Free Oblivious by Jamie Bowers Page A

your coconut head.’ Not paying attention to the guard’s orders, Ken started to ascend the concrete steps.
    ‘Don’t take another step,’ the guard shouted, lifting his baton high above his head. Ken stepped up once more, to the step below Joe, who could hardly breathe from the pain he was carrying. Although he was two steps below him, Ken still towered over the guard. His stature intimidated the man in his pressed blue uniform. ‘You both need to move, now!’ The guard shouted with a shiver in his voice. By this point, everyone in the yard was watching the confrontation and the guard knew that if he didn’t show his authority, he wouldn’t last long in his job. He raised his baton higher over his head and quickly pulled it down with as much strength as possible towards Joe’s hand on the metal railing. Ken quickly reached out at the weapon, stopping it a few inches before it hit the fingers of an already struggling Joe.
    ‘That won’t be necessary. I got this.’ said Ken gripping the baton with one hand. The guard, grasped the baton with both hands, tried to pull it free from Ken’s hold but with no success. Ken let go of the stick, causing the guard to fall backwards onto the steps. He placed his arm under Joe’s and lifted him off the step. He held Joe upright and walked him back down to the yard area, his feet barely touching the floor; he looked like a doll in the arms of the big man.
    The guard took to his feet and walked back to the top of the steps. Captain Richards was standing, waiting for him to return. He angrily grabbed the guard by the arm and dragged him inside the doors, slamming it behind him.
    ‘You think you’re going to survive like this?’ Ken asked as he propped Joe up against the cold grey ledge in between the other inmates.
    ‘I’ll be ok,’ said Joe holding his ribs to try and gain his breath, ‘I just need to take it easy.’ Just as Ken sat down next to him, the bell rang, indicating the end of yard time.
    ‘That’s it for today,’ said Ken pulling Joe to his feet, ‘everyone gets 30 minutes outside unless you’re one of the lucky ones who has a job in the garden or you get to go on work detail, but you need to be sucking off the Warden to get a deal like that.
    Ken stooped down to Joe, lifted him up and tossed his arm around his neck. They slowly walked up the steps with the other inmates and through a door to a windowless, cold corridor. One by one the inmates were all ushered back to the cell block in an orderly line. Ken kept his hold on Joe, making sure he didn’t fall. Captain Richards stepped out from around a corner in front of them.
    ‘What have we done this time?’ he said as he looked Joe up and down.
    ‘He’s hurt bad, he needs to see the doctor,’ said Ken as he held on tight under Joe’s arms.
    ‘Well then, let’s get this man to the infirmary. Guards,’ Richards shouted as he signalled two guards from the side, ‘take him to see the doctor.’ The two guards grabbed Joe away from Ken’s side and carried him, dragging his feet behind him. Along the block, in front of his cell, Joe became weak and could feel his eyes getting heavy, eventually blacking out as they dragged his lifeless body into the elevator.

Chapter Ten
     
    Once again Joe could see the morning sun shining through the window, a shadow cast across his face from the painted white bars. Lying on his side as the heat radiated on his face, he could hear the soft sound of a woman singing. He closed his eyes for a moment, imagining Gina singing to their daughter Mary.
    ‘Joe?’ said the voice softly, ‘Are you awake?’ It was Francis; she was sitting on the edge of his bed. He turned slowly onto his back, holding one arm across his abdomen.
    ‘What time is it?’ he said wincing in pain, ‘have I been here long?’ Francis pushed a tablet into his mouth and held out a cup of water.
    ‘You came in yesterday morning and have been asleep ever since.’ she said as he took the cup and