Alternative Deterrence. By Steam Train (steam_t2000@yahoo.com)
Chapter: 33 Enslaved.
Daniel had a series of temporary NEWDD Supervisors after the departure of Ms Kim Dean the mid twenties aged female who had been assigned as his original programme supervisor.
The week after she departed her role, her demise was plastered all over the front page of the local newspaper the Eastbrook Daily Prophet entwined in the much bigger scandal of Judge William Mitchell of the Eastbrook County Court.
The gossip mongers of Eastbrook were working overtime for a week or so after the news broke about Judge Mitchell and judicial corruption. Daniels Supervisor Kim Dean had also been implicated in the corrupt practises.
At 50 years of age Judge William Mitchell was a respected citizen of his local community. A pillar of society and comfortably well off. It was how he got that well off that was to emerge as the problem. At his residence he had six indentured domestic servants to cater for his every need. Life looked good for Judge Mitchell until the IRS intervened.
As was common in the modern justice system his trial and conviction was swift and within a short time William Mitchell went from being the enslaver to the enslaved.
How the scales of justice had turned.
Kim Dean and her fellow co conspirator Dan Fitzpatrick suffered the same fate as the judge.
Enslaved for life!
Some Saturdays at the Community Discipline Centre in Eastbrook Park, Daniel would notice his old supervisor, clad in her khaki slave uniform and short slave hair cut, slaving away cleaning up the garbage and mess left by the picnicking crowds. On one particularly fearful occasion he witnessed from his inspection position the former Kim Dean beaten relentlessly by a guard just because she missed a small bit of discarded paper. The glary look in her eyes told Daniel all he needed to know. To survive she like many other slaves had mentally shut themselves down till she was simply going through the motions. Her life fire was ebbing; she had nothing to live for except life itself.
Slavery was, as far as Daniel was concerned the most hateful and despicable of systems. He could not understand how a society could ignore let alone tolerate humans being treated with such a lack of basic human dignity.
He knew most people were in favor of slavery but that changed nothing in his mind. His experiences as a NEWDD had only helped to cement firmly in place his own anti slavery attitude.
Daniel knew the social rationale behind the reintroduction of slavery all those years ago. He had studied it at school. How after the great crashes of the early parts of the century something had had to be done to try to regain economic stability in the world.
Conventional economics had failed; the tried and tested solutions applicable in the 20th century to fix things were not working. It didn't seem to mater how much governments tried to stimulate the economy, how many job creation programs were tried, how much taxes were lowered, what incentives were offered to invest in new industries, the economy remained a mess.
With higher and higher percentages of the country's wealth going on welfare spending because of the huge unemployment rate, the only options were to raise taxes to try to pay for it, or to "print money". There are natural limits to the levels of taxation, and with fewer and fewer people in paid employment; the tax take went down rather than up. The inevitable consequence of the continuing need to "spend" was of course rampant inflation, and, in the end, this was what tipped the balance.
Once you needed hundreds of dollars to buy a cup of coffee and money was essentially worthless, society crashed.
Millions who had only known a life of relative luxury and ease suddenly found themselves with no savings, no jobs, no income, and no hope.
On to the political stage at this pivotal moment in time walked G.W. Shelley.
Shelley was elected as President solely on a platform of "getting back to normal", and most electors frankly no longer cared how this was done as long as it was done quickly!
He did start with the huge advantage of overwhelming popular support. He began by attempting to stabilize the currency by what was, effectively, an act of faith, announcing the "new dollar" to replace the devalued greenbacks which were now required people to carry around millions of them for even the simplest purchases.
As well as the actions taken to address the economic consequences of the great crashes, President Shelley's reforms had also tackled the rising tide of lawlessness that had swept over the country. To quell this, President Shelley introduced enslavement orders. This action was initially less popular, but once it was seen that they were working and some semblance of "normal" life was returning, most of the population stopped worrying about rights or wrongs' and just went back to enjoying their now more normal' lives.
There were at the time of the crash enormous numbers of burglaries, robberies and other street crimes and the police had been unable to either detect the criminals and if they did, the procedural rules in the courts meant that they were often never properly convicted or punished.
That had all changed when President Shelley closed the prisons and reformed the courts so that the only punishment for crime was a sentence of slavery. With the criminals caught and removed often permanently from the streets, the police had more time to focus on finding and convicting the remaining miscreants and the "positive feedback" effect meant that crimes against property and citizens were now almost curious relics of a bygone age.
Since he had become a NEWDD, Daniel had come to realize that his parents, especially his father, were not in favour of the slavery laws. Daniel had even heard Dr Learner and his father debate around the dinner table the morality of enslaving the poor and unemployed. Both were `liberals' in their thought and it had made for interesting listening.
Though both Dr Learner and Mr. Green agreed it was cheaper to provide adequate food and housing for slaves rather than for the unemployed on welfare, and of course it was easier to stop them continuing to breed and adding to the problem as liberal intellectuals neither of them could quite bring themselves to believe that a life of slavery for that 15% of the population was necessary to allow the rest of the population to "return to normal".
Slavery had not affected Daniel much till he was made a NEWDD. There were the domestic slaves like Tom and so he did come into contact with slaves like them around the home and neighborhood.
There were also other slaves that Daniel met on a regular basis. The post was delivered by slaves, the garbage was collected by slaves, the streets were kept clean by slaves and. But all these slaves looked relatively happy, and in their smart uniforms they did not look all that different from the free men who had been performing these sorts of blue-collar jobs before the crash.
It was only when you went out into the rural areas that slavery really intruded into your consciousness and rural visits had not been a common experience for Daniel.
In the rural areas slaves were used in very large numbers, not the cheerful, neatly-uniformed slaves that were used to perform duties around Eastbrook, but chained field gangs of near-naked laborers toiling away nurturing the crops under the oppressive hot sun encouraged in their toil by their overseer's whips.
The introduction of slavery had swept away the remaining pre crash vestiges of racial discrimination. If you looked along the rows of manacled labourers you saw blacks and whites in almost equal numbers, chained and all working together.
Even with the harsh new laws there always seemed to be a shortage of slaves, especially labourer slaves. A new industry soon grew up with legal sanction. Slaves were born and bred just for this purpose. These slaves were never considered citizens and never had any rights. They existed from their earliest years to serve and work. On these breeding farms the bred slaves were brought up in a crèche, then the nursery, play groups, and junior work groups till they were sixteen years old and were then eligible to be sold into general labouring tasks.
The great crash had also resulted in far more families becoming unable to afford their lifestyles, and when their mortgages and loans were recalled, a lot of them had no choice, if they did not want to be enslaved themselves, but to sell their only assets, their adolescent children into slavery.
This occurred mainly to adolescents aged between sixteen and twenty one years of age. If the child was younger than sixteen then an education program had to be implemented and restrictions upon the use of the slave applied and were strictly enforced. This tended to lower their value and worth greatly. Upon turning twenty one, full legal rights passed to the individual and so no parent could sell their child after they attained that age.
The ability to sell your child into slavery led to that greatest of parental threats, "If you don't behave then you will be enslaved".
The enslavement years, the five years between sixteen and twenty one were always years of secret worry and stress. An adolescent was never totally convinced that he would not be sold till he turned twenty one.
For Daniel there was very little concern in his mind that he would be sold into slavery. His family though not rich seemed to him to be coping financially and his parents were so avid in their dislike of slavery that it seemed impossible to Daniel that he or any of his siblings would ever be sold.
The disappearance of Todd Riddell from college went unnoticed by Daniel for two days. Todd had finished his time as NEWDD and so Daniel had not seen as much of him as Todd was able to socialise again amongst the wider student body. None the less Todd would often come over and sit with the NEWDD's in defiance of the social mores.
Daniel only found out about Todd's predicament when he asked another NEWDD where Todd was.
"Haven't you heard?" the NEWDD whispered, as if saying it out load could bring down the wrath of god on himself.
"No I haven't heard!" Daniel relied, "What?"
"Todd's been pulled out of college. He's being sold as soon by his parents."
Daniel felt the cold stabbing thrust of fear plunge at his heart.
He knew of others who had been sold. Last year one of the older boys from college, a real jock, had been sold and earlier this year a sixteen year old neighbor, Kate Vidmar, was sold into slavery by her parents.
When Daniel and his gang had heard Kate had been enslaved, they raced over to her house and arrived in time watch as the police dragged her naked and screaming out of her house and into pickup.
Daniel still vividly remembered hearing her yell, "Why, mom, why?" and "Please, daddy, please don't do this!"
And her mothers heartless reply, "Kate, don't be like that, it is upsetting your brother and sister. You know this is for the best. The money we get from your sale will send your younger brother and sister through college. Now, doesn't that make you proud?"
Kate obviously wasn't proud as she screamed back, "Fuck my brother and sister, and fuck you!"
At that comment a young police man who was part of the team collecting her had smacked Kate hard across her face while he said to her, "Don't you ever swear at or in front of a free citizen, slave girl!"
Daniel remembered Kate's treatment and her parent's callous behaviour. He didn't know Todd's parents at all but he determined then and there to call by Todd's house and offer his support, for what it was worth.
With permission from his mother who was home Daniel found Todd's address and walked naked the four blocks to his house.
When he arrived Daniel looked for a back door or slave entrance but the side gate was locked and so he was forced to ring the front door bell.
Todd answered the door. His red tinged eyes indicated immediately that he had been crying. His face however brightened immensely when he saw it was Daniel who was standing there.
"Daniel what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, I heard a rumor that you were being enslaved and I just had to see if it was true" Daniel stated.
"It's true, come in, don't stand out there" Todd replied.
"Is it ok to come in, your parents I mean?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, it's ok. Hey what are they going to do if they don't like it? Enslave me!" Todd replied trying to force a laugh at his own joke.
They went up to Todd's room and Daniel asked lots of questions and Todd willingly replied answering all of Daniels concerns.
Mr. Riddell had fallen on hard times; he had heavily mortgaged his house to finance some new business ventures which were slower in returning profit than he had planned. Now he was in danger of losing the family business and being enslaved himself for insolvency.
His answer to this problem after much thought was to sell Todd. He really only had two assets left, Todd and his older brother Mathew. Mathew was already well into college and Mr. Riddell had invested heavily in his elder son's education so the better option to obtain the much needed financial boost, seemed Todd. Besides Mr. Riddell did not approve of his son's lifestyle and enslavement was in his opinion a good solution to his son's sexual deviancy.
Todd told Daniel how he had attended a briefing with his dad about what would happen to him when he would be formally enslaved.
After the officials formally enslaved him he would be taken to the Eastbrook Servants Training Facility where his initial slave training would consist of a series of classes, chiefly civics classes. The classes were geared to instill within the new slave a sense of how important slaves were in the new economy; how all slaves have a duty to masters. How as part of the new order a slaves status is respected; etc, etc, etc ....
Todd told Daniel the training course was full of psychological and sociological conditioning, some of which taught how a slave can find happiness and fulfillment; some explained bonding issues in slave households; and some demonstrated the value of a hardworking slave.
The briefing Todd said was designed to make him feel good about his enslavement, to give him a sense of self-respect, and primarily to give him hope.
However Todd also told Daniel how his briefing session had included some very graphic information on the grimmer aspects of slavery, at least for slaves. He had been apprised of owners' rights regarding, and authority over, slaves, which was almost total, and at the briefing they had even demonstrated the latest techniques and tools used in slave control whilst reinforcing to those in attendance that the best course of action for any slave was always direct obedience.
Todd was no fool, he knew what the tactics employed were all about. Scare tactics mixed in with the sweet talk made 90% of slaves lose their rebellious streak very quickly and saved the state a lot of time and money in costly discipline protocols.
"You are taking this very well Todd" Daniel stated, "I don't think I would take it that well."
"I think I have always known this would happen" Todd replied, "Dad and I have never really seen eye to eye since I became a teenager and when I openly came out as being gay last year, that was too much for dad. He's ashamed he fathered a `poof' as he calls me. Get me out of his life and make a profit from my departure as well, was too much of a temptation for him and mum. No I guess I deliberately bought this on myself. I confronted my parents with my sexuality knowing they would not cope with it."
When Daniel was introduced to Mr. Riddell, Daniel was surprised that he didn't look like an evil person. He did have however a very rigid demeanor, with a distant gaze in his eyes, perhaps intensified by the current situation.
Daniel was therefore amazed that Mr. Riddell invited Daniel to attend tomorrow afternoon when Todd would be formally enslaved. After phoning his father and obtaining permission to attend, Mr. Riddell even thanked Daniel for being willing to come back over and be at Todd's side as support throughout his enslavement.
Mr. Green allowed his son to attend and support his friend through the enslavement but only on the proviso that he be allowed to accompany Daniel.
So it was that the next afternoon when Daniel accompanied by his father arrived at the Riddell's house the police and two court officials, Mr. Donaldson who would invoke the enslavement and his assistant Mr. Humphries were already there. Mr. Donaldson was holding a folder stuffed thick with papers. Also in attendance were Mrs. Riddell and Todd's brother Mathew as well as three policemen.
Mr. Green and Daniel were both very nervous standing there awaiting proceedings to begin. As the tension built Daniel felt like he could burst out crying at any moment.
When Todd entered the room he noticed Daniel, smiled and said, "Hey Daniel!"
Mr. Donaldson spoke first, "Todd William Henry Riddell by the authority invested in me by the Tallahatchie County Court sitting at Eastbrook I do hereby confirm that the court has duly authorised and approved your father, William Henry Riddell's request that you be placed into community servitude for the duration of your life. I do thus by the power authorised to me by the court strip you of all the rights and privileges accorded a free citizen."
"You have been assigned to the Eastbrook Servants Training Facility for processingand training, after which you shall then be sold at the next available indentured servants auction at which time, your worth shall be determined and the proceeds of such sale, shall be remitted to your current owner the said William Henry Riddell. Officers prepare the new community servant for transportation."
The two police men in their black service uniforms moved over to Todd. He was moved over against a side wall and a gloved hand pressed his nose into the plaster as his arms were forced up under his shoulder blades and his legs were kicked wide apart.
Todd's shirt was cut off his back with the traditional hooked blade knife, as were his jeans and boxers. They were tossed on the floor like rags. His watch was removed then his legs were wrenched back one after the other and his shoes and socks cut off. Todd was again as naked as he had been when a NEWDD.
Mr. Donaldson's assistant Mr. Humphries took over issuing instructions, "Put a temporary collar on him and plug his butt." He then took a couple of ID tags out of his jacket pocket and tossed them to one of the police men.
The wearing of a slave collar registers the fact that the wearer is a slave and is without rights other than that of being owned. The collar went around Todd's neck very easily and locked with just the faintest of audible clicks.
The ID tags were attached to the collar which was made of a metal chain coated in a plastic and metal mesh. The design pattern and color indicated Tallahatchie County where Todd would be registered. Todd's collar being the local pale blue with thin maroon and gold lines.
Todd's arms were then shackled to his ankles and then a butt plug was shoved up Todd's writhing backside with relative ease. Daniel suspected his sphincter was used to being stretched.
Todd took all this treatment very stoically. He did not resist. In fact he showed no emotion what so ever. He wanted to be out of his family for good. As a slave he knew he would be required to perform sexual service for his masters. For Todd this was a reward not a burden. He was finally going to be able to live out all his sexual desires. He would not have to worry about his life; others would now do that for him. He was totally accepting of the slave lifestyle.
As Todd was led outside Daniel and his father followed. The cooler air on Todd's newly exposed balls and my cock made them shrivel to a tiny knob. As Todd walked in shackles to the police van his progress was very slow.
A large crowd had gathered outside the Riddell residence. There were the usual sounds of amazement and excited chatter, and Daniel noticed some of the students from the local school had joined the neighbors in watching Todd taken away.
Daniel also noticed that they were all looking at Todd with expressions of open curiosity and some even with contempt.
This second group of people Daniel realized no longer saw Todd as one of them. He was already an object, to be bought, sold, used and controlled. They looked at Todd as they might a cow or a horse, as a beast of burden.
As the police van drove away Mr. Green put his arm around Daniels shoulder and hugged him tight.
"That was very good of you to be there for your friend" Mr. Green informed his son, "I will never understand how a parent can do that to their child."
"Nor can I dad" Daniel replied, "But in this case I think enslavement was what Todd desired. There is little love in his family life I suspect dad, and that's the difference, in our family there is a plentiful supply of love and support."
End Chapter 33.
Acknowledgements:
`A Middle Class Slave' by Pete Brown
`A Middle Class Slave Revisited' by Steam Train
`Scales of Justice' by Steam Train (yet to be published)
`That Others May Serve' by Richard Davies
`Christopher Enslaved for Life at the Age of 22' by Randall Austin