Clarion

Chapter Eighteen

PAUL CROUCHED AT THE EDGE OF THE ROOF. AFTER

an aborted rush at the building's arched entrance, the boys had spread out and taken cover behind clumps of vegetation and crumbled domed structures. Several lay sprawled on the ground. As far as Paul could see, all of them wore the gold-andscarlet uniforms. The deacons had apparently decided not to put themselves in the front line of attack.

"We used a grenade," Frakes said. "It knocked

'em out cold."

Farther out on the roadway, the crowd from the temple had grown to at least two thousand people. They milled about uneasily, as if they were trying to find a purpose. Paul could see many faces turned up toward the broken spire. Uniformed boys mingled with them. From what Paul could see, the boys weren't using force, although he was sure they were armed. They had probably gone out there to keep the crowd from boiling over.

"Is Dorland making any progress?" Karyn asked.

"A little," Paul replied. "Elli understands why we 190 William Greenleaf