The House of Puzzles Read Free

in their sockets and zeroed in on Gerald and Ruby. Gerald was sure he saw
the man’s nostrils flare.
    For a third time, the man coughed. ‘For those of you who do not know me,’ he said
in a tone of parade-ground clarity, ‘I am Dr Crispin, headmaster at St Cuthbert’s.’
His eyes locked on Gerald’s and remained there long enough to pass on the clear message: Do not test me, boy . To Gerald’s enormous relief, the headmaster disengaged and turned
a slow circle to eyeball the entire hall.
    ‘Welcome to the young ladies of St Hilda’s and the young gentlemen of St Cuthbert’s
to the annual Year Nine Highlands Retreat.’
    Dr Crispin paused.
    There was no response.
    Finally, a teacher from St Hilda’s started clapping and a ripple of applause swept
the room.
    Seemingly satisfied with that, Dr Crispin continued. ‘This term in the Scottish highlands
is the one time our two fine schools come together each year. It will be a great
challenge for all of you, but also a tremendous educational experience. For the next
ten weeks you will be tested in ways many of you will never have experienced before.
For some the challenge will come in the form of a twenty-mile cross-country hike—’
    Gerald felt Ruby shift by his side. He glanced around to find her beaming at the
prospect of a trek through the Scottish wilderness.
    ‘—for others,’ Dr Crispin continued, ‘the challenge will exist in being cut off from
the comforts of home: no television, no phone, no home-cooked meals or parents to
serve you like little kings and queens.’ There was a shuffling movement on Gerald’s
other side. Sam was staring at the floorboards, a look on his face as if someone
had just cancelled Christmas.
    ‘Whatever the challenge, you will emerge the better for it at the end,’ Dr Crispin
said. ‘Miss Frobisher will now have a few words to you about discipline and—’ Dr
Crispin cleared his throat one more time, ‘—self-control.’
    A tall woman crossed to the centre of the room. She was dressed in Burberry waterproofs,
and Gerald thought she looked ready to embark on a twenty-mile hike there and then.
    ‘Good afternoon, girls and boys,’ she began brightly. ‘I have the honour of serving
as headmistress at St Hilda’s, and I fully endorse Dr Crispin’s comments. The term
ahead will be the highlight of your time at school. Friendships will be forged that
will last a lifetime. But a word of caution. We are all here together for the next
ten weeks. Two hundred thirteen- and fourteen-year-old girls and boys living in close
proximity, with less than the usual levels of supervision. It is a time of great
excitement during a period in your lives when some of you are experiencing strong—’
she searched for the right word, ‘—emotions. You must keep those emotions, and other
urges, under control at all times.’
    A light titter ran around the room.
    Gerald leaned in to Ruby and whispered from the corner of his mouth. ‘What’s she
talking about?’
    Ruby whispered back, ‘They don’t want us snogging each other all term.’
    Gerald’s cheeks flushed red. It was at some stage during the next ten weeks that
he planned on asking Ruby to be his girlfriend, with the expectation of a considerable
amount of snogging to follow.
    As the buzz from the assembly grew louder, Dr Crispin stepped forward. ‘Quiet!’ he
snapped, his eyes burning. ‘Just keep your blasted hands to yourselves.’ The hall
dropped into a dark silence. ‘There is to be no hazing, teasing or bullying of any
description,’ Dr Crispin continued. ‘Anyone who offends will answer to me.’ He gave
another look of total distrust to the students around him. ‘Before you are allocated
to your cabins, our new mathematics teacher, Mr Beare, has an announcement.’
    Gerald looked with interest to where the headmaster was indicating. Since returning
from Christmas holidays a week before, Gerald had found that a number of new teachers
had been hired. Gerald was yet to