Page 40 of Homebound
“Idiot,” said Arlo.
They exchanged light banter while doing absolutely nothing productive. Sharing Uncle Drexel’s accident with Ruby and Arlo seemed to have affected their mood and made her partners introspective.
The entire cell block seemed introspective. Perhaps the general unrest of the City penetrated the thick concrete walls of the prison and affected the inmates. Everyone was on guard as if waiting for something to happen. Tension filled the air.
At lunch, Little Green Man received his ration and licked the gruel twice before dumping it on the floor. He proceeded to roll around in the gooey contents of his bowl with self-abasing pleasure, grunting and moaning, as Gemma and Ruby watched helplessly on.
“It will dry and we’ll never be able to clean this mess,” Ruby commented.
Gemma frowned, further dispirited by the sad spectacle.
“You know, he’s getting worse. He no longer behaves like a conscious being.”
Ruby scoffed, “He’s never been much of one.”
“To think of it, it’s been weeks since I heard him speak. He only grunts and screeches. Do we need to report him to the medical bay?”
“They aren’t going to treat him.”
“Why? Because he’s an alien?”
“Yep.”
“They’re nurses! They should treat every patient the same.”
“They won’t know how to help him, hon. They are human nurses.”
They moved past Little Green Man’s cell. Ruby wanted to sneak to the kitchens to see someone, and Gemma was okay with that. She had her little rendezvous with Simon to occupy her precious free minutes.
Arlo had already disappeared.
On her way to cell 35, Gemma passed the Obu alien, noting how restless he was.
“Hey, bear-man. Are you alright?” She stopped by.
In response, the Obu grunted, stomped his flat elephant feet, and stuck his arm out for Gemma to pet. She smiled as she rubbed the massive furry forearm.
“I know, the cells are so small. When is your time up? Soon? I hope so. Hang in there, big boy.”
The Obu whimpered with pleasure and his eyelids drooped. He banged his head against the bars and Gemma thought that if not for the bars, he would’ve butted it against her shoulder probably breaking a clavicle.
Chuckling, she gave him one last rub and left him, unhappy and kicking up a fuss at her departure.
Simon’s cell was quiet and appeared empty as usual. It disappointed Gemma. Her hopes were flying high after yesterday’s progress, but nothing seemed to have changed.
“Hi, Simon.”
She unlocked his door and entered. He was sitting on his cot staring into the ether, unmoving and unresponsive. His eyes were still the same opaque surfaces without depth, even though today they appeared more gray than white.
“How are you today?”
No response.
“My foot’s better. Surprise, that, because yesterday when I left prison I had to run on it like crazy. A gang of Perali attacked humans on the street and one of them nearly caught me. I don’t know how I escaped. It was pretty scary.”
He remained in withdrawal. It rankled Gemma.
Yesterday, he’d claimed to be able to hear so he must’ve heard what she just said. Still, no effing reaction. Not even a twitch.
