Tryout - Part 3
by Dari (dari69@hotmail.com)
I woke up when someone opened the door and the lights came on. I hadn't
been sleeping much this night, with my whole body aching and burning and the
butt plug getting me wide awake every time I even moved an inch. Some time ago
my normal bodily demands had kicked in, and the reason I was writhing a bit
right now was because I had the dire need to go to the toilet, and that very
soon. The hunger that was slowly eating a hole into my stomach was nothing
compared to that.
Amber came into the room alone, today dressed in a tight black leather
bra and a short leather skirt, with black leather gloves encasing her arms up to
the middle of her upper arm, her outfit again completed by her high-heeled boots
and the mask that partly covered her face. I didn't really understand why she
covered her face up because we had no means to escape on our own, but then
nothing what was going on around here wondered me much any more after the last
day.
The woman ignored me and walked over to my two bound friends, who'd also
awakened with her entry. Sarah and Jenny simply looked miserable, although I
knew that they hadn't had to endure so much as me. I didn't really hold that
against them, but inwardly I begged that Amber would keep me away from them
because I couldn't stand their pathetic passiveness any longer.
After examining them briefly, Amber got up again and returned with two
bowls that she sat down in front of the girls. Then she removed their gags,
telling them to eat all of their food or they would be punished severely. It
looked quite funny to watch them, both tied and trying to eat with only their
mouths. I stopped smirking before Amber rounded on me.
The tall woman came to me with sure strides, a slight smile on her face.
She often smiled down at me that way, and I got the impression that it either
didn't bode well when she did it, or that she just did it every time she looked
at me.
"Good morning, my disobedient little slut. Have you had a good night?"
I tried hard not to frown. I could never tell if she was just treating
me like a dog or constantly mocking me. Maybe she did both. But I answered her
truthfully.
"Not really, Mistress."
Her smile grew a little bit wider, and I could see amusement sparkling
in her eyes.
"And why not? Don't you like your accommodations?"
I am stupid when it gets to avoiding traps, but I clearly did see this
one.
"No Mistress. I just have to go to the toilet, and that kept me awake
most of the night."
Amber bent down and examined the straps of the harness she had put on me
before leaving me here.
"Seems like you've been a good slave, not wetting yourself. Now bed me
to let you relieve yourself, and maybe I will grant it to you."
I stared at her for some seconds, having to swallow a load of words that
would surely not get me into a better situation, then I sort of obliged. At
least as far as my dignity let me to.
"Please Mistress, I beg you to let me go to the toilet. Please?"
The woman's smile didn't change, but she was obviously having a good
time. Instead of giving me an answer she got up again and signalled to someone I
couldn't see. Next her two flunkies, Adam and Tom, got in. Since I had been
putting up a fight some of the times they never unchained me without making sure
that I was nearly unable to move.
Amber said something to them that I couldn't understand then Adam
unchained my bound arms and drew me to my feet. I winced because of the pain
that raced through my stiff muscles briefly, and then I tried to press my legs
together to keep my bladder in check. Normally I'm quite good in that, but I
hadn't been able to go to the toilet for far too long, and it really really
hurt. Adam went to stand behind me, drawing my arms painfully to my back, and
holding me this way while Amber came over to me again, taking her time.
"You really look quite uncomfortable. I guess we should speed up a bit,
or else there will be a little accident, now will there be?"
I just stared at her, hoping that she could see the scorn in my face.
Like always she simply ignored me, coming to stand right in front of me. Then
she began to caress my breasts. The leather of her gloves felt strange on my
naked flesh. When she started to pinch my nipples I had to draw in my breath.
First it hurt, my nipples still being sore from yesterday, and second it kind of
aroused me, which didn't come good compared to my having to pee so badly. From
her smile I could see that she knew exactly what she did to me.
When she stopped again I had to really press my legs together which was
not that easy with the wide leather strap running between them, but I managed
it, even if I felt that it wouldn't be for long. Again Amber seemed to know my
limits, because she signalled again, and Tom came over with a bucket that he put
down in front of me. I wasn't really all that shocked that they would have me
pee in a bucket; I just wanted to do it as fast as possible.
Without a further command Adam turned me around so that my back was
facing the room, and I could feel Amber's hands on my buttocks. She took her
time caressing my ass, and then I felt her unbuckling the strap that held the
butt plug inside my ass.
"Now open your legs, and keep the plug inside you, even after I remove
the strap."
I tensed up as much as I could and hesitantly opened my leg. Amber
slapped my inner thighs gently until she thought that I had opened up enough,
then she let go of the strap. I could feel the plug give way for a moment, and
clenched my muscles even more. Letting loose was not an option, and I didn't
want to risk angering her.
While I fought with myself Adam urged me to turn around again, which
took some time with me having to keep my legs apart. When I finally faced Amber
again she unbuckled the waist strap of the harness and freed me from it. Then
she smirked again, and put a hand to my sex. I squealed when she began to
massage my pussy, slowly rubbing one of her fingers over my clit. When she
inserted a finger into my vagina it was pure luck that let me still keep my
control up, but I started to quiver and whimper. Why couldn't she just let me
relieve myself?
Evidently she got my signals right, because Amber soon stopped and
retracted her hand, drawing the butt plug out in one swift movement. Then she
pushed the bucket between my legs, and told me to squat down and piss. I
complied, happy with me finally allowed to relieve myself. And it felt so good.
When I was finished Adam forced me up again, while Amber wiped me clean
with a sheet of toilet paper. While Tom took the bucket away again I got a brief
glimpse across the room at my two friends. They stared at me in disgust, and for
once I couldn't really understand them. It really wasn't my way to publicly
urinate, but if the other option was to piss myself I would do it gladly again.
Amber saw where I looked and just smirked. She did that a lot when she saw how
my friends reacted to what I did, or what was done to me.
"Bring her to the other room and secure her on the chair. I will be
there soon."
I could feel Adam nod, then he forced me forward, walking me with my
arms still bent behind my back like he wanted to break them any seconds. I was
sure that if I slipped that would happen, and he wouldn't be sorry in the least.
Before we left the room I saw Amber untie my friends, and they were against
chained upright to the wall.
Adam brought me over to the thing that looked like a modified
gynaecological chair. He told me to get up on the two platforms where my feet
would rest then he chained my arms to the back of the back rest, and secured my
ankles to the foot platforms. Then he buckled a wide strap over my hips so that
I couldn't move around any more, and left me there. It felt rather like I'd been
chained to a board.
I wasn't left alone for long, for Amber came soon after her flunky had
left me. She came over to me and tilted the whole thing I was chained to back,
so that I couldn't see the floor anymore, but was still not lying flat on my
back. She then unchained my feet briefly, put them into two sheens that began at
the knee and forced my legs farther apart, securing my ankles again. This way
she left my crotch fully exposed, and my thighs opened so much that the muscles
began to hurt only seconds after she had secured the whole construction.
When she was finished Amber went to one of the cabinets that lined the
walls of the room and returned with a whip like thing only that out of its
handle came a whole bunch of leather straps. The woman traced the straps over my
body, begging from my belly upwards between my breasts. I could feel that the
leather was rather soft, but the intent of the instrument was quite clear, and I
didn't let myself be fooled by the sensation. If she whipped me with it, it
would surely hurt a lot. So much I had learned until now.
"Now this handy thing here is called a flogger. It's not as painful as a
normal whip, but it covers a greater area, and it can be used much longer. But
you'll find all this out soon."
Amber traced the flogger back down my belly, this time sliding it over
my crouch. Then she stepped back again a bit, smirked at me a bit, and let the
flogger come down on my breasts a bit harder. It didn't really hurt, but I
winced when some of the leather strings connected with my sore nipple. Next time
she hit me on the other breast, this time a bit harder, then on my belly three
times, working her way down until the last lash was close to my sex.
I tensed up, anticipating where she would strike next, but Amber
continued by whipping my spread thighs, beginning above the knee and working up
towards my vagina. She stopped again before she could hit my sex, and began
again with whipping my belly and breasts. It would be a lie to say that it
didn't hurt, but it was bearable, and somehow it aroused me a bit.
Then Amber stopped again, and gently traced the flogger over my sex
again. Then she let it swing against my vagina, first softly, then with more
force, until she whipped me several times rather hard. I winced with every
strike, but didn't cry out, and when she stopped again I knew that I was getting
wet from the whipping. This realisation sort of struck me dumb, and I tried to
get these thoughts out of my mind, but when Amber resumed the whipping of my
breasts I couldn't deny that the moan I let out was only partly because of the
pain. When I looked into Ambers eyes I knew that she knew the effects of her
treatment.
Again she let the flogger down hard on my sex, this time aiming for my
clit. I screamed when she hit it hard, but with the pain came a wave of arousal,
and I bit down hard on my lips to keep me from omitting further noises. After
four more strokes Amber quit, laying the flogger down on the floor, and looking
me up and down. I was covered in sweat and my breath was coming way too fast.
"You look like you are not quite certain if you should cry in pain or
moan in pleasure."
I didn't respond, partly because she hadn't asked me, and partly because
I feared what I might say to her. The woman only smiled, then traced the folds
of my labia with her fingers. It hurt a bit, the flesh being swollen from the
flogging, but not only because of it, and felt good at the same time. She
neither touched my clit nor but a finger into me, but it still aroused me
further. I bit down on my lower lip again to keep from moaning.
Amber then stopped and brought her fingers up to my face. They were like
I had dreaded glistening wet.
"Looks like you really enjoyed yourself. Are you now able to admit that
the things I do to you arouse you?"
I just stared at her, denying her the answer. For a moment it looked
like she would go furious, but then Amber just shrugged and wiped her fingers
clean on my thigh and went to the cabinet again. She returned with a box whose
contents I couldn't see.
"You don't have to answer me if you're still fighting with yourself over
it. I know what you feel, and your body is betraying you. You are betraying
yourself."
She put the box somewhere next to me spread feet where I still couldn't
see into it and sat down on a stool between my legs.
"Soon you will understand how stupid and futile your tries are to hold
on to these false beliefs of modesty. You are just denying yourself the pleasure
your body craves for. But now I have to punish you for your disobedience
yesterday."
Disobedience was a bit much, I thought. She couldn't really have
expected me to hold still when she splashed hot wax over my most private parts,
but then I knew that she would have found another reason for doing whatever
would come now if I hadn't flinched. Amber didn't need a particular reason for
administering pain.
She opened the box and took something out. When she showed it to me I
was a bit puzzled. What she showed me was a wooden clothes pin, or at least it
looked like one. Amber evidently saw my puzzlement and only shrugged.
"Doesn't look like much, now does it? Just an ordinary clothes pin. But
you would be surprised how many ordinary looking things can find other
purposes."
The woman then began to stroke my pussy with her free hand, and a sort
of dread began to rise inside of me. There must be a reason why she had sat down
between my legs, and the possibilities that came to my mind didn't really appeal
to me.
When she saw that I was beginning to frown Amber just smiled her usual
smile. Then she separated my pussy lips and clamped the pin to the left one in
the middle. I inhaled sharply when an incredible pain shut up inside my body,
but soon it subsided to a still hurting feeling, but grew tolerable. While I had
struggled to compensate the pain Amber had grabbed another pin and now applied
it to my other pussy lip, mirroring the first one. I winced and futilely tried
to move my ass a bit, but didn't succeed in any way.
Amber's smile lessened a bit while she took the next two pins, and she
looked a bit like she had to concentrate. Then she put the pins below the ones
already there, making me gasp in pain again. When I saw her taking another two
pins out of the box I just closed my eyes and let my head rest against the board
I was chained to. It didn't get better if I watched her, and I could feel quite
good what she did.
Again she gently grabbed one of my pussy lips, drew it a bit away from
my body and applied another pin, this one being at the lower and of the lip,
directly next to my vagina. I tensed up even more and tried to suppress the
whimper that escaped me, not succeeding when the pain again grew more when she
put on the mirroring clamp on my other pussy lip.
Then I felt her fingers sliding upwards a bit, and she put on two more
pins, these two at the upper end of my pussy lips, roughly next to my clit. When
her hands left my body altogether I sighed briefly and opened again when I
didn't hear anything from her.
Amber still sat between my spread legs, looking critically at her work.
When she saw me watching she smiled briefly again, then she gently began tugging
on the clothes pins. Or at least it looked like she only gently tugged at them,
but the dumb feeling of pain increased rapidly and let me cry out. As long as
she didn't touch the pins I could tolerate the pain, but when she tugged at them
or moved them to either side I could only gasp. It simply hurt more than it
should have from the rather harmless look of the whole thing. After drawing some
sounds of pain from me Amber stopped and stood up again.
"It hurts, now does it?"
I just nodded, for once not trying to deny her an answer. I knew that
admitting wouldn't get me out of this situation, but maybe it wouldn't prolong
everything. This time Amber didn't react to my admittance but again walked over
to the cabinet, returning with a handful of ropes. She uncoiled two of the
pieces, both roughly one metre long. One she hung over my spread legs, the other
she measured again.
Then she lent forward, grabbing my right breast in one hand and
massaging it briefly. With my hands tied behind my back my tits seemed to jut
out a bit, but I hadn't really paid any attention to it. Until now, when Amber
began to fasten the rope around my right breast, winding it about the base for
four times and making sure that was spanned as tightly as it would go. I bit
down on my lip to keep from making sounds while she knotted the rope. Then she
repeated the whole procedure with my other breast. When she was finished the
flesh of my right tit had already started to burn a bit, and my already
sensitive nipples began to hurt slightly, while the whole flesh turned red from
the accumulating blood. All in all it was a painful situation.
After finishing her work on my breasts Amber took another length of
rope, while she placed the other hand on the clothes pins of one side of my
pussy and pushing them towards my thigh. Then she laid the rope over the pins
and wound it several times over my leg, pinning the pins against it. Before it
had only hurt when she had touched the pins, now that they were pushed against
my leg they constantly hurt like she was tugging on them. I started to whimper a
bit, and for once I couldn't make myself stop.
The pain grew even more intense when she bound the clamps of my other
side to the other leg, drawing my pussy lips far apart. This alone might have
hurt all by itself, but combined with the pain from the pins it turned my
whimpers into sobs. I tried to calm down a bit to be able to breathe normally,
but didn't succeed.
Amber then stood back and looked me up and down, evidently admiring her
work, although as far as I could see it she didn't smile. She then tugged
briefly at some of the rope coils, fitting them better in, and again looked me
up and down. My sobs were the only sound in the whole room.
Finally the woman stepped forward again and looked me in the face.
Slowly she wiped my cheeks, but the tears only began to flow more regularly
then. My vision blurred, and I closed my eyes, for some moments only feeling the
pain that radiated from my crouch and breasts. What made it so much worse was
that it didn't just burn like the whip, but was a constant pain, that didn't
lessen after some time. On the contrary, it seemed to grow worse from minute to
minute,
Amber again wiped my face, this time with a tissue, and stroked my hair,
uttering some soothing sounds. Somehow this only worsened the whole situation,
with her showing some kind of perverted compassion and trying to calm me, and
being responsible for all the pain.
When she stopped and I heard her going away I finally got a grip on
myself again and at east ceased sobbing. It didn't help me in the least, and
after the initial shock I could again control myself. At least a little. When I
looked down at my bound body the tears threatened to well up again. My breasts
had turned a light shade of purple, and looked rather swollen, especially my
nipples. The same applied to my pussy lips, and the whole coloured flesh was one
burning and biting pain.
I tried to divert my mind to other matters and turned my head instead to
look for Amber. She was rummaging through one of the cabinets, but considering
how fast she normally found her things she seemed to give me some time for
myself, maybe to consider my situation. Or to simply let me rot there and wait
until I couldn't stand it anymore, and grew mad or something.
As if she had read my thoughts she turned around and came back to me.
She had something clasped in her hands, but I couldn't see it, and right now I
really didn't want to see it. I just wanted this whole thing to end. I would
rather endure her pouring wax over me again, or whipping me with the crop, or
whatever, but end this never-ending torment.
The woman positioned herself in front of me again, this time smirking
again. This didn't bode well. I was rewarded with being right when she began to
poke my tits, drawing whimpers and sobs from my throat. When she pinched my
nipples the pain was so much that I cried out briefly, but it had no effect on
her. She just smirked at me and continued.
When she stopped again I didn't allow myself the hope that it would end
now. She wouldn't smile like a cat in front of a bowl of cream if that would be
all for now. And, sadly, I should be right this time.
Amber tent forward again, grabbing my left tit in one of her hands and
massaged the flesh. It hurt so much that I sort of howled, but she only smiled
and laid a finger to my lips.
"Spare your breath. You'll need it soon. Believe me; you haven't felt
the worst yet."
With these words she showed me what she had brought with her from the
cabinet. The clamps looked like metal clothes pins, only that they had some
screw that looked like you could adjust something on them. I had never seen the
likes of them before, but considering where she right now touched me it really
couldn't get any better.
Fright welt up inside of me, and I squealed, trying to twist out of her
grip. The action was totally futile because of the straps that held me in my
position and the way my arms were bound behind my back, and it only resulted in
still more pain as the woman simply gripped my breast harder, turning my squeal
into a scream.
Amber let me fidget a while, only digging her fingers deeper into my
already hurting flesh, but something in my brain was about to snap and simply
didn't let me stay passive anymore. The fact that I only hurt myself more with
it didn't really occur to me; I wasn't able to think at all.
After some minutes she must have grown board with me, and simply slapped
me hard and several times in the face, rocking my head hard against the board
behind it. I stilled again, being a bit dazed, the pain simply overwhelming me.
Amber used the moment to swiftly apply both metal clamps to my nipples at the
same time.
For a second or two my vision seemed to blank out from pain. I couldn't
scream, I couldn't move, I couldn't even think. Then I drew a shaky breath, and
from the times my lungs had enough air to produce anything I screamed, as loud
and long as I could. The pain in my nipples simply overshadowed everything else.
When the worst pain subsided a bit I slowly calmed down, partly because
I must have been both hyperventilating and not getting enough air at the same
time, and when my body felt my consciousness slipping away it simply shut down
the control I had over it and sort of calmed itself. When I could think clearly
again the pain in my nipples had really lessened a bit, or at least it felt like
it had, or I simply got used to it all.
When I looked up I saw Amber standing in front of me, clearly out of my
anyway not given action radius, and just looked at me. She didn't smirk, she
didn't frown, she didn't even smile, and she just looked. I really didn't know
what or if she even expected anything, so I just looked at her, trying to at
least plead with my eyes for her to end this whole thing. When she finally spoke
she sounded calm, but rather cool, without her normal teasing undertone.
"I guess it's about time that we speak again. At least now I have your
attention."
For once I had no problems to suppress a witty answer, because none came
to my mind. I just continued to look at her, waiting for her to continue, what
she promptly did.
"As you have just seen, and feel very intensely right now, there is
always a way to hurt you, and if you are stubborn, there is always a way to hurt
you more."
To stress her words she slowly turned the screw first at the one, than
at the other clamp on my nipples, drawing some more wails from me when the pain
worsened for a while, and stayed hot and pulsating afterwards.
"Do you understand that, cunt?"
I hurried to nod, but not opening my mouth, afraid that I would be
unable to speak right now. The answer seemed to be enough for her, because Amber
went on.
"I don't expect from you that you follow my every word, or even try to
predict my actions. I just want you to follow my orders, every single one,
without exception. Is this clear now?"
I nodded again, tensing up again when she came near to me again, but she
just leant her body against one of my legs, which didn't really hurt compared to
all the rest of my body.
"Good. But that is not everything. I want you to think hard for a while,
about your general behaviour. I know that it is not easy to shed ones moral high
grounds, but you have already admitted that you get aroused when I handle you
rather roughly. You should come to terms with yourself, and admit that you like
it. That you need it. Do that, or I will continue with examples like today. I
give you fifteen minutes to think, with a little extra remainder, and then I
want an answer from you."
I tried to open my mouth and say something, but she hushed me with a
small gesture.
"Not now."
When she saw that I had closed my mouth again she bent down and picked
something up from the floor. It was a small chain. Swiftly she hooked one end of
the chain to one of the clamps, then to the other, again making me sob, but as
before she ignored my reactions.
I briefly closed my eyes, concentrating on how the pain slowly grew
less. When I opened them again Amber was nowhere to be seen, but I heard her
rummaging somewhere behind my back. All too soon I heard the clicking of her
heals coming back to me. In her right hand she carried something that looked
remotely like a small dildo.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to fuck you with this vibrator, but you'll
be begging me to do it after I finish with you."
The woman then bent down and positioned the vibrator between my spread
pussy lips. I heard a clicking sound, maybe there was some way to directly apply
it to the chair, but I couldn't quite see that much. When she turned it on I
could feel it vibrating lightly against my sex.
"If your current position you won't be able to either rum yourself on
it, nor draw away. It's only on the very slightest level, not enough to arouse
you that much that you'll cum, but enough to arouse you. See you later, cunt."
With that Amber turned around and left the room. I couldn't help but
frown. At first the motions of the vibe had tightened my pussy lips a bit and
the pain hat worsened a bit, but I could feel it lessen right now, and Amber had
been right insofar that the vibe did stimulate me. It didn't touch my clit but
very nearly, and all in all it was a rather good feeling.
But after five minutes or so I realized that she'd been right with
everything. My body slowly reacted to the stimulus, and although it might sound
contradictory, the pain only added to it. In no time I was moaning and trying to
somehow get the vibe near my clit, or anywhere else where it might stimulate me
so far that I might reach the approaching orgasm, but I wasn't able to. My
restraints held me exactly where the woman had put me, and so I could just wait
for her to return, getting more aroused and frustrated by the minute. It was
really worse than the pain before.
When Amber finally returned the stern look was still on her face, but
the corners of her mouth began to curve up when she watched me for a while. She
just stood in front of me with her arms crossed beneath her breasts and waited
for me to calm, which I slowly did, trying not to writhe anymore and suppress my
moans. When she began to speak her voice had lost some of its coldness, but was
still rather neutral.
"Have you thought about what I told you to, or do I have to let you
alone for another fifteen minutes?"
I hurried to shake my head.
"No, I've thought about it, please Mistress, believe me!"
A slight smile appeared on her face, but she didn't let it grow.
"And what is your answer?"
I swallowed several times, having to clear my throat again before being
able to speak.
"You are right, Mistress, I have been foolish not to admit that I get
aroused when you whip me, or hurt me, even when I did see that I'd gotten wet
all over. Please, I won't do it anymore, never again, never!"
Now she really smiled, and the smile warmed something inside of me. Was
I feeling relieved because she seemed content with me? I rapidly put this
thought away and went on, my voice still hoarse from the screaming.
"Please believe me, I've been a foolish little girl, I didn't realize
what pleasure you could give me, but you've shown me that I've been wrong.
Please let me show you that I've come to my senses, please, but please don't let
this go on any longer. Please!"
Amber continued to look at me, and then she moved next to me again.
"You've been a good girl, Dari, to realize that, and I won't continue
this now. But you know what awaits you if you continue to be so stupid?"
I nodded, and she smiled warmly at me.
"Okay, that's my little slave. I am now going to turn off the vibe, and
then loose you from your position, but it will hurt, that I can tell you, and
your body will stay tender for some days, but at least this way you will
remember it."
After turning off the vibrator and putting it away again she gently
touched my swollen tit. It hurt, but she really was gentle, and so I tried not
to cry too loud, but only partly succeeded. First she detached the chain, then
she swiftly loosened and detached the nipple clamps. I hadn't thought it
possible, but for some moments it hurt even more not to have the clamps attached
than have them bite into my flesh, but at least it took away some of my
unsatisfied arousement. But only some.
Next Amber untied the rope that held the clothes pins to my legs,
swiftly removing them from my pussy. This also made me cry again, but the
general pain level was already lowering a bit. Last she untied my breasts. The
sensation of the blood rushing back into the formerly bound flesh also hurt, but
I had suddenly lost all my strength and just slumped in my restrains while the
woman collected all her torture devices and packed them away again.
When she returned the colour in my tits had faded already to pink, and
my pussy just hurt. Amber stopped again in front of me, and then she gently
began to massage my breasts, paying attention that she didn't touch my nipples.
After my breasts had regained a more normal colour Amber gently massaged the
flesh of my pussy, which didn't really hurt that much anymore. For once she
didn't try to tease me in any way. I wished she had because I was sure that I
would orgasm if she touched me anymore, but then maybe it was better if I
didn't. She wouldn't have approved, I guess.
After finishing she got up again and released all the chains and straps
that held me to the chair. I didn't attempt to move, too sure that I wouldn't be
able to support my body. Amber left me alone, soon returning with Tom right
behind her. Her flunky just picked me up and carried me over to the other room,
where he laid me on the floor and attached a short chain to my collar, as if to
keep me from running away, but I was still too weak to even think about moving.
Next he chained the wrist bounds together behind my back, keeping my hands
efficiently away from touching my body. So I just lay there for a while, gazing
without seeing into the room, and finally fell asleep.
Feedback, as always, greatly appreciated! (mailto: dari69@hotmail.com}