Part 3 (1/2)
”Aw ... well, it's three oh one. Like I said----”
”Later! Now you. What's your name and cla.s.s group?”
”Maurie VanSickle. I'm in three oh one, too.”
Don finished writing, then snapped three shots of paper toward the three.
”All right. Here are your copies of the report slips. You're charged with group a.s.sault. You'll report at the self-government office before noon tomorrow. Know where it is?”
”Yeah. Yeah, we know where it is, all right,” grumbled Gerry Kelton. He pointed at Pete Waern.
”How about him?”
”Never mind about that. Just get your stuff and get to your cla.s.ses.
And you better make it fast. Late bell's about to ring. Now get going.”
Don turned toward Pete Waern.
”Close your locker, fella, and come over here.”
He glanced at the three retreating backs, then turned and went back to his chair. Pete hesitated an instant, then picked up his books and locked the door of his locker. Again, he hesitated, and went slowly over to stand in front of Michaels.
Don looked at him curiously.
”You ever have any trouble with those three before now?”
Pete shook his head. ”Not really,” he said. ”Oh, one of the Keltons ...
Gerry ... sneaked off the grounds a few weeks ago. I wrote him up.” He grinned.
”Pushed on past me when I was on noon guard. I trailed him to his cla.s.s group later and got his name.”
Don nodded. ”He ever say anything to you about it?”
”No. I've seen him in the halls a few times since then. He always avoided me--up to now.”
”I see.” Don nodded. ”But today, he suddenly went for you--with reinforcements.”
Pete grinned wanly. ”I guess I'll have to get used to things like that,” he said. ”Ever since Uncle Harle was----” He clasped his hands together, then turned suddenly aside.
For an instant, he stood, head averted, then he ran over to lean against a row of lockers, facing away from Michaels.
”Uncle Harle didn't---- Oh, why don't you just leave me alone?”
Don considered him for a moment, then walked over, to place a hand on his shoulder.
”Hey, hold up a minute, Chum,” he said. ”I'm not trying to give you a bad time. Now suppose you calm down a little. Doesn't do you a bit of good to tear yourself apart. You're not responsible for whatever your uncle got into, you know.”
Pete faced him, his back braced against the lockers.