I missed last weeks update and I apologise profusely for it. The end of term has been hectic but I'm getting myself back on track, don't worry! I know this chapter is short and a bit of filler, but it has to be here for the story to progress unfortunately. The good news is that you will finally get to meet Nancy in the next chapter! Also, we're getting closer to the scene that i have been waiting to write for ages, Knox's party scene!
Chapter eleven - Excelsior
Kathleen shivered. She could feel the harsh bite of the midnight wind through her thin pyjamas. The simple pink and white striped set may have been a modest and sensible looking choice of attire for tonight's hike through the woods, but they certainly were not warm. Her standard Welton coat kept her body well protected from the icy chill, but her legs were suffering.
The group drew nearer to the old cave, torch beams illuminating the way. Whispers were drowned out by the leaves which crinkled and crunched with each step closer to freedom. Soon they reached the cave. One by one they clambered blindly through the inky darkness. Each crack and bump in the stone walls had grown familiar to their touch. These cold, damp nights had become a comfort.
It only took a few seconds for Meeks and Pitts to light the fire. The group settled down and warmed their hands as Neil prepared the opening poem.
He cleared his throat and a hush fell over the young poets, "tonight we shall begin with a reading of Mutability by Percy Bysshe Shelley,
"We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon;
How restlessly they speed and gleam and quiver,
Streaking the darkness radiantly! yet soon
Night closes round, and they are lost for ever:"
He passed the book over Todd, into Pitt's hands,
"Or like forgotten lyres whose dissonant strings
Give various response to each varying blast,
To whose frail frame no second motion brings
One mood or modulation like the last."
Pitts handed the volume to Knox,
"We rest—a dream has power to poison sleep;
We rise—one wandering thought pollutes the day;
We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep,
Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away: —"
And Cameron closed the poem,
"It is the same! —For, be it joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still is free;
Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow;
Nought may endure but Mutability."
"Onto business" Cameron said, passing the book back to Neil; "how on earth are you planning to smuggle a girl in."
"What do you mean by 'You'? You're in the club as well" Charlie grinned mockingly.
"This isn't a cult, Dalton" he snapped, " I need a clean record for college."
"Relax, we won't get caught."
"As much as I want to help, we have less than twenty-four hours" Pitts sighed, "he has a point."
"It's really quite simple" Neil interrupted. He ignored the puzzled looks, except for Charlie's provoking smirk. Neil shot him a disapproving look in an attempt to prevent any further arguments which it could cause to break out.
"What's the plan" Kathleen interjected.
"One o'clock is halfway through lunch, so we eat in three groups. That way we won't all be missing at once and arouse suspicion" he explained. "We will all begin in the food hall. After fifteen minutes, at exactly quarter to one, group one will slip away and meet Nancy at the gate. Meanwhile group two will leave five minutes later and head to the roof. Group three will stay seated and ready with excuses should anyone ask where the others are."
"Why are people on the roof?" Meeks questioned.
"I'm getting to that" Neil grinned. "Group one will lead Nancy through the treeline and stop at the edge, opposite the side entrance. At this point, group two will be watching and will wave wildly if they spot trouble. But once group one is hiding at the end of the treeline, one member of group two will stay, the other member will go back to lunch, once they get to the table, group three will go and clear the way for group one to bring Nancy in. The rooftop watchman will go back to lunch and groups one and two will aim to get Nancy to Kathleen's dorm. Considering how close her dorm is to Nolan's rooms, we can use on of our dorms if need be. Once Nancy is safely hidden, we will leave Kat to her friend and the rest of us will return to lunch. Any questions?"
"What if it goes wrong?"
"How will we keep the timings?"
"Can't we disguise her?"
"It sounds good."
"No, it sounds complicated!"
"Okay!" Neil shouted over the barrage of questions, "If it goes wrong we improvise. I promise it isn't complicated, and to solve the issue of timing we will all synch our watches. We will all wear one."
"There's eight of us, so which one is the group of two?" Kathleen asked.
"I was thinking that you, Charlie and I would be group one" Neil answered, "group two would be Pitts and Meeks, then group three would be Todd, Knox and Cameron. But Cameron" he turned to the red-head, "how would you feel about being the co-ordinator? You would have to stay at the table for the entire duration, time keep and send everyone off at the correct time."
"And I could deny involvement when you get caught?"
"If we get caught, yes."
He nodded, mollified.
"When did you come up with that?" Meeks inquired.
"I've been thinking about it for a few days" Neil admitted.
"It's good!" Kat smiled, "I really think that we're going to pull this off."
"Of course" Charlie smirked, " the question is how to get her out again."
"We give her a Welton coat, pull up the hood and a couple of you take her back through the treeline. Anyone in the grounds will assume that it's me" she shrugged.
"It's sorted then" Knox stood, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm exhausted."
Pitts yawned, "me too. We need to be well-rested for tomorrow."
Kathleen helped Meeks put out the fire and the group filed out of the cave. The trek back to Welton seemed shorter than usual. They made their way through the woods, darted across the school lawn, slipped in through the empty kitchens and silenced Nolan's dog with biscuits. Whether it was due to excitement or exhaustion, the weary bunch fell asleep just moments after collapsing intotheir beds. Dreaming of futures which did not include courtrooms, banks or medical schools.
Futures that were beginning to seem possible at last.
