Free The Girl in the Torch by Robert Sharenow

stopping directly in front of her. He stood over her a moment and then pulled off the shawl, leaving her exposed in the kerosene light. He swung the lamp in her direction and the yellow light flashed brightly in her eyes.
    â€œWho are you?” he demanded.
    Sarah blinked to clear her vision and looked up into the giant’s broad, angry face. His ruddy complexion starkly contrasted with his gray helmet of hair. A small patch of dried blood stained the front of the white bandage. He glared and she drew back as though she could somehow hide from him.
    â€œI said, who are you? And what are you doing here?”
    Sarah was so frozen by fear that she couldn’t respond.
    â€œWhy are you up here?”
    She stared back silently.
    â€œStand up and come over here!” he said. “Are you deaf or something?”
    Still she didn’t budge.
    â€œCan you hear me?”
    Her mind had cleared enough for her to nod. Yes.
    â€œCan you speak?”
    She nodded again.
    â€œWell, who are you?”
    Sarah was afraid to answer, certain that as soon as her identity was revealed, she’d be put back on a boat bound for her country and her dreaded uncle or an orphanage. She decided to pretendshe didn’t understand his language to buy herself time.
    â€œEnglish, just a little,” she said.
    The giant gruffly motioned for her to come out from the corner.
    â€œCome on.”
    She reluctantly uncurled herself. As she stood, the roast beef and pickle dropped onto the floor from the back of her skirt. He took in the food with surprise.
    â€œWhat the . . . ? Do people always sit on their meals in your country?”
    He kicked at the precious roast beef with his boot and she looked down at her feet in shame. Her eyes welled up. She was sure that he would know she was a thief and that she would be in even more trouble. She cursed herself for not having shoved the food into her mouth at the first sign of danger.
    â€œHungry,” she said. “I . . . am hungry.”
    He stared down at the piece of roast beef and the pickle, which were now covered in a layer of dust.
    â€œCome on,” he said. “Get out of there. Let’s go.”
    He gestured for her to move to the stairs. She hesitated and looked at the food.
    â€œLeave it,” he said.
    She remained frozen, so he reached out and poked her shoulder to prod her along.
    â€œI said leave it. Now go on.”
    Sarah’s hands shook as she grabbed the railing to begin her descent.

Androcles
    S ARAH SLOWLY STARTED DOWN the stairs, the giant close behind her. She calculated her escape options. Once they were back on ground level, she hesitated.
    Should I run?
    She knew that if she made a break for the trees, he’d just catch her again. And she couldn’t face the idea of diving into the freezing water.
    The giant coughed violently and paused to catch his breath. Sarah knew this was her opportunity to run, but her legs locked beneath her. After a moment, he prodded her.
    â€œOkay, let’s go,” he said. “Move.”
    He steered her toward the guardhouse. The wind whipped off the water and into Sarah’s face. Wild thoughts ran through her mind.
    There’s no one around until morning. What will he do with me? Will he beat me? Lock me up?
    Once at the guardhouse she stopped at the door.
    â€œGo on,” he said. “Inside.”
    The giant opened the door to the small shack. Sarah hesitated again. He poked her in the back with his finger.
    â€œI said go on.”
    Sarah took a deep breath and stepped inside. The sparsely furnished room held a desk, a low wooden cabinet, and a couple of chairs. Posters with the ferry schedule and maps of the harbor lined the walls.
    â€œSit,” he said, gesturing to one of the chairs.
    She did as instructed and bent her head.
    The giant opened one of the cabinet drawers and rummaged inside. Was he looking for chains to lock her up?
    Sarah stared down at the tabletop,