by Laura Watson
“My name is Jason” the Asian man said,
laughing. His long dark bangs spilled haphazardly across his face. “What's so funny?” Ralph asked peevishly. “Oh, it's just the way you said it man,” Jason replied, shaking his head, raking his long bangs back absentmindedly. Ralph looked at Jason and smiled reluctantly. “I'm Ralph” he said, holding his shackled hands above his head. “And this young lady beside of me is Laura.” Laura held her hands up. “Hi” she said, forgetting her earlier anger as they conversed.
They spent the next two hours talking about the different circumstances that had brought them to their present states, and as Ralph listened to Jason's story, he found himself liking him more and more. They talked on as the cargo bay grew dim with the onset of night.
Laura snored softly beside of Ralph, her head on his shoulder.
“So,” Jason said, “you saw what happened to those old women who were singing?” “Yeah,” Ralph replied, “Of course I did, they were just right over there.” he motioned to his right, in the dim light of the bay, with his shackled hands. “Well,” Jason continued, leaning forward conspiratorially, “I was just thinking how weird that was.” “You mean in comparison to every other weird thing that's happened up here?” Ralph said impatiently. “No, Jason said, his forehead creasing as he spoke. “I mean, their reaction to that singing.”
“I'm not following you man,” Ralph shot back, looking at Jason questioningly.
“You don't think that was a little strange?” Jason replied. “I mean, there's not much of a way to get a reaction out of those goons up there,” he pointed up to the overhead platform where the Guardians walked steadily back and forth, their tails poised to strike, “unless you don't eat that goop they serve up. There are people screaming, crying, puking, yelling and cursing, but they swoop down on a bunch of old women who decided to sing?”
Ralph stared at Jason, realizing what he had just been told. “You think that singing somehow hurts them?” “I don't know if it hurts them or not,” Jason said cautiously, “but they sure didn't like it much.” Jason looked steadily at Ralph, waiting for his words to register on him. “No, they didn't, did they?” Ralph replied, and smiled. Jason nodded. His words had hit home. An idea was beginning to form in Ralph's mind, echoed by his own thoughts. We might have a chance, he thought. A chance.
The Ritual
Darius sipped The Sacred Green Wine, turned around five times in a tight circle and bowed towards the setting sun. “The night descends upon us, the darkness, the death,” he chanted solemnly. “We give thanks to our Highest that we have survived another day. Let us not perish in the darkness of night, so that we may continue to enjoy the abundance You have provided.” The ancient rite, the legacy of their great ancestors now took on a completely different context as the Grays on board performed The Ritual.
This rite would be performed every hour on the hour until dawn's light shown dimly through the large window of the ship. For every half hour, they ritualistically ate of the dried provisions they had brought along for their journey. The meats, the fruits and the corusca they would consume were all cured and prepared prior to their departure from Kryox. Only the liver was to be untouched by this process. It had to be succulent and fresh.
The Grays ate their dried stores, chewing on the cured meat slowly, gratefully, thanking their Highest for each bite they took. Thus, they were filled, their bodies prepared for the following day.
Darius chewed slowly, thoughtfully. The beasts slept now in the Cargo bay. Their bodies slumped against the ship's inner hull, the troughs and each other.
Long loud snores came from some, silence from the others. Sleep.
What was this strange happening that took the human beasts from their slumping bodies? Darius didn't know. It looked frighteningly similar to death to him.
He was thankful that he didn't have to sleep, he couldn't imagine being so utterly defenseless. He shuddered, driving the thought from his mind. He lifted the cup of Sacred Green Wine to his lips once again and sipped it contentedly.
To Be Continued.....................
Document Outline
Dedication
Table of Contents
Part I - Harvest Time
Part II-The Meat Plant
Part III-Captives
Part I
Part II
Part III
