Thanks Lee. Herzog calls the third slave the "whistleblower." I've taken his inversion (that the third slave is the hero) and added my own fusion with American slavery to evoke a more emotional point whereas Herzog evoked a more corporate/business take on it, referring to the slaves as "retainers." I've taken his pioneering interpretation and set it against a different backdrop, slavery and added my own inferences and connections as a result.

So, Herzog's influence is certainly heavy, but this piece is not a wholesale retread of his work either. I should have offered this link to his book at the end of the article for those who may want additional perspective. I've talked of Herzog's work before on my now-closed blog and at my facebook page. Connect with me there, if you like! 

Here's a link to Herzog's book:
http://books.google.com/books?id=sG6Bjr7guSAC&amp;pg=PA150#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false