Meets The Eye
Cain slowly made his way back to camp with a fresh bundle of firewood under his arm. He passed Raw first. The lion/man was curled up, sleeping fitfully making a noise somewhere between a snore and a purr. Not far way,lay the newest member of their strange little group, Tutor. Awake or asleep was any ones guess. farthest away was Glitch, sleeping peacefully using the roots of a tree as a pillow and with his thumb in his mouth. DG was wide awake and staring at the fire.
"You should get some sleep Kid. Last thing we need is for you dropping off in the middle of the Fields tomorrow."
DG smiled wanly at him. "I won't I'm fine. I was just wondering how you and Glitch got passed the Long coats."
"Ask him." Cain gestured to the sleeping figure of Glitch, who stirred slightly, his zipper gleaming in the firelight.
"I did." DG answered with a wry grin. "He said you threw a punch and got hit in the mouth and then, well he glitched and started to talk about dancing."
"I don't think that was a glitch." Cain replied slowly. DG blinked in surprise.
"He just...." Cain shrugged. "It happened so fast. He was behind me and then he was in front and fighting. He already had two down by the time I recovered enough. Then he dodged two more and ..." Cain made a strange spinning motion with his fingers and shook his head. "I misjudged him. He's not a normal headcase."
DG glanced curiously over at Glitch.
"Poor Glitch. He didn't deserve that. He told me once he was-how did he put it? 'Government adviser numero one' before he had his brain removed. When he could remember his name."
Cain shook his head.
"That's another thing. He gave himself a name. Maintained an Identity. Most headcases don't do that."
DG quirked an eyebrow.
"What happens to most headcases?"
"They lose themselves. no name, no purpose. Nothing to hold on to. They drift around, slowly go mad. For an annual or two. But they don't-they don't survive,DG." Cain said as gentle as possible.
DG took an unsteady breath. "How-how long do you think Glitch...?"
Cain shook his head yet again."Well that's just it. See, hes been keeping track of the annuals, at least a little bit. He was telling me, Hes been a headcase for almost six annuals. And he seems fine. In fact,he seems to be getting better."
DG just stared.
"I know it sounds crazy. But something keeps him going."
Glitch rolled over and mumbled something about waffles then lay still.
Cain and DG watched the sleeping form of their friend for a while longer.
Neither guessed that the zipper on his head, his daily reminder that his brain had been taken,the zipper meant to shame him was a constant reminder that let him remember who he was. Let him remember why he lost his brain.
He did the right thing.