Poison Apples, Poison Worms
- During Jillson's lecture on the national economy that afternoon, the kids hear another phrase they recognize from the messages they heard through Mr. Benedict's special decoder: "Poison apples, poison worms" (16.3).
- So the classes are connected to the hidden messages, but they still don't understand what it's all about.
- When all of the kids notice that they've suddenly become uncomfortable and irritable for no apparent reason, they realize that Mr. Curtain must be boosting the power on his signal.
- Most disturbing is that while the others simply feel agitated, Constance can actually hear the messages being broadcast, and right now, it's Martina Crowe's voice doing the broadcasting.
- They let Mr. B and the others know that "the smallest one" is hearing voices and receive a message back telling them "to get what must be got / You must become what you are not" (16.47).
- They're stumped.