The Initiation Read Online Free PDF Page A

from the window back to James. “That’s all you need to know. But you raise a point I must address. With any extended travel comes risk. Although Mr. Lowry is in possession of the necessary legal work, should anything happen to me—”
    â€œFather, don’t say such things!”
    â€œListen up! You will trust your sister in such situations. Do you understand? You are a bright, but often stubborn boy. Should anything happen—andI’m quite confident it won’t— listen to your sister .Promise me that.”
    James hesitated, in part because of the shock he was suffering, in part because James never listened to me. “I promise.”
    â€œNow, go along and send Moria in, if you please.”
    My turn was next. I was inclined toward timidity when in Father’s presence—translation: he scared me. I loved him, respected him, admired him. I was terrified of him. Think of it like owning a pet lion.
    Again, the study’s oily scent filled my nostrils and swelled my chest. The light caught dust in the air like a million silver fireflies. Father studied me as I entered and took a seat across from him, the desk separating us like a measure of the years between us.
    â€œYou will be attending Baskerville Academy with your brother.”
    â€œYes, Father.” My heart fluttered. All the worrying I’d been through for the past several months was for nothing. Ended, with one simple statement.
    â€œHow do you feel about that?”
    I thought it might be a loaded question. I contemplated the right answer, wondering if there wasa right answer other than the answer in my heart. “I don’t like the idea of leaving you, Father. Can’t you come with us, maybe teach at the school?”
    A slow and meaningful grin overtook him. “What a lovely idea, Moria. I should think not, but I will always thank you for that consideration. You and James, the same school. What do you think?”
    â€œI like it very much, sir. Very much, indeed.”
    â€œAnd your brother. What do you think of his chances in such a place?”
    â€œI think he’ll do splendidly, don’t you?”
    â€œHis temper?”
    â€œYes, well, there is that. But I’ll be there to . . . temper him.”
    â€œGood for you. You’ve always had the coolest head of the three of us.”
    I wasn’t sure Father had ever noticed me much at all, except as his “adorable Moria,” kind of a living toy doll he liked to show off. This comment hit me hard. “Thank you, Father.”
    â€œIt’s because of this I have a special assignment for you. Only you. Do you understand?”
    â€œI . . . I guess.”
    â€œI’ve explained to James that I will be doing a lot of travel in the coming year. All over the world. Things happen. We all know that. Not always good things, I’m sorry to say. Should something happento me, Moria, you will find the key to this drawer,” he said, indicating the top right drawer of his desk, “buried in the fireplace ash, at the back and to the right. You will use it to open this drawer and you will use the benefits of your profoundly curious mind to take it from there. You are perfectly suited for this, Moria. Your brother is not. This is why the task falls to you. The rest will be self-explanatory. If you ever—ever!—open this drawer while I’m living, you will be disowned by me and this family. Do you understand me? I will have nothing to do with you, nor you with me for the remainder of our natural lives. That needs no further explanation. Do we understand one another?”
    I nodded, unable to breathe. I’d never experienced such a combination of elation and alarm. Expelled from the family? What could possibly be inside the drawer?
    â€œI need to hear you say it, Moria. And we must shake on it. Man to woman, father to daughter.” Father stood and came around the large desk.
    I shied from him as he