The House of Puzzles Read Online Free PDF Page A

Alex Baranov had spoken
to him.
    ‘He’s still missing,’ Gerald said through thin lips. ‘The police are looking for
him and the other people from the museum.’
    Alex wrinkled his nose. ‘You must feel terrible,’ he said. ‘You know, the way you’re
the reason he went missing.’
    Gerald muttered under his breath, ‘Ten whole weeks.’
    Miss Davenport, clearly glad the session had come to an end, wished everyone a good
night and ushered them towards their cabins. Gerald was making his way to the door,
mumbling to Ruby about what a jerk Alex Baranov appeared to be, when he was grabbed
by the shoulder. He shouted a loud ‘Ow!’ and swung around to find Millicent and Gretchen
scowling at him.
    ‘Where did you get that?’ Millicent demanded. She was pointing to the mud-smeared
pillowcase that Gerald still had tucked into his sling. He had completely forgotten
he was carrying it around.
    ‘This is yours?’ he asked, pulling out the pillowslip.
    Millicent snatched the grubby cloth from Gerald’s fingers and flipped it inside out
to reveal a nametag sewn into the lining: Millicent Corfield . ‘Have you been snooping
around in our cabin? ‘Coz if you have, it takes just one word to Miss Davenport and
you are on the first bus home.’
    Ruby slid in front of Gerald like a shield before a knight. The tip of her nose was
just millimetres from Millicent’s face. ‘It was given to him by a coward who was
too afraid to show his face,’ Ruby said. ‘Now, does that sound like anyone you might
know?’
    Millicent’s jaw tightened but she said nothing.
    ‘Besides,’ Ruby continued, ‘I would hate to be the girl who ran to teacher on the
first night of camp just because her precious Hello Kitty pillowcase got some dirt
on it. You know, especially because all the stress threatened to bring on her chronic
bedwetting problem. That would be a terrible thing to live with. For ten weeks.’
    Millicent’s eyes shot wide. ‘I don’t have a bedwetting problem!’ she said, her face
glowing red. A few heads turned their way and Millicent dropped her voice to a thick
whisper. ‘That’s a complete lie!’
    Ruby gave an idle shrug. ‘Maybe. But you know how these stories get around.’ She
gave Millicent and Gretchen a look of disdain. ‘See you for breakfast, ladies.’
    Ruby turned on her heel and strode out the door, leaving Gerald behind. He looked
first to Millicent and then to Gretchen, aware of the death stares they were directing
his way. ‘Um, it’s probably best not to get on Ruby’s bad side,’ he said with a nervous
chuckle. ‘She can be a little…stubborn.’ He nodded towards the pillowcase in Millicent’s
hand. ‘Have a good sleep,’ he said, then, as an afterthought, ‘Meow.’
    Gerald turned tail and bolted out the door to catch up with Ruby.

Chapter 3
    When Gerald finally managed to drop off to sleep, he dreamed a giant, insanely grinning
kitten was attacking him. He sat upright with a gasp, almost waking Sam in the bunk
beneath him.
    Gerald rolled onto his back and moved his right elbow across his belly to the only
position where the pain in his shoulder would ease. He stared at the ceiling and
sighed. The cabin contained three sets of bunks. The buzz of five sleeping boys seemed
to make the air vibrate. Gerald was sharing with Charlie Blagden and Kobe Abraham
from the get-to-know-you session, as well as Nic Lloyd and Giles Spofforth, who both
played in Gerald’s school rugby team, and Sam. It was a good cabin to be in. Certainly
better than having to share with Alex Baranov and his cronies, Gerald thought.
    ‘Little blond twerp,’ Gerald mouthed into the darkness. His cheeks burned at how
rude Alex had been to Ruby. And as for him saying that it was Gerald’s fault that
Professor McElderry was still missing, well that was absurd. It was hardly Gerald’s
fault that Mason Green had ordered the professor’s kidnapping. Besides, what could
Gerald do about it? Just because everyone he got