![]() Even with ice in the air he could smell the sea, though it lay two miles away, behind buildings stacked like boxes. He slipped the book into his bag, slammed the locker shut, and hurried towards the nearest door that led into the playground.Īs he stepped outside he shivered at the cold January wind, the promise of snow. Quickly he crossed to his locker, fumbled the key into the lock, pulled open the door, and took out a heavy book. He rounded a corner to see the lockers, a dull-grey metal wall punctuated by keyholes, on his right, the science labs on his left. It was easier now most people were in the playground, only a few stragglers trailing behind. ![]() Richard quickly shrugged off his resentment and hurried on. ‘Playing football, Rich?’ he heard someone say, and turned to see Philip Kershaw tossing a football from hand to hand. He kept to the side of the corridor, fighting against the tide of bodies, flattening himself into the wall when they threatened to drag him back. His hair was short and neat, a wad of tape held the arm of his spectacles in place, and his green and black school tie hung slack as a noose around his neck. He was a small boy made smaller by his blazer, which was one size too big. When all his classmates turned right, Richard Gardener turned left, towards the lockers. ![]() ![]() The bell rang, and the school vomited screaming, laughing children into the playground. ![]()
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