Silken Savage Read Online Free PDF Page A

hairless chest was the caricature of a snarling panther. At another time perhaps the artistry of the design would have fascinated Tanya, but at the moment she was frozen with fear, unable to do more than stare.
    With the arrival of the old chief and his entourage, the evening’sactivities picked up. Seated about the fire, the men talked, their women taking up places behind them to hear the news. As Tanya and the others awaited their fate, drums began to sound, echoing their frantic heartbeats. A weathered, stooped old man began to chant, shaking a rattle as he sang. Soon others picked up the chant, and the eerie tones wafted on the evening breeze, sending shivers along Tanya’s spine. Several of their captors got up and mimed the story of how they had captured the white women.
    Even Tanya had no trouble interpreting some of their actions. She frowned as one of the braves mimicked how she had bitten the squat captor’s ear. Would this earn her additional torture …more pain …a longer, slower death? Many of the Indians seemed to appreciate this part of the skit, guffawing loudly at the ugly man’s disfigurement. Several pairs of dark eyes turned toward Tanya, assessing the white girl who had done this to one of their own. Tanya steeled herself not to cringe beneath their stares, returning their looks steadily with her own golden gaze.
    The night and the noise seemed to go on and on. At one point there seemed to be an argument between Tanya’s captor and the fat, gruesome creature whose ear she had bitten. The ugly one shouted and gestured wildly to Tanya and then to his deformed ear, addressing himself to the gray-haired man Tanya assumed was their chief. Icy fingers danced along Tanya’s spine. Then her captor spoke, firmly stating in quiet, angry tones what he had to say. The old chief nodded, spoke a few clipped words, and Tanya’s captor sat down, evidently satisfied, while the other stomped angrily back to his place in the circle. What this meant, Tanya could not tell, but she hoped she would not be turned over to the ugly warrior.
    The evening’s activities seemed to be building up to a climax. The very air seemed to tingle with excitement. Finally, at a word from the chief, several women approached the captives. The white women were led to their original captors; Tanya’s leash was placed in her captor’s hands.
    Melissa nearly fainted again, and Nancy broke out in a series of ear-piercing shrieks. From the corner of her eye, Tanya could see Suellen struggling against her captor’s hold. Rosemary was sobbing quietly and muttering what sounded like a prayer. Tanya felt frozen, unable to react in any way.
    The girls were led toward the fire, and for one heart-stopping moment Tanya was sure they were to be burned alive. Brought up short by a tug on her leash, she stopped. She watched, holding her breath, as Rosemary was led forward. At the fire’s edge her captor held her as an Indian woman reached out and took a burning twig from the fire. The tattered edges of Rosemary’s skirt threatened to catch fire as the glowing end of the stick was brought to her thigh. Bile rose up in Tanya’s throat as she watched, horrified. Rosemary’s screams tore the night air as her leg was seared. She slumped against her captor as he led her away.
    By this time the other girls realized what was in store for them. Nancy, next in line, was screaming and pleading, to no avail. Suellen had renewed her struggles, twisting and clawing in her bid for freedom, her strident voice even more piercing in her terror. Melissa’s eyes looked like two large blue-glazed dinner plates in her otherwise colorless face. Her mouth opened and shut soundlessly.
    The smell of singed flesh filled Tanya’s nostrils, making them flare. Her heart was beating so fast she thought it would fly out of her mouth. Her eyes huge, she swallowed hard, trying desperately not to be sick.
    She felt hard, lean fingers on her chin, tilting her face up to that of