The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [200]
At the base of the tower on the opposite side from where the mules turn the wheel, water issues forth to fill a large trough area. Women, slaves, and small children are there filling large jugs with water.
“So this is where their water comes from,” James observes. “They pump it from beneath the ground.”
“It would take many such buildings to satisfy the thirst of so many people,” Brother Willim adds.
“There well may be more,” James replies.
Three smaller troughs catch the overflow from the larger. All three have children playing in them. One man has paused next to one of the smaller troughs and is allowing his horse to drink.
As their horses are in need of water, they move to another of the smaller troughs and let them drink their fill. While there, James takes a closer look at the water pump. Always one interested in ancient technology, he admires what they’ve accomplished. Though with his technologically advanced knowledge, he can see where they could improve on the design.
Slaves, both male and female, come and go as they fill water jugs. The sight of them fills James with disgust. How one human being can ever consider another as property is beyond his understanding. Off to one side, a small child dressed in a slave loincloth is being strapped by an older man. James feels a hand on his shoulder and that’s when he realizes he was on his way over to rescue the child. Glancing over his shoulder, he sees Jiron there.
“We can’t,” he says.
James can see the pain in his eyes too. Ever since traveling with James, he’s grown much more conscious to the plight of those around him, especially kids. Steeling himself, James turns his back and tries to shut out the crying of the child. “Let’s get out of here,” he tells Jiron.
“Sure,” he says. Then he returns to the others and they start to get back in the saddle.
James walks woodenly to his horse and mounts. Unable to help himself, he glances back to where the child was being beaten and finds him lying unmoving on the ground. The man has stopped strapping the boy and says something to the child as he nudges him with his toe. Still the child remains unmoving.
He watches in horror as the man works the toe of his boot under the body and flips it over. The boy’s head lolls to one side. That’s when it finally hit home that the man must have killed the boy. His vision turns red as anger suffuses him. A slug makes its way into his hand and he cocks back his arm to deliver judgment on the man for the death of the child. Just as he’s about to throw, an arm grabs his and stops him. Turning, he sees Miko there.
“The child’s not dead,” he says quietly. “Though he will be if we do nothing.”
Turning back to the boy, he sees the man nudge him one more time with his foot then turn and walk away. None of the other people on the street even so much as bat an eye at what this man has done to a child. Probably because the child is a slave and who really cares about the fate of a slave.
Leaping from his horse, James runs across the plaza toward the child. Picking him up, he can tell that he’s only unconscious. Blood from the boy’s wounds where the man’s strap had cut into him smears his arms and clothes but he doesn’t care.
Standing up, he turns back only to find Jiron standing there. “Find us an inn, fast!” he insists.
Jiron looks about ready to protest. Then he sees the seriousness in James’ face and nods. Moving over to Reilin, he points toward the main thoroughfare and tells him to find the first inn and get them some rooms. Moving quickly, he hurries to get it done.
James starts carrying the boy toward the street where Reilin disappeared in search of an inn. Miko is beside him and has a hand on the boy’s chest. “He’s going to make it,” he assures him.
Hardly even hearing him, all he can think of was that he turned his back on this child and it almost cost him his life.