“Are there lights in the camp at night?” April asked.
“A few,” Marks replied, shuffling through the papers. “But it’s pretty dark. Remember, no one has ever lived on this island. We had to build everything ourselves.”
He pulled out a clipboard. “Ah-ha. Here it is. Now, let me just check off your names.” Suddenly, his expression changed, and he blinked several times at the page on the clipboard.
“Whoa,” he said. “That’s weird.” He squinted at the clipboard. “My eyes are playing tricks on me. The words are swimming on the page.” He shook his head. “Guess I’ve been out in the sun too long. Or else I need glasses.”
He turned back to the list of names. One by one, he checked off Anthony, Martine, and Kristen. Then he turned to April. “Last but not least,” he said, grinning at her through the dark stubble of beard. “And what is your name?”
“April Powers.”
He squinted at his checklist. “Powers…Powers…” He gazed up at April as if studying her. “April Powers…”
April nodded.
“April, did you get a letter from us? An invitation?” Marks asked.
April could feel her face growing hot. “Yes, of course,” she answered sharply. She tugged tensely at her earring.
Marks ran his finger slowly down the long list of names on the clipboard. Then, scratching his bald head with one chubby hand, he turned back to April.
“I’m real sorry,” he said softly. “But you’re not on the list.”
12
April felt her face grow hot again. “I—I don’t understand,” she said.
Marks frowned at his checklist. He ran his finger down the names once again, counting, moving his lips.
“Eleven…twelve. Yes, we already have twelve,” he said. He squinted at April. “Did you bring your invitation by any chance?”
“Well…no,” April replied. “I didn’t think…”
“We have room for only twelve kids,” Marks said, scratching the top of his head again. “And your name isn’t on the list.”
“But—how can that be?” April asked. She was trying to stay calm, but her voice broke.
Marks studied the checklist again. He flipped through several pages. “Could there be someone here who doesn’t belong?” he muttered.
He dropped heavily into the canvas chair behind his desk. “Well, we can’t have thirteen,” he said, shaking his head. “We have three teams of four. And only twelve beds. There’s no room for a thirteenth.” He stared at April as if challenging her.
“Wh-what do you mean?” April stammered.
“You can’t stay. We’ll have to send you home,” Marks said.
“But—I’ve come all this way!” April cried.
Kristen stepped up and put a hand on April’s shoulder. “This isn’t fair,” she said to Marks. “Maybe April and I could share somehow. Maybe we could work together or something.”
That’s so sweet of Kristen, April thought. I just met her yesterday, and she is already being such a good friend.
Marks shook his head again. “I’m sorry,” he said. “There is a hundred thousand dollars at stake here. I cannot allow someone to stay who isn’t on the list. It would throw the games off entirely. And it wouldn’t be fair to the others.”
“But—but—” April sputtered. She felt tears welling in her eyes. She bit her lip to keep from crying.
This isn’t right, she thought. This just isn’t right.
I was invited. My name should be on that list.
Either Marks made a mistake. Or there’s someone here who doesn’t belong.
But I was invited. I should be allowed to stay.
It isn’t fair. It isn’t fair.
What am I going to do?
A high scream behind her made April gasp. She jumped in surprise.
And turned to see Martine open her mouth in another shrill scream.
“NOOOOO! HELP ME! OHHHH, HELP!”
13
Bright red blood spurted from Martine’s ears. She spread her hands over her ears. But the blood squirted out in streams, like water from a water pistol.
“OHHHH, HELP. MY EARDRUMS…”
Martine dropped to her knees, screaming, crying. Blood sprayed the room. Her blond hair was soaked in it.
Marks moved quickly. He ran to the door and shouted for Josh and Nick. Then he removed a first aid kit from his desk drawer.
He dropped beside Martine and pulled her hands away from her ears. Balling up cotton gauze, he struggled to stop the flow of blood.
“Something is horribly wrong. Have your eardrums burst?” Marks cried. “Have you had ear trouble before?”
Martine shook her head. “No. Oh…they hurt! They hurt!” Martine wailed. “I—I can’t stand it!”
Josh and Nick and a young, dark-haired woman burst into the doorway. Their eyes bulged in shock when they saw Martine down on the floor, and all the blood.
“Where is the nurse?” Marks demanded.
“On the main island,” Rick replied.
“Well then, this girl has to be rushed to the main island,” Marks ordered. “Get her in the boat. Take her—now.”
The three staff members helped Martine to her feet. She was wailing and crying, pressing her hands to her ears. Gently, they guided her out of Marks’s office.
Marks slumped into his chair with a long sigh. His bald head glistened with sweat. He had dried blood on his hands and down the front of his T-shirt.
April suddenly realized she’d been biting her bottom lip. She tasted blood as she loosened her jaw. Her heart pounded in her chest. She kept seeing the streams of bright blood shooting from Martine’s ears.
How did that happen? she wondered. One minute Martine was standing here calmly.
And the next…
April turned and saw Marks staring at her. His forehead creased and his little, dark eyes burned into hers. As if he were studying her. Sizing her up.
Finally, he spoke. “I don’t really understand what happened to Martine. It was so sudden. Can eardrums burst for no reason?”
“Poor Martine,” Kristen whispered. “That was terrifying. All that blood.”
“Whoa. It totally freaked me,” Anthony said, looking very pale, so pale, his freckles had disappeared. “I’m still shaking. I think I’m going to have nightmares tonight.”
“The nurse on the main island will treat Martine,” Marks said. “As soon as she is able to fly, we’ll get her home.”
Marks rubbed his stubbly cheeks. He squinted at April. “Well…I guess there is a place for you after all.”
April swallowed. If only her heart would stop thudding so hard and fast. “You mean—?”
“We need twelve kids,” Marks said. “Now you’re number twelve. Martine is gone. So you can stay, April.” He gazed down at the checklist on his desk. “Weird,” he muttered.
“Thank you! Thank you!” April cried.
Marks told them to go outside and explore the camp. Meet the other kids. “I want to clean up this room,” he said. “Then I’ll come out to announce your cabin and team assignments.”
April followed Kristen and Anthony out of the little shack into the sunlight. A million thoughts whirred through her mind, making her feel dizzy.
What happened in there? she wondered. Why wasn’t my name on the list? Why did Marks stare at me so strangely? And why did Martine’s eardrums burst for no reason?
It was so awful. So frightening.
April suddenly realized that Anthony was giggling. It was the first time she had ever seen him smile. “Anthony? What’s so funny?” she asked.
Anthony blushed. “Nothing,” he said. “Nothing.”
And he hurried away.
14
The rope bridge swayed in the warm breeze. Below the bridge, a narrow stream trickled softly, the water glinting in the sunlight.
That bridge is too flimsy to hold anyone, April thought. She felt a chill of fear. Are they really going to make us cross over i
t? The ropes are frayed and stretched.
April gazed at the single rope that formed a railing. And at the gaps in the bridge floor. If you miss a step, you could fall right through, she thought.
“This looks like fun!” Anthony said, stepping up beside her. He rubbed his hands together.
Is he kidding? April wondered. Ever since she saw him giggling after Martine’s horrible ear problem, she couldn’t figure him out.
Was he really eager to race across this flimsy rope bridge? Or was he making some kind of joke?
Anthony was so intense most of the time. And then something would strike him as funny, and he would start to giggle. But they were on the same team, so April had to try to get along with him.
The other two members of the team stepped up beside her. April was glad that Kristen had been assigned to her team. She and Kristen weren’t very much alike. Compared to Kristen, April was quiet and thoughtful. And she wasn’t much of an athlete.
Small and wiry, Kristen couldn’t sit still. She had to be on the move. She was eager to compete. She wanted to win win win. And she never stopped talking.
The fourth team member was a boy named Marlin. He was African American, tall, and very athletic. Marlin had short hair, large brown eyes that always seemed to be taking everything in and sizing everyone up, a tiny silver ring in one ear, and a winning smile.
Marlin was always encouraging the other team members, cheering them on—a leader and a cheerleader at the same time. If we had a team captain, it should be Marlin, April thought.
The teams had been organized at the first Academy meeting the night April had arrived. Marks had greeted everyone at the door to the meeting lodge, shaking hands, slapping high-fives, laughing, chatting with everyone.
He introduced Josh, Rick, and Abby, his three staff members. And then Marks had the twelve kids stand up one by one, introduce themselves, and tell a little about their lives.
“We have three teams for our Life Games,” Marks announced. “There will be many competitions. For most of the games, the winning team will get ten points. Second place will win five points. Third place wins zero.
“The most important competitions will be for loyalty, honesty, and bravery,” he continued. “They are worth fifty points each. After each of these big competitions, the losing team will be eliminated.”
“What does that mean exactly?” Dolores, a tall blond girl in a red midriff shirt asked from the back row.
“What does eliminated mean?” Marks replied. “It means you’re gone. You’re outta there!”
A few kids laughed. But most of them stared intently at Marks, their expressions solemn.
This is a serious group, April decided. They really came here to compete. And to win the hundred thousand dollars.
“Only one team will be left to face the bravery challenge,” Marks continued. “And if they succeed, they will split the cash prize. I wish you all good luck. This is a beautiful island. But it holds many challenges.”
“When will the celebs arrive?” Dolores called out. “Will they perform for us? Or just hang out?”
Marks slapped at a mosquito on his bald head. “We are busy scheduling their boat,” he replied. “I hope to have an answer for you in a day or two. You will all have the excitement of getting to know these interesting and successful people very soon.”
Anthony, sitting in the front row, raised his hand. “Will the Life Games competitions begin first thing tomorrow?” he asked.
Marks shook his head. “They’ve already begun,” he murmured.
15
“We’re going to win this thing,” Marlin declared after the meeting. He gathered Kristen, April, and Anthony together in the sandy square between the cabins. “No problem. We’re going to win—big-time!”
And raising his hands high above his head, he started a chant. “We’re going to win! We’re going to win! We’re going to win!”
Kristen and Anthony quickly joined in. April always felt awkward chanting with a crowd. She just wasn’t the cheerleader type. But she saw the others staring at her, so she joined in too.
“We’re going to win! We’re going to win!” Now Marlin got them jumping as they chanted. And April quickly got into the spirit. She chanted and jumped with the others, feeling her excitement rise. Feeling good about being part of a team.
Walking to their cabins, the kids on the other two teams saw them—and quickly gathered to start their own chants.
“We’re going to win! We’re going to win!”
Louder. Louder. The voices rang out through the trees, echoed off the rocks, carried by the soft winds of the tiny island.
This is intense! April thought. Everyone is so psyched.
This should be an amazing two weeks!
Now, it was the next afternoon. April stared at the rope bridge, swaying in the wind.
It doesn’t look like a bridge, she thought. It looks like a giant net. How are we supposed to run over those knotted ropes?
The stream below it isn’t deep enough to swim in, she realized. If someone should fall off the bridge—or fall through it…
She suddenly found herself thinking about Pam back home. When April told her friend about The Academy, Pam had been totally jealous.
“I should have been invited,” Pam had sneered. “Everyone knows I’m a much better athlete than you. I really like to win. You don’t even care about stuff like that.
“There must have been some kind of mistake,” Pam had said.
Those words had made April so angry, she could barely speak. She left for the island without saying good-bye to Pam.
I’m going to show Pam that she was wrong, April thought, staring at the rope bridge. Pam isn’t the only one who likes to compete. I’m a winner too.
A shrill whistle shook April from her thoughts. Josh was waving for everyone to come listen to him. He blew the whistle again.
Josh’s wavy, dark hair fluttered in the wind. He was wearing a white ACADEMY STAFF T-shirt and baggy denim cutoffs. “Show time, everyone!” he called.
He pointed with his whistle to the rope bridge. “This is your first test,” he announced. “Ten points for first place. Five points for second. Has anyone ever raced over a rope bridge before?”
No hands went up.
“Well, I’ll give you the secret to crossing it,” Josh said. “Don’t look down!”
He meant that as a joke. But only a few kids snickered.
“This is a simple race,” Josh announced. “I’ll be timing each racer. One person runs across at a time. I’ll add up the total team time. The team with the lowest total wins the race.”
He gazed around the group of twelve kids. “Any questions? Everybody ready?”
He pulled out a silvery stopwatch. “Let’s have Team One. Over here. You’re first.”
April’s group was Team Three.
We’ll get to watch the other two teams, April realized. That will give me plenty of time to get even more nervous!
The next few minutes were a blur of action.
The whistle blew. Gripping the rope railing, kids pulled themselves one by one across the swaying bridge.
Some kids ran easily, heads up, ignoring the swaying of the bridge and the creaking of the knotted ropes beneath them.
Others made their way more cautiously, taking it a step at a time. Making sure each foothold was secure before taking the next step.
Josh’s whistle blew. Kids cheered. April tugged at her earring, watching the others compete. Can I do it? she wondered. She thought of Pam. Yes, I can!
“WHOOOOAAAA!”
Kids gasped as Ernie, a big, beefy guy on Team Two, slipped. His shoe caught on a rope, and he fell to his stomach on the swaying bridge floor. With a groan, Ernie grabbed the rope rail and pulled himself up quickly.
“Hurry, Ernie! Go! Go! Go!” His three teammates urged him on. He stumbled to the end of the bridge. The whistle blew. His teammates cheered and congratulated him.
Our turn, April tho
ught. She took a deep breath. “Don’t blow it,” she muttered to herself.
“Anthony, go first,” Marlin ordered. “Then Kristen, then me, then April. Good luck, guys. We can do it!”
At the whistle, Anthony took off. Leaning forward, he pulled himself quickly over the ropes, moving in a steady rhythm.
He made it easily to the other side, and Kristen raced onto the swaying bridge. She stumbled at first, but raised her knees high, and her sneakers moved easily from rope to rope.
April’s heart started to pound as she watched Marlin make his run. We’re doing great, she realized. We can win this race—if I don’t mess up.
Marlin flew over the bridge. April moved into place, gripping the rope railing in her right hand. She realized she was gritting her teeth so hard, her jaw ached. Taking a deep breath, she forced her muscles to relax.
The whistle blew. April took off over the swaying bridge. “Go! Go! Go!” She could hear her teammates cheering her on.
Her legs trembled but caught a rhythm. She raised her eyes to see the others waving her in, shouting excitedly.
She was halfway across the bridge when she fell.
Her foot caught on a rope—and she felt her body hurtle forward.
The rope rail flew out of her hand. She stumbled to the side. Made a wild grab for the rope.
Missed.
I’m falling! she realized in that brief second of terror.
I’m falling over the side!
16
April landed hard on her stomach. The ropes bounced beneath her.
Stunned, she heard the shouts and screams from the end of the bridge. And realized she hadn’t fallen over the side.
“Get up! Get up! Get up!” her teammates were pleading.
Shaking off her confusion, April climbed to her feet. The end of the bridge still appeared a mile away. Her legs trembling, she started to run again.
Go! Go! Go! she urged herself. I can do it! I can!
And now she felt as if she were flying, flying over the swaying ropes.