City of the Falling Sky Read Free Page A

said
uncertainly.
    “ Astronomy indeed. Just one
of the new subjects you’ll be undertaking here at Estergate
Institute. You’re in Skyfall now, my boy. We’re governed under the
Skyfall Board of Education, and that means we’re on the XL-Ent
curriculum, where excellence excels.”
    Seckry suddenly felt a surge of panic. He
didn’t have a clue about astronomy. How would he ever be able to
catch up to the other pupils?
    “ What other new subjects
will I be studying, sir?” he asked nervously.
    “ Well, let’s see now,
there’s genetics, psychoanalysis, ethnology, osmology, animal care,
oh and immunology, hydrology, geoarchaeology amongst
others.”
    “ Excuse me?” Seckry said
meekly. He had never even heard of most of those words.
    “ Oh, and I’m sure you’ll
love botany,” the headmaster said brightly. “My personal favourite
of the bunch.”
    “ Botany? Is that the study
of flowers? Sir, I know literally nothing about flowers, how will
I–”
    “ Seckry, there’s no need to
worry. I firmly believe that you will be able to pick these
subjects up and, in time, become great at at least one of them. I
know it may come as a shock to you to have all this new information
to learn, but you are not the first to have moved to Skyfall
halfway through their education, and you will not be the last.
There have been many others before you and almost all of them have
succeeded in adapting to our educational system. It really is the
best in the world. Yes, Rudaby Simmsworth was the last to have
joined us half way through. Very successful nanophysicist
now.”
    Seckry wasn’t sure about this. A
nanophysicist? Where would you start?
    “ Many years ago the schools
in Skyfall operated just like your old school back in Marne,” the
headmaster continued. “There was no system to speak of, just your
basic, plain old subjects. But over time we set up the board of
education to make sure our pupils here in Skyfall were the most
intelligent, most skilled, most adept young prospects in the
world.”
    Mr Gobbledee looked at his watch with a
raised eyebrow.
    “ Now, I’ve talked for quite
long enough. Let’s have a look at your timetable.” He traced his
finger over the paper. “Monday . . . nine thirty . . . electronics
with Mrs Cutson . . . Oh dear.”
    “ Oh dear?”
    “ I mean . . .” Gobbledee
stammered. The blood seemed to be draining out of his face. “Yes,
electronics with Mrs Cutson, how wonderful! I . . . uh . . . have
to rush off, I’m afraid, but if you return to reception, the
secretary will be sure to point you in the direction of Mrs
Cutson’s class.”
    Seckry was ushered out through the doorway
and Mr Gobbledee gave him a firm handshake before glancing around
wildly, wiping his forehead with a tissue, and disappearing down
the corridor.
     
    “ Don’t tell me you got Cut
Throat Cutson for your first class,” said the secretary, a young
woman with tied back hair and a fluffy pen in her hand.
    “ That’s what it says on my
timetable,” Seckry said nervously.
    “ Unlucky, man. Well she’s
down in the electro-quarter, you know where that is?”
    “ Nope.”
    “ Okay, you gotta take the
first right past the sliding doors, head down towards the training
facility, then you take the pneumatic pods and follow the signs for
the electronics unit. Got that?”
    “ Uh, yeah. Think so.
Thanks.” Seckry headed off and heard the secretary shout, “Whatever
you do, don’t be late for Cut Throat!”
    Seckry looked at his watch. It was almost
half past nine. Why had the headmaster looked so ill at the mention
of Mrs Cutson? And even more worryingly, why was she referred to as
Cut Throat?
    As he passed the training facility, Seckry
made a note to himself. He just had to take the pneumatic pods now,
whatever they were.
    In front of him was a circular set of metal
doors.
    A gangly boy with long, spiky, black hair
rushed past Seckry and slammed his open palms onto the shiny
surface.
    “ Open up!” he