“Before you make any rash decisions you got to remember that unless you can prove they are doing something illegal, you can’t eat them,” Jim stated gravely for Aisha to think about. He had no problem with her eating people that were criminals or asked for it, but unless she had cold hard facts to back her up, Aisha was on a short leash. The agreement between the terrans and the Ctarl-Ctarl was already shaky; Aisha running around eating every suspected criminal was not going to make stabilizing the treaty any easier.
“But we got a witness,” Aisha pointed out, motioning at John in the corner. The orphan was remaining silent after the man had left, but his eyes were nervously looking at Aisha. Jim took a deep breath and walked over to John in the corner. Trying to put on his most calm and understanding face, Jim prepared to talk to the boy.
“John, do you have any proof that you were forced into slave labor?” Jim could see that boy was sensitive about what was happening, so Jim was trying to act as adult as possible for John.
“You got my word, ain’t that good enough?” John defended himself fruitlessly. Jim looked over at Aisha on her chair; both her arms were folded over her big gurgling belly. She was looking at Jim with an eyebrow up and an uninterested look on her face. She didn’t care about proof, she just wanted another bite before going to bed. How she could be still hungry after scarfing down on a full-grown man, Jim would never know. All that mattered to Aisha was action and she wanted to take some, not after talking about it, but right this moment.
“You don’t believe me?” Jim’s attention returned to John when he uttered that. He soot and grim on his cheeks was being washed away by the fresh tears welling up in his big blue eyes. He looked at Jim like a puppy that had been kicked. His lip was puckered up and he was trembling all over.
“You aren’t going to help me and I’ll be going back to that sweat shop again. Well I refuse to go back.” He pushed past Jim and ran right to Aisha’s side. He looked into her silted aloof eyes and crotched down on his knees.
“I’d rather be eaten then go back there. What do you say Ctarl-Ctarl, will you eat me?” Aisha’s eyes light up and a fanged smile formed on her face. She got up from her chair, her belly wiggling around as she stood. Standing over the kneeling boy, Aisha looked him over hungrily. He may be dirty and small, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. She bent over and opened her jaws wide until they were big enough to easily fit Johns whole head in between her jaws.
“Stop Aisha!” Jim screamed, as Aisha got ready to pounce on John. Jim knew from watching Aisha before that she could definitely down John in a heartbeat and then he’d be lost forever. Aisha never let anyone out of her stomach alive, even when the people that volunteered had second thoughts; Aisha always refused to let them go.
“aaaaahk?” Aisha asked with her jaws hovering wide over John’s head. Saliva was dripping off her fangs onto John’s upturned face, showering his face in the slippery drool that would help him down with no trouble.
“John, I never said that I didn’t believe you, it’s just that I doubt the cops would do the same. If Aisha is going to eat someone, she must have undeniable proof of their felony.” John nodded solemnly and inched away from Aisha, who was still posed to bite down.
“And Aisha, he’s only a kid. Just cause he says it’s okay to eat him doesn’t make it true.” Aisha closed her jaws and pouted at Jim. She hated to be reprimanded and would usually inflict pain on anyone that gave her orders, but she let Jim do it because he was her friend.
“But I’m still hungry,” Aisha whined. Aisha missed the fact that her last meal was still stretching her belly out nearly to her knees.
“Then have some of the fish casserole from last night. It’s in the fridge behind the butter.” Jim pointed to the kitchen and not having to be told twice, Aisha ran as fast as her bloated form could manage towards the food.
“Don’t worry kid, when Gene gets here we’ll set everything strait,” Jim said while he patted John on the back to comfort him.
“Lets just hope he doesn’t get piss drunk and pass out in the gutter,” Jim spoke softly, not wanting John to hear that part about his only hope.