The Toll by Neal Shusterman

Author:Neal Shusterman
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2019-11-04T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

That afternoon, Tenkamenin took her off the compound to show her the city he was so proud off. Port Remembrance was bustling and full of life. But the High Blade did not want her to leave their car. “The Jubilee is one thing—it is a controlled environment—but out here, there’s no telling who might see you, and recognize you,” he said. But it turned out there was another reason he didn’t want her to leave their vehicle.

As they neared the center of town, they began to encounter Tonists. First just a few, but soon they started to gather on either side of the road, glaring at the High Blade’s car.

Anastasia had mixed feelings about Tonists. The less extreme ones were all right. Friendly, and often kind, if somewhat persistent in the pushing of their beliefs. Some, however, were insufferable. Judgmental, intolerant—the opposite of what Tonism claimed to be about—and Sibilants made other zealots seem tame. That was the brand of Tonism that had taken root in Tenkamenin’s region.

“Ever since the Toll was gleaned, these splinter groups have become more and more extreme,” Tenkamenin told her. As if to prove his point, when enough of them were gathered by the roadside, they began to throw stones.

Anastasia gasped when the first stone hit the car, but Tenkamenin was unperturbed. “Don’t worry—they can’t do any damage, and they know it. I’m sorry you have to see this.”

Another rock hit the windshield, split in two, and bounced off.

Then, all at once, the attackers stopped throwing stones and began to “intone,” emitting a droning, wordless wailing… yet somehow this was different from other Tonists she had heard.

Tenkamenin ordered the car to put on music, but even so, it didn’t entirely drown them out.

“This entire sect has taken a vow of silence,” Tenkamenin told her, not hiding his disgust. “No speaking, just this blasted ugly noise. The Thunderhead had always frowned on delinguination, but when the Thunderhead fell silent, these Tonists decided they could do as they pleased—which is why their howling sounds even worse than usual.”

“Delinguination?” asked Anastasia.

“I’m sorry,” said Tenkamenin. “I thought you understood. They’ve cut out their tongues.”

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