Without Rhythm (The Lament) Read Online Free
walking for the poor woman.
The Judge drifted over to it smoothly, taking the woman along with her carefully making almost no physical contact. It was done very carefully and the big man, the one called Clark, nodded at Pran as she watched.
"When people have been attacked like that they don't want to be touched afterwards. Often for some time. Notice how Claire is using her own body language to guide her? Stepping just in front of her, to the right? That isn't by accident. People are mainly right handed, so that puts her left hand closest to the woman, giving the one in back a position of power. It's a mental thing, largely, but useful." He said it in that ponderous fashion of his, watching Pran carefully the whole time, assessing something about her.
"I think we can treat your wounds ourselves, back at the camp. Do you have somewhere else to go?" It was said in a strange fashion.
For all the world it was like he was pretending she was still one of them, but might have had plans in town. That was probably for the sake of the prisoner in the wagon, who Mara had put in before she hopped up on the little carriage with the Judge, Claire, and the woman that needed the Doctor.
"No. I'm... done here." She really was and no matter what she said, it wouldn't make a real difference later. Maybe she had to keep pretending to be what he'd called her though, for legal reasons?
It turned out that wasn't the case. She figured it out about five minutes later, as the wagon bumped slowly down the stone road, the wooden wheels slipping occasionally, making the whole thing jump and the man in back groan. She'd been put next to the driver, on the seat, which was hard and uncomfortable, but Clark rode in the back, with his prisoner.
"That woman, the one this man was raping? She heard you call out that you were a Guardian. Her mind will rest easier knowing that as a fact than to have it taken away from her right now. I know it seems like a trivial thing, but peace of mind is important, and a big part of our job. We protect and safeguard everyone that needs guarding from harm, to the best of our abilities. Always." The man grinned and nudged the prisoner with his boot. It wasn't a kick, but it made the leg move enough she could see it.
"Yes, that really does mean you were just taken down by a young woman that just happened to be passing by. You might want to reflect on that in the camps as you serve your time for this. What were you thinking anyway? No matter the going rate, it would have been cheaper to pay one of the local whores a few coins, don't you think? Trade some work or something if you're too poor."
He nudged the man with his foot, getting a groan in return.
"Compton don't got no whores. Ugly man like me has no choice but a bit of force."
"Oh." Clark looked into the night, the blackness surrounding them as they bumped along, lit only by a single lantern on the front of the wagon.
The driver shook his head and spoke, sounding disgusted.
"Brilliant there. Just brilliant. Now you'll be five years at hard labor and two in reeducation instead. Could have used your hand, or I don't know, developed a bit of charm maybe? Rape isn't an answer to not getting lucky." He looked about ready to add something more when he stopped and shrugged. "Can't cure stupid most times. Well, miss, what were you doing there then, passing by in time to help stop this one?"
Pran blushed, glad no one could see her. She decided to go with the truth, since she didn't have time to think of anything else.
"Oh... I was there to start setting up as the new town whore. Looking for my first customer."
For some reason that got a groan from the man lying on his stomach and a laugh from the other two.
Clark clearly believed her, or at least he didn't call her a liar.
"Marvelous."
Chapter two
Clark smiled for the rest of the trip, from the sound of his voice at least, as Pran tried not to rub at the cut on her leg. It
The Judge drifted over to it smoothly, taking the woman along with her carefully making almost no physical contact. It was done very carefully and the big man, the one called Clark, nodded at Pran as she watched.
"When people have been attacked like that they don't want to be touched afterwards. Often for some time. Notice how Claire is using her own body language to guide her? Stepping just in front of her, to the right? That isn't by accident. People are mainly right handed, so that puts her left hand closest to the woman, giving the one in back a position of power. It's a mental thing, largely, but useful." He said it in that ponderous fashion of his, watching Pran carefully the whole time, assessing something about her.
"I think we can treat your wounds ourselves, back at the camp. Do you have somewhere else to go?" It was said in a strange fashion.
For all the world it was like he was pretending she was still one of them, but might have had plans in town. That was probably for the sake of the prisoner in the wagon, who Mara had put in before she hopped up on the little carriage with the Judge, Claire, and the woman that needed the Doctor.
"No. I'm... done here." She really was and no matter what she said, it wouldn't make a real difference later. Maybe she had to keep pretending to be what he'd called her though, for legal reasons?
It turned out that wasn't the case. She figured it out about five minutes later, as the wagon bumped slowly down the stone road, the wooden wheels slipping occasionally, making the whole thing jump and the man in back groan. She'd been put next to the driver, on the seat, which was hard and uncomfortable, but Clark rode in the back, with his prisoner.
"That woman, the one this man was raping? She heard you call out that you were a Guardian. Her mind will rest easier knowing that as a fact than to have it taken away from her right now. I know it seems like a trivial thing, but peace of mind is important, and a big part of our job. We protect and safeguard everyone that needs guarding from harm, to the best of our abilities. Always." The man grinned and nudged the prisoner with his boot. It wasn't a kick, but it made the leg move enough she could see it.
"Yes, that really does mean you were just taken down by a young woman that just happened to be passing by. You might want to reflect on that in the camps as you serve your time for this. What were you thinking anyway? No matter the going rate, it would have been cheaper to pay one of the local whores a few coins, don't you think? Trade some work or something if you're too poor."
He nudged the man with his foot, getting a groan in return.
"Compton don't got no whores. Ugly man like me has no choice but a bit of force."
"Oh." Clark looked into the night, the blackness surrounding them as they bumped along, lit only by a single lantern on the front of the wagon.
The driver shook his head and spoke, sounding disgusted.
"Brilliant there. Just brilliant. Now you'll be five years at hard labor and two in reeducation instead. Could have used your hand, or I don't know, developed a bit of charm maybe? Rape isn't an answer to not getting lucky." He looked about ready to add something more when he stopped and shrugged. "Can't cure stupid most times. Well, miss, what were you doing there then, passing by in time to help stop this one?"
Pran blushed, glad no one could see her. She decided to go with the truth, since she didn't have time to think of anything else.
"Oh... I was there to start setting up as the new town whore. Looking for my first customer."
For some reason that got a groan from the man lying on his stomach and a laugh from the other two.
Clark clearly believed her, or at least he didn't call her a liar.
"Marvelous."
Chapter two
Clark smiled for the rest of the trip, from the sound of his voice at least, as Pran tried not to rub at the cut on her leg. It
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