“It’s only over the road, so not far,” Nadia said. “I just hope he’s okay. What if he took such a beating he couldn’t even come to school?”
“I know. I can’t believe how much those boys have it in for him. They won’t stop until he leaves the school,” Jess said.
“Looks like they might have got their wish,” Tomma said.
“Don’t say that, Tomma,” Jess snapped. “Just because he isn’t here today, doesn’t mean he won’t ever come back, does it?”
“Let’s hope not,” Nadia said. “Come on.”
She led them out of the hall, in the direction of the girls-only playground—the quickest way to exit the school and reach the rows of terrace Victorian cottages that lined the cobbled streets opposite. The corridors were full of students making their way to lessons and they had to fight their way through, against the throng.
Unfortunately, they didn’t even make it out of the foyer before Nadia walked straight into the gang of bullies, who were slowly making their way to their next lesson, almost knocking one of them over. He grabbed her by the upper arms and held her with his own arms outstretched, looking her up and down.
It was Billy Jenkins. Nadia remembered hearing his name when they were queuing outside the Headmaster’s office waiting for that horrible punishment of the caning. Billy was tall and broad, with hair shaved so short he had almost nothing left. His clothes were covered in holes and patches. He hadn’t looked so tough when they were waiting outside Mr Fitzpatrick’s office, but right now he was glaring at Nadia with such hatred. She did an involuntary gulp and tried to pull back. He was strong and held on tight.
“Where do you think you’re rushing off to, Polski?” he said, spitting the words into Nadia’s face.
She grimaced. “Get off me and move out of my way.” She tried to wriggle free.
“Look, lads, we don’t want any trouble and I’m sure none of us wants a repeat of what happened last week, so let’s just move along, shall we?” Tomma said, stepping forward and using the advantage of his height and width to intimidate the much older boy.
He turned to glare at Tomma before letting go of Nadia. She rubbed at her sleeves where his tight grip had pinched her skin.
“If you’re after your Polski friend, you won’t find him here,” the boy said, looking so pleased with himself, Nadia had to fight the urge not to punch him.
“What did you do to him?” she said, stepping so close to the boy’s face, she could smell his sour breath.
As his mouth widened in a smile, she pulled away, resorting to glaring at him instead. This was a boy who wasn’t easily intimidated. He held up his hands, his face a picture of innocent protest.
“Nothing to report here,” he said. “Perhaps he finally took notice of us and decided to get back to where he belongs. Think you ought to do the same, don’t you?” He scowled into Nadia’s face, causing Tomma to intervene, pushing the boy in the chest.
Nadia could tell Tomma was fighting the urge to do more than that. She could feel the waves of anger pouring off him.
It seemed Jess could sense it too. “Come on,” she said, grabbing Tomma by the arm and moving him towards the door.
Ash walked by Nadia’s side as they skirted around the group and went out of the building, checking over their shoulders to see if there were any teachers on the prowl who might notice them leave. Nadia was acutely aware of the bullies staring at them, which made the skin on the back of her neck prickle. She hoped they wouldn’t try to get them into trouble for skipping lessons.
“I know it’s hard, but you can’t rise to it,” Ash said.
Nadia blew out a frustrated breath. “They disgust me.”
“And me! I was this close to blowing my top back there,” Tomma said, holding his thumb and fore finger just millimetres apart.
“I know you were, but what good would it do? They’re the scum, not us,” Ash said.
“You’re right,” Tomma said. “I wish I had your self-control, Ash.”
“Well, it’s not worth the aggro is it?” Ash said. “My grandparents taught me that. They had an awful time when they first came to this country and it led to so much trouble. I think they just learnt that sometimes you need to put your head down and almost become invisible to fit in.”
“That doesn’t make it right though, does it?” Jess argued.
“You should be able to stand up for what you believe in.”
“Yeah, I get that,” Ash said. “But it helps.”
“Sometimes people do things because they feel they don’t have a choice. Hurry the coast is clear,” Nadia said, as they ran out of the yard, grateful the teachers were all too busy starting their lessons to notice them leave the school grounds.
Pushing through the side gate, they walked across the road towards the rows of terrace houses that stood straight and regimented like soldiers in an inspection line. Flanked by a road down either side, there were four rows in total, one behind the other, each one separated by a street that connected the two end roads.
“I think it’s this one,” Nadia said, as they walked along the lower road, looking up at each row. Number 65 was the end terrace of the third row along. It had a small front garden, surrounded by a rusty, wrought-iron fence, the gate of which creaked in protest when it was opened.
Nadia hurried up to the front door, rapping on it with impatience and intent. After a few painful minutes, during which time she shuffled between each foot and fiddled with the zip on her coat, an elderly lady answered. She looked at each of them, as if trying to decide if she knew them and if not, why they could be knocking at her door.
“Can I help you?” she said, in a gentle voice.
“We hope so,” Nadia said. “We were looking for Kam—I mean, Marcel—is he here?’
The woman’s face fell and she suddenly looked much smaller and frail.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, looking down at the floor. “Marcel left two days ago and I haven’t seen him since. He took Jozef as well. I’m so worried about them.”
Feeling suddenly dizzy, Nadia put one hand on the door frame to steady herself.
“Do you have any idea where they could have gone?” Nadia asked in a weak, quivering voice.
The lady shook her head slowly. “I thought maybe they had gone camping for the weekend but when they didn’t come back last night I began to worry. I’ve sent a message to his parents at their base camp and their father is on his way.”
“So they didn’t go to find their mum and dad then?” Jess asked.
“That’s what I thought, but they’re not there either,” the lady said. “If you know anything or have any idea where they might have gone, please tell me. Or, if you like, you can wait for Mr Kaminski to arrive and tell him yourself. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your help. Do you want to come in?”
Nadia nodded, not trusting herself to speak. If only she had been able to get back to the school the previous day. She could have stopped all of this from happening.