I was sitting on my sleeper in my sleeping cubicle at the Training Center, waiting to be called. I imagined the sun setting behind the huge dome of the Admin Center. I was trembling with excitement that at last, at last, I would be able to see what it looked like outside the City.
The single trumpet call finally shrilled through the night air and called the four of us to the entrance hall of the Training Center.
I wanted to run, but I didn’t.
I met the other three on the stairs.
We all walked in a dignified manner towards the entrance hall. Zufar and Zandra were waiting for us. They were going to accompany us to the Amphitheater. Both of them carried a flare, which sputtered dark and light patterns on the cobblestones as we followed behind them — all four of us in row. By that time, I could hardly contain myself any longer, but no one, looking at me, would have known. We were good at hiding our feelings.
No one was allowed out of his or her quarters that night. The City was blanketed in darkness. All the lights in the City, as well as the screens in the Living Quarters, were shut down.
When we reached the Amphitheater, four bright spotlights threw concentric circles of light on the vehicle, which was going to take us out of the City. It looked like a giant, shimmering, silver box.
