Below the Belt

by Sarah Veitch

  Jeff shook his head. 'No, most of the work we offer is less demanding than that. We have crafts and trades here and horses and a bakery. And... oh, lots of things as you'll find out during your stay. And as we all work for the common good we have no need of money. You just take what you need from the stores and give back as much as you can in own-made goods and services.'

  'So I could just walk into a clothes shop here and leave with three or four outfits?' Kerri asked.

  Jeff shook his head. 'No, you'd go and see Roberta, our seamstress. She and her team make every resident four outfits which have to last two years. But there's a second hand stall in the mall if you want to swap your outfits for different ones at any time.'

  'That makes sense,' Kerri lied and was rewarded by his look of pride.

  'It's cost effective and environmentally friendly. So many perfectly good cotton and silk garments in the outside world are needlessly thrown out.' He got up to leave. 'You wronged me very badly, Kerri - but I sense that you have the capacity to change, to become a worthwhile person. Just look at how much your brother has changed in the past five years.'

  'You know my brother?' Kerri asked, amazed.

  Jeff blinked twice then swiftly got to his feet. 'I really don't want to discuss the situation further.' He hesitated. 'And if you know what's good for you then you'll never refer to it again.'

  'Yes, sir. Sorry, sir,' Kerri answered. 'I realise you have your own reasons for doing things.'

  'I do,' Jeff said. 'I want to create a community here that's superior to those outside. I see that so much of the world is based on outright lies or subconscious denial. People become corrupted so early in their working lives.'

  'It's common in a corporate culture,' Kerri replied with mock sympathy. In truth, the survival of the fittest suited her just fine.

  'But we can change that here. We can have a happy honest workforce, an unpolluted environment,' Jeff added passionately. He walked towards the door then turned back. 'I'll see you in a couple of days, Kerri. I hope you'll have had time to think about what you've learned so far.'

  'I will indeed, sir,' Kerri said. She pulled a face at his departing back. God, the man was stupid. From now on she'd simply say all the right things to fool him into thinking she was a reformed character. That way she could have a good time here and never be punished again. Returning to the mirror she stared at her tenderised globes, pitying their all-over crimson. From now on she'd play the game and her bottom would return to - and remain - an unmarked white.

  Chapter Seven

  Late that night Kerri woke up to find herself lying atop the bed on her tummy. Christ, she'd lain down for a moment to rest after Jeff Rendell had left and must have fallen asleep.

  Shakily she refreshed her mouth with some of the water and grapes on the bedstand then went to the ensuite bathroom to urinate. As she walked towards the door something fell heavily from her vagina and landed on the carpeted floor.

  Kerri blinked with amazement then scooped it up. It was a folded piece of paper. It had been soaking in her lust for hours and was very wet. Of course - that girl in the green silk dress had said something about a note when she'd pushed her fingers inside Kerri's vulva during the lap-based crawl of shame.

  She opened it. The words red house were printed in smudged blue letters. The next two words were illegible. Shrugging, Kerri dropped the note into her wastepaper bin. Alpineglow couldn't have more than a few hundred residents so in time she'd be reacquainted with the girl who'd written the note.

  Her public shaming had left her feeling very shy so she spent the next day sitting behind her building, enjoying the sun. Occasionally she delved into her picnic hamper for organic food and drinks but mainly she lay on her stomach and watched the lemon and blue butterflies. A pair of peacocks fearlessly approached her and she gave them crumbs from her sandwich. As long as she didn't sit on her sore bum she felt absolutely fine.

  For the ensuing fortnight she worked in Alpineglow's various stores, bagging groceries, sweeping up and making tea for the other shop assistants. It was simple work and, though mildly bored, she didn't get into trouble once.

  But on the fifteenth day a new girl arrived at her cell at 10am. 'Hi, I'm Miriam. I'm here to take you to the beach.'

  'I thought I was working today,' Kerri said, shrugging into her suede suit which the launderette washed and dried nightly. She knew that she'd soon have to go and see Roberta, the former prison warden, to get fitted for her four costumes, but she wasn't looking forward to it.

  'That's right. We're both working on the beach. We've to gather shells. Lucy makes things out of them to export - you know, shell jewellery boxes and necklaces.'

  'I thought that kind of thing died out ages ago,' Kerri murmured.

  Miriam shrugged good-naturedly. 'It probably did - but we've resurrected it. We use the money to buy foodstuffs or you can barter for some of the shell-decorated goods if you want to send them to your relatives.'

  'I only have a brother that I've lost touch with,' Kerri said. She remembered that Jeff had recently mentioned her brother. 'Jeff knows him,' she added, fishing for information.

  'Jeff knows lots of people,' Miriam said.

  They started to walk along the corridor, Kerri continuing to seek out facts about Alpineglow.

  'So, how long have you lived here?'

  'For three years. I was one of the first inhabitants,' Miriam offered, looking proud.

  'Three years ago?' It was a wonder the girl hadn't gone stir crazy. 'I arrived a month ago.'

  'So you're still finding your way around?'

  'Yeah, I've mainly been in my room, at work or in the gardens.' She was damned if she'd admit her tour of the Punishment Chamber and associated shame.

  They left the building and Miriam pointed out the path they'd be taking to the beach.

  'At first everyone knew everyone else and we had a welcome party for each arrival but we've stopped that because new people arrive every week.'

  'So, how did you find your way here?' Kerri asked, keeping her voice deliberately casual.

  'Oh, I knew Jeff when I lived in London. We were in the same debating society.'

  Kerri held her breath for a moment. 'When he was rich or poor?'

  Miriam cast a sideways glance at her. 'When he was rich for the second time. He told me that in between he'd lost his fortune when someone set him up.'

  Kerri looked at Miriam closely but the other girl showed no trace of malice.

  'Did he... did he say who set him up?'

  Miriam shook his head. 'He doesn't give many details about that time but I know it was a woman.'

  'And what did she do exactly?' Kerri asked wishing yet again that some bastard would tell her what her actual crimes had been.

  'Some work-related deal. I haven't questioned him closely as he clearly had such a terrible time,' the saintly Miriam replied.

  They reached the market square where Kerri had been chastised. 'Were you here last month when that public flogging was taking place?' she asked, suddenly realising that her new friend might have witnessed her bared shaming.

  Miriam shook her head. 'No way. Oh, I know that certain people have wronged Jeff and that they're here to be re-educated but I have nothing to do with that side of things.'

  'So what made you come here?' Kerri asked as they crossed the square and cut across two arable fields.

  Miriam sighed. 'I'd been burgled twice and had my bag snatched in London so was becoming quite nervous. Then I won a lot of money in a competition and Jeff gave me the chance to buy a house here in Alpineglow.'

  'So if you're rich, why are you coming to collect shells with me?' Kerri asked as they started down a mountain path emblazoned with wild flowers.

  'Because it's good healthy work and because it benefits the town,' Miriam said.

  Surely the girl had to have a stronger reason for being here than that?

  'And is there a business in Alpineglow that you want to buy into or some big tax dodge?' Ker
ri asked.

  'No, I just love the place,' Miriam replied.

  They walked down the mountain path until they reached a clearing filled with sand. It was only then that Kerri remembered they weren't near the sea. 'Er, how did all this get here?'

  Miriam shrugged. 'I guess that sand is just powdered rock so maybe the fierce winds blowing against the mountain for millions of years created it. And I know that there used to be towns around here that were visited by beach folk and that it was considered lucky to leave a shell in a mountain clearing - you know, like throwing coins in a wishing well? Whatever, there's thousands of them and they can be glued onto hairbrush backs and the like to make attractive gifts.'

  At the thought of a hairbrush back, Kerri quivered. She knew that some men used them as makeshift paddles to discipline a girl's backside.

  For the next hour she and Miriam gathered little pink shells and large conch shells and white scallop shells and placed them in Miriam's padded rucksack. Then they stopped to drink from their hip flasks of mineral water and eat some of the local grapes. Kerri was beginning to relax when she heard a male shout followed by a girlish giggle. A couple in their twenties came racing down the path.

  The girl was leading but stopped short when she saw Kerri and Miriam.

  'Sorry,' she mumbled.

  'Don't mind us,' Kerri said.

  The couple put their heads together and whispered a few words then disappeared around the corner, hidden by several feet of rock.

  'I hope they're not doing what I think they're doing,' Miriam muttered anxiously.

  Kerri sneered at the girl's coyness. 'You mean having a shag?'

  'Yes, and breaking their celibacy codes in the process.'

  'How do you know who's celibate?' Kerri asked.

  Miriam looked sad. 'There are lists delivered to every house detailing the dissidents' latest crimes alongside their photographs. If you want to punish them you add your name to the list.'

  'And have you seen my photo there?' Kerri asked.

  Miriam looked slightly surprised. 'I didn't even know you were a dissident. We aren't expressly made aware of this, Kerri, unless the person transgresses so often that they end up on the list. I think Jeff wants people to change their outlook - and it's easier for them to do that if they aren't singled out from the start.'

  Kerri knew that she was to be added to the list - hadn't Billy said so? But she kept quiet about that.

  'So that girl we just saw is like me?' she confirmed slowly. She took a step closer to the rocks, wanting to talk to the miscreant.

  'Don't go near her - she's probably breaking the rules. If you know that for sure you'll be punished for aiding and abetting. Let's go back to Alpineglow now and make shell boxes,' Miriam said.

  They started to climb back up the path, hearing the couple's increasing moans of lust echoing through the valley. Suddenly a man in full riding gear raced into view. Kerri yelped when she saw the whip he had strapped to his chest - then she remembered that she was fully clothed and here to gather shells as part of her duties. 'Hello,' Miriam said softly to the man.

  He nodded to her, his thoughts clearly on other things. Kerri and Miriam turned to watch him stride angrily down the path. Moments later he reached the beach and turned in the direction of the sounds.

  'Let's get out of here quickly,' Miriam whispered, tugging at Kerri's arm.

  Kerri hesitated, torn between looking like an upright citizen and giving in to her curiosity. The latter won and she smiled reassuringly at her more straitlaced friend.

  'You go back - I'm going to watch what happens. Don't worry, I won't intervene.' She looked at her gold watch, glad that she still had something to remind her of her London life. 'I'll meet you at the top of the path within the next half-hour.'

  'Won't you get whipped for your trouble?' Miriam asked, her eyes widening.

  'Why? I won't be aiding and abetting anyone - after all, that man with the whip has already discovered them.'

  'He runs the Equestrian Centre,' Miriam explained. 'Everyone just calls him Squire. Diana, the dissident, is currently his stable girl. She must have crept off with her lover when she was supposed to be looking after the stock.'

  Miriam hurried away and Kerri tiptoed towards the rocky verge. She lay down on her stomach and peered over. Diana had her jeans at her ankles and her T-shirt pulled up above her breasts. She was leaning back against a large rock whilst her lover, also naked from the waist down, thrust into her.

  Kerri looked more closely and saw the Squire standing behind another rock. He was listening to the couple and tapping his whip against his leg.

  Diana orgasmed first, crying out into the fresh mountain air. Her boyfriend followed swiftly, emitting a long groan of pleasure. They were still clutching each other in a post-orgasmic embrace when Diana's boss appeared.

  'What have we here, then?' he asked as he stepped from behind the rock.

  Diana stiffened. Her lover bit his lip and reached for his jeans. Diana reached for her own denims but the Squire told her to kick them fully off.

  'You know you don't get to keep your jeans or panties on when you're to be punished,' he said sternly.

  Diana stepped out of her lower clothes, her face sulky and red.

  'Walk to that rock over there,' her boss continued, 'and bend over it.'

  Kerri followed his pointing finger with her eyes and saw a boulder that rose to about three feet in the air. It looked very clean and very smooth - and almost as if it was designed to support a dissident's tummy. Diana bent reluctantly over it and her buttocks immediately looked served up for punishment.

  'Hold her hands, Dale,' the Squire said to the boy.

  The youth swallowed hard then walked to the rock and took hold of his lover by the wrists. The equestrian centre owner then approached the stable girl, whip in hand.

  'What were you supposed to do today?' he asked.

  'Feed and water the horses,' Diana muttered. Kerri was glad that the clearing was completely silent; else she'd never have been able to catch the bare-assed girl's reluctant words.

  'And have you fed them?'

  'Yes, sir,' Diana retorted, her extremities twitching.

  'No, you haven't - I had the video camera set up.'

  He tapped the whip warningly against her. 'I'll now give you a whipping for telling lies then we'll resume our little talk about why you're here.'

  Kerri watched, appalled yet fascinated, as he raised the long black whip and brought it down several times on the girl's rump. Diana yelped and curled back her feet and wriggled against the rock, pulling at her lover's hands in increasing panic. Kerri could see that the youth was gripping her tightly so that she couldn't escape. The thongs of the whip spread out, marking her helpless hindquarters. Diana squealed like a piglet, tensing then untensing her tender flesh.

  A few minutes later the Squire started his little talk again.

  'Did you feed and water the horses, girl?'

  'No, sir.'

  'Were you told to feed and water the horses?'

  Diana closed her eyes, her reply a whisper. 'Yes, sir, I was.'

  'In other words you were flagrantly insubordinate.'

  'Yes, sir,' the girl repeated with hard won obsequiousness.

  'And what happens to girls who leave my horses without food and drink?'

  'They get horsewhipped, sir,' Diana forced out. Her voice faltered with apparent shame.

  'And how hard a whipping should they receive?' the Squire continued.

  Diana blushed like a cherry. 'Very hard indeed.'

  The listening Kerri sympathised, knowing how difficult it was to say such demeaning words. But if you didn't they just thrashed you more soundly - a fate that Diana was clearly desperate to avoid.

  The equestrian centre owner reached for his whip again and applied it smartly to her arse. For the next few minutes Kerri watched the girl convulse under its pitiless discipline. When the Squire finally stayed his hand, her bottom was crisscrossed with ver
milion marks.

  'Is this the first time you've broken your celibacy code?' he asked.

  'Yes, sir,' Diana gasped out.

  The Squire shook his head. 'Dear girl, you'll never win an Oscar for lying. I've had two reports this week of you sneaking off to be with Dale. I've had you marked up for various punishments but was too busy to apply them until today.'

  'But I love being with him,' the girl said fervently.

  'And if you were a good girl who worked hard and learned her lessons then we'd free you from the celibacy code and you could be with him every night.' He walked up to her and began to stroke her chastened globes. 'But you're not a good girl, are you, Diana? You shirk off work leaving the horses ungroomed and under-exercised. Or you leave them saddled up after you've been out riding. It's utter selfishness.'

  'Sorry, sir,' the dissident muttered.

  'You'll be sorrier after a more prolonged whipping,' her boss responded picking up the implement again.

  Kerri saw something coming towards her own face and let out a frightened cry, batting it away from her. Within seconds she realised that it was harmless, a saucer-sized red and lemon butterfly. She looked back over the edge - and saw the Squire, Diana and the youth all staring up at her.

  Kerri's first instinct was to scramble away but the Squire pre-empted her. 'Girl - come down here. It's alright. You're not in trouble.'

  Slowly Kerri stood up and made her way down the uneven path. She reached the Squire and stood mutely before him, wondering what he'd say.

  'It's Kerri, isn't it?' he asked.

  'Yes, sir.' She looked up in surprise but didn't recognise his features.

  'You were over my lap last month in the market square,' he explained.

  Kerri swallowed hard at the memory. She'd been so busy wriggling from one lap to the next that she hadn't had the opportunity to look at every face.

  'What are you doing here today?' he asked.

  'I was gathering shells to put on exported goods.' She tried out a politically expedient line. 'You know, for the benefit of Alpineglow.'

  The Squire smiled inscrutably. 'So we interrupted your work?'

  'No, sir - as you saw earlier, I was on my way back with the shells. But I heard Diana cry out and I was curious.'