Chapter 9

The next day dawned bright, and despite the late hour Sarah had lain awake until, she rose early, and was anxiously looking through her trunk when her Guardian awoke.

"Sarah." Rosemary sighed, recognising the girls nervousness. "We went through the trunk last night. Everything that is supposed to be in there is in there."

"I know." Sarah replied. "I was just thinking we could maybe put a false bottom in so I could keep some weapons at school. I just know that I'm going to feel so helpless without them."

Rosemary pulled her robe tighter around her before replying. "You know Herr Braun has said that the trunks are kept in one of the attics. Even if we did put a false bottom in your trunk you wouldn't be able to get to the weapons." She paused, looking at the girl who was a bundle of nerves before her. "As for feeling helpless, should you need to defend yourself while in the school, pencils are wooden and sharp, with your strength I imagine you would have no problems piercing a vampires heart with one of those."

Sarah sat down. "I suppose you're right. At least my weapons won't be too far away though."

"You hid them last night?"

"Yes, one of the trees in the pine wood has a good sized hole around eight feet up. It's a relatively easy jump for me, and it's unlikely that anyone else will discover them there." Sarah paused, realising that her stomach was growling. "I left some iodine in there as well, after all, I wouldn't like to get a scratch infected and the Matron find out." Her stomach growled again, much louder this time. "Could we please go down to Fruhstuck?"

Rosemary grinned, wondering exactly how much Sarah would be able to eat for breakfast. "Of course we can." She eyed her ward with an amused expression. "Although I think that you'll cause less of a stir if you change out of your nightclothes first!"

Sarah looked down guiltily at the pyjamas which were all she wore. "You're still wearing your nightclothes as well." she pointed out, sticking her tongue out.

Rosemary rolled her eyes. "I'm fully aware of that. Now let us both get dressed and go and eat. I think my stomach is about to get extremely vocal as well." with which remark the pair of them turned to wash and dress, and ten minutes later saw them making their way down to the Spiesesaal.

----------------------------------------------------------

Eleven-thirty that morning saw Sarah standing in the study, being interviewed by Miss Maynard.

"…and you will be taking lessons with Lower Fourth, although depending on how you find the work, we may see about giving you a remove to Upper Fourth."

"Yes, Miss Maynard." Sarah replied, very properly, and for a wonder keeping her voice steady. She was frankly terrified, which she considered rather ironic considering her extra-curricular activities.

Miss Maynard however, could tell from her experiences at the Chalet School, that the girl was feeling nervous, and so she lowered her voice to speak in kindly tones. "Don't worry Sarah. I'm aware that you've not been to school before, but everyone will help you - if you'll only let them." She smiled as Sarah raised her eyes to meet those of the School Mistress. "Now I shall take you to Matron and we can see if we can get you settled into your cubicle."

Sarah bobbed a curtsy, having already been informed by Joey Bettany, who was looking after her for the day that this was the custom in the school, and preceded Miss Maynard out of the study.

-----------------------------------------------------------

After Matron, or Matey as she was known to the school in general, had finished showing Sarah the only way in which she approved of the girls drawers being organised (which was also, Sarah thought wryly, probably the only way in which she approved of the Staff's drawers being organised), Sarah had sought out a Mistress, Miss Denny, and asked permission to have a walk around the grounds.

"That should be fine, Sarah." the languages Mistress replied. "But you are not permitted to go beyond the fence without someone accompanying you, do you understand."

"Yes, Miss Denny." Sarah replied, before making her way to the Splasheries to change into her outdoor shoes and put her coat on.

Making her way around the school buildings, Sarah eventually located the window of her cubicle, whereupon she discovered that she had been extremely lucky, as from her window it was a straight line to the forest, and the tree where her weaponry was stored. She was also fortunate, she discovered, in that there were no flower beds below her window, due to her cubicle looking out over the cricket and hockey pitches, so she would not have to worry about her nightly excursions being discovered in that manner. After making these discoveries, she set about searching the grounds to see if there was anywhere else she could secrete her weapons, should she feel they would be needed closer to the school.

Sarah returned to the buildings in time for Kaffee und Kuchen. Between the meal which took the place of Afternoon Tea, and Supper, which was called Abendessen, Miss Maynard, taking pity on the girls nerves and shyness, asked for her assistance in unpacking the last of the textbooks. Sarah, knowing that Miss Maynard knew her 'background', took the opportunity to speak about her 'past' as if the Mistress were not aware of it, enabling herself to gain confidence in the story.

After Abendessen, the few girls who had arrived, with the exception of the Juniors, who had already been taken across to Le Petit Chalet and to bed, retired to the Common Room, where they read. Sarah stayed quiet, being one of the youngest there, but watched the other girls with interest. Grizel Cochrane, the Head Girl, was sat with Joey Bettany, who Sarah had learned was Madame's younger sister. Madame being the name by which they referred to Mrs Russell, who had founded the school, before marrying Dr Russell of the Sanatorium. These two were sat with Simone Lecoutier, Mademoiselle's young cousin, who was of an age with Joey. They made an interesting group, the black hair of the two younger girls contrasting well with the Head Girl's curly crop, which Sarah had learned, was so short due to a fire in a hotel in Salzburg where they had been staying. She longed to join the group, but Rosemary had warned her that it would be best not to form close friendships, as there was no way of telling when the Council would post them somewhere else. Sighing, Sarah returned to her book, and immersed herself in the adventures of Nat, Dan, Demi, Tommy and all the other Little Men.