‘Fine,’ she said finally. ‘We have a deal.’
CHAPTER SIX
Cassie found each day at the Academy was dragging unbearably. Unable to concentrate in any of her classes, she could think only of the quiet hours when she could get back to her room and get to her laptop. Yet when she was there, clicking on page after page and discussion thread after thread, she lived in a world of frustration.
Of course she hadn’t kept her promise to Sir Alric – actually, she told herself, she’d been careful not to give him one. As if she could go blithely about her school life without joining the hunt for Ranjit! Ranjit and the Urn, she reminded herself, because the Urn was almost as important as he was. Without it, they could never be together anyway. The Urn was key to everything.
She spent every evening, into the small hours, surfing websites and logging on to networks known only to the Few. This one, she thought as she logged on under yet another pseudonym, seemed more promising than most – but how much was that worth? She was growing tired of ‘subtlety and guile’, as Sir Alric so lightly called it. She was tired of being ‘darpak_mumbai’ online, tired of pretending to be an older cousin of Ranjit’s who’d been to the Academy himself, but simply lost touch with the family. She felt like hitting the caps-lock button and screaming, into the virtual air, ‘WHERE IS RANJIT SINGH?’
Cassie restrained herself. Instead she typed in questions that were casual, almost light-hearted: you know a handsome boy from India? Ranjit Singh – joined the Few in his second year at the Academy … A powerful spirit? In his fifth year at the school by now, darpak_mumbai guessed. How was he doing? What was he up to these days? He’d seen a statement from the Academy saying Ranjit was on extended study leave? Does anyone know where he might have gone to study?
She’d questioned Few members in Delhi, St Petersburg, Reykjavik, Cairo. Nothing doing. Rubbing her tired eyes one late evening, when she’d missed dinner yet again, she clicked back on to Facebook for a while, taking a much-needed break to catch up with Patrick Malone and the Cranlake Crescent crowd; after all, she was determined not to lose touch with her friend again. He was the one solid point of reference in her life, she thought fondly.
Still, she couldn’t resist the call of the Few networks for long. Twenty minutes and some very light gossip later, she was back on that discussion thread, amused to discover her own real name mentioned more than once. Three of the forum members were chattering inconsequentially, but illuminatingly.
> So what’s happening with the famous Scholarship Girl?
> I lost track after graduation
> Who?????
> Cassie Bell. Freaky Few is what u mean, cairo_ruthie!
> Oh yeah. The scourge of New York! What’s she up to?
> Dunno! Academy’s in Kenya this year.
> Somebody warn the lions! Lol!
Well, Cassie thought with a wry grin, at least she’d achieved fame at last. And the gossip and ribbing had an element of respect, which was more than she’d once hoped for. She paused for a moment, fingers over the keyboard.
> darpak_mumbai has signed in
> Hey darpak, hows it going?
> Hi darpak, u’re back!
> Hello there. No news of ranjit the rake yet?
> Ha, no! Havent heard from him.
Cassie shook her head grimly.
> Ok guys. Will u let me know if u hear anything?
> Sure! Or u could try following trail of sobbing women!
> Lol ruthie! Bye darpak!
Yeah, yeah, lol yourself, Cassie thought bitterly, logging out. She was about to send the laptop to sleep when a small window popped up in the top right-hand corner.
Tiger_eye has sent you a private message.
Biting her lip, Cassie clicked it.
> Hey darpak_mumbai, u still there?
She hesitated, hope leaping.
> Hi. Yes, I’m here.
> Oh good. Didn’t want to talk in chatroom
> Yes?
A long pause.
> You’re looking for ranjit singh, right?
Cassie enlarged the private window, peering at the avatar. It was the generic silhouette that meant the user hadn’t uploaded a photo yet.
> Yes, u know him?
> Used to.
> U know where he is … Cassie deleted that quickly. > U know what he’s up to?
> Not sure what he’s up to these days.
So why PM her? The frustration was killing Cassie, but she held on to her temper and typed again.
> That’s a shame. I’d love to get in touch. Been too long.
The message screen stayed blank for so long, she wanted to put a fist through the laptop.
> Well, officially he’s on gap year.
Cassie shut her eyes tight, clenching her fists. Don’t scare them off … > Yes, so I understand. Have you seen him around? Where are you located? If she bit her lip any harder, Cassie thought, she’d draw blood.
>>>>
>>>>
> U still there?
> Yeah. Might be able to help u.
> Great!
>>>>
> Are you there? Cassie was rocking back and forth in her chair now, chewing her fingers.
> Got to go. Will be in touch OK?
> OK … Where are u based? Have you spoken to Ranjit?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
Tiger_eye is no longer online