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"Why doesn’t anyone challenge the High Priest Justine?" asked Alex

Mr Today smiled ruefully "They are afraid to, for of course they would be killed And no one knows any different, e that life can be different, there can be no desire to change it Their ht of challenging Justine simply isn’t possible"

Alex had another question too "Mr Today," he said rather abruptly, "why don’t you challenge Justine? Why don’t you go into Quill and take over and teach them how to live like we do?"

The old hed wearily He looked out over the land of Artirounds, the mansion "Because it would expose all of this Because Justine is not a threat to us as long as she doesn’t know of our existence" Mr Today looked at the children, who gathered around him to catch his every word "Because I don’t believe that starting a war and deoing to work--they are too set in their ways to handle such an abrupt change If Quill is to change, it will have to be on Quill’s own terhed and trailed off "Justine is an old wos will change … and perhaps without a war It is what I hope for And if I have anything in me at all, it’s hope" After a moment he added very softly, "And rass upon which they sat, held their breath in hopes that Mr Today would continue But their leader seehts

Alex looked out over the sea He felt that fa of loneliness for his brother, and wished he could figure out a safe way to tell Aaron how to get in without exposing Artimé

After a while, when , conteo and explore, Lani alone re on her face

"Mr Today," she said

The old man startled out of his reverie "Yes, Lani"

"What if the next ruler of Quill is worse than Justine?" Lani’s face turned puce as she tried to appear nonchalant She kneho the next ruler would be

Mr Today sirl "Tiive up on your father just yet"

Mr Today rose, shook the grass and wrinkles from his robe, nodded to Lani, and continued his walk alone now