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Anchari Astana was facing a difficult dilemma. She was suspicious of her boss but she understood enough of the way of the world to know that denouncing him to Mr Kerrish was unlikely to result in anything other than her being dismissed from the Bank. Only if Henry's actions had threatened the Bank in some way would Mr Kerrish even think of considering action on the word of a mere secretary. And besides, Anch told herself, she didn't have any sort of proof, just a lot of supposition and guesswork.
On the other hand, she certainly had been less than willing to extend the usual pleasantries of the cubicon to Henry, leaving him rather confused as to whether he had broken some unwritten rule of the bank or committed some horrendous social gaffe that Anch would not discuss with him. In fact things had now got to the point where they were addressing one another as Miss Astana and Mr Clegg.
Only one thing served to thaw the frost. The news that Henry had actually been present at the meeting where Victoria's scandalous actions had finally come home to roost tempted Anch with the prospect of undreamed access to the stuff of gossip that would keep her in her friends' debt for many months.
As Anch's curiosity drove her to reopening discussions with Henry she found herself revising her opinion of him.
“Do we need to do anything as a consequence of your meeting with the Emir, Mr Henry,” Anch asked, hoping that this might open to door on some indiscretion about Victoria's activities and her actual fate as opposed to the speculation from the pages of Yassi!
Henry, surprised by the use of his Christian name for the first time in a long time, looked up. “Let me see,” he said. “No, I don't think so. It seems the entire project was being carried through without the knowledge of her husband and he is less than happy. The financial risk in the project is being born by the Kalinin's son, so we are indemnified against any losses. Even the United Nations are involved in trying to sort things out.”
Anch could quite see how Henry might have been duped by the scheming Victoria. It was harder and harder for her to think if Henry as some sort of criminal mastermind. “But Victoria... If things are as it is said, she will be finding it difficult to continue with her involvement in the project. Do you think that she or her partner will be able to revive her business ambitions?”
Henry was coming to realise that Anch's interest was not entirely professional. “Still,” he said to himself, “if that cheers her up around the office it can only be to the good.”
“So, is she still free to act, or are the rumours about her and her husband true?”
“Anch,” Henry fell easily back into using the girl's familiar name, “You know me, I can't keep track of the ins and outs of Kushtian intrigues.”
Anch exclaimed with a disbelieving, “Pooh!”
“But,” Henry said with a conspiratorial air. “I did see something. Though I am not sure if I should say.”
Henry's remark may not have been calculated to fire Anch's curiosity but it certainly had that effect. “Come,” she said, “to the cubicon. In there all confidences can be put to one side for what is said in the cubicon may not leave the cubicon.”
Henry was happy to follow Anch behind the curtain and into the alcove. An hour or so later he felt much more relaxed, while Anch was further reassured. And, for her part, she had heard of the way in which Victoria had been led away in manuses and a moaungf like some common doenya rather than a wife of a Council member. It was an exceptional tale and, of course, she would respect the confidence of the cubicon.
Except with her friends, naturally. Well, she felt, tradition is only tradition but friendship is friendship.
++ ++ ++
Ellie stood by the steps of the white truck, watching as the heavy wooden doors at the back of the Kalinin's home were opened. As the doors swung open she could see the group of seven women huddled together in fear in the courtyard. She waved to them gesturing for them to get into the truck. The Russian girls, relieved by the sight of the UN letters on the truck pressed forward, eager to put their experiences at the hands of Victoria and Lauren behind them. “Thank you, oh thank you,” one of the girls gasped in gratitude as she clambered up into the truck. “There is another of our party, missing still,,,,” she went on.
“Don't worry, she's over there,” said Ellie gesturing to the UN ambulance parked not far away where Natalya lay helpless, silent and sedated in the back.
The other girls joined the first, each almost breathless with thanks. “This humanitarian stuff has its compensations,” Ellie thought to herself. Besides, she quite liked the combat camouflage of her uniform. And the powder-blue beret rather suited her, she felt.
With the girls inside she slapped the driver's door, indicating that they were ready to go and took her seat in the ambulance, following behind the truck as it headed towards the Russian border.
When the truck stopped and the girls disembarked they were all relieved to see the huts with the Russian flag, border control troops and a heavy Kamaz truck waiting for them. Ellie walked up to the leader of the Russian troops, saluted smartly and spoke briefly before two of his men began to help the girls into the Kamaz. Natalya, barely able to walk and disoriented by the drugs that had been used to sedate her was helped from the ambulance into the Kamaz as well.
As the rear door of the Russian truck closed, Ellie spoke again to the Russian officer. “There you are Anatoly, all as promised.”
“So I see,” the Russian said gruffly. “I am glad Clegg sorted this out.”
“It was hardly his fault, Anatoly,” Ellie said. “And, besides, you are well up on this one, aren't you?”
“Hmm, maybe,” he replied. “We'll see. It depends on what they're like. Customers are getting more selective.”
“Come on Anatoly. It's not like you had any expenses on this. And Freddie wasn't even obliged to do what he did.”
“You think this customs post came for free,” he grumbled. “These boys all need their wages paying.”
Ellie smiled. Of course Anatoly had needed to spend a little on this. The customs post, a good five miles inside Kushtia, had been a good ruse that had certainly allayed any concerns the girls might have had. The Kamaz would take them back into Russia over an unmade dirt road where border controls were less stringent than on the main route from Kolin. Even so, from what she had seen of Victoria and Lauren's selection of recruits and her own experience of Natalya, Anatoly wasn't going to have any problem selling them on at a good price and a substantial profit. “Well,” she said, “I'm sure you'll work it out.”
“So, maybe.” Anatoly grudgingly said. “And you Ms Grant; you will come out ahead as well. I think you may have found a way to defray your expenses. You are something more than a lawyer for Mr Clegg it seems to me.”
Ellie preferred not to draw attention to herself. “I just fix the things that need fixing,” she said. “Mostly it's pretty dull stuff.”
“But only mostly,” Anatoly smiled. One of his men waved from the Kamaz. He saluted Ellie and took his leave. “A short journey for me,” he said. “A longer one for you. A longer one still for our friends.” He looked across at the Kamaz as its engine started and black diesel smoke belched from the tail pipe. “Goodbye.”
Ellie watched as the Kamaz pulled away and then joined her own truck for the drive back to Kolin. Freddie would be wanting to know what was going on and they needed to agree what was going to be done about Esther and Dana.
++ ++ ++
Ellie put the phone down after her conversation with Freddie. She really wished that he wouldn't get so excited; it didn't help with the decision making. At least he was happy with how the Russian girls had been dealt with. Now there were just the other loose ends to be tidied up; Esther, Dana and, of course, Henry! One of the advantages of the remoteness of Kushtia, Ellie felt, was that at least she could get on with things in her own way. Freddie might be fretting back in London but there wasn't much he could do from that far away and Ellie would square things off with him once she got back.
She thought about her options. She was pretty certain that there couldn't be any question of Henry, Esther or Dana returning to London any time soon but if Henry was staying in Kushtia he needed more diversion than the job at the Bank provided. She had a couple of assets in the form of the two girls. They were still enjoying the hospitality of Desnerek Dobranin and Freddie wasn't worried what she did about them as long as it didn't complicate things with Anatoly. Somehow she'd be able to conjure something from all this she was sure.
As it was the solution came partly from an unexpected direction.
++ ++ ++
“I wanted to ask your advice, Ms Grant.” The Kalinin's son showed Ellie along the corridors that led into the suite of rooms he occupied in one wing of his father's palace.
Ellie, impressed by the sumptuous nature of the décor, was busily wondering how the place had survived through the Russian occupation. “If I can help excellency, I will.”
“That is good. For Mr Freddie Clegg has been an excellent friend of Kushtia and he holds you in high regard, I think.” he gestured through a beaded curtain into a large room. “My seragla,” he announced.
Said the spider to the fly, thought Ellie. Then, deciding that with his slight post-adolescent pudginess he didn't really look like much of a lothario, she felt she was probably safe enough. As a last resort she still had her kongo, hidden as Modesty had taught her, in the plaits of her hair. She looked around the room. The floor was covered with silk woven carpets thrown across one another. Thick cushions of various sizes made up the furnishings. On one of them, asleep, sprawled a grizzled looking, middle aged, Kushtian man in a long heavy fur trimmed robe.
“We will take some sherbet. I understand that you do not enjoy the hunashif.”
Ellie had not particular objection to the stuff but she didn't think this was the time for it, “At the right time, Excellency, but not if you wish for sound advice.” As it was the sweet smell of hunashif smoke hung over the room as it did in so many places. She could imagine that if she ever ran for political office and she was asked if she had ever visited Kushtia she would have to say, “Yes, but I didn't inhale.”
The Kalinin's son picked up a small handset from one of the cushions that lay spread across the floor and punched a few buttons. “Some sherbet will come,” he said smiling.
Ellie had expected a bell or a gong or a clap of the hands to summon service but obviously things had moved on.
In response to the buttons two servant girls appeared with trays of drinks and sweetmeats. Immediately behind them came the ginger haired girl that Ellie recognised as Gerry, one of her host's wives.
Gerry gave no sign of remembering Ellie from her short time in Clegg's Preparation Centre but then she moved in a way that suggested she had taken on enough hunashif to not remember very much at the moment. She sat down on the floor beside her husband, running her hands over his thighs in a desultory way. The Kalinin's son looked towards Ellie to see if she was concerned by his wife's behaviour.
Ellie shrugged her shoulders. She didn't mind at all. “How can I help, Excellency,” she said.
“It is a matter concerning the activities of my wife Victoria,” he said. “She has caused considerable difficulty. Of course money has been repaid the contribution of the Cultural Heritage programme has resolved much but there are other debts too you understand.”
Ellie wasn't sure that she did but she nodded anyway.
“Some of those involved have been anxious to see that their dissatisfaction is balanced by that of those they see as responsible.” The grizzled man stirred. “Kolash!” the Kalinin's son waved in greeting. Kolash grunted, got to his feet and waved back in acknowledgement with one hand while scratching himself with the other. He sat back on the cushions as the Kalinin's son pressed some more buttons on his key pad.
Gerry's hands were busily moving toward's her husband's crotch. He seemed to feel no wish to prevent her. “Kolash here has been understanding. I have been able to amuse him by allowing him to see that I show my wife that such behaviour is not acceptable from a Kushtian wife. And, of course, the girl Lauren is able to show her contrition in her own way as part of my household now. Ah, here they are.”
Ellie looked round to the beaded curtain where she had entered. First Lauren appeared, head bowed, wearing a typical Kushtian harem costume together with wrist chains and manacled ankles, the manuses and ancluses, that looked a great deal heavier and more constricting than the fashion items that could be seen on the streets of Kolin.
Immediately behind her came Victoria. No longer dressed in palace finery she wore a simple length of dark cloth as a long skirt. Her upper body was naked and she wore no jewellery of any kind. Like Lauren, she too was restrained but in her case she wore a heavy wooden disk almost a metre across, padlocked in place about her neck. Her wrists were held in holes in the disk so that her hands were held up beside her head. Heavy chains ran from the edge of the disk down to her ancluses. It was obvious from the slow and awkward way that she moved that the weight of the disk and the chains made it difficult for her to move at all. Her mouth was filled with a bright red ball gag so that even though she evidently objected to her situation her only contribution to the conversation in the room was an “Aargnh!” of frustration as he husband waved her away pointing to Kolash.
“I like the cangue,” the Kalinin's son said. “Somehow it seems fitting.”
Victoria, grumbling into her gag, made her way slowly across the room to where Kolash was sprawling struggling under the weight of the cangue and the chains. She and Lauren knelt either side of him. Kolash set Lauren's hands busy. After her initial reluctance was overcome by a sound slap across the face she was soon at work stroking and massaging his member beneath his robes while he leant across twisting and pinching at Victoria's naked breasts.
Ellie was beginning to feel a little taken advantage of, as though her presence was being used as part of the two girl's humiliation but, even so she waited for the Kalinin's son to return to his point.
Gerry, by now, had buried her head in her husband lap and was greedily sucking and licking at his cock as he reached down, running his fingers through Gerry's long auburn hair, and looked across at Victoria.
Victoria returned his look with a scowl and a gagged grunt, jealous of Gerry supplanting her in her husband's favour.
“There were more than were to be satisfied by the Russian girls. It seems my wife had more orders than stock. My good friend Kolash is content to see the women punished,” the Kalinin's son said, “but others are less easily satisfied. In fact two of them are insisting that the original contractual terms are met. That they should each have the delivery of the wife that was promised. I have spoken to Bradley, he feels unable to assist in the short term. My father suggested that you might be able to help out. ”
Oh well, thought Ellie, that solves what we're going to do with Dana and Esther; easy come, easy go. She paused for a moment and then said. “I believe I can. I am assuming, of course, that there would be commission payments associated with the supply. After all if your wife's contract is being fulfilled then I am sure your customers will be settling in line with their side of the contract.”
The Kalinin's son gave a nod of acquiescence. That was good enough for Ellie. “In which case I will arrange things. Let me know when you wish to collect the girls. I will see that they are made ready for their new roles. Perhaps this should be done under the auspices of the United Nations programme. That might cause less concern back in England, don't you think.”
The Kalinin's son nodded again. Ellie left him and Kolash to their amusements with their women and the delights of a shared pipe of hunashif.
++ ++ ++
“Mr Cregg for please in my office talking,” Kerren Kerrish interrupted the work that Henry was busy with, sorting through the final arrangements for the repayment of the loan from the estate of Kushnati Koresh.
“Extraordinary things,” Kerren said when Henry arrived. “I must ask you if you intend in Kushtia long remaining?”
Henry unplaitted Kerren's words rearranging them in his head to make what seemed an intelligible sentence. “I am not sure, Mr Kerrish,” he replied. “There are certainly benefits to working here.” And, he thought to himself, it was proving easier to elude un-welcomed pursuers here than in other places.
Kerren laughed. “No cubicons in London?”
Henry returned his humorous smile. “Indeed not.”
“Well, I shall make a proposal and you must say if for your wishes it is fitting.” Henry nodded. “This morning a long talking with the father of Miss Anchari.”
Henry looked alarmed. “I'm sure that there is no .... “
Kerren wagged a finger. “Not to concern. Not to concern. He is most taken with how his daughter speaks of you. He asks if you will take her in your seragla, your harem.”
“What marry her?” Henry was even more alarmed at least in London fathers typically waited until you had got their daughters pregnant before making such demands.
Kerren laughed again. “No, of course not. Such an offer is not strange. When a daughter is of marriageable age but has not yet any real suitors her father may choose. To place her in an advantaged household is always a father's aim. To better his daughter. What more could be wished? Even a doenya in a high household. Perhaps a concubine. Only with exceptional luck a wife.”
Henry looked confused. “Look, I don't have an 'advantaged household'. I don't have a household at all. I'm still living in the hotel. There isn't a – what did you call it – seragla.”
“These are all things that could be arranged, my friend. Nothing is too difficult. With sufficient funds.”
“And,” Henry looked up hearing Ellie's voice from the door as she entered the office. “funds can be made available.”
Kerren Kerrish got to his feet. “Miss Grant, for delighting a greeting it is,” he said. Henry blinked as he switched his unscrambling on again. He could see why Kerrish was delighting, somehow Ellie managed to imbue a plain Kushtian robe with an understated elegance simply by the act of wearing it.
“I was very lucky,” she said turning to Henry. “I was able to arrange an introduction for some of Lauren's friends. You remember Dana Harris and Esther Baskin?” Henry was unlikely to forget the reporter and the investigator from the FSA. He grunted. He would have been quite happy if they were forgotten and they had forgotten him. “They simply couldn't drag themselves away from Kushtia; couldn't face returning to England at all. But of course to stay here they need to be part of a household.” Kerrish nodded his agreement. “Luckily I was able to make some introductions. For which I have received some valuable commission payments.” Henry was confused, he really didn't understand what was going on. “But I can't take that much currency out of the country can I Mr Kerrish?”
“You have the legal affairs well grasped,” he replied, listening carefully.
“So, Henry, I thought we could use this to set you up with a bit of property. A small complex where you could set up on a small scale. Brad seemed to think there would be a suite in one of the towers at the Forest of Minarets. He could use some additional help with the UN programme as well if you wanted to supplement your earnings from the Bank. I think you'd be very well set up there.” Henry looked dubious for a moment. “Freddie thinks so too.”
The mention of his uncle seemed to help Henry to decide. “Doesn't sound like to bad an idea to me,” he said, quickly coming to the conclusion that of Freddie thought it was a good idea to stay here, he'd be better off to go along with it. “And if I have to have a seragla, then I can think of worse than Anch to inhabit it.”
“Excellent!” said Kerren Kerrish. “Well, if we are all agreed I will put things in hand. The bank takes great care of those staff who show such loyalty you will see, Mr Henry.”
++ ++ ++ ++
“So your flight back is tomorrow morning?” Henry was having a farewell drink with Ellie prior to her return to the UK. “I guess I ought to say thanks.” He raised his glass in a toast. “You certainly seem to have straightened things out as far as I'm concerned. I hope Freddie feels the same.”
“Oh, you know Freddie. As long as nothing comes back to bite him he's happy.” Ellie looked around at the apartment where Henry was now installed in the Forest of Minarets. It looked like Henry had tried to blend Kushtian traditional with Ikea. It wasn't altogether successful. The combination of sumptuous patterned textiles and angular furniture didn't really work for Ellie. On the other hand Henry seemed happy enough.
“Well, yes. It was a good job you managed to organise things so easily with the Russian border authorities. I hadn't realised that Freddie had so much influence.”
Ellie looked across at Henry wondering if he really was as naïve as he seemed. “Mmm,” she said. “Hidden depths has our Freddie.”
“Well it was a good thing he did. It was appalling what Victoria and Lauren were planning! And what they must have done to those girls. It was inhuman! I hope they were grateful when they got back.”
“They were certainly glad to see the border,” Ellie said, truthfully. “They were certainly glad to see the back of Kusthia.” Ellie had a pretty good idea of what Anatoly had in mind for the girls once he had them back in Mother Russia. If the truth was to be known they'd have had an easier life in Kushtia.
“It was pretty odd that the Kushtian police didn't want to talk to Lauren or Victoria though. You couldn't imagine being able to hush up something like that back in England.”
“I think the feeling is over here that if a husband is going to deal with his wife's misdemeanours then there's nothing more to be said.”
“I'd have thought kidnapping and locking up women was a bit more than a misdemeanour! But on the other hand, if the Kalinin's son is going to make sure she behaves in future then perhaps that's all that's needed.”
Ellie wasn't at all sure that the Kalinin's son would succeed in the long term even if her current punishment was as effective as it looked. Ellie was pretty certain that once Victoria got out of the cangue then she'd be looking for a way of getting back at somebody. Ellie was just glad she was going to be a long way away from the Kallanis household.
“I tell you what really surprised me though.”
Ellie looked up at Henry with a raised eyebrow. “What's that?”
“The way those two girls, the one from the FSA and the reporter, suddenly decided they were going to stay on here. I mean it was all very handy from my point of view and Kushtia is a pretty good place for a bloke like me. All these very agreeable ladies and all.”
Ellie looked up as Anch came into the room, resplendent in the jewelled and embroidered robes of a Kushtian concubine. She curtsied to Ellie and then sat down on the floor alongside Henry.
“I mean you can see what I mean can't you?” Henry let his hand fall by his side, playing with Anch's long dark hair. “But for a western girl. All a bit different wouldn't you think? I mean I couldn't see it being the sort of thing you'd want to do.”
“You're right there Henry. But perhaps I'm just a bit short sighted about different cultures. It seems to suit you, Anch, doesn't it?”
Anch looked up at Henry waiting for the look of approval that would allow her to speak. As Henry nodded, she said, “Of course. But this is what every Kushtian girl dreams of. And to be here helping to create a new household for Mr Henry. It is a great honour. I am proud to wear Mr Henry's properta.” She held up the golden disk that hung around her neck.
Ellie nodded her approval at the heavy gold disk. “Well,” she said, “I wish you every success. And Henry, I'd stay away from dodgy business loans if I was you.”
Henry gave a rueful grin. “Thanks,” he said. “Oh. And give Freddie my best.”
“I shall,” said Ellie. “He'll be glad to hear that you have someone to keep you out of trouble.”
Anch smiled modestly at the compliment. Ellie waved and left them. Henry watched her go.
“You are sorry you are seeing her go, Mr Henry?” Anch asked as she moved up from the floor to sit alongside him.
“Hmm?” Henry responded, still looking towards the door. “Yes and no, I suppose. She's helped a lot I suppose but I'm never sure about Uncle Freddie's business associates. Somehow I always end up feeling that there's more going on than I know about.”
“But all is happiness now, surely?”
“Here?” said Henry. “Certainly! This is a fine apartment and it has, if I may say, some splendid views.”
“Across Kolin?” Anch was puzzled. The town was not renowned for spectacular vistas. Then she realised. He was staring right at her bosom. The embroidered top of her costume was carefully contrived to press her breasts together with a deep and dark cleavage revealed. Anch giggled at Henry's appreciation. “So you still think I do not need to do with my breasts as Victoria?”
“Anch, I don't think you need to do anything like Victoria.”
She laughed again and slid around behind him. “It's rude to stare at a concubine's breasts,” she said.
“Somehow,” joked Henry “I think that piece of information about Kushtian culture is not entirely accurate. And if it is then I most certainly am going to have to start a new tradition.”
Anch giggled again and pulled Henry back towards her until he was half laying on her with the back of his head nestled in Anch's cleavage. “So, Mr Henry,” his concubine said, “are you pleased that you came to Kushtia?”
Henry thought for a moment, content to stay where he was, his head cradled between Anch's breasts. Then he spoke. “Do you know, Anch,” he said. “I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be.”
THE END
© Freddie Clegg 2009
All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or reposted without permission.
All characters fictitious
E-mail: freddie_clegg@yahoo.com
Web Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freddies_tales/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Femdom_Fables/
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