Free Precipice: The Beginning by Kevin J. Howard Page A

them.”
    “Maybe, but pregnant women mark things, like ravenous beasts!” Annie extended her arms while shaking her hands. “Now help me up, my butt’s asleep.”
    Travis took hold of his wife’s hands and stood, pulling her to her feet. She dusted off her pants and was a bit caught off guard as he leaned in for a kiss. They held each other for a moment, locked in a long kiss with the sun shining down on them. Standing on the side of the road, their clothes lightly coated with dust and pollen, vomit on Annie’s shoes. This was a perfect moment. He’d give anything for another vomit tasting kiss.
    Now Travis sat in a dark cell millions of miles from that road, from his Annie. He gave into the darkness slumbering within his heart and let the tears roll down his face. No shame is showing weakness when you’re locked inside a black room, cut off from everyone like a carrier of some deadly virus. He let himself go limp and slid down the wall, lying on his side with an absent sigh. Travis wondered if he was approaching day three and felt heartache as a horrible thought seeped into his mind. What if this was still day one? No way of knowing for sure. Not till they open that door to tell him he’s no longer in time out. He’d been given four meals, so that had to be two breakfasts and two dinners.
    “Please be the second day,” Travis spoke, taking comfort in the sound of his own voice. Something other than just the dark silence, confirming that yes, he was still there.

11
    “W hat did he just say?” Andrews asked, leaning back in his office chair while aiming a dart.
    “I don’t know. Couldn’t catch it,” Alvin lied. Alvin didn’t want to pass along the sad words Travis had muttered in despair. There was no enjoyment watching a proud man weeping on the floor of a dark cell, not for Alvin anyway.
    “Problem is they treat this place like a fucking health spa.” Bowers took a seat on the table beside Alvin, leaning in to see Travis on the monitor. “Especially those military fucks.”
    “Home office has no clue how dangerous it really is out here.” Andrews threw the dart and smiled with satisfaction as it hit the picture of Jesus square in the nose. “This place is hell.”
    “Yeah, no shit,” Bowers laughed, cutting it off quickly as the expression on his superiors face showed annoyance.
    “They give these men psychological evaluations every month. They can play pool and drink their little frozen drinks. Classical music on the overheads and pictures on the walls to remind us of summer days and springtime picnics. But it’s all a crock of shit.” Andrews stood from his chair and walked over to the dartboard, pulling the five darts delicately from the picture so as not to tear it. “All it takes is for one miner to go ape shit crazy. Just one.” Andrews held out his finger, waving it between them. “One son of a bitch goes insane up here and we’re all fucked. Mark my words gentlemen. We are all that stands between civilized conduct and complete anarchy.” Andrews took a seat, aiming his first dart.
    “I think it’s more stable than that, sir.” Alvin turned from the monitor, crossing his arms about his chest.
    “These men outnumber us thirty to one.” Andrews threw the dart, hitting Jesus in the wrist. “That’ll keep him on the cross!” Andrews let out a chuckle.
    “I’m not worried. These men are here to work, plain and simple.”
    “It’s a prison…plain and simple. Call it an “Off-world facility” or fucking Disneyland. A prison is a prison. Only we’re in general population with these common thugs.”
    “These men aren’t inmates,” Alvin snapped.
    “Are you deliberately trying to chap my ass today?” Andrews lowered the second dart and gave Alvin his full attention. “Three hundred of these bastards are here from the company to work, I’ll give you that. But what about your little buddy there and his men? These men are trained soldiers sent here on some deal with the