Chapter 5
Taylor finished her speech with a triumphant smile. The smile that is seen on the face of any Controller when the Yeerk is certain that a promotion is imminent, especially a Yeerk as power-hungry as Taylor or Visser 3.
"What will our assignments be?" one woman shouted.
Taylor answered smoothly, similarly to the way a politician might sound when giving a campaign speech. "Most of you will not have assignments while construction is going on. For those of you who will, they will be given to you after the meeting. Those with hosts who will be attending the new school, you will help to oversee infestation when the time comes. The rest of you have no assignments at present, but if you are needed, you will be notified of your job."
"How do you plan on carrying out such a wide-scale infestation?" another person called. "I mean, something like this has never been attempted before. Are you sure it can be done?"
At this she frowned slightly, but it was gone again as quickly as a cloud that momentarily hides the sun on a very windy day. "You just leave that to us. You'll find out what's necessary as needed. And I think that pretty much covers it, if there are any further questions you can see me or Chapman after the meeting. Other than that, you will be notified of updates when necessary."
Unlike when most people give speeches, Taylor did not give the customary, "Have a great day" or "Thank you for coming" at the end of her speech. She merely turned from the mic and stepped down from the podium. The people in the audience got up and went their separate ways. The Hork-Bajir who had been guarding the entrances gathered their weapons and, using the pool entrance that was located in the cafeteria, went back down into the Yeerk Pool.
I stood up and began winding my way slowly through the crowd of people, all of whom were trying to get to the exit.
This is not good, I told Illarim.
No, he agreed. This is definitely not good. They could get thousands of new hosts in a matter of weeks.
And that will only make them more daring, I added grimly. Once Visser 3 thinks something like this can be done so easily, who knows what they'll try next?!
We managed to get out the door and into the fresh air. Illarim had me fill my lungs with the cool air and look around a bit. Mr. Tidwell was leaning up against the wall of the school building, apparently waiting for someone. He noticed me and immediately walked over.
"Hi Mr. Tidwell," I said. "I promise I'll have my history report done by Monday. I have all weekend to work on it, and I won-"
"This isn't about your history report, Katie," He said, sounding slightly agitated. "This new school project is big. We need everyone we can get to help us, and you know the Animorphs personally. We're going to need both your help and theirs. Contact them as soon as you can, all right?"
"Wait, does this mean I'm in the Peace Movement?" I asked, excitement and apprehension both present in my voice.
"Yes. Katie, Illarim, you are both 'in'. And will you contact the Animorphs?"
"Yeah," Illarim had me answer. "I can go by Rachel's house on my way home. She lives fairly close to me. I can tell her that we need to have a meeting tonight."
Mr. Tidwell smiled. "Thanks, that'll be great. I will see you on Monday, and I will be expecting that report. Bye."
"Bye," I answered as I started towards Rachel's house.
Don't you remember that Rachel hates us? I demanded of Illarim sharply. Or, more precisely, me for becoming a Controller, and you merely for being what you are?
Yes, but do you want to miss dinner? The only other people we contact would be Jake or Cassie or Marco, all of whom live way out of our way, he answered. It's 5:30 now, and you eat dinner at 6:00. It wouldn't be polite to arrive exactly at 6:00 when they're all sitting down to dinner, you know.
I sighed mentally. All right, all right. But let's get it over with quickly.
As you wish.
Taylor finished her speech with a triumphant smile. The smile that is seen on the face of any Controller when the Yeerk is certain that a promotion is imminent, especially a Yeerk as power-hungry as Taylor or Visser 3.
"What will our assignments be?" one woman shouted.
Taylor answered smoothly, similarly to the way a politician might sound when giving a campaign speech. "Most of you will not have assignments while construction is going on. For those of you who will, they will be given to you after the meeting. Those with hosts who will be attending the new school, you will help to oversee infestation when the time comes. The rest of you have no assignments at present, but if you are needed, you will be notified of your job."
"How do you plan on carrying out such a wide-scale infestation?" another person called. "I mean, something like this has never been attempted before. Are you sure it can be done?"
At this she frowned slightly, but it was gone again as quickly as a cloud that momentarily hides the sun on a very windy day. "You just leave that to us. You'll find out what's necessary as needed. And I think that pretty much covers it, if there are any further questions you can see me or Chapman after the meeting. Other than that, you will be notified of updates when necessary."
Unlike when most people give speeches, Taylor did not give the customary, "Have a great day" or "Thank you for coming" at the end of her speech. She merely turned from the mic and stepped down from the podium. The people in the audience got up and went their separate ways. The Hork-Bajir who had been guarding the entrances gathered their weapons and, using the pool entrance that was located in the cafeteria, went back down into the Yeerk Pool.
I stood up and began winding my way slowly through the crowd of people, all of whom were trying to get to the exit.
This is not good, I told Illarim.
No, he agreed. This is definitely not good. They could get thousands of new hosts in a matter of weeks.
And that will only make them more daring, I added grimly. Once Visser 3 thinks something like this can be done so easily, who knows what they'll try next?!
We managed to get out the door and into the fresh air. Illarim had me fill my lungs with the cool air and look around a bit. Mr. Tidwell was leaning up against the wall of the school building, apparently waiting for someone. He noticed me and immediately walked over.
"Hi Mr. Tidwell," I said. "I promise I'll have my history report done by Monday. I have all weekend to work on it, and I won-"
"This isn't about your history report, Katie," He said, sounding slightly agitated. "This new school project is big. We need everyone we can get to help us, and you know the Animorphs personally. We're going to need both your help and theirs. Contact them as soon as you can, all right?"
"Wait, does this mean I'm in the Peace Movement?" I asked, excitement and apprehension both present in my voice.
"Yes. Katie, Illarim, you are both 'in'. And will you contact the Animorphs?"
"Yeah," Illarim had me answer. "I can go by Rachel's house on my way home. She lives fairly close to me. I can tell her that we need to have a meeting tonight."
Mr. Tidwell smiled. "Thanks, that'll be great. I will see you on Monday, and I will be expecting that report. Bye."
"Bye," I answered as I started towards Rachel's house.
Don't you remember that Rachel hates us? I demanded of Illarim sharply. Or, more precisely, me for becoming a Controller, and you merely for being what you are?
Yes, but do you want to miss dinner? The only other people we contact would be Jake or Cassie or Marco, all of whom live way out of our way, he answered. It's 5:30 now, and you eat dinner at 6:00. It wouldn't be polite to arrive exactly at 6:00 when they're all sitting down to dinner, you know.
I sighed mentally. All right, all right. But let's get it over with quickly.
As you wish.