Underworld by Cathy MacPhail Page B

wasn’t shaking.
    Axel didn’t question that. ‘I hate this place.’ He stared out of the window. ‘Food’s rubbish, and this is the first day it hasn’t rained.’ He listened for a moment to the birds singing in the woods. ‘And if that dawn chorus doesn’t shut up I’m going out there and shooting them.’
    Liam was almost tempted to tell him then what he’d done, so they could laugh about it. He decided against it. Liam kept things to himself and that was the best way, he had found. He liked secrets.
    â€˜We’re halfway through the week, maybe it’ll get better.’
    â€˜Well, at least it can’t get any worse.’
    Mrs Soames didn’t come in until midmorning. The first thing she always did was to turn on the ovens to heat them for the lunch. Liam had been watching her. He knew her routine. Today every group would be in for lunch, after a morning’s woodland walk. No one was going to miss his revenge.
    As they neared the hostel, they could hear Mrs Soames screaming at the top of her voice. The smell was horrendous. A smell so disgusting, especially coming from the kitchens, that some people were actually being sick outside.
    â€˜What on earth is that!’ Mr Marks ran on ahead.
    â€˜It smells as if somebody’s got diarrhoea and didn’t make the lavvy,’ Fiona shouted, covering her nose with her sweater. ‘I knew her food was bad, but never that bad, surely.’
    They all ran, following the teacher, and if anyonenoticed that Liam only strode behind them no one remarked on it.
    As soon as they went into the canteen, Mrs Soames caught sight of them and she ran at them. ‘You! I know it was you!’ She lunged at Axel. ‘You did it!’
    â€˜Did what? Is that not your stew that’s cooking?’ He sniffed it. ‘Agh, smells good today, Agnes.’
    Mrs Soames pushed at Mr Marks. ‘See, I knew he had something to do with it.’ Her eyes went to Zesh. ‘Or him. They’re all the same.’
    It was easy to see that Zesh was surprised by her outburst at him. He wasn’t used to that. But her accusing gaze didn’t even touch Liam.
    Mr Marks stepped forward. ‘Was it you, Axel?’ His voice seemed to answer the question. Of course it was Axel. Who else could it have been? And Axel didn’t help matters with his answer.
    â€˜I just wish I’d thought of it.’
    â€˜What happened, anyway?’ Liam asked, keeping a straight face.
    Mrs Soames jumped forward. She was ready to lift Axel by the throat. Luckily, Liam thought, Mr Marks was there in front of her. And anyway, Axel was built like a horse.
    â€˜What happened?’ she yelled. ‘I’ll tell you what happened. Some dirty so-and-so put cow dung in my ovens! Cow dung, and I started heating it up this morning!’
    Fiona burst out laughing. Even Zesh laughed. Only Angie looked as if she might cry in sympathy. Their amusement only made Mrs Soames even madder. ‘See!’ she shouted at the teacher. ‘I told you they were a bad lot.’
    That only made them worse.
    â€˜I don’t know what you’re laughing at,’ she screamed at them. ‘It only means there will be no dinner for you tonight!’
    Axel almost fell over laughing. ‘Every cloud has a silver lining.’
    They were all taken to the local chippy that night for their food. It was supposed to be a punishment. It was the best meal they’d had all week. Mr Marks still wasn’t happy with them, especially Axel, sure that he was the culprit.
    And Axel didn’t deny it.
    â€˜How do you not tell him it wasn’t you?’ Fiona asked him more than once.
    â€˜Let him think what he wants. I don’t care,’ was his answer.
    That night back at the hostel Mr Marks outlined their itinerary for the next day. Another joyful hike in the wild, finishing with his special treat, ‘Though I don’t think