Jade stared in horror at the spreading puddle of white rum that covered the flagstone floor. She was already feeling light headed from lack of oxygen and now this barbarian wanted her to lap up the alcohol like some dog at his feet. Tossing her head back, she glared at him and crossed her arms to signal noncompliance to his asinine demands.<br/><br/>The rough men around her were laughing and jeering at her and the other serving girls were frozen in place. Two of them with the golden chains around their ankles closed in on her, hissing at her to obey. Jade shook her head, stubbornly glaring at the pirate governor.  Before the man could rise from his dais, a sharp blow to the back of her knees sent her sprawling.<br/><br/>Jade lay prone in the puddle of rum and the front of her thin blouse immediately soaked through. The men’s laughter became a raucous roar and the voice of the Iron Face barked,<br/><br/>“When the Master speaks, we obeys. The Master holds life and death and if you knows what is good for you, you will choose life. Now, do what he tells you.”<br/><br/>Jade lifted the upper part of her body from the floor to see the stern face of the Duala and her pudgy finger pointing to the floor. When she pushed herself up further, a booted foot came down hard on her shoulder, holding her in place. She heard the women around her gasp  and one of them begging her to obey. The ringing of a sword leaving a sheath clamored in her ears and suddenly Iron Face spat,<br/><br/>“Didn’t I try to tell you?” and Jade heard her walk briskly away.<br/><br/>A hush fell over the crowd, except the voices of some men close by saying,<br/><br/>“I will wager a gold doubloon she won’t obey.”<br/><br/>And another,<br/><br/>“I will double  that when she does.”