On a creaky, crowded, musty longboat, he oared laboriously.

The chief paced between them, snarled, taunted, and spat on them to row faster.

Occasionally, a cup of water passed among the crew; filthy, salty, he drank it nevertheless.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

————

He tugged a rope tied to a heavy cart. Under blistering sunlight, his tongue swelled. Though delirious and near collapse, an inner compulsion pushed him forward.

————

He repeatedly performed the same task along a packed assembly line—stamp, flip, stamp, and flip. It lasted seemingly for an eternity.

————

“Enough for now!” The Workers Liberation leader removed his headset.

“Bring the chairman ...”