walking. But before the crewman noticed, several others, principally Kalgeck, crowded round and hid her limp from view.
By now night had fallen. The captives were herded into the ship's hold, and when it was Dweega's turn to descend the ladder, Kalgeck kept close enough to disguise her faltering progress.
For the first time since being seized, they were given sustenance. It was hard, stale bread and suspect water. The hold was badly crowded, but Spurral made sure she got floor space next to Dweega. She noted that Kalgeck had bagged the space on the girl's other side.
The prisoners were forced to keep silence throughout. But once the few meagre candles had been snuffed, and the hold was locked down, whispers were exchanged. Though quiet weeping was more prevalent.
Spurral wriggled nearer to the girl and spoke low. 'You all right?'
'Are any of us?'
'You in particular. What's wrong with your leg?'
Dweega didn't answer. But Kalgeck leaned in close and said, 'She's lame.'
Spurral sensed the girl stiffening at the words.
'It happened when they caught us?' Spurral asked.
'No,' Dweega said. 'I've always… been like this.'
'And you don't want the Gatherers knowing.'
'They can't get a good price for damaged goods,' she mouthed bitterly.
'You've been lucky so far. How much longer do you think you can hide it from them?'
'I was hoping that when we get to wherever we're going I might slip ashore and — '
'Can't see that happening. Not the way they've got things set up.'
'I thought you might be able to help.' There was anger in Dweega's voice, and obvious despair. 'You're supposed to be some kind of god.'
'She can't be,' Kalgeck whispered, 'or she wouldn't be here.'
'It was your elder who assumed we were gods,' Spurral told them. 'I'm flesh and blood, just like you.'
Dweega sighed. 'Then that's our last hope gone.'
'You don't have to be a god to do something about our situation.'
'Like what?' Kalgeck wanted to know.
'There are as many of us as there are of them. If we could overpower a few of them and get hold of their weapons — '
' Mutiny? We wouldn't stand a chance.'
'What's our choice? We can go meekly to our fate or make a stand. I know which I'd prefer.'
'Then you go ahead,' Dweega said.
'I can't do it alone. We need to organise ourselves.'
'You don't know the Gatherers like we do,' Kalgeck rasped. 'They'd show us no mercy.'
'They'd certainly show none to Dweega when they find out she's lame. Isn't that reason enough to strike at them first?'
'And assure our deaths. Maybe she can get off this ship; and at least the rest of us will be alive as slaves.'
'You might call it a life. I don't.'
'I don't relish it either. And if I thought we had a hope of overcoming the Gatherers I'd be with you. But I can't see the others having much of an appetite for taking them on.'
'What about you, Dweega?' Spurral asked her. 'How do you see it?'
'I'll take my chances.' She turned over and showed Spurral her back.
Nothing more was said and, exhausted, they gave in to fitful sleep.
It seemed no time at all before the morning came.
At first light they were roughly roused with kicks and curses, and allowed a little of the brackish water to gulp. Then they were steered to their labours.
But this time they were given different tasks. Instead of working with the rope, Spurral's group was set to scrubbing the decks. Again, Kalgeck and some of the others did their best to shield Dweega, but it wasn't as easy as when they were working in the dimly lit winding room.
Inevitably, something happened that made it impossible for Dweega to hide her disability.
One of the crewmen ordered her to move away from the small cluster of companions trying to shelter her, and swab a different part of the deck. Dweega wavered, which only attracted more attention to her. Under an impatient tirade from several of the crew, she finally rose, and clutching her pail made her way to the indicated place. She did her best to walk normally, but was obviously struggling, and the effort could plainly be read on her face.
It was only a short distance, but it was an ordeal for her. Doubly so as everyone watched her progress in silence. As she knelt, painfully, one of the crew slipped away. A moment later he returned with the captain.
Salloss Vant went to Dweega and towered over her, sour-faced.
'Stand up,' he ordered coldly.
She did it, although awkwardly.
'Now walk,' he said. 'That way.' He pointed to the spot she had just come from, where Spurral and the others were standing.
The deficiency in her leg was apparent, and when she got there she all but collapsed into Spurral's arms.
'We've no room on this ship for any who can't pull their weight,' Vant boomed, 'or who have no value to us! They're a waste of precious food!'
'I can work!' Dweega pleaded.
'But not very well, it seems. We Gatherers aren't a charitable trust, and we carry no passengers.' He nodded to several crewmen, and started to walk away.
The men advanced on Dweega. A tussle developed as they tried to prise her away from Spurral. None of the other dwarfs did anything except look horrified.
' Captain! ' Spurral shouted.
Salloss Vant stopped in his tracks and turned, a look of surprise on his face that one of his chattels should dare address him.
'You don't have to do this,' Spurral told him. 'We can do her work for her. She doesn't have to be a burden on you.'
Vant gave the crewmen another curt nod. One of them landed a heavy blow to the side of Spurral's head with a lynchpin, breaking her grip on Dweega and knocking her down. Then they began dragging the girl away.
At that point Kalgeck came alive and tried to intervene. He rushed forward, shouting, ' No! No! '
He, too, was viciously downed.
' I'll have no defiance on this ship! ' Vant roared, glaring at the captives.
None of them moved as Dweega, screaming now, was forced to the ship's rail.
'Heed this well!' Vant said. 'And be certain that the same fate awaits any who challenge my authority!'
The crewmen lifted the struggling Dweega by her arms and legs. They swung her back and forth a couple of times, building momentum, then tossed her over the rail. There was a shriek as she fell, followed by a distant splash.
Gasps and screams came from the horrified dwarfs.
' Bastards! ' Spurral yelled. 'Stinking, cowardly bastards!'
Vant turned his attention to her, and to Kalgeck, quaking beside her on the deck.
'Spirit's a good thing,' he stated, looming over them. 'Slaves with grit usually make good workers, and that increases the price we'll get for you. Once you've been broken, that is.'
'Go to hell,' Spurral spat.
'We're already there. And should you doubt that, I'm happy to underline the point.' He gestured to the crewmen who had thrown Dweega overboard.
They hoisted Spurral and Kalgeck to their feet and shoved them to the central mast. Chests to the column, arms hugging it, they were tied at the wrists. The backs of their shirts were ripped open.
All the other captives were gathered and made to watch what happened next.
