faithfulpurelight
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Summary:King Edmund's thoughts, dreams, and fears as he waits to be sold into slavery.
“Well!” said Pug. “Now whoever heard of a gentleman in my way of business who treated his stock better than what I do? Well? Why, I treat ‘em like my own children.”
“That’s likely enough to be true,” said the other grimly.
The dreadful moment had now come. Caspian was untied and his new master said, “This way, lad,” and Lucy burst into tears and Edmund looked very blank. But Caspian looked over his shoulder and said, “Cheer up. I’m sure it will come all right in the end. So long.”
“Now, missie,” said Pug. “Don’t you start taking on and spoiling your looks for the market tomorrow. You be a good girl and then you won’t have anything to cry about, see?”
Then they were rowed out to the slave-ship and taken below into a long, rather dark place, none too clean, where they found many other unfortunate prisoners; for Pug was of course a pirate and had just returned from cruising among the islands and capturing what he could. The children didn’t meet anyone they knew; the prisoners were mostly Galmians and Terebinthians. And there they sat in the straw and wondered what was happening to Caspian and tried to stop Eustace talking as if everyone except himself was to blame.
- Voyage to the Dawn Treader
Chapter 3
page 45
Pug took up the rope that bound Lucy, Eustace, and me together again, giving it a little jerk to get the three of us moving. My cousin stumbled, bringing me to my knees for the briefest of moments. I struggled up again, shoving him a little harder than necessary into a walk. I had no desire to give these despicable creatures who called themselves men, these kidnappers, any reason to “make us cry.”
We clamored into the little boat, and I could tell we were in for a rough time from the very beginning. The boat was barely big enough to hold any of us. As it was we probably would have been better off making two trips just to get us over safely, let alone our captors. The boat was so old I was surprised it was still floating, and it nearly capsized twice just getting us to their slave ship. Even though it made us worse off, I breathed a sigh of relief when we reached our prison. If we had actually capsized during the short journey hear there was no way my sister, my cousin, or I would have survived, bound as we were.
Eustace’s face could not have been more sulky as they took us onto their wooden ship. I recognized it as a type of galley called a xebec, its lines running narrow and deep, with red- and white- triangular sails. Eustace stumbled as we boarded and I almost felt pity for him. He was not having a good experience here in Narnia and there was so much more to it then what he was seeing. But the pity welling up was erased when he opened his mouth once again.
“Excuse me, but I’m not sure you know who I am. My parents are important people in many organizations! This kind of intolerance will not be stood for. . .”
I stamped on his foot as soon as I had the proper angle for it. My cousin was not helping our situation, and he would only continue to aggravate all around him to the point where they would throw him over board. Considering I was tied to him, this did not seem agreeable to me at the present time.
I was sharply reminded of myself more than two years ago by England’s time. I felt the reawakened stab of revulsion. My poor sisters had dealt with me when I was far worse than Eustace. Peter had dealt with me when I was at least three times as bad as our cousin. I pushed down the unwelcome feelings. That was long in the past now and dwelling on what had already been resolved and forgiven would give me nothing of benefit.
Eustace glowered at me, annoyed that his tirade had been cut short. I rolled my eyes. Dealing with my extremely difficult cousin was low on my priority list right now.
“Move along now! Down in the hold you go,” one of the slavers called, pushing us towards what looked like nothing more than a jagged hole in the ship’s floorboards. Lucy led the way down, her sure-footed steps echoing back. I was glad that we had not fallen down the stairs. Lucy hesitated for the briefest of moments at the bottom of the steps as a grief-filled moan filtered through the air. I sighed as I descended into the hold behind her, my heart going out to those wretched humans, all crammed into the small hull of the ship. I scanned the room, hoping there was an area not packed full of bodies.
My eyes found one area that had minimal room. It was farthest from the small dirty windows that streams of sunlight filtered through, a minuscule corner where we could lean against the ship’s hull. We would have to hurry to keep the other people packed into this dark cramped place from taking the space. As awful as I felt thinking that way, at the moment Lucy, Eustace, Reepicheep, and I were what I was worried about. I turned to the slaver with an imperious air.
“Cut us loose. We have no where to go for the night and I refuse to allow my sister to be treated in such a fashion any longer.”
The slaver sneered. “And what makes you think I care, little boy? You do not order me around.”
I stood up straighter, and there must have been something in my eyes as I stood there glaring at him. I had learned from the best; Aslan bless Xati and Oreius. He went pale, and took a step back from me before cutting the ropes that bound us together hurriedly. I held out my wrists, and he sliced those ropes as quickly as he could before moving on to Lucy and Eustace. With a threatening look he dropped Reepicheep at Lucy’s feet and retreated towards the stairs.
“Don’t try anything!” he growled. I held his gaze for a moment longer before sighing and turning away. Obviously I would not be able to pull that trick again.
“Come on,” I muttered, grabbing Lucy’s hand and dragging her towards the back corner. I knew Eustace would follow, and Aslan help him if he did not. I could not babysit him tonight. He was on his own. But I hoped he followed for his safety, and my temper.
“Well!” said Pug. “Now whoever heard of a gentleman in my way of business who treated his stock better than what I do? Well? Why, I treat ‘em like my own children.”
“That’s likely enough to be true,” said the other grimly.
The dreadful moment had now come. Caspian was untied and his new master said, “This way, lad,” and Lucy burst into tears and Edmund looked very blank. But Caspian looked over his shoulder and said, “Cheer up. I’m sure it will come all right in the end. So long.”
“Now, missie,” said Pug. “Don’t you start taking on and spoiling your looks for the market tomorrow. You be a good girl and then you won’t have anything to cry about, see?”
Then they were rowed out to the slave-ship and taken below into a long, rather dark place, none too clean, where they found many other unfortunate prisoners; for Pug was of course a pirate and had just returned from cruising among the islands and capturing what he could. The children didn’t meet anyone they knew; the prisoners were mostly Galmians and Terebinthians. And there they sat in the straw and wondered what was happening to Caspian and tried to stop Eustace talking as if everyone except himself was to blame.
- Voyage to the Dawn Treader
Chapter 3
page 45
Pug took up the rope that bound Lucy, Eustace, and me together again, giving it a little jerk to get the three of us moving. My cousin stumbled, bringing me to my knees for the briefest of moments. I struggled up again, shoving him a little harder than necessary into a walk. I had no desire to give these despicable creatures who called themselves men, these kidnappers, any reason to “make us cry.”
We clamored into the little boat, and I could tell we were in for a rough time from the very beginning. The boat was barely big enough to hold any of us. As it was we probably would have been better off making two trips just to get us over safely, let alone our captors. The boat was so old I was surprised it was still floating, and it nearly capsized twice just getting us to their slave ship. Even though it made us worse off, I breathed a sigh of relief when we reached our prison. If we had actually capsized during the short journey hear there was no way my sister, my cousin, or I would have survived, bound as we were.
Eustace’s face could not have been more sulky as they took us onto their wooden ship. I recognized it as a type of galley called a xebec, its lines running narrow and deep, with red- and white- triangular sails. Eustace stumbled as we boarded and I almost felt pity for him. He was not having a good experience here in Narnia and there was so much more to it then what he was seeing. But the pity welling up was erased when he opened his mouth once again.
“Excuse me, but I’m not sure you know who I am. My parents are important people in many organizations! This kind of intolerance will not be stood for. . .”
I stamped on his foot as soon as I had the proper angle for it. My cousin was not helping our situation, and he would only continue to aggravate all around him to the point where they would throw him over board. Considering I was tied to him, this did not seem agreeable to me at the present time.
I was sharply reminded of myself more than two years ago by England’s time. I felt the reawakened stab of revulsion. My poor sisters had dealt with me when I was far worse than Eustace. Peter had dealt with me when I was at least three times as bad as our cousin. I pushed down the unwelcome feelings. That was long in the past now and dwelling on what had already been resolved and forgiven would give me nothing of benefit.
Eustace glowered at me, annoyed that his tirade had been cut short. I rolled my eyes. Dealing with my extremely difficult cousin was low on my priority list right now.
“Move along now! Down in the hold you go,” one of the slavers called, pushing us towards what looked like nothing more than a jagged hole in the ship’s floorboards. Lucy led the way down, her sure-footed steps echoing back. I was glad that we had not fallen down the stairs. Lucy hesitated for the briefest of moments at the bottom of the steps as a grief-filled moan filtered through the air. I sighed as I descended into the hold behind her, my heart going out to those wretched humans, all crammed into the small hull of the ship. I scanned the room, hoping there was an area not packed full of bodies.
My eyes found one area that had minimal room. It was farthest from the small dirty windows that streams of sunlight filtered through, a minuscule corner where we could lean against the ship’s hull. We would have to hurry to keep the other people packed into this dark cramped place from taking the space. As awful as I felt thinking that way, at the moment Lucy, Eustace, Reepicheep, and I were what I was worried about. I turned to the slaver with an imperious air.
“Cut us loose. We have no where to go for the night and I refuse to allow my sister to be treated in such a fashion any longer.”
The slaver sneered. “And what makes you think I care, little boy? You do not order me around.”
I stood up straighter, and there must have been something in my eyes as I stood there glaring at him. I had learned from the best; Aslan bless Xati and Oreius. He went pale, and took a step back from me before cutting the ropes that bound us together hurriedly. I held out my wrists, and he sliced those ropes as quickly as he could before moving on to Lucy and Eustace. With a threatening look he dropped Reepicheep at Lucy’s feet and retreated towards the stairs.
“Don’t try anything!” he growled. I held his gaze for a moment longer before sighing and turning away. Obviously I would not be able to pull that trick again.
“Come on,” I muttered, grabbing Lucy’s hand and dragging her towards the back corner. I knew Eustace would follow, and Aslan help him if he did not. I could not babysit him tonight. He was on his own. But I hoped he followed for his safety, and my temper.