Free Let the Dance Begin by Lynda Waterhouse Page A

slippers!’ Cassie complained.
    ‘Maybe she’s happy to do it because Shell’s a good friend,’ Rubus suggested.
    ‘And if Shell was any kind of a friend she wouldn’t exploit Lexie’s good nature!’ Cassie snapped back.
    ‘If Shell’s spent her life running around after Sandrine and Anagallis, maybe she’s enjoying having someone running around after her. Are you sure you’re not the
teensiest bit jealous?’ Rubus peered at her.
    Cassie snorted. ‘As if! I would not dream of letting anyone pick up my stuff or do things for me that I am quite capable of doing myself. No way!’ Cassie swished her head so fiercely
that Rubus had to duck out of the way of her braids.
    ‘OK, I get your point,’ said Rubus, raising his arms up to his face. ‘How have you been getting on with your real reason for being here? Have you found anything out about
Marina?’
    Cassie looked a bit shamefaced. She had been putting off trying to find out about her mother because she had little idea of where to start, and the dance classes had exhausted her. ‘I
haven’t done much. I’ve had to settle in and get on. They work you really hard. I’ve been letting the Marramgrass dust settle for a while so I can find my way around.’
    ‘Tell me about the school,’ Rubus demanded.
    ‘It’s much better than I expected. The classes are difficult, and Mrs Sandskrit is especially hard to please, but I think I am beginning to make some progress as a dancer. But I find
it hard to be so precise with those seven steps. It is really difficult, and I’m trying my best, but sometimes it feels like that just isn’t enough.’
    Rubus shook his head and snapped off a twig from a piece of driftwood. ‘What about the layout of the place – that’s what I’m interested in.’
    Cassie picked up the twig and began scratching the outline of the building in a patch of sand. ‘The area that I don’t know much about is the lower floor, where the teachers live.
Miss Youngsand Jnr’s research laboratory is there, as well as Madame Rosa’s study, but I haven’t been into any of those places yet. I have found out that meetings used to be held
in her study late at night so that will be my first place to look. We haven’t started our science lessons yet, but I suppose I could go in there and pretend I’m looking for Miss
Youngsand Jnr.’
    Rubus stroked his chin. ‘You should certainly try and have a look in there.’
    ‘I’m guessing that all the dance school documents are kept in Madame Rosa’s study. The only trouble is that no one is allowed inside without permission. Our kutches only have
curtains but the rest of the rooms have driftwood doors with locks.’
    Rubus let out a long sigh. ‘A sand sprite I used to know would have said “Rules schmooles” and found a way to get inside.’
    Cassie felt her cheeks burning. Rubus’s words stung her. She had allowed herself to get carried away by the idea of learning to dance and becoming a sand dancer. Dancing was getting under
her skin and making her forget why she’d come to the school.
    Cassie nodded. ‘By the next time you come I’ll have taken a look inside that study. Now let’s race. One good thing about all this dancing is that it has made me stronger. I bet
I can beat you.’
    ‘We’ll see about that!’ Rubus raced off on his board.
    An hour later an exhausted Cassie climbed back up the rope ladder and fell into bed. Her body was tired but her mind was racing. It was focused on one thing: trying to think of a way to get into
Madame Rosa’s study.

 
    Chapter Eleven
    ‘There is a movement to capture every mood and emotion.
Dance and you will find it.’
The Sands of Time
    As Mrs Sandskrit sailed into the practice room the next morning, she announced, ‘Madame Rosa has decided that it is time for your first
interpretation class.’
    An excited whisper filled the room. Lexie, Cassie and Shell grinned at each other. Mrs Sandskrit lifted up her hand and continued. ‘I