The Cosmos, The Arrivals, Book 1, Chapter 16, Section 7, Beka & Elle are the last Cosmos to Arrive: Beka & Elle Beka Newbies Arrive & Titter Robyn’s Cam, (Day 10) Beka & Elle: Newbie Elle: Spends a Scary Night in the Doghouse Elle does not expect to spend the night in the Doghouse. She has certainly not done anything to demand this level of sacrifice, and some Gamers object to this hazing. Some argue the Doghouse should be a place reserved for Pledge who have arrived late, failed to ring the Bell, or some other act worthy of atonement. And it is not fair to demand that a newbie free spirit be disciplined for the oversights of her Roommate. But fair or not, Elle understands. {Beka is the one being disciplined, and I’m just the vessel. So I must submit to this ordeal. I can crawl out, but if I do I will have failed. And abandoned Beka.} Elle has enough space to lie down, sl eep on her side even, and almost crawl, but she must squirm around on her belly. She can just barely roll over onto her back. The dirt floor is hollowed down under the Back Landing, some of it muddy, and it smells of animals and piss inside. Elle worries about her allergies and regrets checking “none” on the Application. And so as the evening progresses to night Elle becomes more afraid as the darkness outside renders the darker inside even darker. Soon Elle discovers she can no longer see her own hands and body, nor the dirt floor, ceiling, and four walls of the Doghouse. She resists the urge to scream and allows her intellect to prevail. {I can do this,} Elle resigns herself with determination. {I don’t need to panic. This is all very under control. I am spending the night here. It’s warm enough. The dirt and mud on my face and bare belly and legs… well, I’m going to get dirty for a little while. It’s cramped, it’s scrat chy, but since it’s all part of the Game, it’s fine.}