‘Ninety? That’s half the school!’
‘Yeah, it’s way more than we expected,’ Zoe said.
‘I’ve already spoken to my dad,’ Rachel said. ‘Even they weren’t expecting that many to go. They’re having meetings about it now.’
‘But some will stay… right?’ Allie said.
It was Carter who replied. ‘Out of the ninety, she thinks ten are willing to stand up to their parents. I mean, most of these kids aren’t Night School and they have no idea what’s really going on here.’
Allie’s heart thudded as their words sank in. Ten students. It was nothing. Half the school would be gone. Nathaniel would get his shock and awe moment.
‘Based on what her parents have told her, she believes it will happen this week,’ Sylvain said. ‘Perhaps as soon as tomorrow.’
Too soon.
‘No no no…’ Allie pressed her fingertips against her temples. ‘We’re not ready. What are we going to do?’
‘We told her our plan for those who want to stay – places to hide. Ways to avoid being found.’ Carter’s voice emerged from the dark. ‘Katie’s passing them on to those she trusts. Rachel and Raj talked about it and he knows everything we know. Did you discuss it with Lucinda?’
‘She said…’ Pulling the too-large jacket more tightly around her, Allie tried to remember exactly what her grandmother had said. ‘She said she’s working behind the scenes with the board – lobbying those who are unsure who to support. If she can get most of them to side with her, she has a chance. If more than half the board side with Nathaniel…’ Her voice trailed off. Lucinda hadn’t gone into what would happen if most of the board sided against her but the danger of that had been clear. ‘The thing is she needs time to convince them.’
She looked around the open stone structure. The others formed a rough circle around her, their breath rising in clouds. Everyone looked tired and defeated. There were so few of them. How could they stop this?
‘Time is the one thing she hasn’t got.’ With a sigh, Carter leaned back against the stone pillar behind him, staring up to where the ceiling of the summer house disappeared into a high peak, lost now, in the darkness. ‘What happens if Nathaniel moves quickly? What happens if he comes tomorrow?’
The sleeves of Sylvain’s jacket hung down below Allie’s hands. When she held up her empty hands, they slid back just far enough to reveal her fingers.
‘She also told me if students refuse to leave, Nathaniel could send the police.’ She laughed with bitter irony. ‘Isn’t it funny? The police will come if students don’t want to go, but we can’t call them if there’s a murder. It’s just like… the world’s gone crazy.’
‘Clever tyrants are never punished.’ Sylvain’s voice was so low only Allie heard him. She glanced over at him. As he leaned back against the stone balustrade he seemed tense and tired.
‘So what happens now?’ Rachel asked.
‘Now, we work on our plan.’ Carter sounded grim. ‘And get ready.’
Just before seven, they headed back to the main building for dinner. Nobody was hungry but attendance was required.
Sylvain swung into step beside Allie as they left the summer house.
‘How were things with your grandmother, really? Were you glad to see her again?’ His eyes searched hers.
‘I was,’ she said. ‘I like her, you know?’
He nodded. ‘She’s intimidating,’ he said. ‘But she is also charismatic.’
It was weird to think that Sylvain understood her grandmother better than she did. But his parents were French billionaires. Sylvain had known people like Lucinda all his life.
‘Still,’ she said, ‘it was worrying, too.’
‘Why was it worrying?’
She pulled his coat tighter around her. ‘Because I think she’s scared.’
Behind them she could hear Zoe and Carter talking quietly and she remembered her conversation with Jules. She had to tell Carter before they went inside – he needed to know.
‘I’ve got to talk to Carter for a second,’ she told Sylvain, noticing as she did so that in the light of the stars his eyes were the precise colour of his dark blue sweater. ‘I’ll see you inside?’
He inclined his head with cool politeness, his face betraying no emotion.
Allie slowed her pace until she was walking beside Zoe and Carter. She turned to the younger girl. ‘I need to talk to Carter alone for a second. Is that OK?’
Unbothered, Zoe shrugged and ran to catch up with Rachel. Allie heard her say ‘Did you finish your chemistry assignment?’ as if today were a perfectly ordinary school day.
When everyone was out of earshot, she turned to Carter, slowing her pace. ‘Have you seen Jules since this afternoon?’
He gave her an odd look. ‘No. Why?’
‘I ran into her after class…’ Allie started then she corrected herself. ‘Actually, she came to find me. She was really upset.’
Carter stopped and turned to face her. She saw that the cold had made his cheeks red.
‘About what?’
Allie’s stomach tightened as she tried to decide how to tell him.
‘She knows… she said…’ She exhaled a cloud of warm air. ‘She knows you don’t have detention. She wanted to know why you were working in the garden with… me.’
His jaw tight, Carter looked out into the darkness ahead of them. His cheeks were redder now.
‘I didn’t know what to tell her.’ Allie shoved her hands in the pockets of her skirt and looked down at her shoes. ‘She thought you were cheating on her with me.’
He didn’t look at her. ‘What did you say?’
‘I told her we weren’t, of course. That you’re my friend and you look out for me and that she needs to accept that.’
He exhaled. ‘Thank you.’
‘And, look.’ She tried to catch his gaze but he was looking past her. ‘I just wanted to say… thanks. I mean… it was hard work and… I didn’t know you… I mean, I thought you had to…’
She hated her own stumbling words. He’d got out of bed, three days a week, at five thirty in the morning to spend two hours in the freezing cold doing hard work, just so she wouldn’t be alone. Why couldn’t she think of the right thing to say?
Finally he met her eyes.
‘It’s OK. You don’t have to thank me.’ Unexpectedly, he flashed a rakish grin. ‘I just didn’t have anything better to do.’
As Allie gaped at him, trying to think of a response, he turned and loped towards the school.
In the dining hall, most of the other students had already gathered by the time Allie arrived. She paused in the doorway to take in the scene. Carter stopped with her and followed her gaze.
White linens covered tables topped with glittering candles, crystal glasses and white china plates, all bearing the Cimmeria crest. Above their heads in the cavernous room, the chandeliers glowed. A warm fire crackled in the gigantic fireplace. The room smelled of roasted meat and wood smoke.
This was Cimmeria at its very best. It seemed too beautiful – too perfect – to be destroyed.
What will it be like if Nathaniel wins? Allie wondered as her eyes swept the room. Who will be here tomorrow?
‘I’m going to sit with Jules tonight.’ Carter said.
‘Oh.’ Thrown, Allie fumbled for a reply. They’d all been sitting together every day since the group had formed but of course after everything that happened he’d need to sit with Jules. ‘I mean, great. That’s a good idea…’
She watched as he walked to the table where Jules sat with Katie and other friends. She saw Jules’ face light up when she spotted him and realised he was coming to her. Watched her leap up to wrap him in a hug. Saw his lips brush hers as he bent to whisper something in her ear…
‘Take your seats, please!’ Zelazny’s roar startled Allie so much she jumped.