After a moment's vibrant silence the Protector stood, his arms outstretched. “People of the Web, greetings! We come together on the first day of the new year, 2147, to welcome a new class into the fullness of our community. Today these eighty-one youngsters will leave the world of childhood behind to become fully responsible members of the Ark, with all the headaches that entails!”

Everyone, except the neophytes, laughed at his little joke. He went on seriously. “We meet also to strengthen the Great Pattern which we have striven to perfect for the last one hundred and forty-one years, and also to retell our history and renew our mandate for a better world. This year something else will be added ... ''

A shiver of interest ran through the room. What is going to be different? Ruth wondered.

“ ... But more of that later,” the Protector went on. “First, we must put our young neophytes out of their misery and begin the inauguration.”

He sat down amid applause and the Warden rose and faced the Grade Eight A class. Their teacher came down the aisle and stood beside him, the colourful sashes over her arm.

Charity groaned and whispered. “Why did we have to be in C? It'll be hours before he gets to us. I know I'll die.”

Mc, too, thought Ruth. Her heart was pounding and she dug her nails into the palms of her hands. The sashes hanging loosely over the teacher's arm suddenly fluttered upwards, as if caught in an unexpected breeze. The Protector turned in his seat and shot a warning look at Ruth. She unclenched her hands and took three deep breaths. The sashes hung still.

One by one the girls were called forward. As each stood before him the Warden placed across her shoulders a sash of the colour she would wear for the rest of her life: yellow for a Healer, blue for a Teacher, dark green for a Communicator.

When the twenty girls of Eight A had filed back to their places the boys of Eight B were called forward and in turn were accepted into the Community.

“Our turn next,” whispered Charity. “Oh, I wonder what I'll be. It's so easy for Patience and Faith. They already know.”

Ruth ran her tongue over her dry lips and tried to swallow. I'll never make it. I'm going to faint. She sat frozen in her seat until Grace poked her painfully in the ribs and she stumbled out into the aisle after Charity.

There were a few surprises. Everyone was sure Honesty would be made a Communicator, but she received the blue sash of Teacher. Charity herself was chosen as a Healer and her squeak of surprise sent a ripple of laughter around the Assembly.