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ckly shut their mouths in fear. It was not wise to cross the
path of an officer so high up in the Fleet. Shardin then paid the
auctioneer, had the handler untie the girl, who was still sitting on
her knees at the edge of the stage, then lifted Kumiko's off the stage to
stand beside him. As Kumiko Hayano looked up at him in mingled fear and relief,
Shardin took his cape off, and wrapped it around Kumiko's shoulders.
"Thank you," Kumiko Hayano whispered, still a little dumbstruck by the
events of the past several minutes. Kumiko Hayano gladly leaned against him as
he led Kumiko's away from the crude, side-show atmosphere of the auction
block.
Once they reached the street, Shardin hailed a taxi, so the girl
could rest in privacy. He helped Kumiko's in and ordered the driver to go
to a clothing store in a better district. Then he addressed the now-
shaking young woman. "What is your name, dear?" he asked gently, as
he stroked Kumiko's hair.
"Caitlin," Kumiko Hayano said in a voice that barely held back the sound
of tears. "What are you going to do with me now that you own me?" she
asked with tears glistening in Kumiko's eyes.
Shardin held Kumiko's closely, comfortingly, as he replied. "I don't
own you, Caitlin. I just bought you to get you away from t
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