Legend (Legend #1)
Chapter 14: Part One: June 7
by Marie, Lu,The chapter opens with the protagonist, June, waking up disoriented in an abandoned building by the ocean, recalling she was stabbed during a Skiz fight. She notices Tess, who bandaged her wound, and the boy who saved her, observing him from a distance. The boy mentions their lack of food due to losing the Skiz bet, subtly blaming June. She compares his voice to Day’s, a figure of interest, but remains uncertain. Despite her injury, June insists on going to the water’s edge alone, where she reflects on her brother Metias, pushing the memory aside to focus on her mission.
June activates her communication device and contacts Thomas, her handler, who expresses frustration over her prolonged silence. She downplays her knife wound and mentions the boy and Tess, hinting at their potential connection to Day. Thomas warns her to maintain contact, threatening to send soldiers if she goes offline again. June feels irritated by his lack of trust and Commander Jameson’s disinterest in her mission. She resolves to observe the boy more closely, suspecting he might hold valuable information.
As June follows the boy through the Alta sector, she meticulously notes his physical traits and behaviors. She observes his slight limp, a possible arm injury, and his asymmetrical eyes, speculating about their origins. His familiarity with the area and dexterity suggest a seasoned survivor. June’s attention to detail underscores her training and determination to uncover his identity, even as she grapples with her own pain and the emotional weight of her past.
The chapter highlights June’s resilience and strategic mindset as she balances her physical recovery with her mission. Her interactions with Tess and the boy reveal a cautious alliance, while her communication with Thomas reflects the tension between duty and autonomy. The boy’s mysterious demeanor and skills keep June—and the reader—questioning his true identity and connection to Day, setting the stage for further investigation and conflict.
FAQs
1. What physical and situational details suggest that the narrator (June) is disoriented when she first wakes up?
Answer:
June experiences several disorienting factors upon waking: the bright light making her squint without knowing its source, confusion about sleeping in an abandoned oceanfront building with sea daisies, and a sharp stomach pain that initially panics her until she recalls the Skiz fight and stabbing. Her delayed recognition of the boy who saved her—sitting conspicuously on the balcony—further underscores her disorientation. These details collectively paint a picture of someone grappling with both physical trauma and situational unfamiliarity, compounded by the aftermath of a violent encounter.2. Analyze the dynamics between June and the boy who saved her. What clues suggest tension or mutual suspicion?
Answer:
The interaction is marked by wariness and unspoken tension. The boy blames June for his Skiz bet loss, noting they have no money for food, which June internalizes without protest. She studies him covertly, comparing his voice to Day’s and noting his physical injuries, while he watches her knowingly, as if aware of her scrutiny. Their dialogue is terse, and June’s embarrassment over missing his presence earlier hints at her usual vigilance, now compromised. These subtle exchanges reveal mutual suspicion, with June assessing him as a potential lead and the boy possibly questioning her motives.3. How does June’s communication with Thomas reveal her conflicting priorities and the pressures of her mission?
Answer:
June downplays her knife wound to Thomas, calling it “minor” despite its severity, to avoid being recalled—a sign she prioritizes the mission over her safety. Thomas’s frustration over her disabled microphone and threat to send troops highlights institutional pressure, while Commander Jameson’s indifference underscores June’s need to prove herself. June’s strategic vagueness about the boy (not confirming he’s Day) reflects her balancing act: maintaining autonomy while avoiding reckless actions that could jeopardize her mission or the siblings’ trust.4. What observational skills does June demonstrate while tracking the boy’s movements, and what might these details imply about his identity?
Answer:
June notes meticulous details: his left-leg limp, arm pain from an upper wound, asymmetrical eye color, and street familiarity. These observations reveal her training in profiling. The injuries suggest a history of conflict or agility-based activities (like Day’s crimes), while his navigational ease hints at extensive urban experience. His nimble fingers and building-memorizing gaze align with skills needed for sabotage or evasion. Collectively, these traits subtly parallel Day’s known characteristics, though June remains cautious, recognizing they could apply to others in their dystopian world.5. Evaluate how June’s internal reflections about Metias and Tess reveal her emotional state and coping mechanisms.
Answer:
June’s fleeting comparison of Tess to Metias—who nursed her during his induction—shows grief lingering beneath her focus. She actively suppresses memories of him, signaling emotional avoidance as a coping mechanism. Her gratitude toward Tess for bandaging her wound is tempered by wariness, reflecting her struggle to trust amid loss. This duality illustrates June’s compartmentalization: using mission-focused detachment to shield herself from vulnerability, even as glimpses of connection (like Tess’s care) threaten to unravel her controlled exterior.
Quotes
1. “I WAKE UP AT DAWN. THE LIGHT MAKES ME SQUINT (where is it coming from—behind me?), and for an instant I’m disoriented, unsure of why I’m sleeping in an abandoned building facing the ocean with sea daisies growing at my feet.”
This opening line captures the protagonist’s disorientation and vulnerability after being injured in a Skiz fight. It sets the tone for the chapter’s themes of survival and uncertainty in a dystopian setting.
2. “He blames me for his loss. I just nod. I recall the sound of Day’s crackly voice from the speakers and compare it quietly to this boy’s.”
This moment reveals the protagonist’s suspicion and analytical nature as she assesses whether her mysterious rescuer might be Day, the wanted criminal. It shows her careful observation skills and the tension of her undercover mission.
3. “Tess reminds me of Metias, of how he’d nursed me back to health on the day of his induction. But I can’t handle memories of Metias right now.”
This brief but poignant reflection reveals the protagonist’s emotional vulnerability and hints at a painful backstory involving loss, adding depth to her otherwise tough exterior.
4. “His face is perfectly symmetrical, a mix of Anglo and Asian, beautiful behind the dirt and smudges. His right eye is slightly paler than his left.”
This detailed observation showcases the protagonist’s sharp perception skills and introduces intriguing physical characteristics about the mysterious boy, building suspense about his identity.
5. “I observe my rescuer all day as I follow him around the Alta sector of Los Angeles. I take note of everything, no matter how small the detail.”
This statement encapsulates the protagonist’s methodical approach to her mission, demonstrating her training and the careful scrutiny she applies to potential leads about Day’s whereabouts.