'We've taken trouble with her. I'd say she's well broken.' It was a woman, just faintly foreign. 'Her background makes her interesting.'
There was a dry male chuckle. 'And expensive.'
'We can easily pick up teen-age bodies and bored wives, but they hardly suit your clientele. This woman and the other I showed you possess depth.'
'Yet you break them so easily?'
'This one, not the other.'
The male voice became sardonically curious. 'How long will she remain in that abject posture?'
'I've no idea.' The female voice changed direction. 'Nora, lift Miss Paisley and display her for Mr. Karamal.'
As the pain of the whiplash across her back receded, Ilona's mind raced. Susan was somewhere close, but she dared not ask. Something was terribly wrong in this house of Antonia Noyes. The verbal exchange between a man and a woman she could not see, indicated the sale of her body to a brothel. It was all unreal. She wilted within her darkness and was thankful when Nora's fingers grasped her arm.
'If she can't get that sulk off her face and stand up straight, Nora, give the silly bitch a whipping.' The feminine voice was without animus, it was simply dealing with routine.
Ilona did not want the whip. She made her nudity erect and proud, her features impassive. Trusting Nora's hand, she walked gracefully where she was led.
'D'you want the blinds off her eyes, Carl?'
'No, leave them on. I find them intriguing. Damned interesting effect, knowing there's a woman behind those blinkers.'
'We've had a hood on her. A hood's damn good on a girl. Even if her hands are free she can't get it off.'
'I can see that.' The man's voice was reflective. 'I prefer what you have on her now. On the other hand. . The concept of artificial blindness. . ! Its got possibilities. As far as I know its never been used.'
'I'd thought of suggesting it, Carl. I've been pleased with this experiment. We could leave this one as she is for the rest of her life. She's been blind now for a couple of weeks and she's adjusting. Trouble is the supervision, and unless you use the hood you must keep her hands tied behind her back the way she is now.'
'I know a chap who's clever at such things, Selma. He might make an adaptation of what she's wearing now. I really like them. Damn strange if he couldn't concoct something she couldn't get off with her fingers.'
'Well, perhaps. Y'know, Carl, you've got me interested. I don't have the time but you have, to see if she'd wear them with free hands in the knowledge that if she tampered with them she'd get the damnedest punishment.'
'Hmmmm. . ' A male chuckle. 'She'd have 'em off in no time flat.'
'Not necessarily.' Selma had become animated with an idea. 'Suppose their fastenings are a one time only deal? she couldn't get 'em back on, couldn't be foxy and pretend she hadn't touched 'em. She'd be up the creek. . ' Selma laughed pleasurably. 'Take this girl here, she hates to be whipped. The promise of a hundred lashes would keep her pretty little hands away from her face.'
The blind, captive was curling up inside. To be blind always, never to see again.
The prospect was devastating. Yet, within her horror, she was aware of the stirrings or an erotic feminine curiosity. Under the threat of punishment would she indeed keep her hands away from her eyes! Would she accept blindness in preference to a hundred strokes from Nora's whip??
The handclasp tightened. 'Stand still right here, Miss Paisley. Do as I say please.'
Ilona supposed her nakedness on display, facing curious eyes. She shrank from the thought of Susan. But, for once, blindness was a boon hiding what she feared to see.
In response to a curt command and the slap of a hand she widened the space between her feet. Firm fingers emphasized the squaring of her shoulders even more than her tied arms. Fearful and sulkily, she thrust out her breasts, tautened her tummy and tilted her chin. She even spread her thighs another inch to give a better view of her pubic triangle. Miss Ilona Paisley was naked and on display for a man she could not see.
'Like I said, she's well trained. Notice her respond?'
'Hmmmm, you're right. Selma. Those breasts are worth the money. I've noticed they don't deflate. Even without her hands tied they'd stand out.'
'I find her interesting between the legs. Lovely Venus Mound and pubic patch.
With some of 'em a threat to shave their cunt naked makes 'em more tractable than the whip.'
Karamal laughed. 'Yeah, its surprised me the things they're amenable to. Get a pair of lesbians and threaten one? her partner instantly offers anything. . You know, her proverbial all, if you'll just layoff.'
Ilona's blush was no longer hidden by a hood. It was there for all to see in her mortification. Obedient to the hand, she turned about that Mr. Karamal might be edified by sight of her bottom and back. His response was gratifying.
'A good ass! Doesn't often last after twenty one. A round rump is a tremendous asset? Dammit! look at those marks, Selma! That girl's been whipped for sure!'
'Would you like her whipped again, now, just for you, Carl?'
'Hell, any man wants that! But, no. She'll probably collect a whipping or two over behavior, and there's no point in marking her too badly.'
'You're going to take her then?'
'Oh, yes. She definitely belongs. Put her with the others. We've already discussed money.'
'Good! But what about keeping her blind? She's totally helpless, y'know. She'll be a damn nuisance.'
'I realize that. But dammit, Selma, if she's been like that a couple of weeks it makes the experiment worth perpetuating.' Karamal chuckled in inspiration. 'Why not sell me Nora?'
'Carl, sometimes you're a bit trying.'
'Lend her to me then. I'll send her home safe, and with a bonus?'
'And whipmarks from head to toe.' Selma laughed caustically. 'You'd most likely sell the poor girl and send me a cheque.'
'What's wrong with that?' Carl's tone was raillery. 'Y'know, Selma, you could use a bit more merchandise to keep the turnover up.'
'Show me where I can get it.' Selma sounded caustic. 'I've got a reputation to maintain. What I deal in isn't easy to come by, and it doesn't often lay itself open to being conveniently picked up. This group of idiotic females almost begged for it.
Damn lucky I got in there before someone else did.'
'The girls listening, Selma?'
'So! Poor dear Miss Paisley. She isn't going anywhere except with you. Tell her what she's in for. Watch her reaction. Must be a bitch of a sensation, being blind and having this happen. Far as I can discover all four of 'em are lesbian. Pricks will be a bit of a shock.'
The blind girl cringed. So it was a brothel! Ilona fought a vision of Susan's loveliness spread beneath the obscenity of the male whose horrific prong was advancing to impale the girl she loved. It was more than she could bear.
'Look. I'm rich!' She gasped, her blind eyes searching.
'I'll pay whatever you want to set us free. No questions asked.'
She had expected the whip. Instead, it was Carl's amused query. 'Quote us a price, Miss Paisley.'
'I don't know. I just don't know!' Ilona twisted a futile resentment at her bound hands. 'I can probably raise a million?'
'And the cops and the F.B.I, and the Marines!'
'No, oh no!' Ilona fought desperately. 'Don't you see. . ? As long as you hold Susan I'll work with you? or let her go and hold me?'
'Always envied lesbians. Selma.' Karamal's tone was reflective. 'Judging by what they'l do for each other a tongue and a clit must be a helluva' lot better than a cock and a cunt.'
'Please. . please! Let me get the money?'
'Lady, you got any idea what those two youngsters are worth on our Market. . ? It's anything up to a couple of million apiece. I know poor old bastards who'l pay a thousand dollars a shot for trying to screw 'em with a limp
