Ladies Westward · Part 2 (2/2)
Previous
All this time the van was travelling swiftly. Smoothly, quietly, on a country highway, purposefully heading somewhere. Grace, securely bound, still wrapped in her cape and strapped to the van wall support was not uncomfortable. Her captor, seeing she was not hysterical or abusive, was inclined to be friendly. She kept the light on and the two women talked. Grace found it informative.
They travelled for over an hour then the van slowed and finally came to a halt. The woman quickly unstrapped her from the wall, slipped the cape off and lifted her upright. “For the next few minutes, it’s better you don’t see,” she said and pulled a long black cloth from the shopping holdall, which had been placed on the seat and firmly, carefully blindfolded her. Meanwhile the other two had come round and opened the back door.
They lifted her out. Grace felt she was standing on a solid surface, perhaps a driveway. Rustling breezes told her there were many trees around. Was she in a country area? One of the three women pushed her forward, she sensed passing through a doorway, then along what must have been a paved corridor. Two of her captors had gone ahead. She heard their voices some distance away.
“What do you mean?” Her travelling companion from the van was saying heatedly. “You’re the only one here. Where is everyone?”
A soft male voice answered. “Just that. There’s only me. They’re all at the Mountains Festival. It’s a big thing in this part of the world. Some of the girls will be back in an hour or so and everyone will be here by tomorrow morning, but, for the moment, I'm the only one in the place.”
“They knew we’d be bringing an item in for processing at this time?”
“Indeed they did,” replied the man’s voice, “They told me about it. And I’ve made full preparation for it. The lady can be accommodated.”
“I’m going to say something to Madame when I see her."
The bound and blindfolded Grace reached the two speakers and halted. She was then ushered further along the corridor, heard a lock click and again felt she was entering a doorway. She was stopped and felt nimble fingers untying her bonds. Last of all, her blindfold was removed and she could see again.
She was in a large room, about three and a half metres wide and seven long. Smooth concrete floor and painted plaster walls. There was a horizontal barred window high up on what must be an outer wall. At one end there was a partitioned off area in which she could see a cabinet, washbasin and mirror. To one side there was a curtained shower recess and on the other a wooden door, presumably a toilet. At the other end was a small table with two chairs. In the middle were two tubular steel frame beds, made up with mattresses, blankets and pillows. Everything was neat, clean and tidy.
“Well Grace,” said the older of her two abductors who was standing beside her, helping her companion stow her bindings and blindfold into the holdall they had used throughout, “This’ll be your home for the next few days. How long, depends on how co-operative daughter Tania is. But we understand she’s likely to be.”
Grace looked around. Her gaze lighted on the man whom had met them when they arrived, standing just inside the door.
He was a tall thin man, about the same age as herself. Even the same build as she was. He had a narrow face, a high forehead and a full head of hair, just starting to grey. He looked friendly and, as if to show this, smiled and said, “You’ll find everything you need, towels, washers, even toiletries, the bed soft and the blankets warm. And there’ll be absolutely nothing to disturb your sleep.”
The first woman spoke again. “We’ll bring you something to eat when required and we’ll keep an eye on you. And for now, we’ll leave you to it. Make yourself comfortable. Light switch beside the door.” She turned and walked out, ushering the other two with her. The door closed, the lock clicked and Grace was left alone in her new surroundings.
She went to one of the metal framed beds and sat on it. She remained there for a long while, just sitting, looking around at the room. She noticed a small bookcase in a far corner. She got up and walked over to look at the titles.
To her utter astonishment many were works of a philosophical nature. She pulled one out, took it back to the bed, sat down and began to look through it.
She was still doing this when a knock sounded on the door.
She looked up. The lock turned, the door opened and the man who had left half an hour before came in. He was holding a tray containing two steaming mugs of what looked like hot chocolate and a small plate of biscuits.
“It seemed to me,” he began smilingly, “You were left alone somewhat abruptly, without any explanation. Also that you might be a little hungry by now, and, that you might want to talk.”
Well this last was certainly true. There were a lot of questions Grace wanted to ask. And she would appreciate something to eat. She stood up. The man came over, put the tray in the middle of the side of the bed and sat down beside it. After some hesitation she sat on the other side.
“Well then,” she began, “It’s been a while since I’ve had anything to eat.” She wasn’t going to thank these people. After all, they had kidnapped her, abducted her from her own home. She picked up a mug and cautiously began to sip. It was was hot and sweet. “You mentioned talking?” She said.
“Talk away if you wish,” the man smiled. He seemed friendly. That they were about the same age probably helped.
She took a deep breath. “Where is this place?”
“You’ll understand that I can’t tell you that exactly. Let’s say it’s in a remote area.”
She looked around the room. “What is this building?”
“Long ago it was a grand country estate but suffered various misfortunes and for a while fell on hard times. But there’s been a lot spent on it recently. Now, many people work – and live here – quite agreeably and comfortably. This room was once part of the servant quarters. Later a storeroom, hence the barred window. Now it’s an overnight stopping place for captive ladies on their way to far places."
Grace was determined to press on. “That woman in the van told me you kidnap young women, drug them and ship them bound and gagged to places like the Middle East. You’re white slavers.”
The man’s smile faded. “A gross oversimplification and not true anyway. I’m surprised she told you that.” In fact, she hadn’t. Grace, in the hope of finding out more about her own situation, had used her imagination. In truth the woman had simply said that part of their operations was to send girls overseas.
The man went on. “Let’s say we’re suppliers of specialist skills and labour. The fact that they’re inevitably young women is understandable. That’s what our purchasers want. As a rule most of the girls, in the long run, go to better situations than they were in here.”
“And you ship them from this house?”
“Not from here. This is merely a staging place. A way station. They pass through here. The actual point of transhipment is further to the west. It has its own private airstrip.”
Grace looked at the man. “You’re telling me a lot. And yet you say I’ll eventually end up back in my own home. If that happens, aren’t you concerned that I might report everything that I’ve seen and heard here?”
“My dear Grace,” the man’s smile was back, “If either you or your daughter so much as breathe a word about what you’ve seen, you’ll both quickly disappear and you’ll both end up in some remote part of the Middle East, or more likely Latin America. And there’ll be no coming back.”
“But,” he went on, "Tania fully understands this, and it’s important you do too. Right now, I believe she’s being very co-operative where she is. Some very interesting facts are coming to light. It seems her employers, Com-International, have had some questionable dealings with various warlords and other unsavoury characters. Information no one wants to see the light of day.”
“And so,” still smiling, the man leaned back, “Dear Gracie, all you have to do is relax and enjoy your stay here. You’ll be quite comfortable. And simply wait until we send you back home." He picked up the other mug and drank a mouthful.
Grace, sipped from her own mug and nibbled at a biscuit. She was quiet and pensive. She decided it would be smarter not to ask any more about this organisation that she had fallen in with. She drank some more chocolate.
Meanwhile the man, now completely relaxed, had picked up the philosophical book she had brought to the bed and looked at it. He glanced toward the bookcase. “Some very deep books there,” he explained “Some of the ladies who pass through here are very cultured and we try to cater for all tastes.”
He went on, looking at the book, “Nietzche indeed, I wonder what he’d have made of this operation here.” He laughed, “Possibly he’d have understood it very well.” Grace considered what he meant. She understood a little about philosophy.
“Your social life appears pretty limited Grace,” he went on, changing the subject. “Granted, you’re in a comfortable upper middle class area, but after twelve years living there you’d know it to be full of retirees, widows, widowers, people divorced and more than a few fortune hunters on the make I’d say. But very few you could really talk to. Intellectually, I mean.”
Grace was amazed at the personal information these people had about her. But, oddly she didn’t mind discussing it. She assumed that after this particular episode was over, she’d never see any of them again. And the ones she’d spoken to so far had some deep insights into human nature.
She admitted this was true. And then added cautiously that he sounded as if he knew the area himself.
He laughed. “I’m thinking of retiring myself and actually considered your area. I’ve made my pile, one way and another and I’ve been very comfortable here.” He reminisced fondly “I enjoyed a delightful relationship but that’s past now. Sadly, my partner died recently and I want to move away.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” instinctively, involuntarily, this slipped out, even though Grace had earlier resolved she had no reason to be nice to these kidnappers.
Her companion nodded. “Thank you. We had many good years together, but we’re all vulnerable.” He continued. “Now it’s time to move on.” He smiled “And your area is one of the places I’ve considered settling in. That’s how I know about it.”
Grace nursed her cup of chocolate. She decided this personal conversation was safer than talking about what these people really did here.
“So you’re without a partner now. What’re you doing for companionship then? Taking advantage of some of the ladies who pass through here?” She regretted this at once, particularly after just deciding not to discuss what happened in this place.
But the man simply smiled. “You have some lurid ideas of what we do here. Management doesn't always approve of that, you might be surprised to know.” He went on, “I keep my eyes open. But you’re right, I am looking for a companion.”
Grace silent for a while. She wondered if she had gone too far implying he was in a position to have his way with captive women here. At the same time she reflected his situation seemed so similar to her own. She had been on the lookout for a suitable companion for years.
He looked at her. “Perhaps I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering if I’m going to take advantage of yourself. Tie you down to one of these beds and penetrate you forcibly?” He smiled again, indeed he gave the impression of being one who smiled a lot. “I’ll bet you haven’t had a love experience for long time.”
“Over a year,” she snapped, “And that’s a year too long. Not that it’s any of your business.” Here she looked at him carefully, “But perhaps it is.” Purposefully, she decided to take a firm line in this unfolding drama.
“Anyhow,” she continued in a serious voice, “Am I to suppose if I’m not co-operative you’ll tie me up and take me by force? Am I right?”
His face became serious and he disregarded her last remark. “Like yourself, I haven’t made love in many months. It'd be my first indulgence since my partner went. For a long while I just couldn’t face it without her.”
Grace became serious too. It had been a long time indeed since she had enjoyed the delights of love. From what these people said she and Tania would both be home eventually and they’d never see any of them again. This looked like an opportunity worth seizing. “Well then. Let’s both try and make it worthy of her memory.”
He looked at her questioningly, “Alright then. Let’s do that.”
They stood up. Both undressed quickly. Grace’s blouse and skirt, his shirt and trousers, all placed neatly on the second bed. Footwear removed and pushed under the bed. Finally their underwear was slipped off and arranged carefully on the outer garments. Hesitatingly, they faced each other.
Grace’s heartbeat quickened. Her first fuck in fourteen months and with the man, his first since his partner had departed the scene. Yet generously, her only thought was a prayer, God, let me make him feel it was worthwhile, a worthy first indulgence since her departure. They climbed between the sheets of the second bed.
Grace moistened quickly and her partner found her easy to penetrate. He hesitated at first and she used every one of her long unused skills to help him. Slowly, gradually he began to thrust at her and she did everything she could to encourage him. At last he began to drive at her in an ever increasing tempo. She went from an active to a passive response and began a series of moans of ecstasy that were anything but faked.
Finally the both climaxed simultaneously with sounds of mutual delight which must have been heard at a great distance.
All energies spent, they lay silently and passively in each other’s arms. “See,” she whispered, “It wasn’t so difficult after all, was it?” She reflected a while. “And I hope you felt it a worthy tribute to your friend.”
"No, no, not difficult at all,” he whispered. “And she’d have approved. I’m sure she would.”
Some time after he got up, dressed quickly and prepared to leave. Before he went he handed her a small towel from the washstand. She remained in bed. He assured he’d see her tomorrow when he brought her meals. He left, switching off the light and locking the door behind him. Grace was content.
In the morning light flooded the room through the high window. Grace showered and shortly after her companion of the evening brought her breakfast. He stayed part of the morning and the two later indulged in an equally satisfactory manner as the night before. He came again in mid afternoon and the two conversed about the near future. It seemed her companion really had made some investigation about settling near Grace’s part of the city. And she made it clear that now she would prefer their association continued, at least for a while. They looked at the contents of the book case and discovered they had some intellectual leanings in common.
The man brought her dinner in the early evening. Once again on a tray, it was adequate, and filling. Grace noticed the crockery, cutlery and other items were always spotlessly clean. This time her companion ate with her. He was able to tell her she would be taken home soon. Tania, it seemed had been splendidly co-operative.
After the meal they had a final coupling which, though of slower pace than the earlier ones, was enormously satisfactory. Grace, by now, wished only that they had met long before.
On completion, she dressed and was just strapping on her shoes when the two ladies who had first abducted her entered the room. Both were dressed for travelling, overcoated, wearing hats and their black leather gloves. Exactly as she had first seen them, nearly thirty long hours ago.
Quietly, tersely, they informed her she was to travel that night and that it was necessary to bind and gag her again. They had brought their shopping holdall with them. Their manner was businesslike, they were quick and determined. Grace sensed they were well aware how she had spent the last twenty four hours. Her companion stood by but did take part in her final bondage. He made sure she was bound comfortably.
They had tied her wrists and arms and were preparing to gag her. Both Grace and the man said this was not necessary. The two women said it was. At this moment the door opened.
A woman came in. She was perhaps approaching sixty with the trim athletic figure of someone who has always carefully looked after herself. Her face was square, determined with a firm chin. She had piercing blue eyes. Her hair was short, lightly brown rinsed and very neat. She wore what looked like a belted grey uniform but smartly tailored to fit her. Grace could see it was of very good quality fabric. Because of this and the look of purpose on her face she exuded authority.
“Well ladies,” she began, “Getting ready for the road I see,” she turned to Grace and playfully stroked her under the chin, “And you’d be Grace Lesage who’s been our guest these last twenty four hours.”
The already bound Grace flinched. She did not like being fondled like this. She jerked her head back. The woman asked, “Do you know who I am?”
Grace did not know how to answer this, but thought she’d best be careful what she said. She did want to go home and sensed this lady was in a position to stop it if she wanted to. “Well, no,” she replied guardedly, “You’re a matron, someone in charge, aren’t you?”
The woman laughed, the other three said nothing, but smiled deferentially. “I’m certainly in charge here,” she said with authority, “And I’m generally addressed as ‘Ma’am,’ though sometimes,’ she glanced at the others, “I’m referred to as ‘Madame' behind my back.”
Grace was beginning to understand. On the night of her arrival her older captor had said she would complain to ‘Madame’ because there was only one person here to meet them.
“Well Grace,” the lady in charge went on.”I hope you had a pleasant stay with us. We try to make our visitors as comfortable as we can. I believe you were looked after quite well.” She glanced briefly at the man.
“One thing you must understand Grace,” she said turning back to the captive, “You will say absolutely nothing about what you have seen here. Neither you nor Tania. Tania already knows this. If either of you do, both of you will disappear as suddenly and completely as if you had never existed. Do I make myself clear?” The penetrating blue eyes never left the bound woman’s face. Grace nodded.
“Well then,” this lady, so obviously in command, stepped back and looked at Grace’s torn sheet bindings.”Very neatly bound,” she turned to her two captors, “Use a proper ball gag on her. She’ll be more comfortable.” She eyed the rain cape she had worn on they journey to this place, “She’ll probably need that. There’s no telling who’ll be around at the other end.”
"Well Grace.” She turned to the captive once more, “Bon voyage. I hope you’ll have a pleasant trip home. Tania will be there ahead of you. She’ll be drugged but she’ll revive and untie you. Remember, not a word from either of you about where you’ve been.”
She concluded, “I thought this would be the only time I’d ever see you Grace. Now, I’m not so sure. Perhaps, we’ll meet again.” With this enigmatic remark she kissed Grace on the cheek and walked out of the room.
“That was Ma’am. She’s the boss lady,” murmured the older woman. And true to the boss lady’s instructions they produced a red rubber ball gag, fitted it carefully into Grace’s mouth and secured it firmly at the back of her neck. And it was more comfortable, as predicted. Lastly, they fitted the rain cape she had worn on way out, pulled the hood over her head and took her out to the van outside.
The journey home was like the trip away, only in reverse. They arrived in the early morning. Tania was, as forecast, already there in the lounge room, lying in the most comfortable armchair, well anaesthetised. They placed Grace on the lounge opposite her and bound her ankles and thighs. Before they went they retrieved their ball gag and cape, jokingly saying they’d need them for the next abduction. The gag was replaced by a simple damp folded wad of cloth. Her daughter was already showing signs of reviving as they were leaving.
Tania regained consciousness and untied her mother. The two embraced thankfully and then had a long talk together. Both felt this very necessary before they did anything.
Later, Tania was to admit privately to her firm that information had been obtained from her by questioning and drugs. But she had been astute and smart enough to get something from them, both from the questions asked and observing data on the computer they had forced her to use. She was more talented than they had thought. Consequently, when she had finally reported back she was able to give valuable insights about one of their most dangerously competitive corporate trade rivals. They were at least grateful to get this intelligence. She still held her position with the company.
It was well over a month later. Winter had come and it was late afternoon of a cold bleak day of frequent rain showers.
Grace was approaching the shopping mall in her suburb. Because of the weather she was using her umbrella and wearing a long shiny blue plastic raincoat, buttoned to the throat and tightly belted. To keep her feet dry she had worn ankle length rubber rain boots. The rain began to get heavier and she hurried into an arcade in the mall. She did not know she was being observed.
Taking cover in the shelter of the arcade, Grace was shaking droplets off her umbrella. And then a voice spoke behind her.
“Hello Grace.”
She spun around startled. Standing against a shopfront was her companion of nearly five weeks ago. He was wearing a dark, belted leather jacket and black jeans. And he was smiling, much the way she remembered him.
“Well, hello,” she began, startled, “I was wondering if I’d ever see you again. You’ve let some time go by. It’s been weeks now. You’ve taken your time.”
At this, he seemed hesitant. He’d clearly been unsure of what her reaction might be. “I know. It took longer to tidy up my affairs than I thought. And then Madame came up with something she wanted me to do before I went. She, by the way,” he added, “Asked about you. She remembers you.”
She was staring intently at him. Then looked quickly from left to right. Her wet raincoat rustled softly. This seemed to worry him. Perhaps he thought she was about to call out in a loud voice that this man was one of a group that had kidnapped her, carried her away bound and gagged and then held her captive for a day and a half. “Look Grace,” he began, “If you don’t want anything to do with me, I’ll…”
Her gaze returned to his face. Slowly it softened, she even smiled herself, “I must have been something special if I’m remembered out of all the tied and gagged captives your organisation no doubt handles.” Her raincoat swished as she walked towards him. “I was looking around at a coffee place at the end of this arcade. It’ll be deserted in this weather. I suggest we adjourn there, have two quiet coffees and discuss this matter further.”
He stepped to her side. “An admirable suggestion. Let’s do just that. There’s a lot we might talk about.” She even took his arm as they walked down the arcade.
Ladies Westward · Part 2 (2/2)
Previous
