The People Traders by Keith Hoare Page A

the kitchen, becoming more and more convinced there was to be a repeat of last night as the day wore on. However, when Garrett collected her she was taken directly to the shower room. He then waited outside until she'd finished and handed her a t-shirt, knickers and hair clips to tie her hair back. After she'd dressed as he'd asked, they made their way down corridors towards Assam's cabin. Karen had begun to hold back, now convinced she'd been right and was on her way to Assam's cabin to have some other obnoxious thing forced into her mouth, before being raped once more. But he urged her past his cabin, carrying on down the corridor.
    When she arrived on deck, there were two other girls already stood some distance away, watching her. They both looked tired and one of them, a blonde girl, had a bruise on the side of her face. She was small, around twenty and quite large. The other girl was Karen's height, medium build with short-cropped, brown hair. Somehow Karen recognised her but she couldn't think where from. Karen could just about see a small boat approaching at speed. Assam came out on deck, looked over the side, then walked across to Karen, at the same time grinning like a Cheshire cat.
    "Stupid girl, weren't you? Fancy giving Screwer the condoms and saying they were from you. What did you expect him to do with them, blow 'em up like balloons?" He began laughing, before turning away from her towards the other girls.
    Karen glared at him. "Laugh all you want, but you'll pay for what you had done to me last night," she replied bravely.
    He stopped for a minute, turned and walked back to her. Then he put his arm round her shoulder urging her to walk with him to the side railings of the deck, away from everyone else standing around. Suddenly she was very scared for replying. Assam just stood at her side looking out across the still water.
    "Karen... Karen... brave words, but it shows you are still a very naive and arrogant girl, when even after last night, you still have not leant when to keep your mouth shut. How about I delay your departure for an hour, after all, you must be expecting a punishment for threatening me? It'll give me time to call the crew up on deck and ask them to bring your favourite table? Then perhaps I'll choose five to take you this time and we'll see how well you cope, shall we?"
    A cold shiver ran down her body, she couldn't believe what he was threatening her with. Her eyes began to water as she turned to look at him, desperation in her voice. "I'm sorry, you're right, Assam, it was a stupid and naive remark. You've treated me well and I deserved what happened to me last night, because of Barry." She looked away, her voice faltering. "I've been sat alone in the hold all day, terrified my punishment had not finished and wondering what was eventually going to happen to me. I just said it, without thinking, to give me a little self-confidence, that's all. I didn't mean it, you know that? I'm begging you not to give me to the crew. Take the strap to me in punishment for my remark. In fact anything else you want to do to me, I'll accept. But I'd rather die, truly this time, than be raped by so many men."
    Karen stood quietly, looking back up at him, as tears now began to run down her face. Inside she was falling apart, not sure what more she could say that might change his mind from handing her to the crew. Inside she was praying he'd accept her apology, but at the same time a plan was forming in her mind.
    Assam waited a short time to allow her real fear to continue, and then smiled to himself. He enjoyed seeing this proud girl squirm. Placing his arm again round her shoulder, he pulled her close to him, speaking quietly in her ear. "Yes, Karen, I believe this time you would rather die. But I told you when you came on my ship; the option to die does not come easy, so first the crew, then die, is that what you want? But while you think about that, don't even consider the option of jumping ship; you'd not