A long trip 1: Transport
#1 of A long trip
Chapter One-Transport
This day would be one of those that you will never forget. It started out with a game company holding a tournament for us gamers. Just like the other ninety-nine people, I was chosen to participate. The one weird thing was that the others were all in their twenties and thirties.
They strapped us into the virtual reality chairs. That's when I noticed the audience hadn't moved or said anything. The attendant lowered my visor and gave me the numbing injection. I heard a count down to the system start up. It strangely sounded more like a computerized launch. "6, 5, 4, 3..."
I could hear a distinct popping sound. "Terminal ready, power on." On my visor the words, "This is not a game. We have chosen you to undergo an experience that will change the lives of millions. The tournament was a fake, the setup you are in is a dimension gate not a VR system."
I realized that the room was getting hot. A man walked over and tapped on my helmet. "Anything you want to say before you go."
Then it hit me. The warning on my visor was no joke. "Yeah, let me outta here you fucking assholes."
"No can do kid, sorry."
"2,1, energize the Dimension gate!"
It went from intense heat to bone chilling cold. I was falling into blackness. I think I passed out from the cold. When I woke up I was laying in the middle of a forest. My arms and legs were still numb, but I could still move. I quickly got up and checked my surroundings.
I was laying in what seemed to be a trail. "If I wait here maybe someone will come."
Well, I waited and thought some, "What if the people here, if there are people, are hostile?" I decided to hide in a bush next to the road.
I soon heard a wagon coming. After a few minutes, I could hear voices.
"Hey, how much do you think this load will sell for?"
"Don't know, it depends if they do their work or not, huh?"
"Crap, slavers!" I realized a little late that I said that out loud.
"Hey, you hear that, stop the cart."
As they came into view I screamed. One had the head of a wolf, and the other a bear.
"Quick grab that thing!"
I could tell they were just as startled as I was.
The bear grabbed me and threw me in the back of the cart.
"Let me outta this thing!!!"
"Holy, it can talk?"
"We should get a good price for it. Looks strong."
I looked at the other people in the cart. Most of them were wolves, a few were lizard men. All of them were either gagged or muzzled. It was a truly sad sight.
A few hours later the cart stopped. The bear came around back and opened the back of the cart.
"All right. Time to set camp."
It had been mid-summer back home. It was late fall here. Needless to say, it was cold and I wasn't dressed for the weather!
While the slavers slept in a tent, we slept on a sheet lain over the ground. When I finally fell asleep, I hoped I would wake up at home.
When I did wake up, I wasn't cold. I felt something soft and warm pressed against me. I thought to myself, "I'm home." Then, I opened my eyes.
As it turned out, two of the wolves had pressed up to me and kept me warm. I sat up and checked my surroundings. Everyone was in groups of three.
As I started to get up something grabbed my arm. It was one of the wolves, a female I think. She had a firm grip on my wrist and was shaking her head. She started to write something in the dirt. "No, don't go. Not safe. The rest of us will get beaten if you try to go."
I nodded and laid back down. Soon after, I was being kicked awake by the wolf.
"Get up freak. Time to move out."
As I was getting up, he tied my hands behind me.
The slavers were talking. I strained my ears to hear. "We should be in the city by noon."
"Yeah, the sooner we get there the sooner we get paid."
"You think anyone will buy that freak thing?"
"Someone will. The governor might. You know how he likes strange things."
"Yeah, you're right. All right, in the cart."
The rest of the trip passed quickly. We arrived a little past noon. The city was huge. The buildings were simple but so close together.
Soon a stage came into view. There was all ready a crowd gathered. As we drew closer, I could see a podium.
When we got there, a bull man ran up to the cart.
"Wald, Borse, thank God you're here. I hope you got some good ones."
"Not to worry sir. You'll be quite pleased."
As the auction started, the first to go was the wolf girl that had slept beside me. A wealthy wolf had bought her, well he was the only wealthy one I could see. I was the last to go. When they brought me out, some of the people in the crowd ran away.
Monster, freak, and demon were some of the remarks I heard them make. Only a few remained.
One was the rich wolf, probably the governor, and several people that were there as spectators.
"Now, who wants to own this strange creature? Opening at $100. Do I hear $110?"
The governor raised a sign.
"$150, $150, going once, twice, sold to the governor."
The one they called Borse dragged me off the stage and to the governor.
"If you would, follow me."
The wolf girl and I followed him to a stagecoach parked in the back of the stage.
After we got in, he turned toward me.
"Can you understand me?"
"Yes, I can."
"Then hurry and untie her! It's embarrassing, I'm sure."
After I untied her, she lunged at me. I was expecting claws and teeth. What I got was a hug and sobs. I was confused, I managed to return the hug and give her a reassuring pat on the back.
She eventually cried herself to sleep on my shoulder.
"That was not what I expected!"
"That makes two of us."
"She seems to like you."
"I don't mean to be rude but what do you want with us?"
At that the wolf jumped.
"I know you bought us as slaves."
"I'll let you in on a little secret. I don't keep slaves."
"Then why buy us?"
"To get you away from those brutes. They wouldn't know how to treat you or the nice girl there with any dignity."
The rest of the trip was made in silence.
"Well, here we are."
We had arrived at an elaborate mansion. A fox ran out to the coach.
"Sir, some of the other servants had said that there was a monster at the auction. Others said it was a demon. Did you see it?"
"Yes, I saw it and he won't be called any of that."
When he said that I saw her look of surprise.
"Come on out, the both of you!"
The girl got out first, then me.
"Aahh!!" The fox screamed and then fainted.
"Sorry about that..."
He picked her up as if she were a feather.
"Folla is easily startled by things. Here. Wear this until we get you a room."
He took off his cloak and gave it to me.
"Thanks."
As we went inside the governor laid Folla on the couch.
"Oh, I haven't introduces myself. I'm Warren the governor of these territories."
"I'm Diamond."
"Well, Diamond. You can stay here as long or short of a time as you want."