‘God, my legs ache!’ said Al as they walked up the corridor towards class.
‘What is it?’ said Spike. ‘The ride out to me on Saturday a little too much for you?’
‘Reckon it must have been. Funny, it wasn’t as far as we’ve done in the past.’
‘Out of condition you are, my friend.’
‘Yeah, I must be at that. What about the rest of you guys? How are you doing?’
‘I’m okay,’ said Eddie.
‘Yeah but you do a paper round every morning.’
‘I’m all right,’ said Tony.
‘Yeah but you get exercise running from your sister.’
‘I’m okay, too,’ said Jon.
‘You’re just born lucky!’
‘And I’m fine,’ said Spike brightly.
They stopped in the middle of the corridor, rounded on him, glared at him.
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘Couldn’t resist it.’
‘Next time,’ said Al as they continued on their way, ‘you can cycle out to us.’
‘Cycle be blowed. I’ll just get Jeeves to run me down in the Roller.’
‘Yeah, you do that. I s’pose you want us to be good boys in Cookery again.’
‘That would rather be a good idea, I think you’ll agree.’
‘Still don’t seem right,’ Jon grumbled. ‘I miss trying to muck it all up.’
‘Like I say,’ said Spike, ‘you’ll get used to it.’
‘Yeah but—’
‘Sshh!’
They stopped, all of them, looked at Al. He seemed tense, alert.
‘What the hell’s wrong?’ whispered Tony.
‘Franklinstein! Just around the next corner.’
They listened. It was Franklinstein, too, her voice low, barely audible, speaking with the same quiet authority they had come to know only too well.
‘Who’s she talking to?’ was the next low question.
‘If you just listen, we’ll find out.’
‘…will certainly have my approval to take action if things don’t improve,’ she was saying. ‘Just give it another week and we’ll review the situation.’
‘Thank you, Headmistress,’ said another voice, one that was equally well known to them.
‘Palm Trees!’ Tony hissed unnecessarily.
‘Sshh!’ Al hissed back.
‘Speaking of things improving,’ said Mrs. Franklin, ‘how are The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?’
‘The who?’ whispered Al.
‘I think she means you four,’ Spike whispered back.
‘Early days yet,’ said Miss Palmer. ‘I’ve had the pleasure of their company only once since you had your little word with them but I think they’re beginning to settle down.’
‘Hmm. I must admit I’ve heard nothing untoward from any of the other staff but I wouldn’t put it past those four to be plotting something.’
‘I’m not so sure. I hear that that exchange student has been spending time with them. Perhaps he’s having some positive influence on their behaviour.’
‘Them having negative influence on him, more likely. Well, time will tell. Let me know if you have any more problems.’
‘I’ll certainly do that, Headmistress. Thank you.’
The voices stopped, leaving one sound of footsteps tapping smartly down the corridor in the direction of the Cookery class and another of a door being opened and closed softly. They crept forward, glanced round to check that the coast was clear.
‘Was she talking about us?’ said Tony.
‘You can bet your sister’s best blonde wig she was,’ said Al. ‘Didn’t you hear her saying something about Spike maybe being a good influence on us?’
‘I sincerely hope I’m not,’ said Spike.
‘Yeah, me, too.’
‘An’ what’s all this four horsemen bit?’ said Eddie. ‘What’s that all about?’
Al went to answer, to say he didn’t know, but Spike cut him short.
‘Ask in Cookery,’ he said earnestly. ‘Ask in Cookery.’