Aisha could tell that Jim was having a hard time saying what he said. Jim told her, in a shaky voice, about his whole experience within the ctarl-ctarl's belly. At first Jim felt safe within the stomach, like it was a womb. Then the stomach started to digest him, and he thought he was floating in stomach acid.

"But...but...I..was swimming in the.." stammered Jim. "...remains in the digested remains of another kid"

"No wonder you were so scarred" said Aisha. Jim nodded. Jim stared at Aisha's bloated belly again. Was the man within Aisha's belly already digested by now? Then, Jim blurted out the thing he was wondering. "Why do Ctarl-Ctarls eat Terrans?"

Aisha said nothing for a full minute. "Because we're a predatory race, and you Terrans are our prey. Some Ctarl-Ctarl view Terrans as weak creatures, who deserved to be eaten. I don't share that view, but I still eat Terran because it's in predatory insinicts. Nothing can change that"

"But...it's awful" said Jim. "if you only knew what it felt like to be digesting"

"It must feel terrible" said Aisha.

"It did" said Jim. "see these burns?"

Jim had been bandaged before he got into the room. Most of the burns were covered in bandages, while other burns weren't so covered. The burns didn't look too bad now, but the sight of them made Jim queasy. He was close to becoming....no, he couldn't finish the thought.

"Well, the doctor says that you'll be here for a couple of days" said Aisha.

"Maybe today you'll get out" said a female voice. Jim and Aisha turned to see a female Terran dressed like a doctor.

"Sally Alarvi" said the doctor, shaking Aisha and Jim's hand. "I heard what happened last night. Those burns look to be healing nicely"

"Will I really be out today?" asked Jim.

"We'll see" said Sally. "I have to go look after another patient of mine first, then I'll be back here. I should be back in a hour or two"

Sally Alarvi left the room, and Gene and Suzuka walked back into the room.

"They captured some of the slavers early this morning" said Suzuka. "it was on the news. They didn't get the leader, though"

"That really firgures" said Aisha. "I'd like to..."

"Yes, we all know what you'd do to them" said Gene. "but let the police have a chance"

"..Alright" said Aisha.

"Come on, let's go get breakfast" said Gene to Suzuka and Aisha. "Jim still needs some sleep"

"I don't" said Jim. "I feel fine"