Adam remained silent. After a moment, Eve and Mary lost interest in the question and started skipping a length of rope.
Joseph persisted. "How? I pulled, too!"
Adam didn't answer. He knew the bigger boy would forget about it if he changed the subject. "How is it you're not with Mecteacher?"
"We were. But he made us look for you."
The closest wall panel lit bright red. It was Mecteacher. "Adam! How did you open that?"
"I turned it—a certain way," he said evasively. Adam didn't want his cousins to learn how.
"But how did you know?"
"I—I reasoned it."
The image faded as the new information was assimilated. Mecteacher's voice said, "Wait a while, Adam."