Page 5

Stunned by her vehement rejection, he runs home. In bed later that night, he can't stop thinking about her. After a while, his gloom is pierced by a faint ray of hope. Her rejection was not unconditional - she implied that she may be willing to accept him if he found "some guts". He will have to find the guts to stand up to the bullies, but to do so successfully, he will first have to find the physical strength. Accordingly, the next day he goes into the gym and asks to be allowed to lift weights. From then on, every Thursday evening he works out, gradually increasing the weight he can lift.

Meanwhile he hears talk of several more murders and attempted murders in the neighbourhood and he becomes apprehensive that he might become one of the victims.

One day the school goes on a field trip: an ice-skating party on a frozen river. The gym teacher warns the kids about a hole in the ice, and Conny asks Oskar whether he wants to go for a swim. Fearing that Conny may try to push him into the hole, Oskar hunts around the vicinity of the river until he finds a suitable weapon: a yard-long metal rod. Sure enough, the three bullies approach him and threaten to push him into the hole. Hoping to deter an attack instead of having to fight, Oskar brandishes his rod.

"What's that stick for?" Conny demands to know.

"To hit you with if you try anything!"

Conny decides to call Oskar's bluff. "So, the little piggy turned brave all of a sudden! I'm going to skate over to you and push you into the hole and you aren't going to do anything about it. Am I right?" With that, Conny skates over to Oskar, coming within reach of the rod.

If you want Oskar to hit Conny with the rod, turn to page 14.

If you want Oskar to flee from Conny, turn to page 6.