Sadie said, “Get me out of here. I’ll give you anything if you’ll get me out of here.”
“Skip it. No amount of that talk will help. I can’t do anythin’ for you. All I can tell you is what’ll come to you if you buck.”
Sadie controlled her nerves with a great effort. “They won’t make me do that,” she said fiercely. “They’ll have to kill me first. I won’t!”
Fan took a packet of cigarettes from her pocket. “Have one?” she said, shaking two out on the sheet.
Sadie didn’t even look at them. “If you won’t help me, then I want to see someone else,” she said. “You can’t do this sort of thing in this country and get away with it.”
Fan lit a cigarette and put the odd one back in the packet. “Don’t be a sap,” she said. “A kid like you don’t know anythin’. Listen, sister, have you ever been whipped?”
Sadie flushed hotly. “What’s that got to do with it?”
“You tell me. Have you?”
“Of course I haven’t. Why should I be?”
“Well, I have.” Fan said grimly. “And believe me it ain’t pleasant. When Carrie comes up she’ll explain what she wants done. You’ll say yes or no. If it’s yes, then you’ll be okay; if it’s noGawd help you. She’ll tie you to that bed and she’ll whip you. She’ll whip you until you say yes. Don’t think she’ll get tired of itshe won’t. She’ll whip you every hour of the day until you can’t take any more of it. And when she’s broken you you’ll be doin’ what you said no to in the first place.”