Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lin Duk Koo entered the 'executive suite'. He had traded his wooden basket for a metal tray. On the tray were small wooden bowls filled with boiled rice and chunks of freshly baked bread, and tall, metal cups filled with cool, clear water.
Lin stepped quickly down the center aisle of A-block, depositing one of his bowls and one of his cups through the bars of each occupied cell.
When he reached Captain Murdock's cell, he set his tray down and made a big fuss over arranging the remaining cups and bowls just so.
The young pilot got stiffly to his feet and stepped up to the front of his prison to shoot Lin Duk a questioning look.
"Lieutenant Peck and Sergeant Baracus say for Lin to tell Captain Murdock that he's got himself a team," Koo announced in a hushed tone.
Murdock's face radiated relief, but then, quickly filled with concern again. "What about Colonel Smith? What did he say when you gave him my message?"
Lin's countenance turned extremely gloomy and he carefully avoided the prisoner's eyes—er, mirrors. "Colonel say nothing. Colonel not hear message. Colonel not eat. Colonel not drink. Colonel Smith not live much longer," he bitterly summed up.
Captain Murdock's expression turned equally—if not more—gloomy and his empty stomach knotted up. "I've got to see him, Lyn. I've got to convince 'brains' to hang on…just a little longer. It's bound to rain, sooner or late—" he stopped speaking and swallowed hard. "I've got to see him, Lyn…got to talk to him…tonight. Can you arrange that for me?"
Lin set a cup of water down at the Captain's feet and then stood there, looking thoughtful and sad…very, very sad. "Lin shall leave ladder against pole for Captain to climb," he softly replied and stashed a skeleton key into one of his bowls of boiled rice. "Please, be most careful, Captain," he solemnly advised. Then he reached through the bars and placed the bowl in the concerned young man's good right hand.
Murdock radiated relief again and gave the guy who was on everyone's side a grateful smile and nod of assurance—both of which went unnoticed.
Lin continued to avoid any eye contact with the Colonel's young friend. He retrieved his tray and then quickly left, to complete his rounds.
