Of One Man’s Blood

By Debbie B

DLB1248@aol.com

“Got’em?”

“Yeah, I got’em, hand me the bottle.”

The boy tried to jerk free but the arm around his neck only tightened, nearly choking off his air supply.

“Might as well stop strugglin’, kid. Ya gonna drink this stuff, like it or not,” growled the man as he gave his arm a little jerk to reinforce his words.

The boy grasped the man’s thick arm with both of his hands and tried to yank the arm free from his neck.

“I said, hold still, ain’t gonna do no good to fight. Now open ya mouth,” the man said as he pressed the lip of the bottle to the boy’s mouth.

Joe Cartwright tried twisting his head away from the offending bottle but with no luck. “I ain’t gonna drink that stuff,” he grunted through gritted teeth.

“Like hell ya ain’t,” the man holding the bottle of whiskey announced as he forced the bottle between Joe’s lips and tipped the whiskey bottle up until the liquid began flowing into Joe’s mouth.

Joe had no other choice but to swallow the strong tasting liquid or drown in the whiskey. After several swallows, the man removed the bottle and laughed, giving Joe time to catch his breath.

“Now, that ain’t so bad, is it kid?” he laughed.

“Let me go,” growled Joe as he began struggling against the arm that remained clasped around his neck. Already Joe could feel his head begin to spin, partly from the foul tasting whiskey and partly due to the fact that the man refused to lessen his hold on him.

The bottle pressed against his lips for the second time and forced its way into his mouth. Joe had to gulp fast as the liquid poured freely. He thought he might choke on the brew before the man removed the bottle. Joe’s head spun, his vision had begun to blur. His stomach was churning and he feared that he might vomit. When at last he felt the man push against his mouth with the tip of the bottle, Joe felt the sting of tears in his eyes.

“No…please…no more,” he tried to plead but was cut off by the bottle being shoved between his bruised lips. Again, Joe was forced to swallow what remained in the bottle until the man was sure that the bottle was entirely emptied.

The laugher seemed far away to Joe who had begun to sway against the body of the man who held him. Joe’s knees felt like jelly and his arms dangled down to his sides. He burped and then giggled.

“He’s almost gone, hand me another bottle, Dave,” the man snickered.

Dave passed the second bottle to Sam and grinned at the expression on Joe’s young face. “Kid sure is gonna have one hell’va headache when he wakes up,” Dave said.

“A headache’s gonna be the least of his worries,” Sam said as he put the bottle to Joe’s mouth and tipped it upward.

The whiskey made a gurgling sound as it ran from the bottle into Joe’s mouth. Joe automatically swallowed, taking half the amount in the dusty old bottle before his knees gave way completely and he lapsed into unconsciousness.

“Guess he’s gone,” laughed Sam. “Drank more than what I would’ve thought he could,” he laughed again.

Sam handed the bottle back to Dave and quickly scooped Joe’s body up into his arms and carried him into the next room where he placed Joe on the bed.

“He ain’t gonna wake up for quite sometime, but I reckon, ya better go ahead and tie his arms and legs. Make sure ya strip him down to his long johns first. Boss said he wanted to check him over good, afore that buyer gets here,” ordered Sam.

“When’s he getting here?” Dave asked as he began removing Joe’s clothes.

“Couple’a hours, the boss should be here in a few minutes. If the buyer likes what he sees, he’ll take the kid tonight, and by the time that the boy wakes up and remembers his name, he’ll be so far away from here, he won’t ever get back,” laughed Sam.

“Guess we was lucky we spotted’em when we did yesterday on the wharf with his pappy. Boss sure ‘nough was takin’ with him,” said Dave as he tossed Joe’s pants into the trash.

“Well, hell, look at’em, he’s a right good lookin’ kid,” stated Sam.

Joe’s clothes had been removed and Joe lay bare-chested with nothing but his long john bottoms covering him.

“He sure is purty, that’s for sure. I sorta feel sorry for what’s gonna happen to’em,” milled Dave.

“Yeah, well, we can’t think about that. This here boy ain’t just one of the run of the mill kids, he’s quality. I seen that right off, when I spied his papa and the way they was dressed. Boy should bring a right high price,” Sam figured. “Probably a couple’a thousand dollars.”

“That much?” Dave seemed surprised.

Sam casually lifted the front band of Joe’s long johns and chanced a quick peek. “Hmm,” he said.

“What?” Dave barked, as he leaned down, doing the same thing. “Whew,” he allowed the air to whistle through his lips.

“Ain’t so bad for a kid,” smiled Sam. “How old ya reckon he is…seventeen, eighteen?”

“Don’t look that old, more like fifteen or sixteen to me,” Dave said at last.

After inspecting Joe’s wrists, which were tied to the bedposts and then his ankles, tied securely to the posts at the end of the bed, Sam grabbed the blanket at the foot of the bed and pulled it up around Joe and turned from their prisoner.

“Let’s hope he ain’t that young, boss could get in some bad trouble if’n he tried to sell flesh that young. Come on, let’s get something to eat before the boss gets here.” Sam led the way out of the room and closed the door after Dave had joined him in the other room.

Dave and Sam sat at the small wooden table enjoying their meager meal when they picked up on a thumping sound in the second bedroom. Sam started laughing.

“Guess that fella finally woke up. Come on, let’s take a peek.”

Both men rose to their feet and headed for the door. “Best be careful, he sure did put up a fight earlier. Ain’t like the kid, this ole boy was harder to take,” warned Dave.

“Yeah, but I bonked him good,” Sam snickered.

“Right, after he damn near broke my jaw!” sneered Dave.

Sam opened the door, surprised to see his other captive awake and glaring at him with dark eyes that warned him of the anger that brewed within the man. The raven hair captive yanked at the bounds that held him tied in the bed. He tossed his head from side to side in an effort to force the gag from his mouth.

Adam Cartwright was furious; he wanted nothing better than to free himself from his bounds and rip the sarcastic looking smirks off the faces of the two men who towered over him. He was cold too, all of his thrashing about on the bed had moved the blanket off his near naked body and nearly into the floor.

“Take it easy, mister, ya only gonna make matters worse,” growled Sam as he grabbed the blanket and started to cover Adam.

He hesitated briefly, and started snickering. He gave Dave a wicked little smile and a nod of the head. Dave giggled and moved to the opposite side of the bed, waiting to see what Sam was up too. Sam tossed the blanket in the air, spreading it across Adam’s body and letting the lower half of the blanket fall into place. The top portion he held in his hand and with his free hand he lifted the band of Adam’s long johns in the same matter that he had done the young boy’s.

“Whew…wee,” Sam snickered.

Dave followed Sam’s action and then raised his head, laughing. “Dang, the boss sure is goin’ to like this one, too. I ain’t never seen men so…well…so well endowed before, not in all the years I been snitchin’ men for the boss to sell. This one here’s a keeper, sure ‘nough,”

Sam glanced down at Adam as he dropped the edge of the blanket and let it cover Adam’s chest. Adam’s wrath shone in his dark eyes as he continued to glare at the pair. He grunted, trying to make his self understood but they only laughed at him.

“Calm down stranger. What boss’ got planned for you ain’t so bad,” Sam explained. “Where ya headed, you’ll have all the purty gals and all the free…well, just you never mind, you’ll be put to good use,” laughed Sam.

He turned to his friend, “Kinda wish I was goin’ where this here fella and that kid is headed.”

“Naw, not me…I ain’t got no hankerin’ to be down in them there islands, too damn hot to suit me, come on, I think I hear someone comin’,” said Dave as he glanced one last time over his shoulder at Adam before shutting the door.

Adam waited until the door was completely shut and then tried yanking on his ropes that held him down. How had he been so careless, he questioned himself? Had it not been for having to follow after his younger brother, none of this would have happened he scolded.

Adam stopped struggling and sighed deeply. It hadn’t really been his youngest brother’s fault; he couldn’t blame Joe for any of this. In truth, admitted Adam, it had been his fault, every bit of it. Hadn’t he been the one to suggest that the three of them take a stroll along the battery? Hadn’t his seventeen-year old brother been the one who advised against it, stating in the words of their father, ‘the battery at night is no place for three healthy, able-bodied young men to be’, Joe had warned he and Hoss. But Adam, older and supposedly wiser, had laughed and bragged about who would attempt to Shanghai the three of them, as long as they stayed together. Besides, Adam remembered laughing and winking at Hoss, he had told Joe that no one would dare once they set their eyes on their middle brother, for Hoss was an intimidating whale of a figure. Hoss had even joined in his joking and told Joe that if he was chicken, he could stay behind and wait for their father to return from his late night meeting and then be put to bed early like they knew Pa would do.

Joe had shrugged his shoulders, giving in to both brothers on the pretense that if anything happened to him, it would be on their shoulders, not his. They could stand before their father and explain what had happened and if they should be lucky enough to get away with it, all Joe would have to tell Pa was that he was forced into going along because what else could he do? Adam was left in charge and Pa had always made it clear to him that he was to always do as his older brother told him to do.

Adam couldn’t help but laugh, though his gag made it practically impossible. Joe had them both over a barrel. The kid was sharp; he’d give his baby brother that much.

Adam’s thoughts turned to other things. He wondered if Joe was okay for once the fight in the tavern they were passing, had broken out and spilled over into the street, he had lost sight of his youngest brother. Joe seemed to have vanished into thin air, and when he and Hoss had gone down separated streets looking for the boy, Hoss had vanished as well, and the next thing that Adam remembered were the two thugs in the other room jumping him from behind. He had gotten in one good punch to one guy’s chin before being clobbered over the head and knocked out cold. Everything after that had been a blur until he woke up and found himself tied in this bed and stripped of all his clothes but his long johns. He had no idea where his brothers were or if they had met with a similar fate or not.

Adam groaned; his father would never let him forget this, if he were to ever get back to his father. Adam shut his eyes, unaware that just on the opposite side of the wall lay his youngest brother, passed out cold from having been forced to drink his self into a whiskey induced stupor.

**************************

Boss entered the rundown shack and tossed his hat down on the table as he pulled out a chair. Dave had quickly poured their boss a cup of coffee and placed it in front of the brawny man.

“Ya gonna like what we got for ya today, Sal,” smiled Dave.

Sal’s face cracked with a smile as he took a swig of coffee. “Did ya get me that kid?”

“Sure did Sal,” Sam jumped in to say. “And we got another fella. He’s a bit older than most we usually get, but ya gonna like’em. I have an ideay, he’s gonna make ya some fine dollars. That buyer is gonna get rich when he starts producin’ offsprings. If’n I was ya, I think I’d be askin’ for a percent,” suggested Sam.

Sal gulped down his coffee, his eyes never leaving Sam’s face. “He’s that good, is he?”

“Sure is,” laughed Dave.

Sal pushed back his chair and stood to his feet. “Then let’s take a look.”

Sal followed Sam and Dave into the side room where they had Adam bound and gagged on the bed. Sal stepped up to the bed and grabbed the lone blanket that covered the oldest Cartwright son. A smile broke the stern expression on his face when he spied the body hidden beneath the cover.

“Not bad,” Sal grinned.

Adam’s eyes had followed the threesome into the room. One man was a stranger and Adam could tell just by the way that the man presented himself, that here was the boss. He fought against cringing when the new arrival jerked the blanket from his body and then again when the man carelessly lifted the band of his long handles and inspected his groin area. Anger fueled by his humiliation turned his eyes red and his nostrils flared, as his breathing became deeper.

“Not bad, he should do just fine. I haven’t seen a specimen like him in a very long time. He should breed well, now, what else have you got for me?”

Sal dropped the blanket and let it fall where it willed. He walked, without so much as a backward glance at Adam, from the room and into the smaller room across the hall.

Joe was still out cold. He had not even moved and as Sal pulled the blanket from around his still form, he smiled. He tossed the blanket into the floor and sat down on the edge of the cot next to Joe.

“Get out,” he ordered the other two men, his eyes never leaving Joe’s face.

When he heard the door shut, he glanced over his shoulder to be sure that he was alone with the boy. With the tenderness of any loving parent, Sal gently ran his fingers through the thick dark curls, moving to tenderly caress Joe’s cheek. He allowed his fingertips to trace the outline of Joe’s lips, his tongue moving across his own as his fingers retraced the boy’s for the second time.

Gently, as if afraid to wake the boy, Sal pulled opened the band of Joe’s long johns and stared in open-mouthed wonder at the boy’s private parts. Quickly he stood, brushing his hand across his face to wipe away the tiny beads of moisture that had begun to bead on his forehead and grabbed the blanket, spreading it across the unconscious boy.

He walked to the window and opened it just enough to allow a small breeze to filter in to the room. He could smell the salt air and hear the gulls and he sighed deeply. The buyer would be here any time. He would sell both the boy and the handsome raven-haired man for a goodly sum and then be on his way. This would be the last time that he would be forced into providing Harriman with men and boys for use on the man’s cotton and vanilla plantation down in the south Pacific islands. The very last time, for he was married now, he had a wife and life had turned out to be better than it had ever been before. Sal vowed not to let anything ruin his perfect life now, he was finished with this white slavery trade; he had made a small fortune and from now on, he would live a normal, decent life with his wife and little boy.

**************************

Ben paced the floor of his hotel room and glanced again at the time. It was nearly mid-night and he was fuming mad. He had expected his sons to be back long before now, he had the note in Adam’s neat handwriting to prove it. Ben grabbed the note again and reread the message to be sure he had not misunderstood. It was plain, Adam had said that they would be back early, probably even before he had finished with his meeting.

Ben opened the door and glanced down the hall, it was way past Joe’s bedtime, much too late for his brothers to have kept him out. He had warned Adam about the dangers of roaming the streets of San Francisco late night, especially along the waterfront, why anything could happen to them he reasoned. Ship’s captains were always on the lookout for healthy, strong men to help man their ships, and for sure, his three sons fit the bill.

Ben took a deep breath and shut the door. He would give the boys until morning, and if they had not returned by then, he would go to the local law enforcement office and speak with them.

Reluctantly, Ben stretched out on the bed and tried to get some rest. It was a long time in coming; his fear for his sons kept his thoughts foremost in his mind. “Adam, so help me, you had better have a good excuse for worrying me like this,” he mumbled to himself.

**************************

“I have two for you tonight, Mr. Harriman,” Sal said as he led the way through the house to the two rooms where his captives were being held. “One’s just a boy, but he looks strong, seems to appear to have worked hard at something. He’s feisty, and has a temper, but I’m certain he can be whipped into shape, if you get my meaning,” Sal said with a smirk across his face.

“Nothing wrong with a temper, as long as I’m the one controlling it,” laughed Mr. Harriman, “and you know me well enough to know, I’ve broken many men in my time, a boy poses no threat to me.” Mr. Harriman straightened his jacket and glared down at Sal. “What about the other fellow? I hope you did better with him than with the last man you claimed was ‘perfect’.”

Sal stopped in front of the door and twisted around to smile up at Harriman, who stood at least a foot taller and fifty pounds heavier. “Oh, you’re gonna like this guy. He’s about thirty, built like a brick wall, and well…well, let’s just say, I think even your breeders will like him. Nothing like keeping the women satisfied,” laughed Sal, hoping that his boss would think his little insinuations were funny.

“Open the door, you idiot and let’s take a look,” growled Harriman as he pushed his way into the room where Adam was being held.

Adam could see the two men as they entered. The one called Boss, or Sal rushed around the big man to stand close to the bed. Adam glanced from one to the other, tugging on his bound hands in a futile attempt to free himself.

“Calm down, Mister, we ain’t gonna hurt ya none,” Sal said and then jerked the blanket from Adam’s body.

Adam glared up at the two men but then fixed his eyes on the newcomer. He saw Harriman’s mouth twist into a crooked grin as his deep-set eyes took in every inch of his half naked body. Adam felt himself shiver when the man raised his longjohns and stole a glance at his private parts. The way that the man studied him, pressed his fingers around his biceps to test his strength and then stood back and smiled evoked such instant hatred in his heart that Adam found himself trembling.

“I’ll take him,” smiled Harriman. “He will do just fine. Put the chains on him and get him down to the docks and below deck. Make sure he can’t get away and you had better be careful that you’re not seen. Do you understand me?”

“Sure thing Mr. Harriman…hmm…about the price?” stammered Sal as he followed the larger man from the room.

“I want to see the boy first…is he in here?” Harriman stopped in front of the second door and pushed it opened. When he stepped inside, he went straight to the bed, without stopping and jerked the cover from the boy’s body.

Sal slipped silently up next to his buyer and watched the man’s face twist into a broad smile. “Ya like him?” he asked softly.

“Like him?” Harriman grinned as he pulled open the front of Joe’s longjohns. “Not bad, for a kid,” he smiled at Sal. “He will make the perfect house servant until he’s old enough to use for breeding.” Harriman turned, placing his hand down on Sal’s shoulder, “you out did yourself this time, Sal. How much do you want for the pair?”

“Well, I ain’t sure Mr. Harriman, what do you think they’re worth?” Sal had a figure in mind but was hesitant to voice his offer, lest Harriman think it too high.

Both men sat down at the table in the other room. Mr. Harriman reached inside of his coat and pulled out his wallet.

“How’s five thousand for the older fella and…say…twenty-five hundred for the kid?”

Harriman began pulling bills from his wallet, counting silently to himself. Sal tried not to show his pleasure, but Harriman, an observant man, saw past his cohort’s facade. Sal swallowed hard and tried to keep the smile from his face.

“I suppose that’s fair enough,” he said and stretched out his hand to receive the money. When Harriman placed the bills in Sal’s hand, Sal’s fingers quickly tightened around the money.

Harriman laughed, “Not so fast…half now, and the other half when they are safely loaded on my ship.”

“Oh, sure thing, Mr. Harriman, I’ll get my men to move them now,” Sal quickly replied.

“Good, I’ll meet you on the wharf in half an hour. I sail in one hour.” Harriman pushed back his chair and stood to his feet. “Be there!” he ordered and left.

Sal glanced quickly at the door where Harriman had left and grinned. Stuffing the handbills into his coat pocket, he hurried to the back door and called out to his men.

“Get the big fella first, keep him quiet and make sure you have those chains on properly this time. I can’t afford for him to get away,” Sal ordered and stood back while four seaworthy sailors entered into Adam’s room carrying shackles with them.

Sal watched from the doorway, the fight that went on inside the room. The dark headed man fought like a bear against the four seamen who were attempting to put the chains around his wrist and ankles. It took all four to hold Adam Cartwright down just to put the wrist chains on.

The second that Adam felt one rope loosen around his wrist, he had begun fighting. By the time that the second wrist was free, the four men knew that they had made a mistake in not putting the shackles around Adam’s ankles first. Adam swung out, his fist connecting with one man’s jaw. The man groaned, but kept on clinging to Adam’s left arm, twisting it behind Adam’s back.

Adam’s arm swung out again, this time his punch was blocked and instead he received a solid blow to his chin. Dazed, Adam shook his head while two men twisted his right arm behind him and upward. There was nothing more that Adam could do to protect him self, if he moved, the man would snap his arm as easily as if it had been a twig.

The iron bands clicked and Adam was defenseless. He lowered his head to the pillow, the fight gone for now. He lay, without a struggle and waited until the men had the shackles fastened about his ankles.

Adam was roughly hauled to his feet, the gag had slipped from his mouth during the short scuffle and the bandanna lay knotted around his neck. He glared at the man in front of him.

“I don’t know where you’re sending me, but rest assured I’ll be back, and when I do, you will be the first man I come looking for,” snarled Adam.

Adam doubled up; Sal’s fist had welded itself deeply into the pit of Adam’s stomach. His knees buckled and his legs gave out. Had it not been for the two sailors, Dave and Sam, holding Adam upright, he would have crumbled to the floor.

“Blindfold him and gag him, I don’t want anyone hearing you taking him out of here,” he told the two.

Sal waited until his men had Adam blindfolded and gagged. Adam could put up little resistance, the pain in his stomach had nearly caused him to vomit and only because of sheer determine had he been able to refrain. Now with the rag stuffed into his mouth, all his concentration would have to be focused on being able to keep the pain subdued and the hot tasting bile in his stomach. When Dave and Sam were ready to go, they half dragged, and half carried Adam from the house, going out the back and down the dark ally to keep from being seen.

Sal turned to Jock and Vennie, “Get the boy, he shouldn’t be any trouble. If he’s still out cold, just carry him, he doesn’t look like he weighs much. When you get him on the ship put the chains on him as well. Harriman has a special place down in the hull of the ship where he keeps his…guests…so no one sees them much. He’s a shrewd man, mean too when he doesn’t get things his way. His men won’t say anything to anyone, not even each other if they happen to find Harriman’s stash, they all know what happens to a man if he rats on the captain,” warned Sal.

“Better get going, times running out and I don’t want to make Harriman mad, get the kid.”

Jock and Vennie entered the room where Joe was still passed out on the bed. They grinned at each other as they worked at freeing Joe’s limbs from the ropes that held him tied to the four posters. When they finished, they took the blanket and rolled Joe up within its folds. Vennie, the larger of the two men, picked Joe’s body up and tossed him over his shoulder as easily as if Joe had been a sack of potatoes.

“Kid ain’t heavy at all,” laughed Vennie as he led the way out the door and down the same ally that Dave and Sam had used to take Adam to the ship.

“He don’t stand much of a chance, I sorta feel sorry for the kid. Most of the men that Harriman uses on that plantation of his, are lots bigger than this boy is. Take that big ox of a man we clobbered earlier, took half a dozen grown men just to knock that fella to the ground and then six more to put the chains on’em,” muttered Jock. “Ain’t never had to tackle one that big,” appraised Jock, following behind.

He hurried to catch up with Vennie, the blanket had slipped and Joe’s dark curls were showing. Jock tugged at the blanket to recover Joe’s head, looking about him to be sure that they weren’t seen.

Sal trailed behind, his mind going over the deal he had made. Seventy-five hundred dollars in one night, he was ecstatic, he would never have to work again. What with the small fortune he had made just in the last year, he could move away, take his small family and live in luxury. His dreams of being a gentleman rancher were on the verge of becoming reality and the anticipation was exhilarating. Sal rubbed his hands together; they had made it undetected to the wharf.

The mist had formed a shroud about the ship that swayed gently in the water. Long thick ropes held the ship at the dock, the gangplank stretched from the side of the ship to the wooden deck below. At the top of the long walkway, stood Harriman, and Sal hurried to follow Jock and Vennie. He stopped and waited as Harriman spoke with Jock and Vennie and then turned and issued orders to one of his own men. Harriman picked up the corner of the blanket and studied Joe’s face briefly before waving them on. As the big man turned to face Sal, he smiled and had no one ever suspect him of anything vile, he would have appeared a most charming gentleman. But Sal knew different, the man was wicked.

“Here’s the rest of your money Sal. Thanks, I really didn’t think you’d be able to fulfill your promise to me. I tossed in an extra thousand dollars,” Harriman said, and then almost burst out laughing at the expression on the smaller man’s face.

Sal’s mouth dropped opened, “Th…thank you, Mr. Harriman,” he stuttered.

“You deserve it, my good man. I think those two you found for me are the most promising of all. They should make me a rich man,” beamed Harriman as he shook hands with Sal.

Dave and Sam, Jock and Vennie returned from below deck where they had deposited their cargo and joined their boss. Harriman tipped his hat to the group and as soon as the five had made their way down the plank to the dock, he ordered that the gangplank be raised and that the ship be prepared to sail.

**************************

Far below the upper deck, Adam slowly regained consciousness. His head throbbed from where one of the men had struck him and knocked him out. He had fought with what strength he could, which had been next to nothing. There wasn’t much that he could do, not with his hands chained behind his back and running was impossible with shackles. But when he had seen the long row of stalls which had been built in the ship’s hull, one that the men were forcing him into, he had found that hidden determination and had fought back, knowing all along that the four brawny sailors would eventually win the battle.

The stall was nothing more than four thick walls and a ceiling, built from solid oak. It was narrow, barely wide enough for a man to turn around in, and hardly long enough for a grown man, especially a tall man, to stretch out in. There were no windows, or peepholes, only the heavy door, that once closed, sealed the tiny room entirely. The only space that opened, was a narrow slit at the base of the door where food could be passed inside and out. Within, it was dark and damp, stale straw had been tossed in the floor for sleeping on, an old tattered blanket lay in the other corner and an old pot sat in the furthest corner from which the stale odor of urine emitted. There was no need for Adam to wonder what the pot was used for.

Adam pushed himself into a sitting position, surprised to find that his hands had been unchained and then chained again, in front of him this time. He could barely see his hands in front of his face; it was that dark. He rubbed the back of his head and then inched his way to where he believed the door was. It took several minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dark but after awhile he was better able to see his surroundings.

“Hello?” he called and waited.

“Is anyone there?” he called again after several moments.

No other sound could be heard, but one and Adam wasn’t sure exactly what it was. He pressed his ear against the thick boards and shut his eyes tightly, focusing all of his attention on the strange noise that sounded as if it were coming from the opposite side of the ship’s sectioned off hull.

The noise continued for several moments and then the undeniable sound of another human being, coughing, reached Adam’s ears.

“Hello, can you hear me?” Adam whispered loudly, afraid that the men who had taken him as their prisoner might hear him and return.

Adam could hear nothing now except a soft whining sound and then, there it was again, the odd noise, someone was retching! Adam could barely make out the sound of the moans for they were faint but then began to grow in volume as the horrible retching sound continued. Someone was mighty sick, determined Adam, mighty sick. His heart went out to the individual for the ship had begun to sway back and forth and he was beginning to feel a little nauseous himself.

“Hang on friend, you’ll get used to it,” Adam said as he leaned his back against the thick boards and buried his face in his hands.

As badly as he felt for the man, there was nothing he could do to ease the man’s suffering. Time and time again Adam was subjected to the sickening sounds of the individual as that person vomited repeatedly. The in between times were nearly as pitiful as the retching, for the person moaned and groaned over and over again. At one point Adam could have sworn that the man was weeping, and then the person began mumbling inaudibly words that he could not understand.

Adam tried to force his thoughts on different things, such as his brothers and what had happened to them. Had Hoss found Little Joe, had they managed to make it safely back to the hotel, and what about his father? Had Ben began searching for him? Had he notified the authorities? When in God’s name was that poor soul going to stop being sick?

Adam pressed his fingers to his temples and rubbed vigorously. Dear God, how much more can that man endure, he questioned himself. He was hot, and thirsty, and feared for the individual who surely by now had vomited up his insides. Adam knew that the man would soon become dehydrated if he were not given water.

The sound ceased at long last and Adam breathed deeply. He turned so that he could press his mouth against the tight fitting boards.

“Hello, can you hear me? Are you still sick?” he called out.

The only response was the groaning, as if the person were in pain.

“Are you injured?” Adam said, raising his voice to just above a whisper.

“Ohhh…my head…hurts,” the muted reply came in a voice so low that Adam found it hard to understand.

“What’s made you ill?” Adam called.

Nothing more came from the stall on the opposite wall. It had grown quiet down below and Adam gave up trying to talk to the individual and closed his eyes. It wasn’t long before he had fallen to sleep, his body swaying with the gentle roll of the ship.

**************************

Joe groaned; he felt as if his stomach had turned inside out. He was groggy, unsure of where he was and what had happened to him. His head pounded and he sat up, rubbing his temples to ward off the stabbing pain. His chains rattled, bringing his eyes downward in horror at the cuffs and shackles that had been fastened about his wrists and his ankles. Joe’s eyes widened, fear engulfed his body and he began to tremble.

“PA!” he screamed just seconds before the darkness over came him and he slipped back into his world of oblivion once more.

Adam’s eyes popped opened, his head raised from his arm where it had been supported as he lay on the foul smelling straw, sleeping. He listened intently, for he could have sworn that Joe had just called out for their father. Adam rubbed the sleep from his eyes and shook his head to clear the fogginess that clouded his thinking. He scooted up to the thick boards and tried to peer between the cracks, but nothing was visible in the darkness that blinded his vision.

Adam was just about ready to lay back down when the sound of the door at the top of the steps opened, allowing thin layers of sunlight to momentarily shine down into the darkened hull.

“Put him in the pen, and you damn well better be sure he can’t break those chains again. The man’s an ox and just as strong, too,” shouted one of the men.

Adam listened as they struggled to haul whom ever it was, down the steep stairs and into the stall next to his. Adam heard the thud as the prisoner landed on the floor of the ship and heard when the man grunted. The door creaked as it was shut and Adam listened while the lock was fastened, sealing the newcomer’s fate inside.

“Hey!” shouted Adam.

“Shut up in there!” shouted a man on the opposite side of the thick oak wall.

“I’m thirsty, when can I have some water?” Adam chanced to ask.

The man glanced at his companions as if pondering the thought.

“The man on the other side, he’s been sick…if he hasn’t any water either, he’ll die. I wouldn’t think that the new owner would like that much,” Adam said in a voice that revealed nothing of the inner turmoil he was feeling.

“I suppose you’re probably right. I’ll send one of my men down with food and water. Now you just keep your mouth shut, do you hear me?” shouted the guard.

“I hear you,” muttered Adam, smiling to himself. He had to think of a plan, he had to get out of here, one way or the other, or die trying, he told himself.

He waited until he was sure that all the men had left before moving against the wall where the newcomer had been locked.

“Hey, you okay in there?” he called, hoping that the man on the other side was conscious by now.

Adam heard the man groan and then scoot around.

“You awake?” he questioned.

“Oh lordy, my head’s ahurtin’ somethin’ fierce,” groaned the man on the other side.

Adam hesitated, stunned at the choice of words and the sound of the familiar voice. “Hoss?” he whispered.

“Yeah, how’d ya know?” Hoss whispered in return, rubbing the back of his head with his opened palm.

“It’s me Hoss, Adam!” Adam almost shouted.

“ADAM?” Hoss yelled and moved closer to the wall.

“What are you doing here? Where’s Little Joe, is he with you?” Hoss said.

“They hit me over the head and took me to some house, tied me to the bed and striped me down to my long johns. Some man came in and inspected me like I was an animal used for breeding and then the next thing I knew, I woke up in here, chained. I haven’t seen Joe since that fight on the street, what about you?”

“I ain’t seen Little Joe either, not since we got separated. Lordy, Adam, ya don’t reckon they waylaid him as well, do ya?” Hoss asked, suddenly more worried than before about his younger brother.

“I don’t know, Hoss, all I know is that we’re on some ship, headed for God only knows where,” Adam explained.

“Some where to an island, from what I heard tell. Some big plantation owner has a cotton plantation and needed workers to run the place for him. I heard tell he keeps slaves, black and white and that he deals with breeding them and sells off the young’ons when theys old enough,” Hoss told his brother.

“Great,” muttered Adam.

“What’s wrong, Adam?” Hoss asked, hearing the dread in his older brother’s voice.

“I heard a couple of the men talking, one of them mentioned that the big man could get rich with the offsprings I could sire. Guess I know what I’m expected to do,” groaned Adam, not the least bit looking forward to being used as a stud service for slave women.

“Oh Adam, what are goin’ do?” Hoss inquired.

“Nothing right now, pal. Shh…they’re comin’ back, don’t let on Hoss, that we’re brothers, they could use that against us,” Adam ordered quickly, just as the sound of the men returning, cut off the rest of his sentence.

“Okay, you in there, here’s some water and grub,” the guard slid the tray through the opening at the bottom of the door.

“Thanks,” Adam called, “when are we going to get out of here?”

“You’re not, you’re to stay where ya are until the Captain has a chance to come down and talk with ya, so don’t go trying somethin’, either of ya, cause if’n ya do, he won’t hesitate to hurt ya, or worse,” instructed the guard. “Ya got a long way to go, mister, don’t make it any harder on ya self than necessary,” suggested the man.

“Thanks for the warning, I’ll remember that. Say, what’s your name?” Adam questioned.

“Hank, Hank Sorrows, spelled just like it sounds too,” he laughed.

“Here’s your tray, big boy,” Hank said and pushed Hoss’ tray through the opening. “Eat up, ain’t much, but it’ll keep ya from stravin’ to death.”

“What about the other man?” Adam asked.

“Don’t worry mister, I’ll take care of him. Captain paid a pretty price for you and the kid, he don’t want nuthin’ to happen to either of ya,” Hank explained.

Adam could hear the guard move away and from the echo of his footsteps, Adam knew that the guard named Hank, had crossed to the other side and was unlocking the cubicle where the sick man had been placed. Adam pressed his face against the boards, a tiny slit between the tight fitting timbers, allowed him a narrow, thin peephole.

“Whew!” Adam heard Hank exclaim loudly. “Get some light over here!” he ordered another man.

The man quickly brought the lantern over to Hank and held it up in the air, permitting a bright light to shine within the cubicle of the man on the opposite side. Both Hank and the man with him had their backs to Adam, blocking his view of the ill man.

“Get someone to help you get this man out of here and get him and this stall cleaned up. The boy’s vomited everywhere,” ordered Hank, heading for the stairs. “The Captain will be down here in an hour to see his guest, I want that boy cleaned up, now get busy!” Hank stomped up the stairs, mumbling to himself.

“What’s happenin’?” whispered Hoss.

“They’re dragging that fellow out, he’s been sick and must have made quite a mess…shh…” warned Adam as he continued watching through the little crack in the boards.

“Get ahold of his shackles and pull him out!” shouted the second guard to his helper.

Adam could see the helper bending down and knew that he had grasped the prisoner’s chains. He could see the sick man being dragged from his stall and saw that the man, like himself had been stripped of all his clothes but his long johns. The pitiful moaning sounds that the man made tugged on Adam’s heart. He knew that being sick, especially on a swaying ship could only add to the man’s discomfort.

“God, he stinks,” groaned the guard, “help me get him to his feet.”

Adam could see the two men trying to pull the man up, but the man was either so weak or unconscious that he was unable to stand on his own. Adam could not see the man’s face, but gathered from his size, that the man was young. The thought brought to mind, his youngest brother Joe, and Adam briefly wondered about the boy’s safety.

“The guy’s so sick, he can’t even stand on his own two feet, Hoss,” Adam whispered. “Oh my God!” he suddenly muttered.

“What?” Hoss muttered. He too, had pressed his face against the boards of his stall but could not see a thing.

“They’re hanging him up by his wrist chains and stripping him,” whispered Adam, watching and rapidly getting angry at the heartless treatment of the sick man. Still, Adam could not see the man’s face or his features. What did catch his attention, was the mass of thick dark curls.

“Get some water, we need to douse this kid to get the stench off him,” ordered the guard.

His helper momentarily disappeared, returning with two buckets of water. He poured the first bucket over the man’s head and then laughed when the boy began sputtering and then trying to jerk free.

Adam watched in horror as the man twisted his body, his hands held prisoner high over his head by the chains that had been looped around a hook, hauling the man upward until only his toes touched the floor. The second bucket of water was poured over his head and Adam was forced to turn away when he heard the piteous whining sounds that the man made.

“No…please…no more…its cold,” whimpered the man.

“Too bad, kid, that’s what ya get for puking all over ya self,” laughed the guard. “Get more water, Moe, the kid needs a good dousing,” he laughed.

Adam’s eye found the peephole once more and watched as the third and then forth bucket of water was tossed at the man. Adam could now see the shivering body and the moans continued to reach his ears.

“They tryin’ to kill that fella?” Hoss whispered.

“Freeze him to death I think…hey, listen, I can see someone…it’s the Captain…shh,” Adam said.

“Well, well, well, what have we here?” Harriman asked, inspecting the boy who hung naked for all eyes to see.

Harriman had changed from his business suite to his Captain’s uniform and though Adam had taken an instant dislike to the man, he could not help but admire the striking figure that the Captain imposed.

Capt. Harriman carried a walking stick in his right hand, and tapped it loudly on the floor as he walked in circles, surveying his subject.

“I will forgive you, this…this mess…being as how those idiots forced you into getting drunk,” the Captain stated, his voice commanding in tone. “But from now on, you will refrain from puking all over my ship, do you understand?” he demanded of the young man.

Harriman stood directly in front of the swinging man, who could barely hold his head up to look at the captain.

“What’s your name, boy?” Capt. Harriman inquired.

The man refused to answer, as the captain walked slowly around to the man’s backside, where he could not be seen. “I asked you a question,” Harriman growled.

“Go to hell,” whispered the young man.

Adam inhaled deeply, shocked at the young man’s daring attitude.

Harriman laughed loudly, “My, my, you do have gall, young man. But I will soon break your bad habits…you see I am in command here. You will, at all times, do exactly as I say or…you will suffer the consequences. Do I make myself clear?”

Harriman paused, giving the boy time to answer. When no response was forthcoming, Adam groaned inwardly as he witnessed the captain rear back his hand and with the end of his walking stick, strike the young man across his lower back.

The boy screamed out in pain, his body jerked and quivered, spinning around to where Adam could plainly see the tortured look that had imprinted itself onto the boy’s face. Adam’s heart skipped a beat; his air expelled from his lungs and Hoss could barely hear his older brother muttering softly.

“Oh, dear God, no…not Joe!”

“That is only a sample of what’s to come, boy…now, let’s be polite and try again, what is your name?” smiled Capt. Harriman, turning Joe’s body so that he could see his victim’s face.

“YOUR NAME!” he demanded loudly.

“Answer him, Joe…tell him your name…please,” whispered Adam to himself.

“Adam…” Hoss said softly.

“Go to hell, you bastard,” Joe said, spitting in Harriman’s face.

Harriman calmly took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the spittle from his brow and then stuffed the cloth back into his pocket. He said nothing as he took a step backward and faced Joe.

“You are stubborn aren’t you? But you can’t win against me. I will break you, one way or the other.”

Without warning, Harriman doubled up his fist and plowed it deeply into Joe’s stomach. Joe’s body swayed to the right and before he could even react, Harriman hit him again, this time in the right side, just below the ribcage. Joe screamed as the pain pierced his body.

Harriman grabbed Joe’s hair that was still wet and forced his head backwards, “Your name?”

“Joe…Joe Cart…”

“I don’t care about your last name, Joe will do just fine,” growled the captain, releasing the boy’s hair. “From now on, your name will be…Thomas…say it, ‘my name is Thomas’,” Harriman ordered.

Joe’s eyes had filled with unshed tears and he glared at the man in front of him. His Ma and Pa had named him Joe and nothing this man could ever do to him, would force him to say otherwise.

“Joe…my name’s JOE!” shouted Joe with every ounce of strength he could muster.

“Why you little…” growled Harriman.

Adam dropped his head and moaned…he could not believe his little brother’s audacity.

The crack of the whip snapped Adam to attention. He peeked through the slit, cringing as he stared in horror at the blood that dripped from his younger brother’s back. Harriman had issued five lashes and five-heart wrenching screams seared themselves forever in Adam’s memory.

“NO!” bellowed Adam standing to his feet and pounding on the thick oak door.

Harriman held his hand up, signaling for Moe, who had held the whip, to cease his punishment. Harriman glanced around at the men, Moe, Hank, and the guard and then moved to the stall where Adam could be heard pounding on the wood.

“Open this door,” he demanded of Hank.

Hank quickly did as instructed and unlocked the door. Adam was facing the men as the door was pulled opened and the hatred that covered his face, and darkened his deep hazel eyes to appear ebony, glared at the man in charge.

“And you are?” demanded Harriman.

“Adam,” Adam answered, his eyes searching his brother’s face.

Joe’s body swung gently with the lolling of the ship, and it was evident to all that the boy had passed out. Adam’s breathing was labored; his brow beaded with tiny droplets of sweat and it took every ounce of will power he could draw to keep from throwing his body at the arrogant man standing before him.

“Well, Adam…did you have something to say?” gloated Harriman. “Perhaps you don’t agree with my methods of punishment?”

Adam quickly took in the situation, knowing he was out numbered and could do nothing at present to help his brother.

“No sir,” he stated flatly as he glanced at the swaying form of his youngest brother.

“Do you happen to know the kid?” Harriman questioned, seeing the way in which Adam watched the boy.

Adam hesitated for only a fraction of a second. “No sir, I was just thinking, what a waste, to…to mar such a handsome body,” Adam muttered, stalling for time.

Harriman glanced over his shoulder and then peered down at Adam. “You could be right. Don’t want to scare the ladies,” Harriman said, more to himself than to the group of men. He glanced back at Adam, and smiled.

“You and the kid there, I have great plans for you,” Harriman snickered. “You look as if you would know what to do. I think I’ll put you in charge of the boy, it will be your duty to teach him how to…well you know…satisfy the ladies. I doubt that the boy has ever…been with a woman…if you get my meaning,” Harriman leered.

Harriman took a couple of steps away and then turned back to Adam. “Your name will be Josh from now on, don’t forget that. And the boy, he will be Thomas…teach him to use it, or I will hold you responsible.”

Adam could do nothing but stare at the man. It would do no good to argue with the captain, for now Adam could only bide his time and wait. Hopefully he had been able to put an end to his brother’s cruel treatment.

Adam cleared his throat. “Sir,” he said, speaking to Harriman. “If you will allow me, I will tend to the boy’s…hmm…wounds,” offered Adam, trying not to let the longing show in his expression.

Harriman watched the dark eyed man closely but though he tried, he could not see what possibly lay behind the intentions of the raven hair man.

“Do as you wish. But remember I hold you responsible for his care and his actions. You had better be able to teach him some manners…and his new name. You have until we reach my plantation, if you have failed by that time, you will suffer unmercifully.”

Harriman turned to leave but stopped and retraced his steps. He turned to Hank, “give the man what he needs, see that he and the boy here are well fed. I want them in top shape by the time we reach Golden Isle.”

Harriman turned again but this time, Adam stopped him. “Capt., sir…what about that man in there?” Adam asked and pointed to the stall where his middle brother was held behind locked doors.

“What about him?” growled Harriman.

“Shouldn’t you give him a new name as well?”

Harriman seemed to be thinking on the idea. “I suppose, open the door, let me have a look at him,” ordered Harriman.

Hank quickly unlocked Hoss’ door and allowed him to come out into the light of the lantern. Hoss’ chains rattled when he moved, forcing Hank to take a step backward.

“Hmm…big,” the captain whispered. “Come out into the light,” he ordered Hoss, who complied, willingly as he was anxious to see what had been done to his youngest brother.

Hoss quickly took in the scene, Adam standing at attention, chains hanging from his wrists, Joe dangling from the rafters by his arms, blood dripping slowly down his back from his broken flesh. Anger dulled the usual glow of his sky blue eyes, but he held his thoughts to himself, seething deep within.

“Victor…that’s your name for now,” Harriman told Hoss.

He turned to Adam while keeping a wary eye on Hoss whom stood slightly to the side of him. “Hank will provide you with anything that you need to help the boy. I will allow the three of you the freedom of this area, but mark my word, should you cause one ounce of trouble, it’s back into the stalls you go. It’s a long way to my plantation, but I won’t hesitate to keep you locked away like animals should any of you choose to defy me. Do I make myself clear?”

Adam glanced over at Hoss and then back to the captain. “We understand,” he said clearly, leaving no doubt that the captain had heard him.

“I just have one more question,” Adam dared to ask. “How long do we have before reaching this plantation? I mean, obviously, we will need sun light and fresh air, to keep us healthy,” Adam quickly explained, determining right then and there, that the first chance that he had, he would take his brothers and together they would abandon ship. But first he needed to go above, to see what they might be up against.

“I’ll allow you one hour in the morning, one hour in the evening, providing of course that the weather permits, and the boy there minds his P’s and Q’s,” stated the captain, glancing over at Hoss. “You Victor, will help to man the ship, it would be a waste not to use that strength you processes.” Harriman watched the faces of his prisoners for a moment and then turned his back to them and walked up the stairs.

Hank and the other guards followed behind Capt. Harriman. At the top of the stairs, Hank stopped and turned to Adam.

“I’ll bring you back the first aide supplies and something for the boy’s pain.”

“Thank you, Hank,” Adam said.

As soon as the door closed, Adam motioned to Hoss. “Come on, let’s get him down from there.”

Hoss gathered Joe’s sagging body into his arms and held his brother’s weight off the chains as Adam worked to free Joe from the hook. As Joe’s arms were loosened, Hoss gently guided Joe’s body to the floor. Adam rushed into the stall where Joe had been held and grabbed the blanket. Together, he and Hoss moved Joe into Adam’s cubicle and laid him face down on one blanket while covering his shivering body with another.

“Don’t look too good,” murmured Hoss as he inspected the torn flesh. “I wish that Hank fella would hurry up with the supplies.”

Just then the door opened and Hank, followed by Moe entered the hull and made their way to Adam’s side.

“This is all I could get, just ointment and bandages,” Hank said, handing them to Hoss. “I got you this here blanket, I thought after that bath he had, the kid might be cold, and I found these old pants in the cabin boy’s trunk. They looked like they might fit the lad,” Hank said and then handed them to Adam.

“Thanks,” Adam said and then turned his attention to Joe who had started to moan softly.

“I’ve found a smidgen of whiskey in my bunk, thought he might need it for the pain. Ain’t much, but maybe it will help.” Hank handed the bottle to Adam and then nodded his head.

“You fellas try to get some rest. Don’t let the Captain’s generosity fool you, the man’s a cad, for sure. Just cause he paid a bundle of money for ya, don’t mean he won’t kill ya if ya try to cross’em. Seen him do it afore, makes no never mind to him, it don’t. Ya boys look like nice boys, heed the advice, don’t piss him off. Ya rest easy now, I’ll see ya in the morning,” Hank back away from the threesome, leaving Adam and Hoss to tend to the younger boy’s wounds.