Chapter 12: Equations file – page 1
Alex was in the library, working on the first page of Peach's equations when Larry entered, and spotted him immersed in them.
"What d'you doing Alex?" Larry asked.
"Hi Larry. Just stuff for Charlie."
"I'll leave you to it then."
Alex nodded, already returning to his work.
Larry shook his head and muttered quietly to himself, "Another Charlie in the making."
By the end of the day, Alex had finished the first page and entered Charlie's office.
"Alex, I was just wondering where you got to. How was Peach's lecture?" Charlie said as a way of a greeting.
"Rather insightful," Alex answered. "I've worked out the first page of the unknown equations. Could you check it for me?"
"Sure." Charlie took the paper, and looked it over. "Very good Alex. You are a fast learner."
He proceeded to give Alex pointers on how to solve the equations quicker, in less steps.
Alex visited Peach's office at lunchtime, again. Lunch seemed to be the only time he could go about investigating. The door was, as his luck would have it, closed. Sighing, Alex reached for his eavesdropping phone, and listened in to the German conversation occurring behind the door.
"We need to check on our experiments right now."
"I'll wait here for you Peter."
"Don't worry Jane, no one will find out."
"If you say so."
"Third book pulled. Code is…What's the code again Jane?"
"Three-one-nine-seven-two-eight."
Alex quickly committed it to memory.
"Thank-you."
"You need to be more careful Peter. Someone could overhear you."
"And understand? We made sure that nobody around us could understand German. Remember?"
"We can never be too careful."
"Relax Jane. Let's go."
Alex gave t hem a minute before looking through a window. The room was empty. He opened the door and slipped int. With another quick look around, Alex started flipping through the papers on Peach's desk futilely, but he couldn't look for the third book on the shelves lining Peach's office wall at that moment.
Suddenly, Munchie appeared, and startled Alex, who still had some of Peach's documents in his hand.
"What are you doing?" Munchie growled.
"Just came in to give the Professor the first page of the equations."
"Leave them on the table."
"Sure."
Alex placed the equations and the documents on top of the pile he had taken the documents from, and left the room.
Munchie stared hostilely after him.
Don drove Alex and Charlie to school the next day, which gave Alex the chance to tell them of his new discoveries.
Once Alex had finished, Don spoke up.
"Don't you reckon he'd be a good lecturer Charlie?"
"He's have a highly probably chance of success."
"I want to be a footballer, but at this rate, it's very unlikely."
"You never know kid, you never know."
It was a Thursday, so Alex had to endure another three hours of Peach's lecture that was an extension of Tuesday's scabbing. There was noting unusual about it, and as soon as it ended, Alex gave a silent sigh of relief, happy to be able to get away from the classroom.
Only to be held back by Peach.
"I got your calculations," she said. "Great job."
"Thanks Professor," Alex replied. "I'm currently working on the second page, I'll get it to you ASAP."
"Take your time Alex," Peach said, but she was betrayed by the impatient glint in her stunning blue eyes.
"Could you explain what these equations are for to me?"
Peach hesitated and looked at Munchie.
Munchie gave no reaction, but continued to glare at Alex distrustfully.
"Umm…maybe another time," Peach said at last.
"I'll take you at your word," Alex replied.
Peach just nodded and Alex left. Satisfied.
Meeting up with Amita for a rather enjoyable lunch and conversation where Charlie and Larry both weren't present, being too busy with their own work.
"So, how was Peach's lecture?"
"Boring."
"You'll get us to it."
"I suppose. How's your PhD going by the way Amita?"
"Great. I'm getting fantastic marks. Larry's a wonderful teacher. And so is Charlie," she added with a dreamy sigh. It was no secret that she had a crush on Charlie.
"I know."
They finished the rest of their lunch in a companionable silence, before Amita headed off to Larry's office, and Alex to the library.
Alex came to a stop half-way down the third page of Peach's file, and went browsing the shelves for a suitable book to help him. When he saw Peach and Munchie entering the library and taking refuge behind one of the shelves right down the back of the library. The area that most people no longer went. The forgotten section.
Alex followed them stealthily, and turned into the aisle next to the one where Peach and Munchie were hiding in.
Surprisingly enough, they were speaking in English.
"The students seem to have enjoyed the lecture Peter," Munchie was saying.
"Yeah, what should the next lecture be about?"
They were talking about class.
But then, why the forgotten section? Maybe it was by habit.
Alex couldn't care that much. He snuck back to his table and gathered up the file. He went along the hallway and into Charlie's office.
Charlie looked up from grading his papers.
"Alex!" he exclaimed. "Aren't you supposed to be in Peach's class today?"
"Yeah I am," Alex answered, putting the file into his bag. "Can I leave my stuff here?"
"Um…sure. No problems." Charlie answered, shocked.
"Thanks."
With that Alex left carrying the solutions to page two.