From: daviderl31@yahoo.com   
      
                                   Safe and Sound Back Home in Greece   
      
                                                   Chapter Three   
      
                                                   Lost In The Fog   
      
   Xena kept watch at the stern of the ship until sight of the cooking fires on   
   the Roman ship was lost in the distance and shrouded from the sea fog that   
   formed. A common occurrence this time of year when the air temperature was   
   so much colder than the water vapor that evaporated from the warmer sea.   
      
   "It looks like we're safe for now," Xena said to Santilla and Gabrielle.   
   "There's no way they can find us tonight."   
      
   "But what about tomorrow?" Gabrielle asked. "They still have oars, and we   
   don't."   
      
   "It will depend on this fog," Santilla said. "It's getting thicker much   
   faster than it should. I suspect it will be with us most if not all of the   
   day. I don't like it."   
      
   "Why?" Gabrielle asked again. "If they can see us we shouldn't be in any   
   danger."   
      
   "True. But I'm not familiar with this part of the sea. I was counting on   
   following the coast of the island until we reached the Ionian Sea. Sailing   
   so far from sight of land is like traveling with a blindfold over your   
   eyes – you have no way of knowing where you are going, or how to reach your   
   destination."   
      
   "But you know where the sun rises; that's east. That makes south to your   
   right, then we sail with the sun to our backs until it is overhead, then we   
   follow it and go west, and south is on the left side."   
      
   Santilla laughed out loud, then said to Xena, "Your companion knows east   
   from west and north from south – very useful when you are on the land." Then   
   to Gabrielle he said, "But what if the sun rises and it is so foggy you   
   cannot even see the bright spot that is the sun?  Which way will you travel   
   then?"   
      
   Gabrielle opened her mouth to answer, then discovered she didn't have one.   
   "I don't know," she replied, obviously a little embarrassed. She then looked   
   to Xena. "And I suppose this isn't anything new to you."   
      
   "No. Back when I was with Borias, we traveled by ship quite a bit."   
      
   "Hmm. Well, I guess there's work to be done." And Gabrielle went to join the   
   crew.   
      
   "She's a smart girl," Santilla said. "She catches on fast."   
      
   "Yes she does. But don't let her hear you call her a girl. She does have a   
   temper, and can be kind of touchy sometimes."   
      
   The day passed slowly as the unseen sun brightened the fog to a gloomy   
   gray-white -- a thick cold fog, heavy and wet, causing drops to fall from   
   the rigging in a steady rain. The only good was that there was no wind to   
   push the ship even farther off-course. But still they drifted with the tide   
   and natural movement of the sea.   
      
   With no real work to do other than to bail water from the bilge, and to daub   
   and re-daub those troublesome leaks, the crew more and more turned to the   
   ever diminishing stores of wine.   
      
   "I'm beginning to think the supplies Captain Santilla was so worried about   
   getting from Messina was more wine," Gabrielle commented as she and Xena sat   
   together for warmth – Gabrielle wrapped in Xena's arms, leaning against her   
   breast.   
      
   "You're probably right. We do have a supply of fresh fish all around us, so   
   we won't starve. But I am beginning to worry about water."   
      
   "But what about the barrels of water below? Won't that be enough?"   
      
   "It should last, but you never know. "   
      
   "Is it my imagination, or is it getting darker?" Gabrielle asked.   
      
   "It's not your imagination. This has been a long day. I'm almost glad it's   
   over. Maybe by tomorrow the fog will be gone."   
      
   "What if it isn't?"   
      
   "Then we will spend tomorrow as we did today."   
      
   The day slowly turned to night, and Santilla felt it was safe enough to   
   light fires for cooking and for warmth, but only on deck. Everyone   
   appreciated the hot food, and plied with wine, spirits were high. Singing   
   and laughter were heard for the first time since the Roman warship began its   
   pursuit. Eventually the crew went below deck to sleep. But not all of them   
   only to sleep. Muted grunts and panting could be heard as some of them   
   paired off.   
      
   Xena and Gabrielle were back to their favorite position – Gabrielle in   
   Xena's arms, both wrapped in a blanket, listening to the waves lapping the   
   sides of the ship, and to the noises coming from below.   
      
   "Xena, there's something I need you to know," Gabrielle said somberly as the   
   night deepened, the cold air grew colder, and Xena held her tighter.   
      
   "I'm listening."   
      
   "It's – something that happened, back there."   
      
   "You don't have to tell me anything, you know. Whatever happened is past."   
      
   "I know. But – I want to; have to, for some reason."   
      
   "Okay."   
      
   Gabrielle took several breaths, trying to find the words she wanted to say,   
   and finding it disconcerting that she was having so much trouble saying what   
   she needed to.   
      
   "It – something happened – in Domina's bed chamber. She sent for me, and   
   had   
   me strip."   
   Gabrielle then hesitated so long that Xena thought she had changed her mind,   
   but then she  continued. "Domina has a very strong sexual appetite. And   
   she – she held my face to her crotch, forcing me to service her until she   
   was satisfied. She held me so tightly I almost passed out from lack of air."   
      
   Xena waited, knowing when Gabrielle wanted a response, and when she didn't.   
      
   "I don't know why I'm telling you this now. I guess maybe because of what's   
   going on below."   
      
   Again Gabrielle hesitated, and when she spoke, her voice was thick with   
   emotion. "Xena, I have to ask you something. And I know in my heart what the   
   answer is, but – I still have to ask."   
      
   "You know you can ask me anything."   
      
   "When you were with the gladiators – all those men, did you ever…did   
   anything – happen?"   
      
   Unseen to Gabrielle, Xena clinched her eyes shut, stemming the tears that   
   were trying to fall, then she said, "I had – offers. When I first joined   
   them, Doctore told them I was not there for their pleasure. And I set a few   
   of them in their places."   
      
   Xena took a ragged breath, hoping it wouldn't betray her. "But, no," she   
   lied. "Nothing ever happened you need to worry about. I love you, and only   
   you. I would never – never betray your trust in me."   
      
   Xena felt Gabrielle sigh as she pulled Xena's arms even tighter around her.   
   As she did, Xena felt the tears fall from her eyes. And she was ready to lie   
   again if necessary, to tell Gabrielle they were tears of love, and not tears   
   of deceit.   
      
   The next morning was a copy of the previous day – cold, wet fog with no   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)