Karen and the Torture Club

Chapter 12

Karen told Richard that Ross had given her a project to work on for the committee. She decided that if the male committee members didn't tell their wives what had been decided, then she shouldn't tell her husband and spoil his surprise. The next day she went into her office and started searching for "branding" on the Internet. At first she got lots of stuff on the branding of products and legal and marketing information. Not a good start. Then she tried "branding and S&M" and she was amazed at the number of web sites there were with useful information about the subject. She prepared some notes and on Tuesday at lunch time she met with Ross and the other committee members in his office in Creek Street Brisbane. It was a beautiful office with a huge window at one end looking out over the Brisbane river.

How stunned an observer (like Ross' receptionist) would be if they were to be told (not that they would be) of the reason why these people were meeting at this time. Karen the powerfully dressed business woman carried in her brief case a large file of information on branding the human body.

"OK" said Ross, lets get down to business as he passed around the sandwiches. "We have two issues which need to be addressed this meeting. Also, lets welcome Karen and John." "Yes" said Suzanne, her eyes sparkling behind her large glasses, "I was very happy to see Karen and John join the team" The others, nodded their agreement. Ross went on to explain that the committee that the plans for the next meeting were in place so there was nothing that this new committee needed to do. The previous committee would take responsibility for it. The date planned for the next meeting was 30 October. Karen as the new female to the committee did not need to know what the arrangements were for the next meeting as it would lessen the surprise (Shock - Suzanne interjected) of what was planned. "We are all going to be involved next time" Suzanne added. Ross gave her a glance which made it clear that she had offered enough information.

"What needed to be done at this meeting" Ross announced, "was to decide what was to be done about Jenny's request."

In relation to Jenny, Ross explained that it was his initial intention that the club should not be involved in doing anything that would cause a person permanent harm. He was not thinking of anything like this though. His thoughts were along the lines of hitting and bruising and damaging a person in the course of putting on a show. The fact was, that Jenny wanted to do this regardless of whether the committee supported her or not. She was asking the club, her friends, to share in this experience of hers and to assist her to have it carried out carefully. On this basis he was prepared to help her. The others on the committee had similar views which they made clear. All the others except Alex. He was happy to help Jenny but was concerned that nobody in the club knew anything about it - and wouldn't that be irresponsible. "We could do some serious damage" he said.

Karen, who had done so much research in the last couple of days on the subject reluctantly agreed. She told them of what she had learned and even had reports from dermatologists which she had down loaded. Suzanne slapped the table and said " Damn it, you guys who does know more about this than we have here. Karen has done a great job and I know we all want to do the right thing by Jenny, but if we don't do her, somebody else will and I don't think they will have as much knowledge or care as we have."

So it was agreed, they would do it.

Karen was asked to tell them what she thought they should do. She explained that actually branding Jenny would be very difficult. Her skin was so fair that the effect of the brand could merely be a raised section of scar tissue slightly whiter than the surrounding skin. You needed some melanin in the skin for a brand to work. Brands are more successful on dark skinned people. That's why tattoos are used since the tattoo ink gets below the skin and leaves its permanent mark. To brand a fair skinned person is difficult and painful for the brandee, if a really visible mark is to be made. She interrupted herself and exclaimed "I can't believe that we are actually discussing this. The brandee is our friend Jenny." The others agreed with her and after gulping some coffee she continued to explain what she had discovered. The actual branding doesn't hurt as much as one would think because the nerves in the skin get burnt. The hotter the iron, the less it hurts. If the brandee, Jenny, can stand it, it should be done slowly so that the depth of the brand can be judged better. Also you can't do fine detail like a tattoo since the final mark extends beyond the edges of the iron. It is best, they say to bend up the characters out of stainless steel bar about 2mm thick and about 25mm wide. The edge is used for the branding while the width of the bar holds the heat. It has been done with steel wire which is easier to manufacture but the brand needs to be hotter since the wire looses it's heat as it cooks through the skin. There is a lot of water in skin and it takes a lot of heat from the wire. The bar ensures that it stays hot for longer. Bending and cutting the bar into the shape of the letters requires more skill and effort.. Stainless steel is best since it is undesirable to have any rust or oxide flaking off during the process. Also the brand needs to be well polished and clean.

Alex interrupted and offered to make the irons in the machine shop of his factory. The other members didn't even know that he had one. "What is Peter's surname?" he asked. "Gold", Ross replied. "P.G" "It's a pity it wasn't "L" or "U" they would be easier to make." He grinned. It was agreed that he and Karen would decide on the details of the manufacture of the brand.

"How do we know if the brand will work ?" Ross asked. "They sat that it is best if you practice on a cold plucked chook" she replied. He laughed, "you can cook the chicken later ", he said.

"What about the problem of her pale skin, Alex asked. "That's where I hardly dare to say what needs to be done. " she replied. She did continue however and said that the healing process needed to absorb dye as the scar tissue formed across the exposed skin. There is an antiseptic that doctors use for operations which is a vivid Purple/red colour. This should be mixed with tattoo ink in equal quantities. For best results this should be applied to the brand liberally every four hours for the first 24 hours and then eight hourly for the next week. Not only does the stuff sting like mad, but it should be painted into the wound with a brush which is very painful. The brandee will have a fortnights misery of pain and sleeplessness but at the end will have a very visible and nice brand. " I never thought having pale skin was such a hassle," Suzanne quipped.

It was agreed that the club would set up a roster to keep Jenny company for a fortnight after the branding to look after her and keep up the horrible treatment when Peter was unavailable. Jenny was really going to earn her mark.

There was another question to be addressed. "Where do we brand her?" Karen asked.

They read Jenny's letter and discussed what she meant in what she had written. It was pretty obvious that she wanted to be branded in a place where she could reveal her brand without exposing parts of her body not normally revealed. This ruled out arms and legs and other parts usually exposed and the rarely displayed areas such as the underside of the breasts, the inner crease of the buttocks and labia. It was quickly decided that the breasts would be ruled out since any brand there would be too disfiguring. Discussion eventually settled on the inner upper thighs, the outer upper thighs, the belly just above the above the pubic hair line, the upper buttocks and lower back.

The group was divided and uncertain as to what to do. After much discussion it was agreed that they would brand her low on her back, just above the top of the anal crease. She could cover her brand with most clothing but when she wanted to show it off, she could wear a low cut backless dress, a small bikini or a pair of hipster slacks with a bare midriff. She would have many choices.

It was decided that Jenny's branding would be the show for the November meeting. And what a show it would be. The committee worked out what arrangements needed to be made and they all took on various tasks in a relaxed way that indicated to Karen that the other members had developed a quiet respect for each others ability to get things done. John with Karen's assistance would make the brands, Ross and Alex would arrange a frame to strap the brave lady onto so that she couldn't wriggle and spoil the image. Suzanne was chosen to actually do the branding. She was to be given the irons by John a fortnight before the event and she would practice with Karen's assistance until she felt that she could do it safely and consistently. Ann was going to ring Peter and tell him what the committee had decided to do to his wife and to ask his assistance and approval. She would also discuss the roster with him to see who would be needed to care for Jenny after the event.

She would also arrange a present for Maria.

Ann would advise the members of the date and details of the next meeting. It was agreed that any member who did not want to be involved should not feel obliged to attend. Jenny would be told one week in advance of the date that she would be branded but would be given no further information - unless she really asked to know.

I was agreed that the meeting would take place 27th November at Karen's house provided that Jenny would be available then and be ready to be indisposed for at least 2 weeks after that.

Ann rang Karen that afternoon. She had spoken to Peter 27th November would be OK.