Twisted Roots (DeBeers 3)

roughing it. We'll have to do the same for Uncle Linden: buy him what he needs as we go along. You're not thinking realistically. You're still not serious enough about this," Heyden said, shaking his

head.

"Yes. I am," I insisted, "All right, I'll manage. I

promise."

He thought a moment. "Go home from school

now," he said suddenly.

"What?"

"Go on. Go complain about a stomachache or

something and get picked up or delivered home. I can

see you'll need a little more time to prepare, a lot more

than I will."

"But..."

I was going to say I had to attend my next class.

We were having an exam, but the ridiculousness of

that struck me like a rock in my forehead, If I was

really leaving, nothing I did here mattered anymore. "What?" he asked, looking frantic.

"Nothing. Okay. I'm going to the nurse's

office."

"Wait," he said as I started away.

"What, Heyden? I'm doing everything you

want," I said. exasperated.

He smiled. "You don't know what time I'm coming by for you. We haven't decided on exactly where to meet outside your property. Some spy you'd

make."

"Oh. Well, what time?"

He looked at his watch, "I'm cutting out of here

at lunchtime. I'll pick you up at one-thirty. We need

time to get Uncle Linden and get him to his bank." "Okay," I said.

A part of me couldn't help wishing we would be

discovered and stopped, and yet, there was a bigger

part of me full of excitement and hope.