20.
That first evening, after he had flogged the Dutch woman and ground himself to climax in the American's bound hands, and had taken himself to that quiet bar to bring himself down from the highs of his sadism, his men had moved the woman to the old grain store behind the border post.
The old structure was built of stone and has crumbled in places but repairs with rough cinder blocks have made sure it still holds strong and any sound from inside is deadened almost completely.
Access is through a heavy timber door into what was once an overseer's office. Beyond that, separated by rough timber bulkheads are four bins where grain was once stored. The bins have been fashioned into isolation cells, rough stone floors, stone and cinder block back walls, rough timber to each side and at the front. Only a small observation hatch in each heavy timber door.
The stonework and heavy timber muffle sound, preventing communication between the cells. The bins are never cleaned. The quiet with the dust and grit, the hot days and cold nights create an intense feeling of isolation.
The women were confined in separate cells, iron cuffs locked around each ankle, a heavy chain joining the cuffs. Their wrists are manacled and a short chain joins the wrist cuffs to the chain between their ankes. They were blindfolded and a thick strap around the blindfold and locked behind their heads prevents them from working the blindfold loose.
The chains give them a little freedom to explore their cells in the darkness. To look for escape that does not exist.
Beyond the cells is a wider space where the mill once worked. The old bedstone is still in place and the timber structures that supported the driving mechanism still remain. The spindle is still locked into the centre of the bedstone. Ropes still hang there, running up over pulley blocks. If the rope did not look as fresh or the blocks so well-oiled they might have been from the time the mill still ground the rough flour.
His men have instructions to feed them twice a day and to help them squat over a bucket. Fed with scraps and held by men while they shit and piss adds to the humiliation. It is made worse by the sweat and dust. The men will not utter a greeting, not answer a question, never use a name.
Each evening he has come to the grain store to watch them. To take pleasure in their slow degradation. To feel himself aroused by the power he has over them. To watch them regain strength to endure his sadism again.
It has been seven days now, seven evenings spent watching. He would take this further but there are questions being asked. Families know the women are missing and bulletins have been posted. There is no record of them here but their movements will be tracked through. Someone will know they boarded that flight.
It is time to go back to them. Another session with them tonight after the tiring heat of the day, their minds still struggling with the isolation, the fear of what more will come.
He visits the border post first and retrieves a few things from the interrogation room. The shorter red hide whip and the multi-tailed scourge he used on the Dutch woman and the short stock prod with the shiny barbs he applied to the America’s breast. The rest of what he will use is all in place in the old mill.
Darkness has fallen as he enters the grain store. The heavy timber door swings silently on well-oiled hinges and there is just a faint click as the latch drops in place as he locks it behind him.
It is cool inside now and the only light is from a few dim bulbs inside the entrance and in each of the small cells. The light casts the shadows of the beams across the rough stone floor.
As he opens the door to each of the cells there is a metallic clank as the bolt is pulled back. The faired Dutch woman, Pia, does not look up. She seems cowed, perhaps resigned to what fate holds. The dark-haired American, Barbara, is different. Her face turns directly at him, her eyes cannot see but still seem to search for him. She hasn’t suffered as the fair one has. She is frightened but still has some spark, some thought of freedom.
His hands are clenched into fists and he can feel the muscles in his forearms tense as he clenches them tighter. His breathing deepens, the feeling is rising within him.