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.If her hands are not, say, tied behind her in the sack, theyare usually placed at her thighs, that her arms will be down, at her sides,when she is in the sack.When she is almost fully entered into the sack thecollar on the neck chain, the collar within the sack, the chain entering itfrom the outside, is locked on her neck.She is then entered fully into thesack, and it is tied shut, usually about a foot above her head.The chains arefastened to the wagon, sometimes to the wheels, to impede their movement, orto other objects, for example, stakes or trees.The common slave sack,incidentally, is much simpler, commonly little more than a sturdy canvas orleather sack which may be tied, buckled or chained shut. You are keeping her under unusual security, I said. It is necessary, he said. She has become a beauty.The men hang about,asking about her, making offers for her, and such.I fear she might be stolenat night. Excellent, I said.I then followed Ephialtes about the wagon, and sat down, cross-legged, bytheir small fire. What is the news of Torcadino? I asked. I do not know, he said.The girl in the yellow tunic served us, quietly, efficiently, deferentially.She was Liadne, a slave.She had been picked up in the vicinity of the Crooked Tam, months ago.She wasPage 228ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlas first girl to the others, even Phoebe, the free woman. It is strange, I said. It seems surely there should be news from Torcadinoby now. Dietrich of Tarnburg is trapped, said Ephialtes. It is a matter of time.Hewill be starved out.I did not think that Dietrich would be starved out.He was holding Torcadinowith only some five thousand men, and that many, I thought, might subsist onproduce grown within the city, in yards, in torn-up streets, in roof gardens,and such.The civilian population, helpfully, had been for the most partexpelled from the city shortly after its capture.An exception had been made,of course, for enslaved women of interest.One of the duties of these women,many of high caste, now enslaved, would doubtless be the tending of thesoldiers´ gardens. There is no escape for him, said Ephialtes. Perhaps not, I said. For his men, at least, he said. Perhaps he, himself, and some officers,might escape by tam, at night. Perhaps, I said.I doubted, however, that Dietrich would abandon his men. Have you come alone to Brundisium? asked Ephialtes. No, I said, I came with two companions, but they are elsewhere, at mycamp. They are welcome here, of course, said Ephialtes. There is room under thewagon. Thank you, I said. I am grateful for that. I had not wished to bringMarcus and Ina to the wagon of Ephialtes, of course, for it was, for mostpractical purposes, within the Cosian camp.From where we were I could have thrown a stone among the tents.The accent ofMarcus, here, might have provoked suspicion, inquiries and such.I had lefthim and Ina in a large, crowded area near the periphery of the slave camp, onepopulated now by itinerants, peddlers, camp guards and such.In such a placethere was a medley of accents and I did not think the young manand the blond female would attract undue attention, except perhaps insofar asIna might excite interest as a possible chain slut. I have kept the accounts with care, said Ephialtes. You have deducted your commission, and expenses of feed, and such, I said. I will do so, he said.We heard a coin thrown into one of the copper bowls on the far side of thewagon.Ephialtes bent down a little, to look across the fire, under the wagon. Afellow is putting Amina into service, he said. A tarsk bit? I asked. Yes, said Ephialtes.He sat back. Several fellows have asked me to putPhoebe at the stake,he said, being willing to pay an entire copper tarsk. For only a brief use and handling? I asked. Yes, he said. She must have become a beauty, I said. She has, he said. Shall I have her released from the sack, for yourinspection? No, I said. I may wish, however, to have her pre-sented in the morning. At your convenience, he said.We heard another tarsk bit strike into one of the bowls, and then rattle to astop. Rimice is in use, said Ephialtes, peering under the wagon, looking to theother side. You have put their former free-woman names on them as slave names, I noted. Yes, he said. Excellent, I said.In a sense, of course, all female names are slave names,Page 229ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlbeing the names of slaves.But, of course, not all slaves are legal slaves.With some women it is useful to give them a new name, or even to change theirname from time to time, as one might change the name of any animal.Withothers, it is amusing to have them answer-ing to their old names, but nowmerely as slaves to slave names.Much depends on the woman, for example, withrespect to what most stimulates her, and makes her the most helpless.Too,things may always be changed, at the master´s will.I heard one of the women cry out. That is Amina, I said. Yes, said Ephialtes. She has become a slave, hasn´t she? I asked. Yes, he said.In a few moments, we heard, too, from a slightly different direction, gasps,then moans and soft cries. That is Rimice, said Ephialtes. She, too, is apparently becoming acquainted with her collar, I said. Just wait, said Ephialtes, until he forces her beyond the point from whichshe can return. Excellent, I said.That would be the point at which the woman has no choicebut to accept the slave orgasm. I am interested in clearing up our business very soon, I said. Very well, said Ephialtes.Liadne´s eyes met mine.For some reason, she seemed terrified.At that moment Amina cried out in helpless submission.It is a beautifulsound, and one not unfamiliar to masters.A few moments later Rimice alsocried out, wildly and helplessly, her small, well-curved body, with itssensitivities and respon-siveness, apparently turned against herby the mercilessness of her use-master, forcing her to endure slave ecstasy,and then, with a joyous sob, she became one with the ecstasy, and a yieldingslave. Take the whip, and check the girls, said Ephialtes to Liadne. Yes, Master, she said, leaping up.In a moment she was on the other side of the wagon.I turned about, peeringunder the wagon.Liadne had knelt before the fellow who had put Amina in use. Are yousatisfied with the slave, Master, she asked.I could see the terror in Amina´s eyes. Yes, said the fellow, and left.Liadne then knelt before the other fellow, who had risen now, next to thesmall, trembling, curvaceous Rimice. Are you satisfied with the slave,Master? asked Liadne.Rimice looked down, frightened, at the dirt.Her fingers were pressed down,into it. Yes, said the fellow, and he, too, left.Liadne then leaped to her feet, whip in hand. On your backs, hands at yoursides, palms up, slaves! she said.Immediately Amina and Rimice lay supine, parallel to one another, their handsat their sides, their palms up, the chains on their necks running to theirindividual stakes.Liadne snapped the whip.Both the supine slaves shuddered.I gathered they had felt the lash uponoccasion. You did not do badly, Amina, said Liadne. Thank you, Mistress! said Amina. But you will attempt to do better next time, will you not? inquired Liadne. Yes, Mistress, Amina, the slave, assured her. But as for you, Rimice! said Liadne, threateningly. Mistress? quavered lovely Rimice.Liadne at that point snapped the whipagain, angrily
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