African Queen
Tale no. 19 – African Queen The above artistic work (Snake Goddess, by AnonMoos ) is free of known copyright restrictions. ‘I am a slave in rural Sudan. My mistress is a 48 year old African lady, and thus 15 years my junior. She is a widow, and lives alone in her hut on the outskirts of the local village. I am originally from Europe, but was kidnapped by rebels whilst on business in Khartoum some 5 years ago and sold into slavery at the village slave-market. My African mistress wears only traditional African dresses, but despite their bright colours, she is a dark woman. She is a hard-looking, permanently scowling, and harsh lady who works her slave hard. She never smiles or has words of encouragement for her slave, nor does she grant me any periods of rest. I must work hard from dawn until dusk, scrubbing the floor of her hut, licking clean her shoes and sandals, and washing the African dust from her leathery-calloused, black feet. I do not sleep in her hut. I am kept ch