The Tribes, Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Bray was partway through his breakfast when Amber slid into a seat across the table from him. “We’ve got a problem,” she announced without preamble.

Bray’s spoon hovered above his cereal bowl, a wry grin on his face, “Which problem would that be? The problem about what we do for toilet paper when all the supplies are exhausted? Would that be the problem about what to do if someone needs some really serious surgery that is way beyond Jack’s abilities? Or are you talking about the problem with The Leader and his goons?”

Amber hung her head and grinned, “It’s not quite that serious.”

“Thank goodness for that,” Bray said.

“It’s about Jordy – our Jordy, not the other one,” Amber explained. “I’m afraid he might be suffocating poor Lars – he follows the poor guy around like a lost puppy. I’ve noticed Jordy won’t even let Lars have time alone for his meditations.”

“Oh – is that all?” Bray grinned. Jordy had been seeking a male role model since he first joined the group. At one time or another he had driven every one of the older teens to distraction with his attention. “I think Lars is patient enough to endure Jordy’s attention – sooner or later, he’ll tire of pestering Lars and move on to someone else.” He helped himself to another spoonful of cereal. “Hell, I’m surprised the rest of the kids have adjusted as well as they have – to be honest, I’m surprised most of us have been able to adjust at all, when it comes to that.”

“I guess,” Amber agreed.

From the corner of his eye, Bray spotted Selene crossing the Dining Room with a tray. He figured she was headed down to the Ship Hospital with breakfast for Brandon and Jordy, who hadn’t left the hospital since they first brought him and Brandon to the ship. Suddenly, his lips curled upwards in a devious grin as he waved Selene over to his table.

“Sit down and take a break, Selene,” Brandon invited, pulling a chair out for her.

“I’d love to, Bray, but I really have to get back down to the hospital,” Selene sighed.

“Gotcha covered,” Bray said, half rising from his seat and waving over to little Jordy. “Hey, Jordy could you do me a favor for a second, please?”

He wasn’t at all surprised to see the bald-headed boy eagerly rush across the room and stand next to Bray.

“’Sup?” Jordy asked, breathlessly.

Bray put his arm around the boy’s bony shoulders in a confidential man-to-man manner and tilted his head towards Selene, “Look – Selene over there has been working herself ragged,” Bray said. “I’d really appreciate if you could do me a favor and take this breakfast tray down to the hospital.”

“Sure, I can do that,” Jordy beamed, proud to be singled out for a special favor.

Bray lowered his voice and he glanced around, conspiratorially, “Listen – that’s not the only reason I’m asking you to do me this favor. I understand the one guy – I can’t remember his name, the one who’s looking after the guy that really got hurt – anyway, I understand he’s not eating too well. I need someone responsible enough to stick around and make sure he at least eats half the food on his tray. Think you can do that?”

“Sure, that’s easy,” Jordy assured him. Without any further discussion, Jordy grabbed the tray and disappeared from the room.

“You do know there’s a damn good chance that tray is going to wind up all over the floor before Jordy manages to get it down to the hospital,” Selene said.

Next to Selene, Amber was shaking her head as she tried to contain her laughter; “’I can’t remember his name’ she mimicked. “What a crock of shit that was – you know perfectly well what his name is.”

Bray didn’t bother answering, contenting himself with leaning back in his chair and wiggling his eyebrows up and down as he grinned broadly across the table at the two girls.

Despite her prediction that Jordy would spill the breakfast tray before he reached the hospital, Jordy managed to reach the ward without spilling a single thing on the tray. Easing into the room, he saw a skinny teen sitting in a chair next to the only occupied hospital bed. In a way, he looked even worse than the figure in the bed who was swathed in bandages and had his right knee in a plaster cast. The teen sitting by the side of the bed looked like he hadn’t slept in days – large dark circles ringed his eyes, giving him a hunted look. It was kind of hard to tell exactly what color the kid’s unkempt hair was – it hadn’t been washed or combed in a long time. The kid’s eyes flicked over toward him briefly before returning to watch the guy in the bed.

“Hi,” Jordy whispered. “I brung you and your friend some breakfast.” Jordy bustled over to a rolling cart, placed his tray on it and rolled it over next to the tired looking guy in the chair.

“Just leave it there, thanks.”

“Uh-uh,” Jordy grunted firmly, shaking his bald head for emphasis. “Bray said you wasn’t eating right and I was ‘posed to make sure you eat at least half your breakfast.” Little Jordy clumsily unrolled the cloth napkin and gently placed it over the stranger’s chest. “That’s so you don’t slop nothing on your shirt,” he explained, adding, “not that it would matter much.”

“No. I guess it wouldn’t at that.”

Jordy chose a spoon and handed it over, saying firmly, “Now, you start eating like you’re supposed to.”

From the chair, Jordy regarded the boy with amusement, “Okay – I’ll eat something.” Taking the spoon, he dug into the scrambled eggs and took a mouthful. The eggs were good and he suddenly found himself hungry. “Thanks, kid – good stuff.” The kid’s face brightened, his mouth breaking into a broad smile that revealed a chipped front tooth beneath his twinkling blue eyes. “What’s your name? I can’t keep calling you kid.”

“I’m Jordy.”

“No shit – my name’s Jordy, too.”

“We got the same name!”

“Yep, looks like it,” the bigger Jordy agreed. He stuck out his hand, “Jordy, nice to meet you.”

Little Jordy took the hand offered him, his grin growing broader as he pumped the older boy’s hand. Suddenly, his smile faded.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, it’s just that the rest of the Tribe might get us all confused – us having the same name and all,” the boy answered.

“That could be a problem. Well, we could call you Little Jordy,” Jordy answered slowly, watching the boy’s face. The smile didn’t return. “But, the problem with that is that you’re just too big to be called Little Jordy.” The boy’s smile was returning. “You know, I was just thinking – since you were here first, I think it’s only fair you should keep being called Jordy – after all, that’s how everyone knew you first.”

“That’s fair,” Jordy agreed. “But, what about you?”

“Well, how about we just call me Jordan?”

“Cool – that would work,” Jordy said after a moment’s thought.

“Well then, let me introduce myself. Hi Jordy, my name is Jordan,” he held out his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

Giggling, Jordy once again shook hands.

Selene found Bray with Jack down in the Marketplace later that morning. The two of them were busy working on a generator located on the Bridge.

“You’re pretty slick, Bray,” Selene said, approvingly. “Guess what I just saw?”

“Dunno,” Bray admitted.

“Jordy showing JORDAN the way back to the hospital,” Selene announced.

“Oh, it’s Jordan now is it?” Bray grinned.

“Yes, it is,” Selene, admitted. “Not only that, but Jordan was fresh from a shower – clean, hair freshly washed and combed. He looks like a whole new person.”

“It’s about time,” Jack muttered, without looking up from his work. “He was beginning to stink up the place.”

Selene playfully slapped at the back of Jack’s head, “Jack! Be nice.”

“Ow – what’d I do?” Jack asked plaintively. “All I said was he was beginning to stink out the hospital – and he was!”

“Well, you should have said something,” Selene said.

“I dropped hints, but he didn’t seem to catch on,” Jack said, turning back to his tinkering and muttering under his breath about generators that didn’t work.

Bray stood and stepped back from the generator, “So, you think Lars will get some breathing room?”

“I think so,” Selene admitted. “Of course, Jordan might not now.”

“That may be,” Bray nodded. “But, I think Jordy – ah, I mean Jordan could use someone to help bring him back to an even keel.” Bray sighed heavily, “I’ve heard all of what those two went through, it’s bad – really bad. He’s been feeling guilty that he managed to run away, but he couldn’t save two others who died pretty horribly.”

“But, he saved Brandon’s life,” Selene pointed out.

“He doesn’t see it quite like that,” Bray explained. “He still thinks he should have gotten back to Brandon sooner – before the dogs got to him. Lucy out at the farm – you’d really like her, by the way – said Jord – Jordan, I mean, started to go into shock right after he got there. He’s been on the edge since he got here.”

“And you figured the fact that they both have the same first name is enough for them to have something in common?” Selene asked.

Bray bobbed his head up and down, a shy grin on his face, “Yep – I do. It’s a beginning, anyway. Jordy needs someone to watch out for him, and I think Jordan could use someone to need him. No matter what happens, at least Jordy got Jordan to take a shower, put on clean clothes, and eat. We’ll just have to keep an eye on them and see how things develop.”

Jordy watched Jordan standing sadly over Brandon’s bed, as if on guard. Looking up, Jordan noticed the boy watching him intently. Little Jordy was doing his best to sit still and be quiet as Jordan held his self-imposed vigil. There was something about the kid that reminded Jordan of his own little brother, Colin. Colin had been three when the first effects of the flu began hitting their community. Jordan’s eyes watered remembering Colin – it had rained the day they buried him. Born premature, Colin had always been a little week and sickly. Colin and Jordy shared the same bright blue eyes that always seemed to have a twinkle of either mischief or joy in them – either way; there was something in those eyes that always managed to make Jordan smile.

“Hey, you don’t want to sit in here all day,” Jordan smiled down at the boy. “How about you go up on deck and play ball or something.”

“It’s okay,” Jordy piped up. “I don’t mind staying here with you while you watch over your friend.” His face clouded up a little. “Unless you don’t want me around.”

“Why wouldn’t I want you around,” Jordan reassured him, quickly. “I was just thinking about what you might prefer to do.” He quickly moved around the bed and patted Jordy’s head and realized the boy wasn’t totally bald – he had a prickly covering of light-colored fuzz all over his head. “What do you say we both go up on deck and get some fresh air and sun?”

“Sure!” Jordy jumped up and then stopped. “You sure you don’t mind leaving your friend for a while?”

“I think it would be the best thing for all three of us,” Jordan assured his new friend. “He’s got some good people to look over him here.” Jordan gave a small chuckle. “You know – until this past week, Brandon and hardly knew each other. We were in totally different Tribes. Then, all of a sudden, we’re friends and I feel responsible for him.”

Taking Jordan’s hand, Jordy led the older teen from the hospital, “Lars says friends are like surprises the world gives us. He says you never know when or where you’re going to find them.”

“Lars sounds like a pretty smart guy,” Jordan said.

“He is,” Jordy assured him. “Wanna meet him?”

“Yeah, yeah I think I would.”

Jordy quickly and easily led Jordan through the giant ship along side passages and up narrow stairs, eventually coming out near the ship’s gymnasium. Jordan heard grunts and the sounds of bodies slamming heavily into mats. Entering the gym, he was surprised to find it empty except for one person standing in the middle of heavy mats with his back to the door.

Jordan studied the figure of Lars – he was taller, lithe and muscular. Stripped to the waist, a film of sweat glistened from his bald head to his waist. Suddenly, Lars went through a series of complex moves, his arms and feet moving with the grace of a dancer blurringly fast that ended with Lars throwing himself heavily to the mat flat on his back. Leaping lightly to his feet, Lars turned and approached the newcomers, stopping a few feet in front of them, hands placed together and bowing.

Jordy immediately returned the greeting, his own small hands pressed flat against each other as he bowed deeply. Rising, he introduced Jordan to Lars. Jordan started to stick his hand out as Lars turned in his direction, only to pull it quickly away when Lars once again bowed deeply. Unsure of what to do, Jordan made a clumsy attempt at copying the bows he’d just witnessed. Beside him, Jordy giggled.

“It’s good to see Jordy has made a new friend,” Lars smiled.

“Jordy’s been telling me all about you,” Jordan replied. “But, he didn’t tell me about how good you are at martial arts. Pretty impressive.”

“Lars can teach you how to do it!” Jordy exclaimed. “He’s teaching me – watch!” Without waiting, Jordy jumped onto the mat and immediately went through a series of simple moves, his shrill voice punctuating each motion.

“That’s really good, Jordy,” Jordan called. He turned to Lars, “Training him to be a warrior, too?”

“No, not unless that is what he wants when he is much older,” Lars said. “For the moment, all I’m doing is helping him develop the confidence to know that he can defend himself and others if he needs to.”

“Guess in this whacked out world, that’s not such a bad thing,” Jordan muttered. “It’s a good skill to have.

Lars instructed Jordy to continue with his exercises and guided Jordan back towards the door. “While it is true that I am a warrior, I am also very much a disciple of peace,” Lars explained. “I am happy to see Jordy has extended himself towards you…”

“Hey, I’m not trying to cut in on your relationship, man,” Jordan said quickly.

Lars smiled, benignly. “Of course not, and I hope it didn’t sound like I was suggesting you were.” Lars looked admiringly towards Jordy. “The thing is that the path to which I am committed to follow does not permit the kind of relationship Jordy needs the most. It is obvious that even though the two of you have only recently met, that there is a special bond already developing – the type of bond that is impossible for me to permit.”

Jordan bobbed his head, “Yeah – there’s something about him that reminds me of my little brother.” His voice choked momentarily. “He’s gone now.”

Lars placed a consoling hand on Jordan’s forearm, “For that, I am sorry.” He pointedly glanced towards Jordy. “Balance is an integral element of Nature – your brother’s loss has brought your chi out of balance.”

“Chi?”

“That is the essential energy of all things – it seeks balance and harmony in everything,” Lars explained. “Jordy is equally unbalanced – that which he seeks to restore his chi has been eluding him. I cannot imagine your arrival here is an accident. That very element necessary to balance your chi also happens to be the counterpart to that which will bring Jordy balance.”

“I don’t follow,” Jordan said.

“Your chi seeks to nurture,” Lars explained. “Jordy’s seeks to be nurtured. It is evident that Nature has contrived to make your two paths cross.”

“That’s just a coincidence,” Jordan protested.

Lars shook his head, a serene smile playing across his lips; “There is no coincidence in Nature. There are only paths offered. We each have the opportunity to choose which path we will take. Some paths offer us balance, while others deny us that balance we need.”

Jordan shook his head, “You don’t understand, I haven’t got such a good track record in protecting others.”

“Because you think you failed?” Lars smiled comfortingly at the look of shock on Jordan’s face. “Even though this is a very big ship, in many ways it is a very small one at the same time. Your injuries were superficial, yet you didn’t join the Tribe’s company at meals. I asked about you and was told your story.”

“So you know two others – friends of mine, one of them was my own Tribe leader died because I couldn’t help them,” Jordan complained. “Brandon will never be the same again because I failed to get back to him in time. Then, he almost died in my care…”

“Is that really the truth?” Lars asked gently. “As I heard it, you stayed with your friend easing his passage into death. That is the real reason you didn’t get back to Brandon sooner. As for Brandon, the truth is that had you not returned to him, he would now be dead. You are letting emotion hide from you the truth of your successes. Emotion – even in the best of times – is less than truthful, it hides the truths reason and logic would let us see.”

“I don’t think I understand all that,” Jordan said.

“The emotion of loves hides from each of us the flaws of the ones we love. The emotion of guilt, on the other hand, hides from each of us the strengths we possess. Let go of your guilt and you will see what the rest of us have seen – you did a good job back there in circumstances that were difficult beyond belief.” Lars reached out, placing a gentle hand on Jordan’s cheek. “Let go of the guilt you feel – and allow the healing to begin. Both you and Jordy need balance – accept it.”

“Look, I don’t know that I understand all this stuff – I need to think things through,” Jordan said slowly. “After Jordy finishes training, tell him I’ll be down checking on Brandon.”

Lars offered another benign smile as he bowed before Jordan left the room.

In the hospital, he found Brandon awake. Jack and Selene hovering over their patient, changing his dressings. Jordan flinched at seeing Brandon’s ruined face. Purple keloid scars had formed, drawing the skin on the left side of his face tight. His milky left eye drooped – it almost looked like it was now lower than his right eye. Jack had managed to save Brandon’s lip, but it, too, was twisted and pulled to one side, exposing some of the teeth in Brandon’s lower jaw. Jordan started to back out of the room when Brandon called him back.

“I don’t think I ever took the time to thank you for everything,” Brandon rasped, his voice weak. Tears welled up in Jordan’s eyes, his mouth opened and closed helplessly. Brandon reached out with his good hand and took Jordan’s; “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you coming back when you did. If it wasn’t for you, I'd be a goner for sure.”

“B – but, your face,” Jordan stuttered.

“Believe me, I’ve seen it,” Brandon said evenly. “So, it’s not pretty anymore. The important thing is it’s still attacked to a living body.” Brandon’s voice grew grim. “Besides, think of the shock those bastards’ll get when they see this face coming at them. I’ll be like a bogeyman in the night to them.” Brandon shook off his grim mask and suddenly smiled again, his good eye twinkling. “Speaking about looks – man, you look a whole lot better than you did last time I woke up. Boy, you looked a mess.”

“Yeah, well I was kinda in a funk at the time,” Jordan admitted.

“You mean you were giving off a funk,” Jack laughed.

“I guess I did smell pretty bad,” Jordan agreed. He brightened as he changed the subject, “Hey Brandon, you’ve gotta meet this guy – Lars – he’s fantastic at martial arts. You should see him move.”

“Sounds good,” Brandon said. “Maybe he’ll work with me – help me get back in shape. Besides, I could stand to learn a few new moves for the next time I meet The Leader and his goon squad – especially that Gull guy.” Brandon broke off his train of thought when the door eased open and Jordy’s bald head peered around the edge of the door.

“Hey! All finished your workout?” Jordan called. Everyone noticed how much brighter his voice suddenly became. “I was just telling Brandon about Lars.”

Grinning happily, Jordy came into the room and regarded Brandon seriously for a few seconds. Suddenly, he pressed his palms together and bowed to Brandon. “I hope you are feeling better,” he said formally.

Selene laughed, “Jordy, that’s a nice greeting, but you should know Brandon isn’t a monk like Lars.”

Jordy looked pointedly at Brandon’s bald head and then back at Selene in confusion, “But, I thought…”

“No sweat, kid,” Brandon said. “Someone just gave me the wrong haircut, is all.” He reached out and patted Jordy’s head. “Looks good on you though, but you’re about due for another shave, you’re head is all stubbly.”

“So is yours,” Jordy grinned.

“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” Brandon agreed. “Maybe I’ll keep it shaved just like you. Think it would look good on me?”

“It’s hard to tell, ‘cuz you have all those bandages,” Jordy said, judiciously. “I think it makes you look strong though.”

“I like your new friend,” Brandon said to Jordan. “As for you,” he said turning back to Jordy, “thanks for making him get a bath and putting some clean clothes on – you know, he needs someone to look after him.”

“He sure does,” Jordy grinned.

“You’ll keep him straight, won’t you?” Brandon asked.

“Yepper!” Jordy exclaimed, stepping closer to Jordan.

As quickly as that, Jordan’s fate was sealed. Things moved quickly after that, Jack took Jordan in tow along to the First Class Suites. Jordy insisted Jack show Jordan the suites on the oceanside of the ship, claiming they were nicer. Jack good-naturedly chided Jordy, reminding him that the suites on both sides of the ship were exactly the same. However, he headed over to the seaward suites, starting with the empty suite next to his own and Bray’s living quarters. For his part, Jordan was stunned by the posh Art Deco décor of the rooms. He wandered through the rooms in wonder – he even had a private promenade deck. The living arrangements were far better than he was used to having.

The wonders didn’t stop there. Jack announced he’d have a television and VCR or DVD player brought down so Jordan would have some entertainment whenever he wanted. Jack checked the phone, happily announcing the circuit was open and Jordan would be able to call the main switchboard.

“Of course, there are some drawbacks,” Jack announced with an impish grin. “There’s no room service and no maid service. You’ll have to eat in the Dining Room and clean your own quarters.”

Jordan looked around in amazement; he had given up dreaming of having a secure place to live – a place with a real bed and a working bathroom. His glance fell on Jordy who was standing off to one side, remarkably silent.

“This is really a great place, Jack. Only thing is, there’s a problem with it,” he said. “It’s just too big for one person.”

“Oh, I think we can fix that,” Jack responded with a wink. “Jordy there has been bouncing around from place to place. Most of the time, he stays in the kids’ dorm. But, other times he just moves into one of the single cabins for a while. Makes it kinda hard to track him down.”

“Really?” Jordan pretended to be surprised. He turned to Jordy. “How about it? Think you’d like to move in here and help keep me from getting too lonely?” Jordy’s chipped-toothed grin was all the answer Jordan needed.

“Well,” Jack said, clapping his hands together in satisfaction. “I’ll let Jordy take you to the ship’s supply room to get some fresh sheets, towels, and I guess you’ll need some new clothes and stuff. He’ll show you where everything is.”

“Just like that?” Jordan was astounded.

“You might think it’s all free,” Jack replied. “But, everyone pitches in and shares chores like cooking and cleaning in the kitchen, laundry detail, and other things.” Jack started backing to the door. “Speaking of chores, I need to get out to the water project and check some things.”

On orders from The Leader, Gull and two green-robed Scouts returned to Hopkins armed with a Polaroid camera. The Leader had called a rest in the next town, about twelve miles farther down the road. He had directed The Brotherhood to occupy a large motel complex there. The Brotherhood had been overjoyed at the prospect of sleeping in real beds and taking advantage of the large swimming pools at the motel. Raids through the grocery stores had produced a large supply of food and provisions. For some reason, no Tribes occupied the town – it appeared that any survivors had simply abandoned the place.

While striding through one of the grocery stores, The Leader had seen packages of Polaroid film and ordered a soldier named Scrounger to find him a camera. The next day, The Leader had called Gull to his room and instructed him to take two Scouts back to Hopkins. He wanted photographs of what the dogs had done to Brandon. Before leaving town, Gull had stopped long enough to get himself a pack of film for his own pictures.

Reaching the stadium after a walk of a day and a half, Gull stared at the sight of the gaping hole in the football field where Brandon – or his remains, to be more accurate – should have been. Gull immediately flew into a rage – screaming curses and threats. One of the Scouts nervously suggested the dogs had dug the prisoner up and dragged his carcass away. That comment earned him a savage backhand from the Chief Enforcer that left his mouth bloody. Curbing his rage, Gull began examining the ground. It wasn’t long before he found two sets of footprints. He ordered the Scouts to spread out and find out where the footprints led.

It didn’t take long to realize the footprints headed straight to the high school. Leading the way, Gull hurried to the building. There was a trail of dried blood on the tile floors leading straight to the Nurse’s Office.

“There were two of them, sir,” one of the Scouts said, indicating the two empty cans of food Brandon and Jordan had left behind.

“I already knew that,” Gull snapped.

“I mean, they weren’t joined by more,” the nervous Scout explained.

“Spread out – search the entire building,” Gull ordered. “Leave nothing unsearched – check each individual locker if you have to. I want to know where those bastards are!”

The Scouts hurried away, eager to be anywhere but in close proximity to Gull. In the Nurse’s Office, Gull calmed down and began a careful examination of the room. It wasn’t hard to spot the smashed glass of the meds cabinet, and the ripped open packages of bandages. The Badger Chief had been injured – the blood was clear proof of that. But, the trash from the bandages suggested that his injuries hadn’t necessarily been fatal. Someone had come back and rescued the local Tribe Chief. Gull suddenly straightened as he remembered the one prisoner who had escaped. The soldiers had brought back a body that they claimed was his, but had it been? He knew a way to check on that. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of feet pounding in his direction. The two Scouts spilled into the room, breathless.

Gull waited impatiently for them to catch their breath before commanding them to report. They had discovered the missing golf cart from the back of the school. Gull nodded and praised them for their discovery. Then, he quickly explained his theory ordering them back to the football field – there should be three bodies out there. That meant that there should be two others at the scene of the brief battle with the Badger Tribe. The Scouts quickly agreed.

On the football field, they easily found the remains of the bodies they expected to be there – there wasn’t much left. The dogs had really done a job on them. Once Gull was satisfied, he quickly led the Scouts to the scene of the skirmish. As he expected, they found only one corpse.

Before reporting to The Leader on their return to the motel, Gull ordered his Enforcers to take the two Scouts into custody and prevent them from talking to anyone. He made it clear that no harm was to come to the Scouts.

The Leader listened to Gull’s report in silence. Only his tightly pursed lips and flushed face betrayed his anger. Leaning back in his armchair, The Leader slowly massaged his temples and considered his options.

“Did you search for the golf cart?”

“No, Leader,” Gull answered. “With no clue as to the direction they took, a search could have taken days at the very least. I thought it was more important that you know what had happened immediately.”

“Yes, yes,” The Leader said absently. “You’re right, of course. The issue now is punishment. Who was the leader of the search party for the escapee?”

“His name is Daniel,” Gull answered. “Give me permission and I’ll have the truth from his lying lips, Leader.”

“And the other two?”

“One was named Wolf, and the other Nathaniel.”

“We’ll start from the bottom up,” The Leader replied. “They are yours to interrogate – you can do as you wish with them so long as they stay alive. They must be given the chance to repent.”

Glancing down at the stubs where his pinkies had been, Gull nodded. The Order was just and The Leader merciful. Quickly, The Leader gave Gull instructions for what had to be done. Listening to his instructions, Gull smiled wickedly. He felt a stirring between his legs, knowing he would enjoy his task. Bowing, he left the room to set everything in motion.

Wolf and Nathaniel glanced up as two green-robed Scouts approached them. They were waiting their turn in the pleasure suites. Both were eager to feel the mouth of a slave surrounding their dicks.

“You two,” one of the Scouts said, stopping in front of them. “Come with us.”

“We’re on free time,” Nathaniel protested.

“Not anymore,” the Scout replied.

“What’s up?” Wolf asked, nervously.

“It’s Alpha,” the Scout replied in a tone that hinted at less than the appropriate respect Alpha deserved. “He’s decided The Brotherhood should have a couple of outposts set up.”

“Yeah,” the other Scout added with a tone of disgust in his voice. “He’s decided we need to have perimeter security.”

“So why us?” Nathaniel complained.

“Same reason we have to give up our break – luck of the draw,” the first Scout replied. “Of course, you could go to Alpha and tell him you’d rather not follow his orders.”

“No way!” both Wolf and Nathaniel replied with fervor.

The two soldiers dejectedly followed the Scouts several blocks across town, hoping they would at least be allowed to occupy a building and not have to camp out in the middle of the streets. Reaching their destination, Wolf’s spirits lifted somewhat. The security outpost chosen for them was the local YMCA – in some ways, that would probably be better than the motel. The Y was sure to have a large pool and they wouldn’t have to wait in lines to take a plunge.

Entering the building, one of the Scouts explained that Wolf and Nathaniel would soon have several Neophytes under their command to actually do the patrols. That news made each soldier swell with ambition – if they did a good job, they were sure to be allowed to take charge of their own squads. Squad leaders had better benefits than the regular soldiers did. Explaining that the massage room was going to be the main office of the security outpost, the two soldiers were caught totally unawares when the Enforcers took them by the arms as they entered the room.

Seeing Gull’s angry face, Nathaniel felt his insides churn and go weak. He felt his bladder void itself, a puddle of urine forming between his feet. For the first time Gull smiled as he languidly pointed a finger in Wolf’s direction.

“We’ll start with the one who needs diapers,” he said slowly. “Take the other one away. I’ll send for him when I want him.”

Nathaniel watched as Wolf was dragged away, begging and crying. He couldn’t blame his friend – tears were already running down his cheeks as he tried to find words to ask forgiveness for whatever he had done. Gull produced a wide roll of duct tape and approached Nathaniel, pulling a strip of the tape off as he came closer.

“Shhh,” Gull said. His voice was gentle and seductive as he placed the tape across Nathaniel’s mouth and smoothed it down. “No talking now. The time for confessions will come later.” He tenderly stroked Nathaniel’s face and bleached, cropped hair almost like a lover. “For right now, I just want you to experience – I want you to open yourself up to the things you’re going to experience. Later, we can talk.”

Stepping back, Gull motioned for his assistants to strip the prisoner. The moment he was totally naked, Gull returned with his hand clippers and began the process of divesting Nathaniel of his bleached short-cropped hair. He took his time, making sure the hand-operated clippers didn’t pull at the prisoner’s hair. He paused frequently to tenderly brush clumps of hair from Nathaniel’s face and shoulders. The soft tone in Gull’s voice and his gentle caresses frightened Nathaniel even more than threats of savage violence and torture could.

As he felt the cold blades slowly work their way over the top of his head, Nathaniel suddenly knew with terrifying clarity why he and Wolf had been brought here – their substitution of the body for the escapee had been discovered. He wanted to explain that the idea hadn’t been his – he had wanted to keep looking for the kid. Wolf just wanted to go back and admit they had failed to find the prisoner, but Daniel had pointed out they would risk being punished for failure. It had been his idea to substitute the body from the street. Wolf had eagerly agreed, pointing out that no one would be the wiser and they’d escape punishment.

Snot dribbled from his nose in a steady stream as his tears renewed themselves – Gull was slowly spreading shaving cream all over his scalp. The straight razor made a scritching sound as it was expertly drawn over his head, removing the white lather and the remaining stubble. Gull continued to show the tenderest attention to his work, careful not to cause any physical injuries to the frightened soldier. Finished shaving Nathaniel’s head, Gull gently patted his head clean and dry. Carefully wiping the blade of the straight razor clean, Gull walked across the room.

Nathaniel was dragged to one of the massage tables and expertly bound spread eagle to it. Gull instructed the other two Enforcers to begin shaving Nathaniel’s entire body smooth. He stood over them, instructing them on the finer points of techniques like some kindly professor. He explained the importance of taking the time to thoroughly massage the shaving crème into the skin. The anticipation heightened the experience for the prisoner, he explained.

Nathaniel tried to scream that he’d eagerly confess everything – they didn’t need to torture him. He didn’t want to suffer additional pain and humiliation. He just knew that he was going to end up a slave – castrated and shaved bald, kept naked for all the world to see his position in life. It took nearly an hour for the two Enforcers to totally shave Nathaniel’s body to Gull’s satisfaction. Sometimes, he’d run his fingertips over a freshly shaved area and suggest one or the other of the Enforcers re-lather the area and shave it again to get the skin smooth. Finally, Gull announced that they were finished.

“You’d be surprised at how much more sensitive your subject’s body is once it has been shaved smooth,” Gull explained as they wiped Nathaniel clean. “And, as I said before – if you take your time, the subject has the time to start anticipating what you might or might not have in store for him.”

Gull finally turned his attention to Nathaniel, compassionately running his fingers over Nathaniel’s freshly shaven head and face. He spoke soothingly as he gently wiped away Nathaniel’s tears.

“Yes, I know you’re scared,” Gull said. “And, that’s a good thing – it means you’re more likely to tell me the truth to the questions I have to ask you.” Nathaniel nodded his head vigorously, trying to speak through the tape gag. “Ah, ah – don’t try talking just yet. It’s not time for that just yet. First – you have to suffer a little bit.”

Nathaniel began crying again, his face screwed up in fear. He couldn’t understand why Gull insisted on making him suffer if he was willing to tell him everything.

“You and your friends were very bad back in Hopkins,” Gull said. “You were sent to hunt down an escapee and when you couldn’t find him, you brought back another body.” Nathaniel’s eyes widened in shock – Gull already knew the truth. “What I need to know is which one thought up the idea in the first place,” Gull continued. “Now, I could take the tape from your mouth and let you talk, but you might tell me what you think I want to hear instead of the complete truth. So, you need to experience some pain to make you understand that I will discover if you lie to me or not. I want you too afraid of what I will do if you lie to me in even the slightest detail.”

Nathaniel sobbed even harder, trying to make Gull understand that he wouldn’t lie – just the threat of any punishment Gull might come up was sufficient to make him tell the truth. Gull produced a set of vice grips and held them up before his subject’s face, smiling evilly at the look of horror on Nathaniel’s face.

“You see, gentlemen – just the sight of some of your tools is enough to cause the subject to suffer mental anguish,” Gull said, professorially. “Your subject will imagine how much agony he’ll suffer as these vice grips crush the joints in his fingers or toes.”

Nathaniel groaned behind his gag. He’d seen Gull take his time and crush every joint in a victim’s fingers before continuing and breaking the bones in his victim’s hand.

“But, don’t ignore the fact that these useful tools can be applied to other parts of the body as well,” Gull explained. He bent over Nathaniel and opening the vice grips, applied the tool to his prisoner’s right nipple, closing the grips tightly and locking them in place.

Pain exploded in Nathaniel’s chest – he’d never imagined any pain being so intense. First there was the crushing pain as the teeth of the vice grips closed around his sensitive nipple and locked in place. Then, Gull let the tool hang from the side of Nathaniel’s chest – the weight of the tool pulled painfully on his already aching nipple. The sight of Gull holding another set of vice grips was enough to make Nathaniel writhe around as much as he could to keep his left nipple out of the reach of the teeth of the pliers-like tool. Not that it did much good. More pain burst across his chest as Gull locked the vice grips down on the second nipple. For several long moments, Nathaniel couldn’t concentrate on anything but the pain that had blossomed in his chest. His eyes were squeezed tightly closed against the pain as he banged his head repeatedly against the padded massage table.

Nathaniel lost all track of time and place as Gull calmly demonstrated various methods of inflicting pain on a subject that didn’t involve breaking bones or drawing blood. Nathaniel had thought that the nothing could cause more pain than the vice grips were already causing. Then, Gull began sliding a metal rod up and into his penis. That caused a pain that immediately nullified the pain he was feeling in his chest. Gull twisted the rod around several times before drawing it out again.

“At this point, your subject can’t begin to imagine a more intense pain that he’s just experienced with an unlubricated sound,” Gull said. “But, he’s so very wrong. All you have to do is coat the sound with something like Ben Gay or any other analgesic ointment, or the juice of a jalapeno pepper.”

Nathaniel whipped his head from side to side in frenzy; he didn’t need to experience that at all. But, Gull just smiled as he broke a pepper open and wiped it along the metal sound before working the sound back into Nathaniel’s penis. Nathaniel actually managed to arch his back and raise his buttocks at least six inches from the padded tabletop as he thrashed in agony. Gull ignored his prisoner’s gyrations as he pushed the sound deeper and deeper.

Nathaniel thought his piss tube was on fire – the pain was intense and unrelenting as Gull twisted the sound around before yanking it out. This time, the pain didn’t end when the sound was removed – Nathaniel screamed and thrashed as much as his bonds would allow as his penis burned from the inside out.

Gull let his prisoner suffer for a while before moving on to the next lesson for his Enforcers. Eventually, Nathaniel’s thrashings slowed and finally stopped. That’s when the beatings began. Using a flexible plastic tube, Gull demonstrated how it could be used to whip a subject across the belly, groin, thighs, and finally, the soles of his feet. He explained how important it was to use a moderate stroke – the goal of this style of whipping was to raise welts and bruises, but not to actually draw blood. Each of the assistants was given the chance to practice their whipping techniques, their strokes crossing the ones already laid down by Gull.

And then, suddenly the torture was over. The whipping stopped. The vice grips were removed from his nipples, causing a new flood of pain as blood rushed into the tortured flesh of the delicate buds on each side of Nathaniel’s chest.

Nathaniel flinched when he felt something cold and wet touch his face. But, no pain followed. Gull tenderly wiped his victim’s face with a cool, damp cloth and once again spoke soft, soothing words to Nathaniel, promising him the pain was over and no one would hurt him anymore if he told the absolute truth.

Nathaniel eagerly nodded, he’d tell them everything – the absolute truth and nothing but the absolute truth. He wouldn’t hold back anything. Gull had his two assistants remove Nathaniel’s bonds and gently massage this aching shoulders and arms before assisting the sobbing soldier from the table. When he was on his feet, one of the Enforcers removed the duct tape from his mouth. Once Nathaniel was on his feet, Gull jerked his head and led the way from the room. The two Enforcers solicitously helped their prisoner walk on tottery legs down the hall. As they walked, Nathaniel twisted his head from side to side, blubbering in a high-pitched whine that he’d cooperate while begging not to be hurt anymore.

Gull led the group to another tiled room and stood by the side of a plain wooden table and chair. He quietly instructed his assistants to sit Nathaniel in one of the chairs and push it up to the table. Sitting across from Nathaniel, Gull reached out and lovingly stroked the prisoner’s hand, trying to calm him down.

“Now, you’ve had just the tiniest of tastes of the pain that is reserved for those who lie to the Brotherhood,” Gull explained in a quiet voice. “You don’t want to experience that again, do you?”

For several long, drawn out moments, Nathaniel’s mouth moved soundlessly as he feebly shook his head. Finally, he managed a breathy “Puh – puh – puh-lease, please d-don’t hurt me anymore.”

“Of course not,” Gull promised. “I know you wouldn’t try to lie to me now.” He turned to one of his assistants and waved his hand. The Enforcer quickly rolled a little teacart next to the table. Gull poured two cups of steaming tea, pushing one over to Nathaniel. “Drink some tea. Go on,” he urged. “Drink up, it’ll make you feel better.” Smiling, Gull lifted his own mug and took a sip.

Nathaniel timidly took his own cup and tried the tea. It was a strong and sweet herbal tea. Gull was right – it did make him feel a little better.

“Now, we both know that the body you dragged back wasn’t the body of the boy who escaped over the stadium wall,” Gull began conversationally. Nathaniel immediately began crying again, his hands shaking so badly he slopped his tea all over the table. “Shhh, calm down – we’re just going to talk,” Gull said gently. “We’re just going to talk. We both know you’ll tell me the whole truth, so there’s nothing to be afraid of. People who tell the truth don’t have to suffer any pain.” He smiled benignly. “You have my word.”

Nathaniel desperately wanted to believe his tormentor – he couldn’t handle more pain. He knew Gull was capable of making him suffer even more intensely if he chose to do so. But now, Gull was sitting across from him with a concerned look on his face, refreshing Nathaniel’s cup of tea.

“I’m so, so sorry,” Nathaniel whimpered.

“Yes, I know you are,” Gull agreed. “Now, I want you to tell me what really happened and whose idea it was to try to trick our Leader.”

Haltingly, Nathaniel sniffled out the story – his voice breathless and sometimes hard to hear. He described how the three of them had tried to track the escaped prisoner, but quickly lost his trail. Nathaniel wanted to either keep looking until they found him, or else report back to The Leader and request additional assistance. Wolf and Daniel, on the other hand, were afraid to return in failure. It was Daniel who came up with the idea of retrieving one of the bodies of the locals killed in the skirmish. He said that if the three of them battered the face beyond recognition that no one would be any the wiser. Nathaniel began blubbering again as he described how the other two had pressured him until he gave in to them. He knew it was wrong and he was so sorry. He ended with yet another plea not to be hurt anymore.

“There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Gull smiled across the table at him. “I know you’re sorry and want to continue to serve The Leader as a loyal follower, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes, yes – more than anything,” Nathaniel blubbered. “I do want to serve The Leader. I’m sorry, oh dear God, I’m so sorry.”

Gull stood and kindly patted Nathaniel’s face, “And you shall continue to serve our glorious Leader.” Abruptly, he turned to the other two Enforcers. “Strap him to the chair.”

“Wh-what? You promised…” Nathaniel wailed.

“I promised you wouldn’t be tortured anymore if you told the truth,” Gull said firmly. “You’ve admitted your transgression and now, you have to redeem yourself.”

Lifting the tablecloth on the teacart, Gull produced his equipment bag and placed it on the table. He silently removed a large, wicked looking meat cleaver, mallet, propane torch and soldering iron. Seeing the implements, Nathaniel knew what was about to happen as the two Enforcers forced his hands flat on the table.

“Ohhhhhh, no please don’t – Ahhhhhh!” Nathaniel wailed, the tears pouring down his face.

“You,” Gull said, pointing to one of the Enforcers, “hold his right hand in place. Keep it flat on the table.” He turned to the other Enforcer. “You, let’s see if you’ve learned your lessons. Remove the last two fingers of his right hand.”

Grinning savagely, the assistant placed the meat cleaver across the last two fingers of Nathaniel’s right hand, ignoring the keening coming from the soldier. Lifting the mallet, he carefully raised it above his head, took a deep breath and brought the mallet down as hard as he could. The thunk of the mallet striking the cleaver was lost in the high-pitched scream of agony and horror that came from Nathaniel’s throat.

Nathaniel watched in abject horror as the mallet came down, sending the cleaver cleanly through his fingers. He screamed until his lungs burned and he was forced to gasp for air. His next scream was even louder and more high pitched as he watched the white hot soldering iron placed against his stumps to staunch the bleeding. The Enforcers worked quickly and efficiently to bandage his ruined hand, caring for it as delicately as possible.

“Excellent job,” Gull praised the pair of assistants. Then, he instructed them to trade places to amputate the last two fingers of Nathaniel’s left hand.

Gull watched dispassionately as his assistants traded positions and once again neatly removed two fingers on the prisoner’s left hand. He nodded his head in satisfaction – neither assistant had flinched or hesitated to do what had been ordered. Neither had shown the least bit of compassion for the torments being inflicted on the prisoner. When they were finished bandaging the prisoner’s left hand, Gull had them lift the chair and carry it back to the massage room. He wanted Wolf to see what had happened to his fellow conspirator.

He directed his assistants to place the chair directly opposite the door of the massage room. Then, he directed them to get the room prepared for the next prisoner. Between his sobs, Nathaniel caught glimpses of the assistants wheeling a propane gas grill into one corner of the room and placing various implements on the grill after they had lit the burner. Another straight-backed wooden chair was brought into the room. At last, Gull seemed satisfied that everything was ready and ordered the assistants to fetch Wolf.

The first thing Wolf saw on being shoved into the massage room was Nathaniel strapped to a wooden chair. Red welts crossed his companion’s chest, belly, and legs. But, the real horror was the bandages on each of Nathaniel’s hands. Wolf could tell that Gull and his assistants had removed two fingers on each of Nathaniel’s hands. He immediately began sobbing and begging, trying to sink to his knees as his white robes were unceremoniously stripped from him.

“Shut up!” Gull spat savagely. “We know everything already – you and Daniel tempted Nathaniel to betray the trust of The Leader. You led a weak Brother astray; you lied, and tried to make a fool of The Leader. Nathaniel has confessed everything and redeemed himself. There is no redemption for those to lead other Brothers astray and betray the trust of The Leader.”

Nathaniel watched as Gull took his hand-operated clippers and began stripping Wolf of his bleached hair. The click-clack sound of the clippers filled the tile room as tufts of hair rained down around Wolf. Curiously, Nathaniel noticed that Gull wasn’t taking his time with Wolf. He didn’t seem to care about not causing the frightened soldier additional pain. No lather was used when Gull shaved Wolf’s head – Nathaniel watched as Gull dry shaved his companion’s head. The sudden change in attitude confused Nathaniel at first. He felt sick to his stomach as he realized that he was about to watch as his friend was tortured and castrated to join the ranks of slaves.

“Please,” Wolf sobbed. “Give me a second chance – I’m sorry. I want to serve The Leader and The Brotherhood. Please, give me another chance.”

“Oh, you can be sure you’re going to serve The Brotherhood,” Gull promised. “By the time, we’re done with you, you’ll be the most perfect cocksucker among the ranks of the slaves.”

Hearing those words, Wolf became hysterical. He tried to break away from his captors, covering his balls with his hands in a futile effort to protect them. Ignoring his struggles, the Enforcers dragged him to the straight back chair, quickly strapping him down.

“Nate, Nate – what’d you tell them?” Wolf wailed. “Explain how it was – go ahead, tell them it was Daniel’s idea. Ahhhhh shit, don’t let them do this to me.”

Across the room, Nathaniel hung his head, his ears burning bright red in humiliation at seeing his friend begging. He also felt a flush of shame at secretly being relieved that he wasn’t also in the same predicament as Wolf.

Gull stabbed his finger at the phoenix tattoo in the middle of Wolf’s forehead, sending the soldier’s head slamming into the back of the chair. “You don’t deserve to bear the mark of our noble Brotherhood, you traitor,” he snarled.

Turning, he strode to the gas grill and removed a homemade branding iron – the end was shaped like a letter X and glowing white hot. He crossed the room in four swift steps; the glowing iron held before him and deliberately placed it over the red phoenix tattoo on Wolf’s forehead. Gull held the iron on place as Wolf screeched in agony. Nathaniel vomited over himself as he heard Wolf’s skin crackle and sizzle. The stench of burning flesh filled the room. Pulling the iron away, Gull whispered something to one of the assistants who nodded and quickly left the room.

Minutes later the door opened and Harvey entered the room, an ominous black bag in his hand. Setting the bag on a massage table, he began extracting his dental tools. Wolf looked on blankly, the importance of those tools. Nathaniel, on the other hand, gulped – he realized what that equipment meant for poor Wolf.

“Get his mouth open,” Harvey ordered, picking up a set of locking forceps.

The assistants jumped to hold Wolf’s head in place and force his mouth open. Moving smoothly, Harvey reached into Wolf’s mouth with the forceps and locked them down around the prisoner’s tongue. He pulled Wolf’s tongue as far out as it would go before asking one of the assistants to hold the forceps in place. Nathaniel watched with a sick feeling as Harvey produced a large needle and went to work piercing Wolf’s tongue. Harvey worked efficiently, piercing the tongue four times and placing four round studs in Wolf’s tongue.

Finished with his piercings, Harvey picked up his extractors and held them up before Wolf’s face. Frightened whimpers filled the room as Harvey approached and went to work removing Wolf’s teeth. Gurgled howls of pain filled the air as Harvey expertly removed each tooth. The assistants laughed, teasing Wolf about how soft and exciting his mouth would be as he serviced the Brothers with no teeth and a French tickler for a tongue.

It took Harvey over an hour to extract every tooth in Wolf’s head. By the time he was finished, large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. His crimson dyed hair was sweat soaked and plastered to his skull. Wolf sat slumped in the chair, his head lolling, blood dribbling from his lips. Gull ordered the assistants to take a break and join him and Harvey in a cup of tea. From time to time, tiny whimpers escaped Wolf’s bloody lips. Other than those tiny sounds, Wolf seemed oblivious to his surroundings – to Nathaniel, he seemed totally broken.

Sipping his tea, Gull glanced at Wolf’s languid form and laughed, “He looks pretty much out of it, doesn’t he?” The others agreed that the prisoner did seem to have reached a point of collapse. “Don’t believe it,” Gull assured them. “Bringing him back to the present is easy – watch.”

Taking the steaming teapot from the grill, Gull stood over Wolf and with calm deliberation dribbled the boiling water over Wolf’s cock. Wolf jerked up with an ear-splitting screech, twisting and bucking against his bonds as the scalding water sent fresh waves of pain cascading through him. He jerked around so much he managed to move his chair about two feet back.

“Damn! Look at the blisters on his dick,” Harvey said in wonder.

“It doesn’t really matter,” Gull said matter-of-factly. “He’s not leaving this room with his cock anyway.”

Nathaniel jerked his head up in shock hearing those words. Even Wolf seemed to come out of his stupor; his eyes wide in fear as a fresh round of sobs racked his body. His head slowly rocked from side to side as he tried to form words with his ruined mouth to beg once more for forgiveness.

When Gull and the others finished their break, Wolf was transferred to the massage table. Nathaniel took a deep breath, thinking he was going to witness his friend’s emasculation right away. But, Gull wasn’t through inflicting punishment on Wolf yet. He directed the assistants to take the flexible plastic tubing to the prisoner and beat him from his neck to toes – reminding them leave welts only, not to draw blood.

The two crimson robed assistants demonstrated how adept they were at learning their lessons. Taking their time, the welts they left formed crosshatched patterns across Wolf’s bare skin as they lashed him. They worked from his neck down to his toes and back again before Gull finally called a stop to the punishment, praising the two assistants for a job well done.

Gull laid out a length of wire and began fashioning a small loop on one end. Seeing the wire, Wolf screamed, howled, and begged, finding new energy to thrash around and pull against his bonds. In his chair, Nathaniel cried softly, unable to take his eyes off the scene playing out before him. Gull slipped the free end of the wire through the loop creating a noose that he eased over Wolf’s scrotum.

Feeling Gull pull the wire noose tight, Wolf began a non-stop shrieking. Gull ignored the noise as he took his time wrapping the wire around the helpless ball sac of his prisoner. He pulled each wrap tight to cut off the flow of blood into the scrotum. Gull kept up a running commentary on how the wire should be applied. He explained that the wrapping shouldn’t be too wide, but it was important that it be as tight as possible. Stepping away from the table, Gull indicated the thinner assistant should apply the second wire wrap about an inch and a half to two inches below the first one.

The Head Enforcer watched in rapt attention as the assistant formed a small loop in one end of the wire and then began wrapping it around Wolf’s scrotum. Gull nodded in satisfaction – he’d chosen his assistants well. Both were quick learners, enjoyed inflicting pain and humiliation on others, and regarded the screams of pain from their victims as music. The assistant finished his work and looked up to find Gull nodding in approval.

“Now, at this point, you’d normally use the cleaver and mallet to remove the scrotum – just like you did with his fingers,” Gull explained. “But, today we’re going to use these garden pruning shears.” Gull held up the pruning shears that he had removed from his bag as he talked. “Actually, we’re not going to use them – Nathaniel is.”

Nathaniel’s head jerked up, his eyes wide in terror. He couldn’t do that. Fresh tears rolled down his cheeks as he timidly shook his head from side to side, his mouth moving without making a sound. The assistants hurried to Nathaniel’s chair, unstrapped him, and dragged him to Gull’s side. Nathaniel held up his bandaged hands, trying to show that he wouldn’t be able to operate the shears.

“Of course you can do it,” Gull said firmly as he opened the blades and slid them between the wire bands on Wolf’s scrotum. “All you have to do is squeeze the blades closed.” He lovingly stroked Nathaniel’s bald head. “What you need to remember is that quicker is better. You see, if you squeeze the blades shut slowly, poor Wolf here will experience a lot more pain. Do it quickly and it’ll all be over before he really knows what’s happened to him.”

“Please don’t do it, Nate,” Wolf finally managed to whine. “Make them understand I’ll be good from now on.”

Gull leaned close to Nathaniel’s ear and whispered so only he could hear; “You need to understand something, Nathaniel. It’s you or him. If you don’t cut his balls off, you’ll find yourself on the table in his place.”

Whimpering, Nathaniel reached out a trembling hand and maneuvered it around the handles of the pruning shears. He found he needed to use both mangled hands.

“Ohhhh, Nate – don’t do it,” Wolf moaned plaintively. “Please, please…”

His pleas stopped abruptly as Nathaniel took a deep breath closed his eyes tightly, and his hands suddenly convulsed, squeezing the handles of the pruning shears. Wolf’s knees jerked up and down like a petulant baby’s as he sobbed and cursed his friend.

Gull stroked the back of Nathaniel’s head proudly; “You did a wonderful job, Nathaniel. You’ve shown yourself worthy of The Leader’s trust once more.”

Shaking and sobbing over what he had been forced to do Nathaniel staggered back to his chair and sank down onto it, his face buried in his hands.

Ignoring Nathaniel’s remorse, Gull gathered his assistants around as he picked up a thin metal tube in one hand and took Wolf’s penis in his other. Wolf renewed his blubbering pleas, having trouble forming the words clearly through his bleeding gums and tongue. He frantically moved his hips from side to side as much as he could. Gull laughed and squeezed his prisoner’s dick harder, holding him in place as he began pushing the metal tube into his penis.

Wolf had thought his pain couldn’t get any worse than what he’d already experienced – he was wrong. His high-pitched screams became even shriller – rising at least a full octave as Gull slowly worked the metal tube further and further into his tortured cock. Gull sadistically twisted the tube, laughing at the way Wolf’s screams changed in intensity, duration, and pitch. Finally, he stopped pushing and the pain deep in Wolf’s groin seemed to recede.

“Tape his eyes open and raise his head,” Gull ordered. “I want him to watch as his worthless prick is cut off.”

The assistants moved quickly, one holding down Wolf’s head while the other applied small strips of tape to his upper and lower eyelids. With his eyes taped open, the Enforcers lifted his head so he could get a good look at his cock and the long brass tube extending out of the piss slit. His screams diminished to helpless moans – almost like the mewling of a kitten crying for milk. His moans increased in frequency when Gull produced a long, evil-looking filleting knife from his tool bag.

Setting the tip of the blade directly against the prisoner’s dick, Gull pressed down and forward at an angle. The razor-sharp blade cut through Wolf’s doomed cock easily, stopping only when the blade hit the metal tube. Gull worked the sharp blade around the perimeter of the brass tube all the way around Wolf’s dick. Then, grasping the cock, he pulled it up the length of the tube. That’s when Wolf’s screams started again.

Watching as Gull sliced around his cock seemed so unreal to Wolf. But, reality slammed home in his mind when he saw the Chief Enforcer slide his severed dick all the way up and off the metal tube. For a full ten seconds Wolf remained silent, and then the screams started again, even more hysterical and high-pitched than before. He continued to scream as Gull used a regular needle and thread to sew the sides of the stump that had been his dick together.

Harvey stepped out of the shadows where he had watched Wolf’s torture in silence and stared down at the prisoner’s modified body in curiosity.

“What about this tube?” he asked, tapping the brass tube.

“We’ll leave it in place for a few days to keep his piss tube open,” Gull explained. “Once he’s healed enough, we’ll bring him back to the motel and then take care of that traitor Daniel.”

“Sounds like you already have plans for him,” Harvey observed.

“I wish I could take credit for the surprise Daniel has coming,” Gull admitted. “But The Leader is the one who designed his punishment.” Gull’s expression became sensual as he thought of The Leader’s plans; he could feel his cock growing hard and his breath getting deeper in anticipation. “It’s going to be a real lesson to others who might consider trying to betray or trick our Leader again.”

To be continued…