The Fiddler by RJ Dodd

Chapter One

Venice in the late 1700s

The Captain’s quarters on the galleon are spacious; a wide cabin bed is at one side and comfortable upholstered chairs are placed around the room. In front of the many paned stern windows is a large table covered with sea charts held in place with the help of crystal decanters.

The cabin is quite dark and two oil lamps swing gently on their gimbals as the vessel moves slightly against the wharf side. The light from the lamps casts a glow on a blindfolded woman hanging by her wrists from one of the solid oak beams that stretch across the cabin. Her legs are tied at the ankles. Tears trickle down from under the stained white blindfold as she feebly struggles against her bindings.

Her soft sobs are slightly drowned out by the  noise of the rigging slapping in the gentle breeze and the plaintive sounds of a distant violin playing a  mournful tune.

The main cabin door suddenly opens and three men enter. Two of them are dusky skinned and wearing tightly wound turbans and long cloaks; the third man is shabbily dressed in an over-sized frock coat and striped silk breeches. His silver buckled shoes are missing a buckle.

Casually they approach their captive and slowly walk around her. The woman is aware of their presence and still sobbing quietly she slumps a little in her bindings.

The taller of the turbaned men moves a little closer to her and sniffs the air.

“Is she clean?”

The man in the striped breeches gives a little snort.

“Fresh from the tub. Gave her a little scrub meself…… just to make sure she was absolutely in prime condition, of course!”

Without saying anything further, the taller man slips a long bladed dagger from the folds of his cloak and moves closer to the woman who is now visibly shivering with fright. As he nears, he pulls at a slender metal chain that hangs from her neck.  At the end of it is a little silver crucifix.  With one swift tug the chain breaks and he throws it into a corner.

“You won’t need that where you are going.”

Carefully inserting the blade in the cuff of her thick grey woollen dress, he swiftly slashes the sleeve open. The woman whimpers and sags a little more. The other sleeve is cut open the same way.

The other two men take a little step back as the blade is slipped under the high collar of her dress.  With one swift downward stroke the dress slides off and falls in a pile at the woman’s feet.

Now completely bare and bursting into loud sobs, she tries to hide her nakedness by twisting to one side as much as she can.

All three men take their time in looking at her as she tries to move her slim and full breasted body away from their gaze.

“What do you think then?”

 “One or two minor imperfections, but she will suit the  purpose.”

The tall man takes a breast in one hand, squeezing and fondling it. This brings more desperate sobs from the woman.

“How old?”

“The vendor says twenty years, and a virgin.”

“The price is fixed.” The tall man hesitates a moment and asks,  “Any connections?”

“None.  Abandoned as a child.”

“Good, now leave me alone.  There are some things I must do.”

Without a word, the two other men move across to the door and step outside into the passage way.

Closing the door behind them, the small man addresses the man with the turban.

“What is he doing?”

The man merely looks at him but makes no attempt to answer.

The sound of the violin is louder out in the passage way but it is not loud enough to cover the short scream that comes from the Captain’s cabin.

A few moments later the tall man steps out, closing the door behind him. He wipes his hands on a silken cloth which he then drops on the floor .

As he walks past the two men, he says to his companion, “Pay him.”  Then rapidly adds, “We need more like that one; same price.”

    The little man almost stammers in his excitement.

“That will not be a problem, Excellency. There is an endless supply.”

“Good. Now get off the vessel.  We sail on the turn of the tide. I will contact you when we return.” 

He steps back into the cabin while the other turbaned man pulls a large leather bag from a corner and opens it.

There is a clinking of glass as the trader reaches in to examine the contents.

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