Deceived, captured, and abused…
“How long will they be out?” Mack Gunson, the ship’s captain, asked the cook.
“I don’t want to give them too much at once. You can taste it if it is too strong, but it will stay in their systems. By tomorrow afternoon when we rendezvous with Blackie, they’ll be very easy to handle.”
“Don’t see why we can’t just knock them out and do it that way.”
“I’ve told you before. If they are power users, they can do things to your head and so they have to be mugged with this dumb juice. Blackie will give it to them when they are on his ship. They use it in Port on the pick-ups to control them. I’ve seen it over an’ over. They get so frustrated not being able to use their psy power, they’ll do just about anything you want just so they can function again.”
“Well, that cussed flag is worth all three of them together and Blackie better realize it.”
“Don’t worry. I sailed with him for a couple of years, and he’ll pay up front for that flag. The old man might get ransomed, but those women will end up in the tail house unless they have some pretty strong powers. Wouldn’t mind doing that young one myself. She’s a looker but not the average Pin. Looks more like a Regal, even if she dresses like a Pin.”
“You leave her alone if you don’t want a flogging,” the captain snarled. “If she is virgin, she’ll bring a better credit in Port, and that is what Blackie wants. If he sells her to the tail house, you can look her up next time you’ll back in Port —if the shore patrol doesn’t get you first.”
“I hear you. Just be sure Blackie knows it was Cookie Clarke turned you on to this snatch.”
Mack was sure he would keep Cookie out of sight when they rendezvoused with Blackie. He need never know about the diplomatic banner. It would come in handy when Mack wanted to raid towns in Utopia.
***
The stench roused Sarita. The same quiet swish of the water against the hull of the ship was there but she was not lying on the soft bunk where she had laid down. Her eyes resisted her attempts to open but when she managed to get them open, it didn’t matter. It was too dark to see. She lay still and listened. It was as if she were dreaming but she knew she wasn’t. Something was making her feel sleepy and uncaring, but deep within her mind she wanted to scream. This was not right. Something was very, very wrong.
Footsteps above her and voices began to come into focus. Her mind was clearing, and she realized her hands were free, but her feet were bound. Her arms didn’t want to work. She willed them to move and felt a rough, damp mat under her. Disgusted, she sensed she was lying in her own waste. She had wet herself as if she were a baby. The stench around her made her aware she was not the only one in that condition. The sudden light from the deck above her made her cry out in pain. Her eyes were not accustomed to the bright.
“One of them is awake!” a male voice cried. “Get me some help down here!” Through her closed eyes, she sensed the changing of the light and heard the clump of feet as the speaker came down into the darkness. “Hope I don’t get the duty to clean up this mess when we hit Port.”
A different voice called from above. “You don’t need any help. Give the one who’s awake a double ration. Must not have much power, or they’d be out.” A hand roughly pulled Sarita up to a sitting position and placed a container in her hand.
“Drink, girl, while I feed the rest.” Sarita grasped the container and automatically brought it to her lips and drank. Deep in her mind she screamed to stop. That drink was keeping her docile and sleepy, an evil brew. It was slightly sweet, and she was so very thirsty. She was aware of small noises as the man moved about the darkness giving cups of the liquid to others. Her mother and uncle must be here, too. She tried to call out, but the man distracted her by yanking the drink from her hand and filling it again.
“No, you don’t girly. Drink up this second helping and go back to sleep. We’ll be in Port in the morning. Then you’ll be sorted and signed on to the crew. Maybe I’ll come see you in the Tail House. Looks as if you’ll be a pretty one when you’re cleaned up.” Sarita drank the second container greedily. She was so thirsty. All the while her mind was fighting to get free of whatever was in the drink. The drink won and she slipped again into a heavily drugged sleep.
Should you want to read the whole story…
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