Danvers Part Two - written with the kind encouragement of Matthew Kernowskiitsaslave@hotmail.com with acknowledgements to Matthew Kernowski(mattie2316@yahoo.com) Matthew Kernowski is telling the story of a 'slave to the lash' from the point ofview of the slave Matthew who was just nineteen years old when he was soldat the slave market. However this slave has been fascinated by Ed Danvers who purchasedMatthew to join the forty odd slave on the huge ranch that was, at least for now, under His management. So how does the same story looks from the point of view of Ed Danvers.
"Yes, Ben," Danvers said to Himself, "once I have purchased Matthew, your days are numbered and I am expecting you, Ben, to die superbly as you have learned to live so well as a slave."
Danvers motioned to His two henchmen to take Ben back to the wagon ready for the journey home whilst He prepared for the auction itself. Of the eight slaves on offer, Danvers intuitively believed that Matthew offered the best prospect of a slave that would grow into a hard worker and a fine taker of punishment.
He was focused on winning Matthew for His stable and ready to pay top dollar to achieve His end. Keeping one's reputation for ruthlessness could prove expensive and it did that day as Danvers topped the bidding at $ 5300 and everyone else fell silent.
One reason for bringing Ben with Him to market was that Ben would have an opportunity of preparing Matthew for the life that would now lie ahead of him as Matthew was led from the stage by two of Danvers' henchmen and chained to the back of a horse-drawn wagon beside Ben for the journey to the ranch.
Danvers had told Ben that - during the journey back and only during the journey - he could speak to a new purchase to raise the new slave's anticipation of what would lie ahead. So Ben was already there, also secured by his wrists to the wagon, the ball and chain having been removed from his leg. When Matthew tried to introduce himself and make conversation and Ben seemed too terrified to talk it was simply that the journey had not begun.
So Ben remained silent and kept his gaze firmly fixed to the ground waiting for the journey to begin.
Danvers was settling up with Sloan who ran the slave market - Sloan was relishing the commission that he'd make on that record breaking $5,300. Danvers knew that he'd paid top dollar but believed that Matthew would prove a worthwhile purchase. Sloan took the cigar from His mouth and took a swig from a bottle of Scotch whisky before offering it to Danvers who also took a swig.
Then He turned to walk over to the wagon where Ben and Matthew were chained side by side. The whip coiled up in His hand prompted His thoughts about the many times that He'd whipped Ben. The contrast between Ben's well scarred and weathered body and Matthew's smooth young skin was stark as Danvers thought about what lay ahead for all three of them... for Ben the whippings and the work were nearly over as his crucifixion approached... for Matthew the whippings and the work had yet to begin - on the journey home Ben would begin the task of breaking Matthew in through words, imagination, anticipation and inspiring fear even terror in the new slave.
Danvers also thought about Himself - for a moment His thoughts went back, as they often did, to the very first whipping that He had delivered and then to the first crucifixion in which He had taken part ... and He thought of the fact that, one day, His own end would come but more of that another time. He was almost at the wagon.
Matthew looked scared as Danvers approached. Danvers came real close up and stood behind Matthew who closed his eyes tightly and gritted his teeth expecting to feel the first lash across his back at that moment. Actually Danvers craned His head over Matthew's shoulder so that the rough bristles from his unshaven chin rubbed against the smooth bare flesh of Matthew's shoulder. Danvers, His breath heavy with the smell of the Scotch, whispered, "You'd better be worth every cent, boy!"