Free Wild Song by Janis Mackay

him, but I didn’t turn round. I kept swimming back to the island. Hannu dived in after me. In the distance the bell in the main school building rang for lunch time and I was already dressed and running through the woods by the time Hannu waded ashore. He pounded after me.I glanced back and saw him, his T-shirt flapping out in the breeze, his flip-flops in his other hand.
    Halfway along the nature trail he caught up with me. He flung his T-shirt on the ground, grasped me by the shoulder and swung me round. ‘I don’t tell everyone what I just told you. Listen to me, Niilo. I told you because I had this feeling, when you get out of here, head north. Find your wild song. You and me, Niilo, we have the north in our blood. I told you that already. And you’re not bad. You’ve just lost your story. And your song. We’re similar, you and me. We’ve been brought together for a reason. And like I say, I won’t be always here.’
    I broke away and ran on, through the garden and into the courtyard of the school.
    Hannu caught up with me again. ‘Niilo, listen.’ He tugged at the sleeve of my shirt. ‘There’s something I need to tell you. About me leaving …’
    Just then a swarm of boys spilled out after a gym class. The courtyard, that moments earlier had been empty and silent, was now a hub of noise and chatter. One of the older boys saw us and wolf-whistled. I tugged away from Hannu and slipped into the building.
    In moments I had shut myself in my room. Whatever he wanted to tell me, I didn’t want to hear it. I slumped down on my bed with my hands over my ears. I had this sudden memory of Mum and all the times she had been trying to tell me something, and I had never wanted to hear.

Chapter Twelve
    Five minutes later Hannu was knocking at my door. ‘Niilo,’ he called, ‘it’s me. It’s Hannu.’ He knocked again. ‘What was that sudden disappearance about? That was important stuff I was telling you. We were doing so well. You swam fantastically in the sea. Niilo?’
    I pressed my ear against the door, but I didn’t speak. Then I heard footsteps, heavy footsteps. ‘Leave him, Hannu.’ It was Stubble, the head teacher. I knew his voice. ‘You know by now what our boys are like. They need time in their cave.’
    Next thing, I heard footsteps growing faint. They were leaving. I gave them a few seconds, then opened my door and stepped out into the corridor. My door wasn’t locked during the day and I closed it without a sound. I could see the head teacher sweeping Hannu along, so I used my skill and crept behind them, keeping in the shadows and not making a sound.
    ‘And you understand, don’t you?’ the head teacher wenton. By this time they had reached his office. They were standing at the door of the office. I slunk right in against the wall. ‘In this line of work it doesn’t do to get too close. Yes, you’ve done wonders for poor Niilo. I think you’ve really made a breakthrough. He looks less miserable, that’s for sure. And he even smiles now. He’s like a different boy. That’s great. Being outdoors has really helped. And being able to swim will give him a sense of achievement. But while you’re still here we’d like you to concentrate on the older boys. We’re changing your timetable.’ Then Stubble disappeared into the staffroom, leaving Hannu standing in the hallway.
    At the other end of the long corridor I pressed my back against the wall. Just then the bell rang for supper and a swarm of boys filled the corridors. One of them snuck his arm in under my arm. I didn’t know who it was. But he pulled me away, pretty much the way Stubble had swept Hannu along. Normally the other boys left me alone, but now here was one tall, stupid-looking guy, acting like we were the best of chums. I tried to pull my arm away, but whoever had a hold of me was strong. ‘It’s Samuel’s birthday,’ this guy said, still pulling me along. ‘You want cake, don’t you? And there’s going to be ice