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“Eff,” Zero whispered. “Eff – at. Fat.”
“How about h – a – t?” asked the Warden.
Stanley hadn’t taught him the “h” sound either.
Zero concentrated hard, then said, “Chat.”
All the counselors laughed.
“He’s a genius, all right!” said Mr. Pendanski. “He’s so stupid, he doesn’t even know he’s stupid.”
Stanley didn’t know why Mr. Pendanski seemed to have it in for Zero. If Mr. Pendanski only thought about it, he’d realize it was very logical for Zero to think that the letter “h” made the “ch” sound.
“Okay, from now on, I don’t want anyone digging anyone else’s hole,” said the Warden. “And no more reading lessons.”
“I’m not digging another hole,” said Zero.
“Good,” said the Warden. She turned to Stanley. “You know why you’re digging holes? Because it’s good for you. It teaches you a lesson. If Zero digs your hole for you, then you’re not learning your lesson, are you?”
“I guess not,” Stanley mumbled, although he knew they weren’t digging just to learn a lesson. She was looking for something, something that belonged to Kissin’ Kate Barlow.
“Why can’t I dig my own hole, but still teach Zero to read?” he asked. “What’s wrong with that?”
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong with that,” the Warden said. “It leads to trouble. Zero almost killed Zigzag.”
“It causes him stress,” said Mr. Pendanski. “I know you mean well, Stanley, but face it. Zero’s too stupid to learn to read. That’s what makes his blood boil. Not the hot sun.”
“I’m not digging another hole,” said Zero.
Mr. Pendanski handed him the shovel. “Here, take it, Zero. It’s all you’ll ever be good for.”
Zero took the shovel.
Then he swung it like a baseball bat.
The metal blade smashed across Mr. Pendanski’s face. His knees crumpled beneath him. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.
The counselors all drew their guns.
Zero held the shovel out in front of him, as if he were going to try to bat away the bullets. “I hate digging holes,” he said. Then he slowly backed away.
“Don’t shoot him,” said the Warden. “He can’t go anywhere. The last thing we need is an investigation.”
Zero kept backing up, out past the cluster of holes the boys had been digging, then farther and farther out onto the lake.
“He’s going to have to come back for water,” the Warden said.
Stanley noticed Zero’s canteen lying on the ground near his hole.
A couple of the counselors helped Mr. Pendanski to his feet and into the truck.
Stanley looked out toward Zero, but he had disappeared into the haze.
The Warden ordered the counselors to take turns guarding the shower room and Wreck Room, all day and all night. They were not to let Zero drink any water. When he returned, he was to be brought directly to her.
She examined her fingernails and said, “It’s almost time for me to paint my nails again.”
Before she left, she told the six remaining members of Group D that she still expected seven holes.
