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 illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

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  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 ...”