Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 09:14:23 -0400 From: Janell Robisch Subject: INT: A Call to Arms - Angel's Escape After I saw that my escape was inevitable, I began to calm down. The Overseer mistakenly thought that meant I was becoming obedient. All the better, I suppose. "Mags, can't you do something about that scar on her face?" he asked, his grizzled face scrunching up with a disgusted look. I could hear the crowd outside screaming and laughing as they brought the boy up to the block. It was almost time. The woman who had been so busy scrubbing my arms and face stopped to look at me and traced the diagonal scar running down my cheek with a crooked finger. It was all I could do not to sock her one. I don't like people touching me. "It's pretty deep. I can cover it up a little, but someone's gonna be awful disappointed when they git her home and find out she's marked." The woman scowled then went to work on my face with some thick tan paste that was supposed to match my skin. Disappointed? I thought. I was proud of my scar. It was the only mark I had from escaping the Black Scorpion, and that would be a lot for a big person to claim. I just stood stock still though, willing myself not to get too angry just now. If I started acting up, they'd hold on to me for sure once I got outside. I guess I fooled them, because just like the kid before me, who had just been sold to a couple of fishers, the guys led me outside and stood there, me between them while they waited for the kid to be gathered up, price paid, and sent on his way. Fortunately for me, this kid had more spunk than I thought. At the last minute, he started a fuss, refusing to go with the fishers, screaming and biting and kicking. The two lugs who were beside me started laughing at his struggle. I could see the tears coming out of their eyes, they were so entertained. While everyone was watching the kid who had waited too late, I slipped out from between them and behind the waiting house. By the time anyone noticed, I was long gone, headed towards the docks and my only chance of escape from this rathole.