The master frowned. "No corporal punishment? You're a strange one."

Says the man who modified his slave to have a v.a.g.i.n.a for a mouth. Maggie glared at him.

Kor shrugged. "It is the way of my people."

"Well if you don't wish to beat her, perhaps a little humiliation might do the trick? There are also areas where you can have your slave f.e.l.l.a.t.e you publicly, to the interest and amus.e.m.e.nt of all. I find the threat of a public b.l.o.w. .j.o.b does wonders when discipline is called for and I'm too tired to wield the whip."

"A worthy suggestion," Kor said neutrally, though Maggie could tell he was both disgusted and angered by the man's advice. "I think I'll go look at the bar later-as soon as I find my room."

"Good luck with that," the other master said with a sigh. "I went to look for my own room as soon as I came an hour ago. But it's no use-they're having technical difficulties and the blocks are all backed up."

"Blocks? What blocks?" Kor said.

"Oh, is this your first time in a junket?" the other man enquired.

"It is."

"Well then, the rooming may be a bit of a surprise to you. Do you see the clear gla.s.s blocks that make up the walls? Those are the rooms."

"They are?" Maggie breathed, forgetting to be silent. On looking closer, she could see that the huge gla.s.s blocks that seemed to make up the walls of the ship did in fact, have people inside them. All of them were moving very slowly, snaking their way around the walls so the view must be continuously changing. She also noticed, with some unease, that the blocks were clear gla.s.s-there was no privacy to be had, even in a "private" room.

"Indeed," the other master said. "The blocks move in a maze on a complex system of jet lifts and anthro-pulleys. Unfortunately, only one can be accessed at a time and if there is any delay at all, the entire system backs up." The man leaned closer to Kor and whispered, "There has been some speculation that the makers of the ship designed it that way on purpose. You know-to force people to mingle and buy more at the ship's shops and vendors? I consider it extremely likely but it doesn't do to say so too loudly."

"That's...very illuminating," Kor said, frowning. "But what do we do if we need to get into our room sooner rather than later?" He was looking at Maggie as he spoke, no doubt wondering how long she could hold out without him touching her.

Maggie was wondering the same thing. Already she could feel the pulse of her implant speeding up, demanding the touch of her master's hand. Would she be able to wait another hour or more for Kor to touch her and ease her need? She wasn't sure.

"You'll just have to do as the rest of us do, wander around and buy merchandize we don't really need." The fat slave owner laughed, as though it was a joke. "In the mean time, though, go up to the Warden of the Blocks and show him your pa.s.s...o...b.. He'll put your name on the list and call you when your block comes up."

"Thank you," Kor said, nodding. "Speaking with you has been most enlightening."

"Any time! Glad to help a fellow pa.s.senger. And don't forget what I said about a public display of humiliation. If you don't mind me saying, I can tell your slave would benefit from such a thing-she speaks out of turn entirely too much."

Kor nodded silently and steered Maggie away.

"I barely said a word," she protested in an indignant whisper as soon as they were out of ear shot of the other man.

"Even one word is too much," Kor growled. "As far as b.a.s.t.a.r.ds like that are concerned, anyway. Which is why he took away his own slave's power of speech." He sounded angry. "Evil son of a wh.o.r.e."

"That poor girl," Maggie murmured with a shiver as they made their way through the crowd. "What an awful thing to do to someone!"

"I told you there was a reason female liberation groups targeted this area," Kor murmured back under his breath. "Are you thirsty? It looked like he was right-they have a full bar here."

Maggie opened her mouth to say yes...and then closed it again. What she saw on the left hand side of the large circular bar stocked with every imaginable colored bottle was almost too much to take in.

A large metal post was set up in the middle of the area which was clearly meant for the punishment of slaves. A hapless slave girl wearing nothing but long blue ta.s.sels on her nipples was strung up by her wrists at the post, her arms high over her head. The position forced her to stand on her tiptoes.

Behind her a man who was obviously her master was wielding a wicked looking whip that fizzled and crackled as it hit her. Sparks shot from the end of the whip and with every blow the slave girl gasped and jumped, trying in vain to twist away from the stinging, crackling lash. The crowd gathered around the scene laughed and cheered. Even worse, several other masters seemed to be waiting in line to beat their slaves as well.

"What kind of place is this?" Maggie demanded, feeling sick. "Where the people actually stand in line to beat their slaves with that horrible thing?"

"That thing is a pain whip," Kor muttered under his breath. "It's electrified. Leaves no visible mark but with each stroke it feels as though every nerve in the body is on fire. Not a pleasant sensation."

"You've seen this kind of whip used before?" Maggie asked.

He made a face. "Had it used on me, blondie. Hurts like a son of a b.i.t.c.h-poor girl."

Maggie didn't want to watch anymore. Not when there was nothing she could do to stop the cruel display.

"Come on," she said, turning away. "Let's go see about our room."

"I'm with you." Kor took her by the arm and steered her to the far end of the large common area. There they found an opening in the gla.s.s blocks about as wide as a double doorway. Standing in front of the opening, behind a work terminal, was another blue-skinned, silver-eyed alien wearing the same red and gold uniform Rosh had been wearing.

"h.e.l.lo, Master," he said as Kor approached him and held out the pa.s.s...o...b.. "I am Yiuck-the Warden of the Blocks. But if you've come about your block, I'm afraid we're experiencing a few small technical difficulties. There's a one to two hour wait right now."

Maggie had a moment of panic. "Two hours?" she asked. Her implant throbbed strongly and she looked appealingly at Kor. "I don't know if I can wait that long," she whispered.

The guard looked at her in surprise. "Your slave speaks out of turn, master."

Kor glared at the alien. "Her implant makes her most impatient to be in a room alone with me. If I don't satisfy it soon, she will begin to have a most unfortunate reaction."

Maggie felt her cheeks growing hot. Even though it was probably a common problem with slaves and their implants on this particular ship, it was still embarra.s.sing to hear Kor inform someone that she was h.o.r.n.y out of her mind and needed to be serviced.

"As to that," the Warden of the Blocks said, "We have a lounge area where you can slake all your needs."

"My needs are private," Kor grated. "As are those of my slave."

The alien laughed. "My dear master, nothing is truly private here-as you can see from the activities taking place in those blocks already occupied."

He pointed to one of the clear gla.s.s block rooms moving slowly across the wall above him. Sure enough, Maggie saw a master with a slave on her knees in front of him, giving him a very vigorous b.l.o.w. .j.o.b. The sight made her implant throb strongly and she crossed her legs as tightly as she could, feeling miserable. G.o.d, what was wrong with her?

"As I said, the lounge area is designated for s.e.xual gratification. You'll find it just over there." The Warden of the Blocks pointed. "Anything is permissible, we only ask that you keep your activities confined to that area and do not allow your slave to mouth you in any of our food service areas."

"What if I don't want to use the lounge?" Kor demanded.

The alien shrugged. "Then I'm afraid you will have to wait for your block to come around to the entrance here." He nodded at the wide opening behind him. "Your pa.s.s...o...b..will light up and play a little tune when your block is available for access. You will have exactly five solar minutes to respond and if you miss your block, you'll have to wait a minimum of two hours for it to come around again. So please drop whatever or whoever you're doing and come at once when your orb summons you."

Just at that moment, a master with a blinking, jingling pa.s.s...o...b..hurried up and waved it in the Warden's face.

"I'm not too late, am I?" he asked, puffing and blowing. "I've been waiting for hours and I was all the way across the room when this thing went off."

"Your block will be in position for another thirty seconds," the alien announced smoothly. "If you go now-"

But the man was already rushing past him. He threw himself through the open doors and just barely made it into the gla.s.s block that served as his room before it moved slowly past and another empty block took its place.

Maggie's implant was throbbing steadily now. She tugged at Kor's arm and gave him a pleading look. "Seriously, I can't wait much longer!" she whispered desperately.

Kor nodded and stepped up again.

"I'll pay good credit for you to move my block to the top of the rotation," he said in a low voice.

The Warden of the Blocks shook his head. "I'm sorry, Master, but the blocks follow a set pattern which is completely unchangeable."

"Another block then," Kor said quickly. "I'll pay for a different one-closer to the top."

"Impossible," the Warden said. "The masters at the top of the rotation have been waiting for hours already. If word got out that I was giving away their blocks, I would lose my job. No amount of credit is worth that."

"But I-" Kor began.

The Warden cut him off.

"I'm sorry, master, you'll simply have to wait your turn. And in case you're wondering, the lounging area is that way." He pointed firmly to one corner of the ma.s.sive room. "Please don't return until your pa.s.s...o...b..summons you."

"Oh my G.o.d," Maggie muttered as they left in the direction the Warden had pointed. "Worst...hotel...ever."

"I'm sorry, blondie," Kor murmured. "I had no idea it would be like this. If there was any other way to get to the Dragon's Mouth..."

"But there's not. I get it." Maggie crossed her arms over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and hissed as her increasingly sensitive nipples protested the move. "I guess I'll just have to grin and bear it. In the mean time, maybe we should try to find clues about my implant. You know, put the time to good use."

"We can try," Kor said, looking at her doubtfully. "But are you sure you can wait?"

"I'll have to," Maggie said grimly. "Oh, look-I think this is the 'lounging area' he was walking about."

They had reached a large corner of the room which was roped off by scarlet braids that appeared to be made of some kind of woven hair. Maggie wondered if the hair that made the ropes belonged to some exotic animal...or if it was made of dyed slave hair. Ugh! She had an involuntary shiver at the thought.

Beyond the rope was a long row of plush blue lounging chairs that looked almost like Lazy Boy recliners. But the bottom footrest part of each lounger was split in two with each piece able to swing outward.

"What are those for?" Maggie asked but even as the words left her lips, her question was answered. As she watched, one of the masters led his half-naked girl over to the row of loungers. She was wearing less than Maggie but something besides the girl's scanty dress caught her eye-there was a blinking red light in the center of her naval-an implant! And it looked exactly like hers.

"Kor," she whispered. "Look!"

"I see," he murmured.

They continued to watch as the master sat himself down in one of the chairs. Then he popped open his pants and motioned his slave girl down between his legs. The split between the two moveable footrests left plenty of room for the girl to go on her knees before him.

"Take your time," Maggie heard him say. "I want to feel your sweet lips wrapped around me, Belindah my dear."

"Yes, Master," she murmured, gazing up at him adoringly. "And I want to feel you in my mouth."

Maggie's implant pulsed strongly again as she watched the slave girl take her master's c.o.c.k deep in her mouth, licking and kissing it lovingly. Did the girl actually enjoy doing that...or was it her implant only making her think she enjoyed it?

That's not the real question, Maggie, whispered a little voice in her head. The real question is would you enjoy doing that to Kor? And I think we already know the answer to that.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Kor murmured, surprising her out of her guilty thoughts.

"Huh?" Maggie jumped. "Oh, I...I doubt it."

"I'm thinking," he continued. "That if that girl has the same implant as you-"

"Her master might be able to tell us exactly where to go," Maggie answered. "But do you think we should, uh, talk to him while he's, you know...busy?"

"I think-" Kor began but the man surprised them both by speaking to Kor.

"Do you have a problem? This is the lounging area, you know-such things are permitted here." He nodded down at the girl between his legs who continued to suck him lovingly.

"Just admiring your girl's work," Kor said smoothly. "My own slave has what appears to be the same kind of implant as yours but her oral technique is sadly lacking. Which is why I'm taking her to the Dragon's Mouth to try and get it fixed."

"The implant isn't always to blame when it comes to technique," the master said, relaxing visibly. "Come, sit beside me and I'll tell you about it. Maybe my girl can give yours a few pointers."

"Oh, of course." Kor nodded and took Maggie by the arm. "Just pretend," he murmured in a low voice. "You don't actually have to do anything, all right?"

Maggie nodded but her implant was pulsing and she was feeling hotter by the minute as she followed Kor into the lounge area. When he took the seat beside the other man, she sank obediently to her knees before him "Now then, tell me the problem," the man said to Kor.

"As I said, terrible technique. And she's mouthy too." Kor frowned down at Maggie who did her best to look contrite. "I bought her at the Flesh Bazaar with the implant already in place and now-"

"Well, let's see this so called 'terrible technique' the other man interrupted. "As I said, maybe Belindah can point her in the right direction."

"Oh, that's all right," Kor shook his head. "I couldn't possibly trouble your slave to teach mine while she's, ah, busy with you."

"Nonsense-I insist." The other man frowned. "Unless you have something to hide?"

"Of course not," Kor said. "It's just that..."

But before he could finish the sentence, Maggie was already leaning forward and unsnapping the magno tabs that held his trousers in place.

Just the tip, she promised herself as his ma.s.sive shaft sprang free and she took it in her hands. That's all, just the tip. I swear...

"Very impressive," the other master murmured, eying Kor's c.o.c.k as Maggie began to rub and caress it. "You must have Kindred blood in you."

"So I'm told," Kor said in a choked voice. "I never really knew my parents but-Maggie," he broke off when she began to rub her cheek against him. "You, uh, don't need to do that."

"But I like to, Master," Maggie murmured, looking up at him. "I like it a lot."

She wasn't lying. Maybe it was the implant pulsing in her belly or maybe not, but she found she loved rubbing his thick, long shaft against her cheek. It was so hot and the skin was so silky, his male musk warm and enticing. The dark spices of his skin seemed to invade her brain and make it hard to think. At the tips of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s her nipples were so tight they hurt and between her legs her p.u.s.s.y was throbbing and wet with need.

"You most certainly don't need to do it like that," the other master said. He looked at Kor. "I can see what you mean-that isn't very effective at all."

"Actually," Kor cleared his throat. "I find it quite, uh, stimulating."

"Not as much as you will once my Belindah has showed her a thing or to. Belindah, my love, show this little slave girl how you love to lick," he instructed his slave. "It's all right, you may demonstrate on me."

"Yes, Master," the girl murmured. Sitting back a little so Maggie could see she began a long slow lick from the base of her master's c.o.c.k all the way up to the crown.

"Ahhh!" her master sighed in evident pleasure. "See that?" he murmured to Kor. "She's got the sweetest little tongue I've ever felt. Well," he added, nodding at Maggie. "Go on-do as Belindah is. Show your master you can make him feel good."

"Oh, no, really-" Kor began but Maggie looked up at him and nodded.

"It's all right, Master," she whispered. "I...I want to."