Chapter Six
Cowboy and Liada used a hammer and chisel to remove wrist and ankle shackles from the oar slaves. It was a slow job, because the iron bracelets had been tightly secured with metal studs, apparently meant to be permanently attached to the men.
They worked under an awning on the stern of the Palatine. A large oak beam served as a workbench.
The fifth slave to place his chained wrists on the block was the big slave Apache and Kady had pulled from the water.
He turned his shackle to the side and spoke a few words.
“Sorry, dude,” Cowboy said, “But I don’t understand your language.”
The man smiled and nodded as Liada held his wrist steady.
Cateri brought a bucket of fresh water and cups to refresh the slaves waiting in the hot sun to go under the hammer and chisel.
When she h
