Building Harlequin’s Moon Read Online Free PDF Page B

the answers even before the hour was up.”
    “That doesn’t mean they got them right.” Ursula didn’t look comforted. “Hey” Rachel offered, “you always did well planting, and the whole time we were studying with Gabriel. I know he thinks you’re smart.”
    “How do you know that?” Ursula asked.
    “I watch him. I see him watching how you work, and sometimes he smiles.”
    “What does a smile mean? What if I don’t get chosen? I’ll just die if I don’t pass,” Ursula continued. “What if I have to be a cook, or make tents? I want to be with you!”
    “Well, it looks like we get to find out.”
    Gabriel and Ali sat together on the dais, waiting for the students to notice and gather. Harry already sat at the Council’s feet, but the others, including Andrew this time, were all busy in a game of catch-the-disk, seeing who could leap highest and still land gracefully, disk in hand. Andrew’s bracelets jangled against each other so he rang loudly as he leaped, a signal for the other children to get out of his way. Andrew was one of the best players, and Rachel watched him catch the heavy disk with his feet, flip over in a one-eighty, and land triumphantly.
    Ali clapped her hands and the players stopped and bounded over.
    Gabriel started right in on the results. “Nick, you and Alexandra are the youngest two to pass. You’ll be in the advanced class next winter.” That meant that at least three younger children, including Sharon, didn’t pass. A groan came from the small knot of younger children. They’d all have to start over, most in different classes. They’d become simple farmers or get training for other town jobs.
    Gabriel ignored it. “Eric, Julie, and Kimberly, you all passed. You get a break until Ali and I get back from planting.” The four oldest students—Harry, Rachel, Ursula, and Andrew—all looked at each other. It wasn’t possible they’d all failed, but Rachel’s heart sank.
    Gabriel’s next words made it worse. “I want Andrew, Harry, Rachel, and Ursula to stay. Everyone else can leave.”
    Rachel did her best to sit still while the others left. A knot of anxiety drummed at the top of her stomach, seeking release. She swallowed. Minutes passed, and Gabriel and Ali said nothing. Finally the meadow only contained the six of them.
    Ali opened a new data window, larger than the one they’d used in the test. It showed darkness, and then the flash of a hand light bobbing as a dark figure walked down a path. Rachel squinted—it looked like—a human covered by tent material. Then the figure that held the light bent down and pulled up a tree; Rachel’s cecropia. As a hand reached for the plant, the tent fabric slipped for a moment. Metal rings glittered briefly in a flash of light across the wrist.
    No one said anything for a long time. Rachel looked at Andrew, who looked at the ground.
    Did he think he could hide?
Rachel wondered. Then,
At least he got caught
. There were always cameras, everywhere.
    “Andrew,” Gabriel broke the silence, “this is your real test.”
    Andrew fidgeted, looking at the ground. “It was a joke.”
    “Really?” Ali asked.
    “You want us to get along. But she”—he pointed at Rachel—”she’s always perfect. Better than the rest of us. Besides, it
was
a joke. We play jokes on each other. It was just one tree.”
    “Rachel worked hard on it,” Gabriel said. “It was the core of her pattern. You didn’t see that?”
    Andrew spluttered. “It’s not fair. You pay more attention to Rachel than to any of the rest of us. And
she
only talks to Ursula. I had to do something to—”
    Gabriel cut him off. “We cannot tolerate acts of vandalism.”
    “But—”
    “Explain to me why I shouldn’t lock you up to think about this.”
    Andrew shot a hard look at Rachel.
It’s not my fault!
Rachel felt anger mix with her anxiety.
Would Gabriel fail them all because of Andrew? Harry and Ursula weren’t even involved!
She looked around. Ursula’s