Over a Barrel (for Adohiro)

[Aymer]

"Alright, git off, hurry yourselves up!"

The door of the wagon was flung open with blinding light, and a gruff man began roughly pulling the packed boys out into the open. Nearly a week ago, a military man had been sent around the countryside, looking for padding for the ranks of the French Navy. Volunteers were few; conscripts were the preferred method of recruitment. Now the boys that had been rounded up were unloaded in the royal navy portion of the dockyards of Brest. A man with a mean looking piece of leather eyed the boys, daring them to run. Screams in the distance told them what would happen if they tried.

The Bourbon was finishing up the loading of the supplies for its Atlantic crossing and eventual arrival in French Haiti. The ship was far from beautiful; function far outweighed form on her hull. A single soldier crossed the gangplank onto the deck, dragging a boy behind him and tossing him down. "New recruit, courtesy of the fields of Brittany. Try not to break another one."

Samuel, a young boy, winced when he felt the bright light hit his blue eyes. He stepped out, hearing screams as he saw one man holding a piece of leather. He then heard another speak and he was so confused on what was going on. He glared at the man and then bolted, trying to run!

[Aymer]

The soldier easily caught the boy by the shirt and flung back onto the deck. "Good luck with this one, Cap'n." The soldier left, and two sailors began pulling back the plank. A large man stepped over the boy, his shadow blocking the sun. "It seems you're eager for a date with strap, lad! Come on, get up off your arse and get down below. The quartermaster'll have somethin for ya to do."

He widened his eyes and he nodded. He got up and he headed downstairs which he soon found the quartermaster. He knocked on the door and entered, scared of what was to come.

[Aymer]

A burly man was busy rolling barrells across the wooden deck, but he stopped when Samuel entered. "You 'ere, cabin boy, get over and help me get these things tied down." He tossed a rope at the boy and pointed to a stack of barrells, barely visible in the dark, cramped deck

"N-No! I am not doing this!" HE said, refusing to help. He would not do anything at all!

[Aymer]

The man stopped his rolling and looked up at the boy. 'What in the Hell is the matter with ya'? Who the HelI do you think you are, refusin an order like that? I oughta beat your ass purple for,that." He returned his attention to the barrels. "Get going or youre not gonna be sittin for a long time, laddie!"

He glared at the man, still refusing. "No way, bastard!" He said. "Do it yourself! You wouldn't dare lay a hand on me!"

[Aymer]

"Well, Id say that about settles it, don'it?" He was over Samuel in two strides, and had him by the arm in an instant. Dragging him to the stack of barrels, he roughly pushed the boy over one, before quickly placing a hand on his back to keep him there. The other hand was busy pulling off his belt, which he folded in two. "You look like a fair country lad, so maybe you ain't well acquainted with naval discipline." He slapped the belt down in the boy's trouser seat, eliciting a satisfying *CRACK*. "But if you don't shape up real soon, this is gonna feel like a tickle from a loose woman!"

He felt himself be lifted up like a rag doll and he felt himself be pushed over one. He saw him from the corner of his eyes taking off his belt. “No!” Be cured but he soon felt a sharp pain in his bottom. He cried out and began to kick and squirm.