Jahl lives with his people, the Hamica, in the jungles of a nameless world. They live at one with nature. It’s a simple existence, centred around family and community. One day all this is snatched away when Jahl is captured by slavers. But he’s a proud man from a proud people, and he never shows his fright or anxiety, despite what he feels inside. They take him through the jungle, through swampland and farmland, to a town that has seen many like him come before. In a strange, wooden building in the middle of the town square, Jahl is put into a harness, naked and spread-eagle for all who have gathered there to see. It’s humiliating and degrading, especially when the bidding starts. For the first time, Jahl is truly frightened. Who will purchase him? And for what purpose?

Goodbye to the Jungle

This pleased Amar, who smiled. “All right. Get him up.”


Two men grabbed Jahl and held him tight, while a third man untied the ropes that bound him. Two more men retrieved a pair of large leather cuffs from the wooden chest, along with ropes with metal clips on either end. They passed the ropes to other men, who connected them to the poles, while they themselves pulled the leather cuffs over each of Jahl’s feet, tugging them up and over his knees.


Meanwhile, a leather harness had been installed at the centre of the frame. Some men tilted Jahl backward and secured him into the harness, while others attached clips to small rings in the leather cuffs over his knees. The finished result left Jahl hanging in the centre of the frame, his legs held open and spread wide, exposing him in a most humiliating fashion. As a finishing touch, unseen hands tied his wrists together beneath the harness.


Chapter 6