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."And I do not mean by a cord or rope to which each clings,'' said Julian."Imean a neck chain, a wrist chain, an ankle chain, an arrangement of bars andcollars, locked, plank neck-stocks, nailed or bolted shut, such things.""Yes, milord," said the officer.Page 37 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThe figures, under the sheetlike coverings, shifted, uneasily.The sound of the third warning then rang out, from the port tower."The sequencing is begun," said an officer."You must board immediately," said another."He is right, milord," said the supply officer."Sir!" called down the officer, anxiously, from the higher entryway, at thetop of the wheeled, steel stairway."I would see them," said Julian, suspiciously, abruptly."There is no time, milord," said the chief supply officer."Remove the traveling cloaks," commanded Julian.This was hastily done, almost frantically.There were shouts of pleasure from the ruffians, and others, on the quay."They are not collared!" said Julian."They are ankleted, milord," said the supply officer.Each of the figures was now revealed to be that of a lightly clad beautifulwoman.Each wore a white, short skirt which wrapped about her hips, and asnug, tight white halter.The midriff of each was bared."They are muchly clothed," said Julian."They are prize slaves," said the officer.Julian went to one of the girls, and then to another.He thrust up the shortskirt at the left hip.One of the slaves, a blonde, gasped, in protest, though it was not she whoseflank was thus subjected to such abrupt, peremptory inspection.Julian looked at her, puzzled, and then looked to the officer."These are not branded," he said."None are branded," said the supply officer."One in authority, whose nameneed not be spoken here, thought that felicitous, that the masters into whoseownership they come might then have them marked as they please, or even not,if that be their wish.""I see," said Julian."They are prize slaves," said the officer."But in their condition as slave no more than any other slave,'' said Julian.Page 38 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"True," said the officer."A common mark then would be as quite suitable for them, indeed, surely asappropriate for them, as for any other.""True," said the officer."Indeed," said Julian, "let the most beautiful of slaves wear no more than acommon mark, that it may help her to keep in mind what she is, that she is nomore than a slave!""Yes, milord," said the officer.One of the slaves, a blonde, stiffened, in anger.Once, again, this caught the eye of Julian."It is time to board!" called the officer from the higher entryway.The sound of pigs could be heard on the quay.It might be recalled that goats,sheep, and pigs had appeared on the public manifest, with certain otheranimals, but that the pigs had not yet been embarked.The bared feet of the slaves were on the steel grille of the main platform,near the shallow ramp, also a grille, leading to the second hatch.It was notuncomfortable, as the grille was closely set, but it must have been warm, andthey must have been aware, keenly, of the numerous, aligned ridges of thegrille on the soles of their feet.The grille ramp, which was adjustable, asthere is some variation in hatch placements, was of a similar construction."Hurry!" called the officer, from the higher entryway.One of the slaves, a blonde, went to the entryway ladder, and had ascendedthree steps before she suddenly cried out in pain, the back of her legs, justbelow the hem of the short, white skirt, lashed with a switch, in the hand ofone of the two officers who had brought them forward, he who seemed the moresevere of the keepers."What do you think you are doing?" he cried out, angrily."Boarding," she said.There was laughter on the quay, about the hatch."Get back where you belong," said the officer, fiercely, pointing with theswitch to the bevy of briefly clad beauties near the ramp grille.She stood for just an instant on the step, but, when he raised his switchagain, she hurried down and fled back among the others.Laughter rang out on the quay."Forgive her, milord," said the blond officer to Julian."She is a debtress,from MyronVII, sold to defray her own debts, and knows as yet little of what it is to bea slave."Julian was studying the blond slave, intently.Page 39 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"She will learn!" laughed a man."Yes!" said another.There was more laughter."Move aside!" said a man.There then came, being hurried, a tiny herd of pigs, some dozen or so, which,by men with sticks, were driven through the hatch."This way!" called a mariner inside
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Tematy
IndexLumley.Brian. .[Psychomech.03]. .Psychoamok
Jeffries Sabrina Lord 03 Niebezpieczny lord
Coulter Catherine Gwiazda 03 Gwiazda z nefrytu
Łajkowska Anna Wrzosowisko 03 Cienie na wrzosowisku
Coulter Catherine Baron 03 Szalony baron
Fiora 03 Fiora i papież Benzoni Juliette
Marlowe Mia Dotyk 03 Dotyk oszustaS303
Popławska Halina Tryptyk rewolucyjny 01 Kwiat lilii we krwi
Popescu Petru Przodkowie Adama
Chris Priestley [Tales of Ter Tales of Terror from the Tunnel