The Penny Drops (Sea the Depths Book 1) by Karmon Kuhn (warren buffett book recommendations TXT) 📕

all true, then where is Penny?” She asked me, fighting the possibility that I might be speaking honestly.

“I found her once. I’m not sure how I got to the room, but there were at least two humans being kept in that same area of the center. Penny and a pregnant woman. If you find them, you will know that I am telling the truth,” I said, offering her a solution to her curiosity.

“If I find her?” she asked incredulously. “I will do no such thing! I should not have even spoken with you! This is why they told me not to!”

I tried to remain calm, but she was my only chance. If I could somehow plant a seed of doubt, she might sympathize with me. She might somehow feel an urge to help me.

“You do not have to believe me, but you are free to leave here at the end of the day. If you wish to find out the truth, all that you have to do is follow the hallways until you can find the humans. I know that I turned left from my prison’s door, but I am not sure which direction I went after that. Because you are a new attendee and because you were sent here today, there would be little suspicion if you got lost and found your way to Penny,” I suggested, trying to make my croaking, out-of-use voice warm and welcoming.

She was silent, but I could tell that she was considering my words. After a time she said, “I am not sure that I want to know what is going on here. I do not have very long left until the next attendee comes to relieve me.”

“If you find them,” I said, “Please. Save Penny.”

Chapter 19

I

’m not sure when I nodded off, but the conversation with the female guard had exhausted me. When I awoke, she’d been replaced by another threatening male with a terrifyingly straight posture and potent, aggressive scent. I’d have no such conversation with him and busied myself with mathematical equations. After the extended period of being here without stimulation, I’d realized that practicing math solutions and verb conjugations from memory helped me to focus and give me some sort of purpose to my unscheduled waking hours. To be: am, are, is, was, were, have been, has been, had been, would have been

When the shift changed and my meal came, I paused my silent recitations and ate the raw fish and eggs whole and tried to appreciate the taste and flavor as they slithered down my throat. I missed human food. From time to time, I imagined what my simple prison meals would taste like with human senses. It was quite the entertainment in my cell.

Once I’d finished eating, I noticed the scent of someone else. Surely, I hadn’t slept through an entire shift. But, there were never two guards. The new scent was soft on the surface with an intense undertone that made it hard to read.

Then, the female guard from earlier entered from the drainage chamber. She came in and shot a glance at the current guard and then me, stood up stick-straight and secreted a new smell. The previous guard seemed to understand it well enough, like it was a secret passcode, and then he left.

I had so many questions for the guard, and it took all of my will not to give away my feelings automatically. Rather than pouncing on her, I waited for her to acclimate.

Time seemed frozen as I waited for her to react to me until finally she spoke, “Door 4, central hall of the department.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. She found Penny! Maybe she would even help me after all! I slithered toward her intending to thank her, but I was bowled over by a powerful odor, thick with subtext. I’d never sensed this simultaneous terror and rage. Like a caged animal primed to attack. I shrunk down, paralyzed with fear and bemusement. Her fists were balled up. She opened one and deposited something into my hand.

Then, she said,“Hit me.”

“What?!”

“Hit me! You need to go, but there has to be evidence of a struggle. Hit me as hard as you can!”

“But . . . You’ve helped me, how can I . . . ?”

“Consider this injury as a thank you. It could keep me from being in your position. Now! HIT ME.”

I pulled back my puny arm. It was so heavy. As weak as I was, the force of that blow to her unprotected face still caused her to double over, flinching and holding her swollen face. My knuckles stung, and I knew they would soon bruise and swell.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered before sneaking out of the room.

I followed her instructions and slithered down the dark hallway, hugging the walls with my back out. I tried my best to blend in to the background and communicate as neutral of a scent as possible in case anyone was around a corner. I was quite tired but was able to move quickly, all things considered.

It was much easier to find my way this time as I had some direction. Then, I saw them. A row of newly numbered doors in the larger main tunnel. I shivered with nervous excitement. I could do this. I had to do this. For me and for Penny.

I sensed no one nearby until I was just outside the first door. The wafting scents of fear and pain greeted me. A bitter tang of human suffering. I followed the trail and fought the urge to call out. I didn’t want to risk drawing attention to myself.

I put my ear to the first door and heard a slight stirring. I could smell a human but no one else. I opened the door slightly and peered in. It was a young woman, about Penny’s age. She was also swollen with pregnancy, just as the woman before had been.

I slowly