LADIES' LODGE:
A STORY OF SEVERAL NUDE LADIES
by Harry
"Look what we've got here boys! Couple of randy little lesbians rolling around on the floor - dirty little cows. Come and have a look!"
Gwendoline and Jessica had been two days in the open and the previous night had found a large deserted barn- like building far from any habitation and had gratefully decided to get under cover for the night. The weather was becoming much more autumnal and yesterday had seen a steady drizzle falling all day. The poor visibility had made it easier to cross the M5 by a bridge south of Taunton, which was just about the only good thing to be said about a cold, wet and miserable day.
The option of crossing the Somerset levels had been rejected. Too many waterways and rivers to cross. It was getting too cold for more than one swim a day. And the Blackdown Hills seemed to offer more in the way of cover, with their extensive woodlands, than the more open low-lying areas.
They had been making rather faster progress than they needed to over the last two days and were ready to rest up for a bit. This was why they had decided on a late start and were still lying on a pile of old sacking; passionately and affectionately embracing, at almost nine in the morning. They were in the middle of a deeply satisfying and salivatory French kiss when the five loutish, not exactly sober young men discovered them.
"Dirty little perverts, I know JUST what they need, boys," and the leading one took off his belt,starting to move towards the girls. "Give those arses of theirs a good, long, strong taste of this and then they can find out what sex with five men apiece is like. Filthy little dykes."
"Nasty ill-bred man. Not our sort at all," whispered Jessica. "As for that belt - my bum is tingling already! Let's separate and move towards the door. That should split them up so one of us gets two and the other gets three to deal with."
They moved apart and began making towards the doorway where four of the five were still standing, unable to believe their luck in having two nude girls at their mercy.
As Jessica had hoped, two immediately made for Gwen and two for her. The fifth hesitated and then chose Gwendoline.
"WHAT does that girl have that I don't," thought a hurt and offended Jessica
Both of these two young ladies were about five feet ten inches tall and well built, with fine arms and shoulders and athletic, well-muscled thighs. Not female body builders, but strong, fit girls. Both had impressively well developed chests and flat, hard athlete's stomachs. Gwen was fair-haired and Jessica brown-haired.
"Gentleman really DO prefer blondes, even pigs like these."
"Isn't it a bit early in the day to be drinking, you ugly pig! I heard cider was bad for the brain - now I see it's true. Not good for the looks either. Or the smell, you filthy bastard. Ever heard of soap and water?"
All these insults were deliberately directed at one of the two yobs, and Jessica looked him straight in the eye as she said them. It had the desired effect and an enraged young man threw himself at her - throwing a punch that would have flattened her if it had got any where near its target. Instead she seized his arm and the surprised young man landed heavily on the floor, with his leg twisted underneath him, very badly broken by the fall - as Jessica had intended.
The other man was soon in a similar state and both were screaming in pain.
Jessica picked up a heavy-looking piece of wood that she had noticed, and been edging towards, and with the words, "Stop making that silly noise," she hit them both hard on the head and knocked them cold.
"Hurry up Gwen, we haven't got all day."
Her friend had had a similarly easy time with two of her three attackers, but the third was proving a lot harder to handle and Jessica moved over to assist.
"Back off Jess. You've had your bit of fun. This creep's mine!"
* * *
Gwen had cause to regret this boastful comment a second later, when the guy hit her a blow to the face which drew blood from her nose and raised an immediate swelling under her eye. Angered and spurred on to action by this, Gwendoline whirled around on one bare foot and sent its fellow thudding into the man's jaw and he collapsed on the spot.
"Let's be on our way, Jess. At least we don't have to waste time gathering up all our belongings."
"Golly! that's a lovely black eye you collected, Gwen! It'll look super in a day or two."
And so the two wandered hand-in-hand into the rainy late September day.
"Do you think the police will be looking for us, Gwen? I mean I really hurt my two quite badly. They'll probably be limping for the rest of their lives."
"No. Never. No way those five are going to own up to having let a couple of girls do that to them. They'll say it was a gang of men."
They had, as has been mentioned excelled at sport when at school and had not only gone through the mandatory self-defence classes, but had gone on to practise all sorts of other fighting skills and won cups and medals in abundance. Mr Roberts, the PE master had said they were the best pair since Katie and her friend Angela had left the school, some six years earlier.
"And at least you two girls don't have a thing about fighting each other, like that pair. Best of friends, but when they were in the ring together the sparks really flew!"
This was true. Aggression for them was something to be used sparingly and only on others. They would never fight each other - refusing point-blank to do so many times.
* * *
Gwen and Jessica had come to a deep river two days after their encounter with the five drunken yokels and decided the best thing, once again, would be to swim across. The recent rainfall, which had been cascading down their bodies continuously for days and nights, had swollen the stream to a quite amazing degree. The current was extremely fierce and the girls had been carried far downstream, finally reaching the far bank and climbing wearily out onto a well manicured, if totally drenched, lawn.
They found themselves confonted by a tall and elderly man, who stood smiling down at them under a large golf umbrella. He had a VERY military moustache and was dressed in a sports jacket, check shirt, woollen tie and cavalry twills (cannot vouch for the underwear!) - every inch the retired Colonel!
"Damned fine bit of swimming, girls -By Jove! it was. Stong current here at the best of times. Take my hat off to you both! Come in and have a whisky or something! _ HEY better get your clothes on first - GOD SAKES!! Where are they - where are your clothes - catch your death - bloody chilly morning."
The giggling and delighted pair, realising that they were with a friend even if it was a somewhat eccentric one, replied, "Clothes in Northumberland, Sir. Got to stay starkers for weeks yet--interesting - what!" This came from Jessica and she and Gwen fell into each others arms laughing uncontrollably.
The old gentleman seemed as amused as the girls and laughed heartily himself.
"Come on! Let a lonely old fellow in on it! What the hell's going on? "
And so the two friends standing exposed to the elements and dripping wet with the heavy rain running down their bodies, explained their mission to the old gentleman, who stood dry under his umbrella. Finally they finshed.
"By Golly but you're as damn fine a pair of girls as I ever met, even to get this far! Be bloody proud to have daughters like you, instead of my two useless sons! Hope for old England yet - long as girls like you are around! Proud to meet you! Mind you, ladies - never joined the Masons myself - all that damned silly mumbo jumbo! But your initiation - by Gad!! Splendid!! Eh! Knocks theirs into a cocked hat!! even it was a man's idea."
Then his native chivalry reasserted itself. " Get under this brolly you two - damned rude of me -you must be freezing!"
"No, thanks, Sir," said, Jessica, "we've much worse than this to come in the next few weeks. Got to get used to it. And we're going to see this through, Sir, believe us!"
"Damned sure you will by gad. Back you two down to my last cent! Now you follow me inside. Be my guests for a few hours, EH!!"
And the two dripping and chilly girls followed the old gentleman into his house, relieved to have found some respite from the rain that was beginning to sap even their spirits.
"Sit down, my dears. Never mind the furniture - bit of river water good for it - get these down you!" And he handed them a brandy apiece.
"Thanks, Colonel, murmured Gwendoline as she felt the fine old Cognac warm her.
"Colonel, be damned!" shouted their eccentric host. "General, if you don't mind - General Edward Halliburton, retd. Call me Teddy!"
"Gen. Sir Edward Halliburton, MC, KCB!" said Jessica. "Gosh, Sir. Everyone's heard about you! You've just about done everything - gone everywhere. What an honour to be drinking your brandy. Why my fa..."
"Your father!!! Oh I know him , Jessica. Served under me in Cyprus in the Fifties - damned fine officer. He and Gwen's father think you're hiking across England! Bet they'd have a fit if they could see you now!! EHHH! And for Heaven's sake don't keep calling me Sir; makes me feel a hundred years old."
"How did you know who I am, Sir.. er Teddy? We've never met as far as I know."
"He's very proud of you, Jessica, and with good reason. Showed me your photo the last time we met up in Town for some reunion. You're a lot prettier than your picture," he blushed. "Sorry - not quite what I meant."
"I know what you meant! But you won't tell Daddy about us - I mean our being naked and all that? PLEASE don't do that."
"No, my dear young ladies ! I won't say a word to your parents - except that you dropped in on me and you're both fine - which you are. Cross my heart and hope to die! Wish I could be going with you both - but Doctor's Orders and all that. Got to watch the old ticker. Staying to lunch - what! Course you are. Hang on - be with you in a tick."
And he went to the door and called out. "Two guests for lunch, Emily. See what you can rustle up - there's a good girl."
"My housekeeper and cook," he explained.
Jessica glanced at a photograph of the General and a lady standing by his side. He followed her glance and his brisk, cheery manner deserted him for a minute.
"My darling wife Olivia. Been dead ten years now. Met her when we were both just kids and it was love at first sight for us both. Never stopped loving each other - never any one else for either of us. The pain never goes away, not even after all these years - you just learn to live with it."
"So sorry, Teddy," said Gwendoline.
The General composed himself and resumed his former hearty manner.
"I'd marry her again, and go through it all again knowing what was to come. Wonderful girl. HEY!! I know a way to warm you girls up - come along!"
And he led the way through to a large room at the back of the house where there was a table tennis table.
"Here you are, girls. Get a bit of a sweat up here. I'll leave you to it, if you don't mind. Got a few things to do before lunch."
After two hours of evenly matched activity, the General called through to the warmed up and perspiring pair - LUNCH READY. COME AND GET IT - YOU TWO!!
The general sat at the head of the table, dressed in a very smart suit and the girls sat one on each side dressed in nothing at all except for two very pretty smiles. The housekeeper, showing no sign of surprise at the nudity of the two guests came in and served the meal of roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding , carrots, parsnips and cauliflower. She poured red wine into the three glasses, placed the carafe on the table and withdrew. It looked delicious after a diet of nuts, berries and the odd raw fish. It had been a while since they had used one of the food caches, having diverged somewhat from the route marked out on the map.
"Thought I'd dress up a bit - two honoured guests and all that! Start tucking in now - don't let it get cold."
For a few minutes not a sound was heard as the two friends hungrily made up for lost culinary time.
"Lovly meal, Teddy and exceptional Burgundy - best I've ever drunk," said Gwendoline.
"Been in my cellar a long time, my dear. Was going to share it with Olivia after she came out of hospital, but she never did - haven't had the heart to touch it ever since."
The girls were both deeply touched by this and Jessica wiped her eyes.
"Don't look so glum, Jessica! High time it got drunk - can't let wine like this go to waste forever. Glad to share with it you both. Worth waiting for!"
After a delicious sweet (Tiramisu) and coffee and brandy, the general rose to his feet.
"'Fraid I have to go off for my afternoon nap. You two go into the lounge and make yourselves comfortable for an hour or two. See you later."
They obeyed gladly and curled up together on the sofa. The effects of the meal, the wonderful Burgundy and the fine brandy all combined to send the pair to sleep and they slumbered peacefuly with Gwen's head resting on Jessica's breast and Jessica's arms clasping Gwen's soft warm hips until the General returned and awoke them with a tactful cough.
"Now we're all a bit rested, let me have the chance to beat you both hollow at table tennis - come on!"
He took off his jacket and loosened his tie, but made no effort to emulate the young ladies' nudity. For the first few games the General was as good as his word - he really was an ace player. But age had taken its toll and the girls' youth and strength gradually gave them the upper hand.
Finally the old gentleman put down his bat and wiped his forehead.
"Enough! I could have gone for ever once, but 'anno domini' and all that. Let's go and watch the news."
And so they went back to the lounge and the General switched on the television. The first item was the local regional news and a report about the five youths who had been attacked by a gang of twenty bikers, while preparing a disused barn for an illicit "rave".
"Police are still searching for the vicious thugs responsible for this brutal and unprovoked attack, but no clues have been found so far. They appear to have vanished without trace. Ray Brown the most severely injured recovered consciousness this morning and doctors are optimistic that they will be able to save his right leg."
The girls screamed with laughter and clutched each other shaking uncontrollably.
"How do feel about entertaining a gang of twenty brutal, crazed bikers, Teddy?" Jessica finally managed to say.
"What do mean, Jessie?"
"Those five bastards - so-called victims - were going to beat us up and rape us - but we had other ideas."
The General took a while to digest this and then, "Your black eye and sore nose, Gwen?"
"Right, Teddy."
"Well done girls! I said it before, but I'd have loved to have had two daughters like you!"
"You mentioned you had a couple of sons?" said Gwen.
"Yes. Damned traitors - one an Air Commodore and the other a Rear Admiral - I mean to say girls - what's wrong with the Army?"
Both Jess and Gwen could see that the old man was really very proud indeed of his sons and smiled politely.
Finally the General broke off from watching the evening news.
"Both of you are staying the night. No arguments - got suitably Spartan quarters for you. Hard beds, no sheets, and no heating, but at least you'll be dry for a change - then back to wet and cold tomorrow. Don't argue - Dover Sole for dinner and a fine Sancerre to wash it down. Plus more of that Cognac you like so much. "
And so they were persuaded to accept more of the general's hospitality.
As they climbed the hill, next afternoon after a delicious breakfast and another sumptuous lunch they looked down on the bend in the river and the General's house far below. They could see the rain falling on the tennis court bouncing back up into the air with the force of impact.
"What a darling old man!" said Gwendoline, the rain mingling with her tears. "Such an absolutely perfect gentleman. You know, he never looked us up and down or stared at our tits - just put us at our ease. They don't make them like that anymore!"
"And the way he dressed for dinner last night, wearing all his medals, just for us! What a sweetie!"
"I suppose he just misses his wife too much to look at any other woman! Still loves her even after all this time. I hope we can both find something as precious as that love of theirs one day."
"Come off it Gwen - you know we already have."
And the two rain-drenched girls stood on the Wiltshire Downs, and kissed each other hungrily and lovingly. Finally they lay on the sodden turf and held each other in a tender, yet energetic embrace for a very long time.
"What's this, young ladies - trespassing on my land - disgraceful - ought to be damned well ashamed of yourselves - looking like that - call the police - have you run in - explain yourselves!!"
* * *
"Wonder how the Legendary Pair are doing?" said Jessica as she reluctantly drew her mouth back from a sweetly prolonged kiss.
"What pair?" said Gwen.
"Oh, Katie and Angela - the pair we kept being compared to - weighed in the balance and found wanting. Bet they never had any adventures like ours!"
"Katie's a financial wizard and successful journalist - not bad going after less than three years out of Oxford - my Dad says he swears by her column - made a fortune following her advice. And Angie - a little bird told Daddy she's in something VERY hush hush, working for the Government."
"I suppose we'll have boring comfortable jobs like that one day."
(Katie was at that time chained up in the cold in Central Asia . Angie was busily painting her toe-nails.)
"Suppose so, if we survive this. It's getting so bloody awfully cold and this fucking rain is getting on my tits! And up my arse and in my nose and every-bloody-where. Will it ever stop?"
"Don't know, Gwen! It's bringing us closer. I love that part of it. All the years we've been friends I never knew it could be so wonderful as these past days!"
It was four days since that wonderful time as the General's guests and the rain had scarcely stopped in all the while.
They had sheltered by night against a stone wall in the lee of the wind and rain, in a ditch, under a hedgerow and in a small hollow in the ground. They had taken it in turns to bear the brunt of the rain on their naked, freezing backs, each covering and giving bodily warmth and shelter to the other. All this time their love grew. Could there come a time when either would have room in their heart for any other - be they male or female? It seemed impossible.
Jessica remembered the wise, lovely old General.
"That's how it is in war and danger. Chaps go through hell together - look out for one another - they never know a bond like that again - more than ordinary love - it defies description," he had said in his staccato way.
"So maybe when this journey is over the two of us will go our separate ways," thought Jessica: and a pang of sadness went through her heart.
"Promise we'll always be together, dearest Gwen!"
Gwendoline stroked Jessica's soaking wet hair and kissed her on the forehead.
"Promise."
"Your eye is almost as good as new now, darling," said Jessica. "It was a real beauty for a few days! You should have seen it."
"I did, at the General's - remember? It wasn't half bad, was it?"
"Wonder if that yobbo lost his leg or not?" said Jessica.
"Probably not - hope he did though, bloody animals! Hope they ALL fucking did. Serve them right for telling those ridiculous lies. I mean, Jess - TWENTY vicious bikers!! I bloody ask you!! They should each lose a leg for telling such porkies! Let's tell the local paper just what really happened when all this is over. They'll never live it down!"
"Better not, Gwen - you know what an egregious ass the law is in this country. We'd be charged with Grievous Bodily Harm - just for defending ourselves. Let's face it - we knew we could bloody murder them if we wanted to and we did! They were all stinking drunk - scarcely able to walk in a straight line! We went way over the top with them. Best let sleeping dogs lie."
"Guess so, Jess."
"Jess - Let's just do it once again and be on our way."
"Do what again, Gwen?"
"This..."
Later:
"Ooohhhh, Gwen. It tasted so good!"
(Not too sure what that last bit was all about - author)
They arrived at a point between Swindon and Malmesbury and were faced with the problem of crossing the M4 . It was pretty well impossible to walk over the motorway itself and they decided to wait until darkness in a small wood and walk over the bridge when all was quiet.
"That American girl who crossed over that whole vast country had one advantage - whether she existed or not - at least she didn't have to keep crossing main roads and motorways and canals and rivers every couple of fucking miles. The time we waste hiding in bushes waiting for a clear moment to cross. And I dread the next river crossing - I love swimming but it's getting too cold by far," said Gwendoline.
"At least the rain's stopped."
"You know what that means for tonight - bloody clear sky and a sharp frost. Just what we bloody need, I don't think!"
Jessica said, "I think we've earned another night in the warm, Gwen. Trouble is I don't know any one all that locally."
"Same here my sweet. Looks like we're stuck with just our lovely body heat for a few nights longer."
They curled up together and waited for dusk. As Gendoline had predicted the clearing skies caused a sharp drop in the temperature. By the time it was safe to move on over the bridge, their hands and feet were like blocks of ice and both girls were shivering uncontrollably.
"Come on - let's run for a bit."
They ran on in the dark for twenty minutes - constantly afraid of tripping up and breaking a leg and fearful of a car passing them. When they were sufficiently warmed up they left the road and entered a small wood, whose details they could just make out in the light of the half moon.
"Remember Hansel and Gretel in the forest and how the falling leaves covered them and kept them warm through the night, Jessie?"
"Yes, lucky little sods. We try that and we fail the test!"
"How much longer can we go on taking this, Jess?"
"Till November 23rd of course."
"Right"
"Let's hope the next food store's not been raided"
The last one had been turned over and very little that was edible had been left. The girls were beginning to get hungry and weary of the odd raw fish or uncooked rabbit and nuts and berries. Damn this awful rain!
They found a slight dip in the ground and prepared for another uncomfortable night. Jessica lay on top of Gwendoline all night, refusing to change places. She was becoming hardened more rapidly than her friend (not that Gwen was exactly soft, herself) and was pleased to feel the darling girl sleeping quietly beneath her. She adjusted the position of her arms and legs around her companion and lover from time to time to try to give her the maximum amount of comfort and warmth.
"Oh I do so love you, Gwen," she kept thinking through the long wakeful hours of darkness until finally she too fell asleep and awoke with the morning light, feeling colder than ever before in her life, but happy to see how rested her sweet Gwendoline was when she woke up with a smile of greeting and a good morning kiss.
"Well, old thing, we've made it into October. Only another 53 days to go. What are going to do for kicks when this is all over?" said Jessica to her waking friend.
* * *
The awful rain had gone. October had brought with it a change to warm, southerly winds and a return for a while of Summer. Gwendoline recovered quickly from the slight cold which had given Jessica such fear for her welfare.That sense of well-being that had marked the first few days of their adventure returned.
Finding a book of matches at the scene of a vacated picnic spot had made a difference as well, and the next tickled trout was cooked in clay to perfection. Jessica had tied the matches into her hair for convenience. Because of the warm days, they had been sleeping during the hours of light and making good progress during the moonlit nights.
On 4th October, the two woke in the late afternoon on the Cotswolds in a wood between Withington and Compton Abdale. Taking advantage of the remaining hours of daylight they made off across the fields, making use of the shelter afforded by the drystone walls, until somehow they blundered into a grassy area, obviously the private garden of one of those lovely Cotswold stone houses. In the middle of the lawn was a marquee, and a number of cars were parked in the driveway.
"Shit, Jess - how the fuck did we stumble into this? Let's get the hell out before someone sees us."
They were making their hasty way back to the inadvertently crossed boundary, when a hostile-looking man seemed to rise up out of the ground and dived at Jessica, the nearer of the two.
"You're not going anywhere - I'll bloody teach you f*cking reporters to mind your own f*cking business!"
He raised his fist, preparing to knock Jessica senseless, but ended up in that condition himself, with an arm bent beneath him at a very unusual angle - obviously broken.
"Fuck, Gwen - lets beat it!"
They only made it a few more yards when other men appeared and the two were quickly overpowered.
"Bring them to the house, you fools - why couldn't you just have let them leave? Lord knows how to sort this out," said another man who had run up as the pair were being secured. He then did a double take and realised they were both totally naked. A smile appeared.
"Well - these two seem to be just a leetle on the wrong side of the Law themselves! How very convenient. Maybe we can all work something out to our mutual satisfaction! Let's go!"
And the two worried girls were frog-marched into the lovely old Cotswold manor house and locked in the anything but lovely old cellar. They held each other and waited.
They did not have to wait too long and the door opened after twenty minutes and two men invited the friends to come up into the light once again. They complied willingly.
In the drawing room sat the man who seemed to be in charge.
"Well - ladies, you have upset my schedule a little - injured one of my best fighters. That gives you some idea what the worst must be like - but that's another matter. Let us examine the situation. I am guilty of locking two intruders in my cellar for a few minutes, while I decide whether to let them go or call the Police - heavy handed, but not a serious matter, I think!. You are guilty of indecent exposure - not a hanging offence - two pretty girls like you might just be let off with a few not too severe words - maybe not. Depends on the mood of the Station Sergeant - but what would Mummy and Daddy say - to say nothing of the dear Vicar! "And then - you might tell the Law that something odd is going on here and they might decide to investigate - very inconvenient for me and my clients, many of whom are prominent people who would HATE too much publicity. I'll make you two a proposition. You go along with my proposal and you may leave here in the morning, sadder and wiser, but (almost) in one piece."
He explained and left the girls to consider.
"What say Jess?"
"We don't have any choice - not if we want to continue our journey, which I sure as Hell do!"
"Me too."
And so the girls were led by Mr Solomons (their host's name) across to the marquee and into it through a rear flap. Inside the tent were about 100 people, mostly - but not exclusively- men. All people who had gathered for an evening of illegal bare knuckle prizefighting. These people were clustered around a makeshift boxing ring. The murmur of conversation eased as the audience beheld two young, beautiful, weatherbeaten, suntanned and naked women enter the tent. They watched open-mouthed as one of them (Gwen) entered the ring and the other took a nearby seat.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Owing to the injury of one of tonight's fighters I have had to reschedule the evening's entertainment a little. As a penance for injuring Mr. Tommy "Crusher" Hughes - one of your favourites- these two renowned exponents of the Martial Arts will take on all our seven remaining fighters, one by one, until they have either beaten them all or have themselves succumbed. All matches to be decided by knockouts. NO rules. Start placing your bets, Ladies and Gentlemen and let the fun commence."
Jessica could see that a lot of money was being wagered on the outcome - mostly in favour of a VERY early exit for poor old Gwen.
'If they'd only ask my advice, I could save them a lot of money,' she thought.
The first opponent was a much more formidable proposition than the poor sap Jessica had despatched earlier and Gwen was very careful to keep out of trouble and try to tire him out - he was at least fifteen years older than she - before trying anything too clever. After a few minutes, the audience were becoming a little restless and their disappointment at not seeing a girl being beaten to a pulp was disgustingly obvious to the watching Jessica.
After fifteen minutes of skilfully staying clear of the man's kicks and punches and sustaining little injury, Gwen felt justified in dropping her guard, whirling around and bringing her left heel up under the man's jaw. The crowd gasped as he seemed to lift off the ground before crashing senseless on to the grassy floor of the ring.
Gwen looked around, hoping to find a welcome glass of water, but the next opponent was in the ring and closing on her before the first had even been dragged out. Still panting after the exertion of the first match and already dripping with sweat, she was forced to throw herself immediately into the next.
It took her fully half an hour for her to send the second fighter the way of the first and Gwen was desperately tired and even more desperately thirsty. Still no respite was allowed between bouts and the third fight was a frightful ordeal for Gwendoline and she began to take considerable punishment as she was slowed down with tiredness.
By this time the audience were totally on her side and cheering her every successful blow and kick. When after almost an hour the third opponent staggered from the ring bleeding and exhausted, there was an enormous cheer.
As the fourth bruiser stepped into the ring it was obvious that Gwen was totally spent - almost out on her feet and utterly unable to defend herself.
"You fucking coward - hitting a defenceless girl - you'd be wetting yourself if it was ME you had to fight!"
The fourth fighter grinned, raised both hands and then walked over to Gwen, putting his arm around her.
"Well done, Miss. I take my hat off to you! You've earned yourself a rest and a bloody good long cool drink. I wouldn't have dreamt of hitting you - never mind what your friend said."
And so the two friends changed places. As Jessica passed Gwen on her way to the arena, Gwen said, "I've left you the easy bit. Good luck."
Jess stepped through the ropes and extended her hand to her opponent, "Thanks - you're a gentleman!"
"And no coward either, Miss. If I was I'd run a mile from you, if you're anything like your friend."
Into her third foe and with one more to follow, Jessica reflected that it had been a very long and bruising day. And it wasn't over yet.
* * *
On the morning after the illegal fighting, Mr Solomons, together with seven bruised men and two bruised girls sat eating breakfast in the dining room of the old house. It was quite the best meal the girls had eaten since that stay with the dear old General. Time was being divided pretty well evenly between eating and discussion of the previous evening's combat.
"You two are way out of our class. Who'd have thought a pair of toffee-nosed kids like you could wipe the floor with a bunch of old bruisers like us?" said the nice man who had refused to fight Gwendoline and suffered a frightful mauling at the hands and feet of Jessica for his pains.
"We had the best tuition money could buy!" said Gwendoline.
"We took a lot of money last night - very appreciative audience" said Solomons. "And I took a long shot and backed the girls to go the distance and beat you all, so it was a good night all round for me. I'd like to give you a share, girls".
"Think nothing of it," Mr Solomons, said Jessica. "We've got to travel pretty light, nothing to keep the money in. Any way it was a really fun evening - especially when we started it thinking you were going to turn us both in. And this really is a super breakfast!"
Finally the two left to continue their journey. Jessica's fourth and final opponent of the night before accompanied them to that boundary fence that they had stumbled across yesterday. He shook hands, wishing them good luck. "Pleasure being knocked cold by you, my dear," he said to Jessica and kissed her, causing her to wince as she was just about covered with bruises - how had she ever kept going last night?
"We certainly do meet a few interesting people these days," said Gwen. "I recognised one or two people in that audience. I'd never have believed they were that depraved - such respectable people. Give us a bit of leverage over them - a bit of gentle blackmail and all that! I think we can persuade them to help us in the next few weeks."
"I saw a couple I know", said Jessica, "but I wasn't a bit surprised to see THEM there. Creepy couple. I just feel so bloody sorry for all those poor old has-beens who get beaten up just in order to provide their entertainment. Any one of our opponents last night is worth all those sick pleasure-seeking degenerates put together."
"Amen to that," said Gwendoline. "They gave us a great time last night after the punters had all gone."
It certainly had been a very convivial post fight party before everyone had finally gone to bed. The girls were young and healthy, but still felt a little liverish as they wended their way north.
* * *
"I think it would make sense to spend as much time in the South as we can and then try to arrange for Harriet to give us a lift North from somewhere on the last day," said Gwendoline.
"It makes sense, but it smacks of `ckicken' in a way - I don't know about you, but I'd never forgive myself for not braving the Northern weather in November. Still - if you don't feel up to it, then so be it."
Gwen lay next to Jessica on the turf and said nothing - just wondering for the millionth time in these last couple of weeks at the lovely presence of the other. She looked sideways at Jess, covered with bruises. She had two black eyes, a cut lip and a rib cage which hurt her just to look at; it was so completely black and blue.
"OK, Jess! We are destined to move up the country a few miles a day and taste the delights of a North Country November - that's haw Harold devised it. It's all part of the initiation and we've got to go along with it. Scares me rigid, though - the thought of all that cold."
"I just hope we don't get into too much more fighting," sighed Jess. "I'm still sore as hell and it's been four days since that painful evening."
"I'll never know how you kept going as long as you did, let alone how you beat all four," said Gwendoline.
"Me neither! Just stupid pride, I guess."
"My lovely, sweet, brave heroine," moaned Gwen and rolled over onto Jess's bruised body, smothering it with hugs and kisses. Jessica surrendered happily to her friend's affection, despite the pain and discomfort. It was a long time before the conversation was resumed.
They rolled off each other, over onto their backs.
Jessica grabbed at a handful of dried earth and sprinkled the grains onto Gwendoline's pubic hair.
"Stop fucking about, Jess," she giggled, and flicked the particles out of her bush.
"Gwen, darling."
"What?"
"If you're a blonde, why do you have a black bush?"
"Fuck knows. I read a scientific paper about it once. A mysterious topic - pussy fur. Full of surprises. Now let's go to bloody sleep!"
And so they slept in the sun for a while, hoping they would not be disturbed, but so happy to be together that they didn't really care.
They awoke as the sun started to go down and the warmth faded. Time to be pressing on. Tomorrow they were due to borrow a country cottage belonging to a friend of Harriet. This dear young lady continued to be very concerned with her two friends' welfare and had persuaded Dick Hembley, her cousin to lend them his rural retreat in Warwickshire near Shipston on Stour for a night. The key was to be left for them in a (hopefuly) safe and secure hiding place.
"We are passing so many interesting places on our journey - shame we aren't dressed to see them. I've always wanted to visit Blenheim Palace, for instance, but I guess it'll have to wait," said Jessica.
"I'd have liked to visit Jamaica Inn back on Bodmin Moor," sighed Gwendoline. "I loved the book."
"Still, we did get to take part in an illegal prize fight!" Jessica reminded her.
"Wonder what possessed that idiot to think we were reporters, dressed like this? Where'd we keep our notebooks - up our bumholes?"
"I expect he thought we were reporters disguised as naturists! Poor old punchie!"
"Jessie! What's that over there?"
Gwen pointed to the top of the hill.
"Looks like some kind of bonfire. Funny thing - Bit early for Guy Fawkes."
"Shall we take a look?" said Gwendoline.
"Yes. Nothing much has happened since we both got beaten up the other night. Might be warmer near the fire. Let's take a gander."
The girls made their way up the hillside keeping a wooded area between them and the fire and approached cautiously to within a few yards of the mysterious conflagration. What they saw when they peered form behind the trees was remarkable to say the least.
A group of about a dozen people were holding hands and dancing, widdershins, around a large fire. This was strange enough in itself. The fact that they were all masked was even stranger. What was even odder was that apart from their masks - all the dancers were as naked as the two girls.
"Shall we ask if we can join in?" whispered Gwen.
"You must be mad - this is some kind of Black Mass. Can't you count! There's thirteen of them- a witches coven," said a terrified Jessica. "Let's get out of here fast, before we end up on the fire as a sacrifice!"
The girls backed silently away from the horrid ritual and as soon as they were far enough away broke into a run. The comfort of being alone together in the rural heart of Old England had been replaced for the time being by an awful reminder of the fact that there was danger and evil abroad in the world. When they finally found a snug place to sleep, it was more than their new found love that caused them to clasp each other so tightly.