Silhouette by Arthur McMahon Read Free Book Online Page B

watched as he bit into his bar and chewed methodically, without pain or pleasure. The lights of those who ate faded back to their blue status. The man who at first resisted soon gave in and ate his brick, his light then fading to blue as well. The woman stood by her refusal of the meal, and after some time another Burmin walked into the room to join the first, both of them standing at the woman’s cell like they were waiting for something.
    The woman’s defiant demeanor withered as discomfort and pain set in. She cringed and grabbed her gut, and soon she crumpled over in agony, tears streaming down her face and mucus dripping from her nose. The woman looked to be wailing in pain, but no sound escaped her cell. She reached up for her food brick and took a large bite, chewing through her sobs. After a couple more bites, her weeping lightened and the pain on her face morphed into a sorrowful look of defeat and regret, but she continued to eat until the bar was gone. The recently arrived Burmin left the room and the other returned to its seat in the corner as the woman’s cell faded back to blue and the room lights dimmed.  
    Silhouette remained in her position for the rest of the day, examining the room and her brother. The lone guard fed the prisoners once more late into the night, then it left its post and did not return until morning. Davi woke only for food, and otherwise slept. He was broken. There was not any fight left in him.

    * * *

    Silhouette returned to her dwelling and rested until the next evening. During the quiet night hours, she made her way to the commissary and pocketed an assortment of queer snacks. She tried each of them and put a few of the tastiest ones aside, eating her fill and then putting together a small package for her brother, along with a note. The food had to be simple: no wrapping, no mess, no leftovers. She encased it all in a spongy, flat bread-like food.
    The prison was left unguarded at the late hour, as Silhouette had expected, and so she strolled between the rows of cells until she reached her sleeping brother.
    Silhouette repeated the button sequence she had witnessed the previous day and the slot opened. She slipped her package into the slot and then hit the button that closed it. Davi woke at the sound and looked at the package as if he was seeing something that was not quite there, or should not have been.
    She stood in front of his cell, watching him rub at his eyes and blinking to clear them. Davi took no notice of his sister as he poked at the package, and then he opened it with one finger, seeing the note and pulling it to his eyes.
    Eat this. Stay strong. I will bring more. Signed, a friend.
    Silhouette watched with a heavy heart as Davi grabbed the food and devoured it. She took off her headpiece, letting loose her white hair.  
    Davi consumed every last crumb, reveling in the taste. The note caught his attention again and so he grabbed it and studied it, tracing the handwriting with his fingers. Sue placed a hand on the cell wall and she started to cry. Davi crumbled up the small piece of paper into a tiny ball and ate that too, and then looked out in her direction. She looked into his eyes and noticed that there was something different in them, different then yesterday after she watched him eat his gelatin brick. He leaned back and kept his eyes open, looking upward, pondering. Susan watched him until he fell asleep again, then she put on her headpiece and returned to her dwelling.
    This continued for weeks. Silhouette did not communicate with Davi, other than the occasional note which encouraged him to build his strength, and she continued to watch him. One day, when his cell light had turned green, he refused his meal brick, but, like the woman Silhouette had witnessed before, he had become overwhelmed by a gut-wrenching pain. Eating the bland bar was the only relief.
    Silhouette continued to feed her brother and soon Davi’s eyes no longer glazed over, instead they