Behind the Gates Read Online Free

girls carry us along. We huddle together outside the bus, awaiting further instructions.
    There’s a big lake about fifty yards to the right of the school. It extends behind the building, so I can’t actually tell how big it is. Off in the distance, on the other side of the water, an equally majestic building is bathed in a soft pinkish-amber glow.
    Mrs. Brewster stands in front of the group and claps her hands for attention. “I am Mrs. Brewster, headmistress here at Country Manor School.” She gestures toward another woman in shorts and a white T-shirt. Shereminds me of a gym teacher we had last year. “This is Devi, assistant headmistress.”
    Devi nods her head curtly without smiling.
    Evelyn, a few feet away from Maddie and me, throws up her hand and starts speaking at the same time. “When do we get our phones back?”
    “You don’t.” Mrs. Brewster’s voice is clipped.
    A wave of outraged whispers spreads through the crowd of girls.
    “You wouldn’t be able to use them here, anyway,” Mrs. Brewster insists. “There’s not a radio tower for miles. Absolutely no reception. There’s not even a TV at the school.”
    “All my phone numbers and addresses are stored in my phone,” the girl who claimed to have been in a coma says. “I need to have it back so I can write letters.”
    Mrs. Brewster shakes her head. “There is no mail service in or out of Country Manor.”
    Now the swelling wave of grumbling protest is even louder. Mrs. Brewster claps again, sharply, and everyone quiets. “Must I remind you girls that the United States isat war? Your parents have paid their hard-earned money to send you to a safe place, away from the threats of the Alliance. Country Manor School has given your families our pledge to provide you with the finest education while ensuring your safety at all costs.”
    “That again. Our safety,” Evelyn scoffs to the girl beside her, but loud enough that most of us hear. “Everything is for
our safety.”
    “That’s right, young lady, it is,” Devi says.
    “Your cell phones are of no use to you and may still be trackable by Alliance surveillance. For that reason they are being held in a different facility,” Mrs. Brewster explains.
    Evelyn turns to me. “If there’s no radio tower, how could they pick up a signal?”
    Mrs. Brewster’s eyes dart toward her, disapproving. I stare straight ahead. It’s clear to me that in less than ten minutes Evelyn Posner has managed to put herself on Mrs. Brewster’s troublemaker list, and I don’t want my name added just because we’re standing near each other.
    “Silence, everyone,” Mrs. Brewster’s voice booms.“We have a lot to go over today, but first, please hand all your electronic devices to Emmanuelle.”
    Confused, we all turn and see a young Indian woman with black, chin-length hair coming toward us, carrying a big box. She looks a lot like Devi, and she’s also dressed the same as the others, in khaki shorts and a cotton camp shirt. The only distinctive item she wears is a red silk neck scarf with an orange paisley design swirling through it.
    “That means everything,” shouts Mrs. Brewster. “Notepads, cameras, computers, music players. If we find that you’ve held back anything, your punishment will be severe.”
    “What are they going to do, throw us in jail?” Evelyn scoffs, but more quietly. No one responds. We’re all taking this very seriously. Something in Mrs. Brewster’s manner tells us that she is not a woman to be messed with. I don’t understand why Evelyn doesn’t realize this.
    Reluctantly, we all line up to drop what we have into the box Emmanuelle holds. “I haven’t finished the book I was reading,” Maddie complains when she reaches the front of the line. She clutches her reader.
    “You can finish it some other time,” Emmanuelle says.
    “Does that mean we get our things back tomorrow?” Maddie asks.
    “I did not say that,” Emmanuelle replies. “In the box, please.”
    Evelyn