Chapter 2
Today I have been dreadfully busy. I will tell what I have done, and if there is time, write about Pi-Lippa. Today is her brother's birthday, and she has been intent on giving him an extravagant celebration. Of course, the extravagance is up to the slaves to accomplish, only up to her to plan. The very first thing this morning I awoke to the vibrating on my slave transmitter, something that I shouldn't mention as extraordinary, since through it my current master or mistress has controlled my waking or sleeping and tracked my exact whereabouts since I was six years old. But anyhow, I was the first to rise, as one of the lowest of the household slaves. I am still getting used to my degraded status. I still do not know why I was demoted from being a house servant and given only cleaning duties now, but I suppose I will never know. I am a slave.
And "only cleaning duties" is not what is sounds like. It is certainly less taxing on the mind than being constantly at t everyone's beck and call, looking as smart as possible and behaving as dutifully as you can, but it is far more taxing on the body. I have never been beautiful to look upon, but was just thinking that if I ever had any beauty it has faded prematurely due to these last few months of labor when a voice behind me made me start. It was my master.
"Up so early, Shmi?" he said, looking down the great trailing waterfall of the festive garment that he wore.
"A busy day ahead, sir," I murmured, beginning to go back to my work of rubbing doma wax on every inch of the polished floor, which I hoped to have accomplished before too many feet were up and about and in my way.
"Stand up, girl." My heart skipped a beat. What had I done now? Slowly, I rose and stood, my head respectfully bowed, but figure erect and straight. He saw this. My master does not like his slaves to have any self worth whatsoever. I do not have much, but I can be proud. It is all I have.
"Feeling abused, are we?" he said, beginning to walk a circle around me, a disturbing habit intimidating men get into when around vulnerable women, I have noticed. I hurried to assure him I was not vulnerable.
"Not at all sir, not abused. Confused."
"Confused?" His face creased in surprised at my witticism. It was risky, but I was willing to take my chances.
"Yes, sir, as to why your valuable slaves wax your floors while the ungroomed uneducated ones serve you personally."
He grabbed my arm, and I winced, not from the pain, but because I knew that if any of my fellow slaves overheard that remark I would regret it for months.
"And you are better groomed?" He was so close to me I could smell the eos-thi that he used for perfume, and it gagged me. "Let's see about that..." He began to unfasten my hair, which I normally kept braided back out of my way. Making advances upon slaves was not at all uncommon, but I held my peace, wondering if I should wait for the real affront to begin, or if this was the real affront. Waiting to do what? What could I do?
Fortunately, just then, my mistress hurried by, and her sharp eyes caught sight of me with my hair unfastened – at least, that was the offense she brought before me.
"Shmi!" She exclaimed. "What do you think you are doing? That is for the floors, not beauty treatments. And such a day to misbehave!"
My master jerked the final cross over out of my hair, releasing it freely over my back, and stalked off, calling,
"You had better inspect her for cleanliness. She struck me as a little dusty." I wondered if this was some sort of underhanded insult or pun on the word in their language, but swallowed my pride and dropped to my knees, tossing my hair back over my shoulder, and beginning to hurriedly pass the doma back and forth between my hands along the floor. I half hoped that Pi-Lippa would ask me what had happened, but the other half of me was glad when I heard her feet take her back to her chambers. The rest of the day passed in a blur – we were so busy, but I think the brother (I never did find out which one he was among the guests) had a good birthday. I certainly hope so. I was up long into the night cleaning up afterwards. Now I really must stop, or it will be morning and I will have had no sleep. I am to go to speak with Pi-Lippa first thing in the morning. I wonder if it is good or bad.
