Slaves of Elysium by W. S. Antony Page A

them to drink from. Jeni took some comfort at the small consideration; it seemed their captors were not totally inhumane.
    â€˜Thank you,’ she said, as warmly as she could to the girl, hoping the sense got through, then added questioningly, ‘Your name is Noni?’
    The girl gave a curious smile, and then nodded.
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    It was rather more than an hour after they had been secured to the wall that a newcomer entered the laboratory. He was a man of the same type as the others, with a reddish skin and strong nose, dressed in a white tunic with richly embroidered hems and carrying a light blue sash across his shoulder. He was leading a slave girl by a chain leash. She had a mane of wavy dark brown hair confined by a headband and her skin was of a much lighter tint than his. Like Noni she wore a metal belt to the rear of which her wristbands were fastened, so that her hands rested in the supple curve of her back above her neatly rounded buttocks. Except for her restraints and strappy sandals, she was completely naked.
    The scientist greeted the man and conversed with him intently for a few minutes, from time to time pointing at Jeni and Rebecca. The newcomer nodded, spoke a few words to his slave and then led her across to the two captive women. Meanwhile Noni was ordered to fetch the recording device, which she brought over and held at the ready.
    The new slave girl knelt gracefully before Jeni and Rebecca with the man still holding her leash standing behind her, and Jeni couldn’t help thinking she was like a dog settling at the feet of its master.
    Seen close to the slave appeared to be in her early twenties, with serious grey/green eyes, a slightly broadened but neat nose and sensuous lips. A silver ring hung from her nasal septum over her top lip, complimenting the rings that pierced the pale nipples of her shapely breasts. Thick dark fluffy pubic hair showed through the filigreed metal that covered and imprisoned her pubes. The same filigree work was visible on the broad, finely wrought band that encircled her slim throat. A matching collar and chastity belt, Jeni thought with fluttery feelings in her stomach.
    â€˜My master, Administrator Narvok Tem, believes you speak English,’ she said, shaping her words carefully as though recalling a language she had not used for some time. Her voice bore a slight but distinct American accent. ‘He will speak through me. You will answer his questions promptly and completely.’
    Rebecca sobbed in relief. ‘Oh, thank God!’ she gasped. ‘Tell them there’s been a terrible mistake. They must give me back my clothes and let me go. My name is Rebecca Lamont. My father is Terrance Lamont, the banker. He’ll have people looking for me. Call his London office... I can give you his number.’
    The girl was translating this as Rebecca babbled her plea. The man looked annoyed and exchanged a few words with the girl, who turned back to Jeni and Rebecca and said, ‘My master has allowed me to speak freely for a moment to explain things to you, so you don’t waste his time making any more foolish requests. Get this straight. You are slaves now. Forget your family or what you were in the past. That’s all gone now. And even if he wanted to, my master couldn’t call London . There’s no such place here.’
    As Rebecca stared at the girl uncomprehendingly, Jeni asked, ‘Can you tell us where here is?’
    â€˜This is the Imperial Isle of Elysium.’ She pronounced it, ‘Iliz-ium’.
    Rebecca blinked. ‘The Isle of Elysium? Where’s that?’
    â€˜In the middle of the Atlantic, of course,’ the girl said, ‘but not in the world you grew up in. I know this will seem crazy, but you’re not in your world any longer.’
    In fact Jeni felt no surprise at the incredible statement. It seemed to make sense of the sense of dislocation she had felt while they were lost in the fog. They really