The Mysterious Benedict Society

suspected of something? As the others filed out of the classroom, Kate gave the boys a meaningful look. Good luck, her eyes said. Constance stumbled blearily past without looking at them, and then the two boys started up to S.Q.’s desk.

Their path was suddenly cut off by Martina Crowe, who fixed them with a stare of barely contained fury. Startled, the boys stepped back, as if they’d come upon a rattlesnake.

“That’s right,” Martina hissed. “Step. Back.” She glared at them, radiating menace. Reynie wondered what to do. Should he ask what was wrong? Would this encourage her to attack?

“Martina?” S.Q. said from his desk. “Do you need something?”

“I know why you want to speak with them,” Martina said, not taking her eyes from the boys’ alarmed faces.

“Good for you. Now, I do need to speak with them, so please excuse us.”

“I’ll go,” Martina said. “But not far.” She leaned toward the boys and whispered, “Do you hear me? Not far!”

Certainly not far enough, Reynie thought as she stalked from the room. Why was she so angry? Did she suspect them of something, too? Trembling now, the boys approached the desk.

S.Q. looked grave. “I’m afraid you two are in hot water.”

“But why?” asked Reynie. Sticky wobbled as if he might fall down.

“You have Martina on edge, that’s why. Frankly, fellows, I’m simply astoundished. Or rather, I should say, astonded. No, that’s not, not quite —”

“Astonished?” Reynie prompted. “Astounded?”

S.Q. nodded. “Those, too. Furthermore, I’m amazed. How are you boys doing so well on your quizzes? You’re making perfect scores! I think Martina overheard me talking about it with another Executive, by the way, which is why she dislikes you now.”

Sticky regained his balance. Reynie’s breathing slowed. They weren’t in trouble, after all. Except, for some reason, with Martina Crowe.

S.Q. gave them an appraising look. “How do you explain your grades? It’s unlikely anyone is helping you. You’re brand new, and other students naturally shun new kids, so they wouldn’t be helping you.”

“I remember things,” said Sticky simply.

“I try hard,” said Reynie.

S.Q. looked as if this was just what he’d suspected. “Rememberingness and effortfulness, both fine qualities. It seems you two have an abundant supply. I just wanted to congratulate you and tell you to keep it up.”

“Like Eustace and Rosie?” Reynie asked.

“Oh, those two? They’re a different case, boys. They’re special recruits. Special recruits get extra attention in the early days, by order of Mr. Curtain. They’re a little slow to come round, and they need encouragement. But you watch, one day they’ll be top students. Special recruits often end up as Messengers, and many become Executives. Take Jackson and Jillson, for example — they were special recruits themselves.”

“What makes special recruits so special?” Sticky asked. He almost sounded jealous.

S.Q. seemed troubled by this question. “Well, as for that, I can’t really say, uh, here nor there. All you need to know is — well, you don’t need to know anything. Except for the material, that is. Obviously you must know that. And how to . . . actually, I suppose there are many things you should know, but —” He checked himself, cleared his throat, and said, “Just work hard, boys, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

“Except Martina,” said Reynie. “She looked like she wanted to throttle us.”

S.Q. laughed. “She probably does! You’re showing her up. Perfect quiz scores are extremely rare. If you boys continue like this, you’ll be Messengers in no time — and so naturally the Messengers hate you. There’s a limited number of Messengers, you see, and no guarantee that any will stay a Messenger. Have a bad week on your quizzes and another student might take your spot.”

“Does that happen often?” Reynie asked.

“Hardly ever,” S.Q. said. “Messengers can’t bear to lose their special privileges. I remember how awful I felt whenever I had to turn in my sash and tunic. Happened to me several times. But eventually I got all the lessons down like butter — like a pat of butter — got them down pat — and never lost my position again. Until I was made Executive, that is. Anyway, I suppose to Martina you seem like a threat. I understand her feeling, though of course there’s no call for her to be so cranky about it.”

Cranky was hardly the word, Reynie thought. Venomous was more like it. They would have to watch out for Martina Crowe.

People and Places to Be Avoided

Reynie and Sticky spent the rest of the morning looking nervously over their shoulders. Between classes they hurried through the corridors, not wanting to be ambushed by Martina, and when at lunchtime they spotted Martina lingering near the cafeteria counter, they put off getting their lunches despite the insistent growling in their bellies. Instead they found a table and waited for Kate and Constance. When the girls returned from the counter, Reynie and Sticky quickly related what S.Q. had told them about Messengers, and also what had happened with Martina. The cafeteria was so absurdly loud they could speak in normal voices and not be overhead, but it was all Kate could do to keep her voice below an outraged shout.

“Where is Martina now?” she said, glancing left and right.

“I’m trying not to see her,” Sticky said.

“Easy, Kate,” Reynie said. He nodded discreetly toward a distant table. “She just sat down at one of the Messenger tables. Every now and then she shoots darts with her eyes. But let’s not worry about it. We’ll need to avoid her, that’s all.”