Free Ribblestrop Forever! by Andy Mulligan Page A

packed with what looked like sacks of charcoal.
    ‘They’re there,’ whispered Doonan. ‘
Though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me . . .
’
    Now all the teachers were staring, unable to move, paralysed with wonder. The children disappeared into the crowds of shoppers and crossed the car park.
    Somehow, the teachers came to their senses.
    They crashed through the doors, fearing that, if they delayed a second their pupils might be snatched away again. For an awful moment, that’s just what happened, for they emerged totally
disorientated at the rear exit and had to race round the front of the complex to get their bearings. Had the children been a mirage and would they ever be reunited for the start of term?
    Routon spotted Kenji and Nikko, who had dropped some eggs. He broke into a run, calling their names at the top of his voice. Cars screeched to a halt to avoid the racing figures and at last the
children saw them.
    There was an immediate scrum of welcome. An attendant tried to intervene, for the traffic was at a standstill and a crowd had gathered to watch. He had no success, for there were too many hugs
and handshakes to be enjoyed and repeated. Only when cars started hooting long and loud, did Professor Worthington manage to get everyone moving.
    There was too much to say, of course. The teachers lost track of who had and hadn’t been properly welcomed, so the only solution was to start all over again, embracing and asking the same
questions. By the time the children had finished pouring out their stories, they were back at the picnic spot and the sun was setting. They perched on the picnic tables and opened bags of sweets,
some weeping with laughter. Captain Routon was listening to Miles and Millie re-enacting the collapse of their pilot – Anjoli playing the pilot. The headmaster was trying to follow the exact
course of the bus, car and plane as Oli laid out little models made of tin foil and Sam did the noises. Doonan was going through his interrogation for the fifth time to an enthralled audience of
orphans, who had their hands over their mouths in horror.
    It was Tomaz – wearing a brand-new apron – who called for order.
    ‘Excuse me, everyone,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to break up the party, but we’ve started the cooking and . . . well, it’s almost ready.’
    Everyone turned and was amazed to find that whilst they’d been talking, he and Imagio had been working. The charcoal was blazing and two shopping trolleys were on their sides, acting as
the perfect grills. A pall of sweet-smelling smoke floated by, for sausages, burgers and steaks were sizzling. On a table nearby there were loaves of bread sliced and buttered, there were salads in
bowls and two huge tubs of ice-cream. The box that Miles had received from that sweet old lady was also open. She had taken it through the till for him and pretended she was buying it. Miles had
convinced her it was vital medicine for his sick mother.
    It contained six bottles of rum and a stack of paper cups was ready beside it.

Chapter Ten
    ‘Hey,’ said Sanchez, as he finished his third burger. ‘Where’s Doctor Ellie?’
    ‘Who?’ said Doonan.
    Asilah looked around guiltily. ‘We forgot all about her!’
    ‘How did we do that?’ said Eric. ‘Without her we wouldn’t be here!’
    ‘Oh man,’ said Vijay. ‘She probably thought we didn’t want her, because . . . well . . .’
    ‘She’s fine,’ said Sam. ‘We just took her some food. ‘She’s got half the school with her.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ asked Doonan.
    ‘Captain Routon’s there. So’s Professor Worthington. They’re looking at that stone she found. The white one.’
    ‘You should see the van, sir,’ said Sanjay, who had come back for another sausage.
    The headmaster swallowed. ‘Whose van? I’m really not following this . . .’
    ‘She lives in a van,’ said Ruskin. ‘It’s like a little houseboat only with