“I don't think we need go that far. But it might help if you refrained from mentioning just how comfortable you are.”

“Leave it to me, Initiator, Ma'am.”

So WHEN Ruth returned to class three days later, it was with a solemn face. She could feel the girls' questions battering her mind, but there was a new-found stillness inside her and she found it easier to push them aside than before.

As soon as the bell rang for the end of morning class they clustered around. “What was it like, Ruth? Do tell.”

She shook her head. “It's too awful. I couldn't possibly.

Anyway it's time to tidy up or we'll be late for dinner.”

“You're to sit next to mc,” said Angela firmly. “Come on.''

“And me,” chimed in Charity.

“What about the rest of us? We want to hear about it, too.” “Grab that big circular table in the corner. Grace, you always look tidy. Run ahead and get it for us.”

It was very sweet being swept along in the centre of the crowd, sitting between the two most popular girls in the school, having one's meal brought on a tray instead of having to line up for it and look for a vacant place in which to sit and eat in silence. It wasn't surprising that it went to Ruth's head.

“Well, go on,” said Patience. “Tell us.”

Ruth took a mouthful of soup, broke off a piece of soybread, popped it into her mouth and chewed it thought- fully. “It really is black,” she said at last.

“Go on.”

“The floors, the walls, the ceiling. Even the couch. As black as night.” She let her voice fall in a dramatic whisper and drank some more soup. The girls stared, their food untouched.

“Weren't you scared to death?”

“Terrified. I lay there, surrounded by this awful blackness, and after a while it seemed to me that a great knife was slowly descending from the ceiling, swinging to and fro like the pendulum of an olden days' clock. Closer and closer it seemed to come, until the knife was ready to slash me in two.”

Charity screamed, then covered her mouth and giggled. People sitting close by turned round curiously and began to listen, edging their chairs closer.

“You're making it up,” said Patience. “Aren't you?”

“I'm telling you what seemed to me to be happening. If you don't believe me you don't have to listen.” I can't believe myself, thought Ruth. Talking back, to them.

“Shush, Patience. Go on, Ruth,” Angela encouraged.

“What happened next?”