All day she sat in the hold, sweat pouring from her body, her hair a tangled mess and her thirst became a nagging need, which she forced from her mind.... As evening descended her stomach rumbled and growled in protest, and her thirst grew, still she pushed thoughts of quenching water and mouthwatering food from her mind. She had napped throughout the day in an effort to stay awake the night, to fight off the rats that she knew would come. Just as she had known, with darkness the scurrying got. The walk was painful of course but my face must have been burning as I entered the brightly lit shop, all eyes swivelled to see the incomer as I placed my order with the greasy little man who was serving. There were only two waiting, a woman tall and grey who looked at me with distaste paid and silently left, and a young man who was well full of drink, not drunk but not sober either. He obviously was not put off by my collar or cuffs his eyes following my contours down to my legs and the cuffs. Her death should have allowed him to achieve some sense of closure, but he couldn't.Jamie's mind drifted to what else he had to do today before he was finished. There was another distasteful duty to perform and he knew he had to gather himself, steel his nerve and shake of the doubts and self pity he was experiencing."You've done nothing to be ashamed of son, you're doing what has to be done and mom and I are proud of you for showing you have the courage to see it through. Take comfort from. “ Wooooosh ……Cracccccckkkkk” “ Wooooosh ……Cracccccckkkkk” “ Wooooosh ……Cracccccckkkkk” “Now sit down and let me finish Sam off I believe we have 5 more to inflict” ‘Yes Sir’ Sam bent over the end of the bed and I delivered the last 5 strokes, I did soften up a little but I still caned her, “ Wooooosh ……Cracccccckkkkk” “ Wooooosh ……Cracccccckkkkk” “ Wooooosh ……Cracccccckkkkk” “ Wooooosh ……Cracccccckkkkk” “ Wooooosh ……Cracccccckkkkk” “Thank you Anne, you may leave now, Sam.