In the Time of Greenbloom by Gabriel Fielding

him and sat up.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?”
    Beside him Marston also sat up.
    â€œWhat were you doing?”
    â€œI wasn’t doing anything.”
    â€œYes you were.” The words spoken aloud echoed from the wooden walls of the cubicle.
    â€œShut up you fool,” hissed Marston. “Lie down and keep quiet or you’ll get us both sacked.”
    He put his arm round John’s neck and attempted to force him back against the pillow. John thrust himself violently away from the strong grasp and with his free hand punched out hard into the shadows beside him; he felt his fist jab and slip on the wet mouth, and, as Marston’s grip slackened, leapt sideways out of the bed. Beside him, as he sought to regain his balance in the darkness, the iron washstand with its contained jug and basin teetered on its three legs, paused, and then crashed to the bare floor. They heard the jug fracture like a giant egg and the immediate wash of water under the bed followed by the steady drip drip from the larger sections of the basin. Horrified and unmoving they kept their positions in the silence and John counted the seconds waiting for the passing of time to make them safe. If no one spoke, if no one moved, if no lights went on; or if someone laughed or called out idly for whoever it was to ‘shut up!’ everything would be all right.
    â€œYou little turd,” whispered Marston. “You’ve made my nose bleed; in the morning I’ll—”
    He was interrupted by the screech of the curtain rings as they were drawn swiftly over the metal bar above the doorway. A torch blazed upon them from the passage between the opposing rows of cubicles and someone stepped on to the wet floor. It was Fisher.
    â€œWhat’s going on in here, Blaydon?”
    â€œNothing,” said John.
    â€œDon’t lie, what’s Marston doing in your bed?”
    â€œHe was blubbing,” said Marston, “and I came in to see what was the matter and he said he wouldn’t tell me unless I got into his bed with him.”
    â€œI didn’t,” said John. “I tried to kick him out because he was kissing me. I
was
blubbing, but it wasn’t anything to do with anyone—I was quite happy really.”
    Fisher smiled slowly. “So you were quite happy really, and yet you were blubbing? And nothing was going on in here, and yet you’ve broken a jug and had another chap in your bed. One of you is obviously lying, and I think I know which I prefer to believe. Marston get back to your own cubicle—I shall report this in the morning.”
    Marston got out of the bed and stood beside him.
    â€œNow look here Fish, don’t go and make a stink,” he whispered urgently. “Remember what we arranged at the beginning of term. This little turd simply isn’t worth a chaos with the Badger. I can explain everything to you if you’ll only give me the chance. Fleming knows about it; we could neither of us get to sleep because of the noise Blaydon was making snivelling round his cubicle.”
    Fisher looked at him quickly.
    â€œI don’t think you need say any more, Marston,” he said. “If Blaydon got you in here by pretending to be ill and then forced you to get into his bed, there’s nothing more to be said.” He smiled, “Your nose is bleeding; how did that happen?”
    â€œHe hit out at me when I wasn’t expecting it,” said Marston. “He said he was lonely and scared of the ‘Doctor’—I think he’s barmy.”
    â€œNo, not barmy,” said Fisher, “just a nasty little squirt with nasty ideas like the ‘Doctor’.” He sniggered, “And he’ll probably end up like him too; by being expelled.”
    John sat down on the bed, expelled from what? he thought; you can’t be expelled from nothing. Adam and Eve wereexpelled from Paradise; the world from which they were driven had been