Chapter 3
Helena tries to escape
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Gaius and Claudia rode in the front of the wagon busily
controlling the two horses that easily pulled the wagon
along the cobble road. Helena road in the back as the
wagon slowly bumped along.
"How old do you think the red haired one really is
Gaius?", asked Claudia.
"I'm sure she's no more than sixteen." he replied as if
he were talking about the weather, "The red hair is rare
around these parts so we should be able to negotiate a
good price for that alone even if she were not a virgin."
"Sometimes you are so stupid Gaius! How do you know she's
a virgin? They told you that at the auction to up the bid.
For all we know she could have been raped many times before
she arrived here." Claudia scolded sternly.
Gaius turned around to look Helena directly in the eye.
"What is your name girl?"
"Helena." she replied, not sure if she had understood
him correctly. This was not her native language, but she
was a fast learner and had picked up many of the basics on
the long journey from the coast.
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Now then - are you a virgin?"
"Not understand what virgin." she replied
"Forget it Gaius, she doesn't understand the word.
We'll get the physician to examine her on the way to the
villa." said Claudia with a finality of tone.
The wagon was now passing through a small forest. The fear
of the possibility of thieves hiding in the woods made
Gaius give the reins a snap to hurry on the horses.
At that moment, Helena jumped off the wagon and made a
break for the woods.
"Gaius, she's getting away!" shouted Claudia. "I told
you we should have chained her. Go after her you fool"
Gaius jumped out of the wagon and started running towards
the girl just as she disappeared into the trees. Just then
Gaius noticed two soldiers on horseback coming up the road.
"Sirs!" shouted Gaius "Our slave has just run away
into the woods." he pointed at her last position.
That was all Gaius had to say for among other things it
was the soldier's job to police the state as well as
fight it's wars. They were off towards the woods and in
no time, came back with the girl slung over a horse
in front of the saddle. Helena's ankles and wrists were
tightly tied with leather strips.
"Next time, chain new slaves." scolded the one soldier,
as he slid Helena off his horse.
"Yes sir, I will, thank you sirs" Gaius said with relief.
The soldiers helped Gaius put the bound girl into the
back of his wagon and they were off again towards the
white city of Rome.
"You should know that escape is impossible. If you weren't
a new slave I would have you branded as an escaped slave,
but we'll deal with your punishment later, I assure you."
she said with a sinister, sadistic smile. "Now, let's pay
a visit to the physician."
