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The ox pulled the wooden carriage gradually down a worn path passing between two
mountain sides. The landscape, in all its beauty, was not to be adored by King who was
reclined on the carriage's seat. He rolled a piece of dry grass along his mouth playfully
looking forward to a smooth ride to Morbid Market in wait of a profitable return. A
sudden bump in the road derailed his train of thought and he immediately accosted the
ox below for his negligence. From then on, the beast of burden made it a priority to look out for any more bumps in the road to avoid receiving one himself.
The wooden carriage, if you can call it that, was more like a cage on wheels. The
vehicle was comprised of old wood nailed together haphazardly giving it the appearance
of contraption of torture. The door on the back was secured by a rusty lock that jangled
with every movement of the ride. Inside slept four creatures: the first was Pogisa. The
second was a young beaver wearing a ragged grey coat, resting quietly in the corner of
the carriage. The third was another unfortunate child, a panda of the age of five. The
fourth, was Esta still under the influence of the chloroform. The bumpy ride began to
wake her up, and when see finally came to her senses, she began to look around wildly.
The dim, claustrophobic cage gave her no relief, and her new friends looked just as
terrible as she felt. Finding her surroundings changed dramatically, Esta began to shake
wishing that this was all a nightmare. Suddenly a fit of fear overcame her and she
began to scream out.
"Help! Help! Uncle Caleb!”
Pogisa sprung up.
"Be quiet, shut up!" she said poking her with her trunk.
"Where am I?" she said trembling, "I want to go home!"
"Shut up." said Pogisa again more sternly, “You’ll get us in trouble.”
The ricked carriage came to a abrupt stop. The children heard King descend from his
seat in fury.
"What’s all that racket in the back?" he said annoyed. "Do I have to make you brats walk the rest of the way?"
The lock was removed and the carriage door swung open. Pogisa starred into King's
menacing face. The elephant pointed her trunk at Esta. King looked over child as she
wiped her tear eyes.
"Now what might the problem be, little missy?" he said with a grin. “I like a quiet ride when I’m headed to the market.”
Esta couldn’t find the words to expression her terror, and looking into the face of the
cheetah did not help.
"I asked you a question--are you stupid or something?" replied King coldly,
“Please,” said Esta softly, “take me home.”
“Home!” replied King with bearing his teeth, “I’ve got a quota to meet. I’ve got investors
who need little hands in their factories and little servants in their homes and farm fields.
Don’t worry little missy I’ll find you a good home. Now keep your voice down." King
turned his sights on Pogisa. "Keep her quiet. If I have to stop this cart again, you’re
walking the rest of the way."
The door was slammed, the lock was secured once again, and the carriage started to
move. Esta looked at Pogisa. Her fear gave way to anger, especially against the young
elephant. Pogisa checked the beaver who recoiled from her touch and the panda
responded in suit. When she turned to Esta she was met with a different response.
"So." replied Pogisa apathetically. “Its not my fault you were stupid enough to trust me.”
Esta sprung up and started to pound Posiga on her head with her fist. The exercise was
futile; and with little effort, Pogisa pushed Esta to the carriage floor. The elephant
laughed seeing the defeat.
“You mutt!” said Pogisa nastily, “That’s what I’ll call you: a half breed mutt!”
“HEY WHAT’S GOING ON IN THERE!” shouted King.
“Nothing,” said Pogisa looking at Esta, “Nothing at all.”
The carriage began to pick up speed under King's command. The ride was more
uncomfortable than before, and Esta despised every moment of it. The party stopped
for the night to rest. The children were given a surprisingly hearty meal; but not out of
the kindness of King’s heart, but to keep them looking well to sell.. The next morning the
carriage only traveled a few hours before stopping again. Immediately, the children were
ordered out. Once the ox was out of sight. King removed a revolver, brandishing it to
ensure that the children saw it. With Pogisa’s help, King rounded the children up and
lead them on foot across an open prairie. As they traveled, King frequently recited a
prose which he made up:
Little servants, little workers
All in their proper place
They make the money to please my soul
I will be rich and finer than gold
Little servants, little workers
All in their proper place
They bring me money
and a smile on my face
Esta believed she had traveled at least an hundred miles (it was only three), and if she
had the liberty to complain, she would have. A push from Pogisa’s trunk (which the
young elephant enjoyed) kept her in step until finally they came to a hill. The climb was
easy and over the ridge was a small port with a zeppelin an its owner. King waved his
hat and the captain below responded in suit.
"Let go, kiddies. Time's a wasting"
The zeppelin was simplistic: two steam engines for propulsion, and a large cabin
connected to the balloon below for passengers. The captain was paid and King
discussed the arrangements.
“Make sure we are in Chetz by by next week. I’m broke. I need to sell all of them soon.”
“If you want to be in Chetz it’s double the price,” said the captian.
“You’ll get your money once I make a sale. I’m under orders by Ursus.”
Like merchandise, the children were placed side by side against the cabin wall. Pogisa
sat in front of them. They were given a solid meal of potatoes, bread, and broth.
Lowering her head, she prayed over her food quietly. The young elephant, intrigued by
the act scooted, closer.
"What ya doing, mutt?"
"That's not my name." said Esta strongly.
"Well whatever you were doing, it isn't going to help you."
Esta ignored her, taking a bite out of her bread.
"Still hate me, huh?" said Pogisa saucily, "Don’t like me, eh?"
"Shut up." Esta said looking up from her bread with a cold stare.
Posiga crossed her front legs with an arrogant smile.
"If I’m a mutt." Esta said. “You’re a monster.”
Pogisa trembled with rage, and in her wrath, she knocked over Esta’s broth, flinging it
across the cabin floor. Some of the broth fell on Esta and the other two captives.
"HEY!" growled King, “I warned you!”
"She called me a name," said Pogisa quickly.
King found a rod and hit Pogisa twice across her back. The young elephant winced in
pain and retreated to the other side cowering in a corner. After finding the punishment
adequate, King turned his sights on Esta.
"And you!"
Esta backed away as the rod was pointed at her.
"Another word from you and I’ll peel your hide." replied King sharply, " Now eat!"
Another bowl of broth was given to her. Pogisa did not speak to Esta for the rest of the
journey, which was a great relief for the young pup.
They remained in the air for nearly seven days, only stopping to refuel and to rest. Esta
and the others were not allowed to leave the ship while King went for supplies. The
same process of landing for supplies repeated until they arrived at the coast of Chetz.
The zeppelin descended near the water's edge sending a constant stream of mist over
the vessel as the massive port gate awaited them. The gate itself was surrounded by
two turrets each standing like giants in comparison to the coming vessel. A guard from
one of the towers spotted the airship. Once the nations flag was recognized, the gates
parted allowing the vessel to pass through.
The week's voyage came to an end and at the docking station awaited a large crowd
eager for a deal and for new labor. Esta and the other children were lead out into the
crowd, some already offering King money for his young merchandise. Although
tempting, the cheetah gave no response to he hecklers. His destination was the slave-block. The crowd gathered around a wooden platform where each child would
stand to be viewed. Turning to Pogisa, King said to her:
“Alright, get lost. If I need your help again, I’ll find you.”
The young elephant left the scene.
The young panda, and the beaver were sold quickly gaining King seven hundred
dolllars. Now it was Esta’s turn. As she shivering from the callous looks from the buyers,
King stood to the side, as the bidding began. The price for her started out at one
thousand dollars, but there were no buyers. King walked up to the auctioneer,
whispered in his ear, and the price immediately dropped to five hundred. Still there were
no takers for the last sale of the day.
"Oh come on." said King to the crowd, “ Five hundred is a great deal. What's the
problem? Buy her!"
"She's spoiled goods," said one buyer in the crowd, "She couldn't work a week without dropping dead. She’s looks fragile.”
“And that means she worth more.” said King. "This pup can be a house servant for the
upper class or a waitress in a saloon."
"We don't need that," said another from the crowd. "We came for workers that can work in the steam mills and fields. We don’t want her.”
King gave the crowd a murderous scowl and then turned Esta.
"You fetch me no profit, " he said to her, and pulled her from the wooden block. “Bad call from Ursus.”
Taking his earnings in hand, King pulled Esta along by the hand, caring not for her
crying along the way. The long march to the main city gave Esta a few moment to see
her new surroundings: there were no trees to be seen nor grass. Only stone, and metal.
The streets and sidewalks were thronged with citizens going about their business. Esta
felt smothered by all the creatures. Suddenly to her horror King, let go of her hand and
disappeared into crowd.
“Huh? What are you doing? Stop don’t leave me here!”
With all help gone and none to console her, Esta started to make her way between the
pedestrians who either ignored her existence or outright scolder her for being in their
way. To avoid being trampled to death, the young pup retreated to an alley away from
the noise and smell of the busy metropolis. She slouched down in the alley and started
to cry. After drying her eyes she looked up to heaven and asked God to help her.
Instantly to know effort of her own, she felt as if everything would be alright. She stood
to her feet, thank the Lord for His help, and slowly entered the busy metropolis once
again.
Left alone to fend for herself, Esta had become something that the Chetzians called a
"rag-tag". They were children who were once purchased and eventually released from a mistress or master, which made them a “rag” (something to be used and disposed of at
will) The term “tag” came from their profession of thievery, which unfortunately was the
only means of survival. With such a grand, energetic city it was impossible to know who
was stealing and who was not, therefore, the rag-tags did their best work and found a
small niche in the dregs of the Child Trade.
Now Esta was hungry and asking for help was out of the question at this point. Not too
far from her was Pogisa leading a group of three kids who were up to their business of
stealing. Pogisa spotted Esta, and with sly smerk, she announced the target before her.
"Everyone, we have a target."
The other three children looked over Esta.
"She's just as ragged as we are." said one of them, " She doesn't go a dime on her."
"I'm not after that." said Pogisa, "I want to have a little fun with her, come on.”
Pogisa approached as the group followed behind her. Esta turned and saw the young
elephant and quickly concluded that her day was going to go from bad to worse.
"You fetch me no profit at market." said Pogisa repeating King's phrase in a mocking tone. "You're worth a lot less than I thought. Actually, you're worth nothing at all."
Esta held remained silent.
"What's wrong?" said Pogisa circling her, " Come on, I know you want to say something.
You weren’t afraid before to use that smart mouth of yours.”
"Leave her alone, Poggie," said another kid.
“Poggie?” said Esta chuckling between her words, “That’s you nickname--Poggie?”
"Don't call me Poggie!” said Pogisa turning on the others, “Not in front of her!"
Esta was doing her best not to laugh, but the chuckles came through and Pogisa did not
approve.
"Let’s make her apart of our group."
"NO!" said Pogisa quickly. "I don’t like her! Nobody likes her!”
A small disagreement began to erupt, but a kind word was spoken that put everything at
rest.
"Please stop," said Esta. "No point in fighting over me. Pogisa, I'm sorry for calling you a monster. It was wrong for me to do that."
The elephant lifted her head proudly not willing to accept the apology. Esta started to
walk way until she was called back.
"Hold on." said Pogisa, "You can hang with us for a one day."
“I thought you didn’t like me?”
“I don’t,” said Pogisa getting in her face, “After today you’re on your own and if you die on the streets its good riddance.”
With that unkind induction, it was decided it was time to get some breakfast. Pogisa
brought them to a open bazaar. It was the perfect place to snag a piece of fruit or some
bread without anyone noticing. Placing her trunk on her brow, she surveyed the scene
like an explorer in a deep rainforest.
"I thought that you were with King." said Esta.
"He has no use for me now," said Pogisa still looking at the fruit stands, "I'm on my own until he finds me. All right rag-tags you know how its done: wait until the owner turns his
back and grab one apple for yourselves and one for me."
"You're stealing?"
"Uh, yeah." Pogisa said giving Esta a weird look, "There's no charity around here."
"Stealing is wrong."
"Says who?"
"Says God." Esta said firmly.
Pogisa gave Esta a blank stare, shook her head, and ordered her crew to carry our her
command. They did so with such skill and alacrity that the owner nor any of the
surrounding crowd saw them. They returned to their spot with apples in hand. Pogisa
ate her apple right in Esta's face and belched.
"Nice and juicy," she said smiling, "Oh, Esta, everyone else has an apple. How come you don't have one?
Although it would have been easy to do what the others were doing, Esta made up in
her mind not to steal. She approached the fruit stand waiting to be recognized by the
owner. When she was, she immediately did a curtsey and stated her purpose.
"I would like an apple, sir.”
"Fifty cents."
"I don't have any money to pay you."
"Then I don't have an apple to give you." replied the owner unconcerned.
"I can work for the apple," said Esta in good spirits, "Any odd jobs around to be done?"
The owner, although caring nothing for a Esta, did respect that she was willing to work.
He told her to sweep behind the stands, and stack the oranges crates for the
customers. Once complete, the owner was so impressed with what she did that he gave
her three apples, a bundle of grapes, and two bananas. Esta returned to the rag tags.
They were amazed, astonished; and to be honest, a little jealous. After thanking God for
His help, she ate voraciously inviting the others to join her. Pogisa turned her back,
sulking over the matter. Esta came over with a banana.
"You can have some too if you want."
"I'm--I’m full." said the elephant with a grunt. "I don't need it."
“Suit yourself, but I’ll leave the banana right here just in case you change your mind.”
The elephant turned her face away, jealous that Esta’s way faired better than her own.
Out of the corner of her eye, Esta saw Pogisa quickly placing the banana in her mouth.
“You’re welcome.” said Esta smiling at her.
“Oh, shut up.” was Pogisa’s reply.