The Idea
Goab made haste to the ship as time was running out and the ropes securing the vessel were being untied. He ran up the gang plank just as it was about to be withdrawn. “Just in time” remarked the captain, “sorry” responded, Goab, “but there is nothing quite like a good crucifixion and besides It has given me an idea.” The captain could see that there was excitement in his eyes. “Let's get under way and then we can discuss your so called idea, give the order the strike orders.”
The huge galley slid out of the port to the grunt and groans and occasional whip lash on the bare backs of the slaves as they toiled at their oars. Liva and Mila were being rested and huddled together in the holding cell. It was not unusual for talk of escape to be circulated amongst the slaves but they were very careful as to be caught meant certain death but even this was better than the misery they all endured. Once into open water Goab made his way to the captains quarters. “Well” said the capatin “what is this idea of yours?” Goab explained, in detail, the manner of the crucifixion he had just witnessed. He explained that three upright posts were already in place surrounded by a wooden frame for hoisting up the victims. The idea he had was to make a similar frame, at the front of the galley, with maybe two or three posts. He intended to have at least one of these constantly occupied by a crucified slave, either simply tied or fixed with nails. This would keep the slaves in line and would also save damaging the mast with the constant intrusion of nails. The captain seemed interested and gave the order to start the construction after the next port of visit.
Three days later
The Black Eagle was now heading back home, having replenished supplies and purchasing more slaves. All through the day and night the sounding of hammering could be heard above the splashing of the oars and the beating drum. Another day was dawning and the order was given for the slaves to cease rowing and were herded up on deck. As they shuffled in their chains they got their first sight of the monstrous construction at the front of the ship. A large frame with two posts in the centre, and hoisting ropes running through a pulley system, greeted them. Two large beams rested against the frame along with a stout short handled hammer and a box of crude spikes. The slaves cowered together and some began sobbing and holding each other. Livia and Mila shook in fear at the sight of the torture instrument.
The captain stood large and proud in front of them. “You are all prisoners of this ship and you row to serve this vessel and stay alive. If you row well we will feed and water you and you will live,” he continued. “If you give us trouble this is where you will end up,it is your choice and now I think we will need some examples.” He gestured to Goab who came forward with a bucket which was filled with tokens. Goab made each slave to take a token from the bucket, two of which would be black in colour. There were groans and murmurs amongst the slaves and then screams as the two black tokens were picked, the two unfortunates were male and female. The female was quite plump and maybe in her thirties whereas the male was woefully thin and would not last as long. The two slaves were unshackled from the others and dragged forward to the crucifixion frame. Both were pleading to be spared the pain of a full nailing crucifixion but as Goab stepped forward and grabbed his hammer all hope faded. “Let the male go first” commanded the captain “ I want her” and he pointed to the shaking female, “to see what she will have to face.” The man was quickly bound to his beam and Goab, with expert efficiency, drove the spikes into the quivering wrists. The man howled his lungs off and threw up all over the deck, much to the disgust of the captain. With the wrists firmly fixed the hoisting ropes were pulled into action and the thrashing slaves feet left the deck for the very last time. “Let him hang for a while before his feet are nailed” ordered the captain “Nail her up.”
The female was held in firm hands as her arms are roped to the beam. Her large breasts flopped from side to side as she too thrashed and strained against her crucifiers. Goab had other ideas, “let's give her a flogging first”he suggested, “good idea” replied the captain. Goab knelt down at the writhing body and sneered, “a flogging for you before we nail you up, aren't you lucky as this will shorten your time on the nails.” With a signal of his hand the gyrating slave was yanked into the air and up the post. “That will do” yelled Goab, “don't want her too high for the caress of my whip, her breasts and cunt need plenty of attention. When the soldiers had finished tying off the beam Goab stepped back to take careful aim. “Swish” the whip made its way through the air and contacted with the belly of the slave which provoked a high pitched yelp of pain. The first blood was drawn and more followed quickly as blow after blow rained down on the swinging slave. Goab paid plenty of attention to the swollen pussy lips and the pulsating breasts which caused more groans from the agonised slave. Goab put his whip down and ordered the bloodied slave to be lowered. Once on the deck Goab went to work driving the rusty nails into the delicate wrists. More shrieks from the slave and then, as the beam was hoisted, she fainted.
Now both slaves were hanging by their nailed wrists, tongues hanging out and eyes bulging. Goab sifted through his bag of nails and produced two long spikes eight inches in length and honed to a very sharp point. He gestured to a soldier to seize the man's legs and hold them to the side of the stake. He positioned the spike just below the ankle bone and drew his hammer back, swinging his arm in a wide arc and drove the enormous spike clean through and into the timber with one strike. The slave lost his mind and with it his bodily fluids. Two more blows and the slave was fully crucified for all to see. Goab turned and walked up to the terrified female, he stroked her leg and held her foot in his hands. For a slave she had really pretty feet, well looked after, she had obviously once belonged to a wealthy owner at some point who cared for her. What turn of fate had led her to this, he thought, as he had her feet positioned to the side of the upright ready to receive the spike. “Thwak” the nail was driven cleanly and expertly followed by two more equally well aimed hits. A small trickle of blood ran down and dripped from her twitching toes. Both slaves were babbling in their native tongues and would hang until they expired, which Goab would make sure was long and protracted. The slaves were herded back down to their oars with the screams of the newly crucified ringing in their ears.
To be continued.......