Corey Gibson on the slave block presumed she did well and obeyed all the rules. Bidding for her person was a steadly progression, frightening in its implications of slavery and the loss of freedom. From one million it progressed to two. The bids were scattered, they were not yet a duel. The American girl stood as erect and proud as she deemed wise. Those closest to the block examined her pudendum and pubic hair in zestful appetite. The back seats tended to concentrate upon her breasts. One man was evidently a navel addict, he stared at her?s in concentrated attention throughout the period of her sale. From time to time Abdul Nour raised a finger to top a bid. But the bid came back, higher and higher. For the sum of three million one hundred thousand dollars the daughter of the Planet Corporation was sold to the enigmatic grin of Reid Hunter. As his servant bound her hands behind her back, Corey Gibson supposed she should feel a flood of gratitude and relief. But she did not. Looking for Abdul Npur among the crowd she found him gone. Her purchaser, too, was absent.
So was Seth Burdett.
Naked and bound, Miss Corey Gibson was led to her new slavery by a hand grasping her hair. The hand was far from kind.
It was not the Beverly Hilton. But it was pleasant and the best Ben Sirah could offer. There was an exciting fragrance of coffee. For the time being the large airy room and balcony was a piece of America. Assef Aslam?s money could accomplish anything anywhere.
"If we seem a bit awkward it?s because of the clothes." Audrey giggled. "It?s been so long."
"Being naked on the coffle was so terribly convenient for us all." Corey added mischieviously. "You?ve no idea."
For a moment Reid Hunter looked embarrassed. "Well, I suppose I do have an idea…" He broke off awkwardly and laughed with them. Then surveyed his expensively clad duo with immense approval. "I believe that trek through the wilderness must have done you good. Those figures of your?s…! Wow!"
"You had a damn good look at?em." Corey snapped.
"Expect me to close my eyes?" He chuckled. "They treat you right here… let you see what you?re buying. I damn near bid on that girl they whipped. But I doubt if Assef would go for her on the expense sheet."
"You mean, seeing that ppor kid flogged did something for you?" Corey was piqued. "You ought to be ashamed!"
"Oh, I am! On the other hand it made me horny as hell."
Audrey was amused. "You mean that if they?d strung us up like that and whipped us the same way you?d have loved every stroke?"
"I wouldn?t have voted for it, sweetheart. But if it had just happened…! Holy cow, it would have driven me up the wall. I?d have had to buy a girl just to find relief."
"Reid, that?s horrible."
"Well, maybe. But that?s why they all bid like crazy… they couldn?t wait to get to the nearest whorehouse."
"You are also disgusting."
He was unperturbed. "You girls care to make a man happy?"
"I?ll get into bed with you." Audrey conceded unblushingly. "But I?m damned if I?ll let you whip me so?s you can get a hard-on first."
Reid Hunter sighed mockingly. "You girls! No gratitude. How about you, Corey Gibson?"
The demand was sudden enough to catch her unawares. Corey was still unsure…! "Have I any say in the matter?" She asked doubtfully. "Don?t notice any manacles on you, sweetheart."
"Maybe not. Sometimes they don?t show."
"Mind you, if you two girls have got so used to being chained…?" His grin became benefiscent. "I can easily arrange some handcuffs."
"Oh, drop dead, Reid." Audrey laughed. "If you really go for that I?m sure Assef would pay for a girl. You could keep her chained to your bed:"
"Why not, Reid! You?ve done enough of his dirty work." Corey was still piqued from her first betrayal.
"Come, come, Corey! If it wasn?t for me and Assef you?d now be bracing a harem."
"If it wasn?t for you I?d never have left New York. Remember what I called you: Judas goat, that?s what you did to me."
"Don?t fret, darling." Audrey patted a quivering shoulder. "Assef would have got you one way or another. Don?t blame Reid."
"Well… I suppose…"
Audrey spoke directly to the man. "The poor darling?s still uncertain where she?s at. I know where I?m at. But is she slave or free?"
Reid Hunter waved the demand aside. "Let?s have lunch." He suggested. "And a drink or two. There?s one or two things…"
It was glorious to be free. Corey could not deny exaltation. Even if Aslam claimed her it would be better than this savage place. She and Audrey Cotswold had bathed and chosen clothes in a frenzy of feminine happiness.
"I told you, Corey." The English girl admonished. "They were bound to find us. All its amounted to is a bad time in the cell and on the coffle. Now we?re home free."
"Am I?"
"Honestly, I don?t know." Audrey admitted reluctantly. "You look free to me…" She paused reflectively. "But I suppose if Assef?s given orders…! It?s his plane out there on the sand… don?t suppose you want to run off in the trees?"
"I would rather than be a slave again."
"But, darling, you?d be picked up by someone… You?d end up on the block again. Or worse…! That?s the hell of it, there?s worse things than being a aslavegirl. Dammit?, look at me!"
"You?re his number one. I?ll be for whipping."
Audrey kissed her tenderly. "I love you, Corey Gibson. Leave things with me and Reid. We?ll make out someway. In his way he?s not a bad guy." Corey had responded. They had made love with a joyous abandon. Perhaps she really was free… perhaps…! Now, looking across the table at her insouciant host, it was hard to believe she was still a slave to anyone. She was listening attentively.
"I think you?ve forgotten poor old Assef had to be bailed out." Reid was reminding them. "I had the job. It cost too huge a sum to mention. As of right now Aslam?s gunning for Abdul Nour. One day he?ll nail the silly bastard." He shrugged at them apologetically. "Actually it was a damn good thing those traders snaffled you away from Amphala. You were Abdul?s ace in the hole. Losing you weakened his hand."
"Can you get in touch with those two men…? Or one of them?" Corey asked with feigned indifference.
"She?s in love with a great masculine hulk named Set Burdett." Audrey informed amusedly. "You?ll have to forgive the poor child, it?s her glands…"
"Probably retired to the Riviera or Brazil." Reid sighed.
"That coffle fetched a mint." He eyed Corey in mock concern. "If you?re suffering, dear girl, I?ll be happy to service you."
"You shouldn?t take a chance, Reid." Corey told him with equal frankness. "I?ve been screwed all over half of Africa, thanks to you. Maybe you?d catch something."
They let it go at that. Reid continued. "That left us at square one, except for Assef?s girl Friday and his latest slave who were somewhere in a wilderness on a long chain. We made enquiries…"
"And waited until we got to where handy to pick up." Audrey contributed tartly.
"Well, neither of us was Stanley or Livingstone, y?know! And the local constabulary couldn?t have cared less." Reid shook an admonishing finger. "Like I said, you girls…! I?m not a bit sure that hike on the coffle wasn?t the best thing in the world for yoy both…"
"It got Corey nicely screwed a couple of times and I lost five pounds."
"Don?t keep harping in the irrelevant." Reid?s rebuke was paternal. "I?m trying hard to bring you both up to date." He turned to Corey. "Your Dad?s O.K. He and Assef have struck a deal. I?ll admit that Aslam?s possession of your delightful body was a factor in negotiations, but what?s a hundred million or so between these tycoon types? The Planet Corporation Has survived its crisis and your Dad isn?t on welfare."
"I?m grateful. Where am I?"
"In a town called Ben Sirah. I?m not sure just where it is myself. You?re having dinner with me and Audrey."
"You know damn well what I mean."