I wasn't sure whether I should contact the tree and become stiff and uncommunicative; was there a set time the knockout gas worked and would they be looking in on me soon? I decided I could act like I was still knocked out if they surprised me. So I took the chance. I arranged myself on the bunk so my hand couldn't be seen and putting it in the secret pocket, I touched the little tree.

"I have messages for you." it said, "Malcolm says whatever you do, don't do any magic unless you have to in order to save your life or Aril's or Lira's - who were both taken with you. Keep the secret pocket a secret. There'll be more later. Aril says she's all right. - - - I'm just getting another message - Lira's all right too. Let go of me now - Malcolm says there'll be lots of time to send and receive messages later. Just act like any local who's been kidnapped; scared but cooperative."

Just as I pulled my hand out of the secret pocket the whole wall on one side opened like a door and a huge man with massive muscles and a lantern held in gorilla like hands greeted me, "We're well out to sea, matey. You're now a slave, if you hadn't figured that out yet. No one's ever escaped from us, so just put any hope out of your mind. Generally speaking, we take good care of our slaves so we can sell them for the highest price. I can cause you severe damage without even trying, but that's only a last resort. I warn you, if you don't cooperate we have ways to make you extremely uncomfortable without damaging you. Also, any trouble from you will have consequences for the two girls who were with you and the other of your town who are here - I'm sure you don't want that to happen. If you do cooperate you'll get to meet with the other slaves who are cooperating and will be well fed. We want to sell you in the best possible physical and mental condition. You'll be much better off in a noble household than in the mines or quarries - after we've had our fun with you. It's now just before midnight - I'll leave you to consider matters until breakfast." The wall closed and locked and I was in the dark again.

I had learned enough of the local language to get the gist of this speech and could guess the rest. I could hear a muttering off to one side and figured he was giving the same speech to someone in the next cell, probably Aril or Lira. Since I was to be left alone until morning I lay back and contacted the little tree again.

"I'm to be left alone until morning. Let's get the message line going now. What else has Malcolm said?"

"He wants you to know that they are following, so cooperate and don't worry. However, don't appear too unworried or confident, act as you would if you didn't know rescue was on the way but hadn't given up hope of being saved. If you get to talk to the other captives don't let them know help is coming.

"Try to find out where they're going. Captain Jar has a pretty good idea, but it would help to know for certain. The slavers are sure to make a number of course changes to try to avoid any pursuit. If the ultimate destination is known for sure your friends can probably get there ahead of you and be waiting.

"Malcolm and the Captain were overcome by the gas or the slavers never would have got away with us. They had already captured the chain winch and lowered the chain. They set sail as soon as they had you on board and picked up the crew at the chain on their way out of the bay. They have a good start and a fast ship, but being in contact, unknown to them, is a huge asset."

"Please let Malcolm know we'll do whatever we can. And please send a message to Aril and Lira and let them know I'm all right too."

"I already have. Also, Lemuel, Mrs. Penny, Mora, the Tirkenez family, Budin and the Gnomes all send word wishing you well as does the Great Tree. She hopes you are getting nearer to her in your travels on the Great Sea. Tintinel has still not been heard from, we're sorry to say."

"Thank you. Please send messages of thanks to all of them. We'll do our best to help everyone get away, not just ourselves. By the way, how are your trees doing?"

"We're doing fine. The pockets Malcolm and Mrs. Penny made will keep the trees we inhabit healthy for a long time as long as you can provide water from time to time. The pocket holds us upright no matter what your position is and gives us some light, so all we need is occasional water and a change of air. Don't worry about us unless they take your clothes away."

Even though I'd been unconscious for several hours I was feeling the natural sleepiness I would at this late hour, so I ended the contact with the tree spirit and tried to doze off. The slavers had provided good bedding, I guess they meant it when they said the treated their cooperative slaves well, so being fairly comfortable in the tiny bunk, I soon went to sleep.

In the morning my sleep was interrupted by the door opening again and a young fellow about my age entered with a lantern. "Hi, I'm Tarl. I'll take you to the head - that's what they call the privy on a ship - then to the galley - the kitchen and dining area - for breakfast. The quicker you get there the quicker I'll be able to do the same for your friends."

I was quick about it. The table had other young people around it and the massive slaver I met last night was standing by on guard. Soon Lira was brought in and then Aril. We were the last and we were given a short lecture by the slaver before we could eat.

"I'm Mister Jik, your overseer. We are not your usual slavers. We provide the top slaves for those who can afford it. We don't deal in slaves for the mines, quarries and fields. But believe me, if any of you refuse to cooperate that's where you'll end up - after some very harsh treatment from us to pay for the money we'll loose on you. On the other hand, if you're cooperative you'll have the run of the ship while we're at sea and will be sold to the elite for really high class positions. As you've already been told, there's no chance you'll ever see home again, so don't even hope for it. Many of those we've sold have even gained their freedom for good service though not many masters do that.

"All we ask during the voyage is that you don't interfere with the sailors and that you obey all orders - that includes going to your quarters instantly if any ships are sighted and absolutely no noise until you're released again. If you do this no one on board will molest you. We know that damaged merchandise either can't be sold for a good price or if it is and it's later found out our reputation and future profits will suffer. If any of you male slaves damage any of the female slaves, I'm sure you know what I mean, you will suffer more than you can imagine and be sold, or given, into the most degrading, painful and long lasting slavery we can find for the most miserable cripple. The same goes for any sailor on this ship, by the way, so don't you young ladies worry. Especially don't touch the beautiful twins - we expect to sell them for more than three ship-loads of regular slaves.

"Now that you're properly encouraged, you may get your breakfast." After saying this he left and Tarl served us our food.

A very subdued group lined up to receive their rations and as we ate we introduced ourselves. The other four were from Garnet Bay. They were all in their teens like we were. Captain Jar's son Bret was there, the girls were Rose and Mima and the other boy was Krager. They all seemed intelligent and well bred - the slavers had obviously chosen well.

They were all quite unhappy and subdued and we acted the same with Aril and Lira trying to comfort the girls. Bret had some hope, knowing his father would do everything possible, but even he was not too hopeful - slavers were known to be very elusive and once we were in the country of Gelna across the sea there would be no hope at all. He said the authorities there took a very dim view of attempted rescues with attempted rescuers almost always ending up slaves themselves.

"Is that where they're taking us?" I asked.

"Yes, but we don't know what port the ship will put in at, not that it matters to us. We might have more hope if my father knew where they're heading. But please don't let on my father's a captain; they may not know, and if they find out they'll take even greater precautions. Anyway, even if we knew what would we do, put a note in a bottle and throw it overboard and hope he sees it? No, there's nothing we can do."

After breakfast we wandered out on deck, staying away from the working sailors of course. It was a fair day with a nice breeze pushing us along. There was only water as far as we could see and I began to feel queasy with all the motion as did some of the others. We didn't have time to worry about it though for from above came a cry, "Sail ho!" We knew what that meant. When we got below there was some confusion, but Tarl came and showed us which cubby belonged to each of us. They were really well hidden when closed.

Now we'd be confined for an unknown time, so I thought it was a good time to update Malcolm.

Read Part Eight 

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