'While you two enemies of society were doing time I saw quite a lot of Mabel. More I saw the girl the more I realised she was very much surplus. Didn’t need her on strength, no place in the ranks as it were. One extra bed and all that. So I put the old intellect to work and came up with a cracking good idea.'
He paused and beamed at his rapt audience. 'Couldn’t very well drown the dear girl, and I didn’t relish the boat trip to dump her where she could pick up some transportation. But then, I remembered Mike…'
'Mike! Surely Mike…'
'Quiet girl! Don’t interrupt. It’s more subtle than you think.' He grinned at Dorinda cheerfully. 'I remembered we were about at the time this Mike chappie said he’d return to pick you up. It was a natural. I took Mabel down to the spot where he set you ashore and chained her to a tree. Off to one side where she couldn’t reach it and couldn’t read it I placed a sign. It read: ‘Dorinda’s gone. Take me’. The key to Mabel’s chain was attached.'
'Oh Mark, how could you,' Terry managed to giggle and be shocked at the same time.
'I’ll admit to a twinge of conscience. But the more I saw of Mabel the more certain I was that Mike might find a lot in common. Besides, it was the chance of a lifetime. Killed two birds with one stone. When I went to check on her comfort the next morning, she was gone.' Leaning back in his chair Mark gave his audience a benevolently Macchiavellian smile.
'I’m so glad,' said Dorinda. Then blushed at Terry’s knowing wink.
'Champagne, Sir,' said Hislop with deep approval.
It was Mabel’s epitaph.
'I’m not going to be a bit nice to you today,' Terry warned happily. 'Mark monopolised you nearly a week. Today’s mine. You’ll suffer.'
'No dungeons, please.' Dorinda’s plea was real.
'Oh, all right,' the younger girl conceded. 'I boobed. I don’t want to get back in there either. We’ll have our day in the sun. Isn’t it lovely to be naked again?'
Dorinda was happy. To be with Terry again was a delight. She was secretly weary of rooms in which she suffered strangely devised discomforts while her skin was given time to heal. Mark was almost Calvinistic in his pre-occupation with her training. She was a much punished girl. If Terry chose to whip her she would bear it cheerfully. It would not be as bad as her other inflictions. They would be together in the glorious sunlight.
'Hands behind your back, darling. Wrists crossed.'
'What? No handcuffs?'
'I’m going to be cruel. Cord chafes.'
The slave girl stood passive and allowed herself to be bound. The cords that were looped and drawn tight around her wrists were intimate, a part of her. A beloved reminder of she who had tied the knots. They were tight. But she made no demur. She had grown used to handcuffs, they gave a greater latitude than she would now possess. She started and looked back over her shoulder when her neck was encircled.
'Told you I’d treat you like a slave,' Terry chuckled. A nice cord tether I’ll lead you around by. But that’s all. Except for the long thin crop. I’ll carry that.'
Dorinda was amused. It would be fun. The youngster was going to make amends for her previous failure. She would set herself right in her brother’s eyes.
'You’re remembering those orders, aren’t you?' she teased. 'Put some marks on Dorinda where I can count them and make sure her wrists are chafed. Right?'
'Clever, clever,' Terry laughed. 'Sorry about the marks though. Sort of a closed season on marks lately for both of us. But don’t forget, dear. Amity attended to our backs and sides. She left our nice fronts quite virgin. Which bit of your front would you like me to whip, darling?'
Dorinda pretended to consider. 'Could I have my tummy whipped, dear? Above and below is sort of holy ground for us girls.'
'Can’t I whip your cunny?'
'Of course, mistress. Please whip my cunny,' Dorinda laughed. 'See, darling. I’m the perfect slave. Greater love hath no girl than that she offer her slit to the switch.'
'You asked for it, sweetheart. But I’ll make you wait an hour. Keep you quivering while we take our walk.'
Terry tugged the leash. The two girls walked side by side down the part through the trees.
They came upon a boat suddenly and without warning. It was in a tiny cove. Everything about it spoke of speed. It was sleek and beautiful and wicked. Sight of it stopped them in their tracks.
'Who the hell would that be?' Terry demanded of no one in particular.
'Just me, love.'
The male voice was sardonically amused. It came from the rear. Dorinda was shocked. She swung round against her tether. 'Mike!!'
He stood leering at their nakedness. Enjoyment vivid on his heavy features. Beside him a hefty member of his crew who Dorinda remembered all too well. He advanced with hearty bonhomie, hand outstretched to a bewildered Terry. 'Mike Sandos, miss Esmond. Glad to meet you.' His eyes roved her breasts and sex. He added hearty: 'And how.'
'You’re trespassing,' Terry accused.
'Go away, Mike,' Dorinda said without hope. She guessed.
Mike turned his attention to Dorinda. 'What a neat package,' he admired. 'Even more convenient than the one I left.' He took the leash from Terry’s nerveless hand. 'Allow me, miss Esmond.' He passed the cord to his henchmen. 'Hold on to the lady, Sam.' Dorinda watched, stricken, bereft, utterly helpless.
Mike produced a pair of handcuffs. 'I’m sure you’ll wear these willingly?' The smile of invitation he offered Terry was the ultimate in benevolence.
Terry fought. How she fought! The helpless slave girl who watched her battle curled up in agony. The darling child had no chance. Mike handled her as he might have done a kitten. A minute later Terry stood panting and dishevelled, her wrists tightly locked behind her back. Dorinda wondered, irrelevantly, if the child had ever known the bite of bonds other than those she had sought in love.
Dorinda had wondered about Mike’s boat. It spelt money. The light craft that had delivered them into a new captivity was picked up by a crane and stowed away. Engines, already warm, throbbed. Kyrexos diminished over the horizon.
'Welcome to the ‘Quest’,' Mike said with tremendous flair.
‘Quest?’ It was as good a name as any, Dorinda reflected bitterly. Mike was always looking. Now he had found her again. And he had found Terry. It was a good day for Mike.
Their host removed no bonds, They sat round the table on which drinks were served. The girls helpless, their host in full command. He lifted glasses to their lips. They sipped grudgingly. Dorinda almost felt like getting drunk to blot out the nightmare.
'You’ll be wondering about Mabel,' Mike suggested pleasantly. 'Bit of a bore is Mabel. After she had given me the gen’ on things on Kyrexos I decided the poor girl needed a change, so I put her shore on an island that I’m certain is inhibited only by gulls and goats. Mabel will make out. She’s that kind.' He looked at a squirming Dorinda. 'Didn’t think I’d forget you, honey?'
'Put Terry ashore. I’ll do what you want,' Dorinda said flatly.
Mike laughed delightedly and slapped his leg. 'True to form, honey. Virtue triumphant. You’re quite a girl. This charming child who leads you around on a leash is going to be tied to the rigging and whipped before the ship’s crew.' He turned to Terry. 'You won’t mind, will you, miss Edmond? Poor chaps don’t get much diversion outside port.'
Dorinda was frantic. The cords that Terry had lovingly cinched upon her wrists hurt. They told her she was captive. Thrall to Mike’s wishes. She still bore the leash upon her neck. She knew he was glorying his importance.
'I know you lick each others cunts,' he said affably as though it was a matter best disposed of.
'Let her go,' Dorinda said hopelessly. 'I’ll obey you now.'
'Too late, honey,' Mike guffawed. 'You had your chance. But thanks for bringing me this little turtle dove.' He looked at her bleakly. 'You know what I’m gonna do to her, don’t you?'
Dorinda was silent. But she knew.
'I’m going to whip her and I’m going to fuck her to a fare thee well. When she starts to bore me I’ll hand her
