So, I've found this hunting hut, in reasonable state for my purposes. Of course money is not a problem, and here it is, the wood quickly renewed, the attic reinforced and secured for possible, hmm, storage.
We reach the place in the late afternoon, with four of the boys from the dorks gang. Christina has been here since the morning with Abu, and she has opened the hut and prepared some simple food. I don't talk much with the boys, and I simply spend my time observing and thinking. The alpha male is clearly trying to find a way to measure me without exposing himself. One of the others is going to fall for the trick before or later, and challenge me. But not this time I guess. The territory is too new for them.
We have guns but this time it's only binoculars. I take them to a ridge, sitting to read my book on Paul Erdős' life. During the walk, I have told them they have to find a special kind of bird. The first one to find it must come to me and show what he's found. I grumble at their slowness but I ignore them.
Sometimes I feel the hair of my neck rising. I look in the dense foliage, knowing that Abu, hidden somewhere, has his gun on me. I never manage to see him.
The thinnest of them runs to me. From his eyes I know he's found Christina, tied half hidden on a tree on the other ridge. Timely enough. The poor woman is not wearing clothes apart from the blindfold and the insects must be really annoying her by now.
On my instructions, he walks to the other side, reaching her. The three boys look at him with their binoculars having his way with her. When he's satisfied - twice, from the comments I hear - he unties her, helps her to her clothes, and brings her back to us.
We spend together another day until lunch on Sunday. I say just once that they cannot talk of what happened, or touch her. They won't be able to resist the night, so she's sleeping with me - of course on the floor. I enjoy every moment of the tension, the boys' gaze, and the untold questions.
