With only a few hours remaining before the fourth and final blood moon of the lunar tetrad, Brother Joel and his eleven apostles completed their day of fasting and seclusion and summoned Beck to the Council Room. She entered humbly, leaving her sandals at the door. Her grey-streaked hair was collected in a single braid …
In the hour before the first bell, Miss Callan sat in the teacher’s lounge of Charles Wallace Elementary, sorting self-portraits from her kindergarten class. She carefully examined each drawing, counting fingers on hands, noting details of facial features and clothing. These, she knew, told the story of each child’s developing view of him- or …