Was he trying to be funny? Her lip curled with annoyance.
He sat on the mattress to eat a second power bar. Although he posed no threat while in chains, she felt more comfortable when he was sitting.
“Tell you what,” he said. “I’ll make you a trade.”
“You’re in no position to negotiate.” She downed the last gulp of cold coffee.
He finished the power bar in silence.
She held her tongue.I get what you’re doing.She stood up to leave.I won’t play your game.You are not in control here.But she wondered what he would trade for. Another power bar? Something better to eat? Why not just ask for those things? He hadn’t hesitated to ask for water or to be able to relieve himself.
She reached the chamber exit.
He spoke. “I’ll answer your question if you answer one of mine.”
She turned. “What’s your question?”
“What’s your name?”
What difference did it make? His curiosity made her wary, but what harm would it do? If by telling him her name, she could find out how many Progg were in the area, that would be a good exchange.
Ifhe told the truth. He might lie.
She could, too. She could give him a fake name. But that would be silly because it didn’t matter at this point. Hell, she could give him her full name, her mother’s maiden name, her birth date, and her social security number, and it couldn’t hurt her. But aliens? They could kill her.
“My name is Laurel Knight,” she said.
“Laurel,” he repeated. “Do you want me to answer your previous question, or do you have another?”
She inched into the room, mulling over how best to ask her question, open ended or yes or no. Numbers would be a big help, but what if he didn’t have them? “Are there other Progg in the area?”
“I don’t know,” he said.
“You fucking asshole! That’s the last damn thing you get from me!” He could die of thirst and drown in his own piss for all she cared. She whirled around, stomping for the exit.
“Laurel, wait! I don’t know because I got separated!”
She froze. Turned. “What?”
“I got separated from my unit. They either moved on or shuttled to the command ship. So, yes, I’m alone, but are there others in the area? I don’t know. I’ve been looking for them.”
She scanned his face. He appeared earnest, sincere, but how could she be sure? She had a pretty good lie detector, could tell most of the time when a patient lied about how he got injured or whether he’d been compliant with medical instructions. But she mustn’t presume alien expressions and body language conveyed the same meaning.
“Have you been through Big Creek—the town?” she asked.
“I passed through it.”
“Nobodywas there? No Progg?”
“No one. I didn’t walk every street of the town, but I did see quite a bit of it while trying to find food.”
He could be lying. Even if he told the truth, other Progg could show up at any time like he had. But the tension in her shoulders relaxed. She felt more comfortable about venturing into town, getting more clothes, stocking up on drugs and medical supplies she might need in the future.
She might even risk running the generator. But, what if a colluder heard? What if they were still working with the Progg? “Any humans?” She wiggled her itchy nose.
“I didn’t see any. But somebody shot me.”
“Why were you on foot?” She rubbed her nose.
