Prison Games

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Alice's eyes teared up. "Aye lass, ol' Alice had a man such as that once. Surprised, are ya? Tis true and 'e be a good bloke ta me. Died, 'e did, and then I had to go to the streets. Yer man seems to be of a kind heart, handin' out food to us an' all."

Sophia didn't push for any information about Alice's past life. She simply held the older woman's hand.

Time seemed more peaceful since the men and women were separated. The threat of violence was gone until a new prisoner was brought in. Bess was a large woman with a loud voice to match. It was obvious she wanted to rule the cell. Threats and coarse language were her weapons. They worked on just about everyone...except Alice.

There was tension in the air almost as soon as Bess came into the cell. She warned the others not to cross her. "Me name 'tis Bess, an' I be in gaols afore. I eat first, and if I want a spot, then I get it. Ya 'ear me? Don't be crossin' me, or it be bad fer yas." Without warning, she kicked a woman out of her spor as if to emphasize her words. The weren't sure how to react. Some moved further away from her, but Alice just let out a "hmmph!"

Room was given to the woman until she pushed Sophia out of pure meanness two days later. "Git away with ya, or ya hit the floor!" Bess yelled, making Sophia jump.

her speed and agility, Without any noise, she grabbed a hold of the woman's hair. Alice was on her feet in a split second. Everyone stood with their mouths gaped at Before the woman could even react, Alice spun her around and kicked hard. Bess was knocked against the wall. Alice grabbed her again, pushing her against the opposite wall. Just as the woman turned to defend herself, Alice slapped her. The sound of it "Want some more, tart?" Alice yelled. She braced herself for the counterattack. echoed through the cell.

After hearing the fight start, the turnkey watched through the gate, clearly enjoying himself immensely. Fights, especially between women, were a rare treat. It added excitement to an otherwise boring day.

Sophia couldn't believe her eyes or ears. Alice had changed into another person. The sweet, caring person she knew was gone, replaced with a wild woman. Her hair, what she had of it, looked like it was standing on end. Her face was distorted. The snarl that came from her sounded inhuman.

Once the surprise of the attack wore off, Bess lunged at Alice. The two women rolled on the ground. Hay, dust, and the other women scattered everywhere. It looked like Alice was going to be bested until Sophia jumped in to help. Now three women were rolling, and what a sight it was. Five of the other women jumped on Bess as well. Before too long she was subdued and pinned to the ground. Alice got up, spitting and sputtering hay from her mouth. She spun around, looking for her opponent. After completing a couple of turns punching air, she finally stopped. It took several seconds before she realized Bess was down with the others on top of her.

"That a way! Git 'er good! Let 'er 'ave it, lasses!" Alice yelled in excitement and anger.

"Git off me, ya bloody lout!" Bess yelled. "Tis a sorry lot ye be if n yas don't let me

up!" The women held her down. Sophia was able to stand once the other women had a good hold. "Nay, you will stay there until you cool down," was Sophia's reply.

Alice had to get in her two words. "Ya be bullyin' us since ya got 'ere. I be sick of it, and so be the others, it would seem. Ya want to be wearin' yer face on yer backside, keep it up, ya ol' hag!" Alice emphasized her words by pushing her bosoms up.

Sophia was a little calmer. "Alice is right. We won't have you pushing us around any longer. You will wait your turn like the rest of us when the food comes, and no more pushing anyone out of their spot at night. If you start acting like a human being, we will let you up. Don't think of getting up to start more trouble. Do you understand?"

Bess glared but agreed. The women slowly let her stand. She swayed, having to

brace herself against the wall. After catching her breath, she simply sat down. The other

women sat down as well, keeping a keen eye on Bess.

Sophia turned to Alice. "I've never been in a fight before. Are you all right?"

"I be fine and dandy. "Tis been a long time since I ripped some 'air out! Good thin' she 'ad 'air to rip out. I be glad me 'ead be shaved so she cannot grab any of mine. Does the blood good fer sure, to ruckus." Alice laughed.

Sophia smiled, shaking her head in response. There was only one like Alice. She seemed more like a child at times than a middle-aged woman.

Soon the women calmed down. Everyone was exhausted from all the excitement. except for the gaoler. He seemed disappointed it had ended so quickly. The gleam in his eye revealed he hoped it wouldn't be long until the next bout.

Weeks passed, and the women thought they would go mad with boredom. They made up games to occupy themselves or exchanged stories. They came to know each other better. Even Bess participated. Excitement swept through when word came down that they may be given jobs again. It would be an easier time if they had something to do.

By now, Sophia sported a hairstyle resembling a boy. Alice challenged Sophia by betting whose hair would grow the fastest. Alice was losing, for her head was still covered more in gray fuzz than hair. "I earned all those gray 'airs, every one," Alice boasted. She then proceeded to run a broken old comb over her head, pretending it was caught in a snarl. Everyone laughed. Sophia was proud of Alice. In all the time they suffered hardships, she never complained. Well, she did complain about one thing the fact that Bess was a friend now, ending the possibility of another good fight.

All Red thought about was Sophia and all the things he wanted to talk to her about. He worried about her, too. Hopefully she would fare well. He prayed for her every time he thought of her. She seemed a dainty creature compared to some of the other women, but he knew he needed to trust in God for her safety. Since God had given her to him, He surely wouldn't take her away from him now. What a great comfort to know he could rest in the Lord.

The men were in a cleaner cell, but boredom lay heavy. Most of their ponderings turned toward sailing out. When would they leave? How long was the voyage? Would they be able to work land for themselves once they were there, or would they be used strictly for slave labor? If that was the case, why would they need wives? There were so many questions and no answers.

Again Red took comfort, knowing the Lord had the answers. He would direct their paths, and all would work out. Red had no qualms about going to Botany Bay; it was only the getting there that concerned him. He might not get land right away, but it sounded like hard work could earn him some land later on. He didn't care where the land was as long as it would be his to hand down to his children.

Children. What a strange thought. Just a few days ago he was alone in the world, except for the Lord, and now he had a wife. He'd never reflected on marriage much. He just figured he would meet someone someday, fall in love, and that would be it.

Weeks passed, and a few new men arrived in the cell. They were fair fellows, fitting experiences. The experience that seemed to interest everyone the most concerned the in as best as anyone could. One of the men was a talker and openly shared his "I was there fer 'bout three months, be my guess," he began. "Foulest place I e'er be prison ships in the harbor.

in, rats crawlin' all over. Lice nearly eat ya alive." With that statement the others stepped back. "This place we be in now is a heap better. Why, they had small boys chained with the foulest of men. Women cried mournfully, some with wee ones to boot. Cells are in the dank belly of the ships, weavin' back and forth 'til a man empties his belly. Only clean air was up top. If the weather be foul, then we be left chained and locked below."

"How did ya e'er get out of it?" ask one man.

"Seems one of my ol' cronies be up fer 'is trial soon.

Needs me as a witness, so I be

brought back to shore. Thank Alice, Mother of God." This was just one of the many fears the men in the gaols had to face day in and day out. At any given time they could be brought to one of the prison hulks. It was no secret the gaols were bursting at the seams.

As bad as Newgate was, it wasn't the worst. Not like Kirkdale, where gaol fever ran rampant. If that wasn't bad enough, it wasn't unusual for cat-o-nine tails to be laid to the back. As long as you minded your own business, chances were someone else would get it. Stories were told how some of the young boys had to give the men their food for protection. At Kirkdale you had a good chance of going out in a coffin. Other prisoners said, "Newgate 'tis closer to heaven, while Kirkdale shimmies up to hell."

Red couldn't imagine how bad it had to be to consider this place closer to heaven. He prayed he would never need to find out.

The men asked the talker if he had heard about sailing out or what it was like in the

new land.

"Only that if a body goes ter the new land, you don't 'ear of him no more. Seems they don't come back...ever. Don't know what be worse, the goin' or the stayin"." The men all agreed on that. Finally they all settled in for the night. Snores, loud

and soft, could be heard throughout the cell.

Red prayed well into the night, thanking God for His protection. Soon he slept, dreaming of his bride. He saw her sailing off without him. She was crying and trying to jump ship, but men held her back. Red wanted to swim to her, but he couldn't move. He fought to go to her. When he woke, he felt exhausted. When would he see Sophia again? Had something happened to her? Why would he dream something like that? He had to remind himself to trust in the Lord.

As the days wore on, the uneasiness that settled around him wouldn't leave, no matter how he prayed. He felt he would go crazy unless he heard something of his wife, but he had no way to contact her. That was the true torture, the not knowing.

ome with me," was all Sophia was told. She'd never been led out of the cell C by herself and felt nervous about it. Grabbing her scarf, she looked back at Alice as she went out the door.