Part 13 (1/2)

With the team complete, Cortin had them begin training together every morning. She herself started the day with Ma.s.s for the Detention Center Inquisitors and their guests, as she'd promised, losing herself in the ceremony and coming back to mundane reality only when it was over and she removed the stole. After breakfast was the team training, then lunch, followed by individual work or study. For her, that meant interrogations--and she decided quickly to allow Bain to do the preliminary stages, concentrating her own attention on the stubborner subjects. With a limited, if uncertain, time before they had to be ready, she had to get Odeon past his squeamishness as quickly as possible so she could start training him as her a.s.sistant.

It was Sat.u.r.day before he managed to get through a session without throwing up, and she didn't think it proper to conduct interrogations on Sunday except in an emergency, so it was Monday when she started teaching him. The subject was a young Brother that Bain evaluated as having no useful information, but as being strong enough to survive up to a week of teaching sessions. Cortin preferred to go after something specific, make it a contest between her and her subject, even though it was a contest she was almost certain to win. But teaching was as valid a function as extracting information, and it would insure that the Brother served at least one useful function in his life while paying for his crimes against the Kingdoms.

Their subject was waiting when they entered the interrogation suite's third-stage room, prepared as usual: naked, with some bruising, spreadeagled between ceiling chains and floor eyebolts. Cortin gestured at him, speaking to Odeon. ”You've already noticed I keep our methods simple, Captain; the reason is that almost all our work will be done in the field, so I think it best to practice with equipment we can either take or adapt there. This method of securing a subject is an example; you can almost always find trees and ropes, while you'll seldom if ever find a surgical table. The same principle goes for drugs; we use ones like algetin or eroticine that are effective, simple to administer, and can easily be replaced at a shelter or detention center. Any questions so far?”

”No, ma'am.” Odeon had been more concerned with keeping his stomach under control than with evaluating her methods and techniques, but thinking back, he realized she had kept them to the basics.

”Good.” Cortin went to the prisoner. ”The preliminary examination seems simple, but it will give you both physical and psychological information invaluable to the interrogation process itself.” She ran fingers over the subject's face and throat. ”For instance, Lieutenant Bain has convinced this one that arguing back is not a good idea, although there is little damage visible; that tells me he is easily intimidated, and would not normally require third-stage interrogation.”

”Why, then?” the subject burst out. ”I told--”

Cortin backhanded him across the throat. ”Because I need a training aid, and you were available. Now be silent.” She paused, but saw no sign of disobedience. ”That's better.”

She continued her examination and commentary to Odeon. ”No particular sensitivity around the ears . . . about average for the eyes . . . rest of the face and throat the same . . . minor sensitivity at the nipples, promising . . . ribs tender in spots . . . same over the kidneys, have to be careful there if we want him to last; internal injuries should be avoided in an extended interrogation.” She paused, turning to Odeon.

”We are getting to a particularly interesting area now. There are a few rare subjects who do not seem to mind being naked to an Inquisitor, or having their b.u.t.tocks and genitals handled--but in most cases, a subject's s.e.xuality is his most vulnerable area, in theory especially so to a female Inquisitor. Physically, these areas are extremely rich in nerves; psychologically, they are ego-centers. Both make them easy targets, which is why I seldom exploit them early; if the subject cooperates without that particular pressure, nothing is lost since you can still use it as punishment if you feel it desirable. If the subject does not cooperate, you can be almost positive he will when you add that pressure to the rest. A perfect example is the first interrogation you saw me conduct.”

Where Illyanov had raped the subject while Joanie finished her skinning of him with his genitals. ”Yes, ma'am, I remember--though I'm afraid I don't understand how the Major could have been . . . able . . . to do his part.”

Cortin grinned without humor. ”You'll see, perhaps with this subject, probably within another two or three. It's a reaction I'm no longer capable of, but it's perfectly normal for pain--usually another's, but sometimes your own--to provoke arousal. I'm told it's similar to the pre-danger form we're all familiar with.”

Odeon nodded slowly. Put that way, he thought he could understand, at least a little.

”With this one, if you feel the urge, go ahead; in a serious interrogation, I may need for you to wait till it's most useful.”

”Yes, ma'am.”

”Good.” Cortin turned back to her subject, probing between his b.u.t.tocks, pleased when he whimpered. ”Brothers, in particular, express a strong revulsion for what they choose to call 'unnatural' s.e.x--but you would be surprised how many of the older ones show evidence of having partic.i.p.ated in it repeatedly. I know I was.” She probed deeper, hearing truth in her subject's cries of horrified denial.

”This one, however, seems not to be party to such, ah, rarefied pleasures. Yet.” She moved to his front, stroking the underside of his p.e.n.i.s and smiling at his uncertain response. ”Or to more usual ones, it seems. Is it possible you are a virgin, Brother? I do find that hard to believe.”

”Yes . . .” the subject gasped.

”Intriguing . . . I will have to inform my colleagues. But you will cooperate in anything Captain Odeon wants of you?”

”No, please!”

”Don't bother begging; I am not inclined to show a Brother any more mercy than they showed me. The primary difference is that I finish the job.”

The youth stared at her, then shook his head. ”No, you can't be--the b.i.t.c.h is dead!”

Cortin started to hit him for his insolence, then paused. ”Perhaps she is,” she said thoughtfully. ”But if they killed the b.i.t.c.h, they gave birth to Azrael.” She turned to Odeon. ”I gather the Brothers don't believe the news stories of my survival. That is unfortunate; for the maximum psychological impact, they should.” She turned back to the subject, frowning as she studied him, her fists on her hips. ”Is that it, Brother?”

The young man shook his head, then nodded. ”Sort of . . . the Raidmaster says you're alive, and a few may believe him, but the others in the raiding party say you can't be--an' since no one wants you to be, well . . .”

”I see.” Cortin's frown deepened as she thought. ”I had not intended to permit any Brother who came to me to live--but I begin to think I should make an exception, use you as a messenger and advertis.e.m.e.nt.”

”You can't just let him go!” Odeon exclaimed.

”No, of course not--that would give the wrong impression.” Cortin scowled as her subject licked dry lips. ”He is a Brother, by definition deserving of a painful death and eternal d.a.m.nation.

Conventional punishment, however--especially mine--would leave him in no shape for anything except intensive care or a disabled ward. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate them.”