Page 25 of Captured on Film
A length of knotted cord had been looped through her collar;it was the same golden hue as Mister Big’s tunic. Nessie’s belly was rounded bya good meal. Caleb pet and apologized to her, too relieved to beself-conscious.
One gruff word.
Caleb turned.
Mister Big pointed to the bed and spoke again.
It wasn’t hard to understand. Caleb perched on the bed’s edge.Nessie clambered up to join him. Mister Big loomed large, and for a moment, Calebwas afraid he’d toss her back to the floor. But he simply untied the cord fromher collar.
“Thanks,” Caleb said.
But then the guy dropped to one knee and caught Caleb’sheel. Pulling back didn’t help. Mister Big knotted the cord around his ankle,then tied the other end to the bed frame. Definitely a bad sign.
“I’m a prisoner?”
With a grunt, the shaggy man walked out.
“What about my brother?” Caleb called.
He didn’t get an answer.
Language Barrier
Even though very little changed in Caleb’s environment,he was able to keep track of the passage of time because meals arrived atregular intervals. While he ate, Mister Big took Nessie out and returned her.
It was pointless, given the language barrier, but Caleb askedmore and more questions.
“Where is my brother?”
“Can I have my clothes back?”
“Any chance of a bath?”
“Do you have a name?”
“Why can’t I hear the stars anymore?”
“Please. Is Josheb okay?”
He was pretty sure two full days had passed before the patternchanged. Voices carried in the hallway—male and female. And then the first manwas back, the one who’d rescued Caleb. Less wild, less gruff. But was he any lessa captor?
Dark eyes snagged on Caleb’s leash, and his eyebrows shotup. With a torrent of words, he bent to untie the cord. He sounded irritated.
Caleb stole a look at the woman, who’d remained just insidethe door. She gave off the same vibe as the other two. Quite tall. Athleticbuild. Strong features. But this lady’s hair was short, and her pointed earswere pierced. Caleb registered the lipstick first, since she was smirking. Bythe time he took in her yellow hightops, he dared to hope.
“Hi,” he managed.
“Hi, yourself.” Her smile widened. “Oaken brought me here totranslate.”
“Oaken?”
She indicated the man kneeling beside the bed, petting adelighted Nessie. “He says he’s sorry for Andor’s lack of manners. Are you inpain?”
“A little sore.” He rubbed at his forehead. “Mostlyconfused.”
More words flowed past as they talked over him.
She said, “He’ll brew a tea to help with the headache.”
