Kid woke to the jangling sound of the morning bell. Since the electronic security system of Frazer House had been modified, the boys had become used to fire drills, assembly calls, and public address announcements - all delivered in an electronic monotone.

"Good morning, students. This is Sunday, the 25th of January. Classes will commence on Wednesday when most students have returned from their Christmas holidays. After breakfast, students will return to their houses to prepare for room inspection at 09 hundred hours. Chapel will be held at 1000 hours. Wear uniform blues, not suits. Luncheon will be served at noon. You have a free afternoon. Swamp Leave is available. Please familiarize yourself with the school rules dealing with your conduct during free periods. Tea will be served at 1800 hours. Evening chapel will be held at 1930 hours. Lights out will be at 2130 hours. Have a pleasant day."

"That," said Kid, rolling out of his bunk, "is Herbert. The school's computer." He slid out of his pajamas and wrapped a towel around himself. By the way, Chip, we shower first up every morning - birthday suits, and forget your modesty."

"Yeah. It's a male bonding tradition," Snoopy said. Everyone here knows everything about everyone else."

After showers, the boys dressed in their blues and headed across the lawns to the dining hall - a large tropical building built native style. Each of the four houses had its own entrance, Four tables of eight were set out for the Frazer House boys. The boys remained standing as the staff members seated themselves on the headmaster's dais.

"For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful," Mr. Carter said.

"Amen," the boys chimed in response.

They sat down, and Snoopy at the head of the table gave quick directions. "No grabbing at the food. Two weetbix each, and the milk has to last for all of us. Two slices of toast."

"What's the main course?" Chip asked.

"I like this boy. He has a fine sense of humor," kid said. "If you're lucky, we can get a second cup of tea."

There was the sound of a small bell at the Headmaster's table. There was an instant hush, so sudden, it sounded like a silent roar.

"Two boys from each table are to go to the servery," Mr. Carter announced. There was a buzz of excitement. Kid and Chip followed other boys to the servery. A few minutes later, they returned with steaming plates of sausages and egg which were passed around eagerly.

"I've heard there's some sort of re-organization going on," Tal said.

"At this rate, they can re-organize as much as they like. Share Star's plate out." Pilot added, as they divided their absent prefect's meal.

"No, it's true," Zed said. "They had a long conference in Sydney. There was a lot of talk about upgrading the school. My father was in on it, but he didn't say much to me."

At the end of breakfast, Mr. Carter rang the bell for silence. He looked around the room at the assembled boys, checking that nobody was whispering, and that he had everyone's attention before beginning:

"Just because it is the start of term, there is no excuse for being slack. We shall hold house inspections, and there will be points. The losing house will draw duty for the week, and the best house will win the tidiness pennant." He beamed a broad smile across the room. "There are some administrative changes. From now on, it is not necessary to wear school blues at all times. You may wear conservatively casual clothes during stand-down or free times. No black T-shirts with glaring pictures. You may also have one CD player working in the dormitory rooms at any one time, Any noise or squabbles, and the privilege will be revoked.

"Our new school principal, Doctor Wimberley, shall arrive tomorrow afternoon. There will be an assembly on the lawns of Plantation House to welcome him. Thank you, gentlemen. You are dismissed."

There was the rustle of boys standing, that swelled into a roar of speculative voices as they discussed this latest announcement. Outside, Snoopy was almost dancing with excitement.

"He's gone. I can hardly believe it, he's gone," he said. "You were right, Zed. There will be changes."

"Why 'Zed'?" Chip asked.

"It reflects my social status as the last letter of the alphabet. A hangover from Grade six, I'm afraid." The small thickset boy said. "I've been here from Grade three. So's Tal."

"And neither of us have Post traumatic syndrome, so it couldn't be too bad," Tal said, throwing his arm around Zed's shoulders to pull the smaller boy in closer. "Everyone accepts that we're 'brothers'."

"Oh." Snoopy said. "So you didn't come here to improve your grades."

"No. If I go home, I've got a warrant waiting for me. Dangerous act, unlawful killing, not to mention under-aged, unlicensed driving, driving under the influence, and automobile theft."

Kid looked at Chip and smiled. "And to think I only burned down a shopping centre," he said. "Well - not all of it. It belonged to Dad, anyway. I'm sorry about your brother. We all are."

"So that's the big story of my life," Chip said. "Dad said I'd be better off here than in reform school."

"The really good thing, is that our overalls are navy blue, not orange," Zed said, laughing. "You know, you two crims should be brothers - like us. You've got a lot in common, you know."

Kid put his arm over Chip's shoulder. "Brothers it is. Zed's right - this place isn't at all bad, once you get used to it. In fact, it's the best boarding school on Palau Island."

"It's the only boarding school on Palau Island," Snoopy said.

"Got it in one," Kid said. "Come on, we've got a dormitory to clean. I don't want to be on duty for a week."

-0-

The inspection was a surprisingly perfunctory affair. Mrs. Carter walked into the common room and asked, "You boys finished yet?"

"Yes, Mrs. Carter," Kid said politely.

She looked at the boys standing at attention in their four straight lines. Nobody moved.

"Trust Frazer House to be the best," she said. "I want you all to know that Kid has been appointed a sub-prefect this year. It will be announced formally at assembly. While Godfrey is away, Rupert will be in charge. Jordan Crabbe, is the back of your shirt out?"

"Yes, Mrs. Carter. I was just tucking it in when we got put at attention."

"Hmm. Don't let it happen again. Put him on report, Rupert."

"Yes, Mrs. Carter," Kid said. He gave a look of total disgust at the youthful miscreant, and removed a small notebook from his breast pocket. His first report. 'Crabbe' he wrote 'untidy'. Then he replaced the notebook and strolled down the corridor with Mrs. Carter as she inspected the rooms.

She didn't linger. They were superficially tidy, but she guessed that closer inspection of the drawers and cupboards in each room would find a disorganized mess.

"What did you do on the holidays?" Mrs. Carter asked.

"I spent time with Dad. He wanted me to get to know the business."

"How did you feel about that?"

"Actually, rather good. He treated me like an adult. We got to know each other better. Just before I got onto the plane, he gave me a hug."

"I'm so glad. A lot of the boys here don't get any affection. They grow up to be cold - remote - more like robots than people.

I'm hoping the new headmaster will change some of that."

"What's he like?"

"You'll find out in good time. He's an academic, not a military man. I hope he can handle things. I wouldn't want to see the school fall to pieces."

"I'm sure it won't, Ma'am. School traditions, and all that."

They finished the brief tour of inspection, and she left.

"House dismiss. Be ready for chapel. Wear your blues, not suits. It's only a brief service, remember."

He walked back to his room, and was surprised to be confronted by Snoopy. "Why didn't you say anything?" Snoopy demanded.

"I was told to keep it quiet," Kid said. "Pilot's been delayed. Someone has to take charge, so Mr. Carter chose me. I'm temporary assistant sub-prefect. It does feel a bit weird."

"And her little performance just now was to make sure you did take charge?" Chip asked.

"Charge has been taken, Snoopy, old boy. Would you get Crabbe for me? He nearly cost us the pennant."

Snoopy looked at his friend, who had turned his back on him and was delving into his set of drawers. For a moment, he felt like telling Kid to shove it, but it was an order. He was used to obeying prefects, but Kid was his mate. They often teased each other unmercifully. Something had changed between them. It was the slight whiff of authority that stood between them.

"Yes, Sir," Snoopy said, and left on Kid's errand.

"What was all that about?" Chip asked.

Kid closed the drawer. "I've been made a prefect. He's getting used to it, that's all." He sat on his bunk and explained, "In this school, it's the prefects who run things. We're in charge of discipline. A few years ago, we could give the cane. Not now, but we can still give detentions and reports - one report is an hour's work - usually in the garden, or shoveling sand. Do me a favor, Chip. Don't stuff up. I'd have to put you on report. I wouldn't like that."

As ten o'clock approached, the boys began to walk from their houses towards the chapel. The curved path bypassed the old plantation homestead that served as the school's main building. They passed the dining hall, and the junior classrooms. The sound of the surf crashing on the beach signified the tide was in. A coconut fell from one of the trees. The boys ignored it. The coconut palms around the chapel had been cleaned of fruit. From the front of the chapel, a panoramic vista of the beach lay like a postcard beneath the brilliant blue of the sky. The Southern end was dominated by the cone of Mount Stevenson, which was the highest point on the island.

The inside of the wooden chapel was plain, with no pews for the students. Each boy stood at ease behind a soft red cushion kneeler. On the command, they knelt - squatting first, then lowering their knees. At Pigs, even prayers were said with military precision. Chip became uncomfortable kneeling at attention, even with the kneeler. At the end of the service, he was stiff all over.

"How do you stand it?" he asked when they were outside at last.

"Practice, old boy, practice," Snoopy said condescendingly. "So what are we going to do all day, Lord and Master," he asked, looking at Kid.

"Lay off it Snoops. What say we introduce Chip to the Jungle?"

"Swamp leave? That would be cool. We can get some sandwiches from Matron and make a day of it."

"Don't we have to have lunch here?" Chip asked.

"No. We can get a cut lunch and go out for the rest of the day," Kid said. "As long as we're back by five o'clock. We'll take the native track to the volcano, and come back by the beach."

"Is that volcano alive?" Chip asked.

"Stevenson? No. They checked it a couple of years ago. It's as dead as the great writer himself. The island has moved off the fault line so the volcanoes are now making new Islands to the South of here."

"Trust Snoop to know everything," Kid said.

An hour later, the Frazer House boys dressed in their overalls, collected cut lunches and water bottles, and headed out through the back gate towards the looming hump of Mount Stevenson.