, that’s my thinking exactly,’ said Capon. And he looked about at the others to see if they agreed as well.

‘It will all pass over,’ said Val. ‘Who reads this paper anyway?’

‘But they can’t be allowed to write this sort of claptrap!’ cried Cobblefield. ‘How dare they?’

Some of the masters, playing games or drinking tea, looked up irritably at Cobblefield’s outburst.

‘Calm down, Cobblefield,’ said Val. ‘Believe me, the whole affair will blow over. I’ve had some dealings with the press, you don’t fuel their fires. They want us to get hot-headed and make a scene, believe me. No. Emphasise to the boys once again, Capon –’

‘Yes?’

‘– that they are not to talk to the press on pain of expulsion; emphasise they are not to talk to anyone, anyone, not even their families – about what is our business alone. And you’ll find the story will blow over. And tell them to stop running after the helicopter.’

‘I think you’re right, Val,’ said Capon, mopping his face with his silk handkerchief. ‘You do have a way of putting things in their place. That helicopter quite unsettled me. Mistress Capon was the first to see it. She was leaning out our window smelling the roses, and suddenly, out of nowhere, there it was! “Darling, do come and look at this, it’s most curious”, she said to me. I was trying my new shoehorn and couldn’t make out what was happening at first. But now I see it all quite clearly. Is it still there, Parsons? Oh, wretched thing. Just when you think it’s gone, it keeps popping up.’

‘Damn Newbold,’ growled Cobblefield. ‘Wait until I get my hands on him.’

‘What a day I’ll be having,’ sighed Capon. ‘Well, we’ll just have to hold firm. Chins up. Oh, where are the boys, Mr Whipper?’

The Whipper had been standing at attention in the doorway for some time.

‘Assembled at ease, sir!’ he reported, ramrod.

‘Bless them. Well, that’s something. They haven’t scattered. Carry on as normal, be good lads, that will be my message. Carry on as normal. Yes. That’s all I need say. That’ll be the gist of it.

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