Chapter Four
Polly and Rita were impatient for Saturday to arrive. When it did, they went with Janine, breathless with excitement and anticipation. When they arrived at the barn that first Saturday, her twin brother was waiting, leaning back against the wall with a casual air. He was a fresh-faced young man with tousled mousy-coloured hair. It was a warm, sunlit, secluded spot in a small copse surrounded by a hedge behind the barn. After Janine explained what they were there for he grinned.
'Come into the barn,' he said. Without demur, the three girls followed him innocently into the shadowy interior. It was dank and dirty, smelling of horses and stale urine. There was a wide hay-loft at the back of the barn, about two metres from the ground. Little light penetrated the windowless hay-loft. A few narrow shafts of sun-light gleamed through the gaps between the wood cladding, reflecting from strange discarded farming implements. Four heavy cross-beams, with central upright supports, carried the roof structure.
Although there was old straw scattered on the cobbles, it was clearly unused for the original purpose. The straw was now a home for insects and vermin. Around the walls, Polly could see rusty tools, hanging chains and old harnesses. To one side were four stalls, now empty and uncared for. At one time the building must have been an active stable, full of the sounds of horses hooves clattering on the cobbles and snorting nostrils. Today it was silent and still.
Polly heard the sound of feet crunching into the straw behind them. She spun round. Silhouetted in the doorway was a large, scruffy man. With him was a group of five youths. Hands in pockets, they looked at the girls with insolent grins.
'Well, well, well! If it isn't our friend and mate, Janine. You're right on time my dear. We know what you girls have come here for,' the leader drawled. He turned to Janine. 'How old are they?'
Janine looked at James. He smiled and shrugged.
'They're eighteen, same as me,' Janine retorted with as much confidence as she could. 'We've only come for a walk. What do you want, Fagin?'
'Well, that's a coincidence.' He turned to the others. 'So have we.' They all laughed. 'James told us about your little rendezvous, my dear. You holding out on us, are you Janine, my dear?'
'No, Fagin. James here, wanted to suss out the new young ladies first.'
'Oh? In what?'
Janine paused. 'To see whether they might interest you.β
'Well, now, my dear. You know all young ladies are of interest to me. Particularly virgins.β
Janine remained silent.
'We'll show the girls something to excite them, as well, won't we lads?' They all laughed again. 'But you show us something first, eh?'
'No, I think we'd better be getting back to the school.'
'Oh, don't be spoil sports, my dears. We've got some mighty fine pieces of weaponry to show to girls eager to learn. Haven't we lads? Besides, if they are to be part of the team, we need to see what they are offering our clients. See what price I can put on them.'
Polly was dumbfounded by this exchange. Was this a set-up, she wondered? Had Janine deliberately brought them into a trap; were they in danger?
'Come on.' Janine strode purposefully to the door. As she passed the large man, he put his arm out stopping her. His hand was pressed against her right breast.
'My! That feels nice and soft, my dear.'
Janine pushed him away, but with a quick swipe with the flat of his hand across her face she fell into the dirty straw. She looked at him in surprise, rubbing her sore cheek.
Polly and Rita had remained still all this time. Both were pale with fear. They were terrified they might be beaten up and raped.
'Tie her up,' he ordered. Three of the youths picked her up roughly. She kicked and screamed but was no match for the strength of three strong young men. Ropes were fastened to her wrists and attached to the heavy beam supporting the front of the hay-loft above their heads. Still, Janine twisted and kicked to try to free herself.
'Help me, James.' she cried. But her step-bother just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
'They're all bigger than me,' he said, 'and besides, we're all in this together. The gang would not have been happy if we had broken away on our own.'
Hearing this, Polly began shivering with fear. Rita came up to her and they held each other protectively in their arms.
'Don't be afraid, my dears, youβll come to no harm' Fagin said to Polly and Rita. 'But Janine here has ignored my wishes. Anyone who defies my authority must be punished.'
Polly found her voice. 'Who are you? What do you want with us?'