Mal was watching through the shatterproof window when Cody came back. Watching was the only way through unending boredom. Each other, the cortex, the guards, the weather. Mal was of the personal opinion he was watching himself go insane. Each moment, each day – they weren’t so bad, but when a body added them all up – that was a dreary sort of math.

Cody’s hands were cuffed, his head down, and he was pressed against the side of the guard escorting him. Almost looked like he was clinging to the guy for support, but he didn’t seem to be having any trouble walking. Mal glanced at the cortex screen. Five hours since they’d pulled him out of the yard.

The guard was unlocking the handcuffs and talking quietly to Cody. “Are you okay, son? Do you need to tell me something?”

“No!” said the young man sharply, still seeming reluctant to leave the guard’s side. He looked up when he heard Mal’s approach, then resumed studying the gravel. The guard pushed him through the opening in the gate with more concern than force, glancing at Mal.

Cody simply stood motionless, his head down, shaking slightly. His hair and shirt were wet, and he looked like he’d been crying. “Son?”

Cody jerked his head up. “It’s none of your business,” he said, his voice even and cold. Something in it made Mal – twitchy. Little things standing up on the back of his neck.

“Can I come in? Shi gao xing?” Mal stared. The man who spoke those words sounded like a gentle and very insecure boy, and Mal got the impression he actually thought Mal might deny the request.

“Be my guest,” he said, flummoxed. Once inside, Cody changed without a word to anyone and climbed into his bunk, pulled the covers over his head, and went to sleep.

~~~~~

“Mal?” He turned his head. Khiloh was at the gate, looking – small. He’d withdrawn after that evening at the hospital; Mal had misjudged just how easy the kindhearted guard was to hurt. He walked up to the gate. There was a very lonely man looking through the bars at him, and for a