cloaked Arab for more than seven hundred thousand dollars. None present seemed surprised.
Audrey and Corey were shivering. But it was not their turn. The Management was well aware of the value of intermissions and delay. There was also a free show! Whilst drinks were dispensed a space of floor was cleared. To it was brought a naked and terrified cafe-au-lait maiden who, a minute later, hung suspended by her wrists, her toes a foot above the floor.
It was a leisurely affair, as between gentlemen. There was no hurry. The frightened girl hung, kicking and twisting in distress, while drinks were sipped and her physical attributes discussed. After awhile the auctioneer read out her crimes. At the previous auction she had rebelled… She had broken all the rules…! Her punishing would make a pleasant interlude before the main event.
The auctioneer whipped her. He did so with skill and with finesse. No nuance of eroticism was ignored. His arm was heavy but controlled, there would be no cut skin on costly merchandise. After the defenceless damsel had screamed a few times under his lash, he thoughtfully gagged her that the ears of men who mattered be not offended. The gag was neat and cruel and very, very effective. After it was strapped tight it was her body alone whose writhings became the more eloquent for silence.
Corey writhed inwardly. If she had thought of rebellion she would discard it now. To hang naked to be whipped before male eyes…! It was more that she would risk for doubtful benefit. She watched, in a compelling fascination, as the girl was made to open her legs for the thong, to raise a foot that its sole be beaten, and to twist correctly for her breasts to invite their stripes. The suspended slave was petrified with fear. She had disobeyed before, she would not err again! The whip etched its lattice work of scarlet upon her skin, but stopped short of imposing one blow upon another. She had been well punished but was still contorting vigorously in silence when the last stroke fell.
They bid on her as she was. Wide eyed and gagged, she hung suspended from her tether, passive and limp, her head bowed as she turned slowly in short circles to bestow upon her prospective purchasers as total an exposure of her nakedness as might have been contrived.
Corey was puzzled and uneasy. The bidding for this whipped girl was so frantic and determined that a single thought became obvious. Why not whip them all! If whipped skin so aroused possessive lust it was surprising it was not more frequently employed…! And she and Audrey still remained to be sold…!
The sum for which the whipped girl was finally sold sent a stir of excitement round the room. She was lowered and led away by the same tether from which she had hung. Her purchaser generously returned her gag. For the moment it was most unlikely she would scream.
Audrey Cotswold fetched one million six hundred thousand in U.S. currency. During the bidding her features became serene, almost scornful. She was purchased by Reid Hunter. As she was bound and led away by a servant her eyes found Corey?s in triumph. She had been ransomed.
In mounting the steps to the block, Corey Gibson found a strange peace. She was a pawn in this game men played for a prize of girls. She was helpless to infuence her fate. Desperately, her gaze scanned the room for sight of Seth Burdett. He was not there. In resignation, she focused on Reid Hunter. He smiled and winked. Corey?s heart raced. If Reid Hunter was bidding sums like this he must be acting for Assef Aslam…! Purchased by Aslam she would still be slave! It was a strange and defeating circle for a girl to make. Bitterly, she recognized that no matter who purchased her she could not win. Audrey would now return to her privileged status. But her own enslavement would pick up where it had left off on Aslam?s hijacked plane.
It was not until the bidding approached the first million that she spied Abdul Nour. It was the moment when Corey must expose herself and stand nude for final appraisals. She copied Amrah, and it was while she initially stood with widespread arms and dropped the strip of white that her challenging survey of avid male faces picked him out. The guerilla Leader sat unobtrusively among the rest, regarding her loveliness with lewd appreciation. He also winked. From him it was obscene.
Corey Gibson on the slave block presumed she did well and obeyed all the rules. Bidding for her person was a steadly progression, frightening in its implications of slavery and the loss of freedom. From one million it progressed to two. The bids were scattered, they were not yet a duel. The American girl stood as erect and proud as she deemed wise. Those closest to the block examined her pudendum and pubic hair in zestful appetite. The back seats tended to concentrate upon her breasts. One man was evidently a navel addict, he stared at her?s in concentrated attention throughout the period of her sale. From time to time Abdul Nour raised a finger to top a bid. But the bid came back, higher and higher. For the sum of three million one hundred thousand dollars the daughter of the Planet Corporation was sold to the enigmatic grin of Reid Hunter. As his servant bound her hands behind her back, Corey Gibson supposed she should feel a flood of gratitude and relief. But she did not. Looking for Abdul Npur among the crowd she found him gone. Her purchaser, too, was absent.
So was Seth Burdett.
Naked and bound, Miss Corey Gibson was led to her new slavery by a hand grasping her hair. The hand was far from kind.
It was not the Beverly Hilton. But it was pleasant and the best Ben Sirah could offer. There was an exciting fragrance of coffee. For the time being the large airy room and balcony was a piece of America. Assef Aslam?s money could accomplish anything anywhere.
'If we seem a bit awkward it?s because of the clothes.' Audrey giggled. 'It?s been so long.'
'Being naked on the coffle was so terribly convenient for us all.' Corey added mischieviously. 'You?ve no idea.'
For a moment Reid Hunter looked embarrassed. 'Well, I suppose I do have an idea…' He broke off awkwardly and laughed with them. Then surveyed his expensively clad duo with immense approval. 'I believe that trek through the wilderness must have done you good. Those figures of your?s…! Wow!'
'You had a damn good look at?em.' Corey snapped.
'Expect me to close my eyes?' He chuckled. 'They treat you right here… let you see what you?re buying. I damn near bid on that girl they whipped. But I doubt if Assef would go for her on the expense sheet.'
'You mean, seeing that ppor kid flogged did something for you?' Corey was piqued. 'You ought to be ashamed!'
'Oh, I am! On the other hand it made me horny as hell.'
Audrey was amused. 'You mean that if they?d strung us up like that and whipped us the same way you?d have loved every stroke?'
'I wouldn?t have voted for it, sweetheart. But if it had just happened…! Holy cow, it would have driven me up the wall. I?d have had to buy a girl just to find relief.'
'Reid, that?s horrible.'
'Well, maybe. But that?s why they all bid like crazy… they couldn?t wait to get to the nearest whorehouse.'
'You are also disgusting.'
He was unperturbed. 'You girls care to make a man happy?'
'I?ll get into bed with you.' Audrey conceded unblushingly. 'But I?m damned if I?ll let you whip me so?s you can get a hard-on first.'
Reid Hunter sighed mockingly. 'You girls! No gratitude. How about you, Corey Gibson?'
The demand was sudden enough to catch her unawares. Corey was still unsure…! 'Have I any say in the matter?' She asked doubtfully. 'Don?t notice any manacles on you, sweetheart.'
'Maybe not. Sometimes they don?t show.'
'Mind you, if you two girls have got so used to being chained…?' His grin became benefiscent. 'I can easily arrange some handcuffs.'
'Oh, drop dead, Reid.' Audrey laughed. 'If you really go for that I?m sure Assef would pay for a girl. You could keep her chained to your bed:'
'Why not, Reid! You?ve done enough of his dirty work.' Corey was still piqued from her first betrayal.
'Come, come, Corey! If it wasn?t for me and Assef you?d now be bracing a harem.'
'If it wasn?t for you I?d never have left New York. Remember what I called you: Judas goat, that?s what you did to me.'
'Don?t fret, darling.' Audrey patted a quivering shoulder. 'Assef would have got you one way or another. Don?t blame Reid.'
'Well… I suppose…'
