I had used up more energy than I realized trying to fight off the Stranger— by the time I regained consciousness, it was the next day, and we were already out in the sun again. My body was being dragged through the dust, quickly losing its matte finish to the red earth. With some effort, I turned over and tapped the Stranger’s locked arm.
“...Hey.”
“…”
“HEY!”
“...The sinner speaks.”
“The sinner would like to get up. Could you stop walking for a moment, please??”
“I will stop for 62 seconds.”
“Ugh...my joints have dirt in them...”
“I can invert you and shake it out.”
“NO! Please...I mean, thanks, but no thanks. It’ll come out by itself when I walk...”
“Will you now go willingly to your execution…?”
“...I guess. I mean, I think I’d rather walk than be dragged...”
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“...Your strong will remains.”
“My what?”
“I believe...that I remember this aspect of your personality.”
“...Wait, wait, wait; wait a second— do you...know me??”
“I believe that you are well-known.”
“So...you know about me?”
“Perhaps.”
“Perhaps...?”
“...It is difficult for me to access individual memories in this state. I will continue to process the request.”
“Oh...so, basically, the Cordyceps Protocol filling up your brain makes it hard for you to think.”
“…”
“But...that means you’re kind of still in there somewhere, even though you’re a Worm Feeder. Like, you’re aware of what’s going on.”
“...This is true for all of us. CDY101-9 is a program that controls only movements and certain speech patterns. A Worm Feeder’s thoughts remain its own.”
“So it’s like you’re...trapped...”
“…”
“...Can you tell me...I mean, if you wanted to call out for help, can you still do that? Can you tell people you don’t really want to take them to the Worm??”
“I do want to take you to the Worm.”
“But is that you saying that, or is that the Protocol saying that??”
“I do not know how to answer that question. I will continue to process the request.”
“…”
“62 seconds have passed. We will continue on.”