Free Pep Squad by Eileen O'Hely Page B

creative,’ said Ivan.
    â€˜Unlike when we use anagrams as codes in the field, Shakespeare probably didn’t care if his prince’s code name could be easily deciphered. On that note, do you have any suggestions on how to ensure that the anagrams we use can only be deciphered correctly by those we want to, Ivan?’ asked Signora Enigmistica.
    â€˜Oh, I don’t know. Build some sort of texting device that works as an anagram translator with private key encryption?’ he suggested.
    Signora Enigmistica smiled.
    â€˜Very good. That’s exactly the type of device we use in the field, although such devices weren’t available four hundred and fifty years ago when Shakespeare was alive. Now,’ she continued, turning to the rest of the class, ‘let’s test your knowledge of Hamlet . Who can give me a quote? Jess?’
    â€˜To be, or not to be,’ said Jess.
    â€˜Naturally,’ said Signora Enigmistica. ‘Anything slightly less mainstream?’
    â€˜The lady doth protest too much, methinks,’ said Ben.
    â€˜To sleep, perchance to dream, ay there’s the rub,’ said Emily, in a perfect mimic of Mel Gibson’s voice.
    Signora Enigmistica was duly impressed.
    â€˜Excellent, Emily. I had to double-check that Mel Gibson wasn’t hiding behind you. Can anyone else do that?’
    â€˜They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom,’ said Ivan, sounding exactly like Emily had but with a Scottish accent.
    â€˜Very good,’ said Signora Enigmistica. ‘Can you do a female voice?’
    â€˜You’re a human being, you live once and life is wonderful, so eat the damn red velvet cupcake,’ said Ivan in a husky female voice with an American accent.
    Signora Enigmistica looked at him.
    â€˜Emma Stone,’ said Ivan.
    Signora Enigmistica looked around the class as the other transition years nodded their heads.
    â€˜Something for me to google later,’ she said. ‘Right. Back to our Danish prince …’

    After classes had finished for the day, Jess and Emily were holed up in their dorm ploughing through homework. As well as having to learn to recite Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, they had a worksheet to complete for Chinese, an essay to write for History and a map to draw for Geography.
    Jess leant back in her chair and stretched and yawned widely. Then, as her eyes took in the clock, she straightened up quickly.
    â€˜Hey, Em, it’s half past six. We’ll be late for dinner.’
    â€˜What’s the rush? I’m sure they won’t let anyone else touch our green veg and fish oil,’ said Emily distractedly.
    Jess’s stomach let out a loud growl. Both girls giggled.
    â€˜OK, OK, I’m coming!’ said Emily.
    As they got to the refectory, they saw Ben and Matt coming from the direction of the gym. They were both very sweaty.
    â€˜What, this morning wasn’t enough for you two he-men?’ Emily commented.
    â€˜I was spotting Arnold Schwarzenegger here in the gym,’ said Matt.
    â€˜Why?’ asked Jess.
    â€˜Let’s just say that Krivlyakaev guy gave me extra incentive to bulk up,’ said Ben.
    â€˜Who’s Krivlyakaev?’ asked Jess.
    Matt and Ben looked at each other uneasily.
    â€˜Mr Private Key Encryption from Drama,’ said Ben finally. ‘Look, I don’t want to talk about it. Can we just drop it?’ he said, stalking off towards the servery.
    â€˜What happened?’ Emily asked Matt.
    â€˜Krivlyakaev threatened him,’ said Matt quietly.
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜When?’ said Emily and Jess together.
    â€˜After Drama,’ said Matt. ‘Ben thought it’d be cool to chat about encryption keys or something. Krivlyakaev pretended to be interested and offered to shake Ben’s hand, but instead he bent Ben’s arm behind his back and called him a limp cabbage.’
    â€˜A limp