Deity by Steven Dunne Read Free Book Online Page A

down. Kyle looked up at him in greeting and then just as quickly returned his gaze to the floor.
    ‘Today and next week we’re going to be watching and critiquing a film so this morning we can sit back and chillax.’ Rifkind paused to make sure his comfort with the patois of youth had registered. ‘Today’s film . . .’
    Wilson produced a DVD case from his baggy clothing and held it under Rifkind’s nose without having the courtesy to look at him.
    The lecturer stared at the top of the boy’s head and ignored the offering. ‘Today we are—’As Rifkind clearly hadn’t noticed the DVD, Wilson waggled it in front of his face again.
    In the end, the lecturer accepted it with a sigh. ‘Thank you, Wilson.’
    ‘Will,’ replied the boy gruffly, again without looking up from his iPod.
    ‘Oh, you managed to hear that over the Death Metal?Funny how I have to repeat things three times when I want
your
attention.’
    Wilson gazed up at Rifkind, a pearl of wisdom on the end of his tongue. ‘My dad says sarcasm is the lowest form of something.’
    ‘Ignorance perhaps,’ replied Rifkind, looking at the cover of the DVD with a sinking heart.
    ‘No, it’s not that,’ answered Wilson, thinking hard.
    ‘
Saw 4
– interesting choice.’
    ‘It’s brilliant,’ agreed Wilson, as though revealing a great secret to which only he was privy.
    ‘Is it as brilliant as
Saws 1
,
2
and
3
, dare I ask?’
    ‘
Saw 2
is my best film ever. But
Saw 4
is even better.’
    Rifkind looked around the room to garner support for his upcoming putdown, but only Kyle Kennedy’s brow furrowed in amusement so he thought better of it.
    ‘Thank you, Wilson.’
    ‘Will!’ the teenager retorted, with a touch more aggression.
    ‘I’m afraid we won’t be watching
Saw 4
,
Will
. Rusty has—’
    ‘What? Why not?’
    Rifkind made sure to speak slowly because he didn’t want to repeat it. ‘Because, as you’ll remember, at the start of the academic year, we agreed to have a rota for people to choose the end-of-term film, and I’m afraid you’ve had your turn.’
    ‘Yeah, my turn is the
Saw
films. You have to see them all for it to make sense. They’re a series.’
    ‘I don’t care if it’s a series, Wilson,’ he said, taking pleasure in repeating the boy’s hated name.
    ‘It’s Will!’ shouted Wilson, this time. ‘And we’re watching
Saw 4
.’ He turned round to the gathering. ‘Everybody elsewants to watch it, don’t you?’ Wilson eyeballed the group. Only Jake and Becky returned eye-contact.
    ‘It doesn’t matter what everybody wants.’
    ‘That’s not very democratic.’
    Rifkind smiled at him, beginning to enjoy the little power he had over the boy. ‘Nor is bullying people into doing what you want.’
    ‘I’m not bullying anyone. You want to watch
Saw 4
, don’t you, Kylie?’ he said to Kyle Kennedy, who bridled at the sudden attention. ‘I’m talking to you, Faggot.’
    ‘That’s
enough
of that language,’ said Rifkind.
    ‘What language? English?’ Wilson sneered. ‘It’s a crime to speak your own language now, is it? I was just asking Faggot—’
    ‘I said that’s enough,’ countered Rifkind, attempting a show of strength that he knew he couldn’t back up. ‘We’re wasting time. Rusty has chosen today’s film. End of.’
    ‘Geek Boy wasn’t even here at the start of the year, so how can he be on the rota?’ snarled Wilson.
    ‘Give it a rest, Will,’ said Becky. ‘I couldn’t be arsed. He’s taking my slot.’
    Rifkind grinned at Woodrow’s tubby face. ‘Happy now that democracy has been served?’
    Wilson stared angrily at the carpet, urgently searching for another compelling reason to have his way.
    ‘Rusty?’ Rifkind looked expectantly at Russell’s pale face as he handed over a DVD case.
    ‘
Picnic at Hanging Rock
,’ said Rifkind. He beamed approvingly. ‘Interesting choice.’
    ‘Who’s in it?’ growled Wilson.
    Rusty cleared his throat and in a timid voice said,