The Bezistan Chronicles
 By: Jean-Christophe
(© 2012 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 4
Journey to the Airstrip

Rashid's anger is palpable. The good humour with which he'd left the dining room– thanks to the entertainment provided by the African and Italian slaves – has now dissipated. His anger at his two ponies manifests itself in him savagely applying his whip to their backs and flanks. Shackled by their wrists to the shafts of his carriage, the ponies are unable to avoid his cruel onslaught. With each fresh cut of the whip they lurch forward in their harness in a vain attempt to escape the lash.

Rashid's anger isn't only because they fouled the front steps of his palace; as ponies they know this isn't allowed and they had been trained not to do so. He always prides himself on being a considerate driver in that, when he uses his ponies for any extended period of time, he ensures they are adequately watered and periodically given the opportunity to relieve themselves - and they know this. They should have waited for just such an opportunity.

No, his anger also lies in the fact that he must now punish them and punish them severely.

It isn't in Rashid's nature to allow any insult or an assault on his dignity to go unpunished. This applies equally to slave or freeman. If a freeman offends Rashid, the very least retribution he can expect is slow financial ruin over a period of time. At worst, he can find himself spirited away into Rashid's vast herd of slaves.

However, to be effective, the punishment of a slave has to be immediate and harsh. And the severity of the punishment rests exclusively with Rashid. In his mind the two ponies are deserving of the direst of punishments. To that end, he decides they will each receive twenty strokes of the whip at the end of the day and, tomorrow, they’ll be sent into the fields to permanently work as draft slaves. There, they can urinate and defecate unimpeded as the need presents itself.

The two ponies have served him well over the past two years and, until today, he’d always taken great pleasure in driving them around the estate. They possess a beautiful symmetry that Rashid appreciates.

Perfectly matched, their magnificent bodies are delight to behold. He watches as the powerful muscles in their shoulders and backs flex and strain under the sheen of their sweat. He looks at their strong thighs and legs powering along the driveway and he takes delight in the way the muscular globes of their buttocks undulate as they run. Almost lovingly, he applies the lash to their asses. As usual, both respond by thrusting their harnessed bodies forward.

Rashid's thoughts now turn to replacements for these two ponies. Immediately, he thinks of two recently acquired Australians still under training. He will need to enquire of his estate manager whether or not they are ready for him to drive. Annoyed by this unnecessary distraction to his routine, Rashid once more applies his whip to the ponies, this time to their shoulders. At least, he can drive them hard for the rest of the day.

Leaving his palace behind, Rashid now guides the ponies onto a road leading to the airstrip that will take him through the estate's extensive market gardens and orchards. These are a source of great pride to Rashid and, whilst they are one of the smaller enterprises in his family's vast, business empire, they are his favourite.

This estate has been in the hands of his family for centuries and is now much larger than the original, desolate holding taken up by his first ancestors. Prior to that, his ancestors had been simple, desert people who travelled into the African interior raiding for black slaves for the lucrative, Middle Eastern markets.

Later, as they prospered, they built the grim, stone fortress now known as the Bezistan and extended their slaving activities to acquiring white, Christian slaves from the corsairs who roamed the Middle Sea seizing ships and raiding coastal, Christian communities. These unfortunate victims were carried by corsair galleys to a point on the coast nearest the al-Bahr stronghold and then driven overland in slave coffles to the newly built Bezistan.

Here, they were processed and trained into slavery before being driven on to one of the many slave-markets supplied by the al-Bahr clan. Over the years these white slaves were eagerly sought out by the discerning buyer and as the demand for them grew so did the al-Bahr wealth.

Over the centuries, countless thousands of white slaves had trekked from the coast to the Bezistan and beyond to the slave-markets. Their bare feet had worn paths through the desert which are still visible today. The bones of those slaves who’d not survived the tortuous treks still lie alongside those paths bleached white by the merciless desert sun. Today, they serve as ghostly reminders of the al-Bahr family’s earlier, sinister activities.

Rashid always regards this as the original source of the family's wealth and for its current good fortune. For that reason, he places great sentimental value on the Bezistan and he has chosen it to be both his home and the headquarters for his business enterprises.

Over the centuries the al-Bahr have diversified and expanded their business interests and today they are among the richest and most powerful families in the region. Rashid's father, Prince Youssef has close ties to the country's ruler, whilst his older brother, Prince Ali is being groomed to take over from his father. Rashid, as the second son, is in charge of the family's vast business empire which includes the Bezistan.

Anxious to be at the airstrip for the arrival of his new shipment, Rashid urges his ponies into a faster pace. The thought of these new slaves helps to brighten Rashid's disposition. There is something exhilarating about looking over a shipment of newly enslaved, young men. Their sense of utter disbelief and bewilderment as they are unloaded from the cargo plane and into the transporters waiting to deliver them to the Bezistan is highly amusing.

As the cages containing them are carried out of the plane by his slaves, the newcomers see, for the first time, the fate that now awaits them. He wants to be on hand to witness both their arrival and distress.

The thought of their disbelief and despair makes him chuckle!

The road takes him through irrigated, green fields and orchards and as he looks around he is gratified to see that his slaves are gainfully employed under the whips of his overseers. Depending on the tasks they are assigned to, all the slaves are bent to their labours of digging, hoeing, planting or harvesting the high-grade fruits and vegetables that are so popular in the supermarkets of Europe and Asia.

Yet more slaves are ploughing fields ready for future plantings. These slaves, heavily yoked in pairs, strain as the pull their single furrow ploughs through the resisting soil. To encourage them in their labours each pair is assigned an enthusiastic overseer armed with a cruel whip. The air is rent with the sounds of cracking whips, cries of pain and the overseers' loud exhortations to the slaves to ‘WORK HARDER’. Rashid is well pleased with all this industriousness.

Travelling along the road with him, in both directions, are drays drawn by teams of twenty, naked slaves. These slaves all wear heavy leather harness and are yoked in pairs of five rows of four abreast. The drays travelling in one direction are heavily laden with the harvested produce of the fields and are heading for the processing and packing sheds. The slaves hauling these drays are obviously distressed. They strain under their yokes and thrust into their harness to keep the fully laden drays moving forward. Walking on either side of the team are two overseers, armed with long whips. These whips are constantly moving over the sweating, straining bodies of the team seeking out the back of any slave deemed by the overseers not to be giving of his best effort.

As he drives past a team of straining slaves, Rashid is reminded of the images from his schooldays of the Trek Boers of South Africa who used similar whips to keep their ox teams moving. Disdainfully, he sees no difference between the four-legged oxen used by the Boers and the two legged, ‘white oxen’ he employs at the Bezistan.

By contrast, the drays moving in the opposite direction are empty and are on their way back to the fields for another load. The teams pulling these carts are enjoying the brief respite that an empty load affords. However, as no time is wasted in returning them for another load; they are urged to move at a faster pace than a fully loaded dray.

As much as Rashid loves the surrounding desert landscapes, he is always uplifted by the cool greenness of these fields. They are made possible by the inexhaustible supply of water from the aquifers buried deep beneath the harsh, desert sands. Rashid has installed a series of pumps and waterwheels that continually bring water to the surface and keep it flowing through the water channels which criss-cross these fields. These pumps and waterwheels are all powered by slaves and operate, ceaselessly, for twenty-four hours a day all year round.

Suddenly, out of the heat haze, Rashid sees the bulky, stone building that is the Bezistan. He knows within its grim walls there is feverish activity in preparing the pens and equipment for the induction of the new arrivals into their slavery.

And, of course, his trainers are still working on those slaves scheduled for sale at the next auction. No doubt, his trainers are honing the skills of these slaves who are destined to be sold as pleasure slaves. The thought of the slaves being put through their hoops by his trainers puts Rashid in good humour and causes him to laugh out loud.

Rashid's thoughts now turn to this morning's conversation with his beloved father, Prince Youssef. Finally, the old man has realised it is time to ease back and allow his older son Prince Ali to represent the al-Bahr family in the political affairs of the capital.

Rashid welcomes his father's decision to return to the Bezistan. Here Prince Youssef will be able to live a relaxed lifestyle more in keeping with his age. Both Rashid and Ali have been concerned for some time at their father's poor health. Grossly overweight, it is almost impossible for the old man to walk any distance without the assistance of his body slaves.

Rashid knows his father will want to involve himself in the many activities of the Bezistan, particularly those that concern the slaves. Youssef enjoys nothing more than travelling around the fields looking for any dereliction of duty on the part of a slave; such transgressions are always punished immediately and harshly. Rashid suspects that life for the slaves is about to become much harder with his beloved father’s homecoming.

Rashid has decided to order a purpose built litter to enable his father to travel around the estate in comfort as well as a specially designed carriage. Rashid will need to discuss the allocation of slaves to serve as his father’s litter-bearers and as ponies with Geoff, the estate manager. He knows Geoff will be delighted to hear that Prince Youssef is to live permanently at the Bezistan.

Both men have great love and respect for each other; many times Prince Youssef has stated that Geoff – or Kareem - is his third ‘son’ and he has always insisted that Geoff share in the bounty of the family's fortunes. There is also the impending visit of his teenaged nephew, Achmed, his brother Ali's eldest son, due home from his school in the UK for the long summer break. He will need a young slave to serve him during his stay.

Perhaps the young, Greek slave he saw this morning and who is awaiting his return is a suitable candidate. This is another matter to be referred to Geoff.

Thinking of Geoff, Rashid realises it has been sometime since they last shared a bed together. Unfortunately, the affairs of both men cut into much of their spare time and from Rashid's perspective this is unsatisfactory. It's true that within his palace he has a wide choice of slaves to fuck. However, for Rashid, the fucking of a slave isn't the same as sharing his nights with Geoff.

Whilst time spent with a slave is most enjoyable, it is about him satisfying his own considerable, sexual urges and exerting his power over the submissive slave. With Geoff it is different. Each has a mutual love and respect for the other and his time spent with Geoff always has a soothing effect on him.

Lying in bed, with Geoff's strong arms wrapped around his body, he feels secure and temporarily free of the many tensions of his hectic lifestyle - he knows this sense of security goes back to their school years when Geoff protected him from the school bullies. He longs for the touch of Geoff's hard body pressed against him and he wants to feel the hairs on Geoff's body exciting his skin. But most of all, he wants to feel Geoff's hard cock inside his own body.

The thought of Geoff waiting for him at the airstrip spurs him on.

With an impatient slap of the reins against their shoulders and the shouted command to "Hup, Hup" both ponies break into a faster pace; Rashid further encourages them with a series of well-aimed cuts of his whip.

Now, the only sounds to be heard in the still desert air are the rattling of the wheels, the pounding of the ponies' feet on the compacted roadway and their ragged gasps as they gulp air into their tortured lungs. Rashid watches as individual beads of sweat form on the ponies' shoulders and coalesce into little rivulets to slowly trickle down the broad sweep of their backs before being channelled into the valleys between their muscular buttocks.

Suddenly, ahead of him, Rashid sees distorted shapes and figures emerging from the shimmering heat haze. At last, he has reached the airstrip with time to spare.

Pulling back on their reins, Rashid slows the ponies to a walk and guides them to a spot alongside Geoff's trap. Immediately, a slave races forward to take the reins from Rashid and tethers his ponies beside Geoff's pony. Then hastening back, the slave falls to his hands and knees alongside Rashid's carriage and offers his back as a step down. Rashid steps out of his carriage and pauses briefly on the slave's back as he sees Geoff walking towards him. Stepping down he hurries towards his lover.

Both men warmly embrace and linger in each other’s' arms. Rashid clings closely to Geoff and breathes in the pleasant, warm, masculine scent of his strong body. As he ruffles Geoff's tousled, tow-coloured hair, he feels his cock harden and begin to throb. Through their tight embrace he feels a reciprocal hardening in Geoff's groin.

"I've missed you Kareem. My bed is cold without you." Rashid whispers hoarsely.

"I've missed you too, Rashid." Geoff replies. "But what's this about your bed being cold. What about your new body slaves, aren't they are able to keep you warm?"

"They are delightful. But they're not the same as having you spend the night with me. It's been too long since we last made love."

"I know, Rashid, I know. But you have been away on business and since your return I've been busy preparing for this new shipment of slaves. Give me a couple of days to see the new slaves through their processing and then I'll have plenty of time to be with you. Perhaps we can even spend time with your new body slaves. I haven't had a proper inspection of them as yet. Tell me, do they live up to your expectations?"

"In every respect, yes they do. It will be fun to explore them further with you. I look forward to this, but please Geoff, let it soon?"

"It will be, Rashid. I promise. But tell me what's been happening?"

Geoff listens patiently to all that Rashid has to tell him He expresses his delight at the news that Prince Youssef is to take up residence with them and comments that His Highness will, as is his practice, involve himself in all aspects of life at the Bezistan. He laughingly agrees with Rashid that life for the slaves will, undoubtedly, become very much harder as ‘Prince Youssef is a hard taskmaster.’

He offers to find the eight or ten slaves to serve as bearers for the prince's new litter and to find suitable ponies. He listens sympathetically to Rashid's diatribe against his ponies and, as the punishment of slaves usually falls within his jurisdiction, he assures Rashid that both ponies will be soundly whipped later that day and then permanently assigned to a plough.

Mollified, Rashid now asks. "How are the new Australian ponies coming along, Geoff? Are they ready for my use? Would they make suitable replacements?"

"Yes, they're ready and will meet all your requirements. We've had them in training for two months and now they are ready to begin work as permanent ponies. Their spirits have been tamed and they are broken in to both whip and harness. They have been taught to work as a pair and they respond well to all commands in both English and Arabic. Their bodies have hardened and their muscular definition is more pronounced than when they first arrived and of course they are kept smooth. Their hides have become `sun-hardened' and are a deep honey colour. They are truly magnificent and worthy of you Rashid. I've driven them on a number of occasions and have been very impressed with them. The credit for all this rests with Faris, the stable-master. I'll inform him that you will be using them as of tomorrow."

"Thank you, Geoff. As always I can rely on you. Oh! There's one other matter I need to ask you about. When I left the palace earlier I noticed a young slave I'd not seen before. I understand he's from the stables. What can you tell me about him?"

"What do you think of him? He's magnificent isn't he? He's a Greek and the progeny of my pony. You may remember buying them as a father and son pair five or six years ago. And before you ask - yes, he's a virgin. I've always kept him separated from the older slaves and ponies to ensure he remains so. But now he has reached maturity and is ready to join the other slaves in the stables and I can no longer protect him from them. So this morning, I arranged for him to deliver your ponies to the palace and to wait for your departure. I knew you would notice him and that, no doubt, you would want to be the first to fuck him. After all as his owner you are entitled to the first bite of the cherry. Am I correct, Rashid? You do want to fuck him?"

"Yes to all your questions, Geoff," Rashid laughs. "Yes, he is magnificent, and yes, I do want to be the first to bite his cherry as you so indelicately put it. I've given Daoud instructions to prepare him and place him in my apartments to await my return. This evening, I will awaken him to the true reality of being a slave. But after that - what is his future to be?"

"He'll serve as a pony - that was always my intention. But why do you ask?"

"As you know my nephew, Achmed is to spend his school holidays here at the Bezistan. He'll require the services of a slave for the duration of his stay and I think the young Greek would be eminently suitable. Although, he obviously lacks sexual experience and this deficiency would need to be rectified. What do you think, Geoff?"

"Well the slave is pleasant-natured and obedient and would serve Achmed loyally, I have no doubts. But, like you, my concern is for the slave's lack of sexual experience. And what about Achmed; how experienced is he?"

"Have you forgotten what we were like at Achmed’s age?" Rashid laughingly asks. "I would think Achmed is every bit as adventurous as we were at that age."

"I take your point, Rashid. Achmed is at an exciting time for a young man and I'm sure he’ll want to experiment with his slave. There's still a month or so before his arrival - time enough to have the slave trained in how to serve a master. Leave it with me. I'll make sure he makes Achmed's visit both enjoyable and memorable."

Suddenly, their conversation is interrupted by the sound of a distant aircraft. Looking to the north-west, Rashid and Geoff see a dark speck in the sky.

"As usual, the pilot's right on time." Geoff comments.

Strolling to the edge of the runway, Rashid and Geoff pass the two stationary transporters and their teams of draft slaves waiting to take the new arrivals to the Bezistan. The slaves, too, are looking in the direction of the approaching plane; they know that this brief respite from work is about to end.

At the edge of the runway, twenty, naked slaves are huddled in a group under the watchful eyes and whips of their overseers; their assigned job is to unload the cages containing the new arrivals from the plane once it has landed. As they approach both men are assailed with the stench of unwashed bodies, stale sweat and the lingering smells of urine and excrement.

"Let's move upwind from them. They're pretty ripe." Geoff suggests to Rashid as he wrinkles his nose in distaste.

Rashid watches eagerly as the plane lands and taxis to a standstill on the runway. Impatiently he waits for the pilot to cut the engines before hurrying out to take up his position at the plane's rear. There he waits for the plane's loading ramp to be lowered. Soon he is joined by Geoff. Both men are anxious to board the plane and view the cargo of new slave recruits.

To be continued...

Posted: 02/24/12