It appeared that we were expected to walk from the courtroom to the Market Square, a distance of about half a mile, maybe a little more but both of us were in such a state that we could hardly stand, let alone walk. I couldn’t control any of my limbs and my whole body shook violently. It was only after I was given a drink of a bitter liquid that I regained some of my composure. Come along Miss, my guard spoke quite kindly to me, You don’t want to annoy the flogging master by keeping him waiting. Start walking. The sooner we get there, the sooner it will be over and done with. I knew he was trying to help but I could hardly put one foot before the other. Nevertheless with his help and with his mate helping Roger we slowly made our way to the square where crowds of people had already assembled. Once more I knew that this had all been prearranged.

We waited for a few minutes at the end of the track leading into the square and I could see how they arranged for each punishment to become a public spectacle. In the centre of the square stood a stout upright post with ropes passing through a pulley near its top. Around the post and several yards away, surrounding it in a semicircle on three sides were tiered stands. Already they were filled with people, men and women, all noisily eager to watch the punishment being carried out. The scene reminded me of The Tale of Two Cities where the townspeople came to watch the aristocrats beheaded.

I murmured, No, no, no. No further, I can’t go on, to the guard but he simply half carried me into the square. The crowd greeted our arrival with a huge cheer and the guard put me on my feet again.

“Walk proud like you really are a bluestone. I would have cheerfully thrown the bloody bluestone at the crowd if I had thought it would release me. I glanced at Roger. He like me had tears streaming down his face and was only standing with support. Stand and walk, my guard ordered. Like a zombie I did so. At last something clicked in my brain. It mattered not whether I was dragged screaming and bawling to the post or whether I walked with some dignity, either way I would receive the same punishment. I started to walk but was stopped by Roger resolutely sitting down in the dirt. My guard undid the chain between us. Walk on, he said again and like a horse obeying his master’s order I did so. Naked and in front of everyone, I made my way slowly to the post. Well done, he said when I reached it. The crowd seemed to appreciate my supposed bravery because they clapped and cheered. I didn’t feel at all brave. Numbly I allowed my wrists to be bound and soon my arms were hoisted aloft.

Odd how some things pass through your mind at a time like that. The hot sun burned my back and I remembered that I hadn’t brought any sunblock. Sunburn was the least of my worries! My tits pressed against the post and I was concerned about getting splinters in them but these irrelevant thoughts were quickly chased away when someone in a loud voice read out my punishment. Elaine Eves you are to receive ten strokes with the leather strap and ten with the rattan cane, all soundly applied. I started to sag in my bonds but I couldn’t move far. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the hooded flogging master pick up the strap but it seemed an age before he stood to one side of me and waited for the crowd to quieten down.

“SLAAAPP! The most horrendous pain that I had ever experienced erupted across my shoulder blades. I screamed but it was largely lost in the crowd noise. How could they be so cruel to a girl? This may have been the norm to them but to me SLAAAPP! I screamed again as the second blow landed. Another wait while I howled and screamed but before long the third stroke bit into my sore shoulders. The whole area burned with a raging fire. I cannot take any more. I must try and pass out. Another blow and still I didn’t fade into unconsciousness. Nor did I after the fifth. This was far worse than the strapping at the airport.

A longer wait. SLAAAPP! The next stroke went right across my arse, low down and only a little above the crease. My cries were now very hoarse and two more strokes went across my arse in fairly quick succession. Perhaps the flogging master noticed that I was fading. A wait then two more. I knew that my whole back and arse was one huge blister ready to burst open and spill my blood over the soil. I could feel it trickling down my legs and then realised that I was pissing. The laughter from the crowd should have embarrassed me but all I could think of was the pain. Pain, pain and more pain. The flogging master must have been skilled at his job because later I found that not one of the strokes had landed on top of another. In a few days, the whole of my upper back and all of my arse blossomed into a huge extremely painful, purple bruise with very little space between the stripes. How am I going to survive this? Why did they send me to this godforsaken place? Why were we set up? I was becoming a little delirious and we were only halfway through my sentence and the worst was yet to come. I began to fade.

Suddenly water sprayed over my body and my head. It felt cool but it woke up my senses again. The water drenched my hair and ran over my face and down between my tits. It was refreshing but at the price of restoring the feeling of the terrible pain. I yelled and pleaded with them to free me and send me home but I doubt anyone heard my words.

The crowd quietened and I sensed my punishment, my flogging; my mediaeval barbaric torture, was about to begin again. The cane bit into my already blistered and swollen shoulders. The force of the blow knocked me hard against the post and my breasts splayed either side of it. My cries should have awakened all the spirits in their world but none came to save me. Four more times that dreadful piece of cane caused me the utmost pain and I had no doubt that I really was bleeding and that I had deeper welts than those Vilisi suffered. Blackness started to overcome me and I felt a little relief from the pain but soon the hose returned me to my suffering.

“Only five more, I heard someone shout. They, of course would be across my arse. Across flesh so puffed up and wet that I surmised the cane would hurt even more. I really don’t know if it made any difference. I was almost out of it after the first stroke landed and the remaining ones were little more than a blur in my mind. I know I kept yelling and screaming but at last it all ended. The hose played over my body again and hands held me under the armpits while my wrists were untied. I collapsed into someone’s arms and I was turned so the all sections of he crowd could see the result of my flogging. At last a sheet was wrapped around me and I was lowered on to a blanket on the ground. I lay face down in the utmost pain, wishing the world would end and take me with it. I closed my eyes and I know I mumbled incoherently until my thoughts were once again brought into focus by the shouting and screaming that came from Roger as they fastened him to the whipping post.

At the same time a middle-aged woman, a complete stranger, scrambled down over the seats and knelt beside me. She said something to the guard in the local language and he nodded. Kneel dear. Get up on your knees like this. Hold on to me. I didn’t want to move at all as each twist of my muscles sent bolts of pain through me but she was insistent and soon I knelt unsteadily in an upright position with my knees and forelegs on the blanket. I’m placing my cushion on the back of your legs dear so if you need to sit a bit it will take some of the pressure and I’m sure you’d like a drink. I did indeed. My throat was parched from all the yelling and I must have lost a lot of water from crying let alone from the heat. I think I stopped muttering about that time but I know I didn’t reply. She didn’t seem to want one. Opening my eyes a little more I saw her pour some liquid from an earthenware pitcher into a paper cup. It’s only water with some herbs and spices, she informed me but at the time I didn’t care what it was. She put the cup to my lips and I tried to gulp the liquid down but she reprimanded me in a motherly way. Sip it slowly dear. Keep it in your mouth a moment or two before swallowing. Her kindness almost overwhelmed me and I slumped down only to find that putting my backside on the cushion was not a good idea. Lifting myself up slightly and clinging to my benefactor’s shoulders, I found that I could take in the scene in front of me although it appeared blurred and out of focus. My heart pumped faster than normal and it was with great difficulty that I heeded the words of the women to calm down. How can I calm down when I am in such agony, I thought but just her soothing presence was reassuring.

My eyes were so wet with crying I still couldn’t see properly but I saw what was almost a silhouette of the flogging master take up his position and wait for the crowd to hush and for the sentence to be read out. My instinctive reflexes winced as I watched the belt fly in a wide arc and land across Roger’s shoulders. He immediately hung limp from his wrists. There were boos and groans from the crowd much like at the airport and my sympathy went out to him. In a way I wished that I could have done the same. It seemed to take an age for the hose to revive him but the same thing happened at the next stroke and after the third, Roger took so long coming round that I thought he’d died. The flogging master threw down the strap in disgust and then picked it up again and let fly the remaining strokes without stopping and without much power and not waiting for Roger to recover. How I wished I could have closed my senses down in that way.

It took long minutes and something held under his nose before Roger regained consciousness and again I worried that they might have killed him but a doctor looking man put a stethoscope to his chest and listened. Seemingly he couldn’t find anything amiss and shrugged his shoulders to the crowd and had a few words with the flogging master. Again Roger only took one not too hard a stroke of the cane before sagging in his bonds. The crowd, unhappy at the poor showing started shouting and throwing fruit and nuts until the guards stopped them. Still lifeless, he hung there while the flogging master delivered a further nine token strokes. Finally he was released and he moaned pitifully when he came round. In one respect I was pleased that he wasn’t that badly hurt, in another way I was disgusted at his poor showing but even at that time I knew Roger had no control over the way his body reacted.

“They’ll take care of you now dear, I heard the woman say and I must have muttered some sort of thank you because she gave me a big smile and kissed my forehead. Of the next few minutes I remember very little. Two men came and placed me face down on a stretcher and although they tried to be gentle, the movements hurt me terribly so the next thing I really remember is lying on my bed in the prison with Nurse Muniba standing alongside with a syringe in her hand. I didn’t even feel the needle go in but the relief it gave was nearly instantaneous.

“Lie still Elaine, I need to clean your back and arse and put antiseptic cream on. I’ll be a gentle as I can but you shouldn’t feel too much pain for the next few hours. Muniba washed my back with a liquid that had an aniseed smell and several times when I caught a brief sight of the sponge I saw red patches and I knew the cane had cut through my skin. Muniba dabbed me dry and gently rubbed in a cream. Suddenly it came to me; I wasn’t chained to Roger.

“Where’s Talking seemed terribly difficult.

“In the next cell. I turned my head only to see Sumala watching me.

“He didn’t need to spoil you like that, he said bitterly. You were so beautiful. Although his tone was sympathetic, his words caused me a great deal of agitation. Was I going to be scarred for life?”

Muniba must have read my mind. You’ll heal fine. All the men will be thirsting for you soon. That wasn’t the reassurance I wanted. And Roger’s in the Vilisi’s cell. I’ll give him his injection in a moment. She moved slightly so I could see past her to where Roger laid groaning and crying out and when he saw us turn towards him the volume of his cries rose to a pathetic level. I better give him something to shut him up otherwise there will be no peace for anyone in this building. The nurse grinned and so did the warder and Sumala.

For a while I lay on the bed in comparative ease. The injection had reduced the pain to a dull ache and, although awake to my surroundings, I felt drowsy as if I was not really in my own body. My mind floated near the ceiling and I looked down on the scene below without being part of it. A hand gripping mine brought me back down again and when I opened my eyes I saw Sumala’s face the other side of the bars. It showed a surprising concern for my welfare. He gave a small smile and whispered, Sleep a little Ellie. You’re exhausted. I didn’t even attempt to pull my hand from his; I even clutched one of his fingers tightly just like a baby. It brought me a little comfort.

Some time later, the sound of the cell being unlocked and hushed but familiar voices woke me. Major Tzarma Entembe in full uniform entered the cell accompanied by the nurse, the sergeant and several other men. I closed my eyes again and pretended to sleep; I didn’t want to speak with him. He, I was sure, could have prevented my punishment.

“By all the spirits nurse, that looks an overly severe punishment. You are doing everything possible for her? Tzarma’s voice was grave.

“Of course we are Sir. I do what I can to treat all those who are punished whatever they have done. Muniba sounded affronted that he should even suggest that she did otherwise. Yes Sir, her punishment was far more severe than I expected for the sentence she received. I would guess the flogging master didn’t take into account that she is a white girl and her skin in thinner than ours and he’s broken through it in a number of places as you can see. The whiteness also shows the marks much more vividly. She hesitated as if deciding what to say, Sir? You might wish to consider reprimanding the flog master. This is not the first time he’s overstepped the mark. Sumala there should have been released today but his wounds are too bad for me to sanction it.”

Sumala tried to pull his hand away but I kept a tight hold on his finger. Whether Tzarma reacted to this I couldn’t tell because I didn’t wish to open my eyes and face him.

“Ellie’s body should not have been spoiled like that Sir. She looked like an angel before and now

Tzarma seemed to ignore Sumala’s comment but I have no doubt he reacted to it inwardly. Will she be scarred nurse? I flinched at his question and I guess they knew that I was awake and listening.

“I don’t think so Sir. I’ll do everything possible to prevent any scarring. The wounds are not too deep but they may take a long while to fade and if the bones are bruised the pain will take a long while to disappear.”

“Open your eyes Elaine or is it Ellie now?”

“Whatever…Sir, I managed to croak.

“It’s okay, I like Ellie and I won’t ask any more questions. Rest now. You certainly earned your bluestone today. I saw the film of it. No apology but I detected a caring note in his voice. Where’s the other one? The one she was chained to? The one who only took a fraction of his punishment?”

“He’s in a cell at the other end of the corridor. We moved him because he caused too much disturbance and was calling Miss Elaine the most outrageous names. You can order them to be chained again Sir but she really needs a bed of her own for a few days and in his own way, Sumala is a comfort to her. Tzarma lifted his eyebrows. No Sir, he hasn’t fucked her or even tried to. He’s still in too much pain to do anything at the moment. In any case the ban on fucking her hasn’t been lifted yet. I think it is just his male presence that is giving her a little strength.”

“I’ll consider the chaining option when she’s recovered sufficiently and they have to work together. I want them moved into the flat in the offices as soon as possible.”

“I would respectfully suggest Sir, that she is kept here for a few days where we can keep a better eye on her and I am more or less immediately available.”

“We’ll see how well she responds to your treatment. The Major’s words were quite abrupt.

When I next woke the lights were dim but my hand still gripped Sumala’s finger. My movement must have disturbed him too because he opened his eyes and I found myself staring directly at him. Would you like a drink? he whispered, Muniba left some for you. I nodded and felt a great sense of loss when he released my grip to pour some into a cup for me. I mumbled hoarse thanks and sipped the drink slowly and passed the cup back. The pain was returning but it wasn’t horrendously bad but it was enough to cause me to wince. I desperately needed to pee and tried to lift my body from the bed but I didn’t have the strength to overcome the weight and the pain. You need to piss? How did he know? What could he do anyway? I have a ladies piss bowl. Presumably the nurse had left it with him. I noticed that he was still in considerable pain when he moved but he never moaned or mentioned it.

Instead of just passing me the utensil, he reached through the bars and placed it between my legs. It must have been designed for girls lying face down because it moulded itself to me but even so it took some time before I released my flow. All the time Sumala kept it pressed against me and spoke quietly until I finished. Carefully he removed the container and emptied it in his own toilet. Once my mind went back to a few days ago and thought how I would have been highly embarrassed to even have a man in my presence when performing such a simple bodily function, but with the pain and all that had happened in the previous few hours, I was past caring. He forgot to wipe but I could forgive him that. He was a man. I had someone who was strong enough and caring enough to help me was all that mattered. Clasping his hand again I shut my eyes and went over things in my mind.

“Why did I now appreciate the man I held when I’d found him so abhorrent at first? Was it because I was no longer a virgin? Because I had taken a man’s prick inside me? Why was I so disgusted with Roger’s behaviour when I knew that he couldn’t help being like he was? He couldn’t help becoming unconscious at the least pain could he? Did he keep his pathetic moaning and complaining just to get my attention? Or did he really want someone to mother him? Why had he turned against me and called me those vile names? I drifted off into a troubled sleep again.

Next thing I remember was the sound of my cell being unlocked and Muniba checking me over. She didn’t look too pleased and even her gentle prodding caused me pain. I’m going to give you another injection. Not the same stuff but it will help ease the pain a little. I mustn’t give you too much of the drug you had yesterday. I felt the needle prick my skin and we waited for it to take effect. A shower first young lady and then I’ll treat the wounds. Do you need to piss? I nodded. Bring the piss bowl in here please Sumala. You seem to know what to do and then help her to the shower. And you have one too and keep your prick out of her while you’re in there.”

“I won’t hurt her or fuck her until she’s healed. I’m not that much of a bastard.”

“I know you won’t Sumala, that’s why I asked you, Muniba laughed. She’d already examined him and left his cell unlocked. You can both appreciate the other’s pain so it might be better for you to help each other rather than ask the warders. It took two men though to get me on my feet and a minute or two before I was steady enough to cling to Sumala’s arm and hobble with him to the shower room.

We passed Roger’s cell on the way. He lay on his bed moaning. I could see his back and arse were pretty colourful and I wonder how mine compared. You whore! he yelled when he saw me clinging on Sumala’s arm, You just want all the black prick you can get! Sumala stiffened and for a moment I thought he might react but the pain of moving and holding me preventing him doing anything rash. When Roger got up from the bed and came to the door unaided, I knew he wasn’t that badly hurt. He walked stiffly but definitely he was not in severe pain. My distain for him multiplied but I just urged Sumala on and tried to ignore the taunts and wicked aspersions as to why I was with Sumala. I hoped I could persuade Tzarma not to chain me to him again but if we were again linked I decided that he would be the underdog all the time and I would use my bluestone status to force him to do the most menial tasks. I could tolerate him being a wimp but not his spitefulness. Our relationship deteriorated further when he saw that on our return, Sumala had a partial erection.

Muniba must have decided to take some action against him. Muniba, isn’t it time you came and treated me? he shouted.

“Yes, she called back, Just as soon as I have finished treating this man. There was another prisoner who had been in for several days before we arrived and was due for discharge. He’d been punished a week or so ago and his stripes were healed enough to leave, but the knife wound he’d sustained as part of the fracas had turned sceptic and Muniba was treating that.

“But I’m in serious pain and need an injection. Now!”

Finally Muniba finished what she was doing and went to Roger’s cell. I’m not going in there until he is properly restrained and silenced, she quietly told the warder, You may need to get help. She came back to us to wait.

“Is my back and bottom, really worse than his? I asked. The nurse looked grave but she nodded, yes. Can I see it?”

“Not for the time being, now lie down and let me put the cream on. You’d better go back to your cell Sumala and I’ll treat you next, the shower has washed off the cream I put on earlier. My imagination ran riot with the thoughts of how badly mutilated I was. While I was being treated I heard some scuffles and crying and screaming from Roger but quite suddenly it went quiet except for some rattling of metal on metal. Rest for an hour Ellie, and then I want you to walk the length of the corridor both ways. It will hurt some but I don’t want the muscles to become so stiff they will be difficult to move later. I will ask Zulam who is on duty again, to let you and Sumala out so you can both walk together.”

When we walked by Roger was still restrained, shackled to the bars at the head and foot ends of the bed, but I didn’t say anything to him and the gag prevented him saying anything to us. Sometime later a man came and photographed my back and Sumala’s too but the reason wasn’t divulged. I suspected it was due to the flogging master being reprimanded. Copies of the photos later ended up in my file in the IT office. I almost vomited when I saw them.

Major Entembe visited during the afternoon and seemed shocked at the colour of my flesh. Muniba repeatedly assured him that it was only the bruising coming out and I was making satisfactory progress but it would be a slow process. He had a long conversation with her out of my hearing and they visited Roger’s cell but didn’t go in. He’d been released from the restraints that held him to the cell bars but had been kept handcuffed and was warned that the gag would go back in if there were any further outbursts.