Dr. Severius and Esk hashed out the details of their initial prison research session before parting. Esk left the alley first, casually walking in the opposite direction of the cabin. Esk did not look back to see which way Dr. Severius went. Instead, he circled around and took a long walk through the wooded area surrounding Sam’s cabin. The air was fresh and cool under the full moon. Esk rather liked being in human form sometimes, especially when he could experience the pleasures of being human. Unfortunately, that was not often these days. These were dark times in Esk’s mind… At least Esk knew that Dr. Severius would not be able to see the psychopath and himself be translated out of the prison with the camera interference. That would make Esk’s research and reprogramming much simpler and safer for all involved. He was looking forward to it the coming Monday.

When Esk returned to the cabin, Sam was grilling more steak creatures. He had just turned a heat-seared tissue mass with his tongs when Esk arrived.

“Figured since ya’ missed the last couple steaks, you’d want one t’night. They’re almost done.”

Esk’s stomach flip-flopped inside his armor. The sound of the sizzling on the grill almost made him weep. They eat other creatures. They might eat me if I’m not careful. I do not think that Sam would allow that to happen, but I cannot trust this race of cannibals. I must be vigilant.

“Sam, it is kind of you to prepare me a steak, however, I do not eat steak,” Esk said.

“You a vegetarian, Esk?” Sam asked, turning around.

“Um. Yes. A vegetarian. Yes, Sam, that is what I am.”

“Aw, well ya’ shoulda’ just said so. I’m sorry, buddy. I been tryin’ ta’ make ya’ eat meat when ya’ don’t eat meat. That’s like makin’ me eat liver. I hate liver.”

“What is liver, Sam?”

“Oh, it’s an organ in yer body that filters out all the bad stuff that’cha eat.”

“And humans eat it?”

“Yeah. Dunno why, either. Seems sick ta’ me. Anyway, I’ll get’cha some cereal for supper. That’s all I got ‘til tomorrow when I can get to the store.”

Esk was relieved that he would not have to consume the muscle of another being. He reported to the Council while Sam was asleep that night. Esk told them of the plans that he and Dr. Severius had made to conduct research on psychopaths undetected and of the vegetarian diet that excluded the cannibalistic tendencies of many humans. The Council hummed their approval in the chambers of the moon. It sounded something like wolves howling to those on Earth.

Esk also revealed his technique of entering the human body through the pores instead of the orifices for examination. The collective consciousness had never considered such an approach. Esk assured them that it was more thorough and more humane, not to mention easier to accomplish. He recommended that all visitors be trained in this technique. The Eskerektul Council named Esk the official trainer of the technique, asking him to begin educating the other visitors post haste. His primary mission stood, though. That took priority, which pleased Esk to no end.

Sam was waiting for Esk the next morning—Saturday morning—with a skin-covered book. It was sitting on the table where Esk’s breakfast plate usually sat.

“I want ta’ show ya’ the Good Book, Esk. Ya’ prob’ly ain’t ever seen one since ya’ don’t know who God is and ya’ don’t reco’nize the Lawd. It’s called the Holy Bible, rightly. It tells ya’ all ‘bout Jesus Christ and ever’thing He done fer us in the New Testament. Communion’s tomorrow an’ I want’cha ta’ understand how the body and the blood of Jesus is prepared. That’s what I wanna show ya’ first.”

Esk felt the fluid drain from his face. A recipe book for Jesus Christ?! The cannibals have actually written down how to prepare his flesh and his blood to consume? I must tell Dr. Severius that it is imperative that our research begin before Monday. Should I alert the Council? No, I will wait to tell the Council, but I must contact Severius. Immediately!

Ya’ okay, Esk? Ya’ look pretty pale. Maybe we should do this later when yer feelin’ better. Go lay down fer a bit an’ see if ya’ feel up to it later, okay? I worry ‘bout ya’. Maybe ya’ need ta’ go to the doctor. There’s a walk-in place down the road in the next town that we can go to if ya’ feel sick. They might be able ta’ help an’ they work the weekends.”

Esk agreed to go to the doctor if it would help him to feel less nauseated at the prospect of seeing the carnage of communion the next day. Sam loaded up the truck and the two of them set out toward the next community, which was larger and had more services than Fletcher did. Esk slept most of the way to the clinic. Sam woke him when they arrived.

“Esk, buddy, we’re here. At the clinic,” Sam whispered, “and they’re waitin’ fer us. I called ahead.”

Esk was sleepy but alert enough to recognize that the building was constructed of strange, hard blocks. He would have to research building materials later to learn what these were called. Esk found them to be quite attractive. Sam walked Esk into the clinic and stood beside him as he checked in for an appointment.

“Name?” asked the administrative assistant.

“Esk.”

“Esk…what? I need more information, Honey.”

Esk looked befuddled and was still very pale, sweating now. A nurse walked up from behind the secretary.

“Let’s get ya’ back ta’ see a doctor right now. The paperwork can wait. I don’t want’cha passin’ out in our waitin’ room,” the nurse said.

Esk hoped that the humans could do something to make him feel better about the whole ordeal before it happened. The kind nurse came and retrieved Esk, requesting that he step through another door. Before closing it, she laid a gown next to him on the strange articulated bed.

“The doctor will be in to examine you soon, Hon.”

The door closed behind the nurse. Examine me? NO! They are trying to reprogram me to be a cannibal. I knew it! I will not have it. I must not be examined by this race. What do I do? I cannot be found out—not now. I have come this far, and I will not allow my mission to be compromised. I—”

Just then, the door swung open and, while the doctor was nodding to the nurse, Esk made his move. He transformed into his native form. The physician was startled to see nothing but a gooey green mass of stringy slime on the bed. He wrapped it in the paper that it sat on and pitched it into the biohazard can, washing his hands several times with soap and warm water. Esk, meanwhile, was wondering what he had gotten himself into now. Esk could hear the muffled voice of the doctor telling Sam that he could not find his friend. Sam was distressed, and so was Esk. Later, after clinic hours were over and the cleaning crew was coming around, Esk decided that it was safe to attempt an escape. Suddenly, the door banged open.

“Yeah, I got this one. And the biohaz goes to the incinerator to be burned. Ya’ know that, right, LeWanda?” said an unfamiliar female voice.

Esk panicked. They are going to cook me! Cannibals, all of them! Esk translated himself to the moon just as the paper from the can he was imprisoned in was dumped onto the belt that led to the incinerator located in the basement of the former crematorium turned clinic. The Council called Esk into their chambers, wondering what the unexpected return was about.

“Nothing yet, Council,” said Esk.

“Yet?” the Council asked.

“I have not prepared a full report. I will have one for you after tomorrow regarding communing with the dead and the cannibalism that accompanies it.”

“Very well…”

Image by Chouaib Saoud via Pixabay