This short story is an entry in the 2001 Soc.Sexuality.Spanking Summer Short Story Contest and is copyright by the author and commercial use is prohibited without permission. Personal/private copies are permitted only if complete including the copyright notice. The author would appreciate your comments
Category: Adult
For King and Country
By
Starship <starship_64@yahoo.com>
The smell of smoke hung over the city, oppressive and omnipresent. Now and again explosions rumbled in the distance. Christmas decorations hanging from every window made the whole scene appear somehow surreal. >From her second story vantage Helen surveyed the nearly empty streets, then turned from the window to face her employer. "That American was right you know," she said flatly.
From behind the desk an older, portly man, looked up at her. "Lieutenant Champlin?" He frowned. "I'm afraid I can't agree."
"You heard the announcement Mr. Carsten," she pressed. "Manila has been declared an open city."
"Yes, I heard. MacArthur won't defend us." He snorted. "Bloody typical."
Helen wiped her hands on her skirt. "The radio said it's so the Japanese won't bomb us."
"Right. Instead, they'll just walk in and take whatever they like."
"Which is why you have to give the order. Burn the oil before they get here."
For several seconds Mr. Carsten just stared down at his desk. "Miss Penistone," he said at last, "as I told Mr. Champlin, the oil is not mine to burn. Those twenty million gallons belong to the company."
"But the Japanese will take it and use it against our own forces!"
"I know that," he replied carefully. "Nevertheless, I can't proceed without an order from Singapore."
"Communications are sporadic at best!" Helen protested, then stopped and took a deep breath. She had to think. Mr. Carsten wasn't an wicked man; but he was clearly afraid to take any risks. In peacetime that was probably a virtue. Her heart began to beat harder. Could she dare to take a risk herself?
"Suppose I telephoned the foreman myself and told him you wanted the oil burned?" she asked quietly. "The company would blame me, not you."
"And I would have to fire you," he replied, then sighed. "Please don't do that. Trapped in an occupied city without employment, you would be... well, it's not something for a young lady to consider."
"No, I suppose not," she said quietly, knowing he was right. Unless... She had heard a rumor about Mr. Carsten. If it was true, and if she had the courage... She took a deep breath. "But you wouldn't fire me," she said slowly. "You'd cane me instead."
For several seconds her employer remained silent. Then he licked his lips. "You understand it would have to be quite a thorough caning."
Helen nodded. "Of course sir. If I ever did such a thing you would have no choice but to cane me most severely."
Now it was Mr. Carsten's turn to take a deep breath. "Yes. All right then. Consider yourself warned as to what will transpire should you violate my orders, and govern yourself accordingly."
Helen nodded again. "I understand Mr. Carsten," she said. "Now if you'll excuse me..."
With a wave her employer dismissed her, and she walked quickly back to her own office. She sat down at her desk, her heart pounding hard, and picked up the telephone.
The End
© Copyright Summer, 2001
Reviews
Needy Wench <needywench(at)hotmail(dot)com>
I've read this 3 or 4 times now, and it still gives me goose bumps. Everything is implied, there's no real statement made. Until reading this, I wouldn't have thought there was something noble about a caning! A wonderful read.
Simon <srb(at)imrryr(dot)demon(dot)co(dot)uk>
This was certainly a very original setting for a story. There were some good descriptions, and the characters were sketched well. The historical touches were excellent. Ultimately though I felt the plot was slightly contrived, and at odds with the realism of the setting in which it was placed. The initial paragraphs created a very serious, sombre mood with lots of detail, and the rest of the story didn't seem to fit with that.