Page 22 of Everything Under the Sun

“They’re going to sell you,” the defiant girl hissed. “You heard him just now—you’re going to be made someone’s whore. Don’t for a second think they’re not going to hurt you—there are many kinds of hurt.” She eyed me with a look of disgust, as if she couldn’t believe that I could be so stupid.

Marion and a few of the other men set out into the woods. The others stayed back with the horses, the loot, and us. I could feel their eyes on me, especially the brute, and I felt a sinking feeling as I watched Marion disappear into the forest. I didn’t like him, but I felt safer around the other men when he was among them.

Ten minutes of silence passed when a sharp scream filled the air from the end of the caravan. Then another scream before it was muffled, as though a hand had gone over the girl’s mouth to stifle it. I jumped at the sound, my breath catching; my eyes moved to see behind the horses at the end of the line from where the screams came. I glimpsed two figures, one large and masculine, one small and frail, stepping off the path and into the woods. I watched with a heavy heart, knowing what was about to happen and that there was nothing I could do to stop it.

The two disappeared amid the thick bushes. Shortly thereafter, cries and whimpers reached my ears, the rustle of bushes, a man’s grunt, my heart beating in my stomach, my mother’s warning screaming inside my head. I forced myself to look away, down at my bound hands, but the ghost feeling of the brute’s eyes at my back made me look up at him instead. He stood watching me, his back pressed against a tree. He knew what was going on at the end of the caravan—I could see it in his face. A faint smile just barely lifted the corners of his rugged mouth as he slipped a slice of apple from the blade of his knife in-between his lips.

I tore my eyes away, not wanting to instigate the same horrific treatment.

A short time passed when the defiant girl sitting next to me shot to her feet.

“Fucking pig!” she screamed as the soldier who had raped the girl came into view. She lunged, nearly knocking me over to get to him. “I’ll gut you like the fucking pig you are!”

The brute reacted quickly, grabbed the long end of the rope around her wrists, and yanked her backwards. She fought to push herself forward; her dark eyes were wild and feral and full of violence.

The rapist grinned; his eyes were lit with a sort of sickening excitement. He pushed the poor girl down beside the rest of us where she sat without protest.

“I’ll kill you!” the defiant girl shrieked.

Voices carried on the air as Marion and the other men emerged from the trees.

“Sit down and shut up,” the brute told the defiant girl; she tried to lunge again, but the brute was too strong and easily held her back.

“Bastard!” She spit at the rapist.

Marion walked up.

“What the hell’s going on?” His gaze skimmed the defiant girl first, and then landed on the brute.

“I’m not sure, sir,” the brute lied, “but this one’s more trouble than she’s worth.”

Marion turned to the defiant girl, waiting for an explanation.

With a firm finger, she pointed at the rapist. “You said none of us would be hurt! Does rape not constitute as hurting someone? You said we would be safe with you!” She tried to lunge again, but the brute pushed her down this time where she fell on the ground next to me; I felt her elbow jab me in the ribs.

Marion turned to the accused.

“Is what she said true?”

The man looked down at the girl he had violated. “She’s gonna end up in the brothel anyway,” he said. “What does it matter?”

“Last time I checked,” Marion said with reprimand, “you weren’t the Overseer, Private Bell. The only decisions you’re free to make are when you need to shit, take a piss, or blow your fucking nose.”

The rapist, named Private Bell, lowered his eyes and nodded his acknowledgement to Marion.

“You’ll lose your cigarette privileges for a week,” Marion added.

“That’s it?!” the defiant girl shouted from her spot on the ground. “He rapes someone and his punishment is he doesn’t get to smoke for a week? What kind of punishment is that?!”

Marion held his hand out to help her up. She refused to take it, but stood up on her own, unafraid of him.

“When we get to Lexington,” Marion told her, “Private Bell’s crime will be made known to the Overseer. The Overseer will deal with him from there.” He walked away from her, raised a hand in the air and shouted, “Now let’s move out!”

And that was the end of the discussion.

By the next morning, the city of Lexington, Kentucky, finally came into view under a bright and cloudless sky.

I thought that nothing could frighten me more than being with these men, but I had been wrong. As we approached, and the buildings grew larger on the horizon, I fought the panic brewing inside; I tried to stop my hands from shaking, my knees from weakening under the heavy weight of my mind. What will happen to me and my sister? Will we be treated kindly? Will we be violated like that girl at the end of the caravan? So many questions. But I already knew the answers. As much as I tried to deny them, I already knew.

---