The Chrysalid Conspiracy Read Online Free PDF Page A

to disaster. They were still laughing uncontrollably as they were being ‘escorted’ from the hall.
    “What happens now?” asked Rayn, once they were in the corridor and she could breathe again.
    “Don’t know, I’ve never been in trouble before.”
    “Oh great. Well, at least you’ve got further to fall than me,” said Rayn.
    “At a guess I’d say we’ll get a lecture from Miss Dempsey and either a detention or, more likely an extra essay. She likes giving those out,” Amelia told her.
    “What subject does she teach?”
    “RE,” was the short sharp reply.
    Rayn slumped back and gently banged her head against the wall.
    “Not that,” she muttered. “Anything but religion.”
    Amelia stared at the masses of flaming wet hair and the tears of laughter staining her new friend’s face. She liked this girl, she felt Rayn to be a kindred spirit with her off-the-wall humour. It gave Amelia a completely different perspective on her own neat little life. She was a breath of fresh air in this stale Victorian warehouse, with its ivy-covered teachers and the culture of arrogance they waved like a banner of so-called excellence. Perhaps there’s hope for the future after all, she mused.
    “I’m so glad we met, Rayn. I’m going to like you,” she said, smiling.
    Rayn whirled round on her. “You’re glad we met?” she exclaimed. “That’s rich. I pushed you over in a puddle, got us soaking wet, had us thrown out of assembly and in trouble with the staff, and for all that I’m going to get a religious essay! For Pete’s sake Amelia, I’m an Irish Catholic with a Protestant father. My idea of religion will make these people tear their hair out, and I’ll be in even more trouble.” She paused for a gasp of air before continuing her tirade. “I wish I’d just pushed you over, jumped on you and ran off. Remind me to stay away from your friends as well.”
    “That shouldn’t present a difficult prospect,” said Amelia, “I don’t have any.”
    Stunned for a moment, Rayn took a long pause. “Wow!” she said at last. “If we can create this amount of chaos in ten minutes flat, just think what we can achieve in a whole term!”
    As they were about to erupt into laughter again, Miss Dempsey appeared looking smug and superior. “Jaxson, and whoever you are, my off…” Her whole demeanour immediately froze and completely at a loss she watched as the two girls, deserted by both self-discipline and dignity, collapsed into a tangled mass of uncontrollable hysterical laughter.
    ***
    The two girls sat in the cold stone corridor outside the Headmaster’s office. Miss Dempsey, not having properly recovered from such disrespectful behaviour that was so completely alien to her, had marched them ‘upstairs’. Her voice and manner indicated to them that they would be entering the ‘Gates of Hell for Final Judgement’.
    Sitting together on what was obviously an old church pew; with its rich, dark, well-polished wood that had seen years of use, they appreciated its antiquity and both agreed that pews were the most uncomfortable seats ever invented.
    Looking up at the huge Gothic-style arched window opposite them, they watched the rain running down the inside of the stained glass. It dripped off the windowsill onto a rusty radiator and on to the floor, where it lay, wondering what to do next.
    “How come you don’t have any friends?” asked Rayn. Their mood had sobered somewhat, sitting as they had been for over half an hour in wet clothes. The humour in them had given way to the seriousness of reality and both girls were apprehensive.
    “Oh, it’s just one of those things,” Amelia replied.
    “No it’s not,” said Rayn. “You don’t just end up without any friends, there must be a reason.” her reasoning displayed a swift mind and a nimble tongue.
    “I’ve sort of got this thing,” Amelia was reluctant to explain.
    “Is it curable?”
    “Don’t start me off again, we’re in enough trouble,”