The light returned. Bel heard the young lad's voice, "She is down here," he was saying. She squinted her eyes and looked up as she tried to see who was with the boy.
"You better not be wasting my time. I told you to take out the boxes and empty the hold as fast as you can, and you call me out of my office."
"I am sorry, Captain, but I was told to inform you about the matter; the crewmen said it wasn't their business."
"You're sure there is a woman down here?"
"Yes," the boy said and jumped into the hold.
Bel took a step back, hiding most of her body behind the box as fear gripped her heart. She didn't know if she was in a worse situation or what was going on, but one thing she was certain of was that she was far from home and the people who had taken her were dangerous.
The Captain looked into the hold, but he didn't come in. "Who are you, and how did you get on my ship?" he asked with clear irritation in his voice.