"This...Is shame. Engraved it on myself, on me skin. Want to erase. But can't erase.

A pained weeping. A quiet wailing. Something in between. The rope could not contain such sounds from escaping the child's mouth. But his knife-arm continued to cut. To removes the Middles brandings upon him so that one day he could stand proud before the one he loves when he returned from their sea voyage.