Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls - Jane Lindskold [74]
No mention is made of the sparkling lure, and Margarita has apparently forgotten it, her attention galvanized by her narrow escape from death and my part as her savior.
“You had no reason to do that, amiga,” she says, tucking Betwixt and Between in next to me. “I’ve not said a friendly word to you since you come here. I don’t break my contract, but I’ll keep a good eye on you now.”
Later, when I wake from a deep, dreamless sleep, I find a bowl of cut flowers brightening my colorless room. I don’t need to read the note to know who has brought them.
I am certain that Dr. Haas arranged my accident, but I have no proof beyond my growing knowledge of her duplicity and awareness of her malice. I decide to not even mention my latest suspicion to Jersey. I prefer that he continue to see me as an “angel” he wants to help.
The rest of the day passes uneventfully. The shock has worn me out and I sleep much of the time.
When evening comes, I have a visit from Jersey. He has showered and is wearing a brightly colored shirt and cotton trousers. From somewhere he has even dredged up a tie.
“Hey, Sarey, I heard you had an accident today.”
I smile demurely, choosing to emphasize my condition by not replying. I see the effect instantly. Jersey has grown accustomed to the chatterbox of the interchange. My silence hurts.
“Smile for me, honey”—he looks anxious—“big now.”
I valiantly bare my teeth and Jersey’s lip trembles just slightly. He leans to awkwardly pat my leg.
“Aw, really scared you, did it, baby?” He looks pensive. “Dr. Aldrich says no up-time today, but we’ll go tomorrow. I’ll let you show me that Jungle again.”
I smile, too touched by his concern to refuse him the gratification of cheering me up. He stays for nearly two hours, playing chess. We are well-matched—his knowledge of strategy is excellent, but my memory is good and once I see a play I can use it for my own.
Oddly, I find myself comparing him to Abalone. An idea comes to me then, but under the dual impediments of language and the watchful videocams I restrain myself.
I am too exhausted not to sleep well, but I awaken early. As I am stripping to dress, my cell’s door bursts open and Margarita races in. She tosses my robe to me.
“Wait, amiga, just a minute. You not know, but those horny bastards in the vid room, they get up early jus’ to watch you shower.”
She stands on one of my oversoft chairs, bouncing slightly as she neatly duct tapes over the front lens. She does the same in the bathroom.
Jumping down, she says, “There. Now, I do my job and stay here while you shower and dress. You don’t gotta be a skin flick star.”
I hug her and, seizing Betwixt and Between, head into the bathroom. My shower, even with the door open so that Margarita can make certain I don’t do anything drastic, is the most privacy I’ve had since I’ve come to the Institute and I enjoy it immensely.
“You like the flowers?” she asks while I’m dressing.
“The flowers, they were radiant with glory and shed such perfume on the air,” I answer, nodding.
“Good, I’m thinking, maybe I bring you a fish tank—a little one, since the big doctor says you not to go outside anymore.” She grins. “Yeah, I think I do that.”
Quotations for thanks seem insincere and so I hug her again. She escorts me to Comp-C and waves a cheery goodbye.
Fortified, I go in and don’t even flinch when Dr. Haas hands me my beaker. A faint wink from Jersey warns me to be ready for the mule’s kick but I find being spread out across a universe no easier despite his warning. Again, I come to myself sprawled on the floor of Jersey’s sitting room.
“I’m not sure that whatever overdose she could concoct for me wouldn’t be better than that, Jersey,” I say, struggling up, finally accepting his hand.
“You’re just saying that, Sarey,” he assures me. “You like being in control of yourself. I can tell.”
“Control?” I meet his eyes. “I wonder if I have ever been in control of my own life?”
“Not of your life, Sarey.” Jersey doesn’t smile. “Of you.”
“Hmm.” I am reluctant to admit that I see his point.