Emile Janza studied Bunting as he talked, looking for the clues and seeing them. The way Bunting had at first looked horrified and then just reluctant and now his eyes bright, sizzling almost, with the plans Janza had been unfolding. Hell, you had to admire Archie. He had predicted exactly how Bunting would react to the suggestions. Janza was grateful to Archie for all these suggestions, although Archie said that Janza’s thanks were unnecessary. They were a gift to Emile for service loyally rendered. Let’s see, what else did Archie suggest?
“And Bunting. We ought to do something about the faculty.”
“The faculty?” Bunting’s voice was getting higher and higher every time he spoke, and Janza grinned.
“Yeah. To keep them distracted.” Wonderful word: distracted. Archie’s word but sounding natural on Janza’s tongue. “Classroom disruption.” More Archie words. “Show the faculty who’s in charge …”
Bunting drew up his knees, curled his arms around them, rested his chin in the space between his knees, needing time to think, to absorb Janza’s suggestions. Wild suggestions, but they made sense. They opened all sorts of possibilities. The great part was that Janza seemed perfectly happy to be the good right arm. With Bunting in charge. King of the place. Yet he sensed that Janza would always represent a danger. He’d have to keep alert, on his toes. But then, Janza could always be eliminated. A loose stair rail, say, on the third floor.
“What do you think, Bunting? What do you think, O leader of us all?”
Bunting pretended to be deep in thought, letting Janza dangle a bit, not wanting to appear too eager, too ready to accept Janza’s plans.
“We’ll see,” he said finally. “I’ve got some plans of my own, you know. But I think it will work out okay.…”
Janza grinned, amazed at the accuracy of Archie’s predictions. You’ll have a great year, Archie had said. Which Janza echoed now: “We’re going to have a great year, Bunting.”
Bunting nodded. Continued to stare into space. Not wanting to look at Janza now or anybody or anything. Staring into the future, next year, beyond. Him, Bunting, in command of the entire school. Stooges at his beck and call. An army at his disposal. No rules except those he made up. The boss. More than that. Like a dictator, for crissake.
Beautiful.
Robert Cormier (1925–2000) changed the face of young adult literature over the course of his illustrious career. His many novels include The Chocolate War, Beyond the Chocolate War, I Am the Cheese, Fade, Tenderness, After the First Death, Heroes, Frenchtown Summer, and The Rag and Bone Shop. In 1991, he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award, honoring his lifetime contribution to writing for teens.
Robert Cormier, Beyond the Chocolate War
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