Urgent Call

Jeht's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and frustration. The miner's response was a breakthrough, a glimmer of hope that had long eluded him. Yet, the barrier of understanding still remained, and Jeht didn't know how to bridge it. He stared at the miner, his mind racing as he grappled with the realization that he was facing an entirely new challenge.

They sat in silence, the tension between them palpable. Jeht observed the miner closely, his eyes tracing the subtle movements of the miner's hands. He could tell that the miner was trying to communicate something, but the gestures were unfamiliar, like a puzzle with missing pieces. Jeht's frustration grew as he wished he could decode the miner's intentions.

Jeht's gaze shifted from the miner to the window, where the darkness of the night spread beyond the cell. He had lost track of time, caught up in the whirlwind of emotions. The dim glow of the artificial city lights filtered through the glassless window, casting a soft illumination on the miner's features. The silence in the room was broken only by the distant hum of the city's activities.

"I have no choice but to sleep today."

Jeht murmured to himself.

He turned his attention back to the miner, his heart sinking with a mixture of determination and resignation. He knew that the miner's actions held meaning, even if he couldn't decipher it yet.

With a deep breath, Jeht shifted his body, leaning forward to get closer to the miner. He pointed to his own legs, then mimicked the action of extending them. His gaze was fixed on the miner's eyes, hoping for some sign of recognition or understanding.

"Extend your legs."

He repeated softly, his voice tinged with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

The miner stared at him, his expression remaining blank. Jeht's heart sank for a moment, but he refused to give up. He gently reached out, his fingers brushing against the miner's legs. Slowly, carefully, he guided the miner's legs into a straightened position.

Jeht's fingers lingered on the miner's legs for a moment longer than necessary, his touch gentle and reassuring.

As he leaned back, he found himself resting his head on the miner's legs. It was an instinctive, impulsive action driven by a desire for closeness and understanding. He stretched out his body, allowing himself to relax in the stillness of the cell.

"Good night."

His voice was barely audible in the quiet room. He knew the miner wouldn't hear him, but the words were more for himself than anything else. It was a way to acknowledge the moment, to convey a sense of connection that went beyond language.

Jeht closed his eyes, the weight of his exhaustion and emotions settling over him. He felt a strange sense of peace, despite the challenges that lay ahead.

Jeht's slumber was deep and dreamless. In the stillness of the cell, he found a sense of solace that had eluded him for so long. The miner's legs provided an unexpected comfort, a source of warmth that eased the turmoil in his heart. He was at peace, connected to the miner in a way that transcended the limitations of language.

The night passed quietly, with the city's hum serving as a gentle lullaby. As the first rays of dawn began to filter through the window, Jeht stirred from his slumber. He slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the soft light. He felt a sense of contentment, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a while.

With a yawn, Jeht stretched his body and lifted his head from the miner's legs. He looked around the cell, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. The events of the previous night had left an indelible mark on him, igniting a determination to continue his efforts to connect with the miner.

As he sat up, he glanced at the miner. To his surprise, the miner was already awake, watching him with those same purplish eyes that held a universe of emotions. Jeht's heart skipped a beat, a mixture of excitement and curiosity coursing through him.

The miner's hands moved, gestures that were still unfamiliar to Jeht. He strained to understand, his brows furrowing as he tried to decipher the miner's intentions. The frustration of not comprehending weighed on him, but he refused to let it dampen his spirits.

"I don’t understand you." Jeht admitted at last. He cursed himself for not learning sign language until now. He didn't have a source because he didn't find out at the moment. Telephone was forbidden, book was forbidden, any other item was forbidden. But maybe, on the off chance, he could ask Olga for a sign language learning book. At least he had a valid excuse for that.

"Wait."

He stood up and approached the window. Then he drew all the air into his lungs and shouted as loudly as he could.

“OOOOLLLLGGGGGGAAAAAA!”

Once again he took a deep breath and shouted.

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”

The base wasn't far from here and there wasn't much noise around, so he thought Olga could hear him. He kept shouting his name, each time with more intensity and desperation, hoping that he would respond.

After a few moments that felt like an eternity, Jeht's heart skipped a beat as he heard hurried footsteps approaching. The sound grew louder and closer until finally, the heavy footsteps came to a halt outside the cell. The door swung open, and there stood Olga, his expression a mix of annoyance and concern.

"What in the world is going on, Jeht? Why are you yelling like a madman?”

Olga's voice was sharp, but his eyes showed a glimmer of worry.

Jeht's chest heaved as he caught his breath, still recovering from his frantic shouting.

"Olga, I need a favor.”

Olga crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Jeht.

"A favor? You woke up the entire base with your shouting for a favor?"

Jeht's eyes pleaded with his as he quickly explained.

"I need a book on sign language. I can't communicate with him because I don't know sign language and otherwise it's so boring here! Allow that at least! Please!"

Olga's stern expression softened as he studied Jeht's face. He let out a sigh and shook his head.

"You never cease to amaze me, Jeht. Fine, I'll get you a book, but that's all. If you cause trouble again, this time I'll plant you in the center of town, naked."

Jeht's heart swelled with gratitude as he nodded emphatically. "Thank you, Olga. You are the best."

Olga turned to leave, but then paused and turned back to face Jeht. "And by the way, you're not the only one in trouble. You'll have to deal with the consequences of disturbing everyone's sleep."

Jeht's face fell as he realized he might have to face further repercussions for his impulsive actions. "I understand. I'll take responsibility."

As Olga left to retrieve the sign language book, Jeht returned to the miner, his heart racing with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. He sat down across from the miner, their eyes meeting once again. He gestured to the miner, trying to convey that help was on the way, that he was committed to finding a way to communicate.

Time passed slowly as they waited. Jeht's mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He felt a renewed sense of determination to break through the barriers that had kept them apart. He was willing to put in the effort, to learn a new language if that's what it took to understand the miner.

Finally, Olga returned, holding a book on sign language in his hands. He handed it to Jeht with a stern look.

"Make sure this doesn't turn into another disaster."

Jeht nodded, his gratitude evident in his eyes.

"Yes, sir."

As Olga left, Jeht opened the book and began to flip through its pages. The illustrations and explanations were foreign to him, but he was determined to learn. He looked up at the miner, his gaze filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

"Let's figure this out together." Jeht murmured to himself, as well as to the miner. He turned his attention back to the book, studying the signs and practicing them in front of the miner.