Little Brother Chapter 21 Summary

  • Marcus learns from Barbara that he's safe, but that he's still under arrest. It's complicated.
  • She asks what he'd like to do. He wants to find Ange and Darryl.
  • They go looking cell by cell with no luck, but then find another corridor with high-tech keypad entry cells.
  • Ange is in one of them. Darryl's in another. The California patrolmen show up and Barbara says they need access codes to these cells before she and Marcus will move.
  • Prisons really suck.
  • They get Ange's cell open first. She's been drugged because she wouldn't stop screaming. Darryl's curled up naked in the back of his cell. He's not doing so well.
  • Marcus is locked back in his cell for the night. The next day he's chained to five other prisoners and they are taken away in buses to the courthouse.
  • Cue dramatic courtroom scene complete with a compassionate judge, a stirring speech by Marcus, and an ACLU lawyer in action.
  • Marcus says he won't run if he's let out on bail. He could have last week and he didn't. The judge grants bail.
  • Marcus's dad tackles Marcus as he turns to go. Mom's there too.
  • Darryl's in the hospital; they think he'll be okay (21.72). Marcus and his parents go visit him together.
  • Darryl's roommate at the hospital is the older guy who'd been chained to Marcus leaving Treasure Island. Small world.
  • Darryl's sleeping and Marcus squeezes his hand.