by Diane Burton
Did
you know . . .
·
there are more
slaves in the world today than ever before in history?
·
75-80% of human
trafficking is for sex?
·
Human trafficking
not only involves sex and labor, but people are also trafficked for organ
harvesting.
While
writing my newest science fiction romance THE PROTECTOR (An Outer Rim Novel),
I learned more about human trafficking than I imagined. Yes, I knew there was
such a thing, even here in West Michigan, but I thought it had more to do with
slavery. Bring young people (mostly girls) into a strange country where they know
no one and don’t know the language and use them in sweatshops or as domestics.
I’m appalled than at any
other time in history.
On
the positive side for traffickers, what a source of income. When you add in
children sold for sex, the income rises. I never even thought of organ
harvesting. My stomach turns at that frightful statistic.
Considering
such a depressing topic, including my usual wacky sense of humor was definitely
a challenge. This book is much more emotional. How would you feel if your baby
daughter was snatched from her crib by traffickers? That’s what my heroine
Rissa experienced twenty years ago. After searching for her child for years,
she’s closed herself off from children. Running a tavern on the Frontier
ensures she rarely has contact with them. So what happens when she finds two
teen girls who’ve run away from a slave ship? Rissa rescues them, of course.
Then she goes on the offensive. Despite danger to herself, she declares war on
traffickers and rallies the townsfolk to help.
Enter
industrialist heir Dillan Rusteran who’s loved her for years, while she still
thinks of him as the reckless kid who used to come to her little part of the
universe to play. Little does she know that he’s changed. Proving that to her
takes more patience than he expected. By helping her fight the traffickers, he
hopes she’ll see him in a new light.
from THE
PROTECTOR:
“Whoever you are, come out. Right now.”
Another rustle then the sound of feet lightly hitting
the floor. The lock slid open then slowly the door moved.
“Please,” a soft voice whispered. “Don’t hurt us.”
That sounded like a young girl.
“Come out where I can see you.” Rissa, too, whispered.
A tall, dark-haired teen stepped out, followed by a
smaller girl with light brown hair. They both looked terrified. Their hair was
matted and dirt smudged their faces. Their clothes were filthy. The smells
emanating from them contributed to the general san-fac odors. Rissa did her
best not to react.
Holding the other girl behind her, the tall one
stepped forward, jutting out her chin. “We are not going back.”
“O-kay. Back where?”
“You can’t make us. We’ll escape again.”
Rissa had to admire her bravado. “You escaped? From
where?”
“Did they send you in here to get us?”
Since the taller one seemed to be the spokesperson,
Rissa kept her eyes on her. Something about her was compelling. Rissa could be
looking at herself at the same age. Then it hit her hard, like a blow to the
stomach. That was what Miri would have looked like at that age. Same strong
Traishan features—olive skin, dark hair and eyes. Same strong will.
Rissa took a deep breath to steady herself before
locking the outer door. “Nobody sent me. You asked for help. What can I do?”
“Get us out of here before they discover we’re gone.”
Despite the strength in the tall girl’s voice, she worked hard to keep her chin
from wobbling.
“Who?” Rissa was afraid she knew.
“Those men. The Chellians. We can’t go back. We
won’t.”
By the Matriarch, traffickers.
Her lungs seized, her heart hurt so badly Rissa
clutched her chest. Be strong, she
told herself. Pull yourself together.
No traffickers had ever come to Astron Colony before. Or even to Galeriana. She
had to help the girls get away.
She glanced at the window on the far wall.
“We couldn’t open it,” the smaller girl sobbed. “We
were trying when you came in. We thought you were them.”
Since Rissa was taller, she could easily reach the
window. With a shove, she got it open. “Come.” She motioned to the tall girl.
“You first. You can catch your friend. She’s too small to catch you.”
She cupped her hands for the girl’s foot. “Hide
outside. I’ll come around and take you somewhere safe.” At the girls’ wary
looks, she added, “I promise. Now go before someone comes looking for us.”
Rissa boosted her up to the open window. The tall girl
hoisted herself through, disappeared for a moment then stuck her head inside.
“The ground is higher out here. Come, Anaris.” She
held out her arms.
The small girl, Anaris, gave Rissa a panicked look.
“You’ll come for us?”
The door rattled. “Hey,” a male yelled. “Open up.”
Anaris gave her a panicked look.
“Gimme a min,” Rissa yelled back.
“I promise to come for you,” Rissa whispered then gave
her a boost. Like the tall girl, Anaris disappeared through the window.
As Rissa reached to close it, the tall girl was there
about to do the same. “Thank you.” She shut the window and ducked out of sight.
Hoping they would wait for her, Rissa walked out of
the san-fac. A mech glared at her. “Whadda mean by locking the door?”
“Didn’t want you walking in on me.” She glanced over
at a commotion near the freighter where she’d delivered the supplies. “What’s
going?”
The pilot was yelling and his two crewmen were darting
between ships, searching.
“Damn offworlder.” The mech brushed past her into the
san-fac.
When the pilot saw her, he yelled, “What did you do
with them?”
Rissa looked around to see who he was shouting at.
“You there.” He stormed up to her. “Where are those
two girls?”
She affected a confused expression. “What girls?”
“My cargo, I mean passengers. Damn you to Lexol’s
Fire. How did you get them out?”
The
pilot’s slip confirmed what Rissa feared. The girls she helped escape had been
cargo. The pilot and crew were slavers, bastards who trafficked in children. A
primal urge swept through her. Kill them.
Kill them now.
About
the Author:
For more
info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com
Connect
with Diane Burton online
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Thanks,Liza, for having me on your blog today. Even though I wrote this piece, when reading the beginning, I'm still horrified that people would do such things, especially to children.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your latest release. I am also shocked that people would do this, especially to children. It's worse than killing because you've made them a new life that they can't escape.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Melissa. Scary. And people wonder why parents are so vigilant.
DeleteI wrote a book about sex trafficking in Long Island and someone assured me that didn't go on there. I assured her it goes on everywhere. And I've written a book about black market organ selling, where the 'donors' are kept alive until their organs are needed. I wrote these in my dark period. Probably won't publish either, but yes, both horrific things go on, ans well a pure slavery, which is contemptible as well. I also believe there is a rich serial killers club in LI.as well. And the police can't touch them.
DeleteLiza, I'm sure trafficking goes on everywhere. It's more prevalent in 3rd World countries but where do they bring those kids and young women? To the U.S. where they are exploited. I hope you publish those books some day.
DeleteIt might traumatize my readers. They don't do well when I cease to be funny.
DeleteI had never even thought of human trafficking for organ harvesting. That's enough to give you nightmares. And of course, I think of the 1960s movie Coma. Good luck with your newest release!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenna. I didn't know about organ harvesting either until I started researching. Nightmares is right.
DeleteAs long as there are super rich people who wish to live there will be black markets for organs.
DeleteCongratulations, Diane.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been some tough research.
You bet it was, Patricia. I guess I was an ostrich and not paying attention to a serious crime.
Delete