Jackson Read Online Free PDF Page A

never occurred to me. Cato and Ovett have been scrambling since Day 3. He said your people do it with your elderly routinely, and he assured us no one would be hurt. It seemed like a harmless security measure.”
    Glancing around the room, I didn’t have a good answer. Part of me wanted to understand, but the part of me that had been being drugged without my knowledge was really mad.
    “Come on,” I said. “We don’t have time now. Will you help my brother?”
    “Of course. I’ll do anything you need.”
    * * *
    E veryone was still in the dining hall when we entered the dorm. Braxton was on his bed, and it looked like he hadn’t moved. We quickly made our way past the rows of metal bunks to the back corner, and I dropped to my knees beside his head.
    “Braxton?” I whispered. He didn’t move, so I nodded to Gallatin. “Just do whatever you do now while he’s sleeping. Maybe he can have a happy dream and wake up feeling hopeful.”
    “Is that the feeling you want? Hope?”
    I looked at the amber eyes of my, what? Enemy? Friend? Something else I couldn’t name?
    “Give him hope, Gallatin.”
    He nodded and slipped his left palm against the side of my brother’s neck. I expected a light or a noise or a vibration. I expected Gallatin to close his eyes or glow. But nothing seemed to happen. It was quiet, and he simply blinked a few times as he touched Braxton’s skin. He didn’t even touch him for very long, it seemed, before he looked back at me.
    “Let me know how he is in the morning. I can do it again if he needs more.”
    “More?”
    “Our races are very similar, but this is one of our adaptations, and human hormones and brain functions are different.”
    “How are they different?”
    He shrugged as he stood. “We’ve been to four planets I can remember, and on each, there are so many variables creating differences. Location in the galaxy, air composition, gravity... I honestly didn’t keep track.”
    I looked at Braxton’s face, and he did seem more peaceful. Then I noticed Gallatin going back to the entrance of our sleeping quarters.
    “Wait,” I called.
    “Come outside. Your people will be returning now, and I’m not supposed to be here.”
    “Thank you.” I reached out to touch his arm. “This means a lot to me. Even if... I’m still trying to understand. Some of it still makes me angry.”
    “If you could just try to see it from our side.”
    “I can’t. Not yet,” I shook my head. “But thank you for helping my brother.”
    He took my hand and held it in both of his. “If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.”
    With that he released me, and I watched him cross the yard. He was just reaching the grove as everyone began returning from dinner. Roxie came straight to me and took my hand. Yolanda was right behind her, catching me in a hug.
    “I’m so sorry, Pren,” Roxie said.
    Yolanda quickly followed up. “All I could do when D’Lo brought him in was cry and wonder what you were going to do, how you were going to take it. We’ve got to get out of here. The pressure’s wearing us all down.”
    “I think he’ll be okay now,” I said. “We can check on him in the morning.”
    Then I looked around quickly. “Where’s Flora?”
    “I’ve been looking out for her,” Yolanda said. “I saw what you were doing with your meat. I didn’t know she was anemic, so I helped her when you were gone.”
    “Thanks.” I scanned the room until I spotted her leaning against the back wall.
    Her back was to me, and her arm was wrapped around her stomach like she was having cramps.
    “Flora?” I called softly, weaving through the rows of bunks until I was in front of her. “Are you okay?”
    She nodded, but her face was pale and perspiration beaded on her top lip. “I think I’m getting my period.”
    I took her arm and led her to her bunk. “Are you having cramps?”
    She nodded again. “I’m so tired.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, and the whiteness