“She doesn’t follow instructions,” someone shouted.
“She’ll cost more than she’s worth,” another buyer replied.
The auctioneer nodded.
That was the problem.
Nobody wanted a person they believed would be difficult to control.
And because the system treated human beings as property, the crowd felt entitled to discuss her as though they were evaluating a horse.
—
# Five Réis
The auctioneer began the bidding.
“Five réis!”
Silence.
He waited.
Nothing.
“Three!”
Still nothing.
He looked around.
“Two!”
A few men exchanged glances.
No hands went up.
“One!”
The crowd was already beginning to lose interest.
People started turning away.
Some walked toward their horses.
Others began talking among themselves.