The occasional sun only added to her discomfort as it heated the metal chains, and the food was no better.The occasional sun only added to her discomfort as it heated the metal chains, and the food was no better. Once a day, the slaver's apprentice assigned to tending her forced a tasteless paste of oats and water down the funnel, usually in choking globs, and washed them through with a deluge of water. Jess swore she would remember this ship and its captain when she regained her freedom, and to repay them for their kindness in turn. On the seventh day, the ship put into the first port to conduct business. Slavers were let on board, one at a time, to select their purchases--ten to a customer--and paid before leaving. |