The officer rode on his horse in front or more usually aside the small column. There were eight soldiers who walked beside us. At the rear came the four wheeled cart. The crone sat at the front and drove the single horse. We stopped at midday to rest and have a few crusts of bread. At dusk, we stopped by a stream.

One of the soldiers grabbed one of the young women in front. She was tall with fair yellowish hair and similar coloured eyes. He grabbed her by the left arm and pulled her out of the column. He pulled at the ties in the front of her dress. She fought back hitting him with her fists and bringing her knees up. She was a strong from working in the fields and she pushed him off. But he was not to be denied; he hit her back, almost knocking her down. As she staggered he jumped on her pushing her to the ground. He put a knee between her legs and grabbed one wrist forcing it down. She hit him in the face with her free hand and then he grabbed that too.

He rammed his second knee between her legs and then began to pull her dress apart at the top. But to do this, he had to let go of one wrist and she forced her free hand under his chin and began to push upwards. The other soldiers watched. She was putting up a good fight and this might last for some time. But the conclusion was foregone.

Still on his horse, the officers watched impassively at the struggle.

'You're going to cause a loss to valuable merchandise,' came a woman's voice.

Vera, the oldest woman in the column had walked forward and was addressing the officer.

He looked down at her and said, 'It is a pity, but my men can't last until the coast. They'll have to have one of you to keep them happy.'

He turned away to watch the stuggle continue. Ludmilla had forced the man's head so far back he'd been forced to roll off her and as he did so she tried to knee him in the groin. But he moved too quickly and had now openned up her top to reveal her breasts, which he hit with the back of one of his hands.

'A virgin will fetch a much higher price,' Vera continued.

The officer looked back at her without real interest, ' Are you offering to take her place,' he said.

'Yes,' was the reply.

Ludmilla had managed to get to her feet and looked at the soldier as he was going to make a fresh lunge at her bare breasted body.

One of the other soldiers said, 'He's going to need some help.'

Another said, 'If he can't do it, I will.'

The officer said, 'Stop!'

The soldier didn't and his lunge hit Ludmilla on the side spinning her round. She had dodged but not quite far enough to avoid being hit. Nevertheless he only got hold of her with one hand.

'Pull him off,' said the officer.

The other soldiers did nothing.

'Now!' he bellowed.

Three of the soldiers moved forward and grabbed the assailant and pulled him back. Ludmilled freed herself and looked at them. Her long skirt was dusty and the top of her dress hung round her waist.

One of the solders looked at the officer and said, 'What now? We always have our way with one or two of the women.'

The officer smiled at him, 'But we don't usually have a volunteer. And this way your bonuses will be higher.'

He then looked at Vera, 'Now it's your turn.'

Everyone watched as Vera pulled her dress and then her slip over her head. She had a firm body, with strong arms and legs. Her waist was slim and well muscled. Her round breasts jutted in front of her. Her long dark hair had a few streaks of grey, which betrayed her age.

Naked she looked at the soldiers impassively.

'Tie her to that tree,' said the officer, pointing to a willow tree by the stream.

Vera looked up at him, 'There's no need to tie me up.'

'We can't have you changing your mind.'

Vera walked to the tree. The crone got a rope from the cart and tied her wrists behind the tree.

The officer got off his horse, walked over to Vera, looked her in the eyes and said, 'I hope you're going to enjoy yourself.'

Her expression did not change.

He then looked at the soldiers, ' She's all yours,' and looking at the soldier who had tried to take Ludmilla, he said, 'That was pathetic; you're last.'

Finally he said, 'I want two of you guarding the prisoners at all times. When you've had your fun, I don't want you falling asleep.'

After an hour and all eight of the soldiers had her, the crone untied Vera's wrists. She walked to the stream, washed herself and walked back to put her clothes back on. She then went to lie down with the other women. Some moved away. Ludmilla came up to her and said, 'I don't know how to thank you.'

Vera looked at her and said, 'Don't. I've just postponed the evil day a little.'

'But that must have been terrible.'

'It wasn't the best way to pass an hour, and I wouldn't have chosen it to be my first experience of a man. But I fear that worse awaits us and especially them,' she said pointing at the few boys in the group.