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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.

 
Chapter Seven
    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,