Chapter9:AFeverSpinningOutoftrol—andanInterceptattheCram-SchoolBuilding
Sundaym,8:50a.m.—thecram-schoolstreetbyTaipeiMainStation.
Iwelve-storyercialbuilding,thelobbyackedwithhighschoolerswaitingtoridetheelevatoruptotheircsses.Theair-ditioningbstedcold,butCrafeltasifshewerestandinginsideafurnace.
ThetwoPanadolshe’dswallowedbeforeleavinghomeclearlyhadn’tkickedi—orrather,theycouldn’tholdbacktheviolent39°Cfeverragingthroughherbody.Withaheavybackpahershoulders,shejoiheliheelevatorthatwouldtakehertotheeighth-flooreseliteraturelecturehall.
Theedgesofhervisionhadalreadystartedtoblur.Thenoisychatterofstudents,thesoftraspofreferencebooksbeingflippedopenandshut—everythiedintoadistant,near-and-farbuzzingecho.Shegtowhatlittlereasonshehadleft,staringhardattheredfloornumbersblinkingabovetheelevatordoors,fherselftostandupright.
Justthen,aotionrosehelobbyentrance.
Afewgirlsiurheirheads,whispering.ButinCra’sfever-dulledmind,theoutsideworldhadalreadybeenmuted.Shehadonlyohoughtleft:
Getintotheelevatettoaseat.Ehreehoursofreview.Gohomeand“prove”she’dshownup.
Ding—
Theelevatordoorsslidopen.Thecrowdpressedforward.
Cradrewih,fightingahardwaveofdizziness,andstartedtostepinwiththeflow—
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