Jack and the Beanstalk [SF YA]

CHAPTER TEN - Blood of an Englishman - Part I

A room gradually came into focus. A shadow moved around at my feet. I tried to sit up and the room crowded in on me as the blood beating in my brain seemed to push out the light. A face appeared above mine; close shorn white hair framed a kindly, familiar looking face. I raised my head enough to look around. The white sheets and the bed frame immediately said hospital.

"Relax, Jack," the face said, "You were close to being nothing more than cold storage when they found you. And the tranqs tend to have a few lingering effects."

I quit trying to move and closed my eyes. The pressure receded.

The voice continued in a resonant rumble, "They'll wear off soon. We'll get some food in you." He helped me sit up, and pulled a tray with various unappealing foodstuffs across my lap.

"Where am I?" I grabbed a fairly appetizing looking fruit bar and munched on it, surprised by its pleasant taste.

"In a hospital. There are police outside the door."

"And who are you?"

"I'm Frank Edwards... your... counsel."

"And you know me? How come everyone knows me?"

"I'm not sure you wish to hear why." He chuckled. "Mother Goose sent me."

With a sigh I laid back down.

"I know that doesn't make you happy, but after we get you out of here you can stay with me. If you don't wish to retain any involvement with Mother it's nothing to me. My only job is to keep you alive, for now. The police are going to ask you some questions." He pulled out a small handheld terminal that folded out into a keyboard. "I'd like you to tell me what happened first."

I told him in as much detail what had happened since I had gotten to the moon. As I described Clay and Mr. Ginnet he began typing on his terminal.

"Is this them?"

Two pictures appeared on the pad that I recognized immediately. "Yes, that's them."

"Then you are in luck."

"Why?"

"I'm going to get the police."

And what am I supposed to do?"

"Just tell them what happened." Edwards exited and returned a few minutes later with a woman in a black jumpsuit. Her face carried a pleasant smile, somewhat lined with fatigue and worry.

"I'm Judge Barett."

"Judge?"

"This is your trial," she sighed. "Mr. Edwards, has he not been informed?"

"Jack," Edwards said, calmly, "You'll be fine. Trust me."

I shrugged. I didn't seem to have much choice. "All right."

"Then you are Jack Petrovich?"

I nodded.

"Let's get down to business then. Tell me what has happened to you since you arrived on the moon."

I told her everything I knew about my employers, but left out all mention of Mother Goose. Not that I owed them anything, but they had gotten me off-planet. When I finished she typed for a few moments and then handed me her terminal.

"You know these two?"

The same pictures appeared on the screen. "That's them."

She punched another key and a list of aliases appeared that made me seem like an honest man.