Mr. Syncrete sat back in his chair and put a pencil to his lips. He smiled.

"You have been a burr in my saddle from day one. And now you have the audacity to ask for mercy?"

"I'm sorry, sir. I was wrong. I'm pa.s.sionate about this, and I want people to consider what I believe.

But I didn't do it the right way. Forgive me."

Mr. Syncrete looked at the clock.

"It would not be fair to allow you extra time. After all, you walked out."

"Then just count the multiple choice," Judd said.

The bell rang. Others filed past and added their tests to the stack.

Mr. Syncrete scratched his head, pursed his lips, and nodded.

Vicki waited for Janie outside the princ.i.p.al's office after school. Mrs. Waltonen nodded as she pa.s.sed then returned a few minutes later.

"She should be out in a couple of minutes," Mrs. Waltonen said.

"Thanks. They've been in there a long time."

"They found something in her locker. You probably should prepare for the worst."

Vicki hung her head. Months of trying to be Janie's friend, talking, pleading, and accepting her hadn't changed her a bit. Vicki was surprised to see Mrs. Waltonen still standing there.

"I want to say," the woman began haltingly, "that-well, I appreciate what you've tried to do for that girl."

Before Vicki could thank her, Mrs. Waltonen slipped away as Judd approached.

"Finish your last final?" Vicki said. Judd nodded. Mr. Kurtz stepped out and waved Judd inside.

"He doesn't look happy," Vicki said.

"This is it," Judd said.

A few moments later Bruce came into the office. Vicki felt strange to greet him there. She told him what had happened in the hall.

"This has been brewing for some time," Bruce said.

"We've disciplined her and done everything humanly possible. Now there have to be consequences."

"I'll wait for you," she said.

"Why would my daughter wait out here?" he said, motioning her in with him.

Mrs. Jenness told them in front of Janie that the girl had hidden drugs in her locker. Janie would be sent back to the care of theNorthsideDetentionCenter.

"They'll send me downstate," Janie said.

"Please, I won't do it again."

"Can we have a moment?" Bruce said.

Mrs. Jenness stepped out. Bruce looked straight at Janie.

"I've tried to help you. I've given you a home. Vicki and Chaya love you more than I could ever have imagined."

"I'll change," Janie said.

"I mean it this time."

"I hope you will, Janie," Bruce said.

"I pray every day that you will turn to Christ. We've done all we can for you. It's hard to let you go, knowing how you'll be treated" Bruce's lip quivered.

"The truth will set you free. But you have to accept the truth for yourself."

Janie sobbed as she was taken away. Bruce and Vicki watched the van drive away.

Judd met them outside.

"One of the hardest things you'll ever have to do," Bruce said, "is to let go of someone you care deeply about."

Vicki asked Judd what Mr. Kurtz said. "Good news and bad news," Judd said.

"I didn't make valedictorian; I came in second. But I get to speak at graduation as salutatorian. "

Judd's first draft of his speech was thirteen pages long.

Single-s.p.a.ced. He would have to cut more than half of it. He had only seven minutes to speak.

The valedictorian, Mariorie Amherst, wasn't a believer. Her parents sponsored a Global Community organization. Mark called them "Nicolae nuts." They had written and called Global Community headquarters for months. The rumor on campus was that Leon Fortunato, aide to Nicolae Carpathia himself, might actually attend the ceremony.

Judd was so engrossed in his speech that he had little time to think about his money problems. Everyone had pitched in, but two or three more mortgage payments, and they were sunk.

Lionel and Ryan popped in with suggestions for his speech.

"I can't wait to see you up there givin' it to 'em!" Ryan said.

"Sorry, pal," Judd said.

"I get only two tickets, and I've already asked Bruce and Vicki."

"Every time--," Ryan said.

"Can't we just stand in the back?" Lionel said.

"It's nothing personal," Judd said.

"Maybe you can see it on TV, especially if this Fortunato guy shows up."

Judd cut his speech to five pages. Still too long. Mrs. Jenness looked at the content, too. The next day Judd was called into her office.

"Limit your remarks to the school and what you've learned here," Mrs. Jenness said.

"Cut the religious content."

"What do you consider 'religious "Mentions of G.o.d. About the disappearances being a 'wake-up call."

Don't offend any special guests. "

Vicki asked to meet with Mrs. Waltonen during gym cla.s.s.

Mrs. Waltonen let the student teacher take over and showed Vicki to her office.

"About what happened," Vicki said.

"I want you to know I don't hold anything against you."

"We came down hard on you," Mrs. Waltonen said. "I thought you deserved it at the time. You've healed from your wounds?"

"The st.i.tches came out, but the detention center stays with me. At night I wake up sometimes. And I think about Janie a lot."

"Any word from her?"

"They took her downstate. I've written, but she hasn't written back."

Mrs. Waltonen lifted a snapshot from her desk.

"My granddaughter," she said.

"Gone."

"I'm sorry."

"I've been thinking a lot about what you said to me last year. Coach Handlesman told me the same thing. My family members are in heaven. I wasn't ready to hear it."

"I would have thought it would make you feel better."

"I was angry. I'm not sure with whom. I looked at Christians as the enemy. You were telling me something I couldn't stand, something I didn't want to hear."

Vicki wanted to quote Mrs. Waltonen a million verses, but she held back.

"How about now?" Vicki said.

"Well," Mrs. Waltonen said, "I've slipped into your church a few times."

"You're kidding!" Vicki said.

"I saw the tape your former pastor made. I've got it all down."

"So now what?"

"I want to believe like you so I can see my family again.

But it's all too fantastic, too hard to believe. "

"Harder than to believe your family was taken right out of their clothes?"

Mrs. Waltonen leaned back, and her chair squeaked.

Security was tight at the graduation ceremony. From behind the curtain, Judd watched Global Community guards herd everyone through metal detectors. Some parents forgot their tickets and still expected to get in. They were turned away, furious.

Someone tapped on Judd's shoulder. He was surprised to see Coach Handlesman. "Hey," Judd said, "what are you doing here?"

"I'm out on good behavior," he said, chuckling.

"I couldn't miss such an important night for you. I'm really proud.

Can't wait to hear what you're going to say. "

Judd shook his head.

"Mrs. Jenness hacked everything important out of my speech. I wanted to really say something."

"You'll sure have an audience," Mr.

Handlesman said.

"Those are network news cameras. I hear that CNN is airing the Global Community guy live."

"I'm on just before him," Judd said.

"I might just say what I want."

"Whatever you do," Mr. Handlesman said, "know that we're behind you."

Mrs. Jenness came through the curtains and clapped. The honored graduates came to attention.

Mr. Handlesman was gone.

Vicki and Bruce sat near the front. Camera crews partially blocked their view. Mary Lee Manwether, brown hair perfectly in place, jotted notes and spoke with her producer.

"If they stick with the time on the program," the producer said, "you'll have about a minute to fill before Fortunate speaks."

Mary Lee didn't look up.

As the strains of "Pomp and Circ.u.mstance" filled the room, Judd and Marjorie followed Mrs. Jenness and the faculty advisors onstage.