The Whites of Their Eyes by Andrew Clements

Author:Andrew Clements
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Don’t hang out with Jill and me at schl.

Ur the keepers secret weapon.

Robert had replied instantly.

Got it—stealth bomber

Ben looked up as he went in the front door. On the door frame to the left, he saw one of Lyman’s little black sensors. The enemy was close. Lyman was already inside somewhere, actively opposing them.

Even so, Ben felt good as the three of them walked into the front hallway together. If they could keep Lyman in the dark about Robert, it would help level the playing field. Actually . . . it might be more like taking control of the high ground during a battle.

Ben and Jill turned left at the office. She had homeroom on the third floor, and he had to go up there and get something from his locker. Ben glanced over his shoulder and spotted Robert. He was walking the other direction, headed for the north stairwell. His homeroom was on the third floor too, but he was clearly trying to avoid being anywhere near them—probably afraid he might blow his cover. Ben smiled to himself. Seemed a little silly to take things that far. But then again, there was nothing silly at all about controlling the high ground. Because every day from now on was going to be a battle.

Controlling the high ground . . . it was a concept that he had learned during his very first snowball fight. Being up higher mattered.

There was heavy traffic in the south stairwell, and as he trudged slowly upward, Ben thought about that.

He had never really studied warfare, but he’d read about plenty of historical battles, both on land and at sea. Out at sea, there was no high ground. Sailing on the wide ocean, the old warships won battles by being larger, faster, and having bigger cannons. Even then, it was tough to get an advantage. Sometimes you could sneak up on an enemy ship at night or through a fog, but usually an opponent saw you coming from miles away. To win, you had to outsail the other captain, get into firing position, and shoot your cannons first—BOOM!

A land battle was very different, and controlling the high ground was vital. Gravity was a powerful force. From up above, your cannons could fire a lot farther than your enemy’s. But controlling the high ground didn’t guarantee a victory—you still had to be smarter or stronger or better prepared, and it helped to be all three.

Back in October he’d done a social studies report on the Battle of Bunker Hill. The story had made a strong impression on him.

In June of 1775, Boston was under siege. British ships controlled the harbor, pounding the city with their cannons. Then English generals ordered soldiers to land and take control of some high ground by the harbor—Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill.

But patriot spies heard about the attack, and the Americans rushed to the top of Breed’s Hill first. There were about seven hundred men with no training, lousy weapons, and not enough ammunition.

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