Chapter 11 I'll take her

Mavli
WHEN THE HEAT does not relent and the heavy stench in the air becomes unbearable, I feel bile rising up my throat. The churning of my stomach becomes excruciating. Can I hold on a little more?
I lean exhausted in my cage, I'm so dehydrated and my tongue is dry and my teeth are gritty. When will we arrive our destination?
As if on cue, stone towers appear at the horizon and I feel very uneasy. I suddenly wish we do not reach there so soon. From the shadow our cart casts on the ground, I can tell it's late in the afternoon.
I let my weak eyes roll until they land on the limp figure in the cage in front of me.
He's dead.
The nameless, faceless boy is dead. The flies cover his body and a healthy swarm buzz all over me. I give a lazy wave of hand to chase them away but they don't even flinch.
He's dead. I don't cry or even feel sad, I expected it. It was inevitable, the boy would have never survived the injuries to his face and leg. He was as good as dead.
I'm relieved he's dead, a young child should not experience such pain. I'm only sad he suffered before he died. I wonder if he had any family, I wonder where they are. Are they back at home or in cages too? Completely oblivious to the fact that their little brother or son or grandson or nephew or cousin is dead.
The towers become nearer and nearer until I can make out the tiny windows at the very top where the soldiers will stand to secure the walls of the Kingdom.
I hear a small sigh from the cage beside me, the naked girl is staring at me, a slow smile spreads across her face. How can she smile in the face of all this? How can she manage that?
"Any time soon," she says.
"It's going to be a whole lot worse," my voice is raspy and faint. But she hears me very clearly.
She shakes her head and I'm awed by her superhuman strength to endure of this hardship. "We will be presented with an opportunity," she sighs. I wait for her to say something, anything but it becomes clear she has exhausted her words.
Opportunity? I snort. More like doom and then, death.
When we approach the towers, I see the giant gates that guards the Kingdom. I'm duly astonished on how such a man-made structure will reach the heavens.
"You see what I mean?" I twirl my head to look at the girl as she speaks. "Opportunity."
I don't see it. I don't see the elusive opportunity she is talking about. But I nod, not wanting her to be discouraged or feel bad.
A soldier walks to the cart, exchange words with the rider. Then the soldier walks to the cages and peers in.
Her eyes meet mine. Bright brown eyes. I make to swallow but my mouth and throat are parched and void of saliva.
She sweeps her eyes along the cages then marches away. My heart sinks, but why does it? Why do I feel sad and let down? Did I actually think she'd pity us and speak for our freedom just because she's female? She's a soldier, just like the men.
Our cart moves forward very slowly like the horses are trotting through the gates and into the busy city I can sight ahead.
"Altsas," the girl whispers.
How does she know the name of this Kingdom? Perhaps she's a traveller or a merchant.
"Altsas." It sounds sophisticated and rich even from my raspy, faint voice.
The city is rowdy and busy but the people part making a way for us. I stare out at the citizens of Altsas. Majority of them wear silk and laces and embroidered clothing. Their feet are strapped in snake skin sandals and their hair is beautifully braided and adored. It's clear they have a very high standard of living compared to the citizens of Kintil.
At home, we wore calico and homemade wool dresses and flip-flops made out of raffia palm.
The people stare back wide-eyed, parents covered their children's eyes to keep them from witnessing such a horrific scene. Some of their faces are etched with disgust, others are filled with pity. I think I see a woman break down into her palms.
My chest constricts and my squeeze my eyes shut. The girl beside me said this is an opportunity. I believe her because that gives me hope. Whatever or wherever they plan on taking us, I'll scale through like a victor.
The cart halts in the market. Traders leave their stalls and gather around the cart. A robed man whispers not-so- quietly to the potbellied man beside him. "It's another of those slaves."
I know slavery is our fate but hearing him actually say it aloud infuriates me. I glare at him hoping he'll see me but of course, he doesn't.
The potbellied man shakes his head sympathetically. "Poor creatures."
I sigh in resignation and lean back in my cage. I'm trying as much as possible not to even glance at the body of the rotting boy. But I look at him, the sight I see upsets me and bile rises up from my stomach, up my throat and out my mouth.
Sensing my stomach contents forcing it's way up my throat, I hold out the hem of my dress and vomit into it. I sense the girl's eyes on me but I don't turn to look at her. Instead I close my eyes and try to lock out the overpowering stench and image of the rotting body.
I sense movements and I pry my eyes open, the cages are being offloaded. I can't believe it. Finally I'll be out of this cage and I'll stretch my legs and walk again and maybe even run.
I see two heavily built men raise the girl's cage and drop it on the ground. They open the latch and she crawls out. The people gasps at her nudity; some turn away and cover their eyes while others stare intently. I fold the hem of my dress to hold in the vomit but some liquid seeps out the the wool and rolls down my thighs. I can't wait to get out of this cage and at the same time, I don't want to get out.
My cage is lowered, I hold my breath as my cage is placed on the ground and my latch is pulled open. I release the breath I was holding and suck in another then, bracing myself I crawl out.
I try to stand to my feet but my body doesn't respond. Beside me lies the naked girl groaning, I plead with my legs to listen to me and budge. I sit on the back of my legs and try not to groan as my legs begin to recover and get back it's feel. The sensation of pins and needles is highly uncomfortable.
One by one, the people are freed from the cages and they all lie or sit on the ground except the boy whose body and cage remains on the cart. I wonder what they plan to do with him. Throw him away, maybe.
The growing crowd press on from every side and stare like we are exotic creatures found only in foreign lands. A pudgy man emerges from the crowd and stares at us with a sated smile.
He turns and addresses the crowd. "My good people of the great Kingdom of Altsas, my name is Oroi Shytri. Some of you might know me as the famous sugar merchant but today, I don't present you with bags of crystal sweetness but I present you with helping hands for your homes and farmlands."The people just stare at him not even a cough is heard.
"These people here can be exchanged with a reasonable amount for a lifetime supply of labour. Now, if you are interested kindly tell me the number of helping hands you desire and we can negotiate."
I'm very angry. I stare at the back of the pudgy excuse of a human being with rage, I wish my legs were functional so I'll jump at his back, wrestle him to the ground and strangle him. He must have bought us from the ruler of this Kingdom and he is trying to sell us out to the people as slaves.
A low hum of murmurs rise within the crowd. I lean forward and rest my head on the ground, I'm extremely exhausted and I'm so hungry I don't even feel the hunger pangs anymore.
Gradually, a few voices call out numbers of 'helping hands' they want and the pudgy Oroi Shytri urges them to come forward and inspect the 'helping hands' and pick their choice.
I feel shadows fall across my body as the interested citizens come to inspect us. The girl's voice comes reverberating in my mind. Opportunity indeed.
A clear, powerful voice disrupts my thoughts and makes me raise my head. A silk robed man and his equally silk robed wife step forward.
"I'll like ten slaves." The crowd hushes as he says this. Maybe it's because he didn't pretend like the others and uses 'slaves' or maybe it's because he's voice and his charisma commands respect.
The pudgy man is stunned but he quickly recovers and puts on a mask of indifference. "I'm honoured Sir." He gives a lowly bow." They are really affordable. They go at two gold coins each."
The man smiles, his pearly white teeth shines. "As you wish." He gestures for his wife who fumbles in her leather pouch for coins. She retrieves a handful and hands it to her husband. My mouth hands open at the sight of the glimmering coins, I'm surprised that someone can be in possession of so much money.
The man counts the coins and hands it over to the pudge slave trader. Oroi bows lowly as he receives the coins. Then, Oroi gives orders to the soldiers who freed us from our cages and are standing by. The soldiers grab the people the man points at and ties a rope round their necks. The rope is very long and ties all of them into a long chain.
The people are whimpering and groaning, their legs are weak and are visibly trembling and shaking. There are nine tied up already, one left. I bow my head and stare at the ground, I don't want to be picked.
"Madam, the last one?" The pudgy man grins at the woman who's hands are wrapped around her husband's arm. "Would you do the honours?"
She glances at her husband, he nods and grins at her. "Go ahead, dear."
Her kohl-lined eyes skims over us, I can see her as I peer up at her. Her eyes rests on me and I turn my face down and stare at the ground, willing and praying it will open so I'll slip in and hide forever.
"I want," the whole world stops spinning,"her." I sense her henna covered finger pointing at me.
Slowly, I raise my head and look at her. But she's not looking at me but at her husband. They are smiling and staring at each other with so much love in their eyes.
I'm grabbed harshly by the arm and set on my feet. Every part of me shudders and my aches and pains become suddenly obvious and unbearable. My stomach churns, my knees buckle and give under me. The ground tilts and I fall to the ground, I can't suppress the groan as pain consumed every part of me.
"I'm very sorry," the pudgy man says hurriedly, "you can pick another one. It seems this one is dysfunctional."
I wish I wasn't so exhausted so I'd show the pudgy fool who really is dysfunctional.
"Don't bother," the woman says, "I'll take her."
Another soldier grabs me by the arms and drags me behind the queue. Picking the trailing end of the rope, he wraps it twice around my neck joining me to the chain of hopeless people. Then, one by one he ties our hands with short ropes. The rope cuts into my wrist, burning the skin there. This is my future now. I hang my head and sob.