1 Section 4: Late for Supper
"Where in the hell have you been?" Melinda was furious, but she looked relieved. I slid into the seat next to her, trying not to make eye contact with her.
"Nowhere. I just learned some lessons and then went to put away my things." Actually, I had thrown my bag into my room without going in and then stepped across the hall into the kitchen.
Melinda dropped her fork onto her plate. "It took you all that time?" Her eyebrows were raised and her voice scolding.
"Jesus Melinda! You're not my fucking baby sitter. I came here to do work and that's what I did." It killed me to curse at her. I couldn't help it though, the evening had been overly stressful as it was. The hurt set immediately into every line in her face. I could have cried with her looking like that. I realized the 3 others were all staring intently at us, when they saw me looking they quickly became thoroughly interested in their burnt meals. (A product of her worry for me.) I softened my voice. "I'm really sorry Melinda. It's been such a long day, for you too. Come here." Melinda was trying hard not to cry, so I hugged her. The sensation of allowing someone to be so close was the weirdest feeling. She gave a half hiccup that shook her body, like she was going to cry, then she leaned back. Her face was perfectly dry and the color was receding from her cheeks.
Her voice staggered the slightest bit as she said, "Oh gosh, I, I didn't mean to make you mad." She laughed a little at herself. "You're right, it has been a really long day hasn't it?" I nodded my head in agreement.
"Hey look, it was really nice of you to make all this food." I swept my arm across the table to indicate everyone's meals. I made sure to catch all of their eyes. They instantly began smiling and making nice comments on how great the meal was. She began eating her own meal again and asking me questions about my lessons. Neither of us were too interested at the moment, it was just a way to fill the silence.
Looking around the table I was happy to see that neither Manny nor Brock were there. Having to look at them might have sent me screaming into the next room. "Do you know where Mr. Richardson and that other fellow are?" It was the fist time I had heard Liam Norway speak.
I wasn't sure who he was speaking to in particular, but I decided no one else would know, "Uh, I don't know. I spoke with Manny, went to my room, met up with Mr. Richardson again, and then went back to my room before I came here." They were calling him Mr. Richardson, and I supposed that I would be doing that also for the remainder of the trip.
"Ah, well, they certainly are missing a fine meal aren't they?" The comment was made for Melinda, I could've hugged him for it too. I looked to see how she reacted, and saw that she was busy giving him a shy, modest smile. How interesting. The man was moderate looking for his age, and Melinda looked like the type that liked playing the field at home. Well, this is the new home, and he is the new game.
I was almost done with my salad when Manny stepped into the room. He hardly glanced at the table, instead he passed us and went to pour himself some coffee. He didn't seem angry necessarily, just disinterested. He stood with his back to us, sipping what must have been cold, unstirred coffee. The coffee in everyone else's cup had stopped steaming more than 15 minutes ago. I suspected that everyone thought I should break the silence, since I had spoken to him the most, but they had no idea what we had spoken about. There was no way in hell I was going to talk to him, not that evening. Good ol' Melinda finally broke it. "Please, have a seat here with us. Your meal is awfully cold, but I could certainly heat that up for you, it'd be no problem." Just to convince him, I guess, she said, "I did with Elise's and the others." That was wrong.
He turned around slowly, placing his cup on the counter as he did so, and crossing his arms across his chest. He mocked stupid and said, "Well gee, I don't think I could do that myself seeing as I'm such a moron." Melinda sneaked a side glance at me then back to Manny as he spoke again, this time in a much more snide way, "Oh wait, that was you. Get a fucking clue."
"Why don't you get the fuck out?" We all whipped our heads around to see Brock standing in the doorway. "Don't speak to her like that, not when she's trying to be nice. Now get the fuck out." He had a city accent, making what he was saying all the more menacing. Manny's easy posture when he was leaning against the counter was quickly interrupted by his own natural instincts' will for survival. He looked like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He stood bolt upright and then walked to the door leading out the side of the room.
Brocks gaze followed Manny out the door, then he turned his gaze in the direction of me and Melinda. It was difficult to tell with his goggles on. The kitchen was brighter than when he had been in here before. There must be a dimmer control. Brock took a few slow steps in toward the table. I swallowed hard, then I looked to the other people at the table. "Have you all met the captain?"
Norman Lemmingham coughed to clear his throat. "I haven't." He stood, then, limping slightly, walked around the table over to Brock. The two shook hands and Norman introduced himself. He was an old, wrinkled man, and by the looks of it, he was either in the army or was just a really proud man to stand with such physical discipline at his age. Norman went back to his seat and Brock took a seat at the head of the table. Up until then Melinda and me were on one side and the 3 three men were on the other.
"Are you hungry?"
"Starved." Melinda actually looked happy to be able to serve him. I felt disgusted.
"I hate to ruin a good thing, but I think I'm going to retire to my room for the night. Good night everyone. Good night Melinda." I stood and nodding my head in fake respect for Brock, "Captain." I stepped out, closing the door as I went. I was glad my room was right across from the kitchen, walking through the corridors alone with Manny somewhere out there didn't seem like much fun to me.
I opened my door, came in, and then closed the door. I didn't even have a chance to say "lights on".
Riddick was given a warmed up version of his meal, and wolfed it down with the speed of a rabid dog. The others sipped new coffee and made small talk while stealing small glances at the pilot. He didn't talk much, but then again, that wasn't his style. He wanted to leave, but that might look suspicious since the girl just did, and he felt it was his duty to study these people as closely as possible. It had always been a hobby of his to study the habits and character traits of people. They had continually been like outsiders to him, even though he knew it was the other way around. He liked it this way. No one tried getting too close, and a certain respect was given to his self-containment.
He began to observe that the conversation never touched Elise, Manny, or himself. In fact, the conversation was so simple that it stayed strictly in and around the region of "where are you from, what do you do for a living, where are you going, and for what purpose are you going there?" The only thing interesting was the fact that everyone was getting off before Bisham. The only ones left for the last 2 weeks or so of the trip would be Elise, Manny, and himself. That was by far the most interesting piece of information that evening.
He's never been one for acting, but seeing as he was the closest one to the door he was the one that heard the muffled sound of a scream coming from close by. He then faked a yawn and excused himself. He closed the door to the kitchen tightly and put his ear up to the door of Elise's room. What he heard was both amusing and disturbing.
"Where in the hell have you been?" Melinda was furious, but she looked relieved. I slid into the seat next to her, trying not to make eye contact with her.
"Nowhere. I just learned some lessons and then went to put away my things." Actually, I had thrown my bag into my room without going in and then stepped across the hall into the kitchen.
Melinda dropped her fork onto her plate. "It took you all that time?" Her eyebrows were raised and her voice scolding.
"Jesus Melinda! You're not my fucking baby sitter. I came here to do work and that's what I did." It killed me to curse at her. I couldn't help it though, the evening had been overly stressful as it was. The hurt set immediately into every line in her face. I could have cried with her looking like that. I realized the 3 others were all staring intently at us, when they saw me looking they quickly became thoroughly interested in their burnt meals. (A product of her worry for me.) I softened my voice. "I'm really sorry Melinda. It's been such a long day, for you too. Come here." Melinda was trying hard not to cry, so I hugged her. The sensation of allowing someone to be so close was the weirdest feeling. She gave a half hiccup that shook her body, like she was going to cry, then she leaned back. Her face was perfectly dry and the color was receding from her cheeks.
Her voice staggered the slightest bit as she said, "Oh gosh, I, I didn't mean to make you mad." She laughed a little at herself. "You're right, it has been a really long day hasn't it?" I nodded my head in agreement.
"Hey look, it was really nice of you to make all this food." I swept my arm across the table to indicate everyone's meals. I made sure to catch all of their eyes. They instantly began smiling and making nice comments on how great the meal was. She began eating her own meal again and asking me questions about my lessons. Neither of us were too interested at the moment, it was just a way to fill the silence.
Looking around the table I was happy to see that neither Manny nor Brock were there. Having to look at them might have sent me screaming into the next room. "Do you know where Mr. Richardson and that other fellow are?" It was the fist time I had heard Liam Norway speak.
I wasn't sure who he was speaking to in particular, but I decided no one else would know, "Uh, I don't know. I spoke with Manny, went to my room, met up with Mr. Richardson again, and then went back to my room before I came here." They were calling him Mr. Richardson, and I supposed that I would be doing that also for the remainder of the trip.
"Ah, well, they certainly are missing a fine meal aren't they?" The comment was made for Melinda, I could've hugged him for it too. I looked to see how she reacted, and saw that she was busy giving him a shy, modest smile. How interesting. The man was moderate looking for his age, and Melinda looked like the type that liked playing the field at home. Well, this is the new home, and he is the new game.
I was almost done with my salad when Manny stepped into the room. He hardly glanced at the table, instead he passed us and went to pour himself some coffee. He didn't seem angry necessarily, just disinterested. He stood with his back to us, sipping what must have been cold, unstirred coffee. The coffee in everyone else's cup had stopped steaming more than 15 minutes ago. I suspected that everyone thought I should break the silence, since I had spoken to him the most, but they had no idea what we had spoken about. There was no way in hell I was going to talk to him, not that evening. Good ol' Melinda finally broke it. "Please, have a seat here with us. Your meal is awfully cold, but I could certainly heat that up for you, it'd be no problem." Just to convince him, I guess, she said, "I did with Elise's and the others." That was wrong.
He turned around slowly, placing his cup on the counter as he did so, and crossing his arms across his chest. He mocked stupid and said, "Well gee, I don't think I could do that myself seeing as I'm such a moron." Melinda sneaked a side glance at me then back to Manny as he spoke again, this time in a much more snide way, "Oh wait, that was you. Get a fucking clue."
"Why don't you get the fuck out?" We all whipped our heads around to see Brock standing in the doorway. "Don't speak to her like that, not when she's trying to be nice. Now get the fuck out." He had a city accent, making what he was saying all the more menacing. Manny's easy posture when he was leaning against the counter was quickly interrupted by his own natural instincts' will for survival. He looked like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He stood bolt upright and then walked to the door leading out the side of the room.
Brocks gaze followed Manny out the door, then he turned his gaze in the direction of me and Melinda. It was difficult to tell with his goggles on. The kitchen was brighter than when he had been in here before. There must be a dimmer control. Brock took a few slow steps in toward the table. I swallowed hard, then I looked to the other people at the table. "Have you all met the captain?"
Norman Lemmingham coughed to clear his throat. "I haven't." He stood, then, limping slightly, walked around the table over to Brock. The two shook hands and Norman introduced himself. He was an old, wrinkled man, and by the looks of it, he was either in the army or was just a really proud man to stand with such physical discipline at his age. Norman went back to his seat and Brock took a seat at the head of the table. Up until then Melinda and me were on one side and the 3 three men were on the other.
"Are you hungry?"
"Starved." Melinda actually looked happy to be able to serve him. I felt disgusted.
"I hate to ruin a good thing, but I think I'm going to retire to my room for the night. Good night everyone. Good night Melinda." I stood and nodding my head in fake respect for Brock, "Captain." I stepped out, closing the door as I went. I was glad my room was right across from the kitchen, walking through the corridors alone with Manny somewhere out there didn't seem like much fun to me.
I opened my door, came in, and then closed the door. I didn't even have a chance to say "lights on".
Riddick was given a warmed up version of his meal, and wolfed it down with the speed of a rabid dog. The others sipped new coffee and made small talk while stealing small glances at the pilot. He didn't talk much, but then again, that wasn't his style. He wanted to leave, but that might look suspicious since the girl just did, and he felt it was his duty to study these people as closely as possible. It had always been a hobby of his to study the habits and character traits of people. They had continually been like outsiders to him, even though he knew it was the other way around. He liked it this way. No one tried getting too close, and a certain respect was given to his self-containment.
He began to observe that the conversation never touched Elise, Manny, or himself. In fact, the conversation was so simple that it stayed strictly in and around the region of "where are you from, what do you do for a living, where are you going, and for what purpose are you going there?" The only thing interesting was the fact that everyone was getting off before Bisham. The only ones left for the last 2 weeks or so of the trip would be Elise, Manny, and himself. That was by far the most interesting piece of information that evening.
He's never been one for acting, but seeing as he was the closest one to the door he was the one that heard the muffled sound of a scream coming from close by. He then faked a yawn and excused himself. He closed the door to the kitchen tightly and put his ear up to the door of Elise's room. What he heard was both amusing and disturbing.
