People and Places to Be Avoided
- At lunch the boys fill in Kate and Constance about Messengers and Martina—Kate wants to fix Martina right then and there, but Reynie tells her to let it go. For now.
- The boys go up to get their lunches, which are served to them by Helpers—the adult workers in white uniforms who never make eye contact or talk to the children. Reynie feels weird not saying thank you or anything, but he knows Mr. Curtain has strictly forbidden the Helpers from talking to the kids, and he doesn't want to put them in an awkward position.
- The kids wonder about the Helpers as they eat lunch, but don't know what to make of them.
- When classes end for the day, the kids go out onto the plaza. The rest of the students tend to spend the hour before supper in the gym or watching TV, so it's empty—except for Mr. Curtain, who spends a lot of time out there, sitting in his wheelchair, gazing at the bridge in the distance.
- Today he's sitting there going through newspapers and making notes in a large book on his lap.
- The kids burn their hour (more or less) staring at him and have to wait until after supper for their secret discussion.
- Before lights out lots of students hang out in the corridor (they aren't allowed into one another's rooms), so the MBS members do too, eavesdropping on other conversations in an attempt to get information.
- They don't get any from the students around them, but eventually Jackson comes to collect a Messenger named Corliss Danton who he takes to a place called the Waiting Room. This place clearly terrifies Corliss, who reluctantly goes with Jackson. As they leave, another girl in the corridor, who has apparently been to the Waiting Room herself, bursts into tears.
- Something tells the kids that the Waiting Room isn't a pleasant place.