“Now, may I have that card?” Aguin meant the blue card crumpled in Lasha’s grip.
Lasha looked at the card in his hand. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to!” he said as he handed it to Aguin.
“It’s all right,” Aguin assured him. “The other contestants tore their cards to shreds because they didn’t like the questions.”
No one laughed.
Aguin understood the silence, then broke it with a laugh. “Oho. Come on! I was just kidding!”
Laughter began to spread.
Lasha still felt guilty as he stared at his blue card.
“The question is... Who is Frederick Earby?”
“Frederick Barbie?”
Laughter erupted again. Lasha joined in.
“Seriously, Lasha. The viewers at home must be dying to pinch you right now. Listen to me!” Aguin suddenly turned serious.
Lasha swallowed. He was worried.
“Frederick Earby.”
“That’s an artist’s name, right?”
“Yes! Yes! He was an artist!” Aguin looked excited.
Clara was watching the boy too, unaware that a camera was focused on her.
“But I’m not sure what he made.”
The tension eased a little. Smiles appeared all around them.
“It’s okay, just answer! If anyone laughs at you now, I’ll deduct their points. Minus thirty before they even earn their first point.”
Lasha answered, “Maybe... a painter?”
“Hmm... so that’s your answer. But unfortunately, it’s not quite right.”
Lasha understood. He wasn’t sad even though he didn’t receive any points.
“Frederick Earby was a sculptor. One of his works, standing three meters tall, is in front of Darley Station, where we departed from earlier.”
Lasha nodded repeatedly. The other passengers seemed to be learning this for the first time too.
“So he made a lion cub statue?” Lasha asked.
“Wow! If the cub is that tall, I wonder how big its parents are!”
Lasha and the others laughed.
“But the lion looks cute, and...”
“Still small?”
Lasha chuckled.
“Next... Clara.”
Clara flinched. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a cameraman approaching. Her hands instantly turned cold. As for her face, she was sure it had already turned as red as the tomatoes she grew in the backyard. But she was determined. If Lasha could handle it so smoothly, then she could too.
“My name is Clara, from Beechwood Village. I’m nineteen years old. I like...” She had completely forgotten to prepare for this introduction. She wanted nothing more than to run away from the situation. But no matter what, she had to continue. The only thing that came to mind was, “Tomatoes.”
No one laughed, because Clara’s face was completely serious when she said it.
“Tomatoes?” Aguin repeated, puzzled but intrigued.
I’m dead, Clara thought. She hadn’t known she could look this stupid when all eyes were on her, so she let out a light laugh. “I’m kidding.”
Laughter came from all around her, including Aguin. It gave Clara a little time to breathe and gather her thoughts.
“I work as a tomato, chili pepper, and strawberry farmer. During harvest season, I sell them at the market. That’s all I can say about myself.”
Dianne clapped. “That’s an amazing job!”
Clara smiled at her.
Duncan gave a tight-lipped smile. Meanwhile, Feronica continued playing with the card in her hand, her expression still indifferent.
“That’s right. None of our food would be possible without the farmers. Clara’s card...”
Clara handed her card to Aguin.
Aguin flinched, but smiled as he read the writing on the card. “This one’s a little difficult. But I hope you can answer it.”
Clara watched closely.
“What do you know about the Song of Shisme Rayr Frye?”
Clara sighed, then answered, “It’s an ancient magic song that put the entire city of Clauds to sleep. It was King Levin’s strategy for taking over the Rocksville Kingdom. His army killed and captured some of the residents.”