Free Island of Silence (Unwanteds) by Lisa McMann Page B

Prize. They recognized Aaron and at first regarded him with contempt, but soon focused instead on the orange slices in the woman’s hand.
    “What kind of leader lets his workers go free and his best people starve?” Aaron asked in a voice of wonderment, loud enough for everyone in sight to hear. “The High Priest Justine wouldn’t have let this happen.” He shook his head.
    The small group of people nodded, some still skeptical of the speaker, but most were riled up enough to band together with anyone who thought the same thoughts as they.
    “I wonder . . . ,” Aaron said, but then he stopped and looked at the people. “Well, I shouldn’t say anything. High Priest Haluki and the Quillitary have decided my ideas are worthless.” He bent down to pick up his backpack, as if to leave.
    “What ideas?” the original woman asked. “I suppose if you have some, it wouldn’t hurt to hear them.”
    Aaron shook his head sadly. “No . . . it’s nothing. I’m not to be trusted.” He reached into his backpack and silently doled out oranges to everyone standing there. “I have some beans as well’I’m happy to share with everyone, as the former high priest would have expected.”
    Even the most reluctant ones stepped closer to Aaron now as he gave handfuls of beans to those standing there.
    “I do miss the way things were,” one of them ventured softly, as if afraid to be heard. “The High Priest Justine was a noble woman.”
    Aaron nodded solemnly. “Indeed she was.” He smiled sympathetically at each face. “All we can do now is try to survive until someone comes to save us, I guess.”
    He touched the shoulder of the old woman. “I’ll be here again a week from today. If I have found any extra food, I’ll gladly share again.”
    With that, Aaron turned and walked away from the palace and the group of complainers, who now were silent and thoughtful as they looked down at the treasure in their hands, then up at the young former up-and-comer who had given them the means to survive.
    As Aaron walked toward the Favored Farm to pick his daily food, contemplating just how well his work had gone that morning, his thoughts were disturbed by approaching steps in the gravel and a familiar voice that sent shivers up his spine.
    “Greetings, Aaron.”
    Aaron looked up, his eyes overwhelmed by the bright colors of the man’s robe and his crazy shock of hair. Aaron scowled and slowed his pace, ready to defend himself if he needed to, but Mr. Today merely smiled brightly and kept walking toward the palace.
     

Righting Past Wrongs
    M arcus Today entered the gray palace office of High Priest Haluki for their weekly peace meeting. “Hello, Gunnar, I brought you something,” he said with a smile. He reached into a pocket of his robe and produced a tiny gargoyle statue. When he set it on the high priest’s desk, it grew to the size of a cat. It blinked a few times and yawned, covering its mouth politely, its ears perking up. A sharp horn made Haluki think twice about patting it on the head.
    With a flourish, Mr. Today said, “This is Matilda, an extra set of eyes and ears for you. She communicates instantaneously with her counterpart, Charlie, back in Artimé. They’ll be good to have around in case of trouble.”
    “How lovely!” said Haluki. “I think I’ve seen them before wandering around Artimé, down by the gate. Thank you’we can use all the help we can get.”
    “They tend to roam. But you mustn’t worry about her. Matilda can take care of herself,” Mr. Today said, chuckling. “You may wish to warn others not to get too close.”
    “I shall do that.”
    “She won’t hurt you, however.”
    “For that I am ever grateful,” murmured Haluki solemnly, looking at the statue.
    Matilda nodded regally, as if she had just taken over as high priest of all the land.
    Mr. Today taught his friend Gunnar a few hand signals that he could use to communicate with Matilda, and gave him a thin book that