“And this one,” Bethiah continues, snagging a female and dragging her forward. The chains rustle as the slave staggers forward…and I nearly bite my tongue at the sight. The female is far too thin, her head shaved, but those high cheekbones and dark eyes surely belong to Ruth. “This one’s pretty but you cut her mane off. I’m supposed to be buying impressive toys for very wealthy lords, and this is the best you’ve got?”
“You like this one?” the szzt slavemaster seizes on her words, putting a hand on the woman’s shoulder. The slave flinches, trying to draw away. “I have others just like her back in the pens.”
Bethiah pretends to consider the female, making her turn around. “More like this, you say?”
He nods.
She turns back to me. “How many do we need, boss?”
“How many do you have?” I drawl back, fingering my credit pouch. “We’re looking to make a big purchase. Games, you know.”
“I know just the type of games,” he says, beaming at us. “Humans are great for such things. They run fast and make delightful squalling noises when they’re caught.”
It takes everything I have not to reach out and choke the slaver with my bare hands. “You say you have more like this one?”
“Sisters,” he agrees. “At least three more. Same face, everything.” He runs a clawed finger down the slave’s cheek. “Very pleasing. Do you like yellow-haired ones? I have some yellow-hairs!” He turns and studies the group, then drags a grimy female forward. To my relief, she doesn’t look like Alice. Her hair might be yellow underneath her grime, but it’s impossible to tell. Fat tears roll down her face, leaving tracks in the dirt on her skin. She clutches at her breasts, trying desperately to cover them with her hands. “I have at least four like this one!”
“More sisters?” I sneer.
“Yes, more sisters. I will sell them to you at a bargain rate. All very pretty. All with bright yellow hair.”
“What if I buy all of them?” I ask. “Do I get a discount?”
The male’s eyes gleam with anticipation. “Of course, of course. I will work with you on a price.”
Bethiah returns to haggling with the man, discussing where we can pick up a fleet of starving, terrified, browbeaten humans. We make arrangements to show up at midnight to a private dock. The dock master will need to be bribed, of course, and Bethiah settles on an exorbitant price for the now sixty-three humans she wants to purchase for our “master.”
I gesture at the Ruth-clone (because it has to be one) and the crying blonde. “I’ll take these two back with me and we’ll meet later tonight for the rest.” I smile politely at the slaver, picturing my hands around his throat and squeezing. “I trust that you’ll be there with our goods for the price arranged?”
The male szzt nods eagerly, a suspicious look on his face as I hand him enough credits for the two females. “I will hold them all for you, of course. But how can I know that you will return? How can I trust?”
“Well there’s an easy answer for that,” Bethiah says cheerfully. “One of us will stay with you. Right, Zebah? I’m sure you won’t mind keeping an eye on the merchandise for our friend here.”
I slide my arm off of Zebah and to the younger bounty hunter’s credit, she manages an easy smile though I know she has to be seething inside. “Of course. I’d be happy to stay until the exchange is done.”
“Fantastic.” I clap my hands together. “I shall see you later tonight, my friend.” I give the slaver a quick bow and then grab the leads for both of the slave females. The shaved-head one snarls at me—definitely a Ruth-clone—but the other just sobs harder. Bethiah all but prances back to my side, as if she’s excited that we’ve finished our “task” so quickly. “Let’s go get drinks at the cantina to celebrate, boss! I’m in the mood for some ooli brew.”
“Sounds like a plan. Now how do we leave this place?”
“We bribe to use an elevator, of course,” Bethiah says with a smirk. “Come on. I know the way.”
I let her lead, not looking back as we abandon Zebah, and I hope she’ll be fine. She’s used to talking her way out of things, at least. I hope so, anyhow. Bethiah winds her way through the crowd, avoiding vendors, and we head toward one of the back halls. The shadows seem to grow deeper here, and when one of the humans tugs desperately on her lead chain, I use that excuse to turn around and glance behind me. There’s a reptilian fellow following after us, probably the one Zebah noticed earlier. He likely smells an easy robbery. I’m guessing we stand out as new faces amidst the regular trash that heads down to the Belly. Or maybe he just robs everyone. Doesn’t matter.