Monday 12th October 1998, Portsmouth Museum Records Room
I am stunned and don't know what to say. The Professor notices my anxiety and comes over to me. He gently takes the documents I am holding and goes and sets them on one of the tables in the room. He returns to me and takes the statue out of my hand and goes to set it down beside my set of documents.
"Are you thirsty?"
Words still fail me at this point and I nod and of course it is getting warmer, my mouth dry.
He finds a chair and brings it over.
"Take a seat Michelle. Can I get you a drink? Tea, coffee, water?"
I sit down feeling my legs need it. I find my voice finally.
'Water. I'd like some water please".
"Wait there!"
Again that command in his voice. I feel rooted to the spot. I am not going anywhere. He leaves and finally I let out my breath not realising I had been holding it. Involuntary my right hand goes to my crotch. God I am so wet it seems. It's a comfort thing. I cup my crotch and the itch subsides a bit. I want to give myself more relief but dare not sitting in this chair and in this records room. The whole experience seems unreal. A bit like an out of body experience.
What do I know about BDSM? Well I know the acronym and what it stands for. Bondage. Discipline. SadoMasochism. Further than that, not much. Why ask? I think to myself. Of course he had been speaking about the ritual. About the ring. So yes I could see the reference. He returns. He is carrying two bottles of mineral water and what looks like a magazine. He passes me one of the bottles and goes and finds a second chair and sets it down opposite me and sits. He places the magazine face down on the floor. He takes a sip of his water and waits for me to do the same.
"So?"
He waits for my response.
I compose myself. I start by quoting my standard definition of the term as I understand that.
"Okay but beyond that I assume not much else. I assume you understand the context in relation to what we were just discussing?"
"Of course Professor."
"Good. It's not just relevant it's critical to what needs to be a complete full research. As an intern working with me I assume you are happy to get involved - get into the detail with me?"
"Yes of course. I am looking forward to it."
"I see you are a student with the University. Second year right?"
"That's correct."
"Well I have been involved with the University for many years. Until recently primarily on the research side. They have been asking me for years now to come up with a Unit for their World History school. Until recently travel in particular has been the issue. That and time. But from this year I am running a Unit specifically on Egyptian Ancient history. As part of your degree course you will be attending my lectures on the subject."
"I look forward to that Professor."
"Of course for the theory, that's all covered in the lectures. But the intern post also requires full engagement in the practical as well."
I am not sure where this is going but I run with it.
"Now normally in these courses the practical would be field trips. You know visits to these ancient civilisation sights and the like."
"Yes that sounds great."
"But in light of recent discoveries. This ring in particular. It will need a more personally involved approach. To live and experience as it were what actually happened. Between Khem and the queen Clarissa specifically. I hope I make myself clear dear."
The implications are very fucking obvious. I should be heading for the door but I don't.
"I see great potential in you Michelle. You are on the honours course and I can see you achieving a first with the right instruction. Beyond that you should be aspiring to a PhD. It is always tricky to find the right area to focus your theses on. I think this particular area we have been discussing is ripe for you. Your other interest in languages and with that ancient writing and translation will I am sure in time be able to unlock all the mysteries behind this era and particular the impact that will have on the current view of Ancient Egypt and the whole dynamics and viewpoint of that period."
I am trying to process all this. I hadn't even thought about a potential PhD and a first would be what I would want to achieve but I know it will be a lot of hard work and need the guidance from the right teacher. It seems I was already going to be working with one. In trying to fully work out what I felt about this 'practical work' the Professor suggested it was a good time to break for lunch.
We headed out of the records room and back up the stairs to lunch. I was pleased to get out of the room and the professor told me we'd be back after lunch to continue. Great I thought. As much as I enjoyed the instruction and listening to his voice returning to the near sauna conditions I was not looking forward to.
I did not see the Professor over lunch. I thought I might but it gave me time to digest what was said. I kept coming back to the expression personally involved approach. Did he mean he wants to fuck me. He doesn't know I am a virgin still. I know that Sophie lost hers years ago but in that department it's just not something I spend a lot of time thinking about. Now it takes a Professor I have only just met to put it right front and centre. It's like the proverbial elephant in the room. I have seen enough to know he does not dance around controversial subjects. He meets them head on.
I head back to the sauna with still a lot running through my mind. He is waiting seated in his chair.
"How was lunch?"
"Pretty good. The canteen has a great selection."
"I have to be honest with you now Miss Reynolds. If we are to get over your obvious concerns about the nature of the practical work it's going to be a problem."
Problem? Oh dear. I thought the day had been going too well. I feel some of my ambitions and dreams some inspired by what he said I was capable of slipping away.
"Okay." It's all I can think to say.
"The solution maybe is just to be open and frank about things, if you'll pardon the pun."
The pun? Oh yes of course his name. Professor Frank King. I guess humour is the best defence in situations like these.
"I agree Professor. What would you like to know."
He looks me straight in the eyes. At first it would make me feel a little uncomfortable. But now I look right back at him.
"Would you consider yourself to be submissive Michelle?"
This throws me a bit. Not the question I was expecting.
"Submissive?" I think for a few minutes. "Yes quite possibly. Submissive."
"So if I asked you to take off your sweater, after all it's pretty damn hot in here. What would your reaction be?"
The obvious answer is Go to hell you creep. But that's an easy response. I have a brain so use it.
"I'd be embarrassed of course. But yes as it's so hot I would probably do it."
"Well?"
He continues to look at me.