Date:         Wed, 12 Jun 1996 10:30:29 -0400
From: Janell Robisch <JPR@OUP-USA.ORG>
Subject:      INT:The Adventurers (A Call to Arms)

I was sitting in a corner, arms holding my bare knees, trying not to draw
any attention to myself, looking for a way out of this mess, when the
Overseer spotted me.  "Hey you, goldilocks!" he called.  "Get your fanny
over here, now!  You're up!"

I just sat there and glared at him.  No one was going to sell me off to
some sleezy pirate without a fight.  My da was, or rather had been, a
pirate and I knew what they were like.  With my luck, I'd get sold off to
the very guy who sank Da's ship, the Night Lady.  I knew Torin was
looking for me.  He and Da had been enemies for a long time.  Havin' me
for his little trinket would be the perfect last revenge for all the times Da
had got one up on him.

The Overseer yelled at me again and when I didn't move, he headed my
way, his fat face turning all red.  I could almost see the steam coming out
his ears.  I had to keep from laughing at the ugly look on his face.
Who'da thought a ten year old could work an old guy into such a fuss?

Well, pretty soon, I wasn't laughing any more when he grabbed me by
the arm and hauled me across the room.  He took me over to a couple of
rough looking ladies in the front who dug their nails into my arms and told
me to behave or they'd beat the livin' daylights out of me.  I only smiled
coldly and spit on one of them's shoe.  I coulda swore the one was
pulling out my hair when she started to run a brush through it.  Man, I
hadn't seen a brush in ages.  What did they think, I'd go for more if my
hair was pretty?

While they were scrubbing my face and arms, none too gently, I saw
them take a boy out to the block.  I watched every move they made
carefully.  They stood outside the door as they waited for him to be
called up.  The two burly guys stood on either side of the little kid, but
weren't touching him.  He stayed there obediently.  What kid would dare
try to make a run for it with slave traders everywhere?

I smirked.  Angel Vengeance would, that's who.  And I'd make it, too.