09 - LISA  IS FLOGGED AND FIGHTS - 02

Lisa was standing at her cell door at the time appointed. The guard took her to the communal wash-room and she had to wash, shave, use the toilet and be outside on parade in five minutes. Less than  five minutes, where she usually allowed herself ten. Her hand shook as she tried to shave and it just refused to do as it was told. She felt her head and knew it would not satisfy the zealous Rosanne. Her feet had been given a good clean last night and then she noticed the dirt under a toenail and she knew she was lost. She had no more time as the instruction came to get a move on, NOW!  She followed the junior guard out into the inspection area, usually full of anxious women hoping to pass muster.

But this time she was alone. Alone and totally sick with fright and shame. This was what happened when you get a friend to help you with something you should do yourself! As she had feared, the inspecting officer was Rosanne, so friendly yesterday and last night, but so implacable this morning as the light shone full on the one prisoner in the parade.

Rosanne must have seen at a glance just how unprepared Lisa was but she made a show of looking her up and down as if subjecting her to a minute medical examination. Finally she spoke in her "official" voice. "You were told this would be a strict inspection and you turn up a disgrace. Your feet are filthy - filthy! As for your head, you could strike a match on that stubble! I may do so just to show you!"

Lisa bowed her head, ashamed and wretched. She just could not stop her trembling which was beginning to verge on the convulsive. Then Rosanne's voice changed "Thank Heaven we have time to get you properly cleaned and shaved before the Governor sees you! We'd best hurry!"

Lisa's voice shook as she was marched to the dreaded Solitary Wing. "What about my caning Ma'am? If ever anyone deserved one it's me today!"

"You'll get more than enough pain when they flog you later on. Let's just say you owe me!  I'll collect in time. You haven't got away with anything - just a reprieve!"

"Thank you so much, Ma'am. I was so scared this morning - not of a caning and a flogging - I know by now I can take them OK - but all the other things." The "Other thing" that had reduced this usually confident and brave young person to a near wreck was getting nearer. It was the Solitary Block with all its terrible memories.

"I know! I hope you will believe me when I swear to you I had no hand in today's devilry. When I gave you that letter I had no idea what was in it. Not until I got to my quarters and read my own instructions."

"I would never doubt your word Ma'am."

They reached the Solitary Building and Rosanne unlocked the outer door. Soon Lisa was back in the underground reception chamber and the shaking that had impeded her attempt to shave earlier, became uncontrollable in this place of ghastly memories. Rosanne got her into a chair and put both arms round her, soothing her as one might a frightened animal or a child.

"I know. This brings it all back. That's why the bastards sent you down here. You took it so bravely for two years and never cracked up, but they still want to break you. But you won't be broken - will you,  my brave and lovely Lisa? Try to pull yourself together! It's only for a short time! Then we go up into the fresh air and you won't be coming back down here - ever!"

"Until next month's flogging!"

"I said never, Lisa. You won't be going through all this again. That is a promise! It took me by surprise this time but next time I'll refuse to go along with it and I have a certain - shall I say - influence with my colleagues. Let's see how the Justice Ministry like it when they have a strike on their hands!"

Lisa smiled and started to feel better. “I hate to think what that might lead to. I'm OK now, Ma'am. And if they want to bring me here before the rest of my floggings, that's OK. The panic's gone. I think I can wash and shave myself now. The shaking's quite over."

Lisa soon did a perfect job of shaving her head and cleaning her feet. Having dried herself off and removed all traces of soap she came back to the chair, bent over across the seat, presenting her buttocks to the astonished Rosanne.

"I'll pay my debt now, Ma'am while there's still no interest on it! Forty two I think! Don't be afraid to lay them on properly. I'm a strong girl these days! Then let the fun commence. I hope they all enjoy it as much as I will!"

"As you wish, Lisa! And it's a relief to see you your old self again!" said Rosanne raising the cane that she had still in her hand.

Lisa managed not to cry out through the worst chastisement of her life to date, but she was groaning as the last few hit her right across the tops of her thighs. Rosanne was a perfectionist and Lisa was spared nothing.

Then they secured her hands behind her and put her feet in chains. Apart from the cold touch of metal to her skin it was not what she had expected. It was time by now to make the long journey up the many stairs to the ground.

She felt foolish and degraded as she shuffled along, her chain clinking rhythmically, past the line of other prisoners. Most were silent as she walked awkwardly past them, her shaven head obediently bowed. With her hands secured behind her she had no choice but to keep her eyes on the ground so this part of her ritual humiliation lost a bit of its sting. Although most of the watching prisoners were silent, a few muttered words of encouragement and she sensed an atmosphere of sympathy. There were a few gasps as the women saw how terribly she had been caned and a bit of angry muttering. They all knew, by this time, how much more she had to endure before the day was over and most of them were willing her to come through. But she knew all this sympathy would evaporate if she failed to be brave. She would be very glad of that piece of wood to bite on as the screams rose within her and she struggled to keep them down!

Her brother George had been caned a few times and once in front of the whole school. He had told her about this, after he had left and gone to college. It still haunted him, he had said in a moment of self-revelation to his little sister. Lisa wondered if this was going to haunt her!  On the whole she thought not. Compared to other things she had been through, this was not the worst. And she'd have a lot to tell George when she got home! She was the one who would have all the adventures to regale her incredulous friends and family with!  Because that was how she still saw this three years - an adventure, and one which had taught her a lot,  not least about herself.

She saw her three tormentors and knelt before the first of them. She did not know the woman, a fifty year old native of the country who spoke no English. She contented herself by uttering their word for "Thank you" - one of the half dozen words she had ever needed to know - in a clear voice which carried to all listeners. The next was 10343 and she said thank you in English, since this woman, who would be under her control later in the day, was American or perhaps Canadian. To the last, Sandra, she said in the same clear voice "Thank you Sandra for flogging the girl who got you into trouble." and in a lower voice meant for Sandra's ears alone but overheard by Hatchet-Face/Rosanne "For God's sake, give it all you've got. Don't get into trouble on my account!"

10343 heard this and sneered. Rosanne saw her expression and vowed to get the bitch banged up in solitary if it was the last thing she did.

Funnily enough, it was less humiliating to kneel before her three floggers that she had expected. They were three people in temporary authority, given strict instructions to hurt her as much as they could, and that was that. It was going down on her knees and getting up again that was the problem and she concentrated hard on doing it properly and not staggering and falling. Then she was helped onto the platform, her hands freed, the chain removed so that she could be tied up for her flogging.

Lisa wondered why they were not offering her the piece of wood and Rosanne must have read her thoughts.

"You turned it down last time, Lisa. That decision can't be revoked. Sorry! But it really doesn't matter! Other women might need it, but you don't need to bite on a piece of wood to stop yourself screaming! You've got all you need to keep quiet stored up in that great heart of yours!" And so it turned out, although there were moments when she almost cracked.

After it was over they did not chain her up again and the kneeling and saying "thank you" were that much easier. To 10343 she said "Thank you for flogging me" To Sandra she said "Thank you and well done" and to the third she merely said 'thank you' but in English this time.

Then she joined the others in the field and, despite hunger, thirst and a body which ached and throbbed all over and was crying out for rest, she organised the three pairs of women to get the field properly raked into a semblance of a level playing field, showing herself to be every inch the working foreman and refusing to take advantage of her new authority to rest her tortured body until the siren announced that another day had ended.

Even the hate-filled and embittered 10343 had to admit that Lisa was both brave and strong, but she felt sure she would beat her in a few days time. She was taller than Lisa, although she only had to stoop to appear the same size and a wear a blonde wig to make herself resemble her - especially if the photograph was a poor one!


*************************************************

"How's it feel darling?"

Samantha was dabbing away at Lisa's back with a lint cloth dipped in saline solution. She had already applied soothing ointment to the bruised buttocks. One of the three prisoners who had been given the job of beating her was her future opponent, the mysterious 10343. This woman certainly had got in for Lisa. She had preceded every stroke with comments like "Take that you skinhead dyke"  and "try this one for size you butch freak", and she was careful not to use the flat side of the strap. Fortunately she lacked Rosanne's strength and Samantha was relieved to see that the cuts she had inflicted were not deep, though her friend's back certainly was a mess at present.

"It feels great, my love. Just keep on like that for about ten minutes and then I think I must resume training before lights out!"

"Your second says you must take a rest for a couple of days. The fight is in a week and you're already more than good enough to take her out. That's the word of Rosanne! I wonder when your second fight will be and with whom? You'll have to give what's left of 10343 a rematch if she wants it of course. There! I think I've done all I can. Time to let the air get to it and Mother Nature will do the rest! You get plenty of air on your skin all day and every day so that's the rest of your treatment taken care of!"

The couple lay together in silence. The door was shut and Rosanne had promised they would not be disturbed all night! But Lisa was just too tired to do other than lie close  and just be aware of the warm body of her dearest friend, the thought of whom had done so much to get her through those hellish two years. Her back hurt too much for passionate embraces and she was on the verge of sleep. She saw how silly was her idea of any more training for a while. It was Samantha who broke the silence.

"I thought you were wonderful today! And so did all the women and most of the guards. You were the one that walked tall today even if you were shackled and forced to keep your eyes to the ground. There's such dignity about you. And when you thanked them all before and after you could see how ashamed they were, except 10343 of course. It really made that bitch's day! I wonder what it is with her. That's one thing about being in the dorm, you do get to hear more. But this is better! Just the two of us -  like it's always going to be!"

Lisa managed to give her partner a kiss before drifting off.

**************************************

"I think you'd better leave well alone, Giles."

Giles Potts was making his latest visit to Lisa to ask how she was being treated. It was five days after Lisa's flogging and the signs of it and the caning that had preceded it had by no means faded. She had seen more than anger in his face as saw the damage. This man was beginning to get personally involved.

"I don't understand. After what they did to you, I should have thought you needed all the help you can get."

"I couldn't agree more! I'll never get through the next seven and a half months on my own. But it's my friends here who will help me to get through. That and a friendly guard who has already shown she's on my side. That last was in strict confidence by the way - very very very off the record!  But I have a hunch your coming to see me so often is just putting their backs up and my back is paying for it. So tell them you are dropping my case now I'm out of solitary and being allowed to write home once a week. Say you'd like to make a purely routine visit now and again - maybe every two months and be quick to drop the idea if you get the impression they don't even like that. I'm sure it will be easier for me that way. I'm sorry, because I really like seeing you for our weekly chats. You're a great fellow to talk to!  And wish me luck for later on!"

"Later on" was her fight with 10343, which had been scheduled for midday, some two hours after Potts should have left. She wanted him to stay and watch but he was reluctant.

Potts called in to the Governor's office and did as Lisa requested. The relief in that gentleman's face was palpable.

"I may be asked by my chief to make the occasional visit, but this case is no longer so important to us."

"Of course, Mr Potts. We will see you in a month or two. I think three short chats with her between now and her release would be appropriate. She is to help entertain the prisoners later on and at the same time settle a difference with a fellow prisoner, after which I hope the two will kiss and make up as you say in your country! Would you care to delay your departure and see her in action?"

"I think not. Lisa asked me to and I said I would not." he hesitated and went on. "It seemed important to her though. Maybe I will surprise her as a last gesture before we take her case off our books!"

Looking up and out of the window,  Mr Potts had a shock as he saw a group of prisoners, one of whom he recognised. How had Gloria West ended up here? She certainly looked none too pleased about it! Her face was full of the vicious rage and general malice towards all  which had apparently been her hallmark for her entire twenty five years in this world. He shook his head in mournful frustration. She being locked up here meant yet another avenue blocked off in his never ending fight to free Lisa, whom he had come to love as well as respect. But at least the real thief was herself in prison. There was some justice in this corrupt country, after all.

Should he tell the Governor? It seemed the logical thing. Then one or two fresh pieces of the jigsaw fell into place and he saw the danger of saying anything. He only hoped his interest in the unpleasant American thief, blackmailer and general evildoer had not been spotted!

Two hours later he was sitting next to the governor and other members of staff in a front row seat as Lisa,  naked and shaven headed, but still lovelier than all the rest of the women in the world put together, climbed through the ropes into the improvised ring,  together with an awe inspiringly grim faced lady -not one you would want to meet on a dark night - who was apparently her second. He almost fell off his seat when the poisonous Gloria turned out to be her opponent.

"Oh, Lisa! Lisa my love! Knock that bitch into the beginning of next year, never mind next week! Kill the rotten cow. Kill her!" was his silent thought. He could hardly bear to watch, but at the same time he would not be able to tear his eyes away throughout a long and bloody contest until it was all over and the loser had been carried out, still limp and senseless,  minutes after hitting the floor!

Lisa saw him and smiled happily. So he had changed his mind! She was so glad! But why was he looking so venomously at 10343? And then something, maybe her woman's intuition,  told her all she needed to know!

***************************************

"I agree, Potts. We must sit on this one; and very firmly. What a crying shame the poor girl has to serve every last undeserved second of that rotten sentence!"

"Indeed, Sir. It is plain I have done all I can, and maybe too much. Might I suggest that it's about time I had a posting? That would be  a sure-fire way of making them think we'd truly lost interest!"

"Right you are Potts. I'll be sorry to see you go, and so will Lisa!"

"Lisa will be fine, Sir. At this moment she is probably on top of the world! This afternoon, shortly after my last interview with the well meaning but spineless governor, I watched Lisa publicly fight Gloria to settle a quarrel that had somehow arisen between them. And I had the supreme pleasure of seeing the splendid Lisa, with great skill and thoroughness, make that bitch wish she had never been born. She knows the truth, Sir. God knows how she guessed it, but she knows who landed her in this mess,  and she took that evil morally deformed woman apart bit by bit and left the pieces scattered all over the ring - figuratively! I may hate the idea of women fighting each other, but this was one such fight I wouldn't have wanted to miss and I'll relish the memory for as long as I live!"