Prisoner of Glass by Mark Jeffrey Read Free Book Online Page B

that?”
    “Your husband.   You think you’re going to find Oscar somewhere in this place.   And then you’re going to escape with him.”
    She snorted.   “I am going to find him.   But I don’t think he’s in here.”
    “Well … I was close enough.   That’s what keeps you putting one foot in front of the other.   But never mind about this Cone guy.   Doesn’t exist.”  
    “Hmm.   Well, I’m not convinced.   There might be something to it.   Anyway, how’s the wood shop?”
    Card shrugged.   “The Kings have mellowed out.   Well, on me, anyway.   Now they’re up in the collective face of a Slovak gang.   Usually just at lunch though — the Slovaks are on a different work detail, so we only see them at meals.”
    Just then, the Indian girl Elspeth had seen down in the arboretum walked by.   She stared at James Card.   “Hi,” James said.   “What’s your name?”
    “Ione,” the girl said shyly.   “What about you?”
    “James,” Card replied.   “I’ve seen you around.   You’re a prisoner too, right?”   Ione nodded.   “Are your parents here as well?”   No , she mouthed.   “Oh.   I’m sorry to hear that.”   Card exchanged a glance with Elspeth through the bars.  
    “Are you lost?” Elspeth asked.   Ione shook her head, No .   “What I mean is … usually the guards don’t let us just wander around.   Do they know you’re up here?”
    “Yes,” Ione said.   “They let me walk back to my cell on my own.   They know I’ll be good.”
    “I see,” Elspeth said.  
    Ione turned her gaze back to Jim Card.   “Really nice to meet you, James Card.”
    “Both ways,” James said.   “Both ways, Ione.”   When she was gone, he said, “Cute kid.   That must be weird, getting thrown into the slammer at that age with no parents.   Think I’ll keep an eye on her.”

    LATER ON, just before lights out and the horrible films began, James yelled a guard over to his cell.   “Hey.   So there’s a little girl down the way there.   Names Ione.   You know about her?”   The guard nodded.   “I want you to do something special for her tonight, you hear?   I want you to bring her ice cream or something.   Or get her a pretty dress instead these burlap sacks you make us all wear.”   The guard just listened, but did not react.   “Come on.   I’m asking nicely.   She’s just a little girl.   I have no idea what you guys could want with her, why you would ruin her life like this.   You really should let her go, let her leave.”
    “That’s not possible,” the guard said finally.   “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
    “Goddammit!   How much more simple can it be?   You kidnapped a little girl, stole her from her childhood and her parents, and put her in some crazy prison!   Not really a place for a kid!   Now — just do something nice for her.   Tonight.   All I’m asking.   Can you do that?”
    The guard thought for a long moment.   Elspeth wished she could read the face beneath that black helmet.   But finally, he just nodded and said, “Alright.”   He turned and left.
    James Card called out after him, whooping with delight.   “Alright?   Alright!   Alright!   And get me a record player, while you’re at it!   And jazz albums.   Vinyl.   Not a CD player!   I like the honesty of vinyl.”
    “Don’t push it,” the guard mumbled as he walked away.
    The guard faded in the distance.   Elspeth watched him as he stepped across a bridge that retracted behind him.   She watched him all the way until he disappeared into the Panopticon.
    Then the lights snapped off with a crack.   The films started, distorted voices and music blaring: the nightly din that was their lot.  
    Elspeth sighed and went to bed.

FIVE: THE ORDER OF THE BLACK DOVE

    IN THE MIDDLE of the next night, Elspeth realized that Titus had entered and left her cell by some means other than the front door.
    It was the only