When I was just toddling about, calamity struck when a new maid spit in Turk's face.
I'm not sure what happened exactly after that because when I'd turned to look, to see his reaction, Carla had grabbed me by the hair, hissing, "Head down." And we'd stood there motionlessly, frozen in a bow, as the woman cried out for help.
When the screaming turned to gargled whines, the beating came to an end.
It was Beatrice who left the line first to help after Turk had gone and Carla who had grabbed my shoulders, hustling me to the hall's door, insistent that I go back to my bunk and wait quietly for her arrival. I'd tried to see what had happened to the woman, whether she was still alive, but Carla had pushed the door shut without allowing even a peek, hissing, "Go. Now."
I had gone, walking w
