Free The Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper Page A

called to the room, which had been stunned into silence.
    â€œI’ve known Demetrius since third grade,” Dana explained. “He got a job a few weeks ago and decided he wasn’t going to have enough time to pledge. He knew I wanted to be in the club, so when you had that meeting at Eddie’s place, he put my phone number down instead of his. He came to wrap toys this afternoon, but he’s not coming back.” She grinned in triumph.
    â€œSo you knew that call wasn’t for you! That’s fraud!” screamed Eddie.
    â€œNot so. The message that was left on my phone said, ’Be at the warehouse at midnight on Monday. Tell no one.’ So I figured it was for me. I was obedient and said nothing.” Kofi glared at her in anger. Jericho wasn’t sure what to think.
    â€œYou can’t be in the club. That’s all there is to it.” But Madison was starting to sound defeated, Jericho thought.
    â€œThen I’ll tell everything I saw and heard here tonight. I’ll write it up in the school paper. I’ll call the TV news channels and newspaper reporters. I’ll call
People
magazine. Then I’ll call a lawyer and expose all of you and your discriminatory club, and force you to take me in!” Dana warned.
    â€œYou wouldn’t dare!” Eddie said between clenched teeth.
    â€œWatch me.”
    â€œWhy do you want to do this?” Rick asked.
    â€œBecause I would be a valuable member of this club,” she replied, raising her chin.
    â€œWhy do girls like you always want to dip into men’s stuff?” Eddie asked angrily.
    â€œBecause I can.” Dana stood firm.
    â€œDon’t be so sure, honey girl. You may live to regret this night,” he warned.
    â€œI’m not afraid of you,” she told Eddie calmly, looking down at him a bit as she spoke. Eddie’s face was twisted with rage.
    â€œWomen want to be soldiers and firemen and football players. What’s up with all that?” Eddie spoke directly to Madison, as if Dana hadn’t spoken.
    â€œDo you really want to be a member, or are you just trying to make trouble?” Madison asked with a sigh.
    â€œI really, really want to do this. When I said the words in the bonding ceremony a few minutes ago, I meant every word of it. I would be loyal—to the death if necessary—for my brothers. Give me a chance. You really have no
    The Warriors moved to the other side of the room and conferred together. Jericho could not make out all the words, but he could hear angry voices and pieces of bitter phrases.
    â€œOver my dead body!”
    â€œNo way this is gonna go down!”
    â€œShe knows too much.”
    â€œThis sucks!”
    â€œYou can’t let her...”
    â€œHow is she gonna . . . ?”
    â€œ... make her sorry ...”
    â€œThis changes everything ...”
    â€œKick her out...”
    â€œ. . . lawsuit?”
    â€œCan she . . . ?”
    â€œ... hate this!”
    The discussion broke up finally with looks of fierce determination on the faces of the Warriors. Madison and the others returned as a group. Eddie’s fists were clenched.
    Madison cleared his throat. “We are men of pride and dignity, and we have decided to allow you to honor the commitment you have made as a pledge, even though it was in the role of an infiltrator.”
    Dana looked him straight in the eye. She was as tall as he was. She said nothing.
    â€œBe warned, however,” he continued. “No special consideration will be given to you because you are a female. You will be expected to do everything the men do, and it’s difficult for them. You might even be expected to do more.We will not make your path any easier because of tears or whining. If you survive the activities of the next few weeks, we will welcome you into our organization. If you do not, too bad.”
    â€œI can deal with that,” Dana replied, showing no emotion at all. “You