Red Sky: Chapter 29
Max was the first one in the cafeteria. As soon as we were released from the laser chain, he rushed inside. He was the first through the door, the first to get his food. Such actions weren’t altogether unusual for the new Max. He often rushed ahead of me in the mine now, pulling me along.
So when Max took off I wasn’t alarmed. When he got his food and water and walked through the cafeteria bypassing our table, I still wasn’t alarmed. This was all normal. This was part of the new Max. But when he passed the next group of tables and the group after that, I started to worry. When he made it to the far end of the cafeteria and sat down in the Lion’s spot, I knew my concern was justified.
It sounds childish. It is childish. But when I said territory was important on the red moon, there is no more important territory than where one sits in the cafeteria, and more than that, there is no more important territory than where the Lion sits in the cafeteria. Max was in the Lion’s seat and I needed to retrieve him before a tray was stuck in his neck.
I tried to jump out of line, but Bug Eyes was still watching with his bug eyes and Zero was at the other end of the line. They wouldn’t leave until the line was three quarters of the way through. This was little help because the Lion was well ahead of me and the Snake was well ahead of him.
The Snake finished filling his water glass and began to walk to his table. I wanted to push the inmates in front of me to get them to move faster, but there was nothing I could do as I watched tired inmate after tired inmate fumble with bowls and dispensers.
The Snake was standing in front of Max. Max’s head was down in his paste, I could see that from the other end of the cafeteria. The Snake sat down next to Max and another of his faction sat down on the other side. Max’s mouth moved, he said something to his new neighbor, but I don’t think the Snake’s tiny ears were listening.
The Lion finished with the dispenser. I took a tray still minutes from making it through the line. I gripped it with full force. It wasn’t much of a weapon. The Lion was pouring his water. He was about to finish.
I drifted back letting the inmates go ahead. Maybe I could get out of line from the other end. Why would the guards care if I got any food for the night? I looked at Bug Eyes. He cared if I got food. They care about everything you do in prison.
The Lion turned, then stopped. He noticed someone in his seat. And not just anyone, it was the partner of the inmate who had stolen all of his newts. His red cheeks were puffy and swollen with happiness. I'd never seen him happy before. He was happy now that he was thinking about all of the painful things he was going to do to Max.
When the Lion moved, Bug Eyes did as well. Zero was already at the exit. I couldn’t wait any longer. Carrying the tray at my side, I shadowed the Lion from the side of the cafeteria as he walked down the center aisle. He stopped at the edge of his table and exchanged a look with the Snake. He set his tray down. His hands were compressed into tight fists. I heard a commotion to my right but kept my eyes on the Lion, sprinting towards him as he moved forward with full force.
I thrust my tray in the air. With a loud crack, it broke in half, the Lion’s hand slicing through it. The Snake was holding Max. the Lion’s right arm moved again. I jabbed half the tray into his face. I could hear shouts and the movement of bodies, the volume rising, the walls closing in.
Scores of inmates crashed into him from the back. The same number crashed into me. I was thrown about and spun around. Max was next to me. Com and Dexter and Brin and Tamo were next to me, too. We were all staring at the Lion and the Snake and Pale Yellow and the rest of his faction. Our two sides lined up throughout the cafeteria, ready to charge.
And that’s when we were hit with the collar, both lines falling to the ground. When they finally let us go, a half dozen guards stood between us, full exosuits on, helmets and everything.
We went back in shifts that night. Our group first, then the Lion’s group. More guards arrived while we were in line. There was no sign of Hades. Beetleface insisted on total silence from everyone. The first inmate that spoke, someone from the Lion’s group, was dragged off to the box.
I tried to go sleep without thinking about what awaited me the next day. The Lion was going to come after me. Certainly, Goodwell would have a plan. He always had a plan. Maybe he would throw the two of us in the box and leave us there for a few days, a week, maybe he would let us rot like 71.
I found myself whistling in an attempt to lull myself to sleep. I whistled Aya’s tune. I whistled Amazing Grace. I whistled songs I didn’t know the names of. I fell asleep with visions of the Lion’s fist dancing in my head. Sometimes fate hides from our view and surprises us by revealing itself at the most unlikely of moments. Other times we go to sleep the night before knowing the next day will bring a dramatic change in our lives.
I hate those kinds of nights.