Page 217 of The Examiner

Jem

Really? When I amended the circuit board, I didn’t spot anything out of the ordinary.

Ben

You amended the circuit board?

Jem

I was working on Assignment One. Cameron was in the studio early and asked if I needed help. I never react well to that, so I said, ‘If you insist, you can help with my soundscape.’

Ben

Your Ocean Charity soundscape was audio clips of ocean noises. I’ve got the Tutor’s Report here.

Jem

I’d finished that already. Didn’t need his help, just wanted him to regret asking! I said, ‘Imagine you’re a tiny sea creature trapped in a plastic bag or discarded bottle. What would you say to humankind?’ I pressed Record and, to be fair, Cameron threw himself into it.

Ben

Oh my God, Jem.

Jem

He loved the sound of his own voice and said all sorts of funny things about being trapped in the darkness. I didn’t stop him, just to see how long he could go on for. It was hilarious! The even funnier thing was that I had no intention of using the recording – until we found that old radio.

Ben

Are you telling me the voice everyone heard over the radio was Cameron’s and you put it there? But how?

Jem

I distorted it so that no one – not even Cameron himself – would recognise it, then randomised the playback, set it to start at 5 p.m. and finally hid the new chip in the circuit board.

Ben

Patrick assured everyone you *didn’t* do that.

Jem

He’s nice, but he’s a people-pleaser and I didn’t trust him to keep it secret. I’d work on it in the mornings before he arrived.

Ben

Of course. Griff mentions that to Gela.

Jem

I wanted the others to think it was someone stranded on a mountain or at sea. If they escalated their concerns to RD8 or the police, it would be so much funnier!

Ben

Why cause that disruption?

Jem

I tried to explain it to Gela, but she didn’t understand. No one did. When you’re in a room with people who are older and more confident than you … I couldn’t get my voice heard. Cameron didn’t have that problem, so I used his voice instead. It worked – they all listened.