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Inside, everything was crazy Kidsin the vast space Bleachers were set up along one h they could hold many more people than were present, they were dwarfed by the iht blue tapethe concrete floor

Across the other side, in front of a set of hangar doors that would once have opened to let airplanes taxi out onto runways, were the es, but they seemed to fill the space with their presence Call wasn’t sure what he’d thought they were going to look like -- he knew his father was a ured icians would look much weirder Maybe pointy hats Or robes with silver stars on thereen-skinned

To his disappointment, they looked completely nor loose-fitting, long-sleeved belted black tunics over pants of the same material There were leather-and-metal cuffs around their wrists, but Call couldn’t tell if there was anything special about those or if they were just a fashion state, wide-shouldered h with threads of silver, stepped forward and addressed the families in the bleachers

"Welcome, aspirants, and welconificant afternoon of your child’s life"

Right, Call thought No pressure or anything

"Do they all know they’re here to try to get into ic school?" he asked quietly

His father shook his head "The parents believe whatever they want to believe and hear whatever they want to hear If they want their child to be a fa into an exclusive training prograeon, this is pre-pre-prerow up to be wealthy, then they believe this is the sort of prep school where he’ll hobnob with the rich and powerful"

The o, how long it would take "Soive your child this opportunity, and ant to extend our gratitude --"

Call could hear him, but he heard another voice, too, one that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once

When Master North finishes speaking, all aspirants should rise and coin

"Did you hear that?" Call asked his dad, who nodded Call looked around at the faces all turned to the"What about the kids?"

Theto the dise up his speech Call knew he should start down the bleachers, since it was going to take hier than it would take the others But he wanted to find out the answer