Part 6 (1/2)
Max scanned the sea of faces in mute embarra.s.sment. He gave a little wave as Nigel led him to a seat in the back row. Miss Awolowo continued on; Max heard something about interns.h.i.+ps.
”Going to clean up a bit and make some calls,” Nigel whispered, patting Max on the shoulder. ”I'll check in with you later-before configuration.”
Max nodded until he realized that something was missing.
”Nigel,” he whispered urgently, ”what's configuration?” ”what's configuration?”
There was no answer. He turned, but the Recruiter had already slipped out. A skinny girl with braces and her mother motioned for Max to be quiet. Max scowled back at them and turned to hear Miss Awolowo.
It was mostly talk of contact information and faculty advisors and school holidays and schedules. Max tuned most of it out and studied his new cla.s.smates instead. They did not look like the students at his old school; there was much more diversity sprinkled throughout these seats. While many wore foreign clothes, Max was more interested in subtler differences, such as their posture and facial expressions. He thought many looked older and very serious. He was trying to guess their ages when the whole audience stood and began to file up the aisles.
The scene outside in the driveway was awkward, and Max did his best to keep to the edges while those who had arrived with their parents said good-bye. Tears were shed and luggage was stacked in a cacophony of sound as Miss Awolowo answered last-minute questions and ushered parents to their cars. He watched the skinny girl with braces cling to her mother, weeping uncontrollably until Miss Awolowo gently pried her away and led her mother to a taxi. Max felt guilty for making a face at them.
When the parents had all gone, Miss Awolowo led them into the great foyer. She climbed one of the staircases to address them from the landing.
”All right, children. We now must get you situated in your rooms. Before room a.s.signments, however, I would like to make an important announcement concerning Rowan, a place very dear to me and your new home.”
The air became very still; the chattering stopped immediately. Something in the older woman's voice had changed.
”Thank you. Until you are given a full tour of the grounds and premises, I ask that you stick only to those rooms and areas that I designate. As you will see, the Manse and the rest of Rowan's campus are...strange. This campus and its buildings possess a certain unpredictability that can baffle our most senior faculty. There are also a variety of contraptions throughout this house and grounds whose proper workings require careful instruction. As it is only our first day, I have no desire to rescue or mourn any foolhardy students. Is this understood?”
Miss Awolowo's frank and penetrating look swept from face to face just as Nigel appeared on the landing behind her.
”Wonderful.” She beamed. ”Now, before the configuration begins, let me say the following. If history has taught us anything, it is that some students are inevitably disappointed with their rooms or roommates or both. If such is the case, I am sorry but urge you to make the best of it. Room configurations and roommate a.s.signments cannot be changed. So, no crying, no whining. Agreed?”
The children nodded slowly and shot puzzled glances at one another.
”Excellent. This is Nigel Bristow. I believe some of you have already made his acquaintance. He'll be showing the boys their rooms. The young ladies will come with me.”
”All right, then,” Nigel called down to them. ”Up here and follow after me.”
Max swarmed up the stairs with the other boys. Miss Awolowo's voice called after them.
”Good luck, Nigel! Good luck, boys! Meet back in the foyer at five for a quick tour before dinner. Listen for the chimes!”
Max hurried after Nigel, alongside dozens of other students.
”Okay, boys-keep up, keep up,” the Recruiter said. ”North Wing's for the gents here at Rowan; the ladies stay in the South Wing, so if you find yourself without a urinal in sight, you know you're in the wrong place.”
The boys giggled as they climbed a spiral staircase whose creaky wooden banister had been worn to a smooth polish. Nigel's voice echoed from above.
”As it happens, your cla.s.s is on the third floor. Unlucky you. Third and Fourth Years will torment you from the second floor. Fifth and Sixth Years enjoy first-floor convenience and feel very much ent.i.tled to it.”
Max emerged from the stairwell into a long, broad hallway arched with heavy beams. It was lined on either side with dozens of gleaming green doors. Nigel led them toward the far end of the hallway. Straggling behind, Max noticed that each door had a large, ornate keyhole and a s.h.i.+ny silver numeral in its center. Next to each door was a towering plaque of polished black wood and bra.s.s, the first two dozen of which were engraved with names.
Reaching the end of the hall-where, Max noted, the plaques were blank-Nigel turned to the boys, who began to fidget.
”Let's see...sixty-nine, seventy, and Omar there makes seventy-one. Excellent-didn't lose anyone along the way! Hooray for me. Now, when I say the word, go hunt for your name on the plaques next to the doors. When you see your name, hold right there and do nothing else. Everyone understand?”
A stocky, handsome boy with chestnut hair and bright blue eyes raised his hand. His Irish accent was so thick that Max could hardly understand him.
”Our names are already on them?”
”What's your name, O curious creature?”
”Connor Lynch.”
”No,” said Nigel, rubbing his hands together. ”But they will will be. That's part of the fun. You don't pick your roommates and neither do we; that's the Manse's job.... Everyone ready? Go find your room!” be. That's part of the fun. You don't pick your roommates and neither do we; that's the Manse's job.... Everyone ready? Go find your room!”
To Max it seemed like a frantic Easter egg hunt as the other boys sprinted or b.u.mped into one another to scour the nameplates up and down the hall.
”I've found mine!” called a short boy who looked like a mouse.
”Me too!” cried another, losing his retainer.
Max walked slowly down the hall as the other boys shouted in excitement and jumped about. Max wanted to be excited, too, but he felt queasy-the lurking presence within him was stirring once again. He stopped before Room 318 and stared at the plaque next to the door. As though scripted by an invisible hand, two names appeared where before there had been none. Max ran his fingers over his name, feeling the letters etched deep into the bra.s.s. A cough sounded behind him.
”My name's there, too, isn't it?”
Max turned at the voice, which sounded American. He looked down at a small boy with skin as pale as milk. The boy's features were small and faint, except for purplish circles beneath his eyes. He looked unhealthy, like an underexposed photograph.
”Are you David Menlo?” asked Max.
The boy nodded and coughed again.
”I'm Max.”
Just then, Max heard Nigel's voice rise above the din.
”Aha! Stop right there, Jesse Chu! Didn't you hear me before? Do Stop right there, Jesse Chu! Didn't you hear me before? Do not not do anything else until I instruct you to!” do anything else until I instruct you to!”
A chunky Asian boy across the hall scowled and yanked his hand away from his doork.n.o.b as though it was hot. Nigel walked briskly toward him, wagging a finger. He stopped, however, as he saw Max and David standing by their door.
”Hey there-who are you two missing?”
Max glanced again at the plaque, realizing the other groups had four or even five boys in them.
”No one,” said Max. ”Our names are the only ones.”
”Really?” said Nigel, giving a curious smile and leaning in for a closer look. ”How very strange.”
He shook his head before cupping his hands to be heard throughout the long hallway.
”Now, when I instruct you to, when I instruct you to, I want you to open the doors and step inside your respective rooms. Once inside, you will lock the door behind you and shut your eyes. You will soon feel dizzy-it is to be expected. Keep your eyes shut until the feeling subsides entirely. To be safe, I recommend that you count to three once the dizziness stops before you have a look around. Everyone clear?” I want you to open the doors and step inside your respective rooms. Once inside, you will lock the door behind you and shut your eyes. You will soon feel dizzy-it is to be expected. Keep your eyes shut until the feeling subsides entirely. To be safe, I recommend that you count to three once the dizziness stops before you have a look around. Everyone clear?”
Max nodded with the others, terrified.
”All right, gents. Please enter your rooms and let the configurations begin.”