Taming the Beast

“He got the fever?”

“Not yet. I need to get him to Turlox before it’s too late. There are four of us, including my mom and sister.”

The round-faced man leaned in and interrupted, “Does your sister have a juicy ass? I’m not a pervert or nothing, but that’s really my entry of choice.” He placed hi

s hands on an imaginary body and began thrusting his hips into the air.

“That’s because you’ve got a small dick,” Captain Badeed said, shooing him away. He brought his attention back to Madeleine and said, “Don’t mind him. He’s been doing a lot of breeding lately and it’s made him forget his manners.”

“Breeding?”

Captain Badeed leaned in and placed one hand on her knee. “Survival of the fittest. Take someone like you, who doesn’t have the fever and match her with say … someone like me, who also doesn’t have the fever, and you end up with strong offspring. Would that be worth four seats to Turlox?”

Madeleine brushed his hand away and was about to speak when a celebratory yell caused them both to look behind her. A scrawny, dirty man was beating his chest as he walked towards them. A young woman with disheveled hair followed him and nearly tripped as she tried to straighten her clothing. Madeleine recognized her from the settlement and tried to make eye contact.

“When do we leave?” the woman asked, looking down once she noticed Madeleine.

“This was a package deal,” Captain Badeed said with a shrug. “You still have one more to go.” He pointed at the round-faced man who had already made his way to the young woman and was now pulling her towards a set of stairs. Madeleine watched as he practically carried her, grabbing her ass roughly the entire way.

“I can make tea!” Madeleine blurted out. “The blossoms are delicious. I’ll make as much as you want.”

Captain Badeed threw his head back in laughter and smacked his hand on the table. “I have no use for tea.”

“Money?”

“You know money has no value here. Now if you can get your hands on some gold, I’d be willing to negotiate.”

“How much?”

“Darlin’ I’m going to make it easy for you. One bar or 400 ounces.”

She chewed her lip as she thought about possible sources. “How long do I have?”

Captain Badeed leaned back, clasping his hands behind his head. “How long does your father have?”

Madeleine audibly gulped. Realizing he had upset her, Captain Badeed leaned in and whispered, “I would keep you for myself. No sharing.”

She wanted to puke right then and there. “I’ll be back,” she said, standing slowly. “With the gold.”

Captain Badeed chuckled and gave her a wink. “I’ll be waiting for you.” He watched her walk away, taking in every inch of her curvy shape. “I’m definitely not sharing her,” he mumbled to himself.

Mom’s wedding ring … the earrings from my tenth birthday. As she made her way back to the settlement, Madeleine listed off every gold item she could think of. Maybe people will donate their teeth. The thought made her shudder.

June was awake and pacing with worry when her sister finally returned. She grabbed Madeleine and held her close.

“I was afraid the smugglers would keep you. What did they say?”

“They’re willing to help us.”

“Really?”

“Really. It will only cost us 400 ounces of gold or helping them breed a fever-resistant generation of humans.”

“Breed?” June gulped. “As in…”

“They really have no business procreating. Disgusting pigs.”

June paced and chewed on her lip. “It may as well be one million ounces. Where can we find enough gold?”