Chapter 2:  A Son's Duty

Sell  Hop Sing?  How can I do that?  Tsu Chung Shin pondered, as he wondered how he could even face his family.  But what choice did he have?  It was either that or go to jail -- or worse -- to be killed by the loan sharks he owed money to.  And it wasn't as if he were the first Chinese father that had sold his son.  Others had in the past, even selling them although it meant they would be neutered.  Eunuchs were an integral part of Chinese history.

But this was Hop Sing, although his third son, his favorite, a beautiful boy.  But his beauty was what made him so valuable, worth possibly a million credits, enough to pay off Wong and the loan sharks.  And Wong had said that he could keep his job.

Although he hadn't stolen from the company, the figures said that he had.  If Wong pressed charges, he would go to jail, losing everything, all his family, not just one child.  Wasn't it Hop Sing's duty to save the family, when only he could?  Was it that big a sacrifice Hop Sing was making?  He would only be a slave -- albeit a sex slave -- for two or three years, then he would be free.

Of course, he would no longer have genitals.

Boys under contract to San Carlos Island were neutered, most having both their penises and testicles removed.  Some were left with a penis, but no testicles, a few were left with testicles, but no penis, but only one in a thousand was allowed to keep both.  Most likely, Hop Sing would leave San Carlos Island a smooth-crotch-nullo.

For life.

Once he was cut, there was no reattaching his genitals.

Hop Sing would be a eunuch - not male - for the rest of his life.

But there would be benefits, Tsu tried to justify it to himself. Ben Toeber took care of his boys. He didn't allow clients to hurt them, and if they did, they were expelled from the island and the boys would have the best medical care in the world. Everything was taken care of, even schooling. Beyond island schooling, Toeber now even threw in financial coverage of the boys' higher education in college - up to the Masters' Degree level, provided that the boy fulfilled his contract. The island boys had food, shelter, companions, and a tropical paradise to play in...when they weren't working. And even when they had grown up, and were no longer desirable as sexual partners, Ben still offered them jobs on the island, as there were plenty of those. Island boys wanted for nothing.

Nothing? Tsu wondered, carefully stashing the pamphlet that Wong had given him to read. He thought about it all the way home, still not sure if he even believe that such a place existed.

An island, autonomous, where boys were modified to be used a sexual slaves? Could it really exist? It was unbelievable. But yet, there was the pamphlet with full color photos - before and after - of the island boys. In the before pictures, the naked boys wore red collars and had genitals. In the after photos, they wore green collars and were eunuchs.

Prison security collars, Tsu snorted, recognizing the hardware that he himself had helped to build and then program, in the photos. If they'd told me what the collars and software codes were for, I'd have refused to make them!

But family was important in their culture, and even as advanced as they had become, the fact that sons begat sons to continue the line was still a major point. Of course, Tsu knew, he would still have three other sons that could present him with grandsons. Hell, he thought, his eldest might present him with one sooner than anyone wanted!

And it was his concern for his other three sons that steeled his resolve to go through with Wong's plan.

What if the bully-boys who collected for their bosses collected one of his other sons as payment? He'd heard the legends before that Asian children were often stolen and brokered to people anywhere in the world that wanted them...for whatever reason. The thought of Jie Kang, his youngest, simply vanishing one day made his flesh creep.

No, he told himself again, this was too important. The family was too important. He might have gotten himself into some of this mess, and perhaps it was wrong to place the burden of saving the family upon one of his boys, but there seemed to be no other alternative. Still, he simply couldn't believe that Wong, whom he thought was his friend, could do this to him. He hadn't been stealing company money, and he was sure that the software that ran his security systems was rock solid. They were suggesting that there might be a flaw in one of the system designs. Why?

There had to be another reason.

But what?

But for as analytical and computer-like as his mind worked, Tsu was too upset to think about it right then.

He still had to break the news to his family.

When Wong had handed him the brochure, he had told him he'd already made arrangements for him and Hop Sing to go to San Carlos Island.  Wong had shown him naked pictures of Hop Sing, various poses taken over a span of years, pictures taken surreptitiously with a buttonhole, or other hidden camera, pictures Wong must have been taking for years when he had visited their home.  He had sent them to the San Carlos website, and had already received a response:

"If the boy is all that he appears to be, we are interested.  A charter flight for San Carlos Island leaves from Hong Kong International Airport tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM.   Reservations have been made for the boy and his legal guardian.   Both the boy and his legal guardian must sign a contract binding the boy to at least two years of servitude, awarding San Carlos Island, Inc., the right to neuter said boy (see details in file, attached).  By signing the contract, aforementioned legal guardian and boy surrender all rights and privileges concerning the boy for the term of the contract.  During that time, he is the sole property of San Carlos Island, Inc. Visitations may be allowed twice a year, see other attachment. Full details will be provided on the island at your meeting to discuss and negotiate said contract(s). We look forward to doing business with you and your boy." 

Tsu didn't even have time to consider his options -- he had none, actually -- he and Hop Sing had to be on the plane to San Carlos Island in less than twelve hours.

As he walked into the door to his house, Tsu hadn't yet decided what he'd tell his wife -- or Hop Sing for that matter.  Would he tell her that he had sold their son into slavery, letting her know that Hop Sing would almost certainly have to have his penis and testicles cut off and that he would be a sex toy for rich men?

"Father!" Hop Sing screamed when his father walked through the door.  He ran to him, throwing his arms around him  "I love you," he said. 

Hop Sing always greeted him so.  That made what he had to do that much harder.  Tsu couldn't bring himself to tell Hop Sing what was in store for him.  Instead, patted the boy's nearly-bald head and said, "I leave on a trip tomorrow, Q.  I want you to come with me." His father sometimes called "Q" when right after he'd had a haircut; it was short for 'queue ball', because of the roundness of his head.

"Where to?" asked Hop Sing, his face aglow with excitement.

"To a tropical island in the Pacific," said his father.  "It's a paradise, from what I've been told."

"Can I come?" asked Guo Jian, Tsu's thirteen year-old son, who had just come into the room as Tsu had told Hop Sing about the trip.

"No," said Tsu, "only Hop Sing can come."

"But, why?" asked Guo Jian, "You've never taken me on a trip, and I'm older than Hop Sing. "  Even Hop Sing looked at his father quizzically.  Privileges in their family were awarded strictly according to age.  It was unprecedented for Hop Sing to be offered such an honor before his older brother. And such an honor was usually reserved for the eldest.

"Mr. Wong has instructed me to take Hop Sing.  You know that Hop Sing has always been his favorite."

"That's not fair," said Guo Jian, glaring at his younger brother.  "I should get to go, not Hop Sing.  Is it because I don't call him 'Uncle John' like Hop Sing does?"

"QUIET," said Tsu.  "I'll hear no more argument from you.  It is settled.  Hop Sing is going.  We leave early tomorrow morning."  Be glad that you haven't attracted Wong's attention, Tsu thought, but didn't say it aloud. Still, he had to wonder if Wong had any pictures of Guo Jian, like he did of Hop Sing. The thought sickened him as he thought about that - how Wong obviously liked little boys, given that he even KNEW of San Carlos Island.

Just as he hadn't been able to tell Hop Sing what was in store for him, neither could Tsu tell his wife.  How could he?  He probably wouldn't even tell her when he came back from San Carlos Island without the boy, instead telling her that he'd apprenticed the boy out -- to what he'd tell her, he hadn't yet decided.  Of course, she'd find out, when Hop Sing returned, but that wouldn't be for two years.

Families could visit the boys on the island twice a year.  Tsu might go visit Hop Sing -- if his guilt wasn't more than he could bear -- but he wouldn't be taking his wife or other sons.  It was a blight on humanity that such places as San Carlos Island existed, yet he was about to give -- no, not give, sell - his son to them.  He was no better than a pimp, a pimp for his own son.

Tsu didn't sleep at all that night.  A hundred times he decided not to go through with it, but a hundred and one times he realized that he must.  If he didn't, his other sons might be even worse off.  When it came down to it, it was a numbers game, balancing a scale, Hop Sing on one side and the rest of his family on the other.  Time after time, he saw that the scale tilted in favor of the rest of his family.

About four in the morning, he got out of bed, picked up his briefcase, took it into another room and opened it, taking out something he'd brought from work, a hypodermic.  In it was a small microchip, one infected with a virus. 

For some reason, Wong wanted him to bring down the security system on San Carlos Island.

Unbeknownst to Wong, Tsu had modified the chip.  It had capabilities beyond those Wong knew about. Software designers, always - ALWAYS - left themselves a 'back door' in their works.

Tsu walked into Hop Sing's room.  The boy was asleep.  Tsu pressed the hypodermic against his neck, pulling the trigger, injecting the microchip deeply under his skin.  Hop Sing never stirred.  He hadn't felt anything.

* * *

San Carlos Island not only had their own plane for flights inbound, but they also had a private waiting room at Hong Kong International at a terminal separated from that serviced by the commercial carriers.  The anonymity of those going to San Carlos Island was protected.  Tsu's identity was checked twice before he and Hop Sing were admitted to the terminal.  Upon their arrival, they were immediately ushered onto the plane. Luggage was not a problem, either. Tsu carried only a small take-on. Hop Sing carried nothing. The confused boy had only been told that anything he needed would be supplied when they got there.

The interior of the plane was subdivided, providing each group of passengers with their own suite.  Neither Hop Sing nor his father saw any of the other passengers.  They had comfortable lounge chairs and their own holographic sets to watch, supplied both with videos and video games.

Tsu let Hop Sing play video games for most of the trip.  He didn't feel like watching a video.

Normally, Tsu always thought that flights lasted forever. This one, however, was over all too quickly. In what seemed like only a painfully short time, the plane was on final approach to San Carlos Island.

"Father, look!" Hop Sing shouted excitedly, pressing his round face against the window, "There it is! Look at it!"

Tsu didn't share his son's enthusiasm.

He couldn't.

"Please remain seated until your escort arrives to aid with disembarking," a voice said over the intercom, just as the plane touched down. A few minutes after stopping, a security guard entered their suite. Tsu blinked in surprise at the sight of the tall, and obviously armed, dark-skinned man. He was wearing what looked like a uniform of sorts, but one obviously built for the tropics. It was mostly light beige, a camouflage pattern, and it was obvious that he was all business.

"Mr. Tsu and Hop Sing?" He asked in a formal tone, but with a voice that sounded boyish.

"Yes?"

The man briefly introduced himself with a name that tangled Tsu's tongue. "Island security," he explained, "If you and the boy will come with me, please," he instructed them.

"Did we do something wrong, father?" Hop Sing asked.

The guard winked at him.  "No, just a check. We have to be safe," he explained in a more pleasant tone.

As they got off the plane, the guard took Hop Sing's hand. "You hold his other, sir. There won't be a problem with the boy's identity being mistaken, since he's clothed. This way," he said, directing them to a door at the small airport. They entered a very Spartan suite, where another guard was waiting for them. He took Tsu's carry-on, opened it, and began checking things. The first guard began going over them with a wand. Tsu smiled inwardly. The wand would never 'see' the chip that he'd injected into the boy. It had no metal in it, and was a miracle of modern chip design. In fact, it could even be called prototypical.

"All clear," the guard announced, picking up a wall-mounted phone. "Mr. Tsu has arrived, sir, with the boy," he told someone.

"Here you are, sir," the first guard said to Tsu, presenting him with a visitor's security badge. "Keep this visible at all times, please. Mr. Toeber will be right in to escort you to Admissions and discuss the legalities." He then looked at Hop Sing, who was expecting a badge as well.

"Please have the boy undress," the guard ordered Tsu.

Hop Sing looked confused. Tsu looked dismayed.

"Father?" The boy asked, wondering why this man was making him take his clothes off.

"Do as he says, Q.," Tsu said, a bit too harshly.

Looking hurt, but ever obedient, Hop Sing did as he was told. He kicked his sneakers off, pulled off his shirt, dropped his cargo shorts, and stood there in his white briefs.

"The underpants too," the guard ordered, "and the jewelry."

Hop Sing blushed, but did as he was told. Hop Sing slipped off his briefs, removed his watch and necklace, and handed them over. The guard then placed his clothing in a small box, tagged it with his name, the date, and then tossed it into what appeared to be a baggage chute. Hop Sing watched, confused, moving to hide behind his father. Being naked at home was one thing, but being naked in front of strangers was something new. It frightened the boy.

Next, after measuring Hop Sing's neck, the guard produced up a bright red collar, made of thick carbon monofilament.  It was light, but incredibly strong.  No tool could cut it.   He snapped it around Hop Sing's neck. The collar made a small chirping sound.

Tsu, recognizing it for what it was, looked away.

"What's that for?" asked Hop Sing, feeling at the collar and tugging at it.

"It's just for safety," the second assured him, just as the door opened and another man walked in.

"Mr. Toeber, sir," the guards greeted him. "Mr. Tsu and his son, Hop Sing, as by appointment!"

"Very good, gentlemen, very good! If you'll accompany us to my office then, and I'll assume all is in order?" Toeber said.

"The boy's personals are stored, and Mr. Tsu has only his carry-on, sir," the first guard explained, "And the boy's collar is active."

"Excellent!" Toeber nodded, "If you'll follow me, then?" He went on, headed for the door, "I hope you don't mind the golf cart, but it's a nice walk to my office from here, all that jet noise, you know!  Shall we?"

Tsu took his son's hand.  The boy didn't move.

"But father! I'm naked!" Hop Sing exclaimed. "I can't go outside!"

"Come now," Tsu told him, jerking his arm.

"I want my clothes back!" Hop Sing protested, covering his genitals in embarrassment. "Father! What's happening?" He asked, tears welling up in his eyes.

Ben offered the boy his hand. He smiled at him, trying to put him at ease. "The collar is to ensure that nothing happens to you while you're here. You can ask it questions, like if you get lost, and it serves as a signal to others on the island. Now, didn't your father tell you that this was sort of...a nudist resort?"

"Oh," Hop Sing said, but remembering his manners, didn't ask why nobody else there was naked.

"I'll prove it," Ben assured him, giving a gentle tug.

"OK," the boy conceded.

They exited the building and boarded one of two golf carts. Hop Sing rode in the second, sitting between the two guards, who pointed out things of interest to him. It didn't take long for the boy to forget his embarrassment as he gaped at the scenery. He'd never seen anything like it.

"Over there's a golf course, if you play," the darker guard pointed out, "Down over the cliff's the beach. We have swimming, sports, even surfing classes if you like?"

Hop Sing took the binoculars the guard offered him and looked. Sure enough, everyone down on the beach was naked. The binoculars weren't powerful enough for him to really see details, but the fact that everyone appeared to be male didn't register with him. Before long, his curiosity got the better of him and he started to ask questions.

When they pulled up to the Admissions building and parked, Ben collected Hop Sing from the guards, who suddenly looked tired. Ben laughed. He took the boy by the hand again and led him and his father to his office. They sat at Ben's large desk, and the man pulled out a few papers. An older teenage boy dressed only in a white apron brought them refreshments.

"I'll admit, I'm a bit confused," Ben confessed. "Of course, we were very impressed with the, ahhh, data on Hop Sing here, but I'm at a loss to understand the rest?"

Tsu swalled some of his drink, hard.  "It's a matter of business, Mr. Toeber. You're buying, I'm selling."

Hop Sing looked confused. For one thing, he knew his father didn't buy and sell. He worked for Uncle John and wrote computer software. Maybe he's going to sell him some security computer stuff? The boy thought. But that made him wonder why he had to be there, and why a nudist resort would need it? Then he figured everybody needed a security system. But that made him wonder why HE was the only there who was naked. Still, he just sat in his chair quietly, as he'd been taught, and just listened, sipping his bottle of water while his father read over some papers. He was looking around the room and not really listening, wondering when he'd get to go to beach, when he heard the words "various levels of neutering."

"Why don't we get some pictures first, for the security files?" Mr. Toeber asked. "Hop Sing, we need to take some pictures of you?"

"Naked?" The boy squeaked, almost choking on his drink.

Toeber nodded. Hop Sing looked at his father, but he was very engrossed in his reading. "Go and do as Mr. Toeber says," he mumbled.

Reluctantly, Hop Sing followed Mr. Toeber (he said to call him 'Ben') through a door behind his desk. It was a small photo studio with all black walls and some umbrella shaped lights. He was directed to go and stand on a slightly raised circular platform. He did that, and it began to revolve slowly as the lights began to flash. "Just stand still and relax, don't forget to smile!" Toeber coached him. "Now, that's not too bad, is it?" Toeber grinned at him. "Hands down, it's OK if you get an erection." Hop Sing looked down to see that he was indeed erect again. He blushed. When the shoot was done, Ben asked, "That didn't hurt a bit, did it?"

"No, sir," Hop Sing admitted, just hoping that no one else saw the pictures.

They went back and sat at the desk, where the boy saw that his father was done reading. "So, the payment is 500k CR per year, with a two year minimum?"

"And tips," Toeber nodded, "He gets to keep most of his tips, we only take a small percentage of those. And any gifts from clients are his to keep. All his medical, dental, and optical issues are paid by us at no cost to you, by our staff here. That's one million CR, transferred electronically, and immediately accessible, as well. There's also school on the island, and we pay for college fully, up to, but not including a PhD. Of course, if he applies for a special job here, that needs further schooling, we'll cover that too. That's if he stays beyond the initial minimum two years or not, but he MUST complete the two year minimum." Toeber didn't mention what happened if he didn't.  "Of course, HE can sign up for longer if he likes. Some do," Toeber said vaguely, guessing from the confused look on Hop Sing's face that his father had NOT told the boy just what was going on. "But, after two years, he is free to leave and go back home. I'm just letting you know that he CAN come back anytime." Toeber added, glancing at Hop Sing, who was beginning to look like he knew that they were talking about him.

He doesn't have a clue, Toeber thought, The father's not told him a thing! Actually, it excited Toeber. He always loved to see the look on boys' faces when they found out - after it was far too late.

"And you don't allow them to be hurt?" Tsu asked.

"Only the occasional light-rough play, and it's monitored. We don't allow anything permanently damaging."

"But the other part, the neut-...," Tsu paused, glancing at his son. He held the pen in his hand tightly, poised to sign the contract.

Poised to sign over the rights to his son for two years.

Poised to sign the rights for Ben Toeber to rob the boy of his future manhood.

"That's yet to be determined," Toeber interceded, "But it's more than likely to happen. Only 1 in 100 don't."

"Excuse me?" Hop Sing asked, "But...but are you talking about me?"  He was, after all, the only other one in the room that the word "him" could have referred to.

"Yes, son, we are, now be quiet," Tsu admonished him. "Mr. Toeber will speak TO you when he is ready."

Hop Sing sat back as he'd been taught. When his father spoke, he obeyed. That was how it was.

"So there's school here?" Tsu asked.

"School, sports, all sorts of fun for his off-time, yes," Toeber agreed, "You can read all about it here," he handed Tsu a thick pamphlet with lots of pictures in it. "And careful diet and exercise monitoring, regular checkups, and of course, he'll have lots of friends!"

Hop Sing began to realize that it sounded a lot like what they were saying meant that he was staying -- staying on the island for two years, if he understood correctly. He began to get nervous. He'd heard stories from his friends before, at school, about how sometimes a family would apprentice, or even SELL, an extra child to make money. Surely his father wasn't selling HIM, was he? Hop Sing thought they had plenty of money, and besides, his father loved him...didn't he?

He wouldn't sell ME would he? The boy wondered. And what kind of job would I learn HERE?

"Are you ready to sign, Mr. Tsu?" Toeber asked, "Of course, you may back out now, if you like. However, if you do, there will be a fee for the trip here and back."

Tsu winced. There was no way he could afford that kind of fee now. After all, it had been a private charter flight.

Then, with a very long breath and a terrible expression on his face, Tsu signed the contract. As he slapped the pen down on the desk, the sound of it filled his ears like thunder.

He'd done it.

He'd signed his son over into slavery.

 "I want you to know that I do not do this lightly," Tsu whispered, "But the financial need is too great. If Hop Sing can do this to save his family, then he will. His honor will not allow him NOT to."

Finally, it appeared to be Hop Sing's turn to find out what was going on. It was definitely something big, the boy realized, if it involved his father mentioning honor and family in front of strangers. I have to save my family? He wondered.

Ben Toeber looked him right in the eye, and slid the papers over to him.

"You don't know what's going on here, do you, boy?" He asked.

"No, sir?" Hop Sing shook his head.

"By signing this contract, you will become a slave, not forever, but for the term of the contract. That's the two years we're talking about.  If you sign, I will own you.  In a sense, I will be your father, not Mr. Tsu.  He has already signed you over to me.  All I need now is your signature."

Panic stricken, looking an animal about to bolt, Hop Sing looked at his father -- the man that had just sold his rights to him.  "Father?  What is he saying?  You're my father!"

Looking straight ahead, seemingly staring at a spot on the wall, or at nothing, his father said, "Sign the papers, Hop Sing.  As your father, I'm ordering you to.  For the sake of our family, you must."

Hop Sing shook his head, an open act of defiance. Normally he would never have done that, but he was panicked.  "Go get Guo Jian! HE wanted to come!" Hop Sing squeaked.  Ben laughed, hard.

"No, Hop Sing. You. Not your brother. Now, for the sake of the family, SIGN IT!" Tsu said in a tone that invited no argument.

For the sake of the family?  He was only eleven.  How did the family's fate suddenly rest on his shoulders?  Used to obeying, dutiful son that he was, Hop Sing picked up the pen, but Ben placed his hand over his.  "Do you know what you're signing, Hop Sing?"

Hop Sing looked down at the papers.  He could read the words -- most of them anyway -- but in legalese, the contract meant nothing to him.  Most adults can't make sense out of such legal documents as contracts.  An eleven year-old boy certainly can't.  He shook his head.

"Just as I said before," Ben Toeber explained patiently, "if you sign, you belong to me.  Your father will leave you here, where you'll remain for the next two years.  You'll work for me.  We'll treat you well, and you'll be financially set for life.  After fulfilling your contract, you'll never have to work again, because you get paid very WELL to work here.   I'm paying your father a million credits for you.  That's a lot of money, don't you think?"

"You're selling me, Father?" Hop Sing asked.

Still refusing to look at him, his father said, "It's only for two years.  Then you can come home."

"But, I don't want to stay here!  I want to go home with you.  I want to go home to mother!"  The longest Hop Sing had ever been away from his mother was two weeks in the summer, when he had gone to camp.  Now his father was talking about two years.  Two years without seeing his mother, brothers, or his father.

Hop Sing had so looked forward to this trip with his father.  Now, he wished he'd never come. He really wished that Guo Jian had come instead.

"If you don't sign," his father shouted, "I'll be killed.  Do you want that?"

"You -- You'll be killed?"

"Yes," said Tsu, "and you and your brothers will likely be sold into slavery, anyway, under much worse conditions than you'll experience here.  You can save us, Hop Sing.  You can save us all.  It's your duty.  Do you think I would ask this of you, if there was any other way?  Do you think I would sell any of my sons, if there was any other way?"

"But why?" asked Hop Sing.  "Why would you be killed if you don't sell me?"

"I owe money to some people -- a lot of money to some very bad people.  If I don't pay them back, they'll kill me."

"But, Uncle John would give you money," said Hop Sing.  "He wouldn't let them kill you."

"You foolish boy," said Tsu.  "Your 'Uncle' John is the one that's making me sell you.  If I don't - he'll fire me.  Sign the papers.  It's only for two years.  You can save us all by signing.  It's your DUTY, Hop Sing."

Duty.  There was that word again.  Even to eleven year-old Hop Sing, duty meant everything.  Duty and honor.  He was crying, but he picked up the pen again -- started to sign.  Ben stopped him again.

"That's not all," Ben said.  "Did you read here in the contract, that by signing, that you agree to be neutered?  Do you know what that means, to be 'neutered'?"

Hop Sing shook his head, "No, Sir," he said.

"It means that we may cut off your testicles, your penis, or both, likely both," said Toeber.   "With few exceptions, almost all of our boys are fully neutered.  That means that they have both their penis and testicles removed." He then handed the boy a small photo album, filled with three-dimensional holographic prints. They were all of boys, naked, in the studio where he'd just been. On the left page of the book, all of the boys looked like boys - with boy parts intact - and were wearing red collars like his. On the right hand side of the book, that same boy was shown wearing a green collar - and every one of them had nothing between his legs.

Nothing but smooth skin.

"But -- but -- why?" gasped Hop Sing, glancing first at his penis which had suddenly become erect, then at his father, who still refused to look at him.  He put his hand down into his lap, dropping the photo album, and grasping his little hard cock in his hand.  Why would they want to cut it off?

"You'll work here as an entertainer," said Toeber, "Entertaining rich clients.  Most of those clients prefer to be entertained by nullos.  That's boys that have been neutered.  It's not as bad as you might think, to be neutered.  Most boys, after they've had time to adjust to being nullos, like it.  I know you're too young to understand, but you'll find life much less complicated without a penis and testicles.  I have no doubt that you'll someday be glad you became one.  Why, many boys come back here to work after they've fulfilled their contracts, so it can't be that bad. Why, some of them even come here to work as lifetime careers. Remember the guards?"

Hop Sing didn't really CARE about the guards just then. "Do you want them to cut off my peepee?" Hop Sing asked his father.

"It's not a matter of what I want," said Tsu.  "It's what you must do to save the family.  Do you want me to die?   Do you want your mother to die?  Because that might happen, too.  These are bad men, Hop Sing.  They will kill me, may kill your mother, and will certainly take you anyway.  If they sell you into slavery, it will be forever, and not just you, but your brothers, too.  What is worth more, your peepee, or your mother's life?"

Of course, Hop Sing knew the answer to that question.  With tears streaming from his eyes, he picked up the pen again.  This time, Toeber let him sign.  Once he had, Toeber touched the button on what looked like some kind of remote control device.  Then he reached across the desk, taking off Hop Sing's red collar, and replacing it with a gold one.  "The gold collar means that you belong to me.  Say goodbye to your father."  Then to Tsu, he said, "It's best that you leave now.  We find that it's easier on the boy that way."

Well, that's that, Tsu thought, Since the owner is tossing me out. To hell with Wong and his product tampering!

Tsu got up, and without looking back at Hop Sing, or telling him goodbye, walked out, shutting the door behind him. The slam echoed in Hop Sing's ears.

"Father, I love you," Hop Sing said, almost inaudibly, but his father had  already gone - and without answering him.