<strong>Throckbottle ~ the nightmare begins</strong><br/><br/>The slaves huddling in the corner were watching as the two gained their feet and slipped past the trainer with the bagpipe bag plaster on his face.   His eyes focused on the pastel painted wall to calm down.<br/><br/>There always had to be a first one. She was the bravest because she came dancing on bare feet to slip quietly past Throckbottle as she stepped on the door and fled.<br/><br/>Humphrey had never. He gulped air from the bag. He was an Artisteest. Artisteests aren't treated like this. Another quick gulp. That gorilla had to be dealt with. Three gulps and a choked whimper.<br/><br/>From the corner of the room eyes were fixed on Throckbottle's back. Then there was a wave. Each time his shoulders rose up for a breath the group surged forward.  As those shoulders came down again they froze in awkward positions in a dangerous game of red light green light. The last obstacle. They hurdled the door and leaped quietly thru the exit.<br/><br/>This was unheard of. Two gulps.  He could have been killed. A gulp and a wheeze from the bag. Someone must see to the door. Someone, maintenance must see that it was replaced. He couldn't teach under these conditions. He'd simply speak to Mr. Tsade...<br/><br/>Evie and Madison were up ahead but not for long. The herd of fleeing dancing slaves ran around and thru the two plotters like a great rush of water spilling past and heading for the only exit door and stairwell they knew about because it went down to the parking garage.<br/><br/>Throckbottle turned around. He stare in disbelieve. Sweat broke out like freckles across his fore head. The room was empty.  The room which had only moments earlier contained 16 female slave was empty except for the door, stool and Humphrey. The bag expanding and contracting in time to his racing heart beat.<br/><br/>All thoughts of contacting Tsade vanished. There was simply no way to explain this. He peeked under the door just in case as a knot in his stomach grew into something like an ulcer and a bad case of swine flu as he thought about standing in front of Mr. Tsade and explaining this.<br/><br/>"Oh god."<br/>