Vanishing Point

‘Naw, din’t ‘ave ta.’

He turned to Katherine, ‘Didn’t hurt ya, did he?’

She started to respond, ‘Well, no but —’ She stopped as she saw Karl give her a threatening glare.

‘But what?’ asked Benjamin.

‘But nothing. Sorry. He just told me life would be better if I did as he told me.’ Her eyes were downcast.

‘Jist showed ‘er what it’ll be like if she goes on like she was. All talk. Said ya greet ya man with a kiss an’ do what he wants. No hurtin’. Like I said, bit of stick, bit of carrot. Talkin’ of carrots, did ya bring ‘er reward? Reckon she kin ‘ave it now, eh?’

‘Yeah. There.’ Benjamin pointed to a cardboard box on the back of the trailer and together the two men unloaded it.

‘C’mon, git over ‘ere, woman. Give us a ‘and

an’ see what ya got. Jist for a kiss an’ a welcome like a wife should her man.’

Katherine stopped her unloading for a moment and obediently went over the two men. She watched silently as they opened the box. Peering over the edge she saw it was a sewing machine around which was packed some small rolls of coloured material.

‘Ya always whingin’ ‘bout ya clothes so this is a kinda surprise ta help ya. Ya kin make ya’self clothes, an’ for bubs. ‘bout time ya did summit to improve ya’self.’

Katherine heard the last remark with anger. She’d been asking for things for ages and felt she’d done remarkably well in keeping both Carolyn and herself decently dressed with the absolute minimum of material, using and re-using the limited supplies. Yet here he suggested that it was time that she did something to improve herself!

Her body language presented as defeated and submissive but she kept reminding herself that she was a university graduate, an intelligent women, forced to act like an ignorant servant for these Neanderthal bigots. She forced down her angry feelings and said nothing.

The previous weeks had taught her that Karl was evil, perverted and dangerous. For all his religious pretensions, Benjamin was the weaker character and seemed to be unwittingly in awe of Karl’s mean streak. Benjamin was criminal and bad, not because he was evil, but because of ignorance and obsession. Possibly even mental illness. Katherine was afraid that Benjamin’s distorted ideas of God and His biblical laws would not protect her if Karl was in charge. He was evil, deliberately so. She now recognised the ongoing battle of wills between the two men, unspoken but ever present. She did not want a repeat of what she had endured during the past week, least of all with both men there because of where it might lead. And Carolyn had to be protected at all costs.

She looked at the sewing machine. ‘Thank you. Thank you very much,’ she said quietly.

‘Thank you, thank you very much,’ Karl mimicked. ‘That’s all? First, ya don’ get it til ya show me mate ‘ere ya deserve it. Second, thank ‘im proper, like I told ya ya must.’ He leaned forward, put a calloused and unwashed hand on her shoulder and pushed her down on to her knees in front of Benjamin. As he did so he took her hair in his other fist and pulled her head painfully backwards repeating what thrilled him the day she took his gun. ‘Garn, say thank ya proper like, like I showed ya.’

‘Thank you, very much. Thank you. I appreciate your gift. I hope I deserve it,’ she mumbled her words, belying her feelings of humiliation and anger.

‘That’s better. Ya gotta show ya man respect an’ thanks for his gift. Even if ya don’ deserve it. When ya gets a gift ya go on ya knees an’ thanks ya man, proper like. Don’ ya forget what I told ya.’ The last words were emphasised with the tone of a threat. ‘Ya can get up now.’

As she struggled to stand up, Karl grabbed at her bra strap through the threadbare, thin cotton blouse and with an upward yank pulled her to her feet at the same time putting her off balance so she fell forward. By this action he quite deliberately snapped the strap and ripped her shirt as she tried to steady herself. The stress on the materials caused them to rip and break along the numerous repaired seams and worn threads. The trick worked even better than Karl hoped as the materials gave way completely. Katherine, even more humiliated, vainly tried to cover her ample breasts from the immediate gaze of both men.

As if reading her thoughts, Karl smiled at her lasciviously. Speaking to Benjamin he said, ‘Well, well. Ya got a nice pair there, ain’t she? An’ she’s all yours, ya lucky bastard! Pity ta keep ‘em hidden, so ya won’t be needin’ this agin, will ya?’ He bent down and picked up the scattered rags. In one hand he held the remains of her shirt, in the other the dangling cups. He put the bra in his pocket and used the shirt to wipe his face and hands.

‘Go on, woman. Finish ya chores. There’s lots ta be done. Can’t stand around ‘ere all day covering ya tits.’ Karl pushed another box of supplies towards her and she automatically reached out to take it.

Karl grinned at her then turned to Benjamin, ‘She’ll be right now, mate. Any probs let me know.’

Benjamin remained silent, his mouth open and his eyes fixed on Katherine’s chest. It was almost as if he had never seen her undressed before and, indeed, he had always tried to avoid observing when she showered. In spite of his comments, religious rantings and the abduction, it was clear that he was as inhibited as Katherine. For all the time they had been together they had kept a distance, engendered by fear and anger on the one side and by shyness, an inability to relate and religion on the other. Karl had somehow broken the spell, rendered the impasse over. At that moment the balance of power shifted and Benjamin, in awe of Karl’s success, became more tractable. Life at the Factory would never be the same again.

Karl, for all his evil ways and harsh upbringing, was no fool. He knew he was dependent on Benjamin for an anonymous existence, with Benjamin acting as the front man for dealings with the authorities, but he also realised that Benjamin was malleable and weird. He would not antagonise him by physically hurting Katherine, but he did want to earn his indebtedness by ensuring that Katherine was compliant. There were more ways than direct force to bend a woman to his will, especially one with a small child.

It was the child that was the key.

All that it took were a few threats, a few rewards and Katherine would obey. Women are weak. Once the spirit is broken there’s no difficulty. After all, this one was more than halfway there, having been a prisoner at the Factory for more than two years.

First, he took Carolyn out with him in the vehicle, leaving Katherine screaming behind the perimeter fence. Hours later he returned and she was ready to do almost anything he asked. That was just the start.

‘If ya don’ want ya kid ta ‘ave a nasty accident this is what ya gotta do to be a proper wife ta ya man.’

Katherine clutched her daughter close as Karl set out a list of instructions on how to greet Benjamin, how to talk to him, how to thank him.

‘Ya gotta be good an’ obedient. Do what ‘e tells ya. Or mebbe I kin take ya kid fa a little ride, an’ some terrible accidents happen when out shootin’.