it's probably harder for you to find someone when you don't talk to anyone," says Jet.
"I do talk to people! Like Moss, and Charm, and..."
I was going to say Lagan, but Lagan isn't here anymore. He is up with the Sky Gods now. I have to swallow hard to keep the tears away from my eyes.
"Yeah, all you do is talk to gray ones. You need to talk to people that have only seen as many snows as you," says Jet.
"They don't seem to like me very much," I say.
"That's just because they don't know you like I know you. Because if they really knew you, they would hate you," says Jet, laughing.
Now it's my turn to punch Jet in the arm.
"Hey, that hurt," says Jet.
"Good, it was supposed to," I say.
"Yeah, well, it did."
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
We are almost to the feast chamber, and I can hear the noise of people talking too loudly.
"Jet, I hope things go well with Till. Just let me know what she says," I say.
"I will," says Jet. "And Sam?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks," says Jet, hugging me.
We don't hug much, if ever. I hug him back, but I am not really good at it. I hope he knows that I mean it, though.
11
When Jet and I finally arrive at the feast, I see Flot sitting with a few of the hunters, eating a bowl of wolf stew and a long piece of corn. I stare up at the ceiling of the feast chamber. It is different from most rooms, because the rock piles that normally grow from the ceiling have been smoothed down. It looks as if someone worked very hard to make it flat.
There are many glowing sticks attached to the walls, making it the brightest room in the Crag, but it is still not as bright as being outside in the sunlight. The tables are old and made of wood, and they are stained with the color of spilled food, beer, and blood.
People begin noticing that I've entered. The noise in the chamber dies down, and the loud talking turns into whispers. I start to worry, and look around. My guess is that word has spread about the dragon. I stand in line for food, and the noise of talking starts to grow again. Maybe things won't be so bad. But then I hear someone say the words 'Sky Child.'
The Sky Child is a story that has been passed down from before the gray ones were new ones. It is about the one who would be given as a gift from the Sky Gods. They will come to the Crag and bring peace and health and food. They will change the lives of the people in the Crag forever. But I couldn't be the Sky Child, because I'm just a normal person.
The realization that people might think that I'm the Sky Child makes my stomach hurt. In a place where being different can get you killed, imagine what it would be like to be seen as a god. I have killed a dragon, and if they think I'm the Sky Child now, I am as good as dead.
I try to forget about it and deal with what I have in front of me, which is waiting for my dinner. I look around and watch people drinking, and eating, and talking. I've never really liked being in the feast chamber, because it reminds me that I don't fit in.
Anyone can sit where they want. It is a good thing, because it allows people from different groups to talk to each other. You also have a better chance of joining with someone outside of your group.
Long ago, people would only join with people from their own group. That caused bad things to happen. It seemed to make the next group of new ones less smart than their parents.
There were also problems with the new one's bodies. Some new ones would be born without enough fingers, or their mouths would be put together wrong, or they would have problems walking. Once they started mixing the groups, the new ones had less problems with their minds and bodies.
Another good rule is that new ones, when they have seen enough snows, can choose either group that their parents belong to. Many people that want children will pick someone outside of their own group to join with, so that their new ones will have a better chance at finding something they are good at.
Sometimes parents from
"I do talk to people! Like Moss, and Charm, and..."
I was going to say Lagan, but Lagan isn't here anymore. He is up with the Sky Gods now. I have to swallow hard to keep the tears away from my eyes.
"Yeah, all you do is talk to gray ones. You need to talk to people that have only seen as many snows as you," says Jet.
"They don't seem to like me very much," I say.
"That's just because they don't know you like I know you. Because if they really knew you, they would hate you," says Jet, laughing.
Now it's my turn to punch Jet in the arm.
"Hey, that hurt," says Jet.
"Good, it was supposed to," I say.
"Yeah, well, it did."
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
We are almost to the feast chamber, and I can hear the noise of people talking too loudly.
"Jet, I hope things go well with Till. Just let me know what she says," I say.
"I will," says Jet. "And Sam?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks," says Jet, hugging me.
We don't hug much, if ever. I hug him back, but I am not really good at it. I hope he knows that I mean it, though.
11
When Jet and I finally arrive at the feast, I see Flot sitting with a few of the hunters, eating a bowl of wolf stew and a long piece of corn. I stare up at the ceiling of the feast chamber. It is different from most rooms, because the rock piles that normally grow from the ceiling have been smoothed down. It looks as if someone worked very hard to make it flat.
There are many glowing sticks attached to the walls, making it the brightest room in the Crag, but it is still not as bright as being outside in the sunlight. The tables are old and made of wood, and they are stained with the color of spilled food, beer, and blood.
People begin noticing that I've entered. The noise in the chamber dies down, and the loud talking turns into whispers. I start to worry, and look around. My guess is that word has spread about the dragon. I stand in line for food, and the noise of talking starts to grow again. Maybe things won't be so bad. But then I hear someone say the words 'Sky Child.'
The Sky Child is a story that has been passed down from before the gray ones were new ones. It is about the one who would be given as a gift from the Sky Gods. They will come to the Crag and bring peace and health and food. They will change the lives of the people in the Crag forever. But I couldn't be the Sky Child, because I'm just a normal person.
The realization that people might think that I'm the Sky Child makes my stomach hurt. In a place where being different can get you killed, imagine what it would be like to be seen as a god. I have killed a dragon, and if they think I'm the Sky Child now, I am as good as dead.
I try to forget about it and deal with what I have in front of me, which is waiting for my dinner. I look around and watch people drinking, and eating, and talking. I've never really liked being in the feast chamber, because it reminds me that I don't fit in.
Anyone can sit where they want. It is a good thing, because it allows people from different groups to talk to each other. You also have a better chance of joining with someone outside of your group.
Long ago, people would only join with people from their own group. That caused bad things to happen. It seemed to make the next group of new ones less smart than their parents.
There were also problems with the new one's bodies. Some new ones would be born without enough fingers, or their mouths would be put together wrong, or they would have problems walking. Once they started mixing the groups, the new ones had less problems with their minds and bodies.
Another good rule is that new ones, when they have seen enough snows, can choose either group that their parents belong to. Many people that want children will pick someone outside of their own group to join with, so that their new ones will have a better chance at finding something they are good at.
Sometimes parents from
Similar Books
