“Hullo, are you a new kid?”
Michael breathed his ‘yes.’
“What’s your name?”
With an effort Michael remembered Rodber’s warning and replied simply:
“Fane.”
“What’s your Christian name?”
This was a terribly direct attack, and Michael was wondering whether it would be best to run quickly out of the playground, to keep silence or to surrender the information, when the quick and authoritative voice of Rodber flashed from behind him.
“Fish and find out, young Biden.”
“Who are you calling young, young Rodber?”
“You,” said Rodber. “So you’d jolly well better scoot off and leave this kid alone.”