Legend of Antalasia

Chapter 12

Days turned into weeks. The prisoners fell into a laborious, monotonous routine - stack the dried wool for half a day and then spread the fresh wool on the field for the rest of the day.

After a few unfortunate deaths, the remaining prisoners soon acclimatized to the rotten food and began falling ill less frequently. The three children were surprisingly still healthy.

"Darn it. My pant is slipping off. How can I carry this stack of dried wool? I can't hold my pant and carry the wool stack at the same time," whined Michaelo.

Antalasia and Lizzy looked at him with a lost expression and said forlornly, "Same boat, brother."

The hunched old woman laughed gently, "Silly children."

The old woman grabbed Michaelo and folded his pant multiple times at the waist until it became tight. 

"Now it won't fall off," she declared.

Their time imprisoned and doing manual labor had paid a toll on the children. They had grown taller but leaner as well. They lost all their baby fat. The clothes became loose and were barely hanging on. They smelled terrible as they had no proper means for cleanliness. 

The most startling and painful change that was seen in the children was their eyes. Their innocent charm had long disappeared. No longer carefree and relaxed, the children had grown wary and cautious. They were always alert and on constant guard.

"Look Antalasia. I can carry two stacks now and my hands no longer hurt," squealed Lizzy.

The children had made their work into a game, challenging each other to see who could finish faster and more. Unused to labor, the children's entire body had initially ached terribly. However, over the weeks, they overcame these aches and began developing muscles.

"Antalasia, the two men and the three women who usually stick together and sneer at us, are not here. Lizzy was right. Not all the prisoners are doing the same work," muttered Michaelo.

"Yes. I think they are working in that shed over there where we pick up fresh wool. I saw them being shepherded there," whispered Antalasia.

"I don't care what they do. I just wish those terrible moans would stop," grumbled Lizzy as she squeezed between Antalasia and Michaelo to pick up wool.

Antalasia and Michaelo looked at Lizzy in surprise. "What moans?" they asked in unison.

"Can't you hear them? They are loud and the most painful thing that I ever heard," asked Lizzy confused. 

Antalasia and Michaelo shook their heads.

"YOU THREE, enough chit-chat. WORK," shouted the guard, cracking the whip.

The children fell silent and began to work studiously. After a while, when the guard moved away, Michaelo moved close to another prisoner.

"Hey, Mister. Can you please tell us what is happening in that shed?" asked Michaelo.

The prisoner just glared and moved away continuing to work.

Michaelo shrugged his shoulders and mumbled to himself, "Whatever. I tried."

The poor children were isolated. Most of the prisoners were following Lydia and ignoring the three children. Some went further and created problems. They tripped the children while they carried the wool and left only the worst pieces of bread for the children to eat. They mocked and talked derogately to the children. The few who acknowledged the children refused to talk to them properly terrified of being isolated by the others. However, the children managed to remain positive with the help from the hunched old woman.