The Unwanteds Read Online Free PDF

balcony. They could see several hallways branching off the overlook.
    The children’s voices grew loud as they exclaimed or noted things to each other about the mansion from their viewpoint in the entryway.
    Mr. Today strolled past the staircase. “We’ll visit up there in a moment,” he said. Instead he led the children behind the staircase to a hallway and showed them past several doors—classrooms, he said—and to the back of the mansion, to a kitchen the size of six Quill houses put together. At a long counter bar off to the left sat a dozen or fifteen older teenagers all laughing and snacking on popcorn and sodas as a brilliant pink ball of fluffwith webbed feet did a dance for them along the countertop. Some of the people sitting there turned to look curiously at the children standing with Mr. Today. A few waved hello.
    Alex recognized one, just barely remembering her as one of last year’s Unwanteds.
How strange
, he thought, and his mind began to turn.
    “How many Unwanteds live here, actually?” he asked.
    “Hmm,” Mr. Today hummed, tapping his lips with his forefinger. “Perhaps five hundred? I lost count years ago.”
    “Five hundred!” Meghan said. “Where is everyone?”
    “Oh, they’re around. Here and there,” he said. “Some are in evening classes, some practicing their art, some relaxing in the lounge, some in their rooms. You saw a few of them strolling about on the lawn, didn’t you?”
    Lani tapped Mr. Today’s shoulder, which made him chuckle and give her his utmost attention. “Mr. Today,” she said somberly, “did all the Unwanteds over the years decide not to be eliminated? Are they
all
here?”
    Meghan gave Alex a wildish sort of look and gripped his arm, and he remembered that she had an older brother who had been eliminated five years before.
    Alex nodded sharply, knowing what Meghan seemed speechless to say, and the burning question rushed from his lips before he could stop it. “Yes, Mr. Today—how many years …?” His face grew pale as he thought about all the Unwanteds that had been Purged from Quill since he was a boy. His mind raced, trying to remember them, but it was difficult, since Quillens had all been instructed to forget them.
    Mr. Today smiled, but there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes. “Dear people, how could I forget? Yes, all the Unwanteds as far back as you can remember are here.” He looked at Meghan, and his dark eyes danced again. “Meghan, your brother, Sean, is so excited to see you. He’d like you to meet him in the lounge at eight o’clock!”
    Meghan squeaked in shock. “He’s here …?” She trailed off and gripped Alex’s arm so hard it hurt him.
    “Which reminds me,” said Mr. Today. “I’d better show you the upstairs so you can get ready.”
    “Where do you suppose the lounge is?” Meghan whispered to Alex.
    Mr. Today, though apparently forgetful in his old age, did not have a hearing problem. He chuckled. “You’ll find instructionsin your room that will tell you how to take the tube to the lounge, Meghan. Never fear! Never fear!” The magician chuckled again and rubbed his hands together, so excited to see the Unwanteds feeling a bit more comfortable as the day wore on.
    “Tube?” Meghan whispered, softer now, in Alex’s ear.
    Alex shrugged, his eyes wide in wonder. “I have no idea.”
    There were several doors that led from the kitchen. Mr. Today pointed at one as they walked through the huge room and said, “Help yourself to anything in that pantry whenever you get hungry for a snack, either by coming down here or ordering up. The official mealtimes are posted on the blackboards in your rooms.”
    “Snacks, whenever we want?” whispered a rather thin boy at the back of the group. “Amazing.”
    “Where does everyone sit?” Lani asked.
    “Oh, we always have room. You’ll see,” he said mysteriously. Mr. Today led them down another hallway and pointed out an enormous dining room, and soon they were back to