Read Online The Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper - Free Book Online Page A

sparkled in the moonlight, and the stars, which Jericho had never bothered to pay much attention to before, seemed like sharp points of light that bounced off the sleeping cars and frozen houses.
    The warehouse was about sixteen blocks away, an easy jaunt in the summer, but tonight it seemed unbearably frigid and long. The tips of his ears burned with cold, and his toes had no feeling inside his well-worn Jordans. Jericho tried not to think about the long walk home, or how he would successfully sneak back into the house. For the moment, he just wanted warmth. He wondered why they called this meeting, anyway.
    The warehouse loomed ahead, dark and foreboding. Jericho could see no lights. He thought wildly that maybe he was the only one stupid enough to come here tonight. Maybe they’re just trying to make fun of him. But he walked on, hopeful and cold.
    â€œHey, man, you have any trouble sneakin’ out?”
    Jericho, thrilled to see Josh approaching, said, “Naw, Cuz. I’m just slippery like that.”
    â€œI don’t see any lights up in there,” Josh observed. They got to the door of the warehouse, found it was it unlocked, and opened it tentatively. The door squeaked and groaned. Inside all was dark.
    It took a few minutes for Jericho’s eyes to adjust to thedarkness. Three candles flickered dimly in the center of the floor. The boxes of toys had been pushed to the walls. Shadowy figures, who Jericho assumed were members of the Warriors, stood silently. No one spoke. Jericho felt stupid. He didn’t know whether he should take off his coat, or perhaps say something to the silent boys. But as Josh had not moved, he, too, stood there, waiting.
    The door groaned loudly twice more, and several more groups of boys arrived and stood silently in the darkness, waiting for instructions. After one last, loud grinding of the door, when a single figure dressed in a black skull cap and jacket entered the room, the members of the Warriors moved simultaneously to the center of the floor near the candles.
    Finally a voice that sounded like Madison’s spoke with authority. “Be seated on the floor. Say nothing.” They complied.
    â€œWhat we say here,” Madison began, his voice sounding like a drum roll in the darkness, “is to be kept in absolute secrecy.” He held in his hands what looked like a large, leather-bound book. He opened it ceremoniously and read from the first page: “’Not one word of what we say or do from this point on is to be shared with another living soul—not your mother, your father, your girlfriend, your priest, not even your shadow on the sidewalk.’”
    â€œAgreed?” Eddie Mahoney spoke fiercely to the awestruck group in front of him.
    â€œAgreed,” the assembled group of boys replied in unison.
    â€œYes, we do the toy drive. It gives us credibility in thecommunity and at school,” Eddie continued. “But toys are for children, and we don’t play.”
    Jericho wondered what he meant, but was afraid to do anything to call attention to himself.
    Madison took over. “If you made it here tonight, you have shown your commitment to the group. We always cooporate with the administration at Douglass. They’re proud of us. So you will receive invitations to join the club through proper channels around the first of the new year. But officially, you are pledges now, if you choose to accept our challenge, and we require much more than the pink pledge T-shirt you’ll receive.”
    Madison continued. “We ask for—no, we demand—your dedication, your absolute obedience, your very life, if necessary. In return, we pledge to share with you our secrets, our connections, and our power. Any problems with that? If so, there’s the door.”
    No one moved. Jericho wondered if anyone else felt as uncomfortable as he did. He wondered what Madison meant.
    Eddie spoke next. “Since there seems to be