12
“It’s nearly time,” said one of the male slaves behind her, pointing up to the sun.
The group she stood with stank, of sweat, piss and fear. There were ten of them, nine adult men, and her. Some mumbled prayers, some stared silently at the pit of hot coals and others wrung their hands or fidgeted with their wrist cuffs.
A bell rung, and the holy men tending the meat started to pull it all off the grill and carry it through to the kitchen. The succulent smell made Jakira’s stomach rumble. She was ravenous, she hadn’t eaten much at breakfast and she wouldn’t be eating for many hours. I should’ve brought food and water with me.
The grill was carefully removed and the coals in the pit raked flat. Holy men swarmed from the lounge area door and positioned themselves on the cushions. A
