Jackson by Leigh Talbert Moore Read Free Book Online

when you were gone,” Yolanda added.
    “You did WHAT!? ” Shubuta’s eyes flew wide, and her face contorted in a way that frightened me. I stepped back into Gallatin’s chest, my knees shaking in my pants.
    “I—”
    “It’s an overdose! Quick! Gallatin, get her to the kitchen! I’ve got to pump her stomach. We may still have time.”
    In a flash he swept her out of the bed and ran after Shubuta, who was already across the lawn and pushing through the screen doors of the dining hall. Yolanda and I ran after them, but the entire world was swimming before my eyes.
    Gallatin had said the drugs weren’t dangerous, only a mild sedative... This couldn’t be happening! I watched in shock as he lay my best friend on the metal counter separating the kitchen from the hall. Shubuta pulled a long rubber hose from under one of the sinks and flexed it back and forth in her hands. She pulled Flora into a sitting position, and Gallatin held her mouth open as the alien doctor fed the tube down my comatose friend’s throat.
    Tears flooded my eyes, and I staggered back as she began to squeeze the hot water bottle at the other end of the tube. Yolanda was with me, and we clutched each others arms as we watched the nightmare. Tears streamed down her dark cheeks as well.
    “It all makes sense now.” A tremor moved through Yolanda’s body as she spoke. “What’s wrong with D’Lo, Braxton. Why we’re so tired all the time. They’ve been drugging the meat.”
    All at once, I felt it coming. I pushed away and ran to the sink, gripping the cold metal sides as my body heaved. Nothing came up. I hadn’t eaten in almost twenty-four hours. A hand touched my back, and I saw Yolanda’s legs. She held my hair away from my face, but all I could do now was clutch the side of the sink, sobbing and dry heaving.
    Eventually my body stopped, but my chest was hollow, my eyes and throat hurt.
    “It’s not working.” A female voice behind me murmured. “We’re too late.”
    I looked up to see Shubuta slowly easing the tube out of Flora’s mouth and Gallatin gently lowering her shoulders to the metal table. He leaned over her again and then squeezed his eyes shut. I collapsed to the floor, tears blurring my vision.
    In that moment it all came crashing down. Our fantasy that somehow we were insulated from the things happening here was all over. Everything was spoiled—the good will, the hope for a future. It was all ruined.
    Strong hands tried to lift me, but I pushed away from them. Flora counted on me. I’d told her I’d get her out of here, back to her mom, and I failed. Pushing against the floor, I stumbled to her lifeless body on the table and hugged her to me.
    My voice cracked with my whimpers. “I’m so sorry, Flora.” Shudders of guilt and grief shook my body. “I’m so, so sorry.”
    This time when the hands came, I allowed them to pull me away. Shubuta took a thick white tablecloth, and with a grim look, she began wrapping it around Flora’s skinny legs.
    “No!” I cried, but the hands were stronger and continued leading me away.
    I closed my eyes and all I could see were the cinnamon freckles across her pale nose. Her weak smile, her hopes for getting back home. All of it was lost. All of it was gone, and all of it was my fault.
    * * *
    W hen I opened my eyes again, I was in the bed in the small cabin below the barn, but this time I was alone. I rolled onto my back and looked around Gallatin’s space. It all seemed so normal. A desk was in the corner, clothes lay unfolded on the back of a chair. A stack of books sat on the floor, some of which were dog-eared from being well-read.
    Nothing hinted at the plotting and planning, the mind-control and manipulation. Again tears filled my eyes, and I rolled onto my side facing the wall again. My heart hurt so badly for so many things. My mind had been reeling for so long, I’d almost forgotten what it was like to think normally.
    My only worries used to be what Dr. Green