Going Nowhere - 3

I returned home a couple of hours later. When I closed the door, I could hear a faint rattle from the chain in her cell, but nothing else. I went to the kitchen and unpacked my bags and stored away the food I have bought. I left one bag on the table unpacked. The bag was heavy and rattled when I pushed it aside.

From the cupboard, I took a bowl, a glass and one plastic mug with a lid and drinking straw. On my way home, I had picked up a box with take-away dinner and I moved over to the bowl and put it into the microwave oven. While I waited for the dinner to heat up, I filled the mug with water and then picked up a bottle of beer from the fridge.

I went to the cell and pulled away the curtain. She was kneeling nicely with her head lowered, hands still tied behind her back. I looked around and noticed that the water bowl was empty and that there was no trace whatsoever of the apple I had given her.

"Pick up the bowl and get out, slave." I pointed to a spot right before the entrance of the cell.

"Yes master."

She crawled over to the bowl and grabbed it between her teeth and then kneeled right where I had shown her to sit. I unlocked the ankle cuff and pushed the chain back into the cell.

"Get up and follow me."

She couldn't reply as she still held the bowl locked between her teeth, but she nodded and struggled to her feet and followed me to the kitchen. Without me saying anything, she knelt beside the table. I took the bowl from her and put it on the sink.

Then I took the hot bowl from the microwave and placed it together with a glass and the bottle of beer on a tray. I placed the plastic mug in her hands, still tied behind her back. She took it and held it in a firm grip.

"Follow me, slave."

"Yes master."

I went to my backyard and put down the trey on a small table. I took the mug from her, placed it on the table, and sat down. With a gesture I showed her to kneel before me. I poured the beer and tasted it. She followed the glass with big eyes.

"Is slave girl thirsty?"

"Yes master."

I took the plastic mug and held it before her, but when she tried to reach for the straw with her lips I pulled it a way.

"Did I say you could drink, slave girl?"

"No master. I'm sorry master."

"Who is this "I", slave girl?"

"Slave girl is sorry master. Slave girl must wait for master to tell her to drink." She lowered her eyes and shrunk.

"That's right. Slave girl should wait for permission to drink."

To make the message sink in, I put the mug back on the table and took another sip on my beer before turning my attention to the dinner. I started to eat and again, I noticed her eyes following every move I made.

"Is slave girl hungry?"

"Yes, master."

With the fork, I picked up some fried vegetables and held it before her. She looked intensely on the fork but didn't move. She had learned the lesson.

"Go ahead and take it."

"Thank you master."

I smiled to myself as I watched her chew on the vegetable I had given her. Then I offered her the mug again.

"Drink, slave girl."

"Thank you master."

She was learning. Without talking, I dined. It was a lovely evening and as we sat there the sky turned dark and the stars came out. The air was warm and rich with the scent from the flowers in the gardens.

On regular basis, I offered her a bite from the bowl, or a sip of water from the mug. Though she was hungry, she was careful not to give me any excuse to deny her what I was offering her. She was indeed learning.

When I had eaten what I wanted, I put the bowl and the mug on the ground before her.

"Finish it, slave." She looked at me, puzzled.

"What's the problem girl?"

She made a small move as she pulled on the ropes that held her hands behind her back.

"My hands, master. She looked up at me."

"A slave doesn't need her hands to eat."

She lowered her eyes.

"No, master, thank you master."

She bent down and started to eat and drink. When she was finished, she sat up again. The bowl was as clean as if it had been washed but her face was a mess. I finished the beer and then I picked up the bowl and the mug and put it all back on the trey.

"Stay here."

"Yes master."

I took the tray and went inside. I was aware that she was unchained and alone in the backyard. If she wanted to run, this should be a good opportunity to make a try.

I put down the tray on the sink and then I fetched a towel from the bathroom. I soaked a corner of it and I went back out to her.

She hadn't moved and I was pleased. She had passed my test.

"Show me your face, slave girl."

She turned up her face to me and without any further remarks I cleaned her up. She thanked me when I was done, and I gave her a smile and a pat on her head. She was coming along just fine.

"Stand up and turn around." She did and I untied her hands.

"Now listen. Go to the kitchen and wash the bowl and the glass. Then I want to have a bath. Fill up the tub and be prepared to serve me. Let me know when it is ready."

While I was instructing her, she moved her arms and shoulders a little. It was well known by slav owners that having their property tied like this for hours could easily put a lot of strain on muscles and joints. Thought not every owner cared about it.

"Yes master." She hesitated as if she was unsure if she had permission to leave, so I made a sign with my hand, and she dashed off.