Without knowing why, Polly realised that she had always felt the need to be dominated; to be punished for her carnal thoughts by an understanding master. At college, she missed her father's firm control. His strict punishment. Miss Armitage gave her some gratification, but she really needed a man. A master. The meeting with Fagin had changed her life at college, providing her with a master figure, teaching her the connection between discipline, promiscuity and lust.
Fagin replaced her father as the dominating man to be obeyed without question. Polly was surprised that she should have been beguiled by this unkempt, dirty tramp-like figure. But, in spite of his appearance, he had a compelling authority. And power! The power to punish. The power to humiliate and degrade. If necessary, the power to kill. And yet, Polly kept her virginity during those tempestuous days. It was remarkable, and certainly not intentional on her part.
Fagin had treasured her virginity, threatening her with dire punishment of she gave it to some pimply youth, or other. He intended it to be traded in for some favour by a person in high authority. Her next meeting with Fagin and his gang was planned for the following Saturday.
With much trepidation and excitement on Polly's part, the three naive girls walked the half-mile to the old barn, wondering what was in store for them. Janine had first persuaded the ladies to comb their long hair - Polly's blonde and Rita's red - into a pony-tail, fastened with a studded leather bracelet, at the crown of the head. The tails bounced around in the sun shine, trapping its rays in the strands of hair, like rippling threads of shimmering gold and copper. Around their necks Janine had hung a wide leather pendant, hung with old-fashioned horse-brasses.
As the three young ladies neared the barn, Polly felt apprehensive but inwardly excited at the prospect of seeing more stiff male flesh. Then, completely unexpected, the two friends were grabbed from behind. No words were spoken, though many grunts and squeals escaped in the exertion. The two women were too surprised by the assault to think of shouting or screaming at first. They fought their attackers but had been disadvantaged by the element of surprise.
Rita realised that her blouse had been torn open revealing her rounded breasts in their scanty halter bra, worn strictly against the rules of the school! By the time they had realised what was happening, their arms had been secured behind their backs; their ankles bound. Gags were pushed into their mouths, with metal rings biting painfully into each corner, like horse bits, as they were secured at the back of the neck.
Rita saw Toswer, with his shock of brown curls, and three other youths of the gang. Further struggles were in vain. Polly looked anxiously at Rita. Her friend's face was pale and drawn; her eyes filled with apprehension. Both wondered why they had been so brutally attacked and bound.
Janine stood smiling down at them. 'Sorry, you two! Fagin's orders I'm afraid.' She turned to the youths. 'Right, Rita first.'
After being bundled into the barn, Polly watched her friend taken unwillingly into one of the horse stalls. A belt was put round her forehead. From it, leather squares with brass surrounds, like blinkers, were fastened under her chin with a buckle. Then, her bound wrists were attached to a tethering ring. Fresh straw had been scattered on the floor. The air smelt sweeter than the previous visit. Some attempt had been made to make the derelict old building a bit cleaner; more pleasant.
Polly was carried to the opposite wall facing Rita where she was thrown into the pile of straw under the shadows of the loft. It was earlier in the day than the previous week. The sun shone through the barn door, the rays stabbing through the gloom to illuminate the very stall in which Rita had been tethered. There she stood, roped to the stall, white open blouse gleaming like snow, pure and unsullied. Her skimpy dark-blue skirt showed off Rita's long spindly legs encased in black stockings.
She looked like an innocent animal caught in a trap, unable to flee; vulnerable and scared, like a young foal, her widened eyes darting round for means of escape. Once Rita was secured, Janine and the rest of the gang slunk back quietly into the deep shadows beneath the hay-loft.
They waited. A deep brooding silence fell over the scene. The minutes passed. Rita became more agitated, losing all sense of time. The ropes prevented her from sitting down in comfort. She was forced to stand there in the shaft of bright sun-light, her high pony-tail tossing as her head turned from side to side. The reflection in her wide eye-balls showed the fear held within them. Only her rasping breathing disturbed the silence. Not a mouse stirred. Polly wondered where Fagin was. Even though he was a cruel master, with him there, she would feel more protected. He would look after his slaves
A sound! A footstep outside! Then silence.
Rita had heard the crunch. Her head spun round to peer into the light, throat turning dry at the thought of being caught tethered and helpless. The seconds ticked away. Another crunch! A shadow fell across the barn floor. The silhouette of a man appeared in the opening. A tall man wearing riding gear. The unmistakable shape of jodhpurs and riding leggings. On his head was a riding helmet; in his hand a riding crop. He stood motionless, gazing into the barn.
Then his head turned towards Rita, tethered in the stall. He tapped the riding crop thoughtfully in the palm of his left hand as he took in the scene. The shaft of sunshine shone on her solitary figure, accentuating her slender beauty, as though in a spot-light. The unbuttoned blouse gave a tantalising glimpse of her young breasts beneath, adding to the impression of vulnerability.
Rita was rooted to the spot. Even if she were free, she was too paralysed to move. She was completely in the power of this mysterious figure. The man approached her, tucking his crop into his the waist of his jodhpurs. He had an air of authority. A commanding bearing. Rita cowered away from him, looking at his large frame with wide eyes.
With the sun behind him, she couldn't make out the features properly. A tanned face, she thought, with penetrating, steel-blue eyes. As he got nearer she detected the evil glint in his eyes. They narrowed cruelly as they scanned her body.
'Hmmm! Nice young filly. Needs taming I expect.' A dark voice. Deep. Cultured. It was as though he was speaking to himself. 'Unruly beasts these young fillies. Need breaking in, eh?'
The tall elegant figure stood before her. He looked malevolently into Rita's flaring nostrils and frightened eyes, her head held high and tense. Fear filled her widened eyes. His long slender fingers slowly pulled aside the loose opening of her blouse. His eyes shifted to her soft breasts with sugar-pink nipples. Rita's head was in panic. She struggled violently. The man skipped back quickly, as though afraid of being kicked.
'Frisky, eh?' he spat at Rita, taking out his riding crop. 'Needs to learn some obedience.'
With horror, Rita saw his hand raise. She managed to twist sideways as the crop sang through the air but it caught her across the top of her buttocks. She was unprepared for it. The cutting sting made her yelp and recoil instinctively. A sliver of pain cut into her flesh. A second lash followed quickly, whipping across her back and upper arm. Another yelp of pain, stifled by the gag. Too high! She wanted it on her buttocks. To feel the heat in her loins. She tensed herself for the next blow, head bowed, bosom heaving. But none came.
