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I do not own Tarzan or related characters and am not making a profit from sharing this story here. The character was created by Edgar Rice Burroughs and is now in the public domain. Any similarity between the characters in this story and real people is entirely coincidental and incredibly hot.
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Chapter 12: Lord Hastings' Desire -------------------------------- (c) tarzanstud1@gmail.com
It had been a whirlwind turn of events for tarzan since a sense of foreboding stirring within him was followed by his encounter with the stranger, Kessler, a man of imposing stature and an aura of hidden intent.
Kessler, clad in the guise of a heroic rescuer, greeted Tarzan with an unsettling gleam in his eyes. He spoke of a mission to free falsely enslaved men, appealing to Tarzan's sense of justice and camaraderie.
As the stranger examined Tarzan's powerful physique, his touch lingered longer than necessary, an unspoken challenge in his gaze. Tarzan, sensing the undercurrent of deceit, braced himself.
The rescuer takes tarzan to the slave auction site to scope it out and plot their heroic restoration of the wrongfully enslaved men's freedom. The journey to the impending auction revealed the true nature of the stranger's influence. The slaver was respected among those who dealt in human lives, his reputation a sinister force that hung heavy in the air.
At the auction site, Tarzan's status shifted, his power usurped by the slaver's cunning. He observed the impending sale, his heart heavy with the knowledge that he was now ensnared in this twisted web.
The slaver paraded the would-be slaves, comparing their strength to Tarzan's with an air of cruel amusement. He appealed to Tarzan's pride, mocking him for lacking the courage to bear the chains worn by the other captives.
In a moment of calculated defiance, Tarzan acquiesced, allowing himself to be bound to prove his strength and courage. The slaver's laughter echoed through the jungle, victory gleaming in his eyes.
Things happened quicker than tarzan could keep track of. He didn't understand the change that came over the rescuer, but assumed it was part of the plot to rescue the other slaves and played along. Tarzan figured his role was to pass himself off as a slave to be better positioned to rescue the others.
As Tarzan stood on the precipice of his impending fate, he held fast to the laws of the jungle, accepting the ebb and flow of power. The men, prospective buyers, inspected him with a mixture of greed and calculation, each eyeing him as a tool to serve their ambitions.
Among them stood three distinct figures, each with a vision of how Tarzan's strength could serve their purposes. Their intentions, veiled in their expressions, hinted at a future of uncertainty and peril.
As the auctioneer's gavel fell, sealing Tarzan's fate, the story stood poised on the precipice of revelation. The bidding had begun, a crescendo of tension echoing through the jungle, leaving Tarzan's destiny suspended in the balance.
Lord Hastings stood at the edge of the bustling marketplace, observing the flurry of activity with a calculating gaze. His goal for the day was clear: to secure a strong addition to his labor force, someone whose strength and resilience would serve his interests in the fields and mines.
With a firm grip on his cane, he paced slowly, eyes scanning the array of men being paraded for auction. The potential laborers were examined with a discerning eye, each assessed for the fortitude and vigor required for his estates.
He wasn't merely seeking a servant; Lord Hastings sought a dominant force, someone who could endure the grueling demands of toil and obedience. In his mind, he envisioned a laborer who would stand unyielding under the relentless sun, whose muscles would be forged by labor and discipline.
As the auction began, Lord Hastings watched attentively, his mind calculating the value of each man's physique, their potential to endure the harsh conditions of his estates. He knew what he wanted, and his bids reflected his determination to secure a worker who would add significant value to his holdings.
The auctioneer's voice rang out, reverberating through the clearing.
"Ladies and gentlemen, here, standing in chains before you today, is a specimen unlike any other. A man of indomitable strength and untamed spirit. Behold Tarzan, a figure that embodies the very essence of unyielding might, a paragon of vigor and resilience, a testament to the untamed power of the jungle, to raw strength, resilience, and unparalleled might. His muscles, sculpted by the trials of the wild, capable of feats that defy imagination. He is the epitome of untamed glory!
"Let us start with an opening bid that truly befits his stature. What do we have? Who among you recognizes the value of harnessing such raw strength, such unparalleled prowess? Let the bids commence!"
Lord Hastings, a landowner with vast fields and underground mines, saw Tarzan as a formidable laborer. He envisioned Tarzan toiling beneath the unforgiving sun, using his mighty strength to extract riches from the earth. His eyes gleamed with the prospect of Tarzan's potential, the promise of untold wealth.
Lord Hastings stood amid the throng of bidders, his gaze fixed on the figure of Tarzan as he was displayed before the crowd. The auctioneer extolled the virtues of the captives, emphasizing their strength and endurance. Amidst them all, Tarzan stood out, a prime specimen of raw, untamed power.
With a keen eye, Lord Hastings observed Tarzan's muscular physique, noting the sinewy strength etched in every line of the savage's body. He saw potential--a laborer whose vigor could withstand the rigors of the fields and mines. The fullness of his loincloth hinted at the source of his power, a power Lord Hastings became intent on seizing for his own.
"The savage possesses remarkable strength, a resilience born of the jungle," Lord Hastings mused to himself, his thoughts aligning with his desires. He envisioned Tarzan toiling under the sun, a testament to endurance and unwavering determination.
As the bidding escalated, Lord Hastings remained resolute, determined to secure Tarzan for his endeavors. He recognized in the savage a force that could enhance the productivity of his estates, someone who could withstand the harsh conditions and emerge unbroken.
"500 pounds!" he declared, as he raised his paddle, his gaze fixed on Tarzan. The crowd gasped at the size of the opening bid and turned to see who cast it. "I see in him a steward of my lands," Lord Hastings declared, "a guardian to protect my estate. Under the guidance of my overseer's lash, he will work as hard as a dozen slaves, and his strength will fortify my holdings against any threat!"
The auctioneer adjusted his pitch.
"Lord Hastings recognizes Tarzan's potential as both an unsurpassed laborer and a protector, a sentinel guarding his lordship's domain. 500 pounds! Do I hear more?"
The crowd looked amongst themselves with insatiable curiosity, but they recognized there was little chance of such a high opening bid for a single slave being surpassed by another bidder.
END OF CHAPTER TWELVE -----------------------------------------------
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