“I just meant at least my…oh you know what I mean. At least I will not be that kind of slave.”
Renall surprised her then. “I do not keep slaves. I capture beings, yes, but slavery goes against everything I believe in. I offer indenturships to those I capture, much like the one I offered you. If you play well, you will make a lot of credits, and then you will be able to buy yourself a new life.”
She asked, “Do many you take on do just that?”
“Yes.” His fingers rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “I know what it is like to be enslaved. I would not wish that on anyone.’
He had been enslaved?She opened her mouth to ask that question but then thought better of it. He started walking again, and she followed him. They stopped at the small room where they had been fed earlier. The other women were already there. Renal said, “There is a cleaning booth there. You will find that we do not have much in the way of clothing, but the booth will clean your clothes as well. You may eat too.’
He left. Jessica sat at the table, her face flushed with color and her hair coated with blood. Ariel sat in another chair, pale and silent. Margie said, “Well. I guess we can all take turns at the cleaning booth.”
Lois piped up. “You all look scary.”
Dana hugged her hard. Clara said, “Jessica, you should go first.”
Jessica grimaced and picked at a strand of her hair. “I think you are right.” She stood and paused. She said, “I don’t know what line they sold you about that ship, but I have to admit that I would never have imagined a bride ship being this exciting.’
Margie waited until Jessica was out of earshot to say, “I think she is enjoying this.”
