Kyle West - Evolution

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“The auction is breaking up for the moment, and will restart in one hour,” Julian said.

“Will Anna be there this time?”

“I think so.”

“Instead of waiting, why don’t we go take a look for ourselves?” Makara asked.

She pointed toward the right of the stage, where a line of carts was parked against a large, stone building. The carts carried cages, and within them were people. Outside the carts stood guards.

“If she is there, we can at least see her,” Samuel said. “When she is purchased, we can tail her to wherever she is taken. It will be too risky trying to break her out right now.”

“We should get a closer look,” I said.

We dispersed with the rest of the crowd, trying to edge closer to the slave carts. As we walked past the stage, down the crowded streets, we stood as close as we dared to the guarded carts. Crammed within were dozens of people. One of them had to be Anna.

It wrenched my heart to see it. Most were dressed in rags, and the citizens of the city passed the slaves and paid them no heed, as if they were nothing more than penned animals. Tools to be sold and used, and killed at will. I would have gotten closer, but guards flanked the entire convoy, directing anyone who got too close to go the other direction. Several men watched in the wings — prospective buyers that wanted an early look.

Then, I saw her, holding the bars and staring outward at the city intensely. She was wearing the same clothing she had been captured in, and despite a bruise on her face, she appeared to be okay.

“Anna,” I said.

She wasn’t looking in our direction, and it wasn’t like any of us could call out to her. That would be a dead giveaway. Instead, I tried willing her to look our way. I just wanted her to know that we were here, and that we were going to take care of everything. In her face, I saw determination. I don’t know where she got it from, but Anna was a fighter, even when the situation seemed hopeless.

“Do you see her?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Samuel said. “She’s right there.”

“…And we can’t do anything about it,” Makara said. “There must be twelve guards around those carts. If we just went in there, we’d be captured or killed.”

“Stick with the plan, then,” Samuel said. “Whoever buys her, we’ll follow him home. And then there will be hell to pay.”

I nodded. It was the best we could do. I just hoped it would be enough.

Reluctantly, I turned away and followed everyone back to the staging area for the second round of bidding.

When the auction began again, Anna came on stage next to last. People were more excited about these prospects; the crowds were more numerous, and on the outskirts, even the commoners watched, percolating from the televisions in the center of the square to watch the bidding. The Lanistos stood in their own corner, laughing and joking. Anna was the only woman. The rest were bulky, muscular men that were probably destined for the Coleseo .

Anna kept her head straight, her eyes searching the crowd. When she didn’t have her katana, something seemed off about her. I gritted my teeth. It angered me to see her up there. Most of all, I was angry at myself. If I had been more careful, we wouldn’t be in this situation. I was willing to do anything to get her out of there. Anna had gotten this far. We would carry her the rest of the way.

The bidding began, and the first few men were auctioned off relatively quickly. As the auction progressed, the Lanistos ceased their joking and became more attentive, at time bidding aggressively on the prospects.

Finally, only two were left — Anna, and a bulky, muscular man who was shaved bald.

The auctioneer indicated for Anna to step forward.

She did, and the auctioneer began to speak in Spanish once more.

Julian translated. “He is saying the she is a beautiful warrior from the far north, an expert in the use of the katana. He also says that she has…”

The men in the audience laughed and smiled. I waited for Julian to continue.

“Has what?” I asked.

Julian a hesitated a moment. “…other talents.”

My face burned with anger. There was nothing more I wanted to do than rush that stage and carry her away, danger be damned. My hand reached for my gun. Makara brushed it away.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Alex. We’ll have the last laugh in the end.”

The bidding began. It seemed everyone was making an offer. Quickly, the poorer men were left in the dust and the richest men — the ones wearing the finest and brightest clothing — continued to bid in larger and larger amounts as if it was nothing.

“10,000,” Julian said. “15,000.”

“15,000 what?” Makara asked.

“Batteries,” Julian answered.

That was probably more batteries than existed in all of Raider Bluff. And still, the bidding continued. Fewer and fewer men continued to bid, bowing out as the numbers reached 20,000, and finally, 30,000,

“How did they get so wealthy?” I asked.

“Many own plantations,” Julian said. “Some earned their fame in more nefarious ways.”

Now, only two men were actively bidding. One was the fat, bearded man with the many rings Julian had pointed out earlier — Ruben Barrios. The other was a tall, skinny man that reminded me of a serpent.

“Who’s the skinny man?” I asked.

“He’s Camilo Hidalgo. He owns much of the Subura — the poorest district of Nova Roma, and is also one of the few people licensed by Augustus to run gambling houses and brothels.”

“Great,” Makara said.

“Ruben is now bidding 45,000 batts,” Julian said.

There was a pause as Camilo considered. Finally, he bid again.

“48,000,” Julian whispered in disbelief. “I have never seen the bidding go this high.”

Ruben’s fat face reddened, and he turned and stalked away. Camilo gave a smile of victory.

Just as the auctioneer’s gavel nearly fell, Ruben turned and shouted. “ Cincuenta miles !”

50,000. A whisper overtook the crowd. Camilo Hidalgo paused, but said nothing. Everyone watched. Would the slum lord bid again? Finally, Camilo waved his hand, ceding the floor to his rival. The auctioneer banged his gavel on the podium. Anna had been sold to the gladiator master. The crowd broke out into an excited buzz.

That was it, then. A nearby guard ordered Anna to stand back as the last slave was presented. While the bidding for him began, some guards came on the stage, leading Anna away to meet the Lanisto, Ruben.

“It’s go time,” Samuel said.

We filtered out of the crowd, and edged closer to Anna. Already, guards surrounded her, leading her toward the Coleseo . We pushed ourselves ahead, never for a minute losing sight of her.

That was when one of the men by the carts pointed our way, yelling something to his fellow guards in Spanish. He looked vaguely familiar.

“What is he saying?” I asked.

It was then that I recognized him as one of the slavers that had attacked us.

“They’re coming for us!” Julian said.

The cart guards strode toward us. The commotion caused the guards escorting Anna ahead to turn around. Anna turned, too, just in time to see us sprinting after her. Her eyes widened in surprise.

I pulled out my Beretta and started taking my first shots. The bullets connected with one of the guards, felling him.

Taking our cue, Anna struggled against her captors, ripping free of two of them. Hands and feet bound, she hopped in our direction. Ruben the Lanisto went wide-eyed upon seeing Anna run away. He barked some orders to his guards, who came forward wielding not guns, but their clubs.