Toby's despair at his Master's abandonment of him
Part 5
Written by Jean-Christophe: May, 2009
Chapter 5: Decisions; Decisions.
“Before I give you my appraisals, can I ask what prices were you hoping to get, Mr Trevorrow?”
“I was thinking of somewhere in the 8,000 to 9,000 drachmae range for each of them”.
“I’m afraid, given the current state of the market, those prices are too ambitious. For the three younger slaves you could expect to get 4,500 perhaps 4800 at the most. However, the older would probably fetch 8,000 to 8,500 drachmae; but then he’s in a special category.
“I don’t understand.” Andy questions. “Why are the prices so low?”
“As you are aware our northern neighbours are engaged in one of interminable border disputes with each other. This has resulted in outright warfare and many captured soldiers and civilian prisoners have been enslaved. A lot of these new slaves are finding their way south and are causing a glut in our slave markets. Perhaps you noticed a pen of these new slaves on your way through the livestock yards on your way here. They’re up for auction this afternoon. Of course, as they are new to slavery, they are unbroken, ‘wild’ slaves and won’t sell at the same prices of your tame ones; currently they are selling for about 3,000 to 3,500 drachmae. But, let’s get back to your slaves. Are you prepared to sell them in such a depressed market?”
Quickly Andy downs the sums in his head and is dismayed to realise that the return from his three slaves won’t cover the cost of the statue. Hesitantly, he replies.
“I don’t know. I really did expect to get higher prices for them than the ones you quote”.
“Look your slaves are in superb condition. The two blonds bucks are fine specimens but unfortunately their strength works against you. They’re not suitable for sale as ‘pleasure slaves’ as their bodies are too muscular. Sold individually, I would think they’ll be bought by one of the big construction companies for use as heavy labour on their building sites or in their stone quarries. However, you might consider offering them as a ‘matched pair’ – that way they could appeal to an owner looking for handsome, strong slaves to tend to his gardens and grounds and at the same time provide ‘eye candy’ as they work. Sold as a pair, at auction, you could get an extra 500 drachmae for each of them. What do you think?
Desperate to make up the shortfall, Andy replies “Let’s do it. Now what about the other slave? Do you have any suggestions?”
“Well yes I do. This slave is in a different category to the other two; he has a great body but isn’t as ‘bulky’ as the blonds. I believe his handsome features and finely-honed body would have great appeal to a special client who sometimes buys a slave by private contract. I often draw his attention to slaves I think he might be interested in and I think your slave could appeal to him. If so, I’m sure I can negotiate a higher price than you’d get at auction”.
“Can I ask the name of your client?”
“No. I can’t reveal his identity at this stage. But I can assure you he’s a genuine buyer and one of our leading businessmen. In fact, he’s the proprietor of one of the city’s top casinos and its associated ‘pleasure palace.’ He’s always on the lookout for handsome, tight-arsed slaves to serve his exclusive clientele. Certainly, with his good looks, strong body and that tight arse-hole your slave fits the bill. Should you be interested, I’m happy to act on your behalf. Shall I contact him?”
“I don’t know. My steward told me yesterday that the slave doesn’t like to be fucked. I wouldn’t like to sell him and for your client to feel he’s been cheated.”
Matheson laughs. “It doesn’t matter what the slave likes or doesn’t like – after all he’s only a slave. You can take it from me that if my client buys your slave, he’ll soon get used to being fucked; in fact, that’s all he’ll being for most of his time.”
“I don’t know.” Andy demurs. “I don’t feel comfortable subjecting him to such a life.”
“Your concern for the slave is admirable, Mr Trevorrow. But you need to remember that he is a slave and once you sell him his future life shouldn’t concern you. Look, for the next few years he’ll live a life of luxury; his only role will be to satisfy his master’s clients. Eventually, of course, and once he has lost his appeal, he’ll be sold on. As you are no doubt aware, all casino and pleasure house licences stipulate that the town council has first right of refusal on such slaves; they use them to staff the city’s comfort stations. But that’s in the future. Now, what you need to decide is whether you want me to negotiate a higher price with my client or take the risk of a lower price if he goes to auction. It’s your choice.”
“I guess you're right.” Andy decides. “Please contact your client.”
Aware that he is still short of the money needed to buy his statue; Andy desperately considers his next option. Reluctantly he asks:
You mentioned my steward’s value could be as high as 8,000 – 8,500 drachmae. Could he really be worth that much?”
“Indeed, he is an exceptional slave. His attraction is in his handsome features and magnificent body. Also, he is well endowed; he has large genitals and produces a prodigious amount of semen. All these attributes qualify him as suitable for breeding. I know of several clients who would pay handsomely to own such a slave. It’s even possible that you would get more than 8,500 drachmae if they were to bid against one another. Are you interested in selling him?”
“Reluctantly, yes I am. But tell me more; what will happen to him?”
“My guess is that he will lead the pampered life of a stud on a slave breeding farm. His new owner would ensure that he remains healthy and that his body maintains its superb condition. No doubt he would be worked hard at some heavy-duty labour to maintain his fitness; but, for him, this would be offset by the pleasures of being mated with his master’s female stock.”
“I have to be honest with you.” Andy tells Matheson. “He hasn’t had any sexual contact with females. Would this make a difference?”
“I wouldn’t think so. His mating will be carefully controlled by his owner’s stud-master who’ll make sure he gets over any initial shyness. If you’re thinking of selling him, then I suggest I phone those clients I know would be interested in him and invite them to privately inspect him prior to auction. The idea is to, whet their appetites and then to let them bid against one another. What do you say, Mr Trevorrow?”
“Alright go ahead with the sale of all four slaves. What needs to be done?”
“All I need from you is your signature appointing me to act as your agent and allowing me to chastise your slaves if necessary.” Noting the look of alarm on Andy’s face, the dealer hastens to explain. “Don’t worry; any punishment I need to administer to your slaves will be mild. There won’t be any marking or damaging of their bodies. It’s simply a requirement of all the insurance companies that slave-brokers are free to restrain a troublesome slave if the need arises”
As Andy signs the necessary paperwork, the dealer re-assures him.
“You can rest easy that I’ll take great care of your slaves. After all, it is in my interests too; the higher the return to you, the greater the commission for me. I would prefer to sell them by private treaty, if possible, rather than see them go to auction with the wild, unbroken northern imports. They are in magnificent condition and deserve to be sold as the prime stock they undoubtedly are. Anyway, tonight, I’ll cage your four slaves, together, away from my other stock. That way they’ll be able to support each other. I find that the first night in the pens is always the worst for a slave being sold. No doubt, they’ll fret for their familiar surroundings and the loss of their old lives. Still I find if you give them adequate food and water and clean straw for their bedding they’ll soon settle down. Strangely enough most slaves are resilient. When they wake up tomorrow, they’ll realise that their old lives are over and new ones are about to begin.”
“I have one other question, Mr Matheson. If they go to auction when will they be sold? I’d like to be present at their sale.”
“Well today’s Wednesday. What about Saturday’s sale? There are more buyers at a weekend sale than a mid-week one. Also that gives me time to phone my special clients and invite to inspect the slaves before the sale. These inspections are also good for the slaves; it takes their minds off their sale as they are forced to concentrate all their attention on the buyers examining them.”
The two men shake hands as the dealer hands Andy his copy of the sales authorisation.
“Well, that’s it then, Mr Matheson. Thank you for your help. I’ll see you at the sale on Saturday.”
“Thank you for your custom, Mr Trevorrow. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday. I’ll make sure your slaves are well presented at their pre-sale showings and on the day, should they go to auction, they will be clean, with their faces freshly shaven and their bodies oiled. I know they will do you proud.”
Walking back through the inspection yard, Andy looks resolutely ahead without making eye contact with the still kneeling slaves. Deliberately, he ignores Toby’s questions of “Master? Master?”
He enters his rickshaw and as he prepares to drive away, he closes his mind to Toby’s anguished shouts of “PLEASE, MASTER! DON’T LEAVE ME HERE! COME BACK, MASTER! PLEASE!”
As he drives away from the slave-dealer’s yard he recalls the advice given to him by his father many years ago, but which he chose to ignore; namely that you treat slaves justly and firmly but you never become emotionally attached to them. As his father had explained, slaves are, after all, just another form of livestock. He resolves to remember and practise this advice in future.
He also recalls a story he’d read two or three years ago entitled “You can’t be Friends with a Slave.” He reflects that this is sound advice from a wise author.
Once out off the livestock market he turns his pony towards Antonio Varo’s workshop. He is now in the happy position to confirm his purchase of the ‘wrestlers’ and he’ll still have money left over from the sale of his four slaves.
Smiling to himself, he resolves to buy himself a young, newly, enslaved prisoner from the north while prices are so low.
Picture by Bazz
Footnote: I enjoyed revisiting this, my first ever story, and reposting to this blog. When I visited the "House of the Faun" in Pompeii, I wondered if its owners placed more value on the statue than they did on one of their slaves.
And that became the theme for this short story. Ultimately, the master did value a cold, inanimate object more than the warm, yielding body of his loyal and devoted slave of many years who'd also given him much service and sexual pleasure.
In the long run, slaves were seen as commodities to be bought and sold at the whim of their owners and this was to be Toby's fate. One can only wonder about his emotional state as a result of his beloved master's treachery
This was written as a "stand alone" story but in response to the requests of some readers, I wrote a longer, follow-up series "The Aftermath" which explains what happened to the characters in this story. Writing that follow-up story was also a great pleasure which I fondly recall.
Chris
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