names of landmarks or
anything else that might help us identify a specific place?”
“Only that the people that lived there
called themselves The People of the Land , and meant to help
the warrior...Xocotli. Xocotli! That’s the warrior’s name, Xocotli!
I didn’t know that until just now!”
Mrs. Shadowitz nodded, “Is there anything
else that might help us identify this place?”
Mark shook his head, “No ma’am. I can’t
think of anything.”
“Very well, right after today’s testing is
done, I want you to go to the library and start looking through
books that deal with that area, especially pictures. See if
anything looks familiar, like you’ve been there before.”
Mark nodded and said, “Yes, ma’am. When I
find something, I’ll come tell you?”
“You just tell Shana or Jeremy. They’ll get
the word to me faster than you can. Now, go take your seat, it’s
almost time to start.”
Mark found Nick, Jamal and Chenoa seated at
an Emerald Tribe four place table and sat down. On the table in
front of him was a test booklet almost an inch thick.
Chenoa asked, “What’s going on? Nobody will
tell us anything.”
Mark knew she was referring to Ricky Barns
and what happened in the labyrinth. He said, “I don’t know much,
they aren’t telling me either, except that Benrah wants me to
destroy something I’m supposed to find sometime in the future.
Benrah didn’t say what it was, only that he’d destroy everything
and everyone I held dear if I didn’t do it.”
Chenoa blurted out, “You can’t destroy it!
It’s —” She caught herself.
“It’s what?”
Chenoa thought fast. “If Benrah wants you to
destroy it, and he can’t destroy it, it’s too important to destroy,
that’s all.”
“If I don’t destroy it, Benrah says he’s
going to destroy everyone I ever held dear.” Mark looked at each of
his three friends in turn. “That means he’s going to kill all three
of you.”
Nick said, “He can try,” and chuckled.
Mark leaned forward and shook his head.
“Listen, I’ve seen him and what he can do. Even Mr. Diefenderfer
and Mr. Young together didn’t stand a chance against him. Do you
understand what I’m saying?”
Mrs. Shadowitz’s amplified voice sounded
over the din of the students. “Ah-hem.” The hubbub settled
immediately. “Thank you for your attention. Before each of you is a
test booklet containing two thousand individual items. There are no
correct answers, only answers and descriptions that you feel are
best for you. This is a survey to help us determine your preferred
methodology. When that determination is made, you will receive a
second stone for your signets.
“You may take as many breaks as you like
after you have completed the first one hundred items. You may leave
when you are finished with the survey. There are no restrictions on
activities unrelated to the test. Yes you may talk, just be mindful
not to disturb others nearby. If you wish to eat, please do so at
one of the dining booths. Counselors and staff are not allowed to
give advice or suggestions to students for the duration of the day.
I think that about covers everything. You may begin.”
Mark opened his booklet. The questions
began:
1. What considerations should be given when
changing a light bulb?
2. I dislike the color chartreuse. Rate this
statement from 1 to 10 and discuss how it applies to you.
3. How would you organize your group of 6
people with 4 shovels to dig a hole?
4. Discuss how you decide to store your
clothes.
5. Describe people that want to be friends
with you in terms of intelligence and aspirations.
6. Discuss which is more important: details
or the source of the information.
7. Discuss how you know when you’ve achieved
success.
8. How do you feel books should be arranged
in your library?
9. Which are more important and why: actors
or stage hands?
10. Discuss which should be treated first
and why: symptoms or cause?
A hundred questions later,
anything else that might help us identify a specific place?”
“Only that the people that lived there
called themselves The People of the Land , and meant to help
the warrior...Xocotli. Xocotli! That’s the warrior’s name, Xocotli!
I didn’t know that until just now!”
Mrs. Shadowitz nodded, “Is there anything
else that might help us identify this place?”
Mark shook his head, “No ma’am. I can’t
think of anything.”
“Very well, right after today’s testing is
done, I want you to go to the library and start looking through
books that deal with that area, especially pictures. See if
anything looks familiar, like you’ve been there before.”
Mark nodded and said, “Yes, ma’am. When I
find something, I’ll come tell you?”
“You just tell Shana or Jeremy. They’ll get
the word to me faster than you can. Now, go take your seat, it’s
almost time to start.”
Mark found Nick, Jamal and Chenoa seated at
an Emerald Tribe four place table and sat down. On the table in
front of him was a test booklet almost an inch thick.
Chenoa asked, “What’s going on? Nobody will
tell us anything.”
Mark knew she was referring to Ricky Barns
and what happened in the labyrinth. He said, “I don’t know much,
they aren’t telling me either, except that Benrah wants me to
destroy something I’m supposed to find sometime in the future.
Benrah didn’t say what it was, only that he’d destroy everything
and everyone I held dear if I didn’t do it.”
Chenoa blurted out, “You can’t destroy it!
It’s —” She caught herself.
“It’s what?”
Chenoa thought fast. “If Benrah wants you to
destroy it, and he can’t destroy it, it’s too important to destroy,
that’s all.”
“If I don’t destroy it, Benrah says he’s
going to destroy everyone I ever held dear.” Mark looked at each of
his three friends in turn. “That means he’s going to kill all three
of you.”
Nick said, “He can try,” and chuckled.
Mark leaned forward and shook his head.
“Listen, I’ve seen him and what he can do. Even Mr. Diefenderfer
and Mr. Young together didn’t stand a chance against him. Do you
understand what I’m saying?”
Mrs. Shadowitz’s amplified voice sounded
over the din of the students. “Ah-hem.” The hubbub settled
immediately. “Thank you for your attention. Before each of you is a
test booklet containing two thousand individual items. There are no
correct answers, only answers and descriptions that you feel are
best for you. This is a survey to help us determine your preferred
methodology. When that determination is made, you will receive a
second stone for your signets.
“You may take as many breaks as you like
after you have completed the first one hundred items. You may leave
when you are finished with the survey. There are no restrictions on
activities unrelated to the test. Yes you may talk, just be mindful
not to disturb others nearby. If you wish to eat, please do so at
one of the dining booths. Counselors and staff are not allowed to
give advice or suggestions to students for the duration of the day.
I think that about covers everything. You may begin.”
Mark opened his booklet. The questions
began:
1. What considerations should be given when
changing a light bulb?
2. I dislike the color chartreuse. Rate this
statement from 1 to 10 and discuss how it applies to you.
3. How would you organize your group of 6
people with 4 shovels to dig a hole?
4. Discuss how you decide to store your
clothes.
5. Describe people that want to be friends
with you in terms of intelligence and aspirations.
6. Discuss which is more important: details
or the source of the information.
7. Discuss how you know when you’ve achieved
success.
8. How do you feel books should be arranged
in your library?
9. Which are more important and why: actors
or stage hands?
10. Discuss which should be treated first
and why: symptoms or cause?
A hundred questions later,
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