Robert Swindells - Daz 4 Zoe

I had to do something. I couldn’t just sit shivering like a trapped animal, waiting till they came for me. Because it wasn’t just me, was it? It was Grandma and Daz and Mr James and all the others. I might not die if they caught me but others would. Who knows how many in the end? I must take control of my fear and get myself out of this.

In total darkness I crawled, feeling my way to the trap. I hooked my fingers under its rim and raised it ever so slightly. The washroom door was open. I listened. In the schoolroom, kids were talking in subdued tones. Adult voices farther off told me I’d been right – they were searching the lobby, and it wouldn’t take long. Then they’d start on the classroom, but would they search it while it was full of kids? I didn’t think so, and this gave me an idea. It wasn’t a brilliant idea. In fact it was probably a stupid idea which would only get me caught a few minutes sooner than if I stayed where I was, but it was the only thing I could think of so it would have to do.

I eased the trap down gently. Then, risking torchlight for the sake of speed I scooped up blankets, flask and bucket and, bent double, scurried into a far corner where I stood the bucket upside down with the flask inside. The blankets I carried to another corner, pushing them down between joists. Like all roof spaces, this one had its share of accumulated bits and pieces and I hoped the cops wouldn’t notice the stuff I’d used. This done, I returned to the trap, doused the light and stuck the torch in the band of my jeans.

I raised the trap a little. The washroom was unoccupied. In the classroom a man was yelling at the kids. ‘Come on, c’m on – outside. Let’s go now.’ It was what I’d expected. I raised the trap halfway and eased myself through, supporting the door with my shoulders, the back of my head and finally on my knuckles. I couldn’t prevent the slight bang as it fell into position when I dropped, but the sound was masked by the racket the kids were making as they clattered through scattered chairs and milled around the door.

I breathed a prayer and walked out into the classroom. At the far end a cop stood, fists on hips, watching the push and shove. He wasn’t looking my way and I was able to attach myself to the rear of the boisterous scrum. The kids were too busy giving the cops a hard time to notice the new pupil, and I kept my head down as we pushed toward the door.

Pohlman was my problem now. In my present filthy state I can’t have looked much different from the kids around me, but the lieutenant and I had met. If we came face to face in the lobby it would all be over. I realised that if I was last out or nearly last, I’d be conspicuous. I needed to pass through the lobby in the middle of a surge of kids. I began shoving with my shoulder, worming my way through impossible gaps as I fought my way forward. I got a couple of elbows in the ribs but nobody moaned. Anything that made the cops’ job harder was part of the fun.

It wasn’t long until the big moment arrived. Jammed momentarily in the creaking doorframe, we exploded into the lobby and were propelled forward on to the backs of those who battled to pass the outer door. I had a glimpse of Pohlman, white with anger, pressed against the wall. He’d probably stationed himself there with the idea of scanning the kids’ faces as they passed, but it hadn’t worked out that way.

Around the outer door the procedure was repeated. Slowly forward, shoving and being shoved; a brief, asphyxiating hesitation during which I saw, between the heads of those in front, James looking strained with his pupil register tucked under his arm, then explosive release into air and space.

The instant I cleared the doorway I doubled back through hurtling bodies and ran, bent over like in the roof space only faster, to the corner and away along the side of the building. Every moment I expected to hear the command ‘halt’, but I made it to the next corner and swung round it unchallenged. I was now outside the washroom, with the building between me and every-body else and nothing but derelict land behind. I glanced around. There was nobody in sight, and as long as I stayed close to the wall I couldn’t be seen from the washroom window.

I breathed in deeply, praying that Pohlman wouldn’t decide to walk round the outside of the school. At the far end I heard James calling the roll, kids’ voices going sir, sir, sir. I knew the instant Pohlman spotted the trap because he cried out and I heard the drag of the step ladder across the floor, the slam of the trap. As I listened, hardly daring to believe I’d given them the slip, my eyes scanned the terrain. About fifty yards away I saw a small heap of broken bricks. If the worst came to the worst – if they came round this way – that’s where I’d go.

I didn’t have to. They slammed around inside for a while, snarling and kicking things, then gave up. Pohlman came out and yelled at James, who wouldn’t be too worried about that, but would be wondering how in blue blazes he’d got away with it and what the heck had become of me. When Pohlman was through shouting they got in the car and drove off, and after giving them a minute to get clear I walked away, eating Grandma’s letter as I went.

Cal got our pad staked owt. I seenem frou the windo soonas I got hoam. 2 guys. 1 on the corner smoaking 1 ded opozit doing noffing. Mustav seen me com hoam, told Cal. Anityme now Cal orders com and I know wot. Go in and killim thats wot.

Gotta hyde. Me and Mam. I know wear. Mam I sez. DRED coming 4 me I gotta hyde. You 2 I sez cos I know that Cal. He cant find me, top you insted no hezzy tayshon. Mam scairt. Tekka pill Mam I sez. She tekka pill, I luck owt the windo seen the 2 guys coming, pockets fat wiv guns. Com on Mam i sez. no she sez. shex her hed. i vad enuff our Daz. cant take no more, leev me hear she sez. i got my pills, you go son an god bless.

i dont wanta leaver but no tyme 2 arg you. i hit them baysmen steps as Cal guys bang frou the doar. they gon up the partmen firs or i never maykit but I got under that furniss. I dint forgoten Zoe but cant get up the school no way til Cal guys gon.

In the dark waiting I fink ov Zoe in the dark waiting and Mams god bless and i cry a littel bit. evry 1 cry somtyme even you.

Three thirty-five. What I thought I’d do was find a derelict building to hide in till it got dark, then head for Daz’s place. Thanks to me, the city was getting a bit too hot for Daz, and I was pretty confident he’d want to go with me to the Wentworth place. I wasn’t sure about his mother, though, and I wondered whether he’d leave her if she refused to budge.

I could see a line of gutted houses about half a mile away, and I was heading toward them when I saw a sheet of paper on the ground in front of me. I noticed it because it looked clean and new and because it had my face on it.

I picked it up. It was a sort of handbill. Across the top in big black print was the word KIDNAP.Under the picture it said HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL?and went on to mention a substantial reward. All you had to do was find a police officer and give your information. I screwed it up and shoved it in my pocket, but when I glanced around to see if anyone had noticed I saw the whole area littered with them. The cops must’ve flown over in fans, chucking the things out by the handful. It was just what I needed, my picture all over the city.

I started to walk faster, keeping my head down. I couldn’t actually see anybody but the bills had thrown a scare into me and I was glad when I reached the first of the old houses.

I piled four bricks in a corner and sat on them. I saw a cat and a bird or two but no people. Toward dusk it began to drizzle. The house had no roof. My anorak was supposed to be showerproof but my shoulders were soon wet and so were my knees. By the time it was properly dark I was shivering. I got up and walked toward the city. My jeans clung to my legs and my anorak pockets were wet inside. I comforted myself with the thought that I must look just like a Chippy. I certainly felt like one.