Inside the building, Daniel heard running water. On a catwalk above them an intimidating looking woman bellowed into a megaphone, "Listen up you dogs! STRIP! To your skins and be quick about it!"
Not another woman had seen Daniel naked since he was a young boy, not even his mother. He dallied for a moment and then felt the sting of a whip across his back. Intimidated and terrified, Daniel quickly shed his clothes and left them in a pile on the floor. Armed women wearing bored expressions herded the men into the next room where continual showers and soap dispensed from hoppers in the ceiling soon had every man smelling fresh and clean, despite their several day's beard growth.
After their showers, the men were filed one by one through an exit. There, a woman applied a depilatory to the faces of all the men. The next woman wiped their faces with a towel and the third handed each man a tiny bit of fabric which barely concealed even the the least impressive example of manhood. Once clad, for lack of a better term, the men were directed to a long wall of holding cells. Most men were doubled up but Daniel ended up alone in his cage. Daniel thought about his family. As much as it stung, better he suffer the uncertainties of slavery in the matriarchy rather than his little brother or parents. He felt certain that his mother's grief over being parted from her oldest son was equal to his own. Had the government not declared him vital for farm work, Daniel would have been a soldier facing the invading matriarchy forces. He had come to adulthood just as hostilities had broken out. After intense discussion, Daniel had just about convinced his father to replace his name on the essential list with that of his younger brother when the war had come to its abrupt end. Those soldiers who had not surrendered immediately were dispatched with gusto by matriarch commandos. Daniel's people understood that a bad peace was better than a symbolic victory resulting in genocide.
The victors made rebellion an impossibility by simply abducting every able-bodied male of military age. Daniel's people would be cowed for at least a generation. While considering all this, feeling low, a pair of very pretty women with clipboards and other objects Daniel could not identify, centered themselves outside the bars of his cell. Whereas other men had hurled abuse at these women and threatened violence if they were released, Daniel greeted them with a quiet, "Hello." that was tinged with equal parts confusion and inquiry.
Daniel soon found himself in deep conversation with the women, answering their questions honestly and to the fullest of his abilities. They seemed to like his answers. The shorter, beautiful redhead seemed to be in charge, but the taller brunette seemed a near equal. Whatever menace there was in the matriarchy's armed forces was not present in these two women, who wore uniforms of some kind but were clearly not martially inclined. After a long period of conversation, the taller and darker of the women smiled at him and said, "Daniel, I think you have all the makings of a first class jingle man." The meaning of the words "jingle man" puzzled Daniel greatly, but he understood that, in some way the phrase portended good news, or at least a better fate than he had imagined.
After midnight, when nearly every other male prisoner was asleep, several guards came to claim Daniel. Warned in hush tones to be as quiet as possible, Daniel soon found himself outside the massive building, in another straw-filled wagon, with a collection of other captives. Even by the torchlight, Daniel could tell that that vast majority of them were young men like himself. All wore the same puzzled expression he did as the cart rolled silently off into the night.
Near dawn, they arrived at a smaller building. In short order, each was in a private cell. However, the amenities in this facility were much more to the liking of the enslaved men. Real beds with sheets and blankets, a small table and chair with an aromatic, savory, and still warm meat pie sitting on the table, ready to eat. The men were told to eat and then get some sleep. An older, still attractive, woman, who seemed to be in charge, told the prisoners in a strong voice. "A bit, and I emphasize ONLY a bit will be explained tomorrow. What I CAN tell you men is that you very much want to be jingle men. You have all, whether you realize it or not, entered an internship. If you pass, ALL of us, both you dogs and those in charge above you, will be very happy. However, if you fail, your lives become the most expendable of any slaves in the entire matriarchy and we will find some foul dehumanizing, mindless, and highly dangerous toil to occupy you for a few short months. You won't live longer than that. Keep that in mind, dogs! Good night."
The impact of the matron's words was immediate. There was virtually no conversation the rest of the night, The men devoured their pies then slid between the sheets of the beds and drifted off to confused slumber. Daniel was not at all sure he wanted to be a "jingle man," whatever that was, but he knew that he preferred being alive to being worked to death in some mine or some other hellhole. He was very sure that he would pay the utmost attention when the morning came.
None of the men had gotten much sleep before being roused from their beds and assembled in the main room for breakfast. The food was very good, the only real meal the men had had in days. While being transported to the capital city of the matriarchy, they had been fed just enough to keep hunger pangs at bay. Weakened men were easier to control and usually lacked the energy to plot and carry out escape attempts. Conversation was nearly nonexistent as the slaves savored their meals.
The Matron mounted a dais in front of the room and announced in her firm yet sweet voice, "Dogs, a jingle man, is quite obviously a man who jingles. Note that I used the term "man." You are NOT men. Only a male who jingles is considered a man by the matriarchy. Only a jingle man gets to be a father or has any kind of taste of freedom. EVERY woman and girl is superior to even the most famous jingle man, yet women of the matriarchy treasure their jingle men above just about anything, save our souls, our daughters, and our nation. Right now, each and every one of you is a dog, fit only to live off the scraps of the matriarchy, useful to labor and toil for your masters like sled hounds or terriers. Whether that changes or not, is entirely up to you."
The Matron paused, it was obvious she held every ear. "The process is not easy, but can usually be completed in as little as a few months time, IF you are obedient. To become a jingle man, you have to empty yourself of ALL male pride and vanity. You will come to naturally accept ALL women as your superiors and the innermost desire of your hearts will be to serve and comfort the women of the matriarchy. Selectors saw something in you dogs, signs that you could be molded into men. It is in your best interests to prove those selectors correct in their assessments. The matriarchy has found that one on one instruction, with a talented teacher, works best. At the conclusion of this meal, you will shower and try to look your best. At noon, each of you will be purchased by an instructor. As you learn, and prove yourselves worthy, your instructors will explain how you can all become jingle men. Since no two women use exactly the same approach, I can tell you nothing more. Please hasten to finish your meals."
As the Matron stepped down from the dais, Daniel turned to the slaves on either side of him. He read the same mystification in their eyes as was coursing through his own brain. Despite the Matron's explanation, not very much was cleared up at all. What he DID understand was that, in a few short hours, he was to be sold. Daniel had understood that he had lost his freedom nearly a week ago, but the idea that he was simply property to be sold, was only impacting him now. Daniel was fearful, yet also curious. Being a jingle man, even with its surrounding cloud of mystery, seemed better than the alternative.
The shower was very much like the one in the larger processing facility, save that , at the conclusion of their showers, no new garments were provided. Naked, each man was led to a stockade abutting the rear of the building. While soldiers leveled weapons at them, each man was then collared and leashed by a short tether to poles taller than a man. It was obvious to Daniel that the pole was buried quite deeply in the ground. Though he new it was fruitless, Daniel tried tugging at the pole with all his weight. The pole did not budge a millimeter and a soldier who had observed his efforts, laughed heartily in his direction. Only now did Daniel realize that it promised to be an exceptionally hot day.
The matriarchy military performed in its usual flawless manner. With almost no fuss, every man was soon lashed in place. The only ruckus had occurred when one man objected to being collared. The statuesque soldier closest to the rebel kneed him severely in the groin. While he gasped for air in a prone position, he was collared and tethered anyway. Point noted, there was no further rebellion.
The noon chimes rang from the dome of the central temple, the gate to the stockade swung open and through the entrance strode the group of women that would decide the prisoners' fate. Daniel felt fear at first, but apprehension quickly left him. Relaxed and in mostly civilian clothes, the women took Daniel's breath away. Most wore flattering dresses that revealed a great deal of shapely leg and clung to their bosoms like a second skin. Jewels glittered in their ears and on their fingers. Not wearing the mask of war, the beauty that Daniel had suspected was amply demonstrated. In their faces, that transitioned from serious to laughing as they engaged in conversation. Until that moment, Daniel had believed that the prettiest girl in the world was Mara, who lived three farms over and was only a year older than himself. Once Daniel had convinced Mara to step behind the barn and kiss. The two had engaged in a bit of passionate necking, Mara had felt very good in her arms and, instantly, her freckled face, tawny hair, and sweet aroma had become a permanent part of his consciousness. But when he had asked Mara for more and had tried to place his hand inside her blouse, Mara had slapped him and she ran away. After that, she refused to even talk to him. But now, Daniel saw Mara for what she was, an ordinary farm girl, these creatures approaching him now were women!
Some of the enslavers carried clipboards and milled with the purchasers as they inspected all of the restrained men. Three women, in turn, stood before Daniel. Daniel was too self-conscious to face these beings, he stared at the ground. One of the women forced Daniel's chin up with the palm of her hand. The beautiful blonde woman peered at Daniel and said, "This one's handsome enough, but I prefer something not quite so shy." She and the woman with the clipboard moved on. Again Daniel stared at the ground.
"What have we here?"
Daniel noted a pair of feet and lovely legs in his field of vision. Another female voice began relaying Daniel's details, his place of birth, age, height. Again, Daniel felt soft fingers on his chin. He raised his eyes. The woman appraising him was older, Daniel imagined that she was over thirty, still, she was staggeringly beautiful. She had the sort of face that Daniel had only ever seen before in museums or on his country's money. She had soft brown eyes and shimmering brown hair that cascaded past her shoulders and crimson lips above a firm, feminine chin. Daniel was awed.
