Innocent (27 page)

It stopped as abruptly as it had stared, leaving Cianna sat in a sticky pool on the ground, unable to see, her mouth hanging slack with a mixture of come and spittle running from her lower lip. Her vagina was sodden, sperm and juice running from the open hole. Her anus was nearly as bad, bubbling out its sticky load between her bottom cheeks, and sore. Her skirt was still up around her waist, but absolutely sodden with sperm, while her chemise had been torn off and trodden into the filthy mess on the floor.

‘Well done, good girl,' Sulitea's voice sounded from behind her. ‘You too, Babalyn.'

Cianna risked opening one eye a crack. Sulitea stood above her, a speck of come on one foot, otherwise clean. Further back was Aeisla, holding both swords and quite unmarked. Babalyn was a different matter, like her, sat in a pool of sperm and girl juice, her huge breasts plastered with it, her face filthy, her eyes shut beneath thick clots, with a disgusting white forth bubbling from her nose. The men had retreated, standing in a huddle and happily boasting to each over of what they had done, or how much come they had produced.

‘So,' Sulitea addressed them calmly, ‘you must now keep your bargain.'

‘We work,' one of the bolder men said. ‘I am a shoveller.'

‘I also,' another said.

‘I am a dung boiler,' a third added.

More spoke, adding their own tasks to the list, until Sulitea held up her hands.

‘One of each of you,' she said. ‘You, first. You are a dung boiler, you say. Why do you boil the dung?'

‘If I do not, the pushers will beat me,' he answered immediately.

‘No,' Sulitea said. ‘What happens when you boil the dung?'

The man shrugged.

‘For what purpose must the dung be boiled?' she demanded.

‘I do not know,' he said.

‘Who does?' she asked through clenched teeth.

The men shook their heads, looking at each other, shrugging and speaking in low, quiet voices. Finally one spoke up.

‘The pushers know these things,' he said. ‘The supervisor also, and his assistants, who are free men.'

‘The pushers are slaves?' Sulitea asked.

‘Slaves,' the man agreed, ‘set above us to make us work well.'

‘And they will know?'

There was a chorus of agreement.

‘Where do I find these pushers?' Sulitea demanded. ‘In the compound?'

‘You cannot go to the pushers!' a slave exclaimed. ‘They will beat us for what we have done.'

‘I won't tell them,' Sulitea responded. ‘Now where are they?'

None spoke, except to each other, a general murmur of dissatisfaction.

‘Tell me!' Sulitea shouted. ‘Tell me, or I will have the big Ice Cannibal split your skulls for what little brain there is within!'

Aeisla swung up her sword. The slaves cowered quickly back.

‘The smaller shed, up the slope!' one stammered. ‘But you must not say you have been here!'

‘I will not, you have my word,' Sulitea answered him. ‘Cianna, come. Aeisla, remain here, outside. Retie the door and guard it. Show no mercy to any who come out. Do you here that, worms, the giant cannibal will be outside your door, eager to feast on the first man who attempts to get out!'

The slaves cowered back further and the girls retreated, adjusting their clothing as they went. Outside, a pale glow could be seen above the horizon, showing where the largest of the moons was due to rise. Already the night seemed less dense, and a leat showed as a long line of dull silver, running between the shed they had visited and the next. Cianna went to it, ignoring Sulitea's demands for haste as she and Babalyn helped to wash each other.

Soaking wet, and with the taste of dirty sperm still thick in her mouth, she put her soaking clothes back on. Despite her loyalty, she was feeling distinctly resentful towards Sulitea, who she felt might have taken a share, and to make matters worse, she needed to come.

Leaving Aeisla and Babalyn in the shadows beside the slave shed, Cianna and Sulitea made their way up the gentle slope, running low over the rapidly brightening ground. It proved easy to identify the pusher's building, a structure a third the size of the big slave sheds, with dim light showing in the windows. They moved cautiously forward, to peer within. Four men sat around a table, one in the act of throwing dice from a cup. All were big, and solid, obviously much better fed than the ordinary slaves. Mumbling something under her breath, Sulitea went to the door, pushing it wide. Immediately all four swung round, their mouths dropping open.

‘Before you begin,' Sulitea said quickly. ‘We are not cannibals. We mean you no harm. We only seek knowledge.'

‘How did you get into the compound?' one man, the biggest, demanded.

‘Who are you?' Sulitea asked him, ignoring the question.

‘Aglat,' he answered crossly. ‘I am the chief pusher here. Now who are you? Girls sent down for us? None were due, to my knowledge.'

‘Girls are girls,' another said, the shortest and fattest of the four. ‘Let's fuck them anyway.'

‘Be quiet, Uthos,' Aglat ordered, turning back to Sulitea.

‘You are Ice Cannibals,' he went on with certainty. ‘Everybody knows how one of you became wrestling champion by tearing the throat from her rival, then killed an Exquisite to feast on his blood…'

‘I did not… ' Cianna began in anger, but stopped suddenly.

‘Think of us as you wish,' Sulitea said tiredly, ‘but be assured that we have no desire to eat you. I am Sulitea, this is Cianna. We want knowledge from you. Are we secure here? What of the supervisors, and other free men?'

‘Supervisors!' Aglat exclaimed. ‘What a joke! Do you think free men would sleep in the compound? They keep to their villas on the hill. At night this is our place, and so long as things go smoothly the supervisor and his staff allow us to do as we please. Keep above production targets for a month and we are given girls, fail and we are demoted.'

‘And the guards?'

‘Live outside the wall, where they cannot be overwhelmed. If there is revolt all go to the rope. There has been no revolt in a hundred years. We are secure.'

‘Sometimes we spend all night fucking fine fat sluts like you,' Uthos added. ‘Who should care?'

‘Then it seems you are in a position to bargain,' Sulitea said.

‘We are,' Aglat answered. ‘What do you offer, and for what in exchange?'

‘We wish to know how the nitre is made.'

‘For black powder?'

Sulitea nodded.

‘You plan a revolt!?'

‘No. We have no interest whatever in Makea, save to gain the knowledge we need. Once we have it, we will leave, forever. There will be no consequences.'

‘So you say. The penalty for revealing our knowledge to other slaves is death by drowning. Hubaln?'

One of the other men stretched, looking thoughtfully at the girls.

‘My opinion,' he said at length, ‘is that they have been sent down by Supervisor Jaidhos, to test us. Naturally we would never think of revealing our knowledge.'

‘Wise thinking,' Aglat agreed.

‘We are not from your supervisor!' Sulitea exclaimed. ‘Would he send strange girls in the middle of the night if he wished to test your loyalty, girls asking outright questions? He would do it in some less obvious fashion.'

‘Perhaps,' Hubaln replied.

‘What of you Greifal?' Aglat asked. ‘Uthos?'

‘I believe them,' the one addressed as Greifal answered. ‘Jaidhos has never done such a thing before, and what would be its purpose when we cannot leave the compound? What are you offering in exchange for the knowledge, girls?'

‘Your freedom,' Sulitea answered. ‘As we got in, so may we leave.'

Greifal merely laughed, the other also.

‘Freedom?' Aglat said. ‘To do what? To be hunted down in the hills? To be killed in some unpleasant and inventive manner? Even if I could hide I am marked.'

He cocked up his leg, lifting the hem of his brilliant orange work suit to expose a broad circular tattoo.

‘Life would be a constant struggle,' Greifal went on, ‘and brief. Here, we have an easier life than many; adequate food, some comfort, girls occasionally. Your offer is worthless. Still, you look like you have fine fat breasts under that chemise, and a well rounded arse too. A fucking might buy a little information.'

‘Be cautious,' Hubaln warned.

‘Why trouble with their demands anyway?' Uthos put in. ‘I say we tie them and fuck them well, whether they want it or not. Then send them off with sore cunts and whipped arses, to Jaidhos or otherwise.'

‘They are Ice Cannibals,' Aglat pointed out. ‘You heard what happened to the Exquisite Ulourdos? He was found with his throat torn out, his sword still clutched in his dead fingers. I for one prefer them willing.'

‘I also,' Greifal agreed. ‘Excuse Uthos, girls, he is nothing but a lout. Still, a good fucking seems fair exchange for our knowledge. What do you say?'

‘You may fuck Cianna,' Sulitea said. ‘That in exchange for your knowledge, my word on it, do I have yours?'

‘I wish to fuck you also,' Aglat answered her. ‘Indeed, I for one want my cock in both of you.'

There were grunts of agreement, even from the reluctant Hubaln.

‘I do not mate with slaves,' Sulitea said haughtily.

‘Come,' Aglat said, ‘we have a bargain, let the rule be good fellowship. To be so aloof can cause only bad feeling.'

‘You might wish to watch us together,' Cianna suggested, ‘after which you can take turns with me, or perhaps Sulitea will change her mind.'

‘I will not change my mind!' Sulitea said, throwing Cianna an imperious look. ‘You are getting above yourself, Cianna! Still, I suppose they might watch me punish you, or sit on your face.'

‘There is no cause for argument, girls,' Aglat cut in. ‘Play together for us, this is a fine suggestion. Then we will fuck the copper haired one. For this I will tell you what I know.'

‘Your word on it?' Sulitea demanded.

‘Certainly,' he said, ‘so, boys, we are to fuck an Ice Cannibal! Such shame we can only boast among ourselves. Perhaps we should put them in the black earth beds to play.'

There was an immediate chorus of agreement and lewd chuckles.

‘Black earth beds?' Cianna asked doubtfully, sure she had caught a knowing look between Aglat and the other men.

‘Yes,' he went on, ‘you will enjoy it. Come, we will show you.'

He got up, the other behind him, walking to the door. Greifal came last, taking the lamp and ushering Cianna and Sulitea to the door with mock formality. Outside, now in bright moonlight with half the face of White Teimis showing above the jungle, they made their way down a path to one of the wider sheds. Aglat untied the door, opening it to reveal a row of broad pits stretching away into the gloom. Each was full of a black substance, that quivered as the door was pushed too behind them. Sulitea walked to the edge of the nearest, peering doubtfully down.

‘In there?' Sulitea asked. ‘What is it?'

‘Black earth,' Aglat replied. ‘It is harmless, I assure you. We have had many girls disport themselves in it.'

Cianna stepped forward, sniffing, but finding her sense of smell already so overwhelmed that she could detect nothing. The black earth had the appearance of a thick mud, and was clearly not simply dung as she had at first feared. Cautiously, she dipped a toe into the substance. A thin crust had formed on the top, which cracked easily, allowing her foot to sink into warm, slimy muck. She giggled, enjoying the feel of it squeezing up between her toes.

‘It's nice,' she said, letting her foot sink deeper with a squelching sound.

‘Get right in,' Hubaln suggested, ‘bottom first, you will find it even nicer.'

Cianna hesitated, then shrugged and let her foot sink deeper, the black ooze rising half way up her calf before she found the bottom. Carefully, she stepped in, then paused to unfasten her skirt and remove her chemise. The men chuckled as she went naked, Uthos squeezing his cock through his trousers. Squatting down, she let her bottom touch the surface of the muck. The crust broke, and as she sat the thick ooze squeezed up between her bottom cheeks and over her sex, a feeling so delicious that she gave a moan of pleasure.

‘Good, is it not?' Aglat said.

‘Lovely,' Cianna replied, kicking her legs out to let her bottom settle.

Sat splay legged in the bed, the muddy substance reached her waist. It was warm, and felt delicious against her skin. Smiling happily to herself, she took up two big handfuls, plastering the muck onto her breasts, cupping them to let it ooze between her fingers and smearing it over the round white globes. Two more handfuls followed, slapped on as she leant back against the edge, to form fat, dirty crowns to her breasts. Giggling, she watched one pile run slowly off, to fall back into the tank with a wet plop. The other she smeared into her cleavage, pushing the plump globes together to make the muck ooze out between them. She took some, smearing it over her the rest of her chest and up to her neck, then turning to Sulitea.

‘Come, Sulitea, Mistress,' she urged. ‘You have had me in mud often enough, in Boreal, and more recently, in…'

‘Yes,' Sulitea cut her off quickly. ‘Very well, I will do it.'

Stepping away from the men, Sulitea carefully unfastened her chemise, spilling out her breasts with her back to them. Her skirt followed, unwrapped and discarded, to leave the full white moon of her bottom on show. Aglat smacked his lips in appreciate, Uthos reaching out to take a pinch of the soft flesh. Sulitea slapped his hand away.

‘This was not our agreement,' she stated. ‘You may see me nude, you may watch me with Cianna, no more.'

‘I swear that the princesses in Kea can be no less haughty,' Greifal laughed. ‘In the earth with you then, and lets see how you and your friend disport yourselves.'