John and Argent by cmsix

Chapter 80

We'd put Prince, King and Rover in the sleigh for the ride home. They hadn't liked it at first but I guess they noticed that their feet weren't nearly as cold as they had been because they settled down after a few minutes. Mundo, Buloto and Saraato surprised me by settling right down among the wolves without any hesitation.

Danlo set off at a good clip but it was only a trot and while it was the best speed for the big Clydesdales it didn't make it any easier on those of us that were mounted. Red had a good, fairly smooth trot but most of the other horses were a little rough at this speed. I had to be careful to keep from laughing as I watched many of my mate's lovely asses being spanked up and down all the way home. I was sure that some of them would be in the sleigh or wagon next time we took a little trip.

We got home without much complaining though and Danlo stopped the sleigh near my cave's entrance so that most of the things could be unloaded. After finishing he headed toward the horse cave to put it up and take out the other things we'd carried with us.

I got a nice surprise once we were inside. There were women in my kitchen cooking and it looked like they had plenty of food on the way. Erieta, Ladeliea, Reeana and Jareena were in command of several of the other leader's women and they were making sure that there was a hot meal in case we did show up tonight. Their stock went even higher in my book for this.

We were all happy to be back home tonight instead of sleeping outside but the mood was a little subdued. No doubt it had something to do with seeing what Shabago had looked like after the long tooth had made a meal of him. Still the coup d'état was over and done with and we were pretty sure that we had all the participants. We would find out more, later; when we questioned Kartogo and Shatalto. I still hadn't decided exactly how to go about that.

I put off thinking about it again though since I just had time to wash up a little and park my ass at my favorite place; the table. Jareena brought me a mug of coffee while Reeana brought a plate and I dug in. It was good, especially since I'd only had a sandwich since this morning and the activity had whetted my always-sharp appetite. I warned Raalto, who was sitting next to me, not to let his hands linger near my plate lest they get bitten.

After a few mouths full the mood lightened up and Racaato tried to make a joke about Shabago getting excited and losing his head over our pursuit. The joke was old to me but it must have been new for the rest of them because they all laughed pretty loud after they caught on. Then I laughed because it was funny that they found it so funny.

Deimeta must not have realized we were back; when she and Failiela wandered in and she spotted me she broke into a run and I barely had time to scoot my chair back before she jumped into my lap.

"Daddy, I'm so happy you're back. Did you find Shabago?" she asked as she settled in.

"We found what was left of him. A long tooth cat had a go at him first."

"Oh," she said, pausing a minute and then continued saying, "I guess the cat liked him better than we did," and then she laughed at her own joke.

It was such a surprise coming from her that I had to laugh too and the more I thought about it the more I laughed.

"It wasn't that funny Daddy, you can stop laughing now and give me a bite," she said finally.

I managed to get her a fork full of bison but she had a hard time trying to chew it and smile at the same time.

"What will we do with Kartogo and Shatalto now?" Barago asked me.

"I haven't decided yet. I am going to make them tell us everything somehow. I want to make sure that there isn't someone else that was in on this. After they are through talking I don't think that they will be welcome anymore."

"You mean welcome in our camp?" Racaato asked, surprised.

"I mean I don't think they will be welcome to breathe any longer."

This got some more chuckles but not that many. I hadn't intended for it to be funny and even though I knew that it wasn't going to be pleasant to execute the two, that's all they really had to look forward to. I wasn't going to turn live enemies loose, even though they would probably die outside in the cold. I would make sure that they never had another chance to cause me trouble.

After the meal I went to my office. Ralph greeted me after I was inside and this was a slight surprise since he usually waited for me to speak first. I wanted to ask him about the two that were being detained but I didn't know how to approach him.

"John, do you see now why I didn't want to tell you where Shabago was?" he asked.

"Not really, I think it turned out for the best but I don't know of a specific reason that you wouldn't want to tell me, I realize the general reason."

"If I'd told you where he was, there was a real chance that you would have caught up with Shabago at nearly the same time that the cat did. If you'd found him first the cat would have probably left to avoid you. Don't you think that it turned out better this way?" he asked.

"In fact I do and I'm glad now that you didn't tell me. This brings us to another question though. Do you want me to forego any use of the video or other advanced things that have been provided for me?"

"Not in the slightest. I can envision times when I think you should study the videos carefully. I don't think that you should make a habit of pouring over them everyday though," he said.

"I would like some advice, if you have any, about dealing with the two that we are holding now. I mean to find out from them if there were any others involved in their plotting and the best way I know to do it is torture them. I'll admit that I looked forward to it at first but with time for considering I'm not so anxious to begin. Do you have any suggestions?"

"You don't need suggestions. I can tell you now that they were the only men involved in the plotting. Kartogo's mate, Miekadakta, had worked out what they were up to from the things she'd heard them talking about and she was very much against what they wanted to do. She could not voice her opinion since she wasn't supposed to know about it and it wouldn't have mattered if she had spoken up. They would not have listened to her and might even have harmed her for interfering. She did the very best thing she could have when the time came. She was also prepared to do more to protect you if it was required," Ralph explained.

"So no one else was in on the plan with them?"

"Jarto's mate, Sateala, tumbled to things after Miekadakta foiled the first attempt; she'd had her suspicions before then but the arguing afterwards confirmed them. She told Jarto what she had discovered and for a while she was ready to help them. Sateala was smarter than Kartogo because she realized that he would be killed at once if he succeeded. She didn't think that any of the others would become leader either but she felt that there was a small chance for Jarto.

"She was appalled when she found out that they intended to kidnap Deimeta and not only because she knew that it would not work. She has a fondness for Deimeta and she told them that she would not be a party to that. She wanted them to let her try and seduce you during the next celebration. The plotters were determined to move faster than that but when she balked they put their plans for Deimeta's capture in motion without letting her know," Ralph said.

This information made me uncomfortable. I had no intention of torturing or killing any woman, no matter what she'd done; still I knew that I couldn't let it go unpunished. These revelations also reminded me that I didn't know what had become of Sateala now that Jarto had been killed.

Failiela had killed him. Did that mean Sateala was now another of Racaato's mates? He was Failiela's father and she hadn't become a woman yet. I would have to ask Georgo if that was the way things should go. It made sense to me according to their other customs. I felt a momentary twinge when I realized that if Failiela had been a woman she would most likely have been mated to me already and I knew what became of women when one of my mates killed their mate, the widow became one of my mates also. At least I didn't have to worry about deciding on a punishment for one of my mates that had lately been slightly involved in a plot to kill me.

"I don't understand why she would want to get involved in the plot at all."

"She wasn't interested in your death and in fact has nothing against you. She does feel that life has betrayed her though. Sateala's father was leader of her camp and she mated Jarto mainly because it was assumed he would become the leader after her father. This wasn't just wishful thinking; everyone in the camp was under the same impression.

"Jakado ruined things for her. He and his spearcaster-armed men took over the camp and killed her father. There was never a chance for Jarto to become leader. She didn't really believe that Jarto had a chance of becoming leader here even if they did manage to kill you. I'm sure that it was mostly wishful thinking on her part and as I have said she backed out of the whole thing not long after she entered." Ralph said.

"I don't know what to do with her. I'm not sure who will take her as a mate now that her mate has been killed and I don't know how she should be punished. Even though her involvement was slight and short lived I still think she needs some punishment though I'm certainly not going to kill or torture her nor allow anyone else to."

"Maybe you should table her motion and decide later when you have more information. You do need to think about the two men though," Ralph reminded me.

"The men must die and I think I should still at least make a show of torturing them for information even though I know all I need to about their plot now. What of Shatalto's mate and Shabago's? Were they not involved?"

"Shabago's mate, Talata, paid little attention to him. She did her duty and otherwise tried to ignore him. Shatalto's mate, Meliena, was similar but different. In your old life I think you were familiar with the phrase 'having a blonde moment.' Shatalto's mate has a blonde life. She is a handsomely built and attractive woman but intellectual pursuits are not her forte. She was happy with Shatalto, while she was with him, since he was a good provider and was not cruel. She will probably be just as happy with another mate if he is a good provider. If she ends up with an affectionate mate who actually cares for her she will be even happier." Ralph said.

This got my wheels turning again. I had seen Shatalto's mate before and I more than agreed that she was an attractive woman. I didn't know about her intellect but I did know about her titties and her fine round ass. She was a knockout, and even though all of my mates were just as attractive, it didn't keep dicky from wanting a sample of Meliena. I would choose Shatalto's executioner carefully from those that lived closest to me.

I was going to kill Kartogo myself. He had been anxious to kill me and if not for Miekadakta he might have done it. She had saved my life and unless she objected she would become another of my mates; I felt I owed it to her. It didn't hurt that her looks were also spectacular. First I would make a show of punishing the truth out of Kartogo and Shatalto.

"I think that the easiest way to make an example of torture as punishment would be with electricity. They know nothing about it and it is painful without being gruesome. Can you get me a telephone generator?"

"Like those that were used with the first telephones?" he asked.

"Yes, exactly. A telephone generator and two lengths of electrical wire should get impressive results from them. It will make them put on a good display but the cause will not be apparent. It will seem mysterious and fearsome to everyone. I will use it to make them scream for a while and then they will be executed."

Ralph didn't even answer; he just materialized the generator and some wire on my desk. I noticed that he even mounted the generator onto a length of board so that I could hold it easily while it was in use. I picked it up and then had a thought that caused me to laugh.

An old bet I'd heard before came to my mind. One man says, "If you're right I'll kiss your ass and give you ten minutes to gather a crowd to watch." After the generator and I were through with the prisoners I'm sure that they would be happy to kiss my ass, no matter how many were watching, to get out of more of what they'd just had. They would never get the chance but I was going to gather a crowd.

"Thank you for the information and for this equipment Ralph. The night is young and I want to be done with those two."

"You're welcome John and I look forward to the proceedings," he said as I walked toward the door.

I paused before leaving my office. Needing to make this an impressive performance, I held the mounted generator in my hands before me and walked out into my cave trying to make it seem I was carrying a spiritual object or something similar.

Most of my mates, all my leading helpers and most of their mates were there. I walked to the table and sat the generator and the wire in the center. Everyone was staring at me and wondering what was coming next.

"May I have some coffee please? I have an unpleasant task before me and I will need a mug before I get started."

Shelalliea filled a mug and brought it to me. I saw that neither Georgo nor Dotallto were here so when I had my coffee I asked Shelalliea if she would go and bring them.

I sat down at the table, sipping my coffee and waited. I spoke to no one while she was gone and none of them got the nerve to ask any questions. Shortly Shelalliea returned with Georgo and Dotallto. I turned to face them.

"The spirits have sent me this gift to help in my questioning of the plotters. Would the two of you take it into one of the meditation chambers and ask that I be given guidance to use it properly and that it be given the power to make them tell me the truth?"

"We will take it to my chamber at once John," Georgo said, then he picked it up and Dotallto followed him back toward his quarters.

I addressed the others then.

"I am going to make them tell me what their plans were. I will use the machine on them in the practice cave first and I would like for everyone in the camp to be there to see what the spirits do to these two who have brought this on themselves. I will tend to one in public and then he will be taken into the storage chamber to be questioned. Then I will tend to the other one in the same way. When I am through with them they will be taken outside to be killed and disposed of."

When they saw that was all I had to say they all dispersed to make the happy announcement. I saw Jonoco and called him to me, taking him into my office.

"Jonoco, after they have told what they know they will be killed. I will kill Kartogo since he is the first that tried to kill me. I would like for you to kill Shatalto. It will mean that you must take his mate for one of your own. Can you do it?"

I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing at his reaction. It only took him a second to realize who Shatalto's mate was and remember what she looked like. There was no need for him to answer but he did.

"I will be happy to do as you ask John," he said.

"Good, I knew that I could count on you."

He left then and I was alone in my cave while the others were spreading the word. I sat at the table and finished my coffee. I was about to get another cup when Georgo and Dotallto came back in with Dotallto carrying the generator this time. They looked every bit as serious as I imagined I had when I'd first come out of my office with it. Dotallto set it back on the table when they reached me.

"Thank you both for that and I'm afraid that I will need you in the practice cave too. It will be best if the two of you explain what is going to happen so you can convey the seriousness of things to everyone."

"We will be honored to do so," Georgo said.

I told them what I was going to do and how I was going to do it, asking them if they could set the proper mood. They both assured me that they could.

It seemed that most everyone had gone to the practice cave by now and so I asked Georgo to bring the blessed generator and the wire and I led the way in. When we were there I asked Raalto, Caato, Barago and Colonto to bring the guilty ones to us.

The four leaders were soon back with the captives. I had Kartogo and Shatalto stripped naked and told my helpers to lay Shatalto on the floor and hold him down. When they did I placed the generator near him, tying the naked end of one wire around the big toe of his good leg then making a small noose out of the end of the other wire and looping it around his dick and ball sac.

I had never seen this done but I had heard of this treatment for inmates in an old Arkansas prison; Tucker Farm. When the prisoner passed out from the pain it was said that he'd gotten a long distance call. I was going to reach out and touch the two fuckers.

Shatalto had become agitated while he was being hooked up but Barago and Colonto were able to keep him subdued. I signaled to Georgo that I was ready for he and Dotallto to do their thing. I listened and was impressed with the mood they conveyed. When they were done I took hold of the crank handle and gave it a couple of quick turns.

The scream that was wrenched from Shatalto caused me to jump and I'm sure that everyone else did the same. It also brought a thrill to me since it meant that this bastard was getting a little of what he deserved. I gave the generator a slightly slower but much longer cranking and Shatalto didn't disappoint me. He could have been heard by everyone, even if they'd still been in the residence cave. I could hardly believe that a man could make that much noise. I stopped for a moment.

"Shatalto, we are going to take you into the storage room now and you will answer my questions. If you lie we will bring you back for more persuasion by this that the spirits have given me."

He was still whimpering but I had Colonto and Barago take him into the storage room and I went with them. When we were there I made him tell me everything but thanks to Ralph I knew it all before hand. Apparently Shatalto was scared shitless of the generator because he told me everything he could think of. We took him back out and sat him down.

When I asked my helpers to put Kartogo where Shatalto had been it took four of them. While I was connecting his toe and genitals Barago told the others to brace themselves because they would also feel the spirit's power when I used the machine. I hadn't even thought of that before but I knew that he was probably right.

Kartogo tried to look defiant until I gave the generator the first crank. He was very sorry for what he'd done right after that though. He screamed and begged and cried and begged some more. He was a babbling fool before I unhooked him and when we got him into the storage room he confessed to every petty offence he had ever committed.

I knew that he was probably telling the truth but I accused him of lying and promised that I would hook him back to the generator and crank it hard enough to burn him in the afterlife. He confessed to even more then and when I was tired of it I had them take him back outside to sit with Shatalto.

I waited in the storage room while they took Kartogo out and after I figured that they'd had time to settle him I made my entrance with my solemn face on.

"Shatalto, Kartogo, Jarto and Shabago planned among themselves to kill me and then take over here as the leader. They tried to capture Deimeta so that they could force my hand. They attacked me near Racaato's quarters, not caring that they injured Deimeta in the process. Two of them are dead already and these two will die tonight. I hope that this is the last trouble of this type that we have here. You have all seen what waits for the next one that tries to kill me. You may go home now."

As they began leaving I called all my leaders and all my mates to me.

"Jonoco and I will be taking Kartogo and Shatalto on their last walk shortly. Bigglieo please get some men to make a large pyre to burn their bodies. My mates please take Jaiya and Danieta with you to help Meliena move her things to Jonoco's quarters and to help Miekadakta move her things to ours."

I was still keeping the solemn look on my face until I saw my mate's smiles break out. It took Jaiya and Danieta a few more seconds to decode what I'd said but when they did their smiles were bigger than Jonoco's had been earlier. The women nearly ran toward the residence cave.

Bigglieo went off to gather a crew and Raalto and Racaato had to help Shatalto. No matter since he wouldn't be limping much longer.

"Will you kill us naked and send us off with no clothes?" Kartogo asked.

"When you arrive in the spirit world naked and with nothing it will let those who are already there know that you are worthless."