Staying silent, Jamirr obediently moved into the corridor and walked in the direction the other man indicated. Darryl stayed three steps behind him and Jamirr had seen the controller at his belt. He wore a thin golden bracelet on his wrist replacing the heavy iron manacle from the market and if he did anything Darryl took amiss, the bracelet could deliver a painful, paralyzing charge. He had no intention of rebelling or at least not yet. So far he’d not been given a reason to fight his new captors and he knew from sad experience there was no escape for him from this planet, even if he could get out of the compound.
He’d managed to escape once, early in his captivity, but there was nowhere to run or hide, and no help for an escaped slave. He’d blocked the resulting punishment from his mind, letting the memories recede into the general cloud in which he lived, but the pain had been incapacitating. That was the other thing about him though—he recovered rapidly from any injury, even broken bones. A fact he tried to hide as best he could.
They left the servants and slaves wing and moved into the house itself, which was airy and full of light. Art adorned the walls and there were statues here and there. An entire wall was devoted to a display of the mistress’s trophies and championship crowns and belts. She was quite the consummate gladiator apparently.
Samyra awaited them in a solarium, full of exotic plants. The air was perfumed by the various blooms and Tazur lolled on the floor next to her chair. Seeing Jamirr the cat emitted a raspy sound and got to her feet, coming to bump against his legs. He reached to scratch behind her ears and was rewarded with a purr that echoed in the room.
“You may go,” Samyra said to Darryl, who bowed and left. She studied Jamirr, who stood at attention despite the great cat begging for more affection. He stared over her head, focusing on a ten-legged spiderlike insect weaving a web in the midst of a dense cluster of spiky leaves. It was imperative he retain his self control for the coming conversation.
“You clean up well,” Samyra said at length.
He stayed silent. If she was waiting for him to thank her for the clothes, the food or the shower she’d wait forever.
“Why do you refuse to fight?” she asked, not at all disconcerted by his silence.
He debated with himself and finally lowered his eyes to study her face. “Because they, the previous masters, wanted me to. And my refusal was the only freedom I possess any more. I can’t be forced to train for the arena. I’d rather die than give in but unfortunately each time they saw more profit in selling me again than in putting me out of my misery. The afterlife has to wait it seems.” More words than he’d probably spoken in a year and he cautioned himself not to be vulnerable just because she was a beautiful woman.
“Pity. But I didn’t acquire you for the arena so we can move on from that discussion. I was struck by how Tazur took to you immediately earlier today. She doesn’t like people aside from me although she tolerates Darryl. I need an animal keeper for my collection and I think you’ll be ideal.”
Jamirr was relieved and a bit intrigued but he had a key question. “Do the animals fight?”
“No.” She acted surprised and appalled at the question. “There are gladiators on the circuit who fight with animals but I’m not one of them. Perhaps you’re not aware my arena name is the Beast Lady and I’m always seen in public with at least one, if not more of my pets. I can write them off on my taxes that way, if they’re part of my brand. You’ll be coming along as their handler.” Samyra smiled and he was stunned by the softening effect of the expression on her sculpted face. “In truth, rescuing exotic animals and giving them a good home in my private zoo here is my one and only indulgence. My hobby. Occasionally I’m asked to rehabilitate an animal so it can be returned to the wild. More often Customs impounds a shipment of illegal creatures and I’m given a chance to bid on them, along with a few other collectors.”
“I see.”
“It won’t be exciting work, just feeding the animals, cleaning cages, doing light training exercises with them—I have a few I take on public media appearances and they need to perform certain natural behaviors on cue for a food reward.” She looked him over. “You do realize by refusing to fight you’re forfeiting the chance to ever purchase your freedom? Being my zookeeper doesn’t pay but winning prize money in the arena puts credits in both our pockets.”
He had no answer which would satisfy her so he kept his silence. Eventually she waved him away impatiently. “All right, go find Darryl and he’ll give you a walkthrough of the zoo.”
Chapter Two
Jamirr found his tasks as a zookeeper oddly satisfying. The animals were obviously well cared for and responded positively to him. He was surprised, since he was an apex predator himself, even if he kept his fangs and claws hidden but for some reason the residents of Samyra’s zoo didn’t regard him as a threat. The first day Darryl accompanied him to show him all the various duties, which food went to which animals, how to clean the enclosures while the animals were in their holding pen or night enclosure, and more. It was a lot to remember and he had a headache by the end of the day but he’d been suffering headaches since he first awoke in a cage himself so he’d become inured to the pain.
To his surprise, the human offered him headclear before locking him into his room. “You look like a man with a migraine,” Darryl said, frowning. He rubbed his own forehead. “I see the stress lines.”
“No one ever gave me anything for the headache before,” Jamirr said, not sure he wanted to risk being injected with meds meant for humans.
“It’s a safe drug, no need to suffer. Samyra doesn’t allow anyone to suffer here if there’s a remedy.”
Darryl returned in about twenty minutes with the inject and Jamirr submitted, reasoning if it killed him then he was free in the Afterlife. Instead the headache cleared away like magic and he was able to eat the enormous dinner provided. As he was finishing the sweet dessert which had come on the tray, he was struck by a thought and laughed out loud. He was just like the animals in the damn zoo, wasn’t he? Treated better than he’d been treated anyplace else but not free, not able to exercise his right to choose…anything.
He made it through the second day on his own. There were a few fumbles on his part and the Rigellian sand devils got the kibble meant for the Aldebaran tree ferrets but both animals ate with every sign of enjoyment. There was a close call when one of the Polluxian night bear cubs got out as he was trying to encourage it into the holding pen but he was able to recapture it right before Darryl showed up to do a random check-in. He had to clean the Eridani hypotamaz pond, which was a disgusting six hour task which left him sweaty and filthy but he took a shower and put on a fresh uniform and was fine to go spend half an hour working with the adorable six eyed Spican snow kittens.
The third morning he discovered one of the unexpected benefits of his job. Samyra showed up at the crack of dawn to work beside him. He hadn’t ever seen her like this, in casual clothes, hair flowing loosely down her back, no makeup. She seemed younger and almost like a different person, not the cold gladiator. Side by side they fed the animals and Samyra held her favorites or petted them. She was fearless but it was obvious the animals had affection for her, or in the case of several large canines, respect.
She told him stories about funny things the animals had done in the past or anecdotes about their antics when different ones accompanied her on official business and he was captivated.
“I so rarely get time to do this,” she said as Jamirr closed the last enclosure and went to let the tantoreans out to roam. Both were juveniles but gigantic and extremely intelligent. “Simply existing among my animals and relaxing. You’re doing a good job, by the way. I liked how you handled Remmo and Bashir this morning. You have an instinct for this work.”
He’d shown her how well the Baradian dogs were doing at learning new tricks. “Thank you, mistress.”
The two large tantoreans came up to the fence, extending their trunks to Samyra and she fed them special nut treats and rubbed their foreheads as they nudged her playfully. Since each tantorean weighed at least a ton, Jamirr kept a close eye to ensure she was safe. He could intervene if either animal got aggressive toward her but neither exhibited any such tendencies. Eventually she dusted her hands off and showed the pair her empty palms, after which they wandered off to explore their pool at the other end of the enclosure. One waded in until he disappeared beneath the water and then sprayed the other with his trunk.
“Darryl thinks I’m crazy to spend so many credits on these creatures and their proper upkeep,” she said, leaning on the top bar of the fence. “He thinks I should acquire more gladiators and expand my House. But I need this—I need quiet time with my pets. It feeds my soul.” Straightening, she brushed dust off her skirt and turned away. “We’ll be going out on gladiator business tomorrow. You’ll be coming along to handle the animals while I’m busy meeting and greeting.” And she was gone, already morphing back into the emotionless woman he’d always seen before.
Jamirr stared after her, trying to reconcile the two versions of Samyra in his mind. She was much more complex than he’d imagined when she stood outside his cage at the market, debating whether to buy him. He much preferred this version but she had to be the other woman to afford the luxury of letting down her walls among the animals.
And him.
