Disclaimer: Same as before

Carl stared at the bus seat in front of him. He wondered if the intricate designs of the seat back were code, needing some serious cryptography. Maybe some boy just like him had scratched out some sort of "I need Help" message. There was nothing to see out the window except for sand.

The guard sitting across from him had a gun. Maybe if Carl made a run for it, he would be shot and put out of his misery. Not a bad idea, really. Then there would be no more hate mail or phone calls from his mom. No more depressed life.

But then again, that is exactly something that Mrs. Winter would want him to do. So that was out.

Carl was beginning to get a headache from staring at the lines. Now he had nothing to stare at, except the guard, which he knew would be a bad idea. People don't like it when you stare at them too long.

"Wake up, Boy!" The guard was shaking him awake. "Time to go, now!"

Carl wondered how long he slept, but didn't dare ask the guard.

Carl took a good first look at his new home for eighteen months: Camp Green Lake.