Fifth little lie ♰ And you delivered me from danger then, pulled my cradle from the reedy glen

[beingdifferent]

[Five and a half days have passed. Esther checked and rechecked the dates and times, going over the posts on the network and pondering recent events. It looks like she's missed some excitement; apparently she's not the only one who's slipped into a coma lately, or indeed undergone other changes. It looks like there are some people she needs to seek out soon.

But first things first.]

It's been six days that I slept. Does everyone get sick like this on the ship? Sleeping so long is meant to be very bad for a person. And it makes you very hungry and thirsty as well! [She crosses her arms and huffs, her breath batting a curl away from her chin.] This is very strange and I don't think I like it.

But maybe it is better than waiting. Why do some inmates find their warden immediately when others take so long? How come it's so hard to get home?

Comments

[deadly_ned]

Not long for either of mine. Weeks.

Do you want a warden?

[beingdifferent]

I want to go back home. Everyone says that to do that I need a warden.

[deadly_ned]

To go home, you have to graduate.

Having a warden might be optional. But it helps.

[beingdifferent]

What do I have to do to graduate?

[deadly_ned]

Was there ever a time you felt you made a mistake? Something you wish you could correct but never had the means to?

[beingdifferent]

What if I only made mistakes because I had to?

[deadly_ned]

I don't think the Admiral pulls people onto the Barge for things they had no choice about.

[beingdifferent]

I think he does.

[deadly_ned]

Then maybe a warden would need to be around to help look at the larger picture.

[beingdifferent]

[Esther frowns and hits a button on the communicator, switching over to private.]

Mr. Ned, you're my friend, and I know I can trust you to say. Do you think I had a choice?

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

No. I don't. Not in that.


I don't think that's why you were brought to the Barge. The Admiral isn't that cruel. Shouldn't be.

[Private]

[beingdifferent]

Then I don't know what I did wrong.

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

I don't know either. I guess...only the Admiral knows right now.

[Private]

[beingdifferent]

Then I suppose I'll ask him.

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

Do you want me to be with you when you ask? It's. It's a hard thing. Facing our. What we do.

[Private]

[beingdifferent]

[A moment of thought.]

No, thank you. This seems like something I must do alone.

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

Okay.


When you're through with asking, come to the kitchen for pie.

Pie and ice cream.

[Private]

[beingdifferent]

Thank you.

Mr. Ned?

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

Yes, Esther?

[Private]

[beingdifferent]

You made a mistake once. [From the mouths of babes.] Why does the Admiral trust you and not me?

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

I made a lot of mistakes. I still make mistakes today.

[Look at Alpha, after all]

I wish I could tell you why I'm a warden and you're an inmate but the truth is I don't know. It could be something as simple as me not dying after I'd made my mistakes. It could be something else.

The point is that I don't know.

[Private]

[beingdifferent]

I wish you did. [No, she doesn't.] And I wish I did too.

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

Esther, you're going to get out of here. Even if the Admiral won't tell you, even if you don't get a warden. I'll help.

[Private]

[beingdifferent]

Thank you.

I will need your help.

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

You've got my help.