Chapter 21

Jenn woke up with the book still in her hand. "I guess I fell asleep reading". She looked around. Her breakfast wasn't here yet. 'It must be too early she thought, as she notice Matt was already gone. "I wonder where he goes every morning?"
Just then Matt walked in, "Well, hello Jenn. I see you're up early this morning".
"What time is it?"
"It's 6:00".
"That's too early".
Matt laughed, "I brought you breakfast".
"That was nice of you".
He laughed again. "I don't know about that. It's my job. I work in the kitchen".
"Is that why you get up so early?"
"Uh huh. 4:45 every morning".
Matt left and she ate her breakfast. It was the same slop every morning. At least this time it was warm. When she finished she went back to sleep until the guard came in. She and Matt both asked to go to the Arboretum.
"Hey Jenn, ready for another game of waggle?"
"I've been waiting all day". As they set up the pieces Jenn steered the conversation. "Matt loaned me a book about Darien Mallory".
"He's an interesting
guy, isn't he?"
"Who, Matt? He's kind of quiet though. I really don't know".
"Well, yeah, but I meant Mallory".
"Oh, sure. He sounds a lot like some guys from my world".
"Your world?" Paul was shocked.
"I thought you knew about other worlds? Your move".
"Come on 6. Darn." He moved a blue piece 3 spaces. "Sure I've heard of other worlds. I've never been to one but yeah. It's just that I never thought I'd meet someone from his planet".
"I didn't say he was from my planet. I've never even heard of him. Move my orange piece 8 spaces forward".
"You're almost home".
"I wish".
"No, I was talking about the game".
"Yeah. I guess I am".
" I always suspected Mallory got his ideas from other people".
"Really?"
"Yeah. I went to see him speak one time before he left. I liked what he had to say, but he seemed to be borrowing ideas from other people. It was like he copied a speech from them and didn't even bother to put it in his own words. But I think he did at least understand what he was talking about".
"Yeah, I thought so too. But I wouldn't worry too much about it".
"Why not?"
"The guys he stole his ideas from are real famious and real dead".
"How famous? How dead?"
"Let's just say that when people want to say that something is real old, it was before he was born and when a famous rock band said they were more famous than Jesus, their album went from 1 to 1000".
"Damn". Paul rolled the die. "Looks like we're both about to win. Your move".
"So you said you knew a way I could get out of here?" She moved her last piece home.
"I think so. You're not from this world, right?"
"Right".
"So if I said that I knew a way to get you out of here, but you could never come back to Rome, it wouldn't be a problem?"
"As long as I can go home".
"I don't know if I can get you home but, yeah, I can get you out of here".
"Mark told me you could help me get home".
"I don't know about that, but I can do something".
"Like what?"
"I can get you out of here."
"Mark was already doing that."
"Mark was going to get you out sometime this lifetime I can get you out tomorrow at the latest".
"How?"
"It's simple." He started writing down instructions. "Memorize this and then flush it. Don't let anyone know and don't let anyone think anything is different".
"What makes you think Mallory got his ideas from other people?"
"I saw him speak one time. He knew what he was talking about, but he wasn't that smart. Come on, let's finish the game".
"I got a four. Yeah!" Jenn move her piece closer to home. "Are you sure you can get me out?"
"No problem".