This time his arm came from around my neck. With nothing holding me upright, I fell facefirst onto the floor of the cage. It was the first time I noticed the cages were sitting on nice hardwood floors. This had been someone’s home once.

I rolled onto my side, panting, trying to take in as much air as possible. I got a glimpse of the man who choked me. He had a satisfied smile as he stared at me from his cage.

Jackson’s bulky body filled the doorway. “Are you boys roughhousing?” He laughed out loud when he looked down at me.

He opened the lock on my cage, then he roughly pulled me out. As we walked down the hallway, he whispered in my ear, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, sport.”

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Jackson escorted me back into the front room. Now I noticed a new cage erected in the corner. It wasn’t like the others with actual bars. This one looked truly portable. It had a grate instead of bars. I had to crouch to fit through the door. There was a square, about the size of a book, in the door that someone could slide food or something else to me. An actual army cot sat inside the cage. It made me feel like I was at the Four Seasons.

Jackson pushed me in and slammed the door. I turned around to see him locking it. He said, “Back up to the little slot. I’ll uncuff you from out here.”

It was the first thing he had told me to do that I didn’t mind doing. It felt great to have my arms free. I tried to wave them to get my blood flowing, but hit the top of the cage. I went down to my knees and did it. Then flopped onto the cot. After the floor, it felt like a king-size bed with a memory-foam topper.

I almost immediately started to drift off. Then I had a hitch in my breathing and sprang awake. It was just a quick dream as I drifted off. But my throat still hurt from where the prisoner in the other room tried to choke me. After that experience, the momentary hitch in my breathing terrified me.

Jackson worked at a computer on a proper desk directly across the room from me. His work area and cot next to his desk were clean and orderly. I assumed that was the Marine training in him.

The other two cots were empty, but clearly belonged to someone. The desk closest to my cage had the most files stacked on it. The other desk looked like it was barely used.

Jackson noticed me sitting up and said, “How’s the throat?”

I just shrugged.

“These fellas would love to claim they killed an American. I hope you appreciate me looking out for you. You’ll be safe up here with us.”