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"Shut up, Cadet," he said coldly before I could get a word out "I’m not any kind of a noble’s son, but I know an injustice when I see it Listen Listen to e Fold it up and shove it in your pocket And don’t do a da until soht Caulder’s been a thorn in ot here Maybe it’s time I had a ith that pup, and let hi about here and there I see a daht more than I say Maybe it’s time I put a word in his ear about what I know Maybe he’ll say soe his mind But the fewer people the colonel has to explain that change to, the easier it will be for hi for a while Do you understand me, boy?"

"Yes, sir," I said shakily I should have felt better for his words of support Instead I only felt fainter "Thank you, sir"

"You don’t call a sergeant ‘sir,’ " he pointed out sourly

I don’t kno Imarch back to Carneston House He left h, to sit behind his desk I still clutched e paper in my hand I started up the stairs They had never see Sternly, I ordered rip onI paused to catchdown my back and ribs I cruy to fold, and thrust it into my pocket

I have clihts of stairs When I reached our roo at our study table "You look awful!" he greeted me worriedly "What happened?"

"I’m sick," I said, and no more than that I stumbled to our room, let my coat fall to the floor, kicked off my boots and lay on my bunk facedown I’d never felt so wretched in my life Yesterday, I’d learned that I’d likely be culled, and it had seemed the worst possible fate Today, I kne foolish I’d been Culled, I could have been a ranker or a scout At least I’d been left a chance to proveexcept an euts squeezed inside me I only knew that Spink had followed me into the room when he spoke

"You’re not the only one sick Trist is down bad, with soover Oron went to fetch the doctor And Natred left an hour ago to go to the infirht he got some bad meat"

"Leave me alone, Spink I’m just sick" I wanted desperately to confide in hiy to unfold the story Besides, the sergeant had toldany better source of advice, I’d take his I tried to take slow, calain sout I sed and closed my eyes

I don’t kno much time passed before I ad that I should be as physicallyacross the hall I dozed off, and woke to a hand ondown at me "This one, too," he said tersely to someone "What is his name?"

"Nevare Burvelle," I heard Spink say dully A pen scratched on paper

When he sawyou ate and drank at Dark Evening Don’t leave anything out"

"I didn’t give the liquor to Caulder," I said desperately "All I did was bring hiround when I found him"

Dr Amicas stooped and peered into ht, was it? You still owe me some cab fare, Cadet, but we’ll let it pass for now I saw Caulder early thisI’ve ever seen in a boy that young But he’ll live He just won’t enjoy it for a while Now What did you eat and drink?"

I tried to re else Oh Chestnuts I had chestnuts"

"And to drink?"

"Nothing"

"You won’t be in trouble for it, Cadet I just need to know What did you drink?"

I was getting very tired of people thinking I was a liar But instead of getting angry, I felt weepy I ached all over "Nothing," I said again, past the lu And Caulder lied about me"