The TV Time Travellers (12 page)

Farmer Benson thought Solly’s idea was an excellent one. We’d just finished singing
Underneath the Arches
when the air-raid siren sounded again. Only this time it was the all clear
.

Farmer Benson dashed outside to assess the damage, with us close behind. Several of the windows had been blown out and pieces of shrapnel littered the farmyard. Glass was scattered everywhere too. Farmer Benson looked as
shocked
as we did; I don’t think he had believed that the television company would actually cause any
damage.
His face set, he rushed off to check on the animals again
.

I looked at the glass and shivered. I just couldn’t help it. But Leo whispered to me, ‘Don’t get too worked up.’

‘I’m not,’ I said
.

‘It isn’t real, like I keep telling you – nothing is real in this place,’ he said. ‘They probably just threw all this stuff around.’ He sounded angry. But I couldn’t help thinking that Farmer Benson had looked pretty worried
 . . .

Then Leo told me about the warning he’d received at the evacuees’ party
.

‘That’s incredible,’ I said. ‘Was she trying to warn you about Harriet?’

‘I haven’t a single clue,’ said Leo. ‘But I can’t stop thinking about it. I tell you, this is a dead weird place.’

‘I had noticed.’

‘Still, I’ll be voted out tomorrow,’ he said
.

‘No, you won’t,’ I replied. ‘It’ll be me for certain.’

‘I hope you’re not discussing tomorrow’s eviction.’ I hadn’t noticed Harriet creep up beside us
.

‘We’d never do anything as shameful as that,’ said Leo with a big grin on his face
.

But when I got back to our bedroom a stern-faced Miss Weed was waiting for me. ‘In the war,’ she said, ‘they had a saying – “Careless Talk Costs Lives”. It can also get you evicted. You do not discuss who may or may not get evicted with anyone. Is that clear?’

‘Yes, Miss Weed,’ I said
.

After Miss Weed had stalked out, I turned on Harriet. ‘Did you tell her then?’ I asked
.

‘No, I didn’t,’ she replied. ‘You must have been observed talking about it on one of the cameras.’

I wasn’t convinced, but I was just too tired to argue. And two minutes later (or that’s what it felt like), Miss Weed came in clanging that awful bell again and telling us it was time to get up. I lay there for a few minutes, my head pounding with tiredness
.

‘You’re going to be late,’ chirped
Harriet
. ‘And it’s your turn to tidy up the room today – and you know how thorough Miss Weed’s inspections are.’

‘All right,’ I said, dragging myself out of bed. Harriet was already dressed. ‘This is sheer torture,’ I murmured
.

Harriet laughed. ‘But it’s all good, babe, isn’t it?’

I put my hands over my ears. ‘Harriet, don’t say that so early in the morning. In fact, I may have to kill you if you ever say it again.’

Harriet laughed that deep, throaty, really irritating laugh. ‘You are funny.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, you go around moaning and hating everything. You don’t seem to realize this is a unique experience for us.’

‘Thanks for the lecture,’ I grunted, and I sat on the bed. I had a hammering headache now. I think it was having to listen to Harriet’s voice all the time. Then I realized Harriet was watching me. ‘What are you looking at?’ I asked
.

‘I’ve decided you’re the funniest person I’ve ever met,’ she said. Then she gave me one of her blinding smiles
.

I picked up the jug of water and walked over to Harriet
.

She went on grinning away
.

‘Here’s something to really make you laugh,’ I said
.

And I tipped the jug of water all over Harriet’s smug little face
.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Izzy in Trouble

Izzy

‘LOOK WHAT YOU’VE
done,’ gasped Harriet, her face deep red with shock
.

And then she let out a scream which could have wiped out any number of air-raid sirens. In fact, it was so ear-piercingly, earth-shatteringly loud, I had to jump away from her
.

Seconds later Miss Weed, Farmer Benson, Mrs Benson, Zac, Barney and Leo all charged into our bedroom. Then they just gaped at Harriet, who was looking all mournful and dripping water everywhere
.

‘Is this your doing?’ demanded Miss Weed of me
.

‘Well, yes, I’m afraid I sort of tripped over.’

‘Don’t be afraid,’ murmured Leo, ‘be proud.’

‘Tell the truth at least,’ wailed Harriet. ‘You didn’t trip at all, you did it deliberately. Admit it.’

‘All right,’ I said quietly, ‘I admit it.’

‘You, downstairs now,’ said Miss Weed to me. ‘I’m sure Mr Wallack will have something to say to you when he hears about this.’

I had no doubt he would. Harriet went downstairs too, escorted by Mrs Benson to dry off in the kitchen. The boys disappeared with Farmer Benson to do the outdoor tasks, which are far too stren-uous for mere girlies, while I stood in the hallway waiting for Mr Cheery Chuckles
.

A few minutes later he arrived, and after a whispered briefing from Miss Weed he barked, ‘Follow me.’ I stood in the sitting room, while he walked round me with this appalled look on his face as if I was some especially gruesome exhibit at the Chamber of Horrors
.

‘I’m beyond disappointed,’ he said at last. ‘And I’m trying to understand you.’

‘Good luck with that,’ I said, and I tried to smile
.

His face grew even bleaker (if this was possible). ‘Why on earth did you do it?’ he asked
.

‘I really don’t know,’ I said
.

‘I’ve never met a student with such a bad attitude as you.’

I hung my head. I did feel sort of ashamed. I mean, you really shouldn’t go throwing jugs of water over people, no matter how insane they make you feel
.

‘I am now giving you a second warning,’ said Wally. ‘One more warning and you will be automatically evicted. Do you understand?’

‘Totally,’ I said
.

I went upstairs. And I knew the word ‘sorry’ just had to leap out of my mouth. So straight away I said, ‘Harriet, I’m very, very sorry for tipping water over you.’

She was drying her hair. ‘Are you really sorry?’ she said. ‘Or are you just pretending?’

‘Oh, no, I’m very, very sorry.’

‘And do you sincerely mean it?’ she demanded
.

‘Yes,’ I cried, a bit impatiently now
.

‘All right then.’ She put down her towel and walked over to me. Then she gave me this big, sloppy hug. I nearly vomited with horror. ‘I know you’ve got tons of problems and can’t control yourself, so I shouldn’t get mad at you. Instead, I’m going to try and help you.’

‘Thanks,’ I whispered
.

‘I so want to be your friend over the next few days.’

‘Thanks,’ I said again, in an even fainter voice
.

Then she added sweetly, ‘That’s if you don’t get voted out tonight, of course.’

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Eviction Night

Zac

THAT EVENING WE
all gathered round the kitchen table. Leo, Izzy and Barney sat together, their faces tense with nerves when they didn’t think anyone was watching. And in the corner of the kitchen were their bags, all packed.

Solly Seal began shivering. ‘Is he sickening for something?’ asked Izzy.

‘No,’ Barney replied. ‘It’s just he really doesn’t want to leave.’

Izzy rubbed his head. ‘I think you’ll be all right, Solly.’

Then Sig breezed in. We’d met him that first day at the studio. Now he was
back
in a bright blue blazer and waving an envelope about. ‘Hello, folks,’ he said. ‘I have here the results of the viewers’ votes. And they have been voting in their thousands for you.’

‘They must be mad then,’ said Leo. But I saw he’d gone very still now. Izzy wasn’t moving either.

Suddenly Barney whispered, ‘Let us four join hands.’ He was in the middle, so his hand clasped Leo’s while Solly nuzzled against Izzy’s hand. Mr Wallack noticed this and frowned, but he didn’t say anything.

‘Now, unhappily, the person with the fewest votes,’ said Sig, his face suddenly sagging with sadness, ‘must leave the Second World War for good. You will be escorted back to modern life . . .’

A grim, square-jawed woman in wartime uniform, who I’d never seen before, loomed into view.

‘And in London you will meet up with your family again, who have been following your adventures,’ went on Sig. ‘So now, the moment of truth.’ He ripped open the envelope. Then he said, ‘Leo . . .’

Leo immediately jumped up. ‘OK, I’m ready. Freedom, here I come. I’d like to say it’s been fun – but really it hasn’t. See you all in 2009, and keep it fresh, all right?’

‘Leo,’ cried Sig, ‘if you’d let me finish: I was about to tell you that you’re safe – and will not be leaving this time.’

Leo couldn’t stop a little smile flickering across his face. Neither could I. I hadn’t liked him at all at first, but now I’d have really missed him.

‘Are you sure I’m staying?’ asked Leo.

‘Positive,’ said Sig.

‘Then I demand a recount.’

‘Leo, sit down,’ hissed Mr Wallack.

Leo plonked himself down again and Sig turned to Izzy, Barney and Solly. ‘It is between you two.’

‘Three,’ corrected Solly.

Sig smiled. ‘What am I thinking of? Three. The first person to leave
Strictly Evacuees
is . . .’

CHAPTER TWENTY

The First Evictee Leaves

Izzy

OF COURSE SIG
made us wait about twenty thousand years before he announced the loser’s name
.

But finally, finally, a word escaped from his lips: ‘Barney,’ followed by, ‘And Solly too, I’m afraid.’

I’d been holding my breath for so long that I started gasping frantically: a huge rush of relief, of course. But then I caught a glimpse of Barney’s face. And just for a second there he looked absolutely shattered. All his dreams of TV fame had come crashing down on him
.

And Solly just seemed to wilt in front of
us
. I patted him and said, ‘I’m really sorry.’ Yes, I spoke to Solly before Barney, how mad is that? But Solly looked so little and defeated – and all right, I know he isn’t real, but I still felt dead sorry for him
.

Then Sig announced, ‘Barney and Solly, it’s time for you to be whizzed back to the present. You have three minutes to leave your wartime home.’

Barney put on a big act then, grinning all over his face as if he’d just won the lottery. ‘This is fantastic, as I’m now off to the land of Big Macs and computer games and twenty-four-hour telly, so I couldn’t be happier.’

Harriet and I both gave Barney and Solly big hugs. Then, to my surprise, Leo and Zac did too. Leo looked quite sick with sadness, and I totally understood why
.