The TV Time Travellers (13 page)

I’d only known him and Barney and Zac for a few days, yet I felt closer to them – I felt closer to
Solly,
for goodness’ sake – than to any of my friends back home. ‘I’ll miss you so much,’ I whispered to Barney
.

‘Rebels United,’ Solly whispered back
.

Farmer and Mrs Benson looked pretty miserable as well – Mrs Benson in particular had loved Solly. I think they were very surprised too. Well, so was I, as I’d even thought Barney might win this show
.

Then the song
We’ll Meet Again
started up. ‘That means we must go,’ said Sig, moving Barney and Solly towards the door where the woman in the Second World War uniform was waiting. She was holding both Barney’s wartime bag and the one with all his 2009 stuff in
.

‘And Barney,’ I cried, ‘it really doesn’t end here. This is just the start of your dream.’

Barney struggled to say something, but then looked away. And in the end Solly had the last word. He cried, ‘You’re
all
winners – except for Mr Wallack.’ We cheered that – and then Barney and Solly vanished into 2009
.

‘That was horrible,’ I said to Leo
.

‘And how on earth are we still here?’ he questioned. ‘I felt sure it would be you or me. No offence,’ he added
.

‘None taken,’ I said, ‘as I’d thought exactly the same.’

‘Maybe,’ he said, ‘the public just like trouble-makers. In fact, that’s probably why we’re here in the first place. They want a few bolshy characters to shake things up.’

I stared at him. ‘I never understood why I was here before . . . but if you’re right, then this programme is just a pantomime really.’

‘And we’re the Ugly Sisters,’ grinned Leo
.

Then Wally clapped his hands and said, ‘Life will go on here as usual for the four remaining evacuees. But I do have one important announcement for you all. Tomorrow, one of you will be set a challenge. I won’t tell you who it will be – or anything about the challenge – except that it will involve prompt action and quick thinking. If this individual is successful, they will earn extra rations for the whole group. So, good luck, and get ready for a challenge when you least expect it.’

‘What exactly will this challenge involve?’ I asked
.

‘I’m sorry, no more questions,’ said Wally. ‘In wartime, there was a strong element of surprise which demanded split-second responses – that is what we will be testing tomorrow. So, expect the unexpected.’

Then Leo asked, ‘And when is our next jolly eviction?’

Wally said firmly, ‘You will be told that information in due course. No more questions now.’

Everything was designed to keep us confused and on edge. I really hated that
.

Then Miss Weed said, ‘Leo and Isobel, you may go upstairs and unpack.’

To my horror, Harriet added, ‘And I’ll help you, Isobel.’

‘That’s very kind of you, Harriet,’ said Miss Weed approvingly
.

Upstairs, Harriet smiled sweetly at me. ‘I’ll help you put your things away tidily.’

Even when Harriet was being nice, she set my teeth on edge
.

‘No, you’re all right,’ I mumbled
.

‘Oh, don’t be silly,’ said Harriet. Then she pranced around the room, laughing that annoying, tinkling laugh as she ever so carefully put all my belongings away.
‘You
and I are going to have such a great time together, aren’t we, babe?’

I didn’t trust myself to answer. I just kept glancing longingly at the jug of water in the corner of the room
.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Dramatic News

Zac

I WAS VERY
tired and thought, I’ll fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow tonight. I opened the bedroom door. ‘I’m sorry Barney had to leave, but I was jolly pleased it wasn’t—’

Then I stopped, because I’d noticed something extremely odd. The wardrobe door was open and Leo was crouched down with his head right inside it, while his manner was highly furtive and anxious.

I stared at him in amazement.

Then he motioned for me to join him.

What was he up to now? Was this one
of
his silly jokes? But I’d never seen him look more serious.

‘What on earth are you doing?’ I asked.

He put a finger to his lips. Then he said, very very quietly, ‘I’ve found out who snitched on me.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Who Can You Trust?

Zac

‘WHO?’ I GASPED
.

Leo mouthed at me to be quiet; then, with his head still deep in the wardrobe, whispered: ‘Someone in this room.’

‘No—’ I began indignantly.

‘Oh, I don’t mean you,’ he whispered. ‘I mean the other person in here.’

Then I thought he must have gone mad. The stress had obviously got to him. But Leo motioned me to follow him and started making ‘Be quiet’ signals. He got up and very slowly moved the picture on the wall. He pointed. I looked, and then jumped back in amazement. There
were
wires behind there and a small microphone.

I couldn’t believe it.

I struggled to speak. But Leo signalled me to return to the wardrobe. Once inside I whispered, ‘This room’s bugged.’

‘Of course it is,’ said Leo. ‘I’m annoyed with myself for not spotting it before. But tonight I had a buzzy think and found it almost at once.’

‘But they said . . .’ I began.

‘They said there weren’t any cameras, which is sort of true. But they didn’t mention there’s a secret microphone in here,’ said Leo.

‘You know,’ I cried suddenly, ‘I think that’s what that woman was trying to warn you about yesterday.’

‘Of course it was.’ Leo lowered his voice. ‘So conversations we thought were secret are actually being broadcast to the world.’

‘But why would they do that?’ I cried. ‘Do you suppose it’s to check we’re all right?’

‘Don’t be stupid,’ said Leo. ‘It’s to mess with our heads.’

‘Oh, no,’ I cried.

‘Oh, yes,’ he replied. ‘They let us think one of the evacuees had snitched on us, believing that will totally stir things up. And that’s what they really want – trouble.’

I opened my mouth to argue – but I couldn’t.

Leo swept on. ‘Of course, all the adults are in on it.’

‘Not Farmer Benson,’ I piped up at once.

‘No, he’s got to be in on it,’ said Leo. ‘I mean, it’s his house and they’d have to get his permission to plant bugs everywhere.’

I shook my head firmly. ‘You were wrong about Harriet being a spy – and you’re definitely wrong about him.’

‘No, I’m not. I always thought he was a bit too good to be true. That’s his cover, getting us to trust him.’

‘No!’ I shouted. ‘Not him!’

‘Keep your voice down,’ hissed Leo. ‘What’s the matter with you?’

‘You don’t understand,’ I said, still worked up. ‘I don’t care about winning
this
show. I mean, I want to stay here until the end, of course, but I’d be so happy if you won it. And that’s the truth. You see, I’m here for quite a different reason. Well, actually, I’ve got a secret.’

Leo’s eyes widened. ‘What’s that then?’

‘I’m going to live here on this farm until I’m grown up – just like Victor did.’

‘Says who?’ demanded Leo.

‘Well, just me at the moment. But Farmer Benson said he doesn’t know how he’ll manage without me and Mrs Benson likes the way I always clear my plate. So I know I’ll fit in here just fine.’

Leo shook his head.

‘What?’ I asked.

‘I thought I was crazy.’ He shook his head again. ‘But you – you’ve just decided you’re going to live here for good?’

‘Well, until I’m eighteen, yes.’

‘What about your family? Won’t they look round one day and say, “Where’s that funny little guy who used to live here? What was his name now? Zac, that’s it. We haven’t seen him for a few months.”’

‘Well, you know my mum’s dead.’

Leo actually blushed. ‘Izzy did say something, but I’d sort of forgotten. Sorry.’

‘That’s all right,’ I said. And then I quickly told him the whole story. ‘And so you see,’ I concluded, ‘me moving here really is the ideal solution.’

Leo considered this and then said slowly, ‘So it’s very important to you that Farmer Benson is on the level.’

‘Very, very important,’ I said.

‘Well, let’s find out, shall we?’

I looked at him in some alarm. He seemed all fired up, as if suddenly he could do anything. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘Ask him,’ said Leo.

Before I could say another word, Leo had already stormed out of the wardrobe, opened the front door and yelled: ‘To whom it may concern; I need to perform Number Two, and with some urgency as well.’

A door opened almost at once and Miss Weed hissed up the stairs, ‘There’s no need to shout.’

‘Sorry, but I’m desperate,’ said Leo.

Then Miss Weed was at our door. ‘It would be appreciated if one night you didn’t have to disturb the whole house,’ she said. ‘But I’ll see if Farmer Benson is available. Do you need to use the facilities as well, Zac?’

‘I really do,’ I said.

‘Well, please wait very quietly.’

After she’d disappeared Leo and I had another quick meeting – in the wardrobe. Leo murmured, ‘On the way to the loo, I shall ever so casually ask Farmer Benson if he knew our bedroom was bugged. I shall continue to cross-examine him, and if he jumps in an alarmed fashion or does anything remotely shifty I’ll spot it right away.’ Then he added, ‘And don’t be too upset if he’s guilty – you can always come and live with me. We’ve got a spare bed and everything.’

‘Thank you, but it won’t be necessary,’ I said firmly. But inside, my stomach was twisting about. I had total confidence in Farmer Benson, but I was also apprehensive, and even a bit scared.

Downstairs Farmer Benson said
brightly
, ‘It’s the same drill as before, lads, and I expect you know the way blindfolded by now, don’t you?’ We stumbled along, with Farmer Benson saying conversationally, ‘Let’s hope we don’t have the air-raid siren going off again tonight.’

As we reached the loo, Leo said softly, ‘No cameras here, are there?’

‘No, the lavatory is out of bounds,’ said Farmer Benson.

Leo had a quick look round the outside of the loo. ‘I think we’re safe here,’ he concluded.

‘Safe?’ echoed Farmer Benson.

‘Yeah, the thing is, Zac and I made a terrible discovery tonight. Found out our bedroom was bugged.’

Farmer Benson turned sharply. ‘What do you mean?’

Leo explained quickly and breathlessly, all the time staring accusingly at Farmer Benson. Then he asked, ‘So did you know anything about that?’

‘I assure you lads,’ Farmer Benson said, ‘that I knew nothing.’

‘Are you sure?’ demanded Leo. ‘It’s your house.’

‘Yes, but don’t forget we went to a hotel for a week while they installed all the cameras. I turned up once and it was so noisy it sounded as if they were knocking the farm down. They wouldn’t even let me inside. I’d taken the disruption fee – and this meant what they did was none of my business. But I’m very shocked at what you’ve just told me.’

Leo gave me a quick nod. I knew exactly what that meant: he believed Farmer Benson.

My heart just swelled with relief then, even though I’d always been certain Farmer Benson couldn’t be a part of any secret bugging.

‘We don’t know half of what’s going on here,’ went on Farmer Benson. ‘Well, they only told us about that air raid at the very last moment. And’ – he lowered his voice – ‘to be honest, this is an odder show than we were expecting. All that noise the other night, for instance. We thought . . . well, I certainly never expected there’d be secret microphones in the bedrooms. I suppose I ought to check our room now.’ He gave a rather mirthless chuckle.

‘I just hope,’ said Leo, ‘this conversation with you isn’t being bugged somehow.’

Farmer Benson looked around. ‘I really don’t see how it could be.’

‘Unless there are secret bugs in the paper holder in there,’ I said, nodding at the toilet.

Then Farmer Benson said, ‘So do you want me to have a word . . .?’