Ruth concentrated on the stupid pencil for what seemed like hours. It lay on the floor like a - like a pencil. “Oh, this is hopeless!”

“Will you allow mc to enter your mind?” Luke asked

formally.

“Yes, if you can get through.”

He laughed. “I've heard of your reputation for stubborn- ness.”

She tensed and then tried to relax. After all, I was able to let the Initiator in, she told herself.

She felt a mind guide her mind, as a teacher helps a child form its first letters. Gently he showed her how to direct the molecules that made up the pencil, so that they moved together in one direction. The pencil trembled, stood on end, lifted back to the table top.

“I did it. I actually did it!”

“Do it again, then.” Luke knocked the pencil to the floor. And, after a struggle, she succeeded.

“Lesson number one,” Luke said quietly as she sat back in her chair, beaming. “To knock down is easy. All it takes is a flash of anger. But to build and lift requires concentration and energy. And skill. Do you want to learn it?”

“Oh , yes please. “

They practised daily, after all the other work was done, when Ruth was sometimes so tired that she did not know where, inside herself, she would find one single gram of energy. But Luke kept her at it and her skill improved. He seemed to understand her fear of failure, and their lessons were kept a secret.

PERHAPS HE did talk to the Initiator about her feelings, for one day she called Ruth into her office.

“There are still three places to fill on the team. Would you like to have friends from your own class?”

“Oh, yes, thank you. That would make all the difference. But maybe they won't want to go.” “You can but ask.”

Ruth needn't have worried. Charity and Faith jumped at the idea. Even Angela. As for the others, they pestered her constantly.

“I'd be much better than Charity. After the first two kilometres you’ll have to carry her.''

“No, Ruth. Take me.”

''Mc, please. I want to go. “

“You’ll have to do your stint in the Black Hole, like the others. Two days and nights away from the Web. Let's see if Angela and Faith and Charity make it.”

Ruth blushed with pleasure. They wanted to go with her.

The next day the girls were put to the test. “I don't know if I can.” Faith hesitated outside the door.

“There's nothing to it,” Ruth pleaded. “And I'll stay with you all the time, honest.”

“Come on you two.” Angela stuck her chin up and pulled open the heavy door. “The other girls will never let us forget it if we don't at least try.”

Faith looked as if she didn't care what the others thought. Angela pushed them into the room ahead of her. Ruth followed and shut the door.