(5 ratings) Rate this Story (5 best) 1 2 3 4 5   1 comments /

We don't like using codes, it's not very friendly..."
"What code?"
"The code you've been given."
"And why have I been given a code?"
"For security reasons, Mr. Smith."
"I see! It's a need to know basis, eh?" Smith winked in a cheeky way.
The white jackets glanced at each other briefly.
Smith chuckled, "You're not exactly authorized are you? You'd know who I am otherwise."
An awkward pause descended but the assistant finally spoke, "Would you like something to eat?"
"I guess," Smith replied, casually swinging his legs back onto the bunk and wiggling himself into a comfortable position.
The doctor nodded and the assistant consulted with another individual through some sort of communication link for a moment.
"They'll be ‘round with something soon," the assistant reassured. "Meanwhile, Mr. Smith, perhaps you'd like to answer a few questions for me."
Smith narrowed his eyes; "That depends on the questions," he replied under his breath.
"I'm just curious. Were you really asleep just now?"
"That is a curious question."
"Why is it curious?"
"What else could I have been doing? You saw me sleeping, after all," Smith shrugged.
The doctor smiled, "Indeed, what else could you have been doing?" He paused for a moment, "I've heard..."
"...Heard?"
"Something about your mental state, Mr. Smith."
"Mental state?"
"I heard that you aren't always with us," he said nervously.
"That's not a medical term, is it?"
The doctor smiled, "No, I guess not."
Another pause descended as a hatch in the door opened and a food tray was pushed though it. The tray was solemnly placed in a slot at the end of the bunk. Smith stared at the tray for a moment.
"Go ahead. Eat, Mr. Smith. It's not poisoned, heh, heh," chuckled the assistant, nervously.
"Somehow I don't find that very reassuring."
The doctor spoke, "You're safe here. You'll be looked after. They're interested in keeping you here. For some reason, you're very valuable to them."
"I wonder why?" Smith mumbled in a sarcastic tone.
"I wonder too. You must have something they want."
Smith was too hungry to ignore the tray any longer and reached for the sandwich that had been presented to him, lifting the triangles of bread apart and examining the contents carefully before eating; "I guess so," he replied with his mouth full of unidentified sandwich which turned out to be strangely fishy. He was a fussy eater; even Plum said he was the resident food critic. He smiled to himself and felt for the pair of rings on his finger, but they had been taken away too. For a moment he felt pain in the general area of his heart.
"When can I have my rings back?"
"I'm afraid you may not get them back for some time. If ever."
Smith bowed his head, downcast at the news.
The doctor continued in a whisper, "But I'll see what I can do in the time that's left. You'll be moved soon, you know that, don't you? It's a pity because I would like to have assessed you myself."
"Assessed?"
"Your mental state."
"There's nothing wrong with my mental state!"
"I didn't say that there was.