Chapter-3: A Pledge Accepted
“Splendid sir, right this way … right this way,” said the attendant. He moved to open the grey door.
Patricio followed close behind. He stepped through the opened door, and glanced at the attendant with an awkward look.
The door closed behind both men without a sound. Patricio puzzled over the new room. He stood in a duplicate grey room as the room before.
The attendant turned to Patricio and grinned.
“Right, here are the rules from this point on, señor. One, do not speak unless spoken to first. Also, you must speak in the third person and refer to yourself as, This Pledge. Three, all commands given by your guide walker, that’s me, must be followed to the exact. Four, all club members that a pledge communicates with must be addressed as Your Worship and then their name, if known of course. For instance: Your Worship Marco or His Worship Marco. Fifth, you must end all of your communications with sir or ma’am. Any questions before we continue, Pledge?”
A strained look tightened onto Patricio’s flustered face. And, his neck muscles flexed into knots: “No, sir.”
“Aha, well done, pledge. To begin, we must properly dress you in order to enter, since you are not a member. Here, use this orange cloth and fold it the long way … yes that’s nicely done. Now, secure it over your eyes. Good, good, nice and tight; next, secure this leather collar on your neck. Great, great, move closer, please; one moment, let me clip this chain on your collar. Spectacular, next, form an X with your wrists so that I may tie your hands together. Yes, just like that, marvelous. Oh, don’t look so glum, my chum. All set. Is the pledge ready?”
Patricio’s lips trembled into a firm press and his heart pounded hard in his chest. He swallowed his pride and replied with a beet red face:
“This Pledge is ready … sir.”
“Excellent, most excellent,” The attendant patted Patricio on his left shoulder, “let us move. Follow behind me and remember my instructions, pledge. Oh, one more thing, pledge, there is a most severe punishment, should you … remove your blindfold once we reach the main hall. Be warned. Do not, for whatever cause, do not remove this blindfold. This is not a game. The members of this club are dead serious about these rules. Please, do not test them, pledge.” The attendant tugged on the chain and guided Patricio through another grey door.
After closing the door shut, the attendant/ guide walker stopped and said: “Oh, right, right … my apologies pledge, I am forgetting your punishment. Please, raise your hands in front of you and open one palm. Good, good, now prepare for judgment, sentence and punishment. For delaying entry, the pledge must receive three slugs to one hand.”
Sweat dripped down the side of Patricio’s red face. Rage boiled within him and he complied with opening his left hand.
Quick, quick, quick, three hits from a thick ruler landed on Patricio’s hand. Each slug made a loud smack that echoed in the grey room. He winced at the sting and heat delivered to his hand. A stellar burst of scorn, shame and resentment reverberated in Patricio’s entire body. Bloodlust bloomed in his core, and he breathed heavy through his nose as he clenched his teeth tight.
“Right, well done pledge” said the guide walker. “Wait for me here as you are. I must clear the way forward before we advance.”
Alone, with his thoughts, Patricio waited a hand full of minutes. His mind wandered into sweet plans and dreams. And, in the middle of a delicious thought, the guide walker returned.
Three quick tugs on Patricio’s collar and the two men moved forward.
Several rooms later and after much deviant contemplation coursing in Patricio’s mind, the guide walker and Pledge stepped into a warm open room.
Music, laughter and exotic perfumes mixed in the air with the strong choke of cigar smoke. To his left, Patricio heard a woman in heels dancing on a wooden stage while some men cheered and whistled. To his right, he heard several men placing bets at a roulette wheel. And, farther ahead, off to the side, Patricio heard women ordering drinks.
“Well done, pledge, we are almost there,” said the guide walker. He patted Patricio on his head three times and they advanced through the crowd.
Familiar voices in conversation bloomed all around Patricio, images of men and women popped in his mind. He ignored them and his curiosity. But, he choked at the sound of one voice in particular. This voice could not be dismissed. It made his stomach tumble into a cold flush of disgust: Marco Riego.
“Here we are Pledge; His Worship Marco is to your left. Go on, speak your message,” said the eager guide walker as he tugged once on Patricio’s chain and collar.
“Marco, I …” a quick hard yank choked Patricio to a stop. The laughter of two familiar men erupted around Marco.
“No… No, pledge, we discussed this, try again,” said the embarrassed guide walker.
Patricio strained to hold his composure and to not strike back. He tried again. “Your … Worship, Marco … this pledge … this pledge, has a message from Diego Guerrero. The message is: your presence in an urgent matter is required this night. Please, return to the bank as soon as possible. This is a time sensitive matter … sir.”
Laughter subsided and Marco replied,
“Thank you, pledge … go and wait for me at the main receiving room. I will be there in short time. Guide walker, you may leave us now.”
“Your Worship Marco is most kind, by your leave, gentlemen. Come, pledge, we move.” The guide walker tugged on Patricio’s collar and they stepped away. Smoke hit Patricio in the face and he coughed several times as they moved back the way they came.
A drunken couple walking near Patricio and the guide walker stumbled. They caused Patricio to trip; and he fell hard on the floor with a man and a woman crashing onto him.
“Bad, pledge, bad.” said the red faced guide walker. “We do not trip and fondle the club members. His and Her Worship, apologies, truly, please accept our apologies.”
The man on the floor laughed uncontrollably for several breaths. He managed to compose himself and uttered back in a drunken voice, saying,
“No, pro-blame, no pro-blame, he’s ador-ah-bell. How old is he? Is he old enough to be mounted by my friend here? I think she had a craving for cub meat.”
In relief, the guide walker replied,
“Your Worship, this is yet a day old runt; nowhere near the minimum thirty day club cub rule.”
The woman drooled over Patricio as she drank from her half empty tequila bottle. She licked her lips: “Very innocent, I like them young. Perhaps another time, guide walker.” She rubbed Patricio under his chin and air kissed at him twice.
The guide walker smiled: “Your Worship is most kind, perhaps another time, indeed. Please excuse us; we have other matters to attend to.” He tugged the chain and continued on with Patricio.
The couple giggled and laughed as they stumbled away.
Patricio reflected on the odd couple, as they exited the warm room. The man and woman that crashed onto him felt as though they were naked.
Three more tugs on Patricio’s chain and the guide walker said,
“This way pledge, move along now … move along—good boy, that’s a good boy.”
Thank You
Thank you for reading. Next Monday, I will post the fourth part of Chapter-3: A Pledge Accepted.
Total Consciousness 