The Medusa Project: The Set-Up

  Everyone around me was moving towards the door. Ed was still at his desk, loading books into his bag. I leaped up. Ed glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. He sped up, hauling his bag onto his back, almost running out of the room.

  Completely forgetting my decision to speak to Ketty after class, I grabbed my textbook and pushed my way to the door.

  Ed was already out. I looked both ways down the corridor. There. He was scurrying away, round the corner.

  I ran after him, praying some teacher didn’t appear out of nowhere and stop me for speeding down the corridors.

  I caught up with him just outside the back door, in the so-called Tranquillity Garden. It’s a small patch of grass with a bunch of flower beds. You’re not supposed to talk or run around out there.

  Needless to say, it’s hardly ever used.

  ‘Ed?’ I said. ‘Wait.’

  He kept on walking.

  ‘Stop.’ I reached out and grabbed his arm.

  ‘What?’ He hung his head, as I let go of his arm.

  ‘What did you do back there?’

  ‘What d’you mean?’ Ed assumed an extremely phoney look of puzzlement. ‘Nothing.’

  For God’s sake.

  ‘You got inside my head, man.’ I frowned. ‘Told me what to say.’

  ‘You’re imagining it.’

  ‘You did,’ I insisted. ‘You can read people’s minds. You’ve met Jack Linden. He told me about you. You’ve got the Medusa gene. Why won’t you admit it?’

  There was a pause. The wind rustled in the trees above our heads. Then Ed looked up, slowly. ‘It’s wrong, what I can do,’ he said. ‘Getting inside people’s heads is . . . it’s evil.’

  ‘No.’ I stared at him. ‘That’s what Fergus wants you to think.’

  ‘My parents think so too,’ Ed insisted. ‘Mr Fox told them about the Medusa gene a year ago. He offered me a place at school then . . . said I’d be safer here. But they didn’t believe him. Then I started being able to communicate telepathically and—’

  ‘Tele- what?’

  ‘Telepathically.’ Ed reddened. ‘It means I can “hear” other people’s thoughts and they can “hear” mine, if I want them to.’

  A worrying possibility struck me. ‘So . . . so how many of my thoughts could you “hear” just now?’

  Ed shuffled from foot to foot. ‘Not many,’ he said awkwardly. ‘I wasn’t prying. You’d know if I was. I was just sensing the surface stuff, really – mostly all I felt was how freaked out you were about the idea of Mr Fox seeing whatever was in your pocket – which would have been obvious to anyone looking at you anyway.’

  ‘God, Ed, you can read people’s minds . . .’ I grabbed his arm. ‘Don’t you see, it’s amazing. Didn’t Jack make you see that?’

  Ed shook his head. ‘We only spoke for a minute. It was horrible. I mean, he turned up out of the blue outside my old school, about a month ago, telling me I was going to develop some mad genetic ability . . . that I was one of four people implanted with this deadly virus-type thing. My parents were really cross he’d come to me directly rather than going through them.’

  I frowned, suddenly remembering what the Medusa gene had done to my mum. ‘You keep talking about your parents,’ I said. ‘Isn’t your mum . . . didn’t she . . .?’

  ‘She died when I was four.’ Ed looked away. ‘Sandra’s my stepmother, but I think of her as my mum. I mean, I don’t remember my real mum much.’ He looked at me. ‘It must be the same for you?’

  I shrugged, embarrassed. Then I realised what he’d said.

  ‘How did you know I had the gene too?’ I said. ‘I never said.’

  Ed sighed. ‘I saw it in Mr Fox’s mind the day I got here. He made me look him in the eyes and when I do that to someone, it’s really difficult not to just go straight into their head. Mr Fox was trying so hard not to give away that you had the gene that I couldn’t help but see it.’ He paused. ‘Look, I only helped you out today because you helped me with that boy yesterday. But we’re quits, now. I thought you’d understand, seeing as you’ve got the gene too. Mr Fox and my parents are right. The Medusa gene is a curse – it kills people. I’m not going to use it any more, so please leave me alone.’ And with that he scuttled away, back into the school building.

  I stood in the silence of the Tranquillity Garden for a few moments. Ed was so wrong about the Medusa gene. I checked the time. I was already late for my next class. A few more minutes wouldn’t make any difference.

  I took out my new phone, called Jack and told him everything Ed had done and said.

  Five minutes later I strolled back into school, a smile on my face – juggling seven pebbles perfectly in the air.

  Saturday afternoon, and almost everything was in place. Once I’d mastered the juggling on Friday I’d been tempted to show Ketty straight away, but I knew that doing it privately was one thing – and making it work in front of her was another, so I kept practising.

  As soon as Jack had heard about Ed he said he wanted to meet up with us both on Saturday night. I’d explained that I was supposed to be seeing Ketty then, but Jack was undeterred.

  ‘There’s a pub called the Saracen’s Head not that far from your school where we can all hook up,’ he said. ‘I’ll make sure no one hassles you and your girlfriend for ID and your drinks won’t cost a thing. You’ll look good in front of her, while I speak to Edward.’

  ‘Great, er . . . but she’s not my girlfriend,’ I explained. ‘We’re just friends.’

  Jack laughed. ‘Well, maybe Saturday night will change that.’

  I was worried Ketty might have changed her mind about us going out, but she agreed to go to the Saracen’s Head straight away. She still seemed a bit reserved with me, though – not easy-going and relaxed, like she used to be.

  It was simple enough to get permission slips to be out at the movies until 10 p.m. on Saturday night. I had no intention of either going to the cinema or getting home that early, of course, but it’s easy enough to fool adults. You just have to keep updating them with texts:

  Bus broke down outside cinema, have to wait for another

  Now bus stuck in heavy traffic cos of accident, should be back in 30

  Still stuck . . . driver says at least an hour

  That sort of thing.

  Which left the one crucial detail that was threatening to spoil everything. How was I going to get Ed to come too? He didn’t look like the kind of teenager who’d be comfortable in a bar, even a small, local one. The idea of him having fake ID was laughable.

  I walked into our year group common room. Ketty wasn’t there – she always runs on a Saturday, even when it’s pouring with rain like it was today – but almost everybody else was. Billy, Lola and Lauren were sitting in one corner, laughing over some magazine. Tom and Curtis were playing table tennis.

  Ed was perched on the sofa by the window, flicking through a history textbook. I shook my head. Somebody should really tell him how uncool it is to be seen studying on a Saturday afternoon. Movement outside the window caught my eye. Ketty was jogging past, her sweats and hair plastered to her body.

  I looked back at Ed. He was watching her too. Which gave me an idea. I sauntered over and sat down next to him on the sofa.

  ‘Hey, Ed,’ I said. ‘How’s it going?’

  ‘Fine, thanks.’ He smiled.

  I watched him warily. Was he going to try and read my mind again? But Ed’s eyes were guarded and not quite focused on my own. I realised, with a jolt, that this was how he always looked at people – not quite making eye contact. What had he said about it before? That if he looked into someone’s eyes, it was virtually impossible to avoid reading their thoughts . . .

  Making a mental note to avoid looking directly at him myself, I cleared my throat. ‘Got any plans for tonight?’

  Ed shook his head. ‘I thought I’d catch up on some reading. I mean, the syllabus here is different from my old school, so I’m behind in a couple of subjects.’ He held up the his
tory textbook.

  I resisted the temptation to roll my eyes at this latest display of Ed’s geekiness. ‘I thought you might like to come out with me?’

  Ed’s expression grew wary. ‘Where?’ he said, cautiously.

  ‘Just a bar in Hanmore Park – that’s the nearest town to here. It’s nothing special.’ I made a face. ‘We only get permission slips to stay out till ten, so you won’t see much action down there, but it could be a laugh.’

  Ed shrugged. ‘I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘My parents wouldn’t like me going somewhere where they sell alcohol.’ He frowned. ‘How would we get in, anyway?’

  ‘Oh, there won’t be any alcohol,’ I lied. ‘The early part of the evening’s just for under-eighteens. They’ll kick us out by nine-thirty.’

  I held my breath. Surely even Ed wouldn’t fall for that? But he did.

  ‘Oh, well that’s okay then, but I’m still not sure I should. I mean, I do have all this reading to do.’

  Unbelievable. I sighed.

  ‘That’s a shame,’ I said. ‘Ketty was really hoping you’d come along.’

  ‘Ketty’s going?’ Ed’s face brightened.

  I grinned. ‘So you’ve only been here two days but you know who Ketty is?’

  Ed blushed. ‘I’ve just . . . I’ve seen her running. She’s . . . well, it’s different. I mean, she’s different, isn’t she?’

  More than you’ll ever understand, mate.

  ‘Yeah, Ketty’s cool,’ I said. ‘She’s a really good friend of mine . . . tells me everything.’ I paused. Here goes. ‘Actually, I think she likes you.’

  ‘Really?’ Ed’s face flushed scarlet.

  ‘Yeah,’ I lied, praying he wasn’t going to suddenly break his own rules and attempt to read my mind. ‘Ketty was going on about you earlier, before she went running. Said how good-looking she thought you were. And interesting.’

  Ed’s dark blue eyes lit up.

  ‘Don’t expect her to make it obvious, though,’ I added hurriedly. I wondered if I’d gone too far. I was sure Ketty hadn’t even noticed Ed existed. And she was certainly way too cool to go for someone so geeky. ‘Ketty’s much shyer than she looks,’ I went on. ‘She might seem like she’s not interested but she’s actually just really unsure of herself.’

  ‘Okay.’ Ed leaned forward, like he didn’t want to miss a word I was saying. ‘Thanks, Nico. I really appreciate you telling me all this.’

  For a split second, he almost made eye contact with me, then his gaze dropped again.

  A throb of guilt pulsed through me. I pushed it away. I was only doing this so that Jack would get another chance to speak to Ed . . . to make him see how special his mind-reading abilities were.

  I was doing Ed a favour here.

  ‘Right, well we’re meeting out the front at seven-thirty.’ I stood up, then punched him playfully on the shoulder. ‘Good luck, man.’

  The Saracen’s Head in Hanmore Park was already crowded when we arrived just after 8 p.m. I hadn’t really enjoyed the twenty-minute bus journey over here . . . I was too preoccupied – mostly with my impending juggling but also, slightly, over how Ed was going to react when he realised he’d been tricked into a meeting with Jack.

  I hoped Jack would show up soon. While he was talking to Ed, I planned to slip outside with Ketty and give her a juggling demo. Once I’d proved that I could do what I’d claimed, I was hopeful that she’d stop acting so withdrawn around me. Actually, I was hoping for a lot more than that. But now really wasn’t the time to get ahead of myself.

  At least Ketty hadn’t seemed to mind Ed tagging along. And Ed himself was surprisingly at ease with us both. I’d called Jack beforehand.

  ‘I’m not sure a pub’s the best place for you to meet Ed,’ I’d said. ‘He’s not exactly experienced in the night life department.’

  Jack had laughed and told me not to worry about it – or our ID. ‘Just give the password “white flag”,’ he’d said. ‘That’ll sort everything.’

  And now we were standing beside the bar. It was ultra-modern, all mirrored walls and pale blue lighting.

  We were the youngest people in here by several years. I was cool with that and Ketty looked like she fitted in okay, but Ed – dressed up like a middle-aged yuppie in a crisp shirt and chinos – looked very uncomfortable.

  I looked round. Most people weren’t taking any notice of us, but a few of the older ones were giving us extremely dirty looks.

  A man beside us bought a beer and Ed turned to me.

  ‘I thought you said there wouldn’t be alcohol,’ he whispered. ‘And where are all the teenagers?’

  I grinned. ‘I may have misled you on the exact parameters of the evening, Ed, but just because they serve beer here, doesn’t mean you have to drink it.’

  Ed opened his mouth to say something, then glanced at Ketty and clearly thought better of it.

  I smiled to myself. He didn’t want to look uncool in front of her. Some chance.

  ‘I’ll get the drinks,’ I said. ‘What d’you want?’

  Ed glanced at Ketty again.

  ‘Coke please,’ she said.

  ‘Me too,’ Ed said, clearly relieved she hadn’t asked for an alcoholic drink.

  I rolled my eyes and turned to the bar. I had my fake ID all ready to ask for a beer, but decided to try Jack’s password instead. As soon as I said ‘white flag’, the barman nodded.

  ‘Sure. No charge, mate.’

  Wow. For a second, I was tempted to get myself a triple vodka or something on top of the beer. Then I remembered why I was here – and that, as soon as Jack took Ed away, I was going to have to show Ketty I could juggle with seven objects. Better to keep a clear head and stick to a small beer.

  After a few minutes, while the three of us sipped our drinks and looked round, Jack sent me a text:

  Back room. Left of gents. Come alone.

  I made an excuse and left Ketty and Ed by the bar. There was a bouncer on the door next to the toilet. I said the ‘white flag’ password again. The bouncer opened the door and stood back to let me pass.

  Feeling a little unsettled, I walked into a small cloakroom, where a woman in a silver dress was checking in coats and bags. I didn’t have anything with me, so she just yawned and waved me through to the main room. It was buzzing, with slot machines against one wall, four card tables at one end and a roulette wheel in the middle. Staff wearing silver shirts (for the men) or silver dresses (for the women) wandered about with drink trays. Another man was calling out numbers by the roulette table, which was crowded with people watching the wheel spin.

  Silver lights made the room sparkle. Both the walls and the floor seemed to be covered with dark red velvet. I’d only ever seen rooms like this in films.

  Jack appeared beside me in another smart designer suit.

  ‘Is this a casino?’ I said.

  He nodded. ‘A small one.’

  A couple walked past. The woman stared at me. I suddenly realised how out of place I must look – at least five years younger than everyone else in the room.

  ‘What’s the plan, then?’ I said, wondering why Jack hadn’t come out to speak to Ed in the main bar.

  He laughed. ‘That’s what I love about you, Nico, you’re up for anything.’

  I glanced at him, suddenly worried. Did he expect me to play cards or something? I had no idea how to do anything more complicated than ‘snap’.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Jack said, misunderstanding my anxiety. ‘The owner’s a business contact of mine. No one’s going to challenge you.’

  ‘Okay, but . . .’

  ‘So Edward and this girl of yours are out by the bar,’ Jack interrupted.

  ‘She’s not . . . er, yup, but . . .’

  ‘And they’re friends too? I mean, I know Edward’s only just met her, but he likes her . . . they get on?’

  ‘Yeah.’ I thought of Ed’s smile when I’d told him Ketty was interested. ‘I think he likes her a lot, actually, but I don’t see how that
’s relevant. I mean, I don’t think Ed’s going to be able to handle this room,’ I said. ‘Even if he gets over the shock of seeing you, which I doubt.’

  ‘He just needs a nudge.’ Jack grinned.

  He glanced across the room at a middle-aged woman in a smart black dress. She was watching us talk, an expression of deep interest on her face.

  ‘What d’you mean?’ I asked, feeling confused. ‘I thought you just wanted to talk to him?’

  ‘Mmm . . . slight change of plan,’ Jack said. ‘But don’t worry, you’ll still end up with loads of cash.’

  ‘But . . .’ I knew that I’d told Jack I wanted money. But that had only been in order to impress Ketty. Now that I’d realised flashing expensive stuff in her direction really wasn’t going to work, I just wanted a chance to talk to her alone. ‘You are going to take Ed off, aren’t you?’

  ‘All in good time.’ Jack grinned. ‘Now, I want you to go back outside with Edward and . . . what’s your friend’s name?’

  ‘Ketty.’

  ‘Okay, go outside with Edward and Ketty and wait. Act normal. Don’t say you’ve seen me. And, whatever happens, just go along with it. Everything’ll be okay. Remember I’m pulling the strings.’

  Pulling what strings?

  But Jack was already propelling me out of the casino and towards the bar area.

  I made my way back to Ed and Ketty feeling more troubled than ever. What was Jack going on about? And when was he going to take Ed and leave me and Ketty alone?

  Ketty and Ed were so deep in conversation that they didn’t notice me coming until I was almost on top of them. Ketty looked really pretty, all smiling and fresh-faced in her jeans and red jumper. Beside her, Ed just looked geeky – his shirt even had ironed-in creases down the sleeves.

  ‘Ed did orienteering at his last school,’ Ketty said, as I walked up. ‘It’s like running with maps.’

  ‘Right,’ I said, Jack’s words still racing through my head. What did he mean about ‘pulling the strings’?