The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel

  30c. Torture (Odeon's point of view)

  Maybe an hour after Cortin began her preliminary examination, Odeonglanced toward the observation room, raised a hand in acknowledgementwhen he saw the light on above the window, and spoke softly to Cortin."Someone in the observation room, Excellency."

  She turned that way. "Colonel Bradford?"

  "Yes," Bradford replied over the intercom, "with Ranger Medart and Lt.DarElwyn."

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

  "Thank you, Excellency." Moments later, the three entered the largeroom, while Odeon hid his surprise. Joanie didn't normally allowanyone around during a third-stage session except Odeon himself oranother Inquisitor!

  "The interview went all right?" Cortin asked.

  "Quite well," Bradford replied. "I'll get the operation moving as soonas I get back to my office."

  "Good--thanks, both of you." Cortin turned back to her prisoner, stilladdressing the observers. "This one's nothing special, except in thenumber of his crimes and the fact that he wanted witnesses until he gotto the last victim in each series. It was the rapes that were hisparticular thrill; the murders were enjoyable, but more of a sideeffect. So I'll be concentrating on the punishment for rape."

  Although he'd been her assistant for a little over a year, Odeon--asIllyanov had predicted--still didn't like the work; he helped onlybecause he loved Cortin, and there were things her own torture andmaiming by the Brothers had left her physically unable to do, untilJeshua, and later Shayan, had healed those injuries. She could do mostof them now, everything that didn't require a man's extra muscle, andhe could've asked to be excused, but she liked having him around, andthey were both used to the routine. So he stayed--though part of himregretted the end of his three-week "vacation", studying with DeLayne.

  Keith, unlike Odeon--and Medart, from his expression--seemed to have atrue appreciation of Cortin's intent and ability. Not, Odeon toldhimself, that he should be surprised; from his studies, Sandemansconsidered it perfectly honorable to torture a captured enemy forinformation, and certain offenses against honor or custom demanded theoffender's lingering death. But they were more direct about it; abeating was the usual method.

  It was several hours before Cortin was satisfied with the prisoner'sgeneral condition: his entire body except the genital region so bruisedor abraded that even a light touch brough curses.

  She stepped back to survey him, then smiled at her audience. "Thattakes care of the preliminaries; now we can get to the realpunishment." She went to a cabinet, removed a vial and syringe.

  "This is eroticine," she said, forcing the liquid in the vial down herprisoner's throat. "In small doses, it's a male aphrodisiac. Inlarger ones, like this, it forces an erection and increases semenproduction by several hundred percent. He has no way to stimulateorgasm, so that is forced out by simple hydraulic pressure--quiteuncomfortable, I've been assured. This dose is oral, so he'll be thatway for about twelve hours." She picked up a syringe, cleared it ofair. "And this is algetin, a pain-enhancer that's most effective onswollen tissue such as an erection. It's a combination I thinkparticularly appropriate for a rapist."

  "An intriguing combination," Keith said. Moments later, when the man'serection firmed and grew moist, he looked curious. "Is that wetnessnormal, or is it a drug effect?"

  "Neither, Lieutenant; it's a side effect of the satyr plague."

  "I see." Keith paused, cocking his head. "You said he can't bringhimself to climax, Excellency, and this does seem effective--but whatwould happen if he did? Would it be a temporary relief, or would thealgetin make it as much an agony as it usually is a pleasure?"

  Odeon frowned to himself. That sounded more like Joanie than it didlike the Sandemans he'd read about. Still, this was the first one he'dactually met . . . and Joanie was considering her answer.

  After several seconds, Cortin said thoughtfully, "We're cautionedagainst it in training, since it's presumed orgasm would bring relief;if anyone had experimented and found otherwise, it should've beenreported in the professional literature. Since I've never read aboutsuch an experiment, I doubt it's ever been tried--but now that yousuggest it, the idea seems plausible. If you'd like to try,Lieutenant, be my guest."

  "No," Medart said firmly. "He can observe, since this is within yourlaw; taking part would go against a number of the laws that govern theImperial military." He turned to the Sandeman. "What's wrong,Lieutenant? You're not acting like any warrior I've evermet--including yourself, a couple of days ago."

  "I feel fine, sir--I'm just not embarrassed by his display, the way I'dhave expected, and I . . . admire Colonel Cortin's work, which Iwouldn't have expected at all."

  "Just how strong is this admiration, Lieutenant?"

  Keith looked from Ranger to Inquisitor and back, his expressionanswering Medart's question before he spoke. "Strongly enough that ifI thought there was any chance of acceptance, I would offer her myfealty."

  Cortin looked at him thoughtfully, then smiled. "If that means what Ibelieve it does, Lieutenant, you'd be in no danger of refusal."

  Keith returned the smile, then acted on her promise and knelt."Colonel Joan Cortin, I wish you as my chosen lady, if that should beyour will. I offer all that is in me to give: body and mind, will andhonor, whatever courage is mine. And death itself may not deny theservice I offer, in whatever afterlife is to come."

  Oh, dear God! Odeon thought in a mixture of fear and awe. An oath likethat, to the acting Protector? And Ivan's prediction that the true onecould come from the Empire, which he'd accepted without reallybelieving. And the timing--over four months ago, Shayan had declaredhimself their reluctant and temporary ally, informing them the trueProtector would manifest in less than six months. He sent that ally athought. *It has to be Keith, doesn't it?*

  He felt Shayan exploring his recent memories, then agreement. *Itwould seem so. I cannot say when or how the exchange will be made,however.*

  *Then will come what you've been calling the decision point.*

  *Indeed. Were I you, I would increase my devotional activities,particularly the Mass--I give you leave to say it as often as youwish--the Rosary, and the Litany of the archangel whose name you share.Now I would recommend you get back to work.*

  *Yes, Your Holiness.* Odeon's attention returned to his surroundingsin time to see Cortin extend her hands to Keith, smiling.

  "I accept your service and yourself with thanks, warrior."

  Keith took her hands and rose, then bowed to her. "You do me greathonor, Thakur."

  "The honor is mine," Cortin replied. "Are there any formalities thatneed to be taken care of?"

  "I'll handle those when we finish here," Medart said. "His releasefrom service, back pay and allowances--but it'll be up to you to notifyhis clan and make arrangements for his tattoo."

  "When we're done here, as you say." Cortin turned to her new swornman. "To give you a status recognized here, I'm commissioning you aRoyal Enforcement Service officer. Now, would you like to test yourtheory?"

  "Very much, Thakur." Keith paused, then continued apologetically."I'm afraid I don't know how, though. One of our strongest customsforbids any same-sex physical intimacy. Since it seems yours doesn't,that no longer applies to me, of course--but the fact remains that Ihave no such experience."

  Cortin chuckled. "That can be remedied easily enough, if you decideyou 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 afriction surface but not tight. The eroticine will make him take careof the rest."

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

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

  And, Odeon thought, it seemed pretty clear that Keith enjoyed the painhe was inflicting. That brief smile as moans became cries reminded himagain of Joanie; Keith's reaction to his first third-stage was a farcry from Odeon's own. Still, he told himself, maybe Keith's pleasureshouldn't be a surprise, since the Protector's role included thepunishment of sinners.

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

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

  "Most satisfactory," Cortin said with unconcealed admiration. "You'vejust given me--all Inquisitors, once I get it published--what promisesto become an extremely useful standard technique, especially withrapists. I'll see you're given full credit, of course." She smiled atKeith. "You've also changed my plans for him. That degree of pain,administered repeatedly, can be lethal--and I can't think of a morefitting end for a rapist. We'll let him drip overnight, then give hima fresh dose and see how many times he can take what he forced onothers. 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 liketo help? You seemed to enjoy yourself as much as an Inquisitor would,and Mike doesn't have that particular quirk; he helps because he lovesme, 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 fromsomething 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 theSandeman, he went on. "As she says, I don't have the mental quirk thatlets 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 tohurt, I took a great deal of pleasure in causing him as much pain as Icould."

  "It's all yours, then," Odeon said promptly. "With my thanks, by theway--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