A Cruel Passing of Innocence by J.D. Jensen Page A

for the benefit of all slaves, warning against further similar indiscretions. With anger in his voice he lifted his whip and brought it cruelly down on Ugimba’s ebony buttocks.
    She yelped, momentarily dancing with the pain until she was able to regain some composure, her chin tucked down, understanding at last.
    This image of fear and naked humility seemed to fascinate the headman all the more, his eyes drawn to the brown pert buds of her nipples, now pierced by the two gold rings and their lengths of flowing links that dropped down to her flanks. His gaze roamed lustily over her dark flesh, and then slowly lowered to feast upon her loins. He stepped casually in front of her, his eyes hungrily focussing more clearly on her peeping sex, upon the ringed petals of pink flesh. His lips curled into a wicked smile and he said something to Ugimba, which of course she could not understand. Under the intensity of his gaze she fought to keep her composure, her eyes averted from his, fixing upon some point on the ground in front of her. Her breathing quickened, her breasts heaving, and this seemed to excite him all the more.
    Snatching Ahmood’s whip from him, making Ugimba flinch in renewed terror, he reached forward and placed the thin tip between her thighs, close to the twin bells hanging from her peeping lips. Then suddenly he yanked the whip upwards and Ugimba instantly jerked forward as the rings snagged against her sore flesh, her unwanted bells tinkling in little chimes of protest.
    If this had been the source of his amusement, the headman’s features scarcely gave any indication of it, only a sneer remaining on his lips. Calmly he continued to eye her ebony body, the toned curves of her form, before finally he moved away.
    Ahmood clapped his hands, and gratefully the slaves rose from their uncomfortable positions and dispersed with a sense of relief. Both male and female slaves had been directed to their respective quarters, and Nassara was able to exchange scarcely more than a fleeting smile with Zheeno, before he had to turn away, obedient to a whip-boy’s command. He shuffled off towards the male quarters without a backward glance, his squared shoulders glistening in the sun as he went. Nassara watched him until he was out of sight, a mixture of sadness and comfort in her thoughts.
    That night Ugimba lay gratefully beside Nassara amongst the satin cushions and silk coverings, with Belithza on Nassara’s other side. Even though Ugimba understood few words Belithza spoke quietly to her, smiling unconvincing reassurances, before settling down into her cushions.
    Nassara heard Ugimba weep silently, before eventually falling into a restless sleep. Then after a while listening to the quietened breathing of the slave girls around her, Nassara slept too.
    One or two of the girls were beginning to stir, yawning in the early beams of light that penetrated the window grille. Reclining still on her plump cushions, Nassara looked up at the latticed opening high up near the ceiling at the end of the dormitory.
    During the night, before the oil-lamps had been trimmed and lowered by the attendants, she thought she caught sight of a figure behind the latticed grille, looking down upon the slaves in their nakedness. She tried to ignore the dark silhouette, sensing its brooding presence there, gloating over its human possessions below.
    The attendants were bringing food and drink again to start the day, but Nassara noticed they were somehow more intense and urgent than usual, their mood more sombre, their eyes avoiding contact with the girls.
    Belithza awoke beside Nassara, looking around, suspiciously taking in the morning activity. ‘I see no smiles on the lips of the servant youths this morning,’ she observed. ‘I feel dark shadows approaching. My skin goes cold. Oh, what bad things will come to us this day, Nassara?’
    â€˜Do not make yourself so troubled, Belithza,’ Nassara comforted.