This is the tenth instalment of a story which will include descriptions of men abusing boys both physically and _s_e_x_ually. If you do not enjoy such stories or are under eighteen please do not read it.

The story will include some deaths but it is not a snuff story. The deaths will not be described in a provocative way and are included only for story or character development.

I write because I enjoy doing so. You are at perfectly at liberty to copy or post this story. If you do so I would be glad however if you would acknowledge my authorship.

I would be glad to receive any comments (pleasant if possible) or suggestions you care to make. Please send them to zelamir@hotmail. com. I will reply to any messages I receive other than those complaining that this story include descriptions of young boys being physically and _s_e_x_ually abused. That is what it is about. You have been warned.

"Pay to keep him," Crastus protested loudly. "Look at the brat. All right he's been worked hard the last couple of days but clean him, rest him for a week or two and feed him up a bit and he'll fetch a good price. There's real quality there. Look at him. Look at the way he's put together, good clean slim lines. Eleven years old and still a virgin. Of how many boys who come under the auctioneers hammer can you say that?"

"He's dirty and broken down and if you think he'll make a good price why don't you sell him direct instead of bringing him to me? I'd be ashamed to put the miserable little brute up for sale in his present condition. I've got my reputation to think of. As for feeding him up and the rest of it, he'd never fetch enough even in peak condition to cover the cost."

"If you don't want to do business with me no doubt I'll find someone else who is," Crastus rejoined turning as if to leave.

"I'm a soft hearted man," Scyrax said holding up his hand to halt him. "To save the boy being dragged round from house to house - the poor slut's gone through enough in all conscience, I doubt if he'd survive much longer in your hands - I'll pay you two sesterces for him though I'm sure to loose on the deal. My kind heart will be the ruin of me I know."

"Two sesterces! I wouldn't take a denarius under ten......"

Marius stood quietly between the two men as they argued over his price. He knew he had, no more than any other item of livestock being bought and sold, no part to play in the negotiations which would decide his whole future. Crastinus and Scyrax bickered over his price for some fifteen minutes each moving by almost imperceptible steps nearer to the others sum. Eventually a figure was agreed. It was more than Pannychis had fetched but quite a bit less than Balbinus had given for the silver goblets. As always demand and the quality of the goods on offer had decided the price.

"If by any chance you have any similar merchandise you wish to dispose of in the future you will remember me," Scyrax suggested counting silver coins from a purse into Crastus's open hand.

"I'll remember you as being a man who drives a hard bargain," Crastus growled pocketing the money, "and I'll hope for a better price next time."

"A man can always hope," Scyrax replied and they both grinned.

As soon as Crastus had been escorted from the garden by a serving boy, Scyrax, flopping heavily back on to his couch, began to issue a series of orders while he played idly with a long thin rod.. Soon Marius was squatting on the ground hungrily wolfing down the contents of a bowl of bean stew. Hardly had Marius scooped the last fragments of the stew into his mouth with his fingers than three men bent under their burden appeared carrying a bronze tank followed by youths, wearing the briefest of white tunics, bearing buckets of steaming scented water

"Dictys," Scyrax commanded, "you will clean up my new toy."

One of the youths, a boy of about sixteen, took hold of Marius by the arm and guided him over to the bath.

Marius stood quietly as Dictys gently sponged the accumulated filth from his body. He caught his breath as the warm water stung the open cuts on his legs where he had stumbled and fallen on the march. The sponge moved higher up Marius's legs and despite his exhaustion he began to feel the excitement mount inside him. Conscious of Scyrax's amused gaze resting on him as he lounged at ease on his couch Marius moved his hands to cover his stiffening _c_o_c_k_.

"No, no Mariullus," Scyrax breathed. Without warning he lashed out with the rod cutting Marius painfully across the knuckles. The boy cried out and moved his hands quickly away from his crutch.

"That's right Mariullus," Scyrax's voice was as soft and sweet as honey. "I paid good money for you and you mustn't hide anything from me. You haven't got much down there but I want to see it just the same. Little slave sluts like you mustn't be shy."

Marius hung his head in shame. His body had betrayed him yet again, just as it did when Crastus had him face down over his knees. He knew Scyrax's reprove was justified. He was just a slave boy without rights or protection who existed only to serve and please his Master.

Dictys moved behind him and he felt the lad's hand pressing against the small of his back. Obediently he bent forward and the sponge touched the soreness between his legs. He whimpered but fearful of another cut from the rod stood still as the young slave washed him down. Soon he was standing once again facing Dictys his eyes screwed tight shut as the youth washed his face. Then he felt hands on his shoulders forcing him down onto his knees. He knelt in the bath. Looking upwards he saw Dictys wore nothing under his short tunic and that the youth's, prick much larger than his own, too was stiff.

Dictys caught his eye and winked. Then filling a bowl with warm scented water he tipped it over Marius's head. Water got in Marius's eyes. He blinked and rubbed them with his knuckles as more and more water was tipped over his head and shoulders running down his back and chest. Then he felt a soft towel wrapped about his shoulders. He was lifted from the bath and set on his feet.

He opened his eyes and found that Scyrax himself was kneeling beside him towelling him dry.

"There you are my pretty," Scyrax crooned softly as he dried the boy off. "Nice and clean now for your kind Uncle Scyrax."

"What's this then. Funny little thing isn't it." Now he had reached the boy's crutch. "You like that don't you. You're a hot little bitch."

As Scyrax rubbed away with the towel he spoke softly to Marius, commenting on his young body while describing and speculating on his ability to please some future Master. Marius stood still the only sign of the effect these attentions were having on him was his rigid little prick wobbling erect in front of him.

Having dried Marius off Scyrax guided him, one hand on the boys slim shoulder, across to his couch. Seating himself, he spread the towel over his knees and drew Marius face down across them.

Scyrax rested his hand a moment on the curve of Marius's bum. The boy felt the man's plump soft thighs with something hard pressing up between them under his body.

"Now spread your legs and push that pretty little rump up in the air for me," the man murmured.

"Good boy. This is going to hurt a bit but it'll make your poor sore bottom better so be a brave boy now for your Uncle Scyrax."

Marius yelped as he felt the mans finger pressing against the rawness in the centre of his bottom. In a split second the pain drove the blood from his penis reducing it to a shrivelled piece of limp flesh. The man persisted and increased the pressure. There was some ointment on Scyrax's finger that felt cool at first touch but then stung bitterly. Marius whimpered and twisted on the man's knee as his finger pressed further into him. Scyrax clamped the boy steady on his lap with his free hand pressed hard down on the small of his writhing back. Dictys caught hold of Marius flailing ankles forcing the boys legs once more apart.

"There it's not going to take long now," Scyrax said softly working his finger deeper into the boy. Marius's whimpers rose to a shrill scream. It felt to him as though Scyrax's finger was a rod of fire plunged deep into his body. Then the finger was withdrawn. The boy's screams abated, his struggles became less frantic. After a time Dictys on a signal from his Master released Marius's ankles. The boy's naked body now lay still across Scyrax's lap except for an occasional convulsive shudder.

Scyrax eased the boy round so that the child was now sitting on his knees his head resting against his chest. He slipped his hand round the boy's waste pulling him tight down into his lap his fingers idly toying with the child's shrunken prick.

"It's over now Mariullus," he murmured softly, "the pain will go soon all together and your bottom will heal. Silly people putting that hard nasty wooden plug in my little pet. There are much better things to do with you than that my sweet..."

Marius wriggled closer up against the man. His thumb stole up into his mouth. He was grateful to be shown some kindness after so many days of suffering, even though as he dimly recognised it was given contemptuously and with no interest in his well being except as a source of future possible profit to his owner. It was better to be cared for even on that basis than not to be cared for at all. After all, as he knew, it was the most he could expect.

While Marius nestled, fitfully dozing, in his lap, Scyrax worked. For a man in his line of business there was much to do. There was a great deal more to trading at the top end of the slave boy market to simply buying cheap and selling dear. Existing and new suppliers and markets had to be nurtured. Intelligence gathered on events in the provinces and on the borders of the empire. A revolt in Gaul, a punitive expedition against an unruly African tribe, a famine in the Caucuses, all could represent buying opportunities to the man with the knowledge to exploit them.. The vagaries of fashion and taste had to be considered and if at all possible anticipated. One year black boys from Nubia were all the rage, the next the whole world was crying out for blonde children from beyond the Rhine. Then stock once acquired had to be fed prepared for sale and marketed.

Scyrax worked steadily and methodically. He was wealthy and successful because he took care of all these matters. His secretary a plump young man whose soft chubby face and high voice betrayed his emasculated condition made his report, took notes of his masters instructions and introduced visitors, soldiers and officials on the way to the provinces, other traders in human flesh and misery, sea captains who might if the occasion arose turn their hand to piracy and kidnap.

At last the final visitor had been seen, the last report considered and it was time for Scyrax to turn his attention to domestic matters. Although even here business and private interests overlapped for his own household served as a training ground for the choicest of his merchandise before they were sent to take their turn on the auction block.

The secretary at a word from Scyrax consulted a fresh tablet an eager smirk on his plump face. This was a part of the day that he enjoyed. _s_e_x_less himself he envied and hated the boys that formed Scyrax's household and he enjoyed seeing them suffer.

"You seem to have a full list Felix," Scyrax remarked. He did not sound as if he was displeased with the thought.

"Very full Sir," the Secretary replied in his high effeminate voice giggling excitedly.

As they spoke youths carrying buckets of fine sand appeared and began to spread it evenly over the marble paving stones of the loggia. A great gong sounded deep in the house followed by the sound of many lightly scampering bare feet. Boys and youths began to file into the great courtyard, some naked, some dressed only in narrow loincloths, others wearing the briefest of tunics, all beautiful. As each one entered the courtyard he knelt for an instance before Scyrax pressing his lips to ground before scuttling off to take his place in the swelling ranks of kneeling boys ranged at a respectful distance from where their Master sat. Scyrax meanwhile observed the scene, a benevolent smile playing on his lips, while Felix stood beside him his eyes glinting in excited anticipation. There were however no smiles on the boys' faces.

A low bench was pulled forward and set on the sanded floor. Dictys appeared carrying a great pot in which fully a dozen canes were soaking in brine. He bowed to Scyrax and took his place standing to one side of the bench. The gigantic Negro porter, attended by four burly grooms, strode in a heavy whip clasped in his right hand. As he too bowed to Scyrax a susurration of in drawn breath, an involuntary murmur of terror, rose from the huddled crowd of boys.

Scyrax waited a second or two after complete silence, apart from the tinkling waters of the many fountains, had fallen before speaking.

"First," he said, "we have a new addition of our family." He spoke hardly above a whisper but every word could be clearly heard by all. "He is called Mariullus and he will live in this house and serve here till he is ready to be sold."

"Dictys take Mariullus and show him where to kneel among his fellows."

The blond youth stepped forward and taking Marius by the hand led him over to the front rank of boys. Marius still half asleep stumbled after him. The boys shuffled sideways and made just enough room for Marius to squeeze in between them. There he knelt his naked body squashed tight against those of his companions.

Scyrax waited until Marius was settled before he spoke again. Still he spoke quietly but now their was a harder menacing tone to his voice.

"I speak of us as a family and you as my children because that is what we are. I am your father for you have no other in this world. As your father I care for you and part of that care is to chastise you when you are bad. It is bad for a child to disobey his father. It is doubly bad for you to disobey me for not only am I your Father I am your Master too.

"I, out of the goodness of my heart have bought you and taken you into my household to serve me. But too often my kindness is met with ingratitude. Instead of working hard to please me you are lazy and dishonest. But as is the way with a Father I do not disown you at once. I try to correct your faults, to teach you the error of your ways."

"I can see Felix has a tablet full of names of boys who have failed me today. Yet you are lucky boys, lucky to be the slaves of so kind a Master as I, lucky, those of you destined for the slave market to be trained in my household so that you will realise a good price at auction and be valued by your purchasers."

"But still some of you are disobedient or lazy. Remember in the end my patience is limited. If I find any one of you so sunk in laziness and ingratitude as not to profit from my efforts on his behalf then he will be sent away to be branded and sold for labour in the mines or fields, condemned to a living death of constant labour."

Scyrax paused again to allow the full weight of his words to be felt. Some of the youngest boys were already snivelling in anticipation of what was to come. Then once again he heaved himself from his seat. Knowing that every movement of his was watched with dread by his youthful audience he moved slowly across to where Dictys had placed the pot containing the canes beside the whipping bench.. He selected one and lifted it from the container. Deliberately he weighed it in his hand and then swung it experimentally making the supple rod sing in the air. A shudder ran through the rows of kneeling boys.

"Felix who is the first offender?" He enquired in the mildest and quietist of voices.

"Sulis Sir."

"Sulis come here boy."

A naked round bottomed child of about nine years rose from the front rank of kneeling boys and stumbled forward. He moved stiffly. His arms and legs, indeed his whole body, appeared to have lost co-ordination.. His face was twisted in such a grotesque expression of misery and terror that Scyrax almost laughed out loud and a flash of white crossed the Negro's dark face as he revealed his teeth in a broad grin. The child dropped to his knees before Scyrax pressing his face to the ground, elevating his bum invitingly in the air

"Felix tell me what has this brat been up to?" Scyrax enquired his voice shaking with hardly suppressed amusement.

"Lack of respect to the Household Gods and the Images of the Divine Emperors Augustus and Claudius Sir. He failed to bow to their effigies when he passed their sanctuary."

"Failed to make obeisance to the Gods...... That is impiety and treachery. Does not the boy know the prosperity of my house depends on a proper observance of the rites?"

"He must know Sir but it would seem he does not care."

"Well we'll have to make him care. However I am a fair man. Before I flog a boy I always give him an opportunity to speak. Well Sulis speak up you miserable little brute, what have to say for yourself?"

Sulis raised his tear stained face from the floor. His lips moved but no sound came. Terror had robbed him of speech..

Suddenly Scyrax lashed the cane diagonally across the child's bare chest. A deep red bead of blood began to form where the tip of the rod, curling about the Sulis's rib cage, had nicked the boy's tightly drawn skin.

Sulis howled and clasped his hands to his tortured flesh.

"Don't you know better to raise you're hands when I'm thrashing you boy?" Scyrax demanded in a cold fury. "Put your hands down by your sides. Now keep them there."

He raised the cane above his left shoulder. He stood a moment with the rod poised to strike looking down at the naked child cowering at his feet. Sulis in his terror lost control of his bladder. Amber fluid gushed from him creating a dark patch of dampness on the newly spread sand.

"Filthy little animal," Scyrax remarked.

He slashed the cane in a vicious back handed blow once more across the boy's chest. This time the tip of the cane caught Sulis across the edge of his right nipple splitting the flesh.

For a moment Sulis's mouth worked silently as the pain drove the breath from his body. Then he screamed shrilly. Somehow Sulis kept his hands down by his sides.

"That's better," Scyrax said softly. "That's one lesson you seem to have learnt. Now since you seem to have regained the use of your voice you have an opportunity to tell me why I should not have your bottom sliced into ribbons for your behaviour."

"Master," Sulis's voice was rendered shrill and uncertain by terror, "please don't hit me again. Felix sent me on an errand to the kitchen and he said he would flog me if I wasn't quick and so I was running and I forgot about the sanctuary. I didn't mean to. I won't do it again Master I promise."

"No doubt child, no doubt," it was clear that Scyrax was enjoying himself, "but boy's memories are very short unless assisted. We must ensure that you don't forget again. It seems too that you were more concerned to avoid a sore bottom than to show a proper respect for the Gods. We must take action to make certain that you achieve a better understanding of the relative values of a slave brat's hide and the dignity of the Divine Emperors."

"Tell me Felix if Sulis had been slow in performing his errand how many strokes would you have given him?"

"Well Sir he's a small and young and doesn't cause overmuch trouble. I should think three cuts would have been enough."

"Then six should be sufficient to make him realise that respecting the Gods is more important than avoiding a sore backside."

Sulis, who had been kneeling looking up into his master's face with imploring eyes, on hearing this let his head drop forward. His narrow shoulders shook with sobs.