that you might indeed be loyal enough to entrust with a highly important piece of work.” The Greek eyed Ignacio intently. Gesturing to the middle-aged male servant standing nearby who left the chamber immediately, he lowered his voice. “I am about to share the details of a plan so important that my entire empire – and much more in fact – depends upon your understanding, your alertness and your absolute secrecy in the matter.”
“My mouth is sealed, my lord.”
“It had better be. One careless word and you are as good as dead, lad. On the other hand, if you do exactly as you are told – I shall reward you handsomely. Your reward will exceed any of your wildest daydreams.”
“I shall be mute, sire.”
“Good. Then -” the Greek rose and went to a nearby cabinet from which he took a large map and returning to the table, swept the food and dishes noisily to the floor, spreading the map upon the table's top. “- I shall begin familiarizing you with a certain coastal area and some rather unique caves that are found there!”
I listened with great interest as the Greek began explaining his plan. It seemed that he was planning to descend with Bullpole into a sea-cave that was located at the edge of the ocean and could be safely entered only at low-tide. Together, he and Bullpole would go down into the cavern via a strong rope-ladder. Ignacio would be stationed at the top of the ladder where it would be securely fastened to some rocks.
Upon a signal of the shouted word “Now!” from the Greek, Ignacio would begin hauling up the ladder immediately. This required his strength since the Greek would be climbing the ladder while Ignacio was hoisting it, hand over hand. Lastly, Ignacio would help the Greek through the opening to the subterranean cavern and push a heavy boulder over that opening – blocking it.
Twice the Greek slowly repeated the entire procedure, repeating it word for word and studying Ignacio's face. Then he requested Ignacio to recite the procedure which he did – flawlessly repeating it word-perfect to the Greek's pleased satisfaction.
“Splendid, lad!” he said clapping Ignacio across the shoulderblades. “You understand what is expected of you perfectly! Just be sure you neither falter nor drop that ladder once I'm aboard it and climbing as swiftly as I can!”
“I won't fail,” Ignacio assured him. “I'm strong enough to pull it up with you riding it, my lord.” “I'm sure you are.” “You can count upon me, sire.”
“One last thing,” said the Greek. “During the voyage and right up to the moment when you are busily hoisting that ladder, you must act as though you still serve Bullpole. Do you understand? He must not suspect – not for a moment – that you are anything but totally loyal to him.”
“I understand, my lord.”
“Don't forget that point. Remembering it may be the difference between a life of pleasure and privileges with me or a nasty death at Bullpole's command!”
Ignacio swallowed with difficulty, no doubt fully realizing the risk he was taking. “I – I shall be the soul of loyalty to Bullpole, to all appearances. But, sire, may I ask a question?”
The Greek nodded.
“What becomes of Bullpole after I close the opening and he is left in the sea-cavern below?'
The Greek grinned delightedly. “A good question and one, I suppose, there is no harm in answering since I must trust you implicitly! Why, if the comely little Mermaid doesn't murder him, the rising tide will surely drown the fat stupid ox! There are no other openings to that cave!”
Ignacio's eyes widened.
“M-Mermaid, sire?”
“In the dungeon at Athens I have an unbelievably beautiful, shapely and devastatingly desirable girl imprisoned. She is utterly, murderously mad. Out of her mind with hatred of all men. And she suffers the delusion that she's a Mermaid being kept from her natural habitat, the sea. In addition, she's stronger than any normal woman and being a genuine maniac – stronger than any man!”
“Farewell, Bullpole, eh, my lord?” Ignacio's grin was far from pleasant.
“Precisely, lad!”
Several days later, we embarked upon a single ship destined to sail from Palma de Majorca to Athens. Besides a scanty crew to handle the ship and a number of innocent-eyed virgins to provide pleasure, there were only the Greek, Bullpole and Ignacio – with myself upon Ignacio's person – that wily and conniving fellow, the Greek, having somehow convinced Bullpole, during the days preceding our departure, that the venture was best accomplished with a minimum of people involved – and apparently managing to drum the notion through Bullpole's skull until he thought it was his own idea.
The voyage was a periodically rough one with many storms and fearful seas, and a long, tedious one in the bargain. It might have been dreadfully dull had it not been for the gaggle of virgins aboard who, mercifully, provided the pleasure for which they had been brought.
It was interesting to note the consistent manner in which the Greek kept Bullpole's avid lust alive for the promised Mermaid by smoothly comparing her immortal beauty to the lusciously curved and helpless virgins, as they were deflowered one by one in the orgiastic sessions shared by Bullpole and the Greek, with always the implied fact that none of these gentle, yielding creatures were as exciting or satisfying as the Mermaid.
Bullpole was almost insane with a craving for the Mermaid before the voyage was half-completed. When he wasn't asleep, savagely raping still another terrified virgin or staring moodily ahead of the ship's bow with insatiable lust burning in his pale yellowish eyes – he talked of nothing except the legendary Mermaid awaiting his conquest of her passion and the sea's wealth. The Greek, of course, further inflamed Bullpole by assuring the lout that he was without a doubt the only man on earth who could possibly seduce the creature.
Watching Bullpole deteriorate – day by day – was a fascinating experience. Imperceptibly, at first, then more obvious as time passed, his obsession about the Mermaid and the wealth of the seas took hold of him – all his accumulated caution and intelligence crumbling under the obsessive desire for unlimited riches and the pleasures of copulation with an immortal female.
Then, one evening, when we were but a last day's sailing from Athens, the Greek consulted with a now feverish-eyed Bullpole.
“Why not indulge ourselves with a little show?” he suggested pleasantly. “A trifling performance that may titillate our voyage-jaded sensibilities.”
“How?” intoned Bullpole.
“Oh, by simply turning all those deflowered virgins over to the crew – and enjoying the sight of hungry men having a feast of the flesh! Famished by weeks of enforced celibacy, discounting the therapeutic use of their fists, they should be quite anxious to have the use of lovely young girls – and I confess that I should indeed be delighted to view the rollicking orgy, having exhausted every other effort to amuse myself! What do you say to the notion, old friend?”
“It sounds interesting.” Bullpole stared with slack jaw into space. “Go ahead, if you like. I prefer to sit here and prepare myself for that little Mermaid who is going to make me the richest man on earth!”
“How touching!” There was the slightest hint of a jeering note in the Greek's tone. “Very well! I shall instruct the good captain to free his crew upon the girls!”
Meeting Ignacio on deck, the Greek described his idea for entertainment. “Come to think about it, lad, you've not had much fun, either, have you?”
“I – I was allowed to have that blonde, last week. The little plump one who was ill with the humors and kept fainting every hour. I fucked her almost to the moment she died, my lord. But I could use another girl!”
“And so you shall have one!”
After the Greek strolled off to discuss the matter with the ship's captain, Ignacio stared at his back, muttering: “It must be wonderfully fine to be free – and possess the power he and Bullpole demonstrate! It must be like being a god. If only I could taste that kind of power!”
An hour later – having dispensed wine to the crew and girls who had been gathered on the deck – the Greek sat atop a hatch, gleefully watching the orgy slowly developing as the nervous wenches drank with the hot-eyed sailors. Ignacio had joined the festivities and was already possessively cuddled up to a dark-haired beauty, their backs to the side of the ship as they swilled the strong wine from the ship's stores.
Then a girl screamed as her companion ripped the clothing from her shapely body, chasing her the length of the deck before he caught her, hurling himself upon her and greedily burying his face in her firm young
