Chapter 2

The skimpily dressed girls shivered in discomfort in the sudden coolness of the helicopter's cargo space. A widely grinning young man in a flight suit had come aft before the lift off and tightly secured everyone's seat belt. He had told them they were not to detach the belts and move about the cabin during the flight.

Amanda couldn't see where they could move about. The girls were arranged in canvas seats mounted to the side bulkhead. Boxes, crates and some equipment had been strapped down in the center aisle. She thought to her self "We are just some more cargo."

Amanda squirmed on the uncomfortable canvas seat. She was cold and apprehensive; a sudden wrenching loneliness seized her. She leaned over to Caitlin, huddled in the next seat, and yelled over the rising roar of the aircraft.

"You Scared?" She asked.

Caitlin's eyes were wide. She faced Amanda and nodded. She indicated for Amanda to turn her head and listen.

"I wish we had more clothes!" She nearly yelled.

Amanda nodded. The short shifts they had been given were inadequate for sitting and being so tightly belted to the seats. The coarse canvas abrasively rubbed the soft skin of Amanda's bare bottom.

Amanda took this time to examine her new companions. There was her new friend Caitlin. Amanda had told her that the thick mass of blonde ringlets, which cascaded down her shoulders, was very becoming.

Across the compartment, three girls were similarly secured. Jenna was a tall willowy beauty that Amanda thought looked younger than eighteen. She seemed shy and would not completely meet Amanda's eyes. She had very light, straight blonde hair, which was pinned back. Her tresses were long reaching the middle of her back. Amanda envied Jenna's type of figure. That long-legged slender physique was more suited to athletics than Amanda's voluptuous figure.

Stephanie sat next to Jenna. She had smiled at Amanda across the aisle when their eyes met. Amanda thought they might become good friends. She was not as tall as Amanda but just as fully figured. Stephanie wore her brunette haircut in long layered retro shag.

Amanda was not sure of the tiny Oriental girl's name sitting at the end of the row. She thought it was May Lin. She had known some Orientals at school. She determined the lovely doll-like girl was either Vietnamese or maybe Cambodian.

Lastly, sitting on the other side of Caitlin was the very animated black girl Leesha. She was short but with a perfect figure, if maybe top-heavy. Amanda watched the rising and falling of Leesha's full grapefruit like breasts as she whispered excitedly in Caitlin's ear.

It seemed they had only been aloft for a brief time when the craft banked sharply. Their destination filled the small window next to Amanda. She gasped and turned to Caitlin who was looking over her shoulder.

"It is the Rockefeller!" She yelled. Caitlin nodded in agreement.

In the past year, the media had been filled with speculations about this new ship. No press had been permitted aboard so all the public had seen had been various airborne pictures of the unique ship.

It was a massive vessel. The innovative design consisted of two hulls joined by a tiered deck structure. It was a floating city.

Amanda had read it was to be the exclusive domain of the very rich. On board condominiums had been sold for millions. The draw had been that the vessel would remain in international waters under its own sovereignty, exempting its denizens from land-based tax laws.

Amanda was stunned at the size of the vessel as the helicopter continued its approach. Details became more apparent and realized their target was a small shelf protruding from the side of an upper deck. It seemed impossible that the helicopter could land on such a small space.

Never less that was what happened. The aircraft turned, and Amanda's window filled with skies then the growing vision of windows, doors and railed walkways. Amanda closed her eyes and braced herself.

There was jolt and the roar of the rotors changed. The craft shuddered, and the vibration suddenly ceased. The whine of the helicopter's turbine died, and Amanda opened her eyes and peeped out the window. Several men in official looking blue coveralls were attaching straps to bolts on the metal deck.

The cabin door slid open with loud bang and Ms. Danielle looked in at the girls. Frowning she motioned with an impatient wave for them to get out. Amanda fumbled with her belt then rose to follow the other girls. Before entering the sunlight Amanda pulled at her thin smock in an attempt at a modest covering of herself.

Above them, the rotors still lazily spun. A smiling young man stood at the door, clad in what seemed the ships uniform of blue coveralls, and motioned for them to duck their heads.

Amanda quickly took in her surroundings. She was standing on a cold metal deck, which was perched, alarmingly high above the vast open space of the sparkling blue ocean.

Ms. Danielle herded the girls together and directed them toward the dark cavern of an open bay. As she entered the hold, Amanda realized this was a freight dock. Boxes and crates of produce rose above them on both sides. The air was refrigerated, and she shivered from the loss of the welcomed warm ocean air.

Amanda suddenly noticed the attention of two leering Spanish men loitering by a forklift. She was immediately very conscious of her scant smock and near nakedness.She tugged the cloth down and covered her breasts. She was acutely aware her taut nipples were visible.

Ms. Danielle barked a command in Spanish, and the men quickly averted their stares and returned to work. She then led the girls to a waiting freight elevator.

After a brief descent the group was led down another corridor to a carpeted hallway. Amanda thought the decor resembled an up scale hotel. The group made several turns and entered another elevator. They made another descent.

The elevator opened into a small hallway. The luxurious accommodation was lacking here. Pipes and conduit ran along the ceiling, and the metal floor was cold to Amanda's bare feet. It was evident this was a service area.

Ms. Danielle halted the group. "This is the servant's deck. You must never leave this area unless accompanied by an Owner." She explained.

She then lead them to an oval shaped metal door and lifted a metal bar opening the hatchway.

The girls followed her into the next room. Amanda immediately recognized it as a classroom. There was a TV mounted on the wall and a podium. Six boxes were arranged in rows on the floor before the podium.

"Find your box." Ms Danielle directed as she strode to the podium.

Amanda saw hers. She noticed her printed name was in lower-case and read simply 'amanda'

"Now girls assume your proper position which is kneeling. I want you to be accustomed to kneeling at all times unless ordered otherwise." Ms. Danielle said.

Amanda lowered herself to her knees. She was glad the floor was heavily carpeted. Unsure if she were permitted to sit on her heels she looked around at the others. Everyone was uneasily doing the same.

Ms. Danielle looked up from the podium. "You may sit back. We have much to cover."

The door opened behind them, and Amanda turned to see the entrance of a beautiful nearly naked woman. The woman wore only a garter belt and dark nylons. The black-strapped stiletto heels looked uncomfortable, but she gracefully crossed the room to kneel next to Ms Danielle. Amanda noticed she too wore a collar.

Ms Danielle's demeanor changed, and she smiled down at the kneeling lady. She reached down to fasten a leash to the collar and then ran her fingers possessively through the others thick black hair. The kneeling female looked up at her in trembling adoration. Her full wide-spaced breasts rose and fell in a thrusting offering.

Amanda suddenly recognized the woman. It was Carmen Mendoza. The Latina had been a leading television news reporter on a Miami station. All the boys at school had a crush on her. They had an informal fan club that had met in the dorm common room for Carmen's nightly newscast. Amanda thought of her as old, but she was only in her thirties. Amanda appraised the other female, as only one of the same sexes is capable. Petite framed, her body was well toned and tanned. Her hair was styled and piled in dark curls about her face. Her mouth was large and sensual. Amanda always thought that was what attracted all the boys.

Amanda suddenly recollected Carmen had been absent from the newscast for some time.