A Cruel Passing of Innocence Read Online Free Page A

speech was not the same as Nassara’s, her village had been less than a full day’s ride away, and both girls drew comfort from one another, glad of each other’s company in their mutual misery.
    Like Nassara, her father had brought Belithza here. She had awoken as usual on a normal day, having had no warning or sign of her fate to come. Then, unsuspecting and with joyful excitement in her heart at the prospect of going on a journey, she was delivered. She cried, first with disbelief, then with fear and anger, watching her father ride off, his pouch of gold safely stashed away. He too had never turned again in the saddle, not even when she yelled the name she had called him ever since that first time her child’s lips formed the word. Every so often Belithza would break down in bitter tears at the thought of her cruel betrayal. The two girls tried to make sense of it, shaking their heads with incomprehension. Resentment burned deep within each of them at that intolerable image of their fathers taking that miserable pouch of gold.
    The fierce leader was mounted again on his white horse. Animal and man stood aloof, watching the proceedings of lesser mortals. In a while some beasts of the desert whose name Nassara did not know – lumbering, ugly animals with sour faces – were led into the centre of the camp by the same youths who’d been the water carriers.
    Three of the bad tempered beasts were led towards the girls, and made to get down on their haunches in the sand. The whip-men gestured for the fearful captives to approach, and Nassara realised they were to ride these strange beasts. She was used to animals, having no fear for them, but one or two of the other girls were clearly afraid, but whether of the beasts themselves or of the journey ahead, she was unsure.
    Belithza was next to her, and on Nassara’s other side was the girl whose skin was almost ebony-black, and from the men’s impatient gesturing it was clear that the threesome were to mount the same beast.
    Holding its ugly head by a rein was the smirking youth who had obscenely licked Nassara’s nipple. Now again he ogled her, clearly amused at having her at close quarters once again. Grinning, he tapped his stick against the sheepskin cover of the hard leather saddle, indicating for Belithza to get up upon it. The girl, wincing, mustering what dignity she could in her nakedness, cautiously mounted. Sitting astride the beast as erect as she could, her hands gripping the high wooden pommel in front of her, her thighs spread wide across its broad back, the animal snorting and stirring beneath her.
    Now it was Nassara’s turn, and the youth moved to help her, his eyes again devouring her breasts. But Nassara was too quick for him, climbing up briskly behind Belithza. The youth sniggered, turning his attention to the waiting black girl. His face set in a mocking expression he stared at her breasts, watching their quivering movement intently as she climbed up and manoeuvred herself behind Nassara. Now all three girls, with Nassara wedged between the other two, perched awkwardly on the saddle, waiting for the beast to be made to rise.
    There was a flurry of commands and activity around them. The other girls had been quickly mounted on the two remaining beasts behind. Nassara heard the plaintive groans of one of the girls, wondering what agony was in store for her on the ride ahead. The youth hissed at the animal and tapped its rear flank with the stick, smirking, as if anticipating the onset of fresh delight.
    The back legs and haunches of the beast immediately rose up steeply, and the three unsuspecting girls instantly rolled forward, thrown against each other, compressed together against the high pommel of the saddle. The youth chuckled, happy with his trick. He hissed again, clucking at the beast, tapping its front legs, and it lurched to its feet, snorting, this time rocking its human load backward in the saddle.
    The sun