“That would explain the smell.”

Sense of humor. A funny one...rare and far between and a treasure. The chuckle wheezed from his throat. “I like you funny ones.”

“Do you now? If you like me so much, how about untying me?”

Archie shook his massive head. “No can do. Joey’d be mad. Bad idea to make Joey mad.”

“Who’s Joey?”

“You’ll meet him soon enough.”

It considered this. “The ropes hurt. Could you loosen them a bit?”

“Nope. Mama didn’t raise no dummies.” Mama raised other things, though. Archie didn’t think he’d share that piece of news. It would find out in good time.

“I’m getting hungry. Do you have any food?”

Archie studied on it. Feed them and they made a powerful mess. He shrugged. Made a mess anyway, all things said and done. Besides, mercy out, mercy back.

“Got a little something. Enough to tide you over.” Archie walked to the sideboard and got it a chunk of the remaining meat. Joey’d half fried it, burned on one side, rare on the other. It’d do. Took it back to the bed. Gave it the meat.

It chewed, disgust like a mask on its face. Archie understood. It was an acquired taste. Good, though, once you got used to it. It swallowed. Gagged. Asked for another chug of the water to wash it down. It kept staring at him. Archie kept his face to the side.

“Why won’t you look at me?” it asked.

“Don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“Don’t want to get attached.” There, it was out.

It whimpered.