Audrey spoke directly to the man. 'The poor darling?s still uncertain where she?s at. I know where I?m at. But is she slave or free?'
Reid Hunter waved the demand aside. 'Let?s have lunch.' He suggested. 'And a drink or two. There?s one or two things…'
It was glorious to be free. Corey could not deny exaltation. Even if Aslam claimed her it would be better than this savage place. She and Audrey Cotswold had bathed and chosen clothes in a frenzy of feminine happiness.
'I told you, Corey.' The English girl admonished. 'They were bound to find us. All its amounted to is a bad time in the cell and on the coffle. Now we?re home free.'
'Am I?'
'Honestly, I don?t know.' Audrey admitted reluctantly. 'You look free to me…' She paused reflectively. 'But I suppose if Assef?s given orders…! It?s his plane out there on the sand… don?t suppose you want to run off in the trees?'
'I would rather than be a slave again.'
'But, darling, you?d be picked up by someone… You?d end up on the block again. Or worse…! That?s the hell of it, there?s worse things than being a aslavegirl. Dammit?, look at me!'
'You?re his number one. I?ll be for whipping.'
Audrey kissed her tenderly. 'I love you, Corey Gibson. Leave things with me and Reid. We?ll make out someway. In his way he?s not a bad guy.' Corey had responded. They had made love with a joyous abandon. Perhaps she really was free… perhaps…! Now, looking across the table at her insouciant host, it was hard to believe she was still a slave to anyone. She was listening attentively.
'I think you?ve forgotten poor old Assef had to be bailed out.' Reid was reminding them. 'I had the job. It cost too huge a sum to mention. As of right now Aslam?s gunning for Abdul Nour. One day he?ll nail the silly bastard.' He shrugged at them apologetically. 'Actually it was a damn good thing those traders snaffled you away from Amphala. You were Abdul?s ace in the hole. Losing you weakened his hand.'
'Can you get in touch with those two men…? Or one of them?' Corey asked with feigned indifference.
'She?s in love with a great masculine hulk named Set Burdett.' Audrey informed amusedly. 'You?ll have to forgive the poor child, it?s her glands…'
'Probably retired to the Riviera or Brazil.' Reid sighed.
'That coffle fetched a mint.' He eyed Corey in mock concern. 'If you?re suffering, dear girl, I?ll be happy to service you.'
'You shouldn?t take a chance, Reid.' Corey told him with equal frankness. 'I?ve been screwed all over half of Africa, thanks to you. Maybe you?d catch something.'
They let it go at that. Reid continued. 'That left us at square one, except for Assef?s girl Friday and his latest slave who were somewhere in a wilderness on a long chain. We made enquiries…'
'And waited until we got to where handy to pick up.' Audrey contributed tartly.
'Well, neither of us was Stanley or Livingstone, y?know! And the local constabulary couldn?t have cared less.' Reid shook an admonishing finger. 'Like I said, you girls…! I?m not a bit sure that hike on the coffle wasn?t the best thing in the world for yoy both…'
'It got Corey nicely screwed a couple of times and I lost five pounds.'
'Don?t keep harping in the irrelevant.' Reid?s rebuke was paternal. 'I?m trying hard to bring you both up to date.' He turned to Corey. 'Your Dad?s O.K. He and Assef have struck a deal. I?ll admit that Aslam?s possession of your delightful body was a factor in negotiations, but what?s a hundred million or so between these tycoon types? The Planet Corporation Has survived its crisis and your Dad isn?t on welfare.'
'I?m grateful. Where am I?'
'In a town called Ben Sirah. I?m not sure just where it is myself. You?re having dinner with me and Audrey.'
'You know damn well what I mean.'
'Corey, let it drop!' Audrey pleaded.
'Don?t you think I?d love to!' Corey retorted. 'Give me a bit of hope of freedom and I will.'
They kept silent.
'O.K., you?ve said it better than words. I?m some sort of prisoner?'
'Assef wants you.'
'Am I expected to go willingly to my dungeon?'
'Well, if you don?t, the only ones to be embarrassed is me and Audrey.'
'What about me? I suppose the hired help will tie me up and dump me in the plane. I?ll wake up in Aslam?s New York oubliette?'
'He hasn?t got one of those. I?d thought that if the worst came to the worst you might like Audrey to… sort of… restrain?'
'You mean tie me or chain me?'
'Couldn?t you just enjoy your dinner?' Reid was annoyed.
'Could you?'
'Hold it!' Audrey laughed at their acerbity. 'Look, Reid, leave her to me. If Corey escapes I?ll let you whip me the way you want. But she won?t…! You?ve just got her riled…'
'She keeps harping…'
'So would you if you thought you were a prisoner for life and were going to get whipped every day.'
'It?s not that bad…'
'Are you sure?'
Reid Hunter waved a despairing hand. 'I?m not sure. I?m not into this stuff.' He focused on Audrey Cotswold. 'You?d know better than anyone…'
'Alright, so I know!' Audrey had the bit in her teeth. 'Aslam had me whipped day after day when he first had me. I was kidnapped and rebellious as hell. It all seemed so damn unfair. I was never free of chain or rope or straps or wire… He used everything…! He was the overlord, coming to view the aesthetic picture after his help had done their work on me.' She made a moue of deprecation. 'It took me a hell of a long time to realise it was me who was out of line. I was female and subject to these things. I?d never known that before. Once I caught sight of reality he didn?t have to whip me any more… except for his own pleasure, of course. He still does that.'
'He broke you, Audrey.' Corey was bitter.
The English girl shrugged. 'If you want to see it that way. But if you analyse it Assef simply made me understand my sex and his in relation to each other. I?ve been happy with him.'
'Except when he whips you for fun?' Corey demanded.
'Dammit, Corey, Seth Burdett whipped you…!'
They looked at each other askance. Corey knew guilt. These people were her friends. Audrey loved her. 'I?m… I?m sorry.' She stammered contritely. 'I?ll forget it for now. Do what you must later on. Let?s have a lovely dinner. I think I?d like to get a little drunk.'
That?s what they did.
'Reid?s position isn?t easy.' Audrey said reflectively as the two girls undressed for bed. 'He?s been more involved with Aslam than anyone knew. They like each other. If Aslam desires you, Reid doesn?t see it as any different from him wanting to buy a block of Standard Oil.'
'Gee, thanks!'
'Well, that?s the way of it. Corey darling, haven?t you got the message yet? Men do what they like with us girls. We can make a fuss to keep up appearances but it doesn?t change a thing. We end up getting whipped or fucked or traded. We?re a part of their possessions like the grand piano.'
'Unless we fight…!'
'Don?t be silly. We can?t fight men and win. But if you enjoy getting yourself whipped, go ahead.'
Corey stripped away panties and bra?. It felt good to be naked again. Naked was naturel. She longed for Seth Burdett.
'Darling, your whip marks have faded wonderfully, they?re almost gone.' Audrey tenderly fingered the satin skin of the girl who had shared her chain on the coffle.
'Gosh, you?re beautiful!'
'So are you.'
