Page 91 (1/1)

"I’erly His fat cheeks wobbled with enthusiasm

I steeled my will and spoke into the quiet rooo to ainst the rules No cards, no dice, no games of chance allowed in the dormitories, on pain of expulsion Didn’t you read the rule book?"

Trist nodded lazily "I did But who’s going to tell?"

I turned back slowly to the group, knowing thatof the rules I suddenly liked Trist a lot less than I had a few e to say that I would report it, that I’d have to My mouth was dry

Spink shook his head He crossed his arms on his chest but it didn’t help much He still looked s Trist "You shouldn’t be putting us on the spot like this, Trist You knoe’ll be held accountable for your behavior, even if we’re not part of it You know that the honor code would require us to report it"

Trist brought his chair back flat on the floor with a thump and then stood slowly The blond cadet towered over s with you, Spink Are you always this serious? God’s breath, what a stiff neck you are!"

Spink stood his ground, his feet slightly apart as if setting his weight for a fight "And that’s blaspheod’s naainst Acadeo to my room and make reparations now" Trist rolled his eyes as he turned away Spink refused to notice it or to look after him as Trist sauntered from the room After a moment Oron and Gord followed him They shut the door

I felt sad at that first little crack in our unity, even though a part of eant Duril had spoken tofrom his experience in the field rather than at an acadenized that his words would hold true here as well "Whenever a new group forroup takes in new iment or a patrol, nor even if it’s troopies or officers…there’ll be soh They’ll try each other’s strength, and it’s rare that there’s not a fistfight or three before the dust finally settles Just keep your cool and reot to be, and do your best to stay clear of it Don’t back down, lad, that’s not what I’ back, cale at you before you take it up So no one ever doubts that it wasn’t you that started it You just be the one that finishes it"

"Nevare?" Kort nudgedat the closed door "Forget about it," he advised me quietly

I nodded "I think I’m ready for bed, too," I excused myself But that was sooner said than done There was only one washstand in our room, and I had to wait htshirt He perched on the foot of my bed beside me and spoke quietly "Think there’ll be trouble ’tween Trist and Spink?"

"Spink won’t start it," I said after a ht But I’ht, we’ll all have to pay for it That’s how they do things here One screws up, we all pay the toll"

It was my turn for the washstand, and as I stood, Rory said, "Maybe you could talk to Spink Tell hioin’ to be bad enough with Corporal Dent chewing on us without us bitin’ each other"

"Maybe Trist is the one we should talk to," I offered

Rory’s dark eyes ave his bullet head a shake "Na Trist isn’t one to listen Well I’d best get back to my room, then"

I wanted to ask him if Trist had sent hi dice in there Then I decided I didn’t want to know

Shortly after that, Kort blew out the lamp and we all knelt by our beds to say our prayers I prayed longer and od to show ot into my narrow bed in the darkness and tried to fall asleep listening to the breathing of the others in the room

CHAPTER 10

Class I rolled over and fell out of my bunk It was much narrower than my bed at horoaned as I sprawled on the cold floor I heard a door open and close and so a candle In that instant I ake I sat up wearily "That can’t be the drums for dawn It’s black as pitch out there"