Babel Novel
Chapter 81
He offered me a bite and I took it looking up at him strangely.
“Christof told me he talks to you and tells you about this world. He said you are curious and ask many questions. My brothers and I wish to be a happy slave when your owners return. If this practice makes you happy we will continue it,” the man said matter – of – factly.
I swallowed and took another bite, still not quite understanding this strange happenstance.
“Ask me questions,” he demanded.
I had to grin at him. He had the stance of a fighter waiting for a physical blow. Knowing how much Master Damien hated questions, I could only imagine how this man felt. Here was a mighty Warrior stuck with the most annoying babysitting job on the planet.
“Could you tell me about you and your brothers, Keeper?” I asked shyly.
The man grinned and relaxed. He didn’t mind talking about his family.
My curiosity was strange, but it was a topic he adored.
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He and his brothers had originally lived across the sea, a long way away. They were sent here by the Administrators when he had just reached Warrior status. He told me about the other village when I asked about it.
Fuji’s owners had not been happy in the other compound. There was another family there they fought with constantly. When they were just boys they could be kept apart, but as adults they had the freedom to seek each other out. It had been a constant battle between the two groups.
This village was better, he told me. The men were more agreeable and less temperamental. He liked the other Warriors. While he enjoyed fighting with the bandits, discord in the compound was unpleasant. The Administrators had been good to them and sent them a nice place.
I pondered this strange piece of information. The Administrators worked for the women. The women must have not been happy this man and his brothers were upset. They moved them so they would fit in better.
The whole story was very paternalistic or in this case maternalistic. Content © NôvelDrama.Org 2024.
As we got up to leave he looked at me quizzically, “I do not understand, slave. Have you been made happy?”
I looked around the little forest and remembered my friend. Being here made me feel closer to him. “Yes, thank you Keeper, I enjoyed my mid day meal.”
We went back to the compound and I thought about Christof. I hoped he was doing well. Worries started to crawl around my brain, I stumbled over a root because I was perseverating on him. The Warrior I was with steadied me as he looked in my face.
“I have a sense for things, slave. I know you are worried about Christof. He will be fine. I do not understand what has happened to him. You must stay well while your Warriors are gone. I know humans become ill when they worry,” he said leading me back to the compound.
“Yes, Keeper,” I answered dutifully.
I went into the ocean as usual in the afternoon. I slipped through the grate and explored the deep water. The pull of the current was phenomenal deep down. I got caught in it and it pulled me a good
way out. I made it back through the grate just as the Keepers were starting to pull everyone together. I chastised myself for almost getting caught.
As I pulled myself out of the water Fuji screamed. I jumped back and stared at her. All the girls were staring below my waist. I Looked down and saw a bloody gash down the front of my right thigh. When I had gotten caught in the current I had slipped against a rock ledge, I didn’t realize I was cut that badly. The wound was pouring blood.
The Keepers lost their minds, to put it simply. I was carried, despite my objections, back to the compound. They cleaned the jagged cut and started to apply a thick paste over it. Usually the men that cared for us were calm and distant; now they were nearly hysterical.
When the Warriors arrived I saw why. I jumped in between the two groups because Fuji‘s owners had drawn their blades in anger. They were approaching the Keepers with deadly intent.
“Please, it was my fault,” I begged with hands extended, “I’m really clumsy,” I begged.