Part 72 (1/2)

Cortin chuckled. ”That can be remedied easily enough, if you decide you want to, but for your present purposes you don't need experience.

All you have to do is take hold of him, snugly enough to provide a friction surface but not tight. The eroticine will make him take care of the rest.”

”That sounds simple enough.” Keith reached for the prisoner.

The Sandeman didn't look too sure of himself, Odeon thought, when he took hold of the prisoner's erection and the man began moving. Well, Keith had said he had no experience with men . . . It looked like he was a quick study, though--starting to rub and squeeze in a way Odeon was sure he'd like to experience. Without the drugs, of course.

And, Odeon thought, it seemed pretty clear that Keith enjoyed the pain he was inflicting. That brief smile as moans became cries reminded him again of Joanie; Keith's reaction to his first third-stage was a far cry from Odeon's own. Still, he told himself, maybe Keith's pleasure shouldn't be a surprise, since the Protector's role included the punishment of sinners.

The Sandeman's smile grew as the prisoner's moves became faster, more urgent, and Odeon was surprised he could keep hold, but he managed--and the prisoner climaxed in a prolonged series of spasms, screaming in agony.

Keith turned to his chosen lady. ”Was that satisfactory, Thakur?”

”Most satisfactory,” Cortin said with unconcealed admiration. ”You've just given me--all Inquisitors, once I get it published--what promises to become an extremely useful standard technique, especially with rapists. I'll see you're given full credit, of course.” She smiled at Keith. ”You've also changed my plans for him. That degree of pain, administered repeatedly, can be lethal--and I can't think of a more fitting end for a rapist. We'll let him drip overnight, then give him a fresh dose and see how many times he can take what he forced on others. What do you think?”

”I don't share your expertise, Thakur, so my opinion may not be valid.

Still, it sounds appropriate to me.”

”So be it, then.” Cortin smiled at him, approvingly. ”Would you like to help? You seemed to enjoy yourself as much as an Inquisitor would, and Mike doesn't have that particular quirk; he helps because he loves me, not because he likes the work.”

Keith hesitated briefly before answering. ”It surprises me, Thakur, that I did enjoy it. But I would not displace Captain Odeon from something that brings you two close.”

Cortin looked at her second in command. ”What do you think, Mike?”

”If he wants it, he's got it,” Odeon replied promptly. Turning to the Sandeman, he went on. ”As she says, I don't have the mental quirk that lets me like hurting people; I'd be glad to get out of the job.”

”It seems I do,” Keith said. ”At least since she wants this one to hurt, I took a great deal of pleasure in causing him as much pain as I could.”

”It's all yours, then,” Odeon said promptly. ”With my thanks, by the way--which I'll demonstrate later, if you want.”

”In the meantime,” Cortin said, ”I'm hungry. Let's go up to supper.”

Return to main storyline: 31. Explanation

30d. Torture (Keith's point of view)

Keith was surprised to find himself more intrigued than anything else at the scene through the observation room window. What she'd called the third-stage room resembled, more than anything else the young Sandeman could think of, was a museum exhibit of a twentieth-century operating room he'd seen once, with cabinets of supplies and equipment, monitoring machinery, even a surgical table. But operating rooms didn't have chains hanging from the ceiling, and patients weren't held spreadeagled, naked, between those and eyebolts in the floor--and he'd had no particular feeling toward the doctor in the display, where he'd developed a strong fondness for the Inquisitor.

A couple of minutes after they entered, Odeon glanced toward the observation room, raised a hand in acknowledgement, and said something to Cortin. She turned toward them. ”Colonel Bradford?”

”Yes,” Bradford said, ”with Ranger Medart and Lt. DarElwyn.”

”If you'd care to, you're welcome to join me in here.”

”Thank you, Excellency.” Bradford switched off the intercom and turned to the others, looking surprised. ”That's a first; she doesn't normally allow anyone in there except Captain Odeon or other Inquisitors. The disadvantage is that you can't avoid her prisoner's screams by shutting off the intercom.”

”Even so,” Medart said thoughtfully, ”if an invitation's that rare, we ought to accept.”

The three entered the larger room, which smelled of antiseptic--rather to Keith's surprise. Why should Her Excellency care about infection in people she was torturing to death? He might ask her later, if it looked like she wouldn't mind discussing her work.