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Eager looks coursed among the prisoners. "But first, you must learn to perform
obeisance," said the ship slave. "None of you properly assumed the position,
though in the presence of a master."
Then the prisoners were instructed in the proper way in which to perform
various obeisances in the presence of men, or, indeed, free persons. Such
obeisances, they also learned, might be required of them even in the presence
of slaves, if the slaves stood to them in some position of authority.
The officer of the court watched, horrified, fascinated, as various positions
were adjusted, as various instructions were issued. Upper-class women, down in
the main lounge, before her very eyes, to her horror, were being instructed in
matters of courtesy and etiquette, of respect and deference.
"Excellent, miladies," said the ship slave who was managing these matters.
"You learn quickly."
The officer of the court thought that she, herself, might do as well, that
she, too, might learn as quickly, but then she dismissed such a thought,
frightened.
"You have been complimented, miladies," said the ship slave reproachfully.
The prisoners looked at her.
The officer of the court wondered what it might be, to render obeisance to a
man. She shuddered, thrilled.
"Have you no manners?" inquired the ship slave.
"Thank you, Mistress," they said.
"Now," said the ship slave to the two ship slaves who held the buckets, "throw
the slaves their
slops."
Then, in handfuls, the two slaves with the buckets cast bits of food, some of
which was doubtless garbage, discarded residues from their own meals, or those
of others, among the slaves, who scrambled, and even fought, most eagerly for
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them.
How mixed were the feelings of the officer of the court seeing this spectacle.
She was horrified, of course, to see how the women fought for the food.
"Please, more!" cried a woman. "Me! Me!" begged another, putting out her
hands. But, too, she was acutely aware of her own hunger and thirst. She
feared she might die. Could she have secured some of those scraps if she were
below? Would she be quick enough, agile enough?
Would the slaves with the buckets take pity on her and throw her something?
Could she keep it?
Would larger, stronger women take it away from her? Could she pull away, and
thrust it in her mouth and swallow it before another could deprive her of it?
She did not know.
She looked down at the women, scrambling for what scraps might be cast to
them.
At least they were being fed, as she was not. They had, at least, the chance,
down there, on the carpeting, to snatch up some bit of food.
The ship slaves, she was sure, did not fight in such a way for their food.
Presumably this form of feeding was a lesson, that the prisoners must now
depend on the will of others, for even their food. How cruel seemed the ship
slaves to the prisoners. She did not think that masters would be so cruel.
Indeed, might not masters even grow fond of their slaves, being careful, of
course, not to relax the discipline in which they were held. Let the prisoners
then hope that they might soon escape the supervision of the ship slaves, that
they might soon, by gift or sale, come into the ownership of men, whose
interest and affection they might strive to win by their heat and beauty, and
devotion and selfless service.
"You feed eagerly," said one of the ship slaves. "Obviously you know it is
better than you would receive in the steel bins." The officer of the court
shuddered.
But this suggested there must be other prisoners, or slaves, doubtless kept on
the barbarian ships.
There had been a passenger list of over two thousand. The officer of the court
did not think the ship could be recovered. Moreover, she had heard, in the
theatre, that engineering was soon expected to fall into the hands of the
barbarians. That would surely mean the end of resistance.
Too, in the early moments of the fighting, if not earlier, distress signals
had doubtless been sent out. The barbarians would not risk their vessels,
presumably, against imperial cruisers. Ortog had been studying a chart.
Perhaps on it, hour by hour, were being marked the advances of an imperial
force. She remembered the men monitoring various devices. But this was a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]