Balance Read Online Free PDF Page B

these are, she’ll refrain from taking them , eating everything else.
    She sit s down on the couch with the Protocol and Procedures manual.
     
    The wall compu ter chimes, 5:30PM.
    Rena perused most of the manual, read ing all procedures regarding scheduling, meals, dress, living quarters, merit system and punishment.
    Closing the manual and returning it to the desk, she waits nervously for 5:45 .
    W hen the door unlocks , she opens it cautiously.
    Across the hall, the door opens and Michael dressed similarly , steps out.  He smiles at her , intent on conveying reassurance .
    Rena half smiles back, as p eo ple start passing between them.
    Michael stic ks his head into the hall, checking to see if entry is safe.  He looks up and nod s.
    They step out together without saying a word , turn an d proceed down the hall in the same direction as the traffic.   They follow the current of people down the stairs, into the lobby, then through a double door behind the stair well into a large dining hall.
    A line of people had formed at the far e nd of the expanse , along a buffet.  The hall is large and filled with round table s , each with four chairs positioned around it , s everal already occupied.
    Michael follows Rena into the buffet line , a sense of danger driving him to scan the room , taking in everyone and everything .
    They pick their way through the offering s and head for a n empty table near the center of the hall .  Sitting across from one an other , their backs facing the long walls running the depth of the room , both of their eyes vigilantly sweep the expanse , only periodically finding each other.   At the far end , a bove the buffet , Michael observes a second floor with a glassed in conference room set back from an open railed landing. S everal people present inside enjoy their meals and converse freely .  Michael can see both Commander Still and Angela. Stairs along both long walls lead from the hall main floor up to the balcony with g uards positioned at the top of each.
    Redirecting his attention to their immediate proximity, Michael looks around at the other tables.  M en and women of various origin and age populate the large chamber , m ost in conversation and several have noticed them .  He takes notice of three tables in particular .  The occupants hav ing taken an elevated interest in he and Rena .  One table , with two men and a wom a n, a ll in their forties , converse excitedly amongst themselves, continually glancing their direction .  The second table , two men and two women , around the same age as he and Rena , regard them warily, almost distrustfully .  The third and most concerning, located at the rear corner of the hall , four very large men , two Hispani cs, a black man and a Caucasian, ‘ r oiders.  These four watch them with a look Michael has seen in wild pack animals, like wolves, as if being sized up before the kill .
    Casually eating her meal, Rena survey s the hall as well .   Catching her at tention, Michael nods to the corner.  She turns her head inconspicuously over her shoulder , than back to him .
    He’s confident she understands his implication.   K eeping an eye on the t able in the corner , Michael inattentively eats his dinner .  Rena , periodically surveying the rest of the hall , finishes hers .  Neither make s an effort to talk to the other , consumed with the task at- hand , b oth of the same mind.
    One of Hispanics gets up and walks to the buffet , passing along the wall behind Rena .  Michael’s gaze follows him.   The distraction worked, for when he returned his attention to the corner table, a second seat is vacant.  He knows immediately , and Rena’s eyes confirm his suspicions .
    Jumping to his feet , Michael turns to face the man approaching behind him, the two squaring off.  The largest of the four men , the other Hispanic grins, pointing at Rena.  “So wha t, they let you bring your whore wit h? ”
    When informed they would eat in the dining