Ralph remained silent, his gaze fixed on Edmund and the rest of the kids crowded by the Z door. The Z in the door turned white and everyone around them began filing inside but Ralph held back until Edmund was gone.

Come on, lets go inside, he said.

Oliver followed alongside him. Can you please answer my question, Ralph? he asked. Is there something you havent told me about?

They stepped inside the Z room. It was like some kind of airlock. It was quite dark, save for rows of glowing white, circular doors, like the lockers in a changing room.

Once again, Ralph didnt answer Olivers pleas.

Grab your sleep suit from there, he said, opening up a pod. It hissed and white steam coiled out.

Still confused, Oliver reached inside and pulled out a strange white suit. It looked like a kids blanket sleeper. I have to sleep in this?

Ralph just nodded. The changing rooms are that way. He gestured to a row of white curtains.

Thanks, Oliver mumbled.

He couldnt understand Ralphs sudden change in demeanor. Either cobalt was a deeply offensive term, or it meant something else entirely that Ralph wasnt willing to tell him.

He hurried behind the curtains and quickly changed, wanting to get back out and interrogate Ralph some more. The strange white sleeper felt very cool against his skin, more like hed put on a suit of air rather than fabric. He hurried back out with his clothes bundled in his arms.

Put those in the pod, Ralph said immediately, shoving Olivers clothes into the now empty pod hed taken the suit from. Theyll be cleaned for you while you sleep.

The sleeping process at this school was just as baffling as the eating one had been, Oliver thought. But more baffling than all was Ralph hurrying him along.

Ready? he asked, sounding impatient.

Oliver nodded. Yes, but Ralph, can you please explain why Edmunds rattled you so much?

He could see the sneering bully standing with the rest of the kids, dressed for bed in matching white sleepsuits.

Its nothing, Ralph said.

The next door opened and everyone started to file out.

Its clearly not nothing… Oliver began, following the others.

But his words died in his throat when he saw the sleeping dorms. Like the other specialized areas, this one was a huge fifty-floor atrium, with strange glass pods attached to the walls and a central column. It was very dark, save for the white glow of each pod, and some small glittering snowflake lights that fell endlessly through the air.

How does that work…? he murmured, transfixed by the snowflakes.

He looked over and saw that Ralph had already joined the queue. He snapped back to attention and hurried after him. He wasnt about to drop this one.