Inside the Worm by Robert Swindells Read Free Book Online Page A

of enabling the beast to grab its living meals more convincingly in future.
    Fliss observed all of this with apprehension, praying that time would run out before Sarah-Jane decided enough villagers had perished and called upon Ceridwen to confront the worm. She’d promised Mr Hepworth she’d try, but her classmates’ dexterity inside that awful disguise disturbed her even here, and she was far from happy. It must have been her lucky day, because the buzzer went as the beast prepared to bear away its sixth victim.
    â€˜OK.’ Sarah-Jane slid down from her perch. ‘Wrap it up, everybody.’ She smiled. ‘That wasn’t bad, but I want all costumes in school tomorrow.’ She turned to Trot, who was struggling out of his disguise like a moth from a chrysalis. ‘Don’t forget, Trot – the worm needs to be able to grab its prey.’
    Trot nodded. ‘I’ll think of something.’
    Sarah-Jane turned to speak to Fliss, and was mildly irritated to find she was no longer in the room.

CHAPTER NINETEEN
    SHE WAS PASSING the Deputy Head’s office on her way out when the door opened. ‘Ah, Felicity, come in a minute, will you?’ Mr Hepworth stepped to one side and she went in. He closed the door and stood with his back to it. ‘Now – how did the rehearsal go?’
    â€˜All right, Sir.’
    â€˜No trouble from our friend Mr Bazzard?’
    â€˜No, Sir.’
    â€˜Good. I had a word with him and it seems to have worked. So, are you feeling a bit happier about things now, Felicity? We wouldn’t want to lose your talents, you know.’
    Happier? Fliss would have laughed out loud if she’d dared. Mr Hepworth had had a word withGary, which meant Gary knew she’d complained. He’d have her marked down as a sneak. He’d tell the others. Her name would be mud.
    â€˜I – dunno, Sir. We didn’t get to my part. I’ll try.’
    â€˜Good girl.’ He opened the door. ‘Off you go, then. And let me know if you have any more hassle.’
    â€˜Yessir. G’night, Sir.’
    â€˜Goodbye, Felicity.’
    â€˜Let me know if you have any more hassle.’ That’s a laugh for a start, she thought. I can tell you now there’ll be hassle, but there’s no way I’m gonna let you know. No way.
    The drive was thick with pupils going home. Fliss dodged between them, hurrying, looking for Lisa. Lisa knows how these things happen, she thought. She’ll understand. I’ll tell her I didn’t mean to get anybody into trouble. It just came out.
    She was through the gateway and well along the road before she spotted her friend. Lisa was walking with Ellie-May Sunderland. They were dawdling, deep in conversation. Fliss put on a spurt and caught up. ‘Hi, Lisa, Ellie-May.’
    The two girls regarded her coldly. ‘What do you want?’ asked Lisa.
    â€˜I’ve got something to tell you.’
    â€˜We’re talking. See you tomorrow, OK?’
    â€˜What’s up – what have I done?’
    â€˜You know.’
    â€˜No I don’t.’
    â€˜You split on us to old Hepworth.’
    â€˜No I didn’t. Not on purpose. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.’
    â€˜We’re not interested in excuses, Fliss. You split on us. That’s all that matters.’
    â€˜Yes, but—’
    â€˜No buts.’
    â€˜Are you out tonight, then? We could—’
    â€˜No. We’re busy tonight, working on the worm.’
    â€˜I’ll come to Trot’s then, shall I?’
    Lisa laughed. ‘I wouldn’t if I were you, Fliss.’
    â€˜What d’you mean?’
    â€˜What d’you think I mean? Gary’s after you, dummy. He’d love you to show up at Trot’s. You’d come on foot and leave in an ambulance.’
    â€˜But what about you, Lisa? You’re not Gary. You don’t have to do everything he does. We’re