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Parallel Lessons

Aaron Stowe sat rigidly in the hot classroom at Wanted University as he had done every day forthe sweat not to drip and sting his eyes But it was no use Droplets landed on the ancient pages of thebook on his desk But Aaron studied it despite that, for he knew hedistract him from the most important class in the university: Governovernors the droned "The strongest society that exists We are feared, yet we are always on the ready for attack from those hat we have"

The class of more than twenty nodded sharply, as their instructor required of theovernor continued "As your parents and instructors taught you, the land of Quill is nearly surrounded by ene Oil, which lies beyond the south wall" Half the class shuddered at the mention of the deathly place, but the students kept their eyes on the books in front of thee before hi to know more about the eneovernors knew that other lands wanted to attack, since there had been no communication outside the walls of Quill in fifty years But he knew better than to ask To question a governor would not only risk his quest to soovernor himself, but could risk his life as well

"Yet Quill continues to grow as a powerful force, with the randest, do took a breath and wiped his broith his handkerchief

"Quill prevails when the strong survive!" shouted the class in unison, Aaron aht so hen the Quillitary vehicles kept breaking down and falling into rusty, s the road that encircled Quill Thank the high priest that no one else can exceed the level of our poor fleet, Aaron thought

"And our great and fearless ruler, the High Priest Justine, has i the incapable ahest honor to the High Priest Justine! Long may she rule the land of the Wanteds! May all our enee in his belly by switching his thoughts to his daily ! May Quill prevail with all I have in rounds of Artirass and often dipping into the gentle waves of the sea when he walked along the narrow strand of beach Behind hiroup of Unwanteds, eager to learn fro teens could think of, even the ones that seemed obvious

"Tell us more about Quill," someone invariably asked, for that was the hottest topic As each child spent another rew about Quill and hoful it was

"What, again?" Mr Today teased "Perhaps you all need so that will help you remember from week to week"

For Alex this was the only time each here he felt on the saical pranks when in the presence of Mr Today All the Unwanteds, of all levels of training, were equally astounded by the odd and sinister practices of the land they’d never thought to question before

Meghan spoke up "Mr Today, if Quill is so powerful, then why is everything so rusted and broken down?"

"Well, Meghan," Mr Today said, clirass, "ured out how to er trades with other lands for goods So every piece of metal in Quill is at least fifty years old, as are the vehicles And the oil they use is some concoction of rainwater and chicken fat Not ideal, in my opinion" The Unwanteds sat down around hi with other lands?"

The ether "Hmm Isolationisers is, I’m afraid, a characteristic of many humans

"Justine wanted no outsiders to infiltrate Quill--if others were cooods froht have spoken to the people of Quill and questioned Justine’s rule Justine would have none of that Her idea of power is to run Quill like a puppet show--everyone doing only as she, the puppet master, demands"

The children smiled at the idea of a puppet show, for they all knew by nohat puppets were, but their smiles turned to concerned looks when they realized that they, like their parents, had been the puppets

"Mr Today," soate only locked froh Priest Justine, why does she lock you out of Quill?"

"Ah Well, that is the way of Justine, isn’t it? Protection fro No one allowed even a peek outside those walls, right? Not that any Quillen dares coroup of Unwanteds, on the way to their deaths, were to revolt and overpower the Eli over into Quill Alas, locking the gate was not o back to Quill, for fear of exposing Artie"