A Conversation With She

originally posted May 9, 2006

"Master?" She uttered timidly.

"Speak, She," I responded.

"It is almost the twenty-second of Hesius," she reminded me.

Odd girl. Not the normal sort of thing for a half naked slave laying about you with three other half naked slaves to be telling you. The date? It struck me, then, what she must be going on about. It was approaching the fifth hand. At the end of the fifth hand, month's end, the books would close for the accounts of the House of Clark. I recollected the Scribe she is working and learning under mentioning something about it.

"Yes. The Scribe mentioned something about month's end to me, She," I assured her.

"He mentioned needing you for longer ahn, double shifts perhaps. That is fine."

"Frustrating," she said, clenching her teeth a bit. She stopped short of labeling me as such. She is not completely stupid.

"Yes, well. It is important for you to learn what this fellow is teaching you," I told her.

That was true, whether it was frustrating her or not. She broke down a bit and pleaded. The tender kisses and touches at my side, against my upper arm, became more formal. She was at my feet. She was at the floor about my feet. Helpless. Tender. Her eyes seemed wetter than usual.

I told her, not unkindly, "You are a pretty thing, She. A bit complicated, but pretty."

"Yes, Master. Thank you, Master," she said.

Something to that effect at any rate. I cannot be expected to remember everything that comes out of their mouths. They are only women.

"Please, Master. Please. Please tell me just this once. Allow me to be prepared. Tell me what your plans are for me. What are you going to do?"

Now, I am not completely insensitive. It is hard to be a slave. I recognize that. We keep them ignorant, for the most part, telling them only what they need to know to serve efficiently and obediently. We expect them, too, to be beautiful as we give them just enough light to keep one foot before the other without stumbling into the walls around them. And, to be sure, sometimes we do not even allow them that much light. Sometimes we simply keep them in total darkness. Really, I understand how it can be 'frustrating' as She intimated more than once last evening. I thought it would be alright, accordingly, if I showed her a little indulgence. Just this once. I did not think it would break down discipline in the chain if I showed a little tenderness, a touch of understanding. Yes. It would be alright to enlighten her. What could it hurt? I was resolved. I would tell her my plans. I would tell her exactly what I intended to do with her.

"I will do precisely what I want with you," I told her. "When I want. How I want."

She seemed relieved. My supposition was correct. Discipline did not break down. She did not become unruly, having been extravangantly indulged.

After learning the precise details of my itinerary with respect to her future, she said simply with a smile, "Yes, Master."