The Captive (4 page)

In his imagination, he killed them all over and over again,
devising new methods of torture, of execution. His favorite was to put them in
the hole he now occupied and leave them to rot. All of them. The overseers. The
couple who owned the mine, who now owned him, body and soul. Their servants.
Their daughter, with her long silver-blonde hair and eyes as green as the
oceans of Daccar. Ashlynne.

He muttered an oath, and then he swore aloud, unleashing a
long string of the most foul profanity he knew.

They let him out of the hole for ten minutes each week so he
could remove the pile of excrement from the corner. But he could not remove the
stink. Not from the earth that surrounded him on all sides. Not from his skin.

It was humiliating, degrading, to be forced to squat in that
fetid hole like some sort of dung beast, blind and dumb and helpless. He prayed
for his freedom, for a weapon, for vengeance. Always for vengeance. And the
hatred grew within him, taking root deep in his heart, choking the life from
his soul.

There was no peace for him now, save in his dreams, vivid
dreams haunted by a silver-haired maiden with softy creamy skin and luminous
green eyes. Ashlynne…

* * * * *

“It was awful, Magny. I’ve never seen anything so terrible I
my whole life.”

Magny nodded, her brown eyes sympathetic, yet alight with
interest. “I heard Dain talking to my father about it. Were you scared?”

“Terrified. He looked so…so dangerous.”

“Number Four. He’s…” A flush tinged Magny’s cheeks. “He’s
handsome, isn’t he, Lynnie?”

“What difference does that make?” Ashlynne exclaimed,
horrified to hear her own thoughts put into words. “He’s a slave.”

“But handsome, don’t you think?”

“Well, yes,” Ashlynne admitted. “He is that.”

“I saw him the other day,” Magny fell back on the bed, her
arms spread wide. “My or my, what a man.”

Ashlynne shook her head. Magny was her best friend, but
sometimes she just didn’t understand her. Of course, Magny led a much freer
life than Ashlynne. Magny had been to Enjine Base Nine several times; she had
once confided to Ashlynne that she’d had an affair with a sky pilot from
Polixe, and that she still saw him whenever he came to Tierde. Sometimes
Ashlynne envied her friend her freedom, but then she would think how awful it
would be, to have to live in the mine compound, surrounded by ugliness and
condemned men. Magny’s mother had left Tierde when Magny was only five,
declaring she could no longer abide living there. She had promised to send for
Magny when she found a place to live, but she never had. It was a subject they
had never discussed.

Ashlynne picked up a comb and ran it through her hair. “What
did they do to him? For attacking Dain?”

“He’s in solitary.” Magny sat up and ran a hand through her
own hair, wishing it was long and thick and silver-blonde, like Ashlynne’s,
instead of short and impossibly curly.

“Oh. What is that, exactly?” Ashlynne asked, thinking it was
probably like being locked in a closet or something. But as Magny began to
describe it, Ashlynne realized it was far worse than anything she had imagined.
What would it be like, to be confined to a hole in the ground, unable to stand
up.

“And he has to stay down there, naked, in that hole, for a
whole month.” Magny wrinkled her nose. “It’s awful. You can’t imagine the
smell.”

“Have you seen him?”

“They let him out for a few minutes every week so he can
muck out the hole.”Magny shuddered as she grabbed an apple from the bowl beside
Ashlynne’s bed.

“He’s all right, though?”

Magny lifted a knowing brow. “Worried about him, are you,
Lynnie dear?”

“Of course not,” Ashlynne said quickly.

“Uh huh. Then I guess you won’t care that Dain beat him
again.”

“He did? Oh, Magny, why?”

“You know Dain. He doesn’t need a reason. Let’s talk about
something more pleasant, shall we? I hear Niklaus will be here at year’s end.”

Ashlynne nodded. “Yes. I have to go to Trellis this summer.
To meet him and his family, and discuss the wedding.”

“Are your parents going?”

“No. Father said he can’t leave the mine that long.”

“Well, why doesn’t Niklaus come here?”

“For the same reason. He can’t leave. And since he can’t
come to me, I have to go to him.” She pointed at the picture of Niklaus on her
dressing table. “How can I marry a man I don’t even know?”

“Well, isn’t that why you’re going to Trellis? To get to
know him?”

“Well, yes. But do you think one summer is long enough to
know someone? Really know them? Enough to marry them?”

“I don’t know, but I think he’s dreamy,” Magny said. “And
just think of it, you’ll finally get off this rock. You’re so lucky.”

“Lucky?” Ashlynne studied Niklaus’s photograph. He was a handsome
man, with wavy brown hair, brown eyes, a patrician nose. And yet, handsome as
he was, she thought Number Four far more…not handsome, exactly, but there was
something about him, something virile and extremely masculine that was lacking
in Niklaus. “Would you want to marry a man you’ve never met?”

“I’d marry a Hordorian swine merchant if he could get me
away from here,” Magny declared. She tossed the apple core into the disposal
unit and fell back on the bed again, her hands clasped behind her head. “Think
of it, Lynnie, you’ll get to travel to the far side of the galaxy, live in a
big house, have anything you want.”

“I already live in a big house,” Ashlynne retorted. And she
had almost everything she wanted. Except the freedom to marry who she wished,
when she wished.

“Well, if you don’t want to marry Niklaus, I will,” Magny
said.

“What about your sky pilot?”

“Well, he’s very exciting, but he’ll never be rich.”

“Wouldn’t you rather marry for love than money?”

“I suppose so.”

“Oh, Mag, I don’t want to get married and move to Trellis. I
don’t want to leave here.”

“Why ever not?”

Ashlynne bit down on her lower lip. She had never lived
anywhere else, never been anywhere else. She was afraid to leave the security
of the only home she had ever known. But even that wasn’t the real reason. She
didn’t want to marry Niklaus; she wanted to stay here, because
he
was
here. But she couldn’t tell Magny that.

“Do you think Number Four is the monster they say he is?”

Ashlynne looked up, startled. “What?”

“Number Four. Do you think he’s as bad as everyone says?”

Ashlynne stared at Magny, wondering if her friend had been
reading her mind, if Magny knew how obsessed she had become with Number Four.
She thought about him constantly, dreamed of him at night.

“What difference does it make?” she asked, though she had
often wondered the same thing herself. “He’s a slave.”

“I know.” Magny sighed dramatically. “But have you seen his
arms? I’ve never seen muscles like that. Don’t you wonder what it would be like
to have him hold you?”

“Magny!” Ashlynne exclaimed. She tried to look horrified,
but failed miserably. She had wondered. Even though he was a slave, even though
she hated him because he was rude and crude and insolent, she had noticed that
he was a fine specimen of a man, and it embarrassed her. “Why did Dain beat
him?”

Magny shook her head. “You know Dain. He has no patience. He
ordered Number Four out of the hole, and Number Four didn’t obey quick enough.
As soon as Number Four climbed out, Dain started whipping him. Dain enjoys
inflicting pain far too much, I think.”

“But he’s all right?”

“Who?” Magny asked, stifling a giggle. “Dain? Ashlynne
picked up a pillow and threw it at her friend. “Who know who?”

Magny caught the pillow in both hands and hugged it to her
chest. “Oh? You mean Number Four. He’s amazing,” Magny said, her voice tinged
with awe. “He just stood there, his hands clenched, while blood dripped down
his back. You could see Dain getting madder by the minute. I don’t know what he
would have done if my father hadn’t stepped it and put a stop to it. He took
Dain aside later and reprimanded him. He told Dain if he caught him whipping a
slave for no reason again, he’d be terminated.”

“I’ve never liked him,” Ashlynne said. “He has sneaky eyes.”

Magny swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “Well,” she
said with an exaggerated sigh, “I’ve got to go fix dinner for my father.”
Rising, she dropped the pillow on the bed and headed toward the door. “If I see
Number Four, I’ll be sure to extend your regards.”

“Mag!” Ashlynne called, running down the corridor after her
friend. “Mag, don’t you dare! Mag!”

“Can’t catch me!” Magny ran out the front door and sprinted
for the path that led to the mine.

“Magny! I’ll never speak to you again!”

“Yes, you will. Bye, Lynnie,” Magny hollered, and
disappeared out the gate.

The next month seemed interminably long. No matter where she
was or what she was doing, all she could think of was Number Four. She couldn’t
imagine anything so awful as being shut up in a hole in the ground. Buried
alive.

Finally, in need of a diversion, she had begged her mother
to let Magny spend the night. Her mother was usually reluctant, but this time
she agreed. Ashlynne was sure it was only because her mother and father were
going to be away at a council meeting most of the night.

She looked up when Magny tossed the book she’d been reading
aside.

“Well, that was dull,” Magny exclaimed. “What shall we do?”

Ashlynne yawned. “I’m tired. I was thinking of going to
bed.”

“Bed! But it’s still early. And your parents won’t be home
for hours. We can’t go to bed.”

Ashlynne rolled over onto her stomach. “Well, what do you
want to do?”

Magny bounced off the mattress, her eyes sparkling with
mischief. “How brave are you?”

“I’m not, Mag, you know that, so whatever you’re planning,
just forget it.”

“Honestly, Ashlynne, you lead the most dull, boring life of
anyone I know.”

She wanted to argue, but she couldn’t. It was true. Her life
was boring. Routine. Regimented.

“Come on, Lynnie, you know you’re dying to.”

“All right, Magny, what am I dying to do?”

“Go swimming.”

“What’s so daring about that? I swim all the time.”

“In the ocean.”

Ashlynne’s eyes widened. “You want to go swimming down there
now? Tonight?”

Magny nodded vigorously. “The moons are full. It’s a
beautiful night. The water won’t be too cold. Come on, let’s do it.”

Ashlynne bit down on her lower lip, her better judgment
warring with the desire to do something wild and crazy. “All right. You can
wear one of my bathing suits. Do you want the red or the yellow?”

“Neither, silly.”

“You don’t’ mean…?”

Magny grinned. “You’ve got it. Let’s go.”

Like two thieves in the night, they crept down the stairs.
Old Carday was in the living room. She had fallen asleep watching a vid on two
school girls playing hooky, Ashlynne and Magny slipped out the front door, ran
down the path and out the side gate.

It was, indeed, a beautiful night. The twin moons hung low
in the sky, bathing the landscape in a pale amber glow. Moonlight shimmered and
danced on the water, sparkling like millions of tiny golden lights.

Magny dropped her towel on the sand and began to undress.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Ashlynne glanced up and
down the beach. To the right, she could see the outline of the mine; far to the
left began the tree line that marked the edge of the jungle.

“You’re not going to back out on me now, are you?”

Ashlynne took a deep breath. “No, I’m not,” she said.

She shrieked as a wave broke over her, then she dove into
the water. She had never gone swimming in the ocean at night before, never gone
swimming in the nude before, and it felt wonderful, deliciously wicked,
somehow. She swam for several minutes, then floated on her back. Overhead, a
million stars lit the sky as Brell chased Riasna. Would he ever catch her, she
wondered.

“Oh, Magny,” she exclaimed, “this was a terrific idea.”

“Of course! Have I ever had any other kind?”

With a laugh, Ashlynne dove into the water again, amazed at
how different it felt to swim wearing nothing at all. She shrieked as something
slippery brushed against her leg, images of sea monsters jumping into her mind,
but it was only a piece of sea kelp.

They swam and splashed until they were breathless, then sat
on the shore, wrapped up in their towels.

Ashlynne gazed out at the water, thinking how beautiful it
all was, and how much she would miss it when she was gone.

“Hey, Lynnie, got any adventure left in your soul?”

Ashlynne regarded her friend warily. “Why? What do you want
to do now?”

Magny grinned at her. “Why, go visit Number Four, of
course.”

Ashlynne stared at her. “Are you crazy?”

“Maybe,” Magny replied with a wave of her hand. ““Well, do
you want to?”

“Of course not,” Ashlynne replied, but she was dressing as
she spoke, her heart pounding, not at the very real possibility of getting
caught, but at the thought of seeing Number Four again.

She began to have second thoughts as the drew closer to the
mine. “Mag, I don’t think this was such a good idea.”

“Sure it is. Be careful, don’t step in that hole.”

Ashlynne followed Magny across the bridge, all her senses
alert. “What if we get caught?” she asked, but she didn’t need an answer. Her
father would be furious, her mother appalled.

“We’ll just say I forgot something and we came down to get
it.”

Magny turned right, skirting the edge of the compound, until
they drew near the stubby cells that housed the prisoners.

“This is silly,” Ashlynne said. She glanced around. “We
won’t be able to see him. There’s no light in the hut.”

Magny whirled around to face her. “How do you know?”

Mouth agape, Ashlynne stared at her friend.

“Well?”

“I…I…I don’t know. I’m just guessing. I mean, do they have
lights in the huts?”

“Ashlynne Myrafloures, tell me the truth! You’ve been down
here before, haven’t you? When?”

“You won’t tell?”

“Of course not.”

“It was when my parents went to Partha the last time. I
forgot you were gone, too, and I decided to come down for a visit.”

“Go on.”

“Well, I decided as long as I was here, I’d look around. I
went to look in the cells, and I saw Number Four. It was right after he was
brought here. He was wounded, remember? I heard him moaning and I made Dagan
open the door for me.”

Magny grinned at her. “Dagan thinks you’re pretty, you
know.”

“What? Don’t be silly.”

“Go on,” Magny urged, “what happened?”

“Nothing. He opened the door and I treated Number Four’s
wound and then I left.”

“You call that nothing? Why didn’t you ever tell me this
before?”

“Why do you think?”

Magny laughed softly. “I think you’re a lot braver than you
think you are, my Lady Myrafloures, that’s what I think. Come on.”

Like thieves in the night, they crept along until they
reached Number Four’s cell.

“All right, we’re here. Can we go home now?” Ashlynne
whispered.

“Of course not. We look inside.”

“Tell me again why we’re doing this?”

“Because you think he’s handsome. Go on, you go first.”

Ashlynne rolled her eyes. The sooner she got this over with,
the sooner they could go back home. Taking a deep breath, she stood on tiptoe
and peeked in the barred opening, and found herself staring into Number Four’s
face, which was clearly visible in the moons’ light.

With a gasp, she jumped back, and bumped into Magny.

“He’s awake!” Ashlynne exclaimed, and turning on her heel,
she ran for the bridge, and didn’t stop running until she was on the other
side.

Magny joined her a moment later. For a minute, they just
stared at each other, and then Magny burst out laughing.

“It’s not funny!” Ashlynne said, and knew she would never
forget the look of bitter despair on Number Four’s face, or the way it had
turned to anger when he saw her staring at him. As if he was an animal in a
cage.

The laughter died on Magny’s lips when she saw the
expression on Ashlynne’s face. “Are you crying?”

Ashlynne wiped the tears from her eyes. “No, of course not.
Can we go home now?”