"How long do I have to stay here, live on your
ranch, and milk cows or whatever?" Teal was
definitely someone who couldn't stand being bossed
around,
"That's entirely up to you." Dr. Foreman
replied. "Now then, there will be no more questions."
She turned to Robin and me. "No more questions from
any of you. You will all just listen and you will do
what you are told to do. Listen well, girls," she added,
her cold smile returning to those lips. "Be keen, girls,
be keen. Your comfort and happiness depend on it
like they never have before."
She stepped back, glanced at the young women
behind her, who looked excited about her firmness. I wouldn't admit it, of course, but they frightened me. I wondered if Robin's and Teal's hearts were pounding as hard as mine was now, despite the brave face
masks they wore.
We were all brought here more or less against
our will. Dr. Foreman was probably not wrong about
that. We had no one out there to help us, no one to
call, no one to come for us. I couldn't help feelingthat I was dangling in space, holding on to a thin piece
of spidery web that this strange woman, sometimes
sounding nice, sometimes sounding scary, held at the
other end. If she decided to let go, I. as well as Robin
and Teal, would fall into some darker place. What else
could we do but listen?
"Now, so there are no misunderstandings and
no whining like we're hearing." Dr. Foreman said,
glaring at Teal again. "let me be clear about what you
should expect after you leave here. At my home you
will find there are no radios, no magazines, no CDs,
and especially no television for anyone until she has