A Tangled Web

This is the second chapter of this story and, if you haven't already read the first, I urge you to do so before continuing. In particular I urge you to read the disclaimer about historical accuracy – there isn't any. Anyway, on with the story....

The next morning Vera lay in her bath, letting the warm water soak away the bruises from the previous evening as she wondered just what she was going to put in her report. As ever, she was racked by indecisiveness. On the one hand she wanted to paint a picture of a job well done, of a mission successfully accomplished. On the other hand she was aware that, to tell the truth, the only thing she had achieved was to be shamed and humiliated by Madam Hong. Moreover, some of the bruising was obvious and she would have to explain that away. However, if she couldn't persuade Colonel Fortesque that she'd done a good job she'd be back to the boredom of clerical work and that was more than she could bear; maybe she could embellish a little, not exactly lie, but put the best face on things. Mostly she was struggling with inventing a story to cover the bruising; she certainly wasn't going to admit that she'd been beaten up by a girl who was younger and smaller than herself. She got out of the bath and towelled herself down.

*********

By mid afternoon she was standing in Colonel Fortesque's office as he read through her report.

“So, women's wrestling matches. I'm not sure that I approve. It doesn’t sound very ladylike, not the sort of thing a gal like you should be doing at all,” he said as he came to the relevant part.

“Well, I felt I had to join in, sir, otherwise they wouldn't have accepted me,” Vera replied.

“Well, you certainly look like you've been in the wars; I do hope you acquitted yourself well.”

“Oh yes sir. I sure I did the regiment proud. I gave as good as I got and showed them that we British girls can be just as tough.” Inside Vera was blanching, remembering the humiliations she had suffered.

“And it's all women together... What exactly do they wear during these wrestling bouts? I do hope they didn’t make you wear anything immodest; that would never do.” Colonel Fortesque seemed to be getting lost in his own thoughts and Vera just waited; she certainly wasn't going to answer truthfully. Suddenly he pulled himself together. “Well, you didn't do too badly. You got us a couple of names. This Madam Hong, what's she like? Pretty ruthless I would imagine.”

“Absolutely, sir, but I didn't let her push me around.”

“And then there's this...” Colonel Fortesque flicked back a couple of pages. “...let’s see … Mei‑Xing. Some sort of lieutenant from what you say here.”

“Very much so; she seemed very clued-in on all their plans. Quite the right hand man... err... woman.”

“But there's not much meat,” Colonel Fortesque continued. “To be sure, you got me two names, well, we already knew about Madam Hong but it's a feather in your cap that you've unearthed this Mei-Xing as well. However, for all that, we still need more. There's nothing here I can use to make any arrests or send in the troops. I need to put them all behind bars and this won’t do it. Seeing as how you got on so well with them all I need you to go back, really get their confidence, get on the inside and then, when the time is ripe...”

“Go back, sir?” Vera struggled to hide her horror at the prospect. She hadn’t thought this through. Sure it meant she would not be returning to the typing pool but to go back and suffer the same humiliations? She wasn’t sure she could do it.

“Yes, give it a day or two, you don’t want to seem too keen but, seeing as how you got on so well I'm sure you'll find a way to gain their confidence, to get them really talking. Let's say I need a full report by next,” Colonel Fortesque glanced at the calendar, “Tuesday. Do you think you can handle that?”

“Yes, sir, of course, sir,” Vera said as her stomach churned inside her.

********

Back in her room Vera lay on her bed and pounded her pillow with her fists. How could she have been so stupid? She’d sold the colonel a pack of lies and now she was going to have to live with them. The only alternative was to go back and confess, confess how she’d made it all up, confess how she’d failed, confess how she’d been the stupid little girl all her detractors made her out to be. Ironically she feared Madam Hong less than she feared the colonel. Absent-mindedly she reached in her bedside drawer for the collar. She hadn’t even realised she’d been wearing it as she’d traipsed home the previous evening and it wasn’t until she’d gone to the bathroom mirror to inspect the damage that she’d seen it. And then, even as she’d thrown out the tattered remnants of the clothes that had been ruined, she’d somehow kept it, somehow ended up putting it in her bedside drawer, the drawer where she kept her most private possessions.

As she held the collar in her hands she thought back over the evening. How she had been shamed and humiliated. How Madam Hong had seen right through her bluster and through to the little girl underneath. She thought over the pet name Xui-Li had given her – Jun-Niu – ‘truth girl’. How ironic was that. She had lied to Madam Hong, she had lied to Colonel Fortesque and now she was paying the price. She would have to work out a way to go back to the club, work out a story that would be convincing.

*********

A few hours later, on the other side of town, Xui-Li was flicking through Vera’s report chuckling to herself.

“This is it, Huan-yue?” she queried. “This really is the report she wrote this morning.”

“Oh yes, Madam Hong. I was able to take it before the colonel locked up for the night. As long as I get it back tomorrow he’ll never know it’s been gone,” the elderly woman standing before her replied.

“Are you sure he doesn’t suspect you?” Xui-Li was full of concern.

“The colonel is a very foolish man. He doesn’t even see the cleaning lady except as someone to shout at. To him I am nothing, no danger, nothing.”

“You’re very much more than ‘nothing’,” Xui-Li said with feeling, “and I’m very grateful to you.”

“For the woman who saved my family...” Huan-yue started.

“Just be careful, that's all, and make sure this is back before he notices.”

********

Later still Xui-Li was discussing the report with Mei-Xing.

“It looks like she was a spy after all. I was pretty sure after Chu-hua followed her back to the compound but it's nice to have it confirmed,” Xui-Li commented.

“And she got my name. Curse the woman. Still, she won't be back, not after what she suffered in the fight pit.”

“I'm not sure if it was the fight pit or crawling naked through the club that got to her the most,” Xui-Li laughed. “Mind you, I disagree. I think she will return.”

“And you'll let her in?” Mei-Xing said, amazed. “But you said it yourself, she’s a spy.”

“Oh yes, what was it that Sun Tzu said? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Think of all the disinformation we can feed back to the British. That colonel Fortesque is such a fool he'll swallow whatever lies we feed her. He'll think he has an inside source, we'll know exactly what he thinks we're up to. If she comes back, and I think she will, I'll tell the girls to go easy on her. And you, you can learn to keep your mouth shut around strangers.”

“OK, OK. Do you really think she'll be back?” Mei-Xing was still dubious.

“The more I think on it the more I'm sure,” Xui-Li returned.

“Fancy a wager?”

“Certainly.”

********

Slowly but surely Vera was starting to rationalise away her mistreatment. It must have been some kind of test, some kind of hazing. If she went back with her head held high surely they would now respect her. She thought of the collar she had been forced to wear, that she had still been wearing when she was thrown out on the street. She would take it back, take it to show Madam Hong how she was not bowed, how she was nobody’s pet animal.

But, for all her bravado, her resolve was easily shaken and, two days later, Vera was still at her wits’ end; she really couldn't decide whether to brave it out or come clean. In the end it was the Colonel that made the decision for her. He had called her over as she was crossing the quad.

“About that matter we were discussing,” he said, looking around to make sure no one was paying attention. “I haven't seen any action yet. Time is passing; you didn’t get this special assignment just to sit around all day doing nothing. I do hope you're not going to let me down on this. It's always the same when I send a woman to do a man's job; dithering and indecision. Can't be helped, of course, what with you being the weaker sex and all; but see if you can manage something, there's a good girl.” He patted her on the backside and marched off.

Vera was fuming. Every sentence, every word, every patronising syllable burned inside her, fuelling her anger, making her seethe at the recollection. Although he would never know, could never know the full details of her bravery, she would show him which was 'the weaker sex' and, despite her fears and the very real threat of another beating, she would march right back into the lion's den and brave it out. She'd do it, that very night, she'd do it.

As she got herself dressed for the evening she chose her clothes with care. On the one hand she still wanted to be the modern independent woman but, remembering last time, she didn't want to hold herself too high just to be knocked down. Add to all this the very real risk that her clothes could be destroyed as they had been last time; she didn't want to wear her finest silks but she didn't dare go in rags either. In the end she compromised with the lightest of girdles, a silk chemise and directoire knickers. She topped this off with a calf length dress, a light coat and flatish shoes. She was secretly quite pleased with the result, a little daring but mostly demure. Using the pass that the colonel had issued her she marched out of the compound and towards the docks.

The nearer she got to the club the more her nerves started. It wasn’t just that she was scared of another beating, or of more humiliation, although, heaven knows that fear was bad enough. Far more it was a fear that Xui-Li would reject her, would turn her away. Colonel Fortesque had made it quite clear that, in his eyes, she was little more than a silly little girl. If Xui-Li were of the same opinion then it would be more than her ego could stand. Keeping her hat down and her coat wrapped around her she slunk through the shadows until she was in the alleyway opposite the club. Summoning up all her courage she went over and knocked on the door. The shutter slid back.

“What do you want?” a voice demanded.

“I'm... I'm here to see Madam Hong,” Vera replied.

“Madam Hong not here.”

“Can I wait for her?” Vera was desperate. Having worked up her courage to get to this point she just had to see it through. If she went away she might never be strong enough to return.

Vera could hear urgent conversations happening on the other side of the door. The words were too fast and too muffled to make out clearly but eventually she was told to wait and the shutter slammed shut. The minutes ticked by. A couple of times the shutter was opened but, as soon as Vera turned towards the door, it was closed again. Finally the door was opened and she was motioned inside where she was met not by Madam Hong but by Mei-Xing who looked at her with distaste.

“So, have you come for another beating?” she asked.

“I've come to see Madam Hong,” Vera said, as firmly as she could muster.

“She's not here. She may arrive later but I wouldn’t count on it.”

“May I... Can I wait for her?”

“Yes, you can wait but...” Mei-Xing seemed amused. “I think we need to find something to keep you occupied, something fitting to your status. Cleaning the latrines, maybe.”

“Cleaning the latrines? Don't you have maids for that sort of work?” Vera had been brought up with a very strong beliefs in what was, or was not, fitting work for a lady such as herself.

“Maids? Why employ maids when we can use scum such as you? May I remind you that you're the one here begging? If you’re too proud to do as you’re told you shouldn’t have come. Do I make myself clear?” Mei-Xing waited whilst Vera nodded her acceptance. “Now, we don't want to ruin your fine clothes so we had best get you changed into something more appropriate.”

“You want me to work naked?” asked Vera remembering how she had ended up late time.

Mei-Xing weighed it up. Her bitterness against the English was deeply entrenched and the chance to get some payback on all the humiliations she had been put through in her life was a sweet temptation. On the other hand Xui-Li had taken a proprietary interest in this girl and it didn’t do to overstep the line. Still, it was obvious that this spoiled little brat had never done a day’s work in her life and just making her scrub out the latrines would be plenty.

“It's an appealing idea but I think not, this time. Come.” She led Vera off to one side where there was a changing area set up for staff that worked at the club.

“Undress and hang your clothes on that hook,” Mei-Xing said. “Don't worry, they'll be safe enough there.” And, without a further word she left.

Vera did as she was told, hanging her clothes on the hook and putting her shoes and stockings on the bench beneath. Then she stood waiting, shivering, but it wasn't long before Mei-Xing returned accompanied by a sour looking woman who carried a bundle of cloth.

“Very pretty. Now stand up straight, hands on your head, feet further apart,” Mei-Xing ordered. She spent some time looking Vera over, coldly, dispassionately. “If you were mine...” Mei-Xing continued. “Oh, what fun we would have, well, I would anyway.” Now, put these on.”

The other woman handed Vera the bundle of cloth, which turned out to be the sort of outfit worn by the lowest cast of coolies. The outfit was loose and baggy, a sort of one- size-fits-none but at least she wasn’t naked. Once she was dressed Mei-Xing left and the woman led her away to the back of the club.

It wasn’t just the latrines which needed cleaning; the club had kitchens as well and Vera was set to all the dirty jobs and, moreover, it was quite clear that she was bottom of the pecking order, that all the staff felt they had the right to order her around and expected those orders to be obeyed instantly at the risk of a beating. Vera had never come this close to the underside of life before and nearly gagged at some of the things she was asked to do. It’s not that the club was particularly dirty, far from, but however clean the premises, swilling out last night’s pig bins is always going to be an unpleasant and dirty job, especially when you have to use your bare hands.

Two hours later Vera was weary beyond belief. She had scrubbed and scrubbed until her hands were raw. She was in a filthy state and her hair was matted with god knows what but whatever it was it stank. She had tried asking if Madam Hong had arrived but had been told in no uncertain terms that she was not allowed to ask questions and had even received a beating for her impertinence. As she dipped the brush in the pail of lukewarm suds for one more time she was close to tears but, before she could remove it she saw a pair of feet directly where she was about to start scrubbing and, looking up, saw Xui-Li standing over her.

”Well, well, well. Look at poor little Jun-Nui, having to work for her supper. How does it feel, down in the dirt where you belong?”  Xui-Li sounded amused.

“Please, please, Xui-Li…” Vera saw Xui-Li’s frown and started again. “Please, Madam Hong, I just wanted to see you again.”

“Did you, indeed. And what made you think I wanted to see you? I seem to remember last time having to throw you out on the street like the trash you are.”

“Please, Madam Hong…” Vera was desperately trying to think of a reason, a reason she should be allowed to return. In the end she came up short and just dropped her head.

Xui-Li was, secretly, rather amused. Spy or not, this girl down on her knees before her was a pretty little thing and there was plenty of fun to be had. Furthermore, she had shown a certain amount of character to have come back and, although she was clearly distressed, she hadn’t baulked at the lowly tasks that had been set for her. Xui-Li reached in her pocket and fetched out the collar.

“Look what we found in your things,” she said. “Strange that you should bring such a thing with you.”

“You’ve been through my possessions!” Vera was appalled.

“You have no rights here, this is my club and I make the rules. If  I want to go through your things then that is what I shall do. Anyway, nothing was touched, well, except for this. Now tell me, why did you bring it? Maybe you’re one of those who like wearing collars. Would you like it if I put you on a leash again?”

“No!” Vera said vehemently and then realised the corner she had backed herself into. “I mean….”

“Well, what you want and don’t want are immaterial. I make the rules and what I say goes. Of course, I wouldn’t hold you against your will. If you want to leave then all you have to do is say so.”

Xui-Li smiled to herself as she watched the girl squirm in front of her. Of course, this little spy would need to stay and so the cost was going to be high.

“Maybe you have heard,” Xui-Li continued, “of the Japanese geisha girls. They are trained from a young age to be pleasing, to serve, to entertain. Only the very best, when they come to the full flower of womanhood, are allowed be become geishas. Do you think that you could do that, that you would be good enough? Could you learn to please me?”

“I don't know, Madam Hong.” In truth Vera thought that the idea of becoming some sort of simpering sycophant was beyond the pale.

“I have decided,” Xui-Li continued, “that tonight you are going to wear this collar and, furthermore, you are to be my geisha. There are plenty of other girls who would wish the same so I suggest that you are suitably grateful. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Madam Hong,” Vera replied.

Xui-Li reached down and lifted Vera’s chin. She held out the collar and Vera meekly accepted it, holding her head up so as to allow it around her throat and then bowing her head as Mei-Xing  fastened it. Vera felt as if she were being swept along by a rushing torrent and, as indignity piled on indignity, she had no choice but to continue.

Xui-Li turned to a serving girl who had been patiently waiting behind her. “I want this one taken to the house and prepared. Do you know what to do?”

“Yes, Madam Hong. I’ll see to it right away,” the girl replied.

“And you,” Xui-Li turned back to Vera. “You’re to do everything you’re told, without question and without hesitation. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Madam Hong, of course, Madam Hong.”

“We'll see, won't we? Until then....” And, with that, Xui-Li strode off.

The serving girl motioned Vera to stand and follow her and, after a few twists and turns, Vera found herself back in the changing room. She could even see her clothes still hanging there waiting. However, she was not going to get to put them back on. The serving girl told Vera to remove her work clothes and, once she had done so, took them away. Moments later she was back with another bundle, which she put down on the bench.

Working in complete silence she took Vera’s hands and held them behind her back. She grabbed a length of cloth from the bundle she had just brought and used it to tie Vera’s wrists together, tight enough to be just on the edge of uncomfortable. Then she fetched from the pile another length of cloth, but this time it went over Vera’s eyes, completely blindfolding her. The last item seemed to be some sort of full length cloak, judging by the way it was fastened around Vera’ neck, the heavy cloth hanging down over her shoulders and nearly touching the floor.

Then, still remaining silent, she put her hand against the small of Vera’s back and used it to half push, half guide her as the left the changing room. As they went along Vera was well aware that the cloak, being only fastened at her throat, had nothing to hold it closed at the front and with each stride she could feel herself being exposed. She heard a door creak and the sudden drop in temperature told her that she was outside. The flagstones were cool and damp beneath her bare feet as she stood, waiting. Then she heard the unmistakable sound of a horse pulling a cart, or, as it turned out, a carriage, approaching. A few brief commands were shouted, she was helped into the carriage and, almost before she had a chance to settle back into the seat, she was whisked away.

At first the carriage twisted and turned through the city streets but, after a while, the road straightened and they seemed to begin a long climb into the hills. Vera made herself as comfortable as she could. Her hands tied behind her stopped her from sitting back properly but she was able to wedge herself in the corner. The evening air was cool and, with the cloak gaping open, she was quite cold, but there was little she could do about it, indeed, little she could do about anything that was happening to her. At last she sensed that the carriage had pulled into some sort of courtyard and was drawing to a halt.

Again there were the shouted commands and the carriage door was opened and Vera was helped out. As she was led away she had the sense of being led through somewhere more peaceful, somewhere better appointed than the club. At last she was brought to a halt and the cloak, blindfold and wrist restraints were removed.

As Vera blinked her eyes in the light she gradually became aware of the room that she found herself in. The main feature, indeed, the dominating feature of the room was a small pool, maybe two meters by three meters, with steps leading down into it. She was still gawping, admiring the fine porcelain tiles that lined the pool, when she became aware that she was not alone. There were two other women in the room standing right behind her. The elder of the two women, who had the definite air of being in charge, came over and started to examine Vera slowly and thoroughly. All the while she discussed with her assistant which cosmetics would be best for Vera’s colouring and skin tones. Evidently she was some sort of expert, a beautician, perhaps.

As the beautician worked the continuing hercomments made it clear that her assitant was being trained. She commented on Vera’s muscle tone, the bruises which still remained from the other day, the shape and firmness of Vera’s breasts, the unevenness of her toenails, the unshaven and unruly bush that was Vera’s pubic hair and noted with disgust the state of Vera’s hairstyle. Vera tried to comment that getting a fashionable trim on the compound was next to impossible but she was told in short order to keep quiet; her opinion was not required.

Once the inspection was over the assistant took Vera to an alcove where there was a shallow basin. The  collar was removed, Vera was bent over and a bucket of water emptied over her head, washing out the worst of the filth.  Then the assistant shrugged off the loose tunic she was wearing and stepped out of her shoes. Now just as naked as Vera, she took her by the hand and led her down the steps into the pool. The water was warm and quite shallow, coming to maybe mid-thigh on Vera and, when she was told to sit, her shoulders were just above the water. The assistant then sat behind her whilst the beautician laid various bottles and sponges along the edge of the pool. The assistant took Vera’s shoulders and pulled her gently backwards until her hair was completely immersed. Then, taking one of the bottles from the edge of the pool she started to wash, her fingers sensuously massaging Vera’s scalp. A few suds started to slip down Vera’s forehead and she raised her hand ready to wipe them away but it was knocked back. Apparently her role was to be completely passive, even to the extent that she was not to wipe her own forehead.

Once her hair was completely washed and rinsed the assistant stood up and motioned Vera to stand before her. She arranged Vera until her feet were as wide apart as was comfortable and then turned to the collection of bottles and lotions on the side of the pool. This time she returned with a soap, which she worked into a rich creamy lather before rubbing it gently into Vera’s groin. Then she turned back to the edge of the pool, this time to return with a razor. Vera couldn’t suppress a squeak of fear as the assistant approached with the naked blade but again the beautician sharply told her to keep quiet.

Vera tried her hardest to keep still as the assistant, kneeling before her, scraped away at her lower belly. It wasn’t too bad at first but as the assistant worked lower and lower Vera’s feared that the slightest knick, a simple slip, would end in agony. In her mind she was saying ‘Please be careful, please be careful’ over and over as a sort of mantra. Finished at last, the assistant put down the razor and picked up a sponge. Using a finely scented oil she bathed Vera’s groin, front and back, until it was scrupulously clean and any residual soreness from the shave had been soothed away. Then the assistant started on the rest of Vera’s body and, as she soothed the soapy sponge over Vera's arms and shoulders, there was a certain amount of physical contact and that, combined with the warm aromas of the oils and soaps and the way that Vera was being pampered made it really hard for her to stand still. The feeling was so good that she wanted to share, she wanted to reciprocate, but the stern gaze of the beautician as she overlooked the operation made her desist.

Finally the beautician felt that Vera was sufficiently clean and she was led out of the pool. Whilst the assistant towelled herself off and put her tunic back on Vera, still dripping wet, was led over to a large wooden armchair. No sooner has she sat down than the woman pulled a lever and the chair tipped backwards until Vera was almost, but not quite, horizontal. Leather straps were fastened around her wrists and ankles holding her arms and legs to the frame of the chair. However, they were padded and quite loose so they were evidently there to help keep Vera still rather than to punish in any way. Now the two women really set to work. Whilst the beautician set out to cut Vera’s hair the assistant gave Vera a pedicure and a manicure. Vera’s hair was already stylishly short but it looked like it was gong to be cut quite a bit shorter. Mostly the women worked in silence but from time to time the beautician would give her assistant curt instructions.

Once the assistant had finished the pedicure she took a pair of tweezers and, as gently as she could, started plucking the stray hairs that she had missed when she had shaved Vera’s groin. The first one made Vera jump a little and give a squeak of pain but the beautician told her very firmly to sit still and be quiet. Then it was time for her to have her makeup re-applied. Vera couldn’t see just what was going on but they were very painstaking, very methodical. Here the assistant was in a very subordinate role and had little to do beyond applying a touch of rouge to Vera’s nipples and lower lips.

At last they were finished. The wrist and ankle cuffs were released and the chair was returned to the upright position, which meant that Vera could finally see herself in the mirror. Her hair had been cut tomboyishly short and straight but that was nothing compared with the makeup. They had used the oriental style with a base of very pale, not to say white, foundation. Her eyebrows had been trimmed to the finest lines and then enhanced with black pencil. Whilst she was still definitely ‘round eye’ she was now looking as oriental as possible. Vera was helped to her feet and fitted with a kimono in purest white silk as well as a pair of the wooden sandals that the locals wore. As a finishing touch the collar was refastened around her neck. The beautician looked her up and down a few times before declaring herself satisfied, whereupon she left leaving Vera in the care of the assistant. However, they were not to remain long. The assistant led Vera out, along a corridor and into a sumptuously furnished living room. There was a black lacquer drinks cabinet and Vera was told to stand next to it.

“The Mistress, she expects her glass to be full at all times, she does not like to have to ask. Apart from that you do not speak, you do not move. Now stand up straight and don’t slouch. We didn’t spend all that time and effort for you to ruin it by looking sloppy.” And with that the assistant left.

Vera waited, and waited, and waited. She was tired, it was very late and she had already had an evening full of incident. The sandals were hard against the soles of her feet and she was dying to sit down but she knew better. She had put up with so much to get this far she wasn’t going to ruin it now. At last she heard voices. The door opened and Xui-Li, accompanied by Mei-Xing, entered the room and they went to lie full length on couches. Vera was bitterly disappointed; Xui-Li appeared not to have noticed her, let alone acknowledged her. Still, she remembered that the assistant had said that Xui-Li did not like to ask for her drinks and how they had arrived almost immediately when they had been together at the club so she turned to the cabinet and, uncorking a new bottle, poured out two glasses of wine. These she took and placed on a low table that lay between the couches. Again neither Xui-Li nor Mei-Xing made any acknowledgement of her presence.

When Xui-Li had entered the salon she had been delighted by what she saw. The girls, as ever, had done her proud and Jun-Nui was stood looking sweet and innocent, with a touch of fear in her eyes like a frightened doe. She was careful not to let Jun-Nui know she was watching, keeping it cold and impersonal was all part of the process. When Jun-Nui brought the drinks to the table in a rather clumsy attempt to appear geisha-like she had to work hard to suppress a smile.

“So, Mei-Xing, what news of the up-river cadre?” She asked in a conversational tone.

“They’re getting organised. We have reports of over thirty new members, ready and willing to fight at your command,” Mei-Xing replied as she had been prompted.

“And who’s leading them? Who’s in charge?” Xui-Li went on.

“The woman they call ‘the crane’. I’m sure you know who I mean.”

“Ah yes, very good. I will travel upstream to meet them very soon. I’ll let you know when the plans are finalised. Now, enough of politics, have I told you about…,” Xui-Li changed the subject to chatter from the club.

All the while Vera was listening with wild excitement. This was what it was all about, this would make everything worthwhile. Feverishly she ran the ‘facts’ through her mind. The upstream cadre… thirty new members… the ‘crane’ in command… Madam Hong to visit soon… Just wait until she put this in her report. She’d show Colonel Fortesque that she wasn’t just some brainless little girl.

After fifteen minutes or so Mei-Xing made her excuses and left. This too was part of the plan; she was well aware that Xui-Li wanted to play with her new acquisition and that once the charade about the ‘upstream cadre’ was complete her presence was no longer required. As she left Xui-Li drained her glass and put it pointedly down on the table. Vera took the bottle and went over to refill it. As she was doing so she felt Xui-Li’s hand slide in-between the folds of her kimono and reach for her calves. Vera tried to keep pouring as Xui-Li’s hand moved upwards, past her knees, up her thighs and straight for…. The shock of Xui-Li’s fingers probing straight for her honeypot was too much and, with a squeak of surprise, Vera gave a little start spilling the wine on the table.

“You stupid little girl; how can you be so clumsy?” Xui-Li said, the annoyance clear in her voice. “Clean this up at once.” Vera turned to get a cloth. “No, with your tongue!”

Vera glanced between the wine spilt on the table and Xui-Li’s stern expression. Suppressing a sigh she got down on her knees and bent over the table dipping her tongue in the puddle of wine. Xui-Li reached behind her and flicked up the back of her kimono, exposing her backside.

“I cannot believe your behaviour; you’re set a simple task to perform and you can’t even get that right. It’s almost as if you want to be punished. Are you one of those? Are you the sort that craves chastisement,  whose base desires can only be satisfied by a well deserved beating, who behaves like a disobedient little girl so as to be treated like one, who will upset her betters in order to provoke them?”

Vera simply did not know how to answer; not only did it stick in her craw to admit to liking being treated as a ‘naughty little girl’ but she wasn’t sure that was the answer Xui-Li wanted, either. It certainly didn’t help that Xui-Li’s hand had pushed her thighs apart and was now reaching up between her legs where her fingers were moving in slow circular motions just where it disturbed her most.

“I don’t know, I don’t think so, Madam Hong,” was her eventual reply.

“Well, I’m not going to let such clumsy and insolent behaviour go unpunished. I feel that a firm chastisement of that pretty little bottom of yours, which you take so much pleasure from parading around, might help you keep your concentration in the future. Don’t you agree?”

“If you say so, Madam Hong.” Vera didn’t know whether she was coming or going. Most of her, surely that should be all of her, was appalled at the humiliations she was forced to go through for the snippets of information she was picking up but Xui-Li’s busy fingers were awakening pleasures that were wild, new and very exciting.

“I most certainly do say so. Now lets get you properly prepared. Stand up.” Xui-Li removed her hand and Vera stood up but, almost immediately, Xui-Li grabbed her arm and pushed her towards one of the couches. Here she was made to get up onto the couch and kneel forward with her hands reaching back, holding her ankles so that her face was pushed against the seating and her buttocks were uppermost. Once again Xui-Li flicked up the back of her kimono exposing her backside. Once again Xui-Li’s hand delved between her thighs, her fingers reaching for, and finding, the centre of her pleasure.

“Do you know why you’re being punished?” Xui-Li asked.

“Because I was clumsy, Madam Hong, Vera replied, her words muffled by the seating of the couch.

“Oh, that is only a small part of it.” Xui-Li laughed.  “You’re being punished because you’re just a silly little girl who has ideas above her station. You think you can barge in here and ask to serve me when, as you have just demonstrated, you can’t get even the most basic of tasks right. You say you want to be my geisha. Do you think for one moment you deserve to be one?”

“No, Madam Hong, I’m sorry, Madam Hong.” Once again, whatever Vera’s real thoughts she had to play along.

“No, indeed. You’re just a stupid little girl who needs to be taught a lesson. I do hope you are grateful to me for taking the time and effort to teach you?”

“Yes, Madam Hong.” This seemed to be the only possible answer.

“So what do you say?”

For a moment Vera was nonplussed. What was expected of her? What did Xui-Li want from her? Then she realised, she was supposed to be grateful, she was supposed to ask for, no beg for, the punishment. Her brain raced as she tried to put the words together, working out how best to reply.

“Please, Madam Hong, Jun-Nui humbly begs you to punish her, to teach her humility, so she will come to know her proper place,” she said, finally.

“That’s better. Now you’re learning,” Xui-Li replied. “Now wait here a moment.”

Xui-Li removed her hand from Vera’s groin and she went over to a cupboard at the side of the room. She was really enjoying watching the discomfort of this British girl and the indignities she was prepared to go through. Oh how her eyes had danced as they had played out the charade about the cadre up-stream. The poor thing must have felt she was being so clever when all the time she was being taken for a fool. She didn’t really consider herself to be a cruel woman, but this game was far too much fun to miss and now she was going to give the poor little thing a spanking, nothing too serious, just enough to warm her up.

When Xui-Li returned Vera saw out of the corner of her eye that she was holding a paddle made of black lacquered wood, maybe a foot long and four inches wide. Part of her even relaxed a bit. She’d suffered from far worse for her various infractions when at school.

What she hadn’t reckoned on was Xui-Li’s slow measured approach. She walked over and, without any preamble, gave Vera six smart strokes across the buttocks. They hurt, they stung, but there was nothing that Vera couldn’t handle. Then, once again, Vera felt Xui-Li’s hand delving between her thighs.

“So, what do you say?” Xui-Li asked.

Again Vera thought quickly. Surely that couldn’t be it. No, Xui-Li would never be satisfied with a mere six strokes. It must be that she would have to beg for more.

“Please, Madam Hong, Jun-Nui thanks you but humbly begs you to punish her further so she will truly know how worthless she is,” she responded.

Xui-Li’s hand was removed and six more blows rained down. This time her flesh was already a little bruised and battered so this time the pain was worse. That done, Xui-Li's hand returned to Vera's groin and, one more she had to beg. Time and time again this cycle was repeated until each blow was agony and Vera was squirming around, trying desperately to ease the pain and her hands were locked around her ankles in a desperate attempt to stay in position. Her tears flowed freely now and it was an effort to get the words out between the sobs. But it wasn't just the pain that was increasing. Each time, between the blows, Xui-Li’s hand would return to between Vera’s thighs skilfully manipulating her, pushing her higher, the throbbing from her groin counterpointing the fire in her buttocks.

After a while Xui-Li looked down at the blubbing girl and guessed that she’d gone just about to the limit. Her poor backside was bright red and she was having difficulty speaking. However, the ease with which her fingers slipped inside the petals of her sex told another tale. Whatever this girl’s motives for being here, however false her claims to want to play the geisha, the spanking had definitely got to her.

“And do you still want to be my geisha?” Xui-Li asked softly.

“Please, Madam Hong, If you so desire, I live only to please you,” Vera replied and, curiously, she meant it. Mostly, of course, she just wanted the beatings to stop, to be allowed to play the role without the pain involved, however part of her, a part she wasn’t ready to admit to, really meant it. She was so tired of fighting, so tired of all the pretence she just wanted to surrender, to give up, to lose herself in the wishes and demands of this extraordinary woman. Xui-Li was right to call her a ‘silly little girl’ – that was what she knew she was, in deep, far out of her depth, and all she wanted, all she needed right then was a cuddle.

“Well said, my pretty. Come, come and kneel in front of me and I really don't think you need a kimono any more.” Xui-Li’s voice was soft, gentle.

Vera got up, shrugged off the kimono and let it fall to the ground as she knelt down in front of Xui-Li who bent down and removed the chain holding the collar from around Vera’s neck.

“Do you know what it means to be my geisha?” she asked.

“That I’ll do anything you ask of me?” Vera tried.

“More than that, my sweet, much more than that. You become my possession, my property, my pet. You subjugate yourself to me completely and absolutely. Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Yes, Madam Hong, please Madam Hong, let me be your geisha.” Vera didn’t dare back out now, or was there part of her that didn’t want to back out now.

“Very well. From now on you are mine, and mine alone; now come with me.”

Xui-Li took Vera’s hand and helped her to her feet. Then she led the naked girl to a room off to one side where there was a sumptuous bed. Vera, acting as lady’s maid, helped Xui-Li out of her robes, hanging them in a wardrobe. Even when Xui-Li was naked Vera felt small and child-like beside her, Xui-Li’s presence alone dominated any room and when Xui-Li took her hand and led her to the bed she went willingly, accepting with gratitude this next step in her journey.