“It’ll take some time,” said Billy, “but some are trying to be friendly.”
“Trying,” she murmured.
They turned a corner, and Suzie cringed. The Examination Room. Standing in a large open courtyard of white stone, the solid black cube looked ominous.
“I can’t say where you guys will have your actual lessons,” said Billy, hurrying them into the next corridor. “You’ll probably be with other first years for some classes and in mixed age groups for others.”
“I have a map back at the…” She paused. “Back at home.” The last word caught in her throat. Her courage started to fail again, and a shot of pain coursed through her back where she’d fallen.
“Are you all right?” asked Jason.
“I should lie down for a bit, I’m still sore from the fall.”
“I’ll take you home,” he said. “We can relax until dinner.”
The rest of the day seemed to fly. The three returned to Eagle Two, and Suzie lay in her bed. She kept going over the incident on the top of Widow’s Peak in her mind. She heard Billy and Jason fixing dinner, but couldn’t stop picturing the flames and the eyes. The fire had seemed real, and she glanced at her hands expecting to see burn marks.
Widow’s Peak. Where Lovethar had burned. Strange that Suzie, only the second female in this world, should see flames in the same spot.
And what about those eyes? They had changed color when the fire died. Or had they? She wasn’t certain. She only remembered flames and a terrible burning sensation.
She rolled onto her side, gazing out the window. The sun was setting, turning the sky orange and red, with bands of blue and violet. It was strangely beautiful, this World of the Dead.
She remembered the Tower. The pictures seemed related to Lovethar, but something else was happening. They weren’t just burning a witch. The Deaths in those carvings had a package, and Lovethar was upset. Perhaps they were bringing Lovethar a package she didn’t want. Suzie’s head hurt. What did it matter? It was a million years ago and had nothing to do with her.
“Hey, you awake?” Billy asked, knocking on her door.
“Yeah.”
“Dinner’s ready.”
“Great, thank you.”
“You look stressed, Suzie. Still getting used to this place? Or still upset from Widow’s Peak?”
“A little of both. What’s for dinner?”
“Runny eggs and burnt toast.” He laughed. “Jason and I, well, we’re not exactly the best cooks. I can fix you a tuna sandwich if you’d rather have that.”
“No, eggs and toast sounds fine. Thank you, guys.”
“What elective did you choose?” asked Jason, starting to eat.
“Art. I liked to paint in school.”
“Hey, I’ll be in Art too,” he replied.
“Not me,” said Billy. “I’ll be in gym. I’ve got boskery this year, and competition will be tight.”
“Boskery?” asked Suzie and Jason together.
“The big sport here on campus. It’s a game with a ball and four teams, the only sport I’ve heard of where more than two teams play at once. Only, it’s not just for fun. Every Death in the Junior College, other than first years, has to play. You try out for teams, and the teams compete. Each Death is monitored, and your performance in boskery determines your placement when you go to Senior College. It’s a game with scythes, supposed to show how well you can master a blade. If your team wins, you’re guaranteed a great spot by the time you graduate. With thirty-two teams, competition is rough.”
“Well, I don’t understand what the game is, but good luck,” said Suzie, finishing her runny eggs. “And thanks for dinner.”
“You’ll catch on if you come to a game,” replied Billy. “And you’re welcome. I’m sorry many of the guys here keep giving you a hard time. It’ll probably be even worse on Monday. Once school gets going everyone will have their own work to worry about.”
“Well, thank you again, for being considerate. Back home, it seemed like my friends didn’t care how people treated me.”
“Did you get skinny too?” asked Jason.
“Yes, everyone said I was anorexic.”
“Me too,” he replied.
“It happens to every Death before they’re brought here,” said Billy. “My parents,” he stopped and looked away. A tear slipped from his eye.
“Billy, I’m sorry.”
Billy shook his head, rose, and started to clear the table.
“I haven’t thought about them in a while. I’ve been here over a year. Now they don’t even remember I exist.”
“Billy, I’m sure they haven’t forgotten you.”
Billy shrugged. “They say our existence in the human world is erased when we fail the test. If that’s true, my parents have no memories I ever existed. Yet, I still wish I could go back. If I saw my parents one more time—”
“Isn’t there any other way you can go back home?”
“I go back to that world frequently to reap. But no, if someone I care about dies, they won’t send me near them, it’s against the rules. I’m not allowed to see anyone ever again. Seems like a long time ago, sometimes.”
“You’ve only been here a year.”
“A year in this place ages you, Suzie. This is a tough place.” His eyes focused inward, lost in thought.
“I’m going to pass the test,” said Jason.
“Me too,” said Suzie.
“Well, who will stay and keep me company after you’ve both gone?” Billy smiled, breaking the tension. “These guys are death to hang with. Right? ‘Cause they’re Deaths?”
Jason rolled his eyes and Suzie grinned.
“Guys,” she said. “We’re going to be all right.”
* * * *
Suzie awoke the next day to the sound of raindrops. She looked outside and watched steady rain falling from dull, gray clouds.
“We’ll stay inside today,” said Billy at breakfast. “No reason to go out in the rain.”
“What do you do when it rains? With no TV or anything.”
“Rain here never lasts too long, but we usually read or talk. I’ve a few comic books and novels, if you ever want to borrow one. Deaths sneak a good amount from the Living World.”
“You mean you’ve stolen books from people and brought them here?” asked Suzie.
“Me? No,” said Billy. “I buy ’em off of others who have. The job again. You two might want to consider working, even if it’s only part-time. You’ll find a ton of openings around the College or in the villages.”
“I just want to get through the year.”
“Let me take your plate,” said Jason. He seemed less inward today, though he still stared at the floor more than he looked up.
“Thank you, Jason. I’ll help clean up too.”
“Rain sounds like it’s letting up,” said Billy. “We can head out in a little while, and go around the campus a bit. Or we can stay here. It’s up to you two. I’m supposed to be showing you around.”
“You showed us a lot yesterday,” said Suzie. “I liked climbing the Tower.”
“I’m glad.” He broke off as someone knocked at the door. Billy looked at Suzie and Jason but neither moved. He rose.
“Yes?” he asked, opening the door a crack.
“I’ve seen you around,” said a boy’s voice. “You’re Billy, right?”
“Yeah.”
“We had Theory together last year. I’m Frank.”
“Yes, I remember now. What do you want?”
“May I come in for a second?”
Billy opened the door, and Frank walked in. Suzie realized he was the same skinny Death who had smiled at her yesterday. He had freckles and dark brown eyes, almost black. He reminded her a little of herself, with dark hair and freckles. His hair was blacker than ink, it almost looked fake. A cluster of pimples on his cheeks and nose combined with the freckles giving him a mottled appearance. He smiled again, brushing strands of wet hair out of his eyes.
“What do you want?” asked Billy.
“I’m sorry for the guys yesterday,” he said. “A lot of them, especially the later years, well they’re freaked she’s here.”
“Yes, and?” said Billy, his expression icy.
“Well.” He turned to Suzie. “I wanted to tell you we’re not all like that. Some of us admire your bravery. Takes guts just to be here.”
“Thank you. I’m Suzie.”
“I’m Frank.” They shook hands. “Not every Death here will be mean to you. Some of us accept you.”
“How’d you find out she lives here?” Billy seemed suspicious. Had he forgotten the smile yesterday?
“I asked Hann. Look, if you want me to go—”
“No,” said Suzie. “Sit please, make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ve met other Deaths who don’t mind that I’m here?”
Frank hesitated, sitting awkwardly on the side of the couch. “Yes,” he said. “Not too many, and most won’t admit right away. Sometimes people like to blend in.”
Jason snorted a short laugh.
“You are a normal person, even if you’re a girl,” said Frank. “Yes, others agree with me.”
“And why didn’t they come as well?” asked Billy.
“I asked some of my friends to, but like I said, people like to blend in.”
“It’s fine,” said Suzie. Despite Billy’s hesitation, she trusted Frank. She sensed something kind and familiar about him. “You’re a second-year student like Billy?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like being a Death?”
Frank turned to her with a puzzled expression. “Doesn’t matter if I like it or not,” he said. “I’m here.”
“I wondered if you were getting used to this place, or if you still missed home.” She sighed. “I miss home.”
“This is home now,” said Frank. “And being a Death, well, I guess I do enjoy it, at times.”
“You ready for term? Starts tomorrow,” said Billy.
“I am ready. I don’t like summer, gets boring. And we’ve got boskery this year.”
“What team are you hoping for?” Billy’s expression changed, and he smiled.
“Dragon Seekers. Angus Wright told me he’d keep an eye on me.”
“Francois Martin told me the same. I guess I’ll be competing with you at try-outs.”
“Frenchie?” asked Frank. “You guys friends?”
“Not friends, not exactly. We worked together in Applications a bit.”
“He’s an interesting guy,” said Frank. He turned to Suzie. “And he’s one of the ones I’d avoid. Been saying a lot of things against women, ever since word got out that a girl was here.”
“Who’s this?” asked Suzie.
“A third year student, and a bully,” replied Frank.
“He is a bit tough,” said Billy. “I’m not too surprised he’s said things about girls.”
“Good luck at try-outs,” said Frank.
“You too.”
“I’d better get going,” said Frank. He turned to Susan. “If you ever need anything, I’m in Lion Three, room five.”
“Lion Three, room five.” she repeated.
“Yes, or send word through Hann or another teacher. They seem creepy, but it’s their job to help.”
Frank rose and again shook Billy’s hand. “See you Thursday,” he said.
“Okay.”
Frank left and Suzie sat at the table.
“This won’t be too bad,” said Billy. “Some people will be nice to you. Let’s go look around the school a bit. Looks like the rain’s stopped.”
Suzie spent the rest of the day walking through corridors and peering into classrooms. When Billy brought them by a mound with a picture of a lion holding three scythes, she circled the location on her map, although she didn’t see Frank. They went to the Hall, but it was closed.
“They’ll open for breakfast tomorrow,” said Billy. “The Hall’s pretty amazing.”
Jason was silent most of the day, and for long periods Suzie, too, found herself growing silent. Her life was radically different now. She was alone in an alien world, the only girl, and tomorrow would be the beginning of school, the beginning of her real trial here.
When they walked back to Eagle Two, Suzie caught a glimpse of East Tower, looming above her with menace, disappearing into the gray clouds. Light flickered in a high window, and she wondered if anyone was watching. She turned to her side as the edge of a black cube emerged from around a corner. The Examination Room. Would she make it through the year?
It would begin tomorrow, when school started. She took a deep breath. She was ready.
The First Day
Suzie awoke early. Peering behind her curtain, she gazed out at the still dark sky. Her first day of school in the College of Deaths. She showered and changed into the nicest outfit left for her, a purple dress with white trim, which fit nicely. She pulled out a small lipstick tube from the back of the dresser. It had been in her pocket when Cronk took her from home, the only makeup she owned. She dabbed a bit on her lips: if she was the only girl in this world, she might as well look feminine.
“Wow, Suzie, you look great,” said Billy, when she walked into the kitchen.
“Thanks, Billy.”
“Since term is starting, the Hall will be open for meals. That’s where everyone goes, at least for breakfast and lunch, and most guys for dinner too. I’ll take you in, and then we’ll start school. They usually make a few speeches and stuff at the first Hall anyway. Welcome to school, that sort of thing.”
“I’m nervous,” said Jason, wiping his nose on his shirt. “Classes and stuff. Being a Death.”
“It’s a living,” said Billy.
“Is that a pun?” asked Suzie.
“Maybe,” said Billy, smiling.
Suzie returned to her room and got her books, her map, and the pouch with Athanasius’s cake.
“Here,” said Billy, popping his head in. He tossed her a backpack. “From a job in Mexico last year.”
“This looks like a kid’s backpack,” said Suzie.
“Everybody dies.”
She said nothing. The grim morbidity of this world was only now sinking in. It was beautiful, but this was still the World of the Dead. This wasn’t any normal school; she was training to be a Death.
“You can wear the dress, you look great,” said Billy, “but you’ll need a robe over it. First day of school is formal, supposed to wear our robes. Starting tomorrow you only have to wear a robe for Applications, though some guys never take theirs off.”
“Okay,” she said. She went to the closet and put on one of the large robes. She tucked the hood beneath her long hair and went to the mirror. She still looked pretty, though her dress was completely covered. The sleeves were far too large, hanging down in great flaps. The yellow skull patch glared at her.
“The skull means you aren’t certified,” said Billy, pulling on his own robe, which also had a yellow skull. “Every kid at school has one. Other than your hair and face, you look like a Death.”