Ruled by the Rod (5 page)

The device
served its purpose admirably, and in more than one way. In the
first place, of course, we were given that constant reminder of our
flesh, for the chain cut in quite hard enough to cause us soreness
from the start, and after some hours wearing it, this would have
accumulated to a degree that could not easily be ignored, but must
nevertheless be endured. Then, as we moved even the short steps
dictated by our fetters, the chain would move in our creases,
sawing even more severely at our soft woman's parts. Again, we had
to wear these cinches day and night, even when performing our
natural functions, and it may be imagined the real mortification we
suffered, the chain between our legs, and especially over our
anuses, ensuring we would soil ourselves most times we made to
relieve the pressure in our bowels or bladders.

And so life
went on for us three young women, cradled in the security of our
bondage, starting each day invigorated by our duckings beneath the
pump, which effectively guarded us from the misery of sloth, our
souls and bodies kept on that strait and narrow path that leads to
salvation, by close restraint and mortification of our most
intimate flesh, and basking in the knowledge that we were storing
up treasure in heaven by our good works, our care of God's
minister, and the easing of his troubled spirit.

Nor was he the
only male whose potentially debilitating fluids we drew out. A week
or so later I attended papa's study, in the course of the rota that
had been established, and was astounded to find another man,
besides my parent, in the room with him.

I stammered my
apologies for disturbing them and made to withdraw, but papa
recalled me.

'Come here,
child,' he instructed, 'and prepare yourself.'

'But papa,' I
stammered, 'do you intend that I should bare myself in front of a
stranger, a male person?'

'Ungrateful
wretch, do you forget you duty so far as to question your own
father?' he exclaimed. 'You see the unruly nature I have to
overcome, sir,' he went on, addressing the tall black figure of his
visitor, 'and why only the strictest discipline will suffice.'

'Indeed, sir,'
the latter replied, in a deep and penetrating voice that somehow
caused my stomach to quake. 'I will bear that in mind, when
advising you on further measures you might adopt.'

Papa turned
his attention back to my quaking self. 'This is Dr Boucher, a
physician with a special knowledge of the female and all her
problems and dangers. I have invited him here to advise me on what
measures are best for the proper management of you and your
sisters, and the maintenance of your health, both physical and
mental.'

He bestowed on
me a quelling look.

'There can be
no possible objection to a medical man attending while you bare
your person, and he will indeed need to do so in order to give you
that physical examination he holds necessary for him to give his
professional opinion on your present state of health, and ability
to sustain such disciplinary measures as shall, from time to time,
be prescribed. Now place yourself in your proper position on the
chair, and let us have no more nonsense.'

I dropped a
curtsey, as much as my knee fetters would allow, by way of
acknowledgement and apology, and hastened to obey. I could feel the
blushes rising to my cheeks as I gathered up my skirts to my waist,
feeling the air, and the visitor's eyes on my other cheeks and the
feminine secret between. Mounting the chair seat in fetters
presented some difficulty, and my struggles to ascend the cushion
of the seat was, I fear, rather lacking in dignity, and I hoped I
was not shaming papa in front of his guest. I waited there, with my
skirts on the small of my back, while papa released the band from
my right knee. Then I lifted it to place it on the arm that side,
then the left knee onto the other arm with the loose end of my
cincher chain dangling between my legs, spreading me widely in the
pose that had by now become standard for our corrections.

'Perhaps,'
said papa, addressing the good doctor, 'it might be as well if you
were to make a full examination of the subject before we proceed
further, or at least, of those parts that will be most directly
involved in this evening's discipline and reparation. Though she is
the youngest of my daughters she is as well formed as her elder
sisters, and I doubt not that you will find her fully equipped to
sustain salutary punishment and draw forth those evil essences that
the unwholesomeness of the female presence is instrumental in
causing to rise and fester in men.'

If any proof
were needed of the shameful folly of women, it was there, for my
vanity was such that I actually glowed to hear my father describe
my person in such terms. I tried to think if my reaction was due
simply to pride. Or was it satisfaction that I should give him
cause to think well of me? I found that I could easily resolve this
dilemma by applying the golden rule, that papa never tired of
propounding, that if in two minds as to whether a woman's actions
arose from commendable, or uncommendable motives, it was always
safest to assume the latter.

The good
doctor made no demur and, instantly it seemed, I became aware of
hands on my spread buttocks, palping the rounded cheeks, not as
free to move in their bent position, and prodding with strong bony
fingers to assess their firmness. Then the fingers stroked down the
valley between my nether cheeks, finding the anus and probing it
gently, testing the bud and tracing its circumference. Despite the
fact that he was in no way rough, I flinched, for I was still sore
from the effect of the chain on a tender gland that had been
entered by my father's member only four days before, for Marion had
been on her monthlies and I had taken her place in the rota for the
easing of papa's distension. Although, thankfully, he had not
suggested that I should take the strokes due to her on that
occasion.

Now the doctor
transferred his attention, and his fingers, to those parts between
my thighs, below the soft covering of dark fur at the base of my
belly. They parted the fleshy lips, already a little agape by
virtue of my spread thighs, and touched gently around the opening
that led to my womb. A fingertip carefully tested the membrane of
my maidenhead, eliciting an interested 'mm'. And then it travelled
up to that little bud above, that we girls used to ease our own,
and each others, deepest tensions and distresses, especially after
correction, though we sometimes felt some guilt at thus avoiding
the ultimate in benefit from the rod's application and, indeed,
Marion would usually refuse this benison, except when she was in so
much distress that she was beyond exercising her usual influence on
Charlotte and I, and, despite her reservations, we would ease the
screaming of her nerves and lower her gently into sleep.

Now the
doctor's finger was performing that same circular dance that we
used on those occasions, and I could feel the blood rushing to it,
and the little member hardening and rising. The doctor's tongue
made 'tsk tsk', whether in disapproval of my reaction or interest
in the organ and its behaviour I could not say, and then he
withdrew.

'You are
right, sir,' he said, addressing papa. 'She is, indeed, a very well
formed young female.'

I blushed
again at the vanity I felt surge in me, and wondered if duty did
not require me to confess this sin to papa, so that it might be
added to the tally of the strokes I was to receive. But I was
distracted from this question of conscience by the doctor
continuing.

'The buttocks
are particularly fine,' he declared, 'without being in any way
overlarge, and their underlying musculature is overlaid with just
sufficient fatty tissue that you may anticipate no harm coming to
it from even the most severe and prolonged thrashing. I note that
the anus is somewhat inflamed, but I think it can sustain
considerable further usage before there is any major risk of
substantial haemorrhoid formation. Should this happen, and their
degree and nature interfere with the functions for which it is to
be used, then I would recommend cauterisation, but we are a long
way from having to face that possibility, yet.'

'I am
gratified to hear it,' replied papa, 'for it would be most
inconvenient to be deprived of her services for any length of time.
How did you find her other parts?'

'I can report
that, as you trusted and hoped, the hymen is still intacta. It is a
sound healthy membrane, and should survive until required by a
suitable mate. The restriction of the thighs should help to ensure
that it is not stretched to rupture in the course of daily
activities, but you must take care when using the arms of the chair
for a whipping stand, as I fear it will be under considerable
tension. I suggest the young woman be warned very clearly that
serious consequences would arise should she not control herself
properly under correction, and any movement lead to a fall and loss
of hymen.'

'She is
already aware of that fact,' papa growled, with a touch of menace
in his voice that made me tremble a little on my perch.

'I'm glad to
hear it,' the doctor replied. 'Now, as to the clitoris, it is a
generous but not overlarge organ, quite sensitive and erectile. At
the moment it is quite healthy, if such a term appropriate to that
epicentre of all that is female, and I would not presume to advise
on it's disposal, without further discussion of the moral and
ethical considerations involved. Certainly from what I observe, and
what you have told me of the patients disposition, I would say
there is no urgent need for its elision, though I would not rule
out the need for some modification at a later date. I think we
could safely leave the question until after I have had an
opportunity to examine all three patients.'

Elision!
Modification! What could he mean? My belly squirmed, but further
consideration was interrupted by papa.

'Very well,
sir,' said he, 'we will consider the matter fully at a later date.
Meanwhile I propose we proceed to the correction of this erring
female bent in front of us. I take it that your findings would be
quite consistent with the infliction of a dozen strokes of the
cane, the normal sum for these occasions, plus any extras due for
specific transgressions.'

'Oh, yes, this
buttock could sustain many times that number without other than
superficial, or at least only subcutaneous, injury. No damage to
bone or tendon, I assure you.'

'Good. I see
from my book that she is not in fact due any extra on this
occasion,' my spirits rose, prematurely as it happened, 'but there
is the little matter of her objection to your presence on entering
the room. Three extra would appear consistent with justice and
proper discipline and, as the offence was in some sense against
yourself, I suggest it would be appropriate if you were to deliver
the strokes yourself.'

'I shall be
glad to assist you in the matter,' came the reply. 'And it will
also give me an opportunity to test the elasticity of the buttock
under the rod, at first hand.'

'Let us
proceed then,' said papa. 'Annabel, my child, do lower your head to
the cushion, and thrust out your haunches. You know well how to
hold your buttocks for the cane. Let me see you hold them so for
the benefit of the good doctor, and for the better correction of
your sinful nature.'

Ever obedient
to my papa, I lowered my head to the cushion, a task made more
uncomfortable now with the advent of our stiff high collars, and
clasped the chair back in my arms. Biting my lip in concentration I
willed my buttocks to relax, feeling the cleft behind spread itself
like an opening flower, revealing my anus and the gaping vulva
below. I would not fail papa. This visitor, apparently of such
consequence, should see me offer myself wholly for the coming
correction, though inwardly I quaked and my stomach filled with
nauseous fear.

I had never
been corrected in the presence of anyone other than papa, let alone
a member of the male sex and, though it caused me some shame to be
seen thus, naked, my bare buttocks spread, revealing my most
intimate female parts, it also roused me to steel myself, and offer
my body to the rod without reservation, inviting the utmost of each
stroke and honouring my parent, by demonstrating that his care of
us had not been without fruit and, though still mere women, we had
at least learnt the virtues of obedience and fortitude.

Although it
was an ordeal to which I had many times been subjected, a flogging
of a dozen strokes with that penal rod was still something of
dread, and I could look forward to three more besides from the
doctor, whose athletic build and wiry wrists gave promise of cuts
at least as searching as those that papa was about to unleash on my
unprotected buttocks. I closed my eyes, bit my lip, and set myself
not only to endure, but to endure with honour.

As the first
cut sank into my flesh I bit down on my lip so hard that I could
taste blood, but I held my pose and made no more noise than a grunt
buried deep in my throat. I knew too well from experience that the
first stroke is always worse than one's worst imaginings, and I was
determined not to be caught out and lose the battle at the first
engagement. Breathing heavily through my nose, I rode out the
appalling pain in my behind and set myself for the next, with a
little more courage. Though the second was every whit as bad, it
was that little easier to master for having ridden the first. To
have lost there is so discouraging that it saps one's strength. Now
I could give my attention to keeping my flesh open to the
correction, and accepting its formative anguish into my body
without flinching or crying out.