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Authors: H. L. Dennis
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person who’d made her life so miserable, just by being in it, had slipped from the office without even a murmur. It just didn’t add up.
How could someone so consumed with secrets and the desire to discover truths simply glide away and work happily in a museum? She twisted the new diamond ring she’d bought herself around her little finger. It was a beautiful ring. Truly expensive. The man in the shop seemed surprised she was buying it simply because she wanted it. He presumed there was a reason for the purchase. And it was this thought that was nagging away at the back of Kerrith’s mind. There was a reason she’d bought the ring. With Smithies gone she was now the most senior code-cracker on her level. The final barrier to her ultimate promotion to Level 5 removed. Of course she hadn’t shared this information with the man in the jeweller’s. He was there to sell her the ring not question her motives. But he’d been right. There was a reason. And there had to be a reason for Smithies’ silence over his redeployment to Bletchley.
And whatever it took she was going to find out what it was.
Brodie didn’t sleep well. Her mind was filled with dreams where she was on a tiny island in the middle of a huge ocean. She stood on the edge of a lagoon and she wanted more than anything to walk forward into the water. She was sure there were steps leading down out of sight and she could hear a voice calling her. The ripples made hot circles around her feet. But she was scared.
The dream disturbed her but the lack of sleep was mostly due to the fact she’d never shared a room before.
Tusia chatted long after Brodie’s eyelids were heavy with exhaustion but there seemed no way to shut her up and Brodie felt it rude not to answer. Then it seemed that even when Tusia was asleep she didn’t stop talking. The muttering was low and incomprehensible and Brodie was sure there were frequent references to chess pieces. When Tusia finally pulled herself up to sitting and stretched her arms in the air to welcome the morning, Brodie groaned and pulled the pillow over her head.
‘You OK, roomie?’ Tusia said in a singsongy voice that sounded full of energy. Brodie merely grunted. ‘Today’s the start of something new and wonderful. How about a little yoga to set us up for the day? Or if you’d prefer we could give tai chi a go. I’ve a caftan I could lend you.’
Brodie wriggled further down the bed. ‘I’m fine really. I just need five minutes.’
‘Ahh, the effects of the sugar in the hot chocolate you drank before bedtime. A sure side effect is “grumpy mornings”. If you stick to fruit juice or herbal tea you’d wake up so much more refreshed.’
‘I’m not grumpy,’ Brodie snapped and then smiled meekly over the edge of her pillow. ‘OK, maybe a little.’
‘Well, grumpy or not, it’s our first full day and you and I have an appointment in the library.’ Tusia snapped open her welcome pack and ran her finger down the printed list inside. ‘Maths lesson, followed by Geography.’
‘Oh joy,’ Brodie moaned and let the pillow fall flat on her face again.
It was a simple scheme. Smithies explained normal lessons would be taught in the morning, in order to cover the home-schooled requirement of the plan, and in the afternoon there’d be sessions on code-cracking. Most of the lessons would take place in the mansion. Some sessions would be held in the huts.
There was only one rule. Whatever happened, don’t engage in conversation with the general public.
Most visitors to the museum would see only what they expected to see and as long as the children were in their Pembroke uniform, they’d pass for a group on a school trip. It was, Smithies explained, the very best form of secrecy. The right-under-theirnose sort, which was rarely questioned and it was, he added, what made the process so exciting.
Miss Tandari taught them ordinary subjects, and for the most part did a very good job of it. She tried
How could someone so consumed with secrets and the desire to discover truths simply glide away and work happily in a museum? She twisted the new diamond ring she’d bought herself around her little finger. It was a beautiful ring. Truly expensive. The man in the shop seemed surprised she was buying it simply because she wanted it. He presumed there was a reason for the purchase. And it was this thought that was nagging away at the back of Kerrith’s mind. There was a reason she’d bought the ring. With Smithies gone she was now the most senior code-cracker on her level. The final barrier to her ultimate promotion to Level 5 removed. Of course she hadn’t shared this information with the man in the jeweller’s. He was there to sell her the ring not question her motives. But he’d been right. There was a reason. And there had to be a reason for Smithies’ silence over his redeployment to Bletchley.
And whatever it took she was going to find out what it was.
Brodie didn’t sleep well. Her mind was filled with dreams where she was on a tiny island in the middle of a huge ocean. She stood on the edge of a lagoon and she wanted more than anything to walk forward into the water. She was sure there were steps leading down out of sight and she could hear a voice calling her. The ripples made hot circles around her feet. But she was scared.
The dream disturbed her but the lack of sleep was mostly due to the fact she’d never shared a room before.
Tusia chatted long after Brodie’s eyelids were heavy with exhaustion but there seemed no way to shut her up and Brodie felt it rude not to answer. Then it seemed that even when Tusia was asleep she didn’t stop talking. The muttering was low and incomprehensible and Brodie was sure there were frequent references to chess pieces. When Tusia finally pulled herself up to sitting and stretched her arms in the air to welcome the morning, Brodie groaned and pulled the pillow over her head.
‘You OK, roomie?’ Tusia said in a singsongy voice that sounded full of energy. Brodie merely grunted. ‘Today’s the start of something new and wonderful. How about a little yoga to set us up for the day? Or if you’d prefer we could give tai chi a go. I’ve a caftan I could lend you.’
Brodie wriggled further down the bed. ‘I’m fine really. I just need five minutes.’
‘Ahh, the effects of the sugar in the hot chocolate you drank before bedtime. A sure side effect is “grumpy mornings”. If you stick to fruit juice or herbal tea you’d wake up so much more refreshed.’
‘I’m not grumpy,’ Brodie snapped and then smiled meekly over the edge of her pillow. ‘OK, maybe a little.’
‘Well, grumpy or not, it’s our first full day and you and I have an appointment in the library.’ Tusia snapped open her welcome pack and ran her finger down the printed list inside. ‘Maths lesson, followed by Geography.’
‘Oh joy,’ Brodie moaned and let the pillow fall flat on her face again.
It was a simple scheme. Smithies explained normal lessons would be taught in the morning, in order to cover the home-schooled requirement of the plan, and in the afternoon there’d be sessions on code-cracking. Most of the lessons would take place in the mansion. Some sessions would be held in the huts.
There was only one rule. Whatever happened, don’t engage in conversation with the general public.
Most visitors to the museum would see only what they expected to see and as long as the children were in their Pembroke uniform, they’d pass for a group on a school trip. It was, Smithies explained, the very best form of secrecy. The right-under-theirnose sort, which was rarely questioned and it was, he added, what made the process so exciting.
Miss Tandari taught them ordinary subjects, and for the most part did a very good job of it. She tried
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