CHAPTER THREE - Racks and Chains

The next morning … Monday 10th January …

8:00 am

The day of the eagerly awaited photo-shoot arrived. At eight o'clock in the morning Mimi and Roger were waiting at the main gates to the amusement park in readiness to greet Lenny and Judi.
They did not have to wait long.
"That's them now," announced Mimi on seeing a car approaching from the direction of the town centre.
A large estate car circled the small roundabout and turned into the short drive. Roger looked to his watch. Lenny and Judi were dead on time.
The gates were already open and the car pulled up alongside the awaiting couple. Roger looked inside the car. The rear seats were down and the back was absolutely packed with photographic gear. It was like Mimi had said: There was no room for her in the car and she had been asked to make her own way down to Littlesea.
Roger beckoned the car through into the drive and locked the gates behind them. He had no intention of being disturbed whilst the photo-shoot was in progress.
Lenny wound down the driver's window.
"Drive up to the main building Lenny, and we'll follow on foot," Roger told him.
The car moved on ahead.
Outside the main entrance, Lenny already had the tailgate of the estate car up and was rummaging around in the back when Roger and Mimi joined them.
"Where's this lot got to go then?" asked Lenny.
"Down in the dungeon. I'll show you," Roger told him.
Lenny grabbed a light stand. Mimi and Judi also extracted a light stand each from out of the back of the car. They seemed to know what they were doing so Roger did the same and collected yet another light stand. All loaded up with light stands the quartet headed for the basement with Roger in the lead.
They descended the steps to the main hall then turned right and made for the nearest cave entrance. They entered the cave and proceeded to make their way down the long and twisting passageway.
As they passed one of the many alcoves Roger pointed to the recess and told Lenny: "We'll need photographs of one of the girls in one of these openings later. But I guess we'll have to get the actual dungeon scenes done first."
Lenny stopped for a moment and studied the alcove. He had the light stand strung over one shoulder.
"You'll want shots of one of the girls chained to the back wall then?" he asked on seeing the eyebolts and chains, then added thoughtfully: "You know, I was reading a bit about this place in yesterday's Sunday newspaper. It got quite a write-up. This is all meant to be for real isn't it Roger?"
Roger stopped and came back two paces to stand by Lenny. The girls who were trailing behind in the tunnel joined them. Roger had not expected anybody to show any real interest, especially a question on the authenticity of the display. He had also not read the Sunday newspaper, but he guessed that Mr. Harrison had a finger in the pie somewhere. But all the same he was still a little surprised by Lenny's question. The team's nonplus attitude towards torture and bondage had led him to think they would just turn up, do the business and go away. He decided to explain what the exhibition was trying to achieve.
"I don't think I told you much about what we're doing down here did I Lenny?" answered Roger. "So let me explain... Well the answer to your question is... everything you see down here is for real… or was once for real I suppose to be more technically accurate... This alcove is a true and accurate reproduction of similar ones found in the catacombs below the old castle here at Littlesea... Remains of bodies were found chained to the walls inside and the fronts were all bricked up… Forensic evidence suggests that the victims were alive when interred, and this must have been some sort of horrid death sentence."
Lenny pulled a face.
"I see," said Lenny thoughtfully, "so when's this exhibition due to open then? I read something about it being brought forward a month."
"The beginning of March Lenny, the fourth to be exact," answered Roger. "That's why getting all the literature printed in time for the grand opening is going to be a bit of a rush job. Especially as it's got to be approved by someone in Australia first."
"Best not cock it up then, hey Roger?" remarked Lenny.
"You're dead right there Lenny," responded Roger.
No-one was more aware of the urgency than Roger. There certainly was a lot riding on this photo-shoot.
They moved on along the passageway and entered the dungeon proper.
Lenny gave a long whistle as the high vaulted ceiling came into view. The girls just stopped dead in their tracks and stood wide-eyed and staring up at the roof.
Roger removed the low rope barrier and let them pass.
"Put all the gear down and come with me," said Roger addressing them all. "I'll try and explain everything that's meant to be going on in here."
He moved to the rack first and laid a hand on the surface. The others joined him.
"This rack is a faithful reproduction of one known to have existed in France and used extensively during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Remains recovered from the excavations in the catacombs suggest that the rack at the castle originated in France and was probably brought over with the Normans. As far as we can tell the one in the dungeon beneath the old castle was very similar to this one," explained Roger.
Lenny stood back and started to view the rack through a square formed between his thumbs and forefingers. He was thinking of the more practical side of the shoot, and trying to discover the most favourable angles to take his shots from. The girls however remained by Roger's side and stood staring at the rack. Roger guessed that this was their business end of the shoot, and thus the reason for remaining by his side.
Mimi bent down to look at all the cogs and gears below the table and then moved to inspect the large winding drum at the end. After a short while she return to stand by Roger's side.
"Does this thing really work then Roger?" she asked.
"It's in full working order Mimi," Roger assured her.
Mimi pulled a face. She did not mind being strapped to things, but to be pulled apart as well was something different. Her scene was bondage for pleasure, not pain.
"And you want one of us up on here then do you sweetheart?" asked Judi being more practical and tapping the surface of the bed.
"That's what today's shoot is all about Judi," Roger reminded her.
Lenny stopped viewing things through his hands and returned.
Roger moved on. He walked away from the rack and over to the long chain hanging down from the high vaulted ceiling. Time was pressing and he wanted the car unloaded and all the lighting gear set up and in place before he phoned Mr. McTavish in Australia at nine o'clock.
He stopped next to the chain and the others gathered around. The previous day Roger had managed to locate the thumbscrews and had placed them on a small three-legged stool resting on the floor beneath the chain. He had also scouted out a large sand-filled hourglass in a wooden frame. This now rested on the floor alongside the stool. He picked up the thumbscrews first and presented them to the girls.
"You girls might not like this one so much," he told them honestly, "but what we've got here is a rather brutal form of punishment… These are thumbscrews… and this time we know exactly what they looked like… these are an exact reproduction of those found in the catacombs… we also have some sketchy manuscript evidence of what went on… the victim was hung from the chain by the thumbs… and left to hang for a certain amount of time… the manuscripts mention the passing of the sands… so that's why we've got this hourglass."
And with that Roger picked up the sand-filled timer with his other hand and showed it to the girls.
He then turned to Lenny and explained: "Somehow we'll need to get this into the shots," he said and holding up the hourglass.
Lenny nodded his head. Exactly how he was not certain, but he was sure he could fit it in somehow.
Mimi looked terrified.
"Do you really want one of us strung up there and hanging by the thumbs?" she asked and showing some concern.
"Not at all Mimi… we won't go that far," Roger assured her.
"Phew, that's a relief!" she said thankfully.
Roger smiled then went on to explain: "Before the punishment was administered the victim was made to stand on a stool… That's why this is here… The stool was kicked away and the hourglass turned… the stool was then put back when the sands ran out… I reckon shots of someone standing on the stool and waiting to receive punishment will be good enough."
"Well that doesn't sound so bad," breathed Mimi once everything had been explained.
Judi seemed pleased at the news too.
However, Roger qualified his statement. He had not spoken to Mr. McTavish yet and he might want something completely different.
"That's all dependent on the nine o'clock telephone call to Australia of course," he told them. "Mr. McTavish might have other ideas."
Mimi pulled a tortured face but said nothing. So did Judi. Both were professionals, and whatever was asked of them they would do, no matter how unpleasant.
Roger looked to his watch. Time was pressing. He looked to the back of the dungeon. There was one more display to explain then that would be the lot.
"Just one more thing to show you I guess, and then we can get the rest of the gear inside," he told them.
They moved to the back of the display to stand by a small alcove with an iron gate across the front. Roger pointed inside.
"Like the alcoves in the tunnel, prisoners were chained to the back wall and held in here whilst probably awaiting punishment… the close proximity suggests this… we'll need some shots of this to complete the brochure… but I guess this won't be so bad for either of you… will it?" he explained to the girls.
Judi nodded her head.
"I think I can live that one sweetheart," she told Roger.
"Me too," added Mimi.
Roger looked to his watch again. They had about half an hour in which to get everything set up.
"We'd better get the rest of the gear down here," he told everyone. "We've got about half an hour to get everything set up."
"Come on then girls,.. get your asses into motion… we've got a lot to do," urged Lenny with a clap of his hands.
They all moved off to collect another load from the car.
They all had a busy day's work ahead of them.

9:00 am

Nine o'clock arrived and Roger dialled the number he had been given. He looked around whilst he waited for the connection to get through. The car had been emptied and a number of spotlights now surrounded the rack. Lenny also had a vast number of cameras spread out upon the surface of the rack. He was busy loading films into everyone of them.
The connection got through and Roger heard a ringing tone at the other end. Three rings was all it took before someone answered.
"Helloo! McTavish here," came the answer.
"Mr. McTavish," Roger replied. "This is Roger Downton."
"Och! Roger, so they got yee to agree to look after ma wee place then?" remarked Mr. McTavish on recognition of the caller.
Roger had spent most of last summer with Mr. McTavish researching the history of the old castle, so they knew each other well. Mr. McTavish was pleased too, for it meant the minimum amount of explaining to do over the phone.
"Yes Mr. McTavish, I'm officially the 'New Caretaker' here," he explained.
"Where are yee phoning from?" asked the Scotsman.
"I'm in the dungeon. I've fixed up a phone down here, and I've got a photographer and two models all set and raring to go," explained Roger.
"Och! That's grand Roger," remarked Mr. McTavish. "Now all yee need is a little guidance from ma'self I take it?"
"That's right Mr. McTavish," replied Roger. "Just explain to us what you require and we'll try and achieve it… we've got some good professionals here… and I'm expecting some brilliant pictures to come out of all of this."
"Och Roger, that sounds grand laddie," said Mr. McTavish. "Now can yee describe the two models to me? I need to picture them in ma mind."
"We have two girls both aged twenty-five... One with dark hair and one with blonde hair, and both shoulder length... Both of average height,.. both with beautiful bodies,.. and both looking extremely pretty," he told Mr. McTavish.
He hoped that his brief description would be enough and that he had not overdone the 'beautiful' and 'pretty' bits.
"Och! they sound just grand Roger," replied Mr. McTavish.
"I think you'll approve when you see the photographs," suggested Roger.
"Yee say there's only four of yee there?" he asked next. "The two bonnie lasses, the photographer and yee'self?"
"That's right Mr. McTavish,.. just the four of us," confirmed Roger.
"Och Roger I was thinking of having a man in there too," said Mr. McTavish. "An inquisitor alongside to set the scene. I should have told Alfred on Friday."
"Will I do?" asked Roger. "I'm not doing anything."
Roger knew that he would only be hanging around and twiddling his thumbs anyway. So why not give it a try?
"Och Roger, why not? I guess yee'll fit the bill nicely," the Scotsman told him.
Mr. McTavish was ready to give his instructions now.
"Right Roger, have yee got a pad and pencil with yee?" asked the Scotsman.
"Yes Mr. McTavish," confirmed Roger. He was the sort of person who thought of everything.
"Right then Roger, take this doon then," he said, then set about explaining what he wanted. "In the storeroom Roger yee'll find a number of cotton dresses… They're very simple and plain smock type dresses… In all the photographs I want the bonnie lassies to be wearing these… I want yee to tear them a bit and make them a wee bit dirty before the girls put them on… Take several pictures of them with the dresses like this… then tear them a bit more and take the photographs again… then keep doing this until we have some nudity pictures… If yee do it this way Roger, then somewhere along the line we'll have a sample or two to put in our brochures… Have yee got that Roger?"
Roger could see it all now. By doing what Mr. McTavish said they would end up with a complete set of photographs ranging from the victims being totally covered to everything exposed.
"I've got that Mr. McTavish," answered Roger.
"Noo then Roger," said Mr. McTavish, "try and sort yee'self out a monk's habit, one with a large hood. Try and keep yee face covered. Have yee got that?"
"I've got that too Mr. McTavish," answered Roger again.
He thought that this was going to look good.
"Now Roger the shots," continued Mr. McTavish. "For the rack I want the bonnie dark haired lassie on the table... and then yee'll be standing by the wheel… try to make it look like yee are asking something… get her to be looking up at yee… and no smiles… she's to be in a  bit of pain remember?… Och, and also blacken up the face and mess her hair aboot a bit… and noo make-up please… there was noo lipstick in the middle ages… and there was also noo watches on the wrist either… now remember all that Roger."
"Yes Mr. McTavish," answered Roger.
He knew exactly what to do.
"Now the chain," continued Mr. McTavish. "Yee'll need the thumbscrews, a stool and an hourglass for this one… Have yee got them ready Roger?"
"Yes Mr. McTavish," answered Roger again. "I've got them all ready."
"Och that's grand Roger," responded Mr. McTavish. "I want the bonnie blonde lassie to do this one… have the thumbscrews on… be careful not to hurt her mind yee… and have her standing on the stool with the chain wound high... yee'll be by her side in your monk's habit and holding the hourglass… have yee got that Roger?"
"Yes Mr. McTavish," replied Roger once more and making a careful note of everything.
"Och that's just grand Roger," said Mr. McTavish. "Now the wee cell at the back… I want pictures of both the lassies chained inside… get them to take it in turns… I want to see how both lassies look… have yee got that Roger?"
Once more Roger answered: "I've got that Mr. McTavish."
"Och grand Roger," came the reply. "And finally we have the alcoves… I want you to do the same with the lassies' dresses… and take photographs of both bonnie lassies… chain them to the back wall… and I'll need to see a few wee bricks in the picture… with maybe yee in your habit placing a brick… or maybe, better still giving a blessing… Och do both and I'll decide."
"Is that all Mr. McTavish?" asked Roger after a pause.
"Och I think that'll do for the bonnie lassies," stated Mr. McTavish. "But I also want a few wide angle shots of the dungeon. Try and get everything in, and also individual ones of each display… The after that I want a few shots taken of the passageways and showing the caves and the alcoves… can yee organise all that for me Roger?"
"I'll get all the shots you want Mr. McTavish," Roger assured the Scotsman.
"Och grand Roger," responded Mr. McTavish. "Now I suppose yee want me to goo away so that yee can get on with it?"
"We're ready to start any time Mr. McTavish," Roger informed him.
"Then I'll let yee get on with it," he replied. "Goodbye Roger… best of luck!"
"Goodbye Mr. McTavish," said Roger and the line went dead.
Mr. McTavish had gone, and now it was up to him to get the pictures that the Scotsman wanted.
He looked up to the eagerly waiting girls.
They had not caught much of the conversation. All they had heard mostly was: "Yes, Mr. McTavish," and "I've got that Mr. McTavish." But the instructions given had been fairly long so they guessed that a lot was expected of them.
"Well it's a trip to the storeroom first girls. You've got to be fitted up with some nice new dresses before we start," he told them.
Mimi and Judi gave each other a puzzled look.
Normally at this stage of the game they would be taking their dresses off, not putting new ones on.

9:15 am

Whilst Roger was taking instructions from Australia, in a building much closer to home, Dr. Gabriel Lang was entering Ward B10 of Littlesea General Hospital. He had a busy day planned ahead of him, but somehow he had managed to find time out to visit the boyfriend of a patient of his. He located the bed and crossed the ward to be greeted by Richard Davies. The man was expecting him.
Dr Lang drew up a chair and sat down alongside the bed. He held out his hand. The two men had never met each other before.
"I'm Dr. Lang. I think you wanted to see me?" he told him.
Richard Davies nodded his head.
"I'm worried about my girlfriend Tracy… Tracy Goodyear… I'm told that you are treating her… Is that correct doctor?" explained Richard Davies.
Dr. Lang nodded his head.
"Tracy, and the three other girls abducted by Malcolm Smith are my responsibility," he agreed. "So what seems to be the problem Richard?"
Dr. Lang already knew most of the facts, but he wanted Richard Davies to relate his side of the story first. He needed to hear both sides of the argument before confronting Tracy, probably at his scheduled meeting tomorrow afternoon. Every little bit of knowledge helped in this game.
"She's turned gay doctor," answered Richard flatly. "That's the problem. She told me she now fancied woman and did not give the time of day to men. It shocked me doctor. She just seemed to have changed overnight. I just don't understand it."
"I see," said Dr. Lang. "And have you any idea what might have brought this about?"
"That bleeding so called holiday she went on,… with someone called Davina… that's what did it… she went off to Lancashire… they shared a hotel and bed together.. that's what started it," explained Richard.
"I see!.. You know Davina is another one of Malcolm Smith's victims, and another of my patients, don't you Richard?" enquired the doctor.
Richard Davies nodded his head.
"But she must be a queer doctor… and they got together,.. and that's what happened doctor," he explained.
So far Dr. Lang knew all this, and he too had considered that some sort of a sexual relationship had taken place between the two girls. But he was wiser than Richard Davies and somehow the events did not fit the facts. Davina Townsend was as straight as a die when it came to sex. She had a loving relationship with her husband, and any leanings towards the opposite sex appeared on the face of it to be entirely out of the question. So what did take place in Lancashire? And why did they want to go there in the first place? And did it have any connection with the two girls from Lancashire that were abducted by Malcolm Smith and found at Cuckoo Cottage? Those were the burning questions he needed answers to.
"So you think Davina Townsend has lesbian tendencies and she's somehow managed to convert Tracy to her way of thinking?" asked the doctor.
"I do doctor,.. I honestly do," replied Richard.
"What do you want me to do about it then Richard?" asked Dr. Lang.
"Change her back for me please doctor… I want my Tracy back the way she was… We had a thing going between us… I even ditched another girlfriend for her… That's how much we meant to each other…," said Richard Davies.
"Richard, I'll do all I can in my power to get to the bottom of this sudden change in character. If it is some sort of mental disorder, then there are cures. But be warned, if these are her true feelings, then there's not a lot I can do about it. Sexual leanings to the same sex are sometimes deep rooted and only come to the surface during trauma's… And I'm afraid your Tracy has suffered quite a lot," explained the doctor.
"I understand all that doctor," said Richard. "But I don't see how anyone could change so quickly… So please try your best… please doctor!"
The doctor stood up. This was a flying visit. Everything Richard Davies had told him he either already knew or suspected. Tomorrow he intended to start to get to the bottom of things.
"I shall most certainly try my best Richard," assured Dr. Lang.
"Thank you doctor," replied Richard.
Dr. Lang placed the chair back where it came from and shook goodbye to Richard Davies.
"I'll keep in touch Richard. I shall be seeing Tracy tomorrow. Perhaps I can get to the bottom of it then… At least I hope so," he assured the patient.
"I hope so too doctor," responded Richard Davies.

10:00 am

The time for the photo-shoot had arrived. Roger had explained everything to Lenny and the girls whilst in the storeroom sorting out the costumes. On return to the dungeon they were ready to start. It was Mimi's turn first. She had been assigned to the rack by Mr. McTavish according to the colour of her hair.
"You'd better strip off and put this on," Roger told Mimi and showing her the first of the smock dresses to be used.
Mimi unashamedly removed everything she was wearing. This included all her jewellery and of course her wristwatch. Judi was helping and collected up all her clothes and belongings for her. When she was done Roger handed her the dress. Stood totally naked she pulled the loose smock down over her head and adjusted the fitting until she was satisfied that everything was in place.
Roger was wearing a monk's habit with hood down behind his back. He had a pair of scissors with him. Judi was stood by his side. She had a professional make-up kit in her hands that could also blacken faces as well as redden them.
Roger looked Mimi up and down. As far as he could see, there were just a few minor adjustments to make here and there, that was all, and then they could begin.
"Right Mimi, we've got to start with just a few rips to the dress," Roger explained to her. "And then Judi will blacken your face a bit."
Mimi adjusted her stance to stand with arms outstretched. The dresses themselves were very plain. They were made of a thin white cotton material, had short sleeves and no collar. From the rounded neck down as far as the waist the dress buttoned up with just three large plain white buttons. The hem of the dress reached down to as far as the knees, and in general all the dresses were of a loose and baggy nature.
Roger nicked a sleeve with his scissors and ripped the fabric as far as the shoulder. He then did the same with the hem at the side of the leg and tore the dress upwards to expose a thigh. Finally he popped the top button about the neck and it flew across the floor.
"I think that will do for starters," he told her when he was done.
Mimi dropped her arms to her side and turned to face Judi. It was Judi's turn to do something now. Judi stepped in with a make-up brush and something in a small pot that looked very black. She dabbed the brush a few times over Mimi's face then rubbed the dark make-up into the skin with her fingers.
When Judi was finished she turned to Roger and asked: "How's that look sweetheart?"
Roger saw Mimi's blackened face and nodded his approval. With soiled looks and torn dress Mimi looked the part. The only thing was, the dress looked too clean and new.
"Just put a bit of black on the dress too," Roger told Judi.
Judi dabbed the brush over the cotton fabric a few times and rubbed in the powder.
"How's that look now sweetheart?…" she asked when she was finished. "Is that better?"
Roger was much happier now. The dress looked worn and soiled.
"That's fine Judi… I think that'll do nicely," he confirmed.
Judi moved off to put Mimi's clothes and the make-up kit safely out of the way, and Roger closed in on Mimi to give a final hug and kiss.
He ruffled up her hair with his hands.
"You're meant to look a mess," he told her.
They hugged each other briefly and pecked each other on the lips. It was now time for work. Mimi turned to the rack and patted the surface.
"Its up on here now is it Roger?" she asked.
Roger nodded.
"Yeh, jump up Mimi and let's get you strapped down," said Roger.
He helped Mimi up onto the table and waited for her to settle. She lay down, centralised herself, spread her legs and raised up her arms above her head.
Roger looked to Judi. She had returned and was standing near to the bottom of the table.
"You do up the legs then Judi, and I'll do the arms," he told her.
There were four leather straps to be attached all round. Those for the feet were merely anchorage points and were fixed to the boards near the bottom two corners of the rack. These were designed to simply lock the ankles in place with the legs held apart. The straps for the hands however were a little different. These were attached to ropes which wound around a big drum at the top of the device. The drum was then turned by a series of cogs which ultimately linked to the winding mechanism and a ship-styled spoked wheel at the side of the rack.
Whilst Roger slackened off the winding mechanism, Judi set to work. Mimi helped by shuffling her body a little further down the table and positioning her ankles above the straps. It was not long before Judi had the legs strapped in position.
Roger by this time had unwound the drum enough to give sufficient rope for his needs. Mimi thrust her arms back along the table so that they were straight out above her head. Roger then attached the straps to the wrists. Finally, after moving back to the spoked wheel he took up the slack in the ropes. Mimi was now pinned down but not in any serious discomfort. They were now ready to start.
Roger drew the hood of his monk's habit up and over his head and looked towards Lenny. The photographer was busy adjusting the lights on the stands. Despite the added black patches, Mimi's white dress was shining brightly in the glare, and it contrasted greatly against the dark brown of Roger's robe. Lenny adjusted two of the spotlights so that they threw more light on Roger and a little less on Mimi. He was a professional and knew just how to get the right balance of light and shade.
"I think that will do," said Lenny when he was finally satisfied with the lighting arrangement.
It was now Lenny's turn to take over.
"Right, we'll start like this then… Mimi you pull a face… you're meant to be feeling pain… and Roger lean over the wheel and look down at Mimi's face… Mimi you look up to him… right… we're getting something like it now… Roger lower your head a little more… I don't want to see your face… right that's it… now hold that position…," said Lenny and rattling off a series of instructions.
The camera clicked and they were on their way.
After about a dozen clicks Lenny spoke again: "Right next, let's have the dress ripped a little bit more."
Roger was beginning to enjoy this. He leant over the wheel and popped the last two buttons down the front of the dress. He then tore the opening down a little bit further to a point just below the stomach. He then parted the front of the dress to expose the cleavage of Mimi's breasts. But for this second shoot the nipples were to remain covered.
In the meantime Lenny had moved to the ropes that held Mimi's wrists and had tested the tension. He was not a happy man. The contrast between the face Mimi was pulling and the slackness in the ropes just did not look real. She even had her elbows slightly bent. Something had to be done about it. He shook his head.
"These ropes are far too slack. It doesn't look right. Can you put a bit more tension on them for me please Roger?" he asked.
"Sure thing," replied Roger.
Roger was in charge of the winding end of the business. He gave the wheel a few clicks and the ropes rose from off the bed of the table.
"Hey!.. Careful!.." remarked Mimi.
"Sorry Love!.. Orders!…" responded Roger with a smile.
"A bit more… I want it to look real," said Lenny.
Roger gave the wheel another three clicks.
"Hey, that's tight!" hissed Mimi.
Lenny tested the tension in the ropes once more then nodded his head in approval, but just to be sure he gave Roger one last instruction.
"Just one more click should do it Roger," he told him.
Roger turned the wheel a fraction and a single metallic click was heard.
"Ouch!" remarked Mimi as the ropes tensioned some more.
Lenny tested the ropes again. This time he was satisfied.
"That'll do nicely Roger," he said.
"Hey!.. What about me Lenny?.. Don't I get a say in this," said a very worried Mimi.
The tension was starting to make her feel very uncomfortable.
Lenny walked by and patted her on the stomach.
"Shut up!.. just grin and bear it!…" he told her.
Roger looked bemused, but on reflection, Lenny was right. The scene did look far more realistic now, and Mimi certainly was not enjoying the shoot anymore. The look on her face said everything. She was in a certain amount of discomfort. But she was a professional, and it was like Lenny had said: She would grin and bear it.
Roger took up his position once more and leaned over the wheel to stare down at Mimi's grimacing face. Their eyes met, and Roger smiled to her beneath his hood. Mimi looked far too uncomfortable and he thought that he would try and cheer her up a little bit.
"At last… I've finally got you where I want you!" he joked with a wink of one eye, then added: "Now try and get out of this one!"
Through clenched teeth Mimi hissed back: "Who say's I want to get out of it?"
"You're getting to like it then?" asked Roger with a wink and a smile once more.
"Might be," answered Mimi quietly.
"Wait till I get you on your own then," threatened Roger.
"Why? What you going do then big boy?" asked Mimi cheekily.
"Get you back on here… that's what," Roger told her, "and we'll have a private session of our own."
"Promises… promises," responded Mimi.
Mimi was beginning to sound happier now. Roger considered that he had cheered her up a little with their banter.
"Stop the talking… and concentrate," shouted Lenny from somewhere near the bottom of the rack.
Roger pulled a straight face and held his position, and below on the table Mimi's face took on a look of real pain.
The second phase of the first photo shoot was on its way.
After about a dozen or more clicks of the camera, Lenny called to Roger: "Right let's get shots with the tits showing next shall we?"
Roger leaned over the rack once more and tore Mimi's dress a little way further. There was now a hint of pubic hair peeking through were the tear ended. He then spread out the front of the dress to expose Mimi's breasts.
Lenny was not quite satisfied and stepped forward to adjust the opening a little further. He then turned to Judi.
"Can I have a little bit of make-up down here please Judi?" he said pointing to the newly exposed areas of flesh. "The skin's far too light and shiny… I want it dulling down a bit."
Judi brushed Mimi's breasts lightly with the make-up brush and smoothed away the edges with her fingers. When she was done, she looked up to Lenny and he nodded his head in approval.
"Right everybody in position," order Lenny.
Roger put his head down again, and Mimi took on a look of agony.
Roger expected to hear a camera click, but nothing happened. Lenny was still not quite happy with the scene.
"That last bit of dark make-up needs smoothing out a bit more… it's too blotchy.. Can you smooth it out for me Roger?" he asked.
Roger leaned over the wheel and placed his hands on Mimi's breasts. He then began to work the powder into the skin. Round and round her breasts his hands slowly glided, smoothing out the make-up as he went. Suddenly he started to feel aroused and was only too glad to know that his growing erection was well concealed beneath his monk's habit.
"Is that better?" he asked when he was done.
"That's much better," confirmed Lenny after looking at the shot through the view finder of a camera. "Now action!" he added.
The photo-shoot continued.
Another dozen or so clicks later and they were ready for another go.
"Right, nudity shots next I think," said Lenny on swapping a camera.
Roger willingly leant forward and ripped the dress all the way down to the hem. He then spread out the torn fabric to expose the whole of Mimi's body except for two sections of sleeves about the upper arms.
"How's that?" Roger asked Lenny when he was done.
Lenny shook his head. He was not happy at all.
"If she's going to be naked, then she's got to look naked… let's have the dress completely away,… I think we've got enough shots of the dress to satisfy everyone… let's have this one for ourselves," he said.
Roger did not disagree. He liked the idea. In fact he would like a copy for himself later. However he wondered how to go about it without undoing some of the straps. Then he thought of a way. From a pocket in his habit he withdrew the scissors. Leaning over the wheel he snipped the sleeve of Mimi's nearest arm and continued cutting until he reached the neck. The dress fell apart to reveal a bare shoulder beneath. In the meantime, Judi, who was also very willing to help, had moved into a position over on the other side of the rack. She took the scissors off Roger and cut away the other sleeve. Lenny was there too giving a hand, and as soon as Judi was done he dragged the dress away from beneath Mimi's outstretched body. She was fixed down rigidly and the fabric was being pressed flat between her body and the boards. She noticeably bounced on the hard wooden surface a few times whilst the remains of the dress slipped from beneath her body.
"Ouch!… be careful…," she called whilst it was being done.
"Right, let's take a few shots like that," said Lenny, and all took up their positions once more.
Roger looked down at the naked Mimi stretched out before him. He now had a massive hard on. He thrust out his backside to prevent his erection being detected through the front of his monk's habit. He tried to tell himself that this was a serious photo-shoot.
He smiled at Mimi and she pulled a tortured face back.
The distorted face looked so real he wondered if she really was in pain and not admitting it?
About six clicks later Lenny called again: "Roger, let's have a hand stretching down… squeeze a nipple... that should do it…"
Roger extended a hand and squeezed the nearest nipple like he had been told.
Mimi grimaced and shut her eyes.
"Sorry Mimi!… More orders!" he whispered.
But in truth he was not sorry at all. He was enjoying this.
"That's great," shouted Lenny from somewhere near to the bottom of the rack.
About a dozen or so clicks later and it was all over.
"Right, I reckon that's it," announced Lenny. "Let's pack this scene up now."
Roger felt disappointed. He could go on like this all day, but he decided to give Mimi one last tease. He tossed back the hood of his habit and clapped his hands.
"Right, let's have a break and a hot drink then shall we?" he announced, then turned and started to walk away. He winked towards Judi. She cottoned on immediately to what he was up to, and she began to follow him to the cave entrance. Lenny was busy rewinding his cameras and was playing no part in this joke.
Mimi's head rose from off the bed of the rack and watched in horror as the couple walked away from her.
"Hey you two!…What about me?" she called across the chamber.
Roger turned and smiled.
"What do you think Judi?" he asked. "Shall we release her? Do you think she deserves a cup of tea?"
Judi nodded her head. "I suppose we ought to let her go," she said with a wink and a smile.
Roger returned to Mimi. He was beaming all over his face. He leant down over the rack and kissed her on the lips.
"You must have known that I wouldn't go anywhere without you," he told her. "You're far too precious for that."
She smiled.
"I knew you wouldn't desert me," she answered back. "Now get me out of this thing. My arms are really beginning to hurt."
Roger slackened off the ropes and set about unfastening the straps.
It was break time now, and then it would be Judi's turn.
He was looking forward to the second session immensely.

1:00 pm

The time was one o'clock when everybody returned to the basement. They had decided to take an early lunch and relax a bit before continuing. With such an early start nobody had eaten anything so far that day and they were all particularly hungry. Feeling much better after an intake of food, all returned to the dungeon eager to continue.
Judi stripped off without instructions. She knew it to be her turn next. She also collected up a second smock and slipped it over her head.
 Whilst she was doing this Roger and Mimi assisted Lenny in moving the lighting across the floor to encircle the chain hanging down from the high vaulted roof. When they had finished Judi was ready and waiting for them.
"Right just a few snips of the dress first and you'll be ready," said Roger to Judi.
Lenny interrupted. He had ideas of his own.
"Look, she's going to be stood like this isn't she," he said and raising up his arms above his head.
Roger nodded. "That's right Lenny," he confirmed.
"Then what I want is a slit down here somewhere," he said, and he indicated a line from just above the armpit down as far as the waist.
Roger nodded his head once more. He understood. He turned to Judi who had been listening and presented her with the scissors. She raised up an arm and Roger sliced a hole in the fabric along the lines Lenny had indicated. With the one arm raised a noticeable portion of Judi's flesh became exposed all the way down her left hand side.
When he was done Roger looked to Lenny.
"That's fine," confirmed the photographer. "Now pop the top button and tear a bit of the hem on the opposite side and I think that'll do for starters."
Mimi moved in next. It was her turn with the make-up kit this time. Using the brush she dabbed the darkened powder across Judi's face and smeared in the smudges. She then did the same to the fabric of the cotton dress.
When everything was complete Judi stepped back and asked: "How's that look?"
Lenny and Roger nodded their approvals. Judi looked suitably attired.
"Right, let's set the scene," said Lenny eagerly with a clap of his hands.
Roger found the thumbscrews and presented them to Judi. She placed her hands together and held them out before her in readiness.
"These might hurt a bit," Roger informed her as he slipped Judi's thumbs into the two slots of the thumbscrews.
Judi watched with interest as he turned the central wing nut that locked the thumbs into the device. As the pressure gripped the flesh Judi winced, but did not protest. This was all in a day's work to her.
"How's that feel?" asked Roger when he was done.
Judi nodded her head. "I can live with that sweetheart," she told him.
Roger smiled and collected the stool.
"Up on here then," he said as he placed the stool directly below the hanging chain.
Judi climbed up on the stool and found her balance. The chain was quite low in readiness and all Judi had to do was stretch forward with her hands a little way to make contact with the bottom ring of the chain. Roger locked the thumbscrews to the end of the chain with an authentic reproduction of a thirteenth century padlock. The whole arrangement was big and bulky and Judi dropped her hands so that the chain supported all the weight.
"Comfortable?" asked Roger when he was done.
"No problem sweetheart," replied Judi looking down on him from the stool.
Roger looked up to her and smiled.
"I'm going to wind the chain up now. Tell me when to stop if it gets too painful," he told her.
"Don't worry sweetheart, I'll soon let you know," she answered back.
Roger smiled again and moved across the floor to the winding gear. He bent down and began to turn the handle.
As the chain slowly rose he began to ponder over the situation he now found himself him. He was secretly enjoying this. At the time of researching all this, he had wondered what it must have felt like to be a dungeon master. To be in total command and be able to inflict pain and suffering on some poor pitiful soul. Now he thought that he knew. After spending some time in the dungeon, and after working on Mimi and now Judi, he was beginning to understand things a little better. Doing this to Judi, and knowing that he was completely in control of her destiny, gave him a feeling of extreme power. If the others we not present, he could wind the chain right up to the ceiling and Judi could not do a thing to stop him. Already he was enjoying the warm glowing sensation emanating from within his loins, and relishing the sexual arousal that accompanied it. Already he could feel his penis stiffening once more beneath his monk's habit.
"Ouch!.. That's enough Roger,… Stop!…" shouted Judi.
Roger looked up to see what he had done. He had not been concentrating on what he had been doing. His mind had been drifting over other things. Suddenly he looked in horror to find Judi's heels starting to lift from off the stool.
"Sorry Judi," he called and quickly slackened off the chain so that her heels returned to the stool.
He then slackened off the chain some more to allow a little bit of movement of the hands and take all the tension out of the arms.
Returning to the stool and looking up at Judi, who now had very watery eyes, he apologised: "Sorry Judi, but the best way to judge this is to find the limit first and then slacken off a bit," he lied.
"That's okay sweetheart,.. just get on with it,.. and be quick about it," replied Judi between gritted teeth.
She was as uncomfortable as Mimi had been on the first shoot. But like Mimi she too was a professional, and she would just grin and bear it.
Lenny stepped in with cameras loaded. He had not really taken much notice of what had gone on before, and neither had Mimi. She had been folding up Judi's clothes into a neat pile on the rack.
Lenny looked around and saw the hourglass on the floor. He picked it up and handed it to Roger.
"Take this and stand by her side," he told Roger. "Be looking up at her and showing her the hourglass… try and set the scene to look like the point when you're about to kick the stool away and turn that thing over."
Roger moved to stand facing Judi and took up his pose.
"Mover a little to the left Roger," instructed Lenny. "I want to see all of that rip down the side of the dress."
Roger edged to one side.
"That's fine," called Lenny, "hold it just like that!"
Roger stood rigid. The camera clicked and photo-shoot number two was on its way.

3:00 pm

After another successful photo-shoot and another long and welcome break the foursome returned to the dungeon at sometime around three o'clock in the afternoon. It was the turn of the small cells next. Both girls were needed for this shoot and would take it in turns to be chained up inside. Mimi elected to go first since she had not done anything since the morning's session.
As in the previous sessions Mimi was made to wear a cotton dress, and once more it was suitably ripped and soiled. When everything looked fine, and her face blacken some more, Roger set manacles about her wrists and locked fetters about her ankles. He then shepherded her into the cell and padlocked another chain that was fixed low down to the back wall to the small chain between her ankles. Finally he closed and locked the gate across the entrance.
"That's how they were imprisoned," Roger told Lenny once he was done. "Now you decided how she looks inside."
Lenny looked to Mimi standing inside the small cell. She was crouching down because of the low ceiling and clinging on to two of the bars.
Lenny turned back to address Roger. "I guess that's how they must have stood and looked out… I reckon that looks natural enough," he told him.
Lenny took up his camera, stepped back a pace and told Mimi. "Just hold it like that Mimi… keep still… that's it.." he instructed and the camera clicked.
Photo-shoot number three had begun.

5:00 pm

After another break which included a light meal, the last of the photo-shoots involving the girls was ready to take place. The time was approximately five o'clock when they set to work again. These last shots were to be taken in the cave where there was not so much room to work.
Lenny concentrated on getting the lighting right whilst Roger and the girls built up a little low wall of bricks across the bottom of the selected alcove.
Judi elected to go first on this one. She had been walking around in just a dressing gown since the last shoot, and she quickly changed into the cotton smock. Once more it was made to look ragged and soiled. Finally her face was blackened even more and her hair messed about even further.
Roger got Judi to stand against the back wall of an alcove. These openings were bigger than the cells in the dungeon and she was able to stand upright. He then raised up her arms and locked her wrists into two manacles attached to two small chains and fixed to an eyebolt set high up in the back wall. He then did the same to the ankles. Once more there was an eyebolt affixed centrally and low down to the back wall and bearing two fetters at the end of two short chains.
When he was done, Roger looked to Lenny. He was ready with camera and waiting.
"Let's have you praying to her first then," Lenny told him.
Roger looked up to Judi. "Are you ready to be read your last rights?" he asked with a wink to an eye.
"Just get on with sweetheart," she replied.
Even though there was no urgency, Judi was aware that there was still a long way to go. In this session alone her dress had to be systematically stripped away from her, and then Mimi had to take her turn,
 Over the course of the last break Roger and Lenny had discussed what to do next. Roger had found a large wooden cross in the storeroom. He raised it up in front of Judi's face and held that position.
From this point onwards Lenny took over.
"Hold your hand up a little bit higher Roger… and let's see you making the sign of a cross with the other hand… and Judi, try to look a little more unhappy… you're about to get yourself bricked in remember…," instructed Lenny.
Judi's face took on a look of sheer horror.
"That's fine Judi… now hold it like that… and you Roger…," said Lenny.
The camera clicked and photo session number four was underway.

7:00 pm

As seven o'clock in the evening arrived the last of the photo-shoots was over. All the various shots of the girls had been taken, and so had the more general shots of the dungeons and the alcoves. Lenny had remarked how pleased he was with the way everything had gone. All that was needed now was to return to his darkroom and get everything developed. He felt sure that there would be some good photographs amongst them.
It was now time to pack up.
Roger looked to the girls and their blackened faces.
"You two girls had better go and take a shower and get dressed," he told them, "and we'll start loading the car up."
Judi and Mimi set off up to the attic. They did not want telling twice. It had been a long, hard and gruelling day for both of them and the offer of nice hot shower was too much to miss.
Lenny folded up a light stand, and Roger followed suit.
As they walked along the passageway together Roger turned to Lenny and said: "How about a drink to celebrate afterwards Lenny? I've got a bottle of your favourite whisky upstairs waiting."
"You smooth talker you," responded Lenny, and he licked his lips at the thought of it.
"And I've also got a few bottles of wine in for the girls. Perhaps they'd like a drink too," added Roger.
"I'm pretty sure they would," said Lenny as they climbed the steps that led from the basement to the foyer.
 
  8:00 pm

At eight o'clock Lenny was ready to return to London. Almost all of the contents of the bottle of whisky had disappeared. He poured out the last drop and swigged it back. The bottle was now empty. Lenny, quite naturally had consumed most of it, but Roger had managed to down a few large glasses himself.
Judi had been sensible and consumed just one glass of wine. Right from the start, on seeing the whisky placed on the kitchen table, she had elected to do the driving home. Mimi on the other hand had managed to down her fair share of what was a good French 'Fitou' wine.
Lenny rose from his seat and held out his hand. Despite the great volume of whisky he looked and sounded quite sober. But there again, he was well known in drinking circles as a man that could hold his liqueur. The two men shook warmly. Together they had enjoyed a great day's photo-shoot.
"Right Lenny," said Roger and looking to the clock on the kitchen wall. "I guess that's exactly twelve hours work on site… you arrived here at eight o'clock this morning and you're about to set off back at eight o'clock at night."
"Twelve hours, plus six hours travelling don't forget?" reminded Lenny with a slight slur to his speech.
Roger did not mind. It had been money well spent.
"Yes, eighteen hours Lenny… that's what we agreed… just send your bill into Madame Troudeau's and mark it for the attention of Miss Elkington, and she'll do the rest… I've already instructed her to process the bill as quickly as possible, and you should get paid within a couple of days of sending it."
"Right Roger,.. we'd best be off," said Lenny, then as a special surprise to both Roger and Mimi he added: "And as a little present from me Roger,… I reckon that Mimi can stay down here for another night… That's if she wants to that is… I'm going to be busy all day tomorrow anyway developing all these films… so I reckon that I don't want to see her again till Wednesday morning… so you two have a nice time together tonight," he said with a knowing smile upon his face.
Roger looked towards Mimi.
"Do you want to stay another night Mimi?" he asked.
Mimi smiled.
"I'd love to Roger… that's if you don't mind…and thank you Lenny for the offer… you're a great fellow," she said.
"Oh it's nothing," stated Lenny and starting to feel embarrassed.
Roger leaned across the table and shook Lenny by the hand.
They were the best of pals. Giving Mimi the day off had come as a complete surprise. He had been expecting to see Mimi off with the others.
"You're a good 'un Lenny," said Roger getting up from his chair.
And with that they all rose and set off for the foyer below.
Out in the drive, Roger and Mimi followed Lenny's car on foot as far as the gates and waved them goodbye from the road.
After locking the gates behind them, the couple walked arm in arm back down the drive towards the main building of the complex.
Roger had purchased four bottles of good red wine that morning and only one had been opened. He was feeling in a particularly jubilant mood and wanted to celebrate some more.
"How about taking the rest of the wine up to bed with us?" suggested Roger.
"You mean straightaway?" quizzed Mimi. "It's only eight o'clock?"
"I didn't mention anything about sleep did I," Roger reminded her.
"I guess you didn't," Mimi replied.
"And you know what Mimi?" said Roger.
"Know what Roger?" asked Mimi.
"I think I've had enough bondage for one day," he told her.
"Me too," said Mimi.

End of Chapter Three