Rugby Rebel by Gerard Siggins Page B

must have felt.’
    Eoin noticed that there was a small hole in the corner of one of the panes, but carefully used his sleeve to rub away at the window, removing decades of dust and grime. The sunlight flooded into the room.
    Mr Finn stood open-mouthed in the middle of the room which was packed with boxes of papers, as well as some large wooden crates which were nailed shut.
    ‘I think we need to call the gardaí, sir,’ said Alan.
    ‘Oh, I’m sure there’s no need, this is just a lot of forgotten old rubbish,’ Mr Finn replied. ‘There may be plenty of interest for my researches of course, but I can’t imagine what else there would be.’
    ‘No, sir, look over by the window,’ Alan insisted.
    There, leaning up against the wall, stood a rifle.

Chapter 26
    . . . . . . . . .
    E OIN and Alan froze, staring at the weapon. They had seen rifles before in museums, but never in real life.
    ‘Gosh, you’re right, Mr Handy,’ said Mr Finn. ‘Eoin, come away from that wall, and don’t touch that gun.’
    The light outside had started to fade, but Eoin took one last look out the window. There was a good view of the small glade of trees where the Rock stood. He thought he saw a flash of red and yellow but it disappeared just as soon as he noticed it.
    Mr Finn ushered the boys out of the chamber, and pulled the door behind him.
    ‘Alright, you two,’ he motioned to the boys as they climbed back into the dormitory. ‘I’m going downstairs to get the headmaster, and some batteries for that torch. Please don’t go back down that hole again.’
    Eoin and Alan sat on the edge of their beds, their minds racing at all that they had seen.
    ‘What do you think is in those boxes?’ asked Alan.
    ‘I don’t know, but they look very old,’ replied Eoin.‘I wouldn’t say anyone has been behind that door for a hundred years.’
    Eoin peered down the steps. ‘I wonder why Kevin was so drawn to this school. He seems to know more than he’s telling us.’
    Mr McCaffrey walked in, with a very grave expression on his face.
    ‘What on earth has been going on here, Madden?’
    He stared down into the secret chamber. ‘Has this anything to do with the mobile phones you said were stolen?’
    ‘Well, sir, that’s how we first found this room …’ Eoin started.
    ‘Show me what you found, Mr Finn. You boys remain up here,’ the headmaster snapped.
    Eoin and Alan waited while the teachers went down to the hidden chambers. They returned within five minutes.
    ‘Madden, Handy, I’m afraid we will have to move you to other quarters tonight,’ said Mr McCaffrey. ‘I will have to call the gardaí and they will be very disruptive coming through your room. Gather up your baggage and everything you need for school tomorrow and we’ll find beds for you and the other pair. Handy, will you go and locate your room-mates?’
    After Alan left, Mr McCaffrey sat down and looked Eoin in the eye.
    ‘Neither Mr Finn nor I are quite sure what is going on here, Mr Madden,’ he started. ‘But I intend to get to the bottom of it. And what is this about you going in to Belvedere College?’
    Without mentioning the ghosts, Eoin tried to explain how he found the first key and why he went to the other school to retrieve the second, but even he realised he sounded ridiculous.
    ‘You just had “a feeling” that there was a key that fitted the lock down there?’ asked the headmaster. ‘And you expect me to believe you?’
    ‘Well …’ he stammered.
    ‘Eoin is a very honourable, truthful boy,’ interjected Mr Finn. ‘I’m sure he meant no harm here and he may have done us a great service if those boxes contain what I believe they do.’
    ‘Well, at least one of the crates seems to be full of rifles and ammunition,’ started the head, before stopping himself from revealing any more. ‘Pack your bags Mr Madden and I’ll meet the four of you at my office in fifteen minutes,’ he ordered. ‘And please stay nearby this evening as I’m sure