Albert hoped that the hand Caesar placed on his shoulder would help him maintain his balance; even on his elbows, he felt unsteady. He refused to attempt to climb to his feet at the moment, as he could already tell it would be a futile effort.

Caesar's question brought memories of imprisonment back to the forefront of his mind. Quick to distract himself from the thoughts of painful experimentation, isolation, and starvation, he replied, "The opposite. They did not allow me to sleep."

He fell silent as he shut his eyes, only to speak a moment later. "Is the village far? ... I want to go home."