divergent-excerpt

Recommendations

Info

“So They already know I hate them.” “They do How” Christina fakes a smile at them and waves. I look down, my cheeks warm. I shouldn’t be gossiping anyway. Gossiping is self-indulgent. Will hooks a foot around one of Al’s legs and yanks back, knocking Al to the ground. Al scrambles to his feet. “Because I’ve told them,” she says, through the gritted teeth of her smile. Her teeth are straight on top and crooked on the bottom. She looks at me. “We try to be pretty honest about our feelings in Candor. Plenty of people have told me that they don’t like me. And plenty of people haven’t. Who cares” “We just . . . weren’t supposed to hurt people,” I say. “I like to think I’m helping them by hating them,” she says. “I’m reminding them that they aren’t God’s gift to humankind.” I laugh a little at that and focus on the arena again. Will and Al face each other for a few more seconds, more hesitant than they were before. Will flicks his pale hair from his eyes. They glance at Four like they’re waiting for him to call the fight off, but he stands with his arms folded, giving no response. A few feet away from him, Eric checks his watch. After a few seconds of circling, Eric shouts, “Do you 94
think this is a leisure activity Should we break for naptime Fight each other!” “But . . .” Al straightens, letting his hands down, and says, “is it scored or something When does the fight end” “It ends when one of you is unable to continue,” says Eric. “According to Dauntless rules,” Four says, “one of you could also concede.” Eric narrows his eyes at Four. “According to the old rules,” he says. “In the new rules, no one concedes.” “A brave man acknowledges the strength of others,” Four replies. “A brave man never surrenders.” Four and Eric stare at each other for a few seconds. I feel like I am looking at two different kinds of Dauntless— the honorable kind, and the ruthless kind. But even I know that in this room, it’s Eric, the youngest leader of the Dauntless, who has the authority. Beads of sweat dot Al’s forehead; he wipes them with the back of his hand. “This is ridiculous,” Al says, shaking his head. “What’s the point of beating him up We’re in the same faction!” “Oh, you think it’s going to be that easy” Will asks, grinning. “Go on. Try to hit me, slowpoke.” Will puts his hands up again. I see determination in 95
Page 1 and 2:
VERONICA ROTH
Page 3 and 4:
chapter one There is one mirror in
Page 5 and 6:
shoulders. But she must hide that b
Page 7 and 8:
glass and steel. In front of it is
Page 9 and 10:
I pause by a window in the E Wing a
Page 11 and 12:
we can’t prepare for the test in
Page 13 and 14:
Susan to the exit. The people I pas
Page 15 and 16:
an electrode to my other temple, an
Page 17 and 18:
of the dog’s foul breath and try
Page 19 and 20:
word “murderer.” It has been a
Page 21 and 22:
chapter three I wake to sweaty palm
Page 23 and 24:
or more of the factions, but in you
Page 25 and 26:
I mean you should never share them
Page 27 and 28:
subways, that I have to be careful
Page 29 and 30:
chapter four I reach my street five
Page 31 and 32:
way he does when he suspects someon
Page 33 and 34:
natural goodness, his inborn selfle
Page 35 and 36:
surprise me, but now they chide me.
Page 37 and 38:
child. The infant died minutes late
Page 39 and 40:
of books on his desk. He closes the
Page 41 and 42:
as I walk up the front steps. The e
Page 43 and 44:
Caleb on the shoulder, grinning.
Page 45 and 46: I have never liked Candor. “Those
Page 47 and 48: higher each moment, and the glass r
Page 49 and 50: I look at Caleb, who now stands beh
Page 51 and 52: Beside him, my mother is smiling. T
Page 53 and 54: sideways. I’m not as tall or as s
Page 55 and 56: What a good actor he was. The thoug
Page 57 and 58: On three we launch off the train ca
Page 59 and 60: dark skin and gray hair at his temp
Page 61 and 62: I hit something hard. It gives way
Page 63 and 64: chapter seven When all the initiate
Page 65 and 66: your mouth shut. Got that” She no
Page 67 and 68: strikes the wall beneath me and spr
Page 69 and 70: and drops into the seat next to Fou
Page 71 and 72: “You know. Like a bed of nails.
Page 73 and 74: “But we started with twelve,” p
Page 75 and 76: now. If you are really one of us, i
Page 77 and 78: the wall. No one has to know that I
Page 79 and 80: difficult, to drastically improve y
Page 81 and 82: hit the target at least once by now
Page 83 and 84: “Sorry, am I being rude” she as
Page 85 and 86: +++ After lunch, Four leads us to a
Page 87 and 88: of his palm even after he’s gone.
Page 89 and 90: know.” I close my eyes and hold s
Page 91 and 92: Christina dark and lean, Will pale
Page 93 and 94: chapter nine “Since there are an
Page 95: oth Peter and Molly, but he’s bui
Page 99: Four turns to the chalkboard and ci
show all

divergent-excerpt

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?