The Impossible Race: Cragbridge Hall, Volume 3 by Chad Morris Page B

start? Was he about to strike and take hostages? She surveyed the raucous crowd, looking for anything unusual. She saw several security guards and robots at their posts. That brought a little comfort.
    “Around the world,” Landon whirled his finger, “there are celebrations in March: Heroes Day in Paraguay, independence days in Morocco, South Korea, Ghana, Tunisia, Cyprus, and Greece, St. Patrick’s Day—there’s even the NCAA basketball tournament. But no celebration, no challenge is a match for what happens here at Cragbridge Hall!”
    More cheers, then a chant, “Race. Race. Race. Race. Race.” It sounded primitive and tribal, but thrilling.
    “For those of you in your first year here at Cragbridge Hall,” Sarah explained, “the Race is a challenge in March every year. It is completely voluntary. If you want to compete, you can make your team as small or as large as you would like, though no team over twelve players or under four has ever won.” Images of former winning teams flashed on the screens as the girl spoke. “Each team competes in four challenges, each requiring you to use your intelligence and the great inventions here at Cragbridge Hall to succeed.” Scenes of students in high-tech suits, controlling robot animals appeared and disappeared. Then students searching through Bridge events, seeing history in 3-D. Next were students making their own virtual worlds and storing them on spheres. Plus a few things Abby had never seen before. There must be some inventions she didn’t know about yet. “At the end of each round, half of the teams are eliminated. By the last event, a small number of teams compete for the championship.”
    “One of the best parts is that all four of the challenges are provided by you,” Landon said, and paused for the yells of the crowd. “Students and groups of students have been working all year and have submitted their challenges. It makes for an amazing variety and a great time!” Landon paced back and forth on the front of the stage. “A committee of students and teachers pick the events—and then we see how you do. If you are the best, you get this!”
    A student rushed to the stage and handed Sarah a trophy. It was immediately cast on the screens showing its black obsidian base with a collection of silver figurines on top: a boy thinking, a girl running, a lion roaring, and a humanoid robot reaching forward in an action pose. Each figure represented different possible elements of the challenge. “Each member of the winning team gets a trophy,” Sarah explained. “Plus, winning looks great on a résumé. It shows your skill, intelligence, ingenuity, and willingness to work on a team. Team registrations begin tomorrow, the moment the last class ends,” Sarah continued. “Be sure to gather your friends, your enemies, the kid who looks at you cross-eyed, whoever you think might have a chance of winning.”
    “And,” Landon said, “there is always a secret prize that goes along with winning the Race. One year, it was a weekend field trip through the city. Another year, it was three days off of school. And one year, there was actually permission to get an A in the class of your choice.” The crowd especially cheered at the last reward. Another student brought him a small metal box. “This box is irreversibly programmed so that it cannot be opened except by the fingerprints of the team that wins. Every challenge is logged through our program and there are ways for us to verify each member of the team during each event.” Landon shrugged. “Basically, there is no way to cheat.” Wow. They took their prize very seriously. Of course if it was possible that winning the Race might help their grades, some students would do anything.
    But it was what Landon said next that left Abby reeling: “And I can give you one hint about the secret prize.” Sarah looked over at him in surprise. Perhaps she didn’t know the hint. “This year, inside the box is a key.” A