She Shtory of She Clan Bloch

Susanna gathers the children of the clan around her by the camp fire and smiles at them with love and affection. All the children were there, from the youngest at 6months old to the oldest at 17. She ran her eyes over them; all of them had the short stocky build and shock of reddish brown hair that was in the genes of the Clan. She frowned seeing that Jimmy had sneaked in then smiled knowing that he loved to hear the story as much as the children did. She sits; pulling her skirts about her and clears her throat.

“Good evening, shildrensh. Are you shitting comfortably, shen I will begin”, she said in her smooth voice. “Shish ish she shtory of your forefashersh, how She Clan came to be and She Clan Bloch wash began.” A soft smile spread across her chubby face. “She Clan wash began by Shadrach Bloch. Shadrach came to she land from a plashe called She Blue Rish Mountainsh, in a land called Virshinina. He wash brought here by she prieshkingsh shemshelvesh. Shey shaw him and found him worshy of being a great leader of mensh.”

A small boy put his hand on her lap and she picked it up in her hand and held it tenderly. “He wandered the land, whish he found wash called Gor, not really knowing where he wash. One dark night he wash shitting by hish campfire, like we ish now and he heard a shound in she darknesh. He picked up a burning log from she fire and held it high and he shaw a flash of flesh. He lifted up hish club and shouted. who ish shere, show yourshelf or I shall fire my bow.”

Susanna looked around at all the children’s faces. “Of coursh he didn’t have a bow, but he figured shat she pershon hiding in she darknesh wouldn’t know shat. A girl’sh voish shouted back, don’t shoot please sir. I will come out. Shadrach kept his club close to him and watched as a naked girl came from out of she bushesh.

Come closher girl, Shadrach said and she girl came closher to she fire. She was cold and shivering and her pretty fashe wash shtained wish tearsh. What ish you doing out here alone, little one, Shadrach shaid holding out hish hand to her.

She girl covered her fashe, I was stolen, she said crying softly. The wagon I was being transported in was attacked, when it turned over I was thrown free and I rolled down the hill and hit my head on a rock. When I came around the wagon was gone and so were my kidnappers.”

Susanna looked a little sterner. “she girl wash lucky shat it was Shadrach shat found her. For a girl naked and alone would almosht shertainly be collared by any osher man. But Shadrach wash no ordinary man. He wash alsho very lonely. He mished hish home in She Blue Rish Mountainsh in she land of Virshinina. He mished hish family. His Uncle Shon and Aunt Olivia, who lived near to him wish sheir many Shildrensh, Shon boy, Shashon,, Mary Ellen, Ben, Erin, Shim Bob, and Elishabesh, who helped to run sheir shawmill. Sho he took she girl by she hand and shaid, shit wish me, little one, tell me your name and I shall pour you shome brosh to warm your inshindesh.

She girl shat with him and while she shipped her brosh she told him how she had become to be in shutsh a bad predicament.

My name is Shahona, she shaid. And my father is a merchant in Port Cos. I was travelling with my father on a trading trip when we were attacked. My father was injured and I was taken to become a slave girl.

Shadrach shook hish head, unushed to she shavage waysh of shish land. Shat ish terrible, he shaid. He picked up hish pack and pulled out a pair of pantaloonsh and a tunic, he handed them to she girl. Here, he shaid kindly. Wear sheshe, I will not collar you, shweet Shashona. I cannot return you to your land either but you can shtay wish me and be my companion on my travelsh.

She girl shmiled and took she ragged dirty closhesh, shankful for hish kindnesh.

Shadrach and Shashona travelled a long time together, and in she way of she barbariansh, Shadrach began to look older. Sho one night when shay were closhe to a villash, Shashona led Shadrach to she green who gave him she sherumsh. After he had she lasht one shey left again, but shey had she tashte of villash life and liked it.

Sho one day when shey came acrosh a cryshtal clear shtream, shey knew shat here ish where shey wanted to live she resht of sheir livesh together.

Shadrach built a house,” Susanna pointed across from where they sat. “Shat houshe shere... and Shashona wove bashketsh and made brosh. Before long Shweet Shashona wash wish shild and Shalveshtro wash born, shen Shamshon and Sheverush. And later Veshter and Valerie. Shen Shekshtush, called sho cush he wash she siksht shildrensh born. When Shashona wash carrying her shevensh shild, a man and a woman came to shere shettlement. She lady wash wish shild, very closhe to giving she birsh. Shadrach shaid shat shey could shtay, if shey were willing to help wish she farm.

Sho came Sharlton and Shynshia to she Clan Bloch. While Shadrach and Sharlton built a hut for shem to live in, Shahona helped wish she birshing of Shynthia’sh firsh shild, who she called Shapphira, cush she had she blueish eyesh she had ever sheen. One day when shey were sheering she verrsh, Shadrach and Sharlton heard a shcream and ran out wish sheir pishforksh raished ready to fight and found Shynshia bent over a man. It wash a warrior, but he wash sho badly injured shat shey had to help him. Many daysh pasht before she warrior could shit up and he wash sho grateful to shem for looking after him shat he pledged to come back wish hish companion and shree daughtersh and live she resht of hish life in peashe.

Sho Shacob and hish companion came to she shettlement, whish shey now had called New Virshinia, and brought wish shem sheir daughtersh, Carlina, Shondra and Amelia.

Over she years more shildrensh were born. Companionshipsh were made between she familiesh and shose alsho had shildrensh. Shen shem shildrensh had shildrensh and she clan ash we know it wash made. Uncle Veshter went on hish travelsh and brought back she beautiful Shimona. Uncle Shimon and Uncle Jashen, brought back sheir companionsh from she shity and watered she blood again sho shat we can continue our line.”

Susanna sat straight and looked around at the flushed faces watching and listening to her every word. “Well shildrensh, itsh getting late and we all have early shoresh in she morning. “

The little boy holding her hand looked up to her, “Will you tell ush more tomorrow, Aunty Shushy?”

She ruffles his hair affectionately. “Ohh Shonny, I can’t. Tomorrow, your Uncle Shimmy, Aunt Sheshy and me are going on our travelsh. It'sh time for ush to go out and find our companionsh too.” She smiled. “Don’t worry Shonny,” she said, “Aunt Shasha knowsh she shtory, she will tell it to you.” She clapped her hands together. “Now my dearsh, ish time for bed. You too Shimmy,” she said as she saw her brother sneaking away. “We have to leave early in she morning.”

Trading on Kamba Island pt 2

~On board the Impress~

Impress Ship's Bell 2 shouts: Now arriving to Teletus. If this is your final destination, please prepare to disembark. Five Ehn before departure to Tabor East

Jimmy : “Greetingsh, shleepy shishtersh!”

Susanna : “Greetingsh my brosher and shishter.”

Jimmy : “While you took your beauty-shleep, I wash bishy. I hash she goodsh for Kamba!”

Susanna : “Ohh you are shush a good boy, Shimmy.”

Jimmy hugs his younger of two sisters tight.

Susanna pulls her brother really tightly and kisses his forehead proudly. “Give me a hug, my shishter.”

Cessillia yawns "It'sh not my fault you keepsh buying dreshesh shat I hash to wash.... four hoursh shat one lasht night took. What had you been shitting on?"

Susanna: “Well if I am to get a companion I hash to look good"

Cessillia draws her sister into a hug

Susanna looks over at the new dress lying on the bed. “Musht have been in tabor my shishter.”

Jimmy tries to hug his resistant oldest sister, but gives up as she worries too much about her hair.

Cessillia smiles and kisses her brother's cheek pulling Jimmy’s head against her ample breasts "Shush a good boy to looksh after your shishtersh."

Jimmy takes a look out of the window, searching the horizon "Are we shere yet?"

Susanna: “I don't shink sho, my brosher.”

Cessillia: "I did not hear she captain".. Then scowling at Susanna "... unlike lasht night....."

Susanna blinks innocently at her sister .. "I have no idea what you mean, dear Sheshi”

Cessillia hums softly unconvinced

Impress Ship's Bell 2 shouts: Now arriving to Tabor East. If this is your final destination, please prepare to disembark. Five Ehn before departure to Shendi.

Jimmy sings to his sister's humming, looking out the window again, just interrupting for "Are we shere yet?" Jimmy pricks his ears "Oh, I shink I heard she captain"

Susanna listens to the bell and the captain announcing the next port.

Jimmy: "I go and take looksh.”

Cessillia tries to look out the window, grumbling slightly at the dirt on the windows "Shere ish a shity, I am not shure whish one, shall we go down to she deck?"

Jimmy shouts up to the man on the wheel: "ARE WE SHERE YET?" Jimmy looks to his sisters "Man on wheel shaysh we anchor shoon. I go and takesh cratesh and bagsh. You... shusht look pretty "

Susanna: "Shat ish good my brosher, I need to get back on dry land."

Cessillia smiles "I shink I can do shat" Cessillia pats her hair, and fluffs up her dress a bit.

Susanna: “Maybe I shusht put shome more colour on my eyesh?”

Cessillia nods "Yesh, I shink sho"

Susanna: “I shee land." Susanna says pointing out across the Thassa

Jimmy takes the bag with cacao powder and puts it over his shoulder, then tucks the two heavy crates with flour and sugar under his arms. He turns to his sisters... "When we getsh attacked you hash to grab my bat, caushe I hash she armsh full!" Jimmy waits till the ship anchors, his nose itching he tries to rub it at his shoulder-scarf

Cessillia fluffs her dress feeling her kitchen knives and rolling pin "I am shure we will shink of someshing if attacked."

Susanna pulls her skirts around her, and readies to step up onto the gang plank

~On Kamba Island~

Cessillia smiles, then notices her brother's scarf for the first time "Jimmy, are you shtarting to getsh a cold?" she asks with concern. Cessillia picks at her brother's scarf with concern, and taking his chin moves his head from right to left "I hopesh yoush not getting shick, itsh shat shilly captain making you have to takesh anosher bash on she ship ishnt it?"

Jimmy: “Lead on, Shishtersh... I follow you... wish sheshe heavy cratesh... heavy, heavy cratesh. Ah, here it wash!"

Susanna: “Can you manage shat load my brosher?

Cessillia: "Yooooooo hoooooooooo, little laaaaadddddyyyyy" she calls out

The Lady: “Greetings"

Jimmy lets the crates fall to the ground with a bang, then adds the bag with the cacao and wipes his face with the arm of his shirt.

Susanna turns and smiles as a familiar voice wishes them greetings. "Ah greetingsh, dear Lady."

Jimmy turns and almost falls over the crates "Oh, greetinghs, Lady" Jimmy points to the crates and the bag "We bringed you she goodsh!" Jimmy bounces to relax his muscles after he carried all the crates and the bag alone from the docks to the stock house

The Lady: "So nice to see you all again and I see you brought the goods." She smiles.

Susanna pushes her brother forward resisting the temptation to spit on her sleeve and wipe the dirt off his face.

The Lady takes out from her purse a shiny silver coin "Whom to give this to?"

Cessillia hisses to her brother "Shtand up shtraight" and tries to straighten his hair a little

The Lady: Looks at the boxes and sack with the items not bothering to look in it trusting they are good people

Jimmy nods and points to the crates again "Yesh... ish 100 shugarsh and 100 shaltsh and 100 cacao... all grinded"

Susanna nudges her brother closer to the sweet Lady,

The Lady: Smiles "I guess you are the one." Offers the coin to him

Jimmy stumbles closer to the Lady, pushed by his sister. He holds his hand out palm upwards "Shink... oopsh... don't push me!.... ish me!"

Susanna stands back and whispers to her sister, "Shey would make a lovely couple"

Jimmy rolls his eyes hearing his sisters whispering behind him.

Cessillia whispers back to her sister "Ah, could you imagine sheir children?"

Susanna: "Sho pretty, shix dark like her and sheven lighter like him"

Jimmy a bit worried takes a step back and whispers to his sisters "She drawing her bow, I shink she don't like me." As the woman runs away for a moment ((crashed)) he continues "I shink she musht shearsh money firsht"

Cessillia smiles "I am shure she doesh my brosher" then nodding to her sister "Naw, she is young, at leasht twenty shildren"

The Lady: Blushes "Im so sorry just got my first bow, haven’t really figured out how it works really", she chuckles.

Jimmy takes the silver tarsk offered from the Lady with a smile. He bites into it as he has seen it other merchants doing, without any idea what it's good for... maybe good luck or something. Then he puts it into his money-pouch and points to the crates again "I put it shomewhere for you sho you don't have to carry? Shey are heavy!"

Susanna positively beams at the idea of all those babies. "Shesh ish very shkinny shough." she whispers, "We would have to fatten her up"

Jimmy smiles and pats his slingshot "Me can shoot wish longbow...", he starts proudly "... but I rasher take my shlingshot. Ish better for herding verr. Shey don't like it, when I shoot arrowsh at shem!"

Cessillia frowns "I will needsh shome more butter shen" she whispers back

The Lady smiles at the man as he takes a bite of the coin not knowing what it is good for maybe he is hungry she thinks, hear the ladies talking about babies and starts to get nervous. "Well you had done so much already you all must be tired"

Susanna smiles brightly at the Lady from behind her veil. "Oh he ish very shtrong my dear. Shimmy help she shweet Lady to move the crates."

Jimmy looks at the crates, trying to figure out the letters... but knows only A-E yet and T and Z... So he turns to the Lady "Do you hash shalt? Shalt ish good for making meat lasht long in wintersh!"

The Lady walks closer to the crates almost stumbling on her new bow tries to lift one crate up and can’t even nudge it "well ehm guess I do need help" looks at the man: "We do have salt, but not sure if there something left somebody came and almost bought a lot of it already""

Jimmy turns to his sisters "You need shalt for cooking too, shishtersh?" and right on cue his belly starts to rumble again

Susanna: "Yesh my brosher, I need shalt sho shat I might cook she dinner tonight."

Jimmy jumps to the Lady and helps her with the crates, lifting them easily in spite of his small stature.

The Lady: "Would you like to see the port? Maybe something to drink eat?"

Jimmy: "Oh, would love to, but our ship shoon will leave she harborsh again. I shink my shishtersh can make shomeshing to eat on she ship"

Susanna : "Did you getsh the shalt, Shimmy?"

The Lady: smiles "Very well you are all welcome back anytime"

Jimmy shakes his head to Susi "Ish the Lady shtill looking, I shink" He lifts up the crate he just had lifted before for the The Lady and shakes it. "Sheemsh shere ish a bit in shere, but don't know what." Jimmy again tries to read the label, but only can read the "A" and the "T"... he mumbles to himself very slowly "Shaaaaaltttttt" and nods "Yesh, can be shalt!". Then blushes in the hope that his sisters didn't notice that he secretly tries to learn to read and write as surprise.

The Lady walks closer to the man wondering what he is doing looking like he talking to the crate, odd man she thinks. “Are you alright Sir?"

Jimmy nods, a bit puzzled and worried at the same time. "Oh, I shought you ashked me to move she cratesh!? Shorry, shometimesh I hash problemsh to undershtand she shtranshe akshent you shpeak"

The Lady tries to hide a giggle at the man’s comment "Is ok, I have the same problem sometimes. Do you need some salt?"

Jimmy then shrugs and claps his hands to undust them - as if that would help anything! - "Yesh, at leasht shome for she cooking of my shishtersh. Oh... no... not shat I'm cooking my shishsthers!" - giggles a bit embarrassed "Sheir cooking of me!" he corrects himself, not sure, if that was right now or not

The Lady giggles

Susanna smiles and ruffles jimmy's hair, "Even you could not eat shat much Shimmy"

Jimmy: “Maybe at leasht a shmall crate. Shat will be enough for she pashash back.”

The Lady: "Oh very well let’s see if we have some salt left"

Jimmy grins to his sister "I shaw a male shlave today who shaid he ish eating like a tarshk... and I shaid shat you shaid she shame about me all she time... and he wash mush shinner shen me!"

Susanna makes a pfft noise. "Shweet brosher, a male shlave.. who ever heard of shuch a shing. "

The Lady climbs up the ladder and takes a look inside, hears the man’s comment to his sister starts gigles almost falling of the ladder

Susanna: "Well my brosher if our bishnesh ish complete we should go back to she Impresh"

Jimmy: "Anywaysh... I shink I'm shtill growing." - He looks up to his 2 head taller sisters and adds mumbling "...I hope!" Jimmy puts the bags of salt into his backbag "Oh, how mush do you get for it?"

Susanna lifts her head hearing a bell sounding in the direction of the dock. "My dearsh, I shink shat wash she Impresh."

The Lady: "Takes the coins from the man this is just right 30 tarks"

Jimmy looks at the docks and worries as they seem to already set sails "Oh, we should hurriesh"

The Lady: "it was nice seing you all again please come back soon"

Susanna: "Are you shure we cannot purshuade you to free companion our dear Shimmy?"

Jimmy: We hash to go now. I wish you shafe pash, Lady." - Then turns to his sisters "Better run now shishstersh!" glad that he has a reason to interrupt his sisters' match-making

Susanna smiles at the Lady, "We shall be back shish way again ... shink about it. He ish a good catch"

The Lady just gives an awkward smile to the Lady and points to the ship "think captain is leaving now"

Jimmy gives the lady a last warm smile before he turns to run to the ship. “Uh oh! Run, shishtersh, run!"

Cessillia smiles and waves as they hurry to the boat

Susanna: “Shoft pathsh, dear heart," Susanna calls as she hurries after her family

Jimmy shouts: “CAPTAIN! CAPTAIN! WAIT FOR USH!!!”

Jimmy helps his sisters on board right before the pull in the planks. "Whew! Shat wash closhe!"

Susanna smiles at the captain from beneath her veil and flutters her eyelashes

~Back on the Impress~

Susanna: "Too bad she washn't looking for a hushband"

Jimmy: “Pah! Too shin!”

Cessillia stumbles coming off the gang-planks and says somthing very un-lady like, though is pleased to note the captains face flush

Jimmy: “Did you shee? She couldn't even lift a crate shat wash almosht empty! She never can lift a verr!” Jimmy sits down on the railing and catches breath from the running, then pulls his kalika from his back and starts to play the tunes of the ancestors

Susanna leans against the side of the ship. "Yesh maybe she wash too shin."

Cessillia nods "Our brosher deshervesh shomeone shuitable, like coushin sheshelly"

Susanna smiles as her brother sings and plays to entertain them

Cessillia smiles at how talented their bother is, then hops up and sits next to her brother, and places her head in her hands as she thinks of how much she misses their village, the tune from home making her a little home-sick

Susanna: “Are you hungry my brosher?”

Jimmy nods without interrupting his singing

Cessillia rummages in her bag, then with a confused look on her face says "I have a hardboiled egg"

Jimmy: “Do you need shalt for cooking, shishtersh?”

Susanna: “Not right now dear heart, I made shome shoup before we left. I shall go and get you shomeshing to eat my brosher." She turns to Cessillia "Are you hungry, shishter?”

Cessillia nods "Yesh, I shink I could do wish a shnack"

Susanna checks the fire is lit and searches for a dish to spoon the soup that she made into. She puts three plates on to the table and serves up the soup.

Impress Ship's Bell 3 shouts: Now arriving to Kasra. If this is your final destination, please prepare to disembark. Five Ehn before departure to Port Jad

Cessillia smiles "Shul shoup?"

Jimmy regrets a bit, that he filled his belly with all the snacks, so he would only be able to eat one bowl of the soup... maybe two.

Susanna walks back to her family and smiles finding them looking out to sea. “Dinner ish ready .”

Cessillia hops down of her perch

Susanna: “Come and eat before you bosh getsh too shin. Help yourshelf to bread, my brosher! You too, shishter."

Jimmy smiles a bit apologizing to his sister "Oh, I shusht had a shnack... I didn't know you were cooking, shishter..... But shish looksh fine... I tashte a bit... or two"

Susanna: "Shere ish roast tabuk if you are shtill hungry."

Cessillia ‘Umphs’ as she settles on the cushion "I shwear shish floor ish getting lower"

Jimmy: “Where you got tabuk-meat, Shushi?”

Susanna: “I bought it in Tabor, brosher, and I roashted it in shat oven over shere.”

Jimmy looks around "Oh, shere ish an oven!", then looks to his oldest sister and raises his eyebrows "Piesh?"

Cessillia smiles looking up, "Shey hash an oven?" Cessillia smiles "Piesh!"

Jimmy shrugs and opens his belt a bit more "Oh, shere'sh alwaysh room for shome roasht!"

Susanna breaks off a piece of bread for herself and makes a sandwich with it for herself, having given all the soup to her beloved siblings. “I have shome ramberry candiesh shat I made earlier, if you want shome, Shimmy.”

Cessillia belches loudly looking round quickly to make sure no one heard, then whispers "Sheshe shailorsh, sho rude, no mannersh" she says covering for her wind

Jimmy cuts himself a big piece of the roast. While he rips off another piece of bread: "Oh... it wash shusht a little shnack. Two pieshesh of sheeshe... and two shlishesh of bread... she hard boiled vulo egg... and a larma... oh and a pieshe of pie....”

Cessillia frowns,"Not enough for a growing boy"

Jimmy : “Sho... almosht noshing!", he explains with a grin and puts the big piece of roast between two slices of bread.

Susanna drinks her milk and gives a loud belch

Impress Ship's Bell 3 shouts: Now arriving to Port Jad. If this is your final destination, please prepare to disembark. Five Ehn before departure to Lydius

Susanna nods approvingly as her brother says he is not hungry then makes a huge sandwich with the roast tabuk. “Sho my brosher, did we make a profit today?”

Jimmy with thick cheeks chewing with half of the sandwich at once in his mouth reaches for his money pouch and empties it on the table... the small pouch, not the big one he has hidden between their luggage

Susanna: “If you have finished I will clean up"”

Jimmy flush the big bite in his mouth down with a big sip of the milk, wipes his lips with the arm and places the other half of the sandwich on his plate for later. He starts to count the coins.... "Sho... shat wash shree timesh 14 KT for she goodsh....”

Susanna: “Have you finished your milk, Sheshy?”

Cessillia looks at the coins on the tables sighing softly that there are a number of copper coins but almost no silver. She drinks her milk quickly holding the goblet out to her sister "Shank you, yesh"

Susanna collects all the plates together and takes them over to the kitchen. She piles the goblets on top

Jimmy: “... and shere wash shree timesh 5 KT for eash of ush for she passash...”

Cessillia tutts "Shere ish not mush for Sushi'sh dowry.... shink she captain would ashhept sho little?"

Jimmy:  "... And I shelling shome goodsh on she osher market....”

Susanna:   “Ohhh a guesht book!”

Jimmy: “Sho we now hash....." - he counts "... 11 ST, 56 KT and 83 TS. Plush she 20 ST I hash in she osher poush of courshe"

Cessillia nods "She captain wouldsh wantsh a gold coin to take Shushi?" She looks round her brother at their sister "Maybe a dishcount ash shey hash been....... talking a lot"

Jimmy: “I hope to shoon hash a gold tarn for eash of you.”

Cessillia smiles "I doubt even you could find a man big enough for me, my brosher" her brow creases for a moment when she thinks how that sounded

Guestbook: Leave an one-line message (You have 60 seconds)

Susanna : ash i can't read or write I got the shailor to shit down and write shish for me. My shishter Sheshy and brosher Shimmy enshoyed she trip very mush and will ushe she shipsh again. What? Shust write what I shay .. yesh ekshactly ash I shay it. I am paying you to do shish sho shit share and do ash I shay.

Jimmy looks over his shoulder, noticing his sister talking with their "scribe-sailor", then turns to Cessy "What ish Shushi doing?"

Susanna after she had dictated the sailor an entry to the guestbook puts the dishes away and stores the left over food and leaves the sailor sitting by the guest book scratching his head and staring at the page in wonder. "Shtupid shailors, he shaid I had a funny acshent. Me! Noshing wrong wish my acshent, ish shere?"

Cessillia looks puzzled, "I am not shure... a shailer would mean we needsh lesh of a dowery?"

Susanna plonks herself down on a cushion pouting

Jimmy thinks "Hmmmm... but shailor can't give ush a free pashash"

Cessillia blushes a little "Well, you do lishp a lishle Shushi"

Susanna: “I do not, i shpeak proper I do.”

....

Island of Palms

The next morning the ship anchored at a small island. While the sisters were still snoring in the cabins, Jimmy decided to explore the market of the little warm island. He searched the crates and market stalls, but finds most of them empty. A slave girl passes his way....

 ~On a small trading Island~

Kajira: "Greetings, Master"

Jimmy turns as he hears a voice behind him "Oh, Greetingsh, girl!"

Kajira: "May girl be of assistance, Master?"

Jimmy points to the crates "Ish all empty! Ish bishnesh running good?"

Kajira eyebrows crease her head tilting slightly, ears straining, "Yes, Master, we are expecting a shipment within the day to refill. May girl provide something in particular"

Jimmy: "I am Shimmy of she Clan of Bloch." - He points down to the ship "My shishtersh shtill shleep in nishe room wish shoft cushionsh..." Then he nods: "I am shearshing for flour and shugar and cacao... many of it to deal wish a shity in she norsh"

Kajira 's green eyes follow his hands, "Very well, Master. The island can certainly provide..." nibbling her lip nervously hoping she understood him correctly, "...mehl, sugar and cacao"

Jimmy nods to the slavegirl: "Hash found shome cacao and shugar on an island, but wash very ekshpensive. If buy shat and shell it, shere ish no profit... and I hash to make profit to fill dowry for my shishtersh for shem to find good companionsh!"

Kajira smiles nodding, her ears picking out what she hopes are certain words piecing the bits together, "I see, Master. Do you trade for items or purchase only?" Her gaze wonders to the ship wondering what his sister looks like.

Jimmy smiles at the girl's good news and claps in his hands "Oh, shatsh wonderful! I can pay...." - he considers for a moment, no idea of mathematics and only able to count to 20, so he just says a price that seems to be the easiest to count - "... 10 TS for eash item. Ish shat enough?" Then he nods to the question: "I alsho trade shome wool, but mosht of it we already hash shold"

Kajira 's eyes widen detecting his excitement uncertain of its origin, "How much of each would you be seeking, Master? And would you prefer raws or ground on the beans and sugar?"

Jimmy scratch his chin, then his butt, then remembers his sisters told him to not scratch his butt when there's a woman present, no matter if slave or Free, so he scratch his head. "Hmmmm.... She lady shaid flour and shugar and cacao... I shink she meanded grinded... She wantsh 100 of eash... not shure how mush shat ish... shishtersh shay, shat ish five timesh twenty. Right?" He looks into the girls eyes. "But shat ish many. I don't shink you hash sho many!?". He makes a mental note, that he will continue to learn counting and maybe even writing and reading, while his sisters sleep or are busy flirting with the captain.

Kajira's nose flairs before schooling her face fixing her eyes not on his roaming hand but his feet, "100 mehl, ground sugar and cacao pulver", she brushes a stray strand of hair from her eyes absentmindedly, "That is doable, Master. It would be quite costly, the raws as can you see are 25 for 1 KT 50 Tsk, refined would be perhaps 3 times that amount". She mentally tabulates the amount the way her Master taught her, toes wiggling against the wooden planks.

Jimmy looks where the girl points to, but sees only some symbols and scratches, unable to read them. But he nods, glad that Kajira told him what's written there. "Sho.. shat ish 1 and a half KT for 25... and shree timesh shat amount... shat ish shen for hundred....." - He does as if he would do the maths, but his eyes fixed quizzically to the slave's eyes, not daring to look deeper, as he's not used to naked women.

Kajira: "It would be 14 copper tarsk per 100", bringing forth her best negotiating face.

Jimmy glad, that the girl did the maths for him nods and continues as if he just had got the same sum "... yesh... 14 KT per 100."

Kajira's lips quirk up at the edges noting something in his eyes, pressing her shoulders back arching her back slightly lifting her breasts, "that is correct, Master". She inhales deeply her chest rising and falling slowly, "Would this be acceptable, Master?"

Another slave girl humming a lively tune, looking around the buildings, hearing far away voice's.

Jimmy sniffs’, his hand on the way to his butt stops in midway and moves up to his nose instead, rubbing it; he looks to his dirty boots and blushes lightly, tries to concentrate on the trading "Shat shoundsh good. Sho... For all shree shat would shen be shree timesh 14.. .shat ish... about two and a half timesh twenty, right?"

The first Kajira runs off to get the goods for the trading. [crashed] The second Kajira holding her empty wicker basket, approaches "Greetings, Master"

 

~Second Slave Girl arrives~

Jimmy: "Greetingsh, girl"
Second Kajira inspects the carrots to add them into the verr stew
Jimmy lays his head to the side "Hmmmm, I shink I hash sheen you before"
Second Kajira: "Nay, Master, I know sweet Nallah and trade with her. I come and harvest, when I can on the island, a long boat ride from the north." She tucks her head lifting an onion to her nose, feeling the firmness and pugdent aroma.
Jimmy lays his head on the other side "Ah, maybe not shen.", but now he knows the other girl's name. His glance falls on the ship in the harbor where his sisters are still sleeping. He suddenly asks as it's always worth a try: "Sho, you hash a mashter? What ish his cashte? Ish he wealshy? Doesh he hash a companion already?". He smiles in the believe that this was very subtle.
The Second Kajira's blue eyes sparkle as she places the onion in her wicker basket. "My Master is still in furs. Girl awoken from kennel stoked the fire in rooms, left an note on table with cold fare of cheese, a day old bread, and took the boat here to harvest." She blushs "My Master is an Blacksmith an his FC was lost to him 3 months ago. Girl wasn't told how or what happened." Second Kajira continues "I was an kajiria an now an bond", as she's falling gracefully to her knees, tucking her head, praying she didn't offend the Master for not kneeling at first, clutching at her wicker basket.
Jimmy's not sure if to frown or smile... if it's good news or bad news.. "Hmmm.... shorry for hish losh... but... shat meansh he ish wishout a companion... hmmm... good, good... and a blackshmish! Shat meansh, he ish big and shtrong like my shishtersh!" He considers a moment before he continues: "You shink I can introdushe my shishtersh to your masther? Shey really need a companion shoon!" - He lowers his voice to almost a whisper, looking left and right as if his sisters could appear out of thin air any moment. "And shen maybe shey shtop pushing me all she time to get a companion and make many nephewsh and neeshesh for shem". As he notices the girl still kneeling he waves his hand "Oh... You are bushy doing errandsh for your Mashtersh houshehold... why should you kneel all she time? Only givesh you shcarf-shkin on your kneesh.. ish not nishe!"
The Second Kajira's fiery red hair casscades over supple shoulders: "Unsure, how strong your sister is, Master. He has arms... " She points to the mead barrel "... as large. At that eve I have try clean an' wash blacksmith clothing.." - blushing - "takes all day." She blushes crimson red, remebering her older sister back on earth introducing her to men to date. She holds the wicker basket as she's arising, the onion almost rolls out, whispering "...sisters..." as she's looking at the bumpy suls for the sul soup.
Jimmy grins, Kajira's words about washing her Master's clothes reminding him of his sisters complaining about washing his woolen underwear once a week. Then he gets serious praising his sisters again: "Oh, shey are very shtrong! Almosht ash shtrong ash me. I know I am smaller shen shem, but I am she shtrongesht!" He corrects Kajira "And it'sh two shishtersh. Shushanna ish she younger one, Sheshillia she older one. Shey are tall and well fed wish many hairsh on her head..." - he shrugs - "... yesh, in sheir fashesh too, but shey shave it eash day, sho you almosht don't shee it"
The Second Kajira's crystal blue eyes looking at the suls, peeking over at the nice looking Master. She smiles picking up 5 nice round brown suls. "Girl is of Writterign creek, Master. Is your homestone far?"
Jimmy: "Our villash ish on she border to she norshern woodsh. Many hillsh shere. And verrsh." He beams proudly "I hash many verrsh. Fasher shend ush to trade woolsh..." - he adds with a lower voice - "...and to find companionsh for my shishtersh". Then he asks: "Where ish... Writt.. Wirtt... shat Creek?". He points to the harbour again, where the ship anchors "We ish travelling on ship. Ish ship anchoring in your harboursh?"
The Second Kajira's cherub smile crosses her lips "Oh! love verr!" She lifts a finger to her lips "Named one 'Daisy'", she says in a soft whisper, and then answers the man's question: "In the North. Has ice pond which is frozen over, an Inn, an bank, kaissa pavillon... an small... very small village... an new Tavern opening.." She crosses her fingers over the basket she hold, then continues: "Yes, girl paid the captain with an fresh ramsberry pie and has his bag of laundry to wash in trade for safe passage here an back home."
Jimmy pulls his old, dirty map out of his bag and approaches the girl. Not really able to read a map, as he can't read at all, but he keeps it, cause he likes the colors and it looks like he knows what he's doing, when he holds it in his hand to study it. "Oh, Daishy ish a nishe name. I shink I call she neksht lamb Daishy!" - He approaches the girl with the map in his hand, holding it upside-down without realizing it. "Show me where villash ish on map?"
The Second Kajira placing her finger along a river looking down at the old, faded, colorful map.. She smiles as her finger traces up the river close to sardar mountains to a small village cove.
Jimmy looks where the girl points to on the map. Even if he's illeterate his memory working perfect. He nods with a smile and rolls the map again, putting it back into the bag. Then he looks around for a moment "Hmmm, do you shink shat osher girl ish returning shoon?"
The Second Kajira sadly: "Unsure...  she been gone an while..." She tucks her head "...she never gone for long...". She sends a silent prayer to the PKs  that nothing bad happened.
Jimmy nods "I hope she heavy grinding shtone didn't fall on her foot or shomeshing, when she wash grinding she shingsh I needed". He looks a bit worried in the directooin the slavegirl ran to get his goods. "I shall go to she ship and look for my shishtersh..."
The Second Kajira nods. " Well wishes, Master. May your day be bright an' full of joy"
Jimmy nods to the nice girl "Shafe pash to you. And we shoon will vishit your villash. It shoundsh nishe. Almosht like she villash we come from!" He waves to Kajira, then turns to the ship, but before he walks towards the docks he remembers, that he has seen the other Free treating slaves with candies. He searches in his bag until he finds the candy canes, which he himself loves also and has hidden them from his sisters.
The Second Kajira heads toward the boat as well, has other stops on her morning rounds, she waves toward the ship's Captain.
Jimmy as the girl already ran away, stuffs the candy cane into his mouth and sucks on it on his way back to the ship... Sitting in the warm morning sun, listening to the sort lapping of the coastal water, he digs deep in his bag till his fingers find the old scroll. He pulls it out and - looking left and right - assures that nobody sees him. Then he opens the scroll and looks at the scrawling on the scroll. He wets a finger... his tongue tucked between his teeth as he concentrates, he starts to draw with his wet finger on the salt-crusted ship-planks a big "A".......

~Later that day~

Jimmy   hours later.... he already reached the letter "E"... Quickly, before his sister's wake up and see his exercises’, wipes the letters A-E from the planks before his sisters can see it. He gets up and stretches, then grabs his bag and searches the kajra to see, how far she got with the goods
Jimmy: “Greetingsh again, kashira!”
Nallah: “Greetings Master.”
Jimmy: “Ish you ready wish grinding? I hash learned writing a bit on she ship. But don't tell my shishtersh! I want to shurprishe shem, when I can write and read! I know A and B and She and D and E and F already!”
Nallah tilts her head slightly ears straining to catch key words, a large smile splitting her face almost in two, "That is wonderful Master!"
Jimmy: “Like here...." - He points to the Bazi-tea "... shat's B.... errrr.... A... sho... BA!"
Nallah's face lights up, "Yes Master that is correct!"
Jimmy: “Sho... grinding ish ready?”
Nallah: “The next letter is a 'z’, it sounds like it is said, " the girl pulls her lips away from her teeth exaggerating sounding the letters sound, "zzzzzzzzzzzzzz" The girl answers Jimmy’s question. “Yes Master may girl go get it for you.”
Jimmy nods "Ah, I shee... Ish shet like shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Nallah nods slowly, "Yes Master"
Jimmy: “Sho, shat'sh B and A and Sh... BASH!"
Nallah: “Right Master.”
Jimmy beams proudly as he learned another letter, sure he soon will be able to read all the scribblings on the signs
Nallah: “Then an "i", and on this sign sounds like it sounds 'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii"
Jimmy: “Oh, shat'sh eashy! Ish she shound my shishtersh make when she shleen licksh sheir fashesh! Iiiiiiiiiiii”
Nallah giggles
Jimmy: “Sho, let me she... hmmm... Bash... and I... shat'sh Bashi! BASHI-TEA!!! I shee!” Jimmy bounces excited
Nallah: “Yes!” Kajira almost bounces with excitement
Jimmy:  “Sho... let me carry she goodsh and I pay you.. or better osher way round... caushe..." - giggles a bit embarrasssed -".... ish eashier osher way round"
Nallah: “I need to go get them Master, may i do so? We have them stored in our stock room”
Jimmy nods "Fine. Shen I wait here"
Nallah: “Yes Master, I will be quickly.” Kajira crawls back a few paces before rising rushing off to her task
Jimmy while he waits looks at all the filled pots and crates now and mumbles to himself "Hmmm, wash a bishy girl harvesthing sho mush and filling it all"

~Arrival of a slave boy~

Jimmy: “Greetingsh, shlave.”
Slave boy: “Greetings Master. hope Master is well today?”
Jimmy looks at the slave boy and nods. "I ish fine." He smiles, his eyes fixed on the slave's naked body "How do you keepsh sho clean being nekkid? And you are too shin! You hash to eat more, boy!"
Slave boy: “I just woke up and I bathe everyday when i wake up Master.”
Jimmy’s eyes open wide "Every day?!? Shat can't be healshy!"
Slave boy: “I never get fat, Master. I eat like a tarsk but never gain weight.”
Jimmy nods "Ah, shat'sh what my shishtersh shay to me too.. I mean.. shat I eat liks a tarshk"
Slave boy: “Are you new to these parts Master?  This boy has never seen you before.”
Jimmy shrugs "Maybe you are shtill growing..." - then he nods and points to the ship in the harbor "I came wish she ship... I travel wish my shishtersh... we are trading wool of our verrsh and osher shtuff... so we get dawry for my shishtersh to find good companionsh"

~Kajira returns with the trading goods~

Jimmy lays his head aside "I not often shee male shlavesh. Hmmm..... not often shee shlavesh anywaysh... we don't have many shlavesh in our villash.... only Old Shaggy, my uncle hash one... uggly shingensh she ish...."
Slave boy: “You trying to marry your sisters off, Master?”
Nallah smiles hearing a familiar voice as she climbs the steps.”Greetings Master, greetings brother”
Slave boy: “Greetings sister.”
Jimmy: “Ah, shere comesh she nishe girl wish my goodsh!" - He jumps up and brushes his dirty pants as if that would help anything. "And yesh, trying to find good companionsh for my shishtersh... before shey find one for me" - He giggles - "Shey are alwaysh trying to find a nishe woman for me, caushe shey want nephews and neeshesh. At leasht 12, shey shay
Nallah places the small crates at the Master's feet.
Jimmy adds with a lower voice "Not shure if 12 all togesher or eash..."
The Slave boy grins at the Masters words
Nallah blinks her eyes darting between the Master and her brother.
Jimmy   pulls his money pouch from his belt "Sho... you get 14 for eash, ish shat right, kashira?"
Nallah: “Yes Master, that would be what we agreed upon 14 KT each box of 100.”
Slave boy turns to the Master as he moves.
Jimmy   nods and counts 14 KT on each crate to not make a mistake, as he can only count up to 20... which is how many fingers and toes he has, while his oldest sister can count to 22, because she has 6 toes on each foot... but anyways... he counts 14 KT on each crate to not make a mistake. He  smiles and puts his pouch back on his belt, then searches in his bag until he finds two of those candy-canes, which he himself loves so much too. He reaches a candy cane to each of the slaves, proud to have learned the manners of the other Gorean Males, giving treats to slaves.
Slave boy excitedly accepts the candy from the kind Master, "Thank you, Master"
Nallah's eyes brighten accepting the minty treat she tucks it away for later when she is grinding mehl
Jimmy smiles warmly to the slaves, and then builds a tower with the boxes to carry them all at once.
Kajira: “Would you wish help with those Master, my brother loves to carry crates.”  She smiles blinking sweetly at her brother.
Jimmy looks at the crates towering before him, knowing that the weight won't be a problem as he's quite strong for his small stature, but not sure if he can hold it all in balance. So he finally nods "Oh, yesh... Maybe carry one to she ship, I ish taking she oshersh"
Kajira smiles
Slave boy: “I be happy to take one for you Master.”
Jimmy: “But you ish bishy licking she candy cane. Shat can take shome ahnsh”
Slave boy crunches the candy real fast, the juice leaking out his mouth, he wipes his chin with his arm.
Jimmy   waits patiently and looks around in the meantime. Suddenly he points to the dates and asks the girl "What ish shish?" - He tries to read the letters loud "Hmmm....D..... A... crosh... E... shnake.... DAshomeshing" - He points to the crates: “I shee shat in a villashe lasht week... Shishter Sheshie shays, it looksh like urt-poo... I shayd, it tashted like it too.... " Jimmy adds "But don't ashk me, why I know how urt-poo tashtes.... ish long shtory!"
Kajira looks around trying to figure out what the Master is speaking of, "Oh", she smiles. “D.......A........that is a ‘T’, is sounds like ‘ta’ ‘ta’"
Slave boy: “Baked urt poo with larma sauce is not bad, Master.”
Jimmy: “Oh, she crosh ish a T? Shat ish eashy to remember. Sho... it'sh... DA-TE-shnake? Shnake poo?"

~A Lady arrives briefly~

Jimmy looks a bit sceptical at the male slave and mumbles "I hash to take your word for it"
Nallah's brows crease in confusion, "Poo Master?"
Jimmy   shrugs "What Ish Da-Tee-shnake?"
Lady: “Greetings, Sir. Tal, Nallah and Eli”
Nallah glances around hearing the soft swish of skirts, "Greetings Mistress", smiles.
Slave boy: greetings Mistress
Jimmy looks to the beautifully, but way too thin lady approaching and raises his hand "Tal, Lady"
Nallah looks to her brother then at the Master, “Dates Master?"
Jimmy looks down to the girl and beams "Ahhhhh! Datesh? Fine" - then about to scratch his butt stops his hand midway, remembering his sisters not to do that, scratching his head instead, and then asks..... "And what ish datesh?"
Nallah: "It is a fruit", she pauses considering her words suddenly uncertain, "or vegetable.......Master"
Lady:  “sweet and delicious.”
Jimmy: "Oh... hm... fine. Not growsh in our villash. Shtill tashtesh like urt-poo, I shink"
Nallah smiles, "We would be happy to set up a trade with your village Master, perhaps a few of the sweet dates for something grown in your home"
Jimmy   looks at the slave-boy "Are you ready wish your candy-cane? I shink my shishtersh will wake up shoon. And not shure, what shey do wish she captain, when I ish not shere. Onesh he shat ush on an empty island and we had'sh to wait for anosher ship to pick ush up". - He continues: “Hmmm, all shat growsh in my villash ish she verrsh!” Jimmy pulls a little drawing out of his pants "Has I showed you my favourite verr? Shatsh Elishabish. Sho cute and sho shmart!!!"
Nallah brightens considerably, "So you have wool Master?"
Slave boy: “Master and Mistress may this boy go to his chores?”
Jimmy nods while he holds the painting to the girl "Aye, hash we very good woolsh"

Lady:  “Yes you may Eli.” Looks to the Master
Jimmy: “Oh, boy you can carry one crate to she ship already. I will bring she oshersh!"
Nallah's face softens viewing the cute little woolie animal, "She is cute Master, I bet her meat would be most tender"
Lady Isabo:  “Serve with fire Eli”
Slave boy: “Yes Master and Mistress, I wish you both well.”
Nallah: “Safe paths Eli.”
Jimmy frowns "Meat? We don't eat our verrsh! Shey don't give woolsh anymore, when shey are dead"
Nallah blinks her mouth forming a little "o", "Oh," she giggles nervously realizing her error, "That would be true Master"
Jimmy takes his painting back and folds it, then stuffs it under his belt "Well, me better goesh now to she ship. Ash I shaid... my shishtersh!" He sighs and throws a worried glance to the docks. Then he smiles to the lady "Shafe pahs, lady", then picks up the remaining two crates and carries them easily "And shafe pash, girl"
Lady: “Be well Sir.”
Nallah: “Very well Master, if you wish to bring wool for trade next time we would be happy to speak of such. Girl wishes you well Master and safe travels.”
Jimmy  nods over the crates he's balancing before him "Aye, will bring woolsh when wash back in villash.... Hash to run now"

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