Cracks Page #3

A fascinating pursuit, but a pleasure

to be indulged with caution,

for you are certain

to come across crocodiles.

Taken, he was,

right out of the canoe.

It was a case of

'here one minute, gone the next'.

Foolish man.

Probably spent his last moments

wondering why,

having reached this point of folly...

...he need have gilded the lily

by fooling around in mangrove

swamps.

You must have heard me

tell this one before.

I believe I must.

Nevertheless... we...

...we pushed on towards

the Ogowe River...

...plagued by mandrake flies.

The stench of the swamp...

Fairy tales.

Like all her stories.

Now not only are there crocodiles...

Miss G has risked it all.

She's fearless and true

and an example to everyone of us.

I think you'll find Mary Kingsley

risked it all in 1897.

A bestseller, I think.

It was certainly translated into Spanish.

...to exit and begin its external life.

Come on, Laurel, you can do it.

Come on, Poppy!

Fantastic, Laurel.

Well done, Laurel.

Where's your courage?

Why? Why can't you give your all?

Where is your poetry? Your passion?

Why do I bother?

Fiamma.

We're not finished.

Can we have another go, too?

No. Fiamma has another dive in her.

We shall all wait until she finds it.

Fiamma.

Where is she?

Has she drowned?

I'm not going to save her.

She'll pop up like a cork

in a minute.

Fiamma has an intrepid spirit.

Real mettle in her soul.

Imagine possessing what she has.

How different

to this dull, aching existence.

Only Fiamma is willing to risk it all.

To push herself beyond her boundaries.

You may go and get changed.

Circuits for the rest of you.

It's not fair.

That was top-notch today,

Fiamma.

Don't feel bad for the others,

you can't help being the best.

We have a great deal in common,

you know.

We have experienced so much,

you and I.

So much the same.

There's no reason why we shouldn't

be the best of friends.

I don't understand

why we were punished with circuits.

I did my best dive today,

and Miss G didn't even notice.

- I thought Laurel was very brave.

- Thank you.

- So why are we in trouble?

- Fiamma set the standard.

So? When you set the standard,

we weren't made to suffer.

- What are you doing?

- We're drawing from life.

- Has anyone seen Fiamma?

- No.

Have you not seen her anywhere?

She's been in a bate

since this morning.

- I thought it was more of a wuss.

- No, definitely a bate.

Did you try the library

or the rough patch?

I've done that twice now.

Twice...

We should help look for her,

I suppose.

Come on.

We're on a mission for Miss G!

But it's so hot.

Can't we just stay here?

Fine. I'll go on my own, then.

Look, over there!

There you are.

Quite elusive today, aren't you?

Why must you follow me?

We didn't finish

our conversation yesterday.

I've nothing to say to you.

I see.

You know, you really should make

more of an effort to fit in.

I will not be here

long enough to fit in.

My father will come and get me.

Of course, dear.

But, you see, Laurel came for a term.

So did Rosie. Fuzzy thought

she was going to be a day girl.

Only Di realised this is forever.

It is not forever.

They will leave you.

...and a loaf for Matron, please.

Four sugared rolls, three jam tarts

and a loaf for Matron, please.

Four sugared rolls, three jam tarts...

Four sugared rolls, three jam tarts

and a loaf for Matron.

Four sugared rolls, three jam tarts

and a loaf for Matron, please.

Can I help you?

Four sugared rolls, three jam tarts

and a loaf for Matron, please.

Will that be all, Miss?

Miss?

And a... a quarter of lemon sherbets,

please.

I hope this makes

the homesickness go away.

Nothing worse than feeling all alone

somewhere foreign.

I know that feeling.

And I know how important

even a small kindness can be.

Fuzzy?

I don't think that's a good idea, Burls.

You make too big a splash as it is.

It's not fair.

Please. Help yourselves.

What good is that going to do, Rosie?

I don't have any money.

Give us one of your shortbreads, then.

Rosie, this is deadly serious.

Do as you are told.

Good riddance!

Come on.

Right, let's find Fiamma.

Get up!

You're going home.

There's food, money and a map.

There's a ferry that leaves in an hour

so you need to get a move on.

You do want to go home, don't you?

Back to your villa and boyfriend

and the diamonds and parties?

Thank you. I do.

Don't come back!

I mean it, don't you ever come back!

Bath night for Fuzzy,

Laurel and Fiamma.

- Where is Fiamma Coronna?

- I'll have her bath!

No, you won't, Poppy.

Where is Fiamma?

Don't know, Matron.

Hiding in the rose garden?

Di Radfield, where is she?

I have no idea, Matron.

She's a law unto herself.

We have not had

an event like this in all my time.

Our reputation is at stake.

Our own good name.

I blame myself.

I have been too lenient.

In many ways the diving team

has been a great success.

I do not wish to diminish

your great achievements with these girls

when I say that they lack

a sense of proportion.

Fiamma must learn that she is

no more special than any other child.

I'll use a firmer hand.

Good. Now we must pray this child

returns to us unharmed.

- Try it again, please.

- 'Very well.'

'There's still no answer.

May I suggest you try later?'

I have to speak to him.

He has to come and get me.

'Please try again later.'

- Last crossing, Miss.

- No, thank you.

I don't care for open water.

Come.

Miss G?

We were all wondering

if there was any news.

News? No.

Perhaps she's returned to Spain.

How foolish if she has.

No one is missing her there.

Why are you cross?

I thought the team would be

better off without her.

Well, you thought wrong!

And when I want your opinion,

I'll ask for it.

I don't think we need

to pursue this matter.

She must've been

out in the cold for hours.

We found her by the side of the road.

She was in such a state, poor girl.

She's back!

They caught her dodging a bus fare

on the mainland.

Girls!

Lights out!

I'm really glad you came back.

Fiamma! Come on, Fiamma!

Amazing!

Go on, Fuzzy.

Girls, we are... angels, eagles.

To dive is to fly.

Set yourself free of the shackles

of conformity.

Let nothing hold you back

except the air itself.

You are between heaven and earth.

The rules no longer apply.

I'm bored of practice.

When do we compete?

We can have a little competition now

if you like.

No, I want to compete

against another team.

Radfield, pick a team.

Lily.

Fiamma, you can be captain of team B.

Your turn to choose.

Pick me!

Real competitions.

Against other schools.

With prizes and trophies.

You do have trophies?

- Miss G?

- We're training to compete.

How many meets have you attended

with this team?

None.

None?

We have never competed.

You've never been ready.

- But I feel ready.

- I feel ready, too.

What's the point if we don't compete?

I won't tolerate a mutiny.

Since Fiamma seems to know what's

best for you, let her take the reins!

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