The Mighty Dynamo Read online

  ‘It’s that Dublin guy and that friend he’s always hanging around with,’ Noah said.

  The two boys in question – Darren Nolan and Sunday Anishe – hadn’t realized that there were some people lurking in the undergrowth and they reacted badly when they heard Noah’s voice and saw the masked figure in black lying on the ground.

  They screamed like babies.

  When Stevie heard the screams, his reaction was involuntary: he screamed too.

  ‘Quiet,’ Noah shouted, removing his SpongeBob beanie.

  Stevie stopped immediately and Sunday’s and Darren’s screams petered out to a whimper.

  ‘Darren. Sunday. It’s me. Steven Treacy.’

  Their horror-struck faces relaxed immediately. Neither of them could imagine anyone or anything that was less frightening in this world than Little Stevie Treacy.

  ‘IQ. You nearly gave us a heart attack,’ Darren laughed with relief when Stevie emerged from his hiding place.

  ‘I didn’t nearly have a heart attack,’ Sunday said. ‘I wasn’t scared at all.’

  ‘Then why did you scream?’

  ‘I was joining in and being a part of things,’ Sunday said. ‘Nobody likes to be left out.’

  ‘Sunday and Darren, this is Noah,’ Stevie said.

  ‘We know him,’ Sunday said. ‘We were in the school trials with you, but you were the only one from our year who made the team.’

  ‘Oh, yeah, I remember you now,’ said Noah.

  The truth was he barely recognized them. He’d guessed that Darren was originally from Dublin because he had an accent, and he sometimes saw Sunday around town and thought that he was a football fan because he always seemed to be wearing a Nigerian football jersey with the name MUSA on the back, but if he was asked to list one other thing he knew about either of them he’d have drawn a complete blank.

  ‘What are you two doing here so late at night?’ Stevie asked.

  ‘What are you on about? It’s only quarter past nine,’ Sunday replied.

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  Sunday and Darren glanced at each other, as if they were trying to decide whether or not they should tell him their big, dark secret.

  ‘It’s just—’ Darren began.

  ‘Don’t tell him. We’ll look like cowardly fools,’ Sunday said.

  ‘Stevie’s cool. He won’t tell anyone,’ Darren said.

  Sunday shrugged his shoulders and raised the palms of his hands up, as if to say, I warned you – now I’m out of it.

  ‘We’re neighbours, Sunday and me. We both live on the College Wood estate. About two weeks ago, we saw this guy, a couple of years older than us, picking on a little kid. The kid was crying—’

  ‘He was bawling his eyes out. Snot was flying out of his nose. Darren and me went over and said to the bully: “Man, if you don’t leave that child alone you will have to deal with us.” He walked away and we thought that was the end of it.’

  ‘Except it wasn’t. The next day he came back with about fifteen friends.’

  ‘What did you do?’

  ‘We ran as fast as we could till we were out of sight. We heard that he was going to get us the next time he saw us, so we decided to lie low for a couple of weeks until it all blows over,’ Darren said.

  ‘If it blows over,’ Sunday said.

  ‘So now we avoid going out around the estate. When we get sick of being stuck at home, we sneak out here and have a kickabout. We played too long tonight and lost the ball when it started getting dark. We’d just given up searching for it when we bumped into the two of you.’

  ‘Who threatened you?’ Noah asked.

  ‘They called him Whacker or something like that.’

  ‘Whacker Ryan,’ Noah said. ‘I know him. He has the brains of—’

  ‘An addled sheep,’ Stevie said.

  ‘So, what are you doing here?’ Darren asked.

  Stevie explained their situation as the newcomers listened intently.

  ‘That is stupid,’ Sunday said when Stevie had finished relaying his tale.

  ‘I know. How could Hegarty have me kicked me off the team for something so minor?’ Noah said, glad of the support.

  ‘No, not that. That’s bad luck because playing in a World Cup would be amazing. Your plan is stupid,’ Sunday said.

  ‘Thank you,’ Stevie said, throwing his hands in the air. ‘I’m glad someone agrees with me. I’ve been trying to make him see sense for the last half hour.’

  ‘So, that’s why you’ve got that Spy Kids vibe going on,’ Darren said, nodding at Noah’s clothing.

  ‘I don’t care what anyone says. I’m going to get back into the squad.’

  ‘By breaking and entering? You’ll get expelled.’

  ‘Only if I get caught. And I won’t get caught.’

  ‘No offence, Noah. You’re a good footballer, but you never struck me as someone who was particularly bright.’

  ‘You say no offence, Sunday, but it is kind of offensive.’

  ‘I think my pal here is saying that you might not have thought it through. Even if you do manage to get in you don’t know the alarm code, so the alarm will go off. One of the key-holders lives in that estate over there,’ Darren said, pointing towards the back of the building. ‘If he’s quick, you’ll have less than two minutes to find Hegarty’s office in the dark, then somehow unlock his door. What are you using to unlock the doors?’

  ‘I left one of the windows in my class open after school,’ Noah said. ‘I pretended I forgot a book and sneaked back in when the cleaners were there, then made it look like the window was closed.’

  ‘Do you think they don’t check all the windows are shut before they leave?’ Sunday asked, a little scornfully.

  Noah had had enough of them. They were just standing there talking and being pessimistic. It was a waste of time when what was needed was action. He took off, rushing past them, racing towards the school entrance.

  He felt someone’s hand grab the collar of his jumper. Noah was stunned. He was fast himself and he had a head start, which meant the guy who’d grabbed him was very quick indeed.

  ‘Just stop it, mate,’ Darren said, as Sunday caught hold of Noah’s arm. Noah tried to shrug them off, but their grip was too powerful. He struggled on, slowed down almost to a snail’s pace, but still dragging himself towards the school’s front door.

  ‘Use your head, Noah Murphy. Don’t be an idiot,’ Sunday said.

  Noah was still a good fifteen metres away from his target when, without any warning, he began to feel ridiculous. The red mist that had been hanging over him for the last twelve hours evaporated suddenly and he saw things clearly. No matter how unjust Hegarty had been, what he was trying to do now was wrong. He wasn’t the sort of person who broke into a school. It wasn’t who he was. The last bit of fight drained from him and he stopped struggling.

  ‘I . . . er—’ he began.

  He felt himself moving backwards as Darren and Sunday hauled him away from the door. He tried to tell them that he wasn’t going to go through with it, but now one of their arms was across his face and all that escaped from his lips was a series of unintelligible squeaks.

  ‘We can’t let you do it. You seem like a decent guy. Can’t let you get yourself into that sort of mess,’ Darren said.

  The heels of Noah’s trainers scraped along the tarmac as the dual force of Darren and Sunday pulled him backwards and soon he found himself back in the vegetable garden again.

  Darren released his hold on Noah. ‘Don’t run. You know we’ll catch you.’

  ‘You’re fast. You must be the fastest in our year,’ Noah gasped.

  ‘I’m quick, but I’m no Hawk Willis,’ Darren replied, just as the sensor light blinked off.

  Before anyone else spoke they heard the rumble of a car in the distance. It came to a stop, the engine still running. And then they heard a creak as the metal gates at the end of the driveway swung open. They looked at each other. Somebody was coming in.

/>   They weren’t doing anything wrong, perhaps a bit of light trespassing, no more than that, but instinct told them to hide. They immediately ducked down behind the hedge, keeping well out of sight.

  Noah caught a glimpse of the car as it whizzed past the entrance to the garden and pulled up right outside the main door, activating the sensor light again. He knew who it was at once.

  ‘Hegarty,’ he whispered.

  Noah’s stomach began to churn when he realized what trouble he’d have been in if the lads hadn’t stopped him. He’d have been caught red-handed breaking into the office by Hegarty himself. They’d saved him.

  Three of the four teenagers used their fingers to create tiny gaps in the hedge. They peered through as their principal climbed out of the car, then belched and broke wind simultaneously. Sunday clamped a hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing. Noah and Darren bit their tongues, but Stevie remained stony-faced. He’d never found bodily functions to be amusing and he wasn’t about to start now when they were right on the verge of being in a world of trouble. Mr Hegarty unlocked the front door and disappeared into the school.

  ‘Let’s leg it,’ Darren whispered.

  ‘I’m with you,’ Sunday agreed.

  ‘If I get out of here safely, I promise I will never, ever do a foolish or dangerous thing for as long as I live,’ Stevie whispered.

  They were just about to make their move when they heard another car approach the gate. A moment later a red Ford Fiesta drove past the garden’s entrance and Stevie’s expression changed. He recognized it immediately. He pushed himself forward between Sunday and Darren and prised his own viewing gap in the hedge. The car door of the new arrival opened and Arthur Slugsley, the man Noah and Stevie had presumed was a football scout, got out. Noah glanced at his best friend and knew that they were both thinking the same thing: What is he doing here?

  Slugsley looked around impatiently, his eyes darting this way and that. A minute later the principal emerged from the school. He had a small package under his arm.

  ‘Mr Hegarty?’ Slugsley asked.

  ‘Mr Slugsley,’ the principal replied. ‘We finally meet in person.’

  Slugsley reached inside his overcoat pocket and took out a thick brown envelope and a package of a similar size to the one Hegarty held. The principal’s face lit up when Slugsley handed them over. He laid the package down on the car bonnet and handed the one he’d removed from the school to Slugsley. Hegarty opened the brown envelope and flicked through the contents.

  ‘This isn’t the full amount. It isn’t even ten per cent of it. What’s going on here?’ Hegarty said, his voice rising.

  ‘Your work isn’t over yet, Mr Hegarty. When our project is successful, you’ll receive the rest,’ Slugsley replied.

  ‘But that’s over a month away.’

  ‘With all due respect, Mr Hegarty, how is that my problem?’

  Hegarty’s cheeks puffed in and out. He looked furious.

  ‘We’ll be in touch,’ Slugsley said.

  He was back in the car and had driven off in less than ten seconds, as if he couldn’t wait to get out of there. Hegarty watched him drive away, then turned his attention to the envelope again. He looked inside and made an unpleasant face.

  ‘Ah-choo!’

  The sneeze was out of Stevie before he’d realized it was on its way. He didn’t even know he was allergic to the hedge.

  The principal looked in their direction immediately.

  ‘Who’s there?’ he boomed.

  The four boys held their breath.

  ‘Show yourselves now. Don’t make me come over there,’ Hegarty continued.

  Little Stevie began to stand up, but Noah caught him in time and dragged him back down.

  ‘What are you doing?’ he whispered.

  Hegarty walked towards them. He was big and bulky, but he was moving quickly. He shoved the envelope into his pocket. Noah wasn’t sure what to do. There was only one way out of the vegetable garden and if they moved now Hegarty would spot them. There was no way he couldn’t. They were trapped and it was his fault. Darren and Sunday would have been at home ages ago if they hadn’t had to stop him from breaking in.

  ‘Listen,’ he whispered. ‘No point all of us getting in trouble. I’ll go down there and distract him. When he’s giving out to me, you lot sneak off.’

  ‘Great, that’s a good plan,’ Stevie wheezed.

  ‘No, it’s not,’ Sunday said. ‘You didn’t force us to be here. We’re all in this together. Nobody moves.’

  ‘Right, that’s a good point too,’ Stevie agreed.

  Noah smiled. They were good lads. Still, that didn’t mean he had to do what they told him.

  Hegarty was only ten metres away now. He was puffing with the exertion.

  ‘If I have to come in there the punishment will be double what it will be if you come out here now,’ he panted.

  Noah got to his feet. He was about to accept his fate when the sensor light blinked out. Mr Hegarty had moved too far away from it and it wasn’t picking up any motion. The yard was plunged into darkness again.

  The four lads didn’t need a second invitation to escape. They turned and ran along the side of the hedge then sprinted down the driveway, Noah pulling Stevie along by the arm.

  ‘I can see you. I know who you are and your parents will be receiving a call from me first thing tomorrow morning,’ Mr Hegarty bellowed, even though he couldn’t see a thing.

  He turned and rushed back towards the light, hoping to activate it and catch a glimpse of the intruders. Unfortunately for him, he tumbled forward and landed on the tarmac, ripping the knee of his best trousers. He scrambled to his feet again and rushed towards the school. The light burst into life. Mr Hegarty looked back up to where he guessed the boys had headed, but there was no sign of anyone. They were gone.

  Name: Darren Nolan

  Nickname: Dar; Nolester. They’re rubbish nicknames. I’d like something better, but it’s not like you can give yourself a nickname, is it? That’d be embarrassing.

  Age: 12

  Position: Right-back is where I play. Lots of people think it’s boring, but I like it. You get to attack and defend, cross the ball, put in tackles and you’re always involved in the game.

  Likes: Twister ice cream and Charlie Higson books.

  Player you’re most like: Don’t know, but it’d be deadly if people thought I was like Seamus Coleman. He’s class.

  Favourite player: Tough one. I never saw Maradona or Zidane play because I’m too young, so I suppose it’ll have to be someone from the last few years. I like some of the Borussia Dortmund players and I support Spurs, St Pat’s, PSG, Juventus, Valencia, Santos, Boca Juniors and New York City FC, so it’ll probably be someone from one of those clubs. I dunno, maybe – hang on, not any of those – Gareth Bale. Yeah, that’s who I’ll go for – Gareth Bale. A Spurs great, even though he doesn’t play for us any more. And Harry Kane is unbelievable. Oh, I nearly forgot about Paul Pogba – he’s excellent too. There are just too many good players to choose from.

  Favourite goal: Lionel Messi’s goal in that Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao. He dribbled past everyone from the halfway line. It was AMAZING.

  Messi or Ronaldo: MESSI!

  CHAPTER SIX

  ‘Ian Rush, deadly ten times out of ten, but that wasn’t one of them’

  Peter Drury

  Noah barely slept that night. There were too many thoughts running around his head. Why was the scout meeting Hegarty at the school late at night? What was in the envelope? Was it money? And, if so, what was he giving him money for? It didn’t make any sense as far as he could see. In the end, though, he decided there was only one question he needed to worry about: how was he going to get back on the team? There were just over two days left before the World Cup competition deadline. He had to do something now.

  There hadn’t been time to discuss his options on the way home the previous night. Sunday and Darren had said their goodbyes and r
aced back to College Wood while Stevie had spent most of the journey fretting about Hegarty calling him into his office the following morning, despite Noah’s assurances that he couldn’t have recognized them.

  ‘Of course he recognized me,’ Stevie had said. ‘I have a very distinctive running style. I was called into his office for the first time yesterday. I broke into the school tonight. I’m on a downward spiral, Noah. I’ll be in a biker gang by next Tuesday the way things are going.’

  Distinctive running style or not, Hegarty didn’t call them into his office, so Noah assumed they must have got away with it. He didn’t hear a word any of his teachers said in class that morning. He spent the whole time thinking of ways to get back into the team. By lunchtime he’d come up with a total of zero. Luckily, Stevie had come up with three.

  ‘The entry forms for the tournament have to be in by five o’clock on Friday. Option one is go straight to the source,’ Stevie said.

  By source, he meant Noah’s former teammates. Which is why at lunchtime that day Noah called an unofficial meeting of the St Killian’s squad in an empty classroom while Stevie stood guard outside in the corridor. Only eight of the players turned up and Noah guessed from the looks on their faces that most of them were only there out of politeness.

  ‘I know you don’t want to miss the tournament, Murphy, and I’m sorry that you’re going to, but what are we supposed to do about it?’ Bestie Keenan said.

  He was a midfielder with exquisite skills; sometimes he’d dribble the ball past a player, then go back and do it again and again, just for the fun of it.

  ‘I was thinking you could have a word with the coach.’

  ‘A couple of us mentioned it to him already, but he said his hands were tied and he couldn’t put you back in the squad even if he wanted to. It’s Hegarty’s decision,’ the tall centre-back Rob Gillespie said. ‘Sorry, mate.’