This is part 4 of 4 of a short work of fiction. Please let me know what you think about the imagery contained and the writing style used.
“One hundred! Halt!” shouted the sergeant.
It was standard practice to stop a flogging at each 100 lashes to allow the regimental surgeon to inspect the prisoner’s wounds and evaluate if he was fit to continue. It also allowed time for the corporals to switch sides and refresh themselves by drinking cool water—and to pour some over their heads.
The surgeon ordered that the prisoner’s gag be removed and he be given water to drink. He also ordered water be poured down Murray’s back to wash away the accumulated blood and ease his inspection of the soldier’s torn skin. He saw that the wounds, while undoubtedly painful, were merely skin deep and no damage had been done to underlying muscle. He ordered that a 15 minute respite be given, to allow the flogged man to catch his breath.
Major Blade ordered the lieutenant to exercise the Company in place, while waiting for the 15 minutes to pass. The lieutenant shouted the order for each sergeant standing in front of the platoons to begin exercising their troops.
Some of the sergeants ordered their men to remove their tunics and exercise in their tank tops, while others ordered their men to strip shirtless. Five platoons of 50 men each began to chant counts of their exercise repetitions. Their fast movements and the heat of the evening quickly had sweat pouring from their smooth, young bodies.
The site of the men exerting themselves entertained Major Blade to such an extent that he ordered Murray’s respite extended out to a full half an hour. He knew that the men would blame Murray for this session of late evening work in the sun.
2nd Platoon had ended their session with a very fast series of jumping jacks. Major Blade ordered the sergeant in charge of that platoon to select two of his men to provide a fresh pair of sweaty socks with which to gag the prisoner. The selected men ran to the whipping post and removed their boots and socks, handing them to the sergeant in charge.
Murray did not have the strength to resist and simply opened his mouth when approached by the sergeant. The fresh pair of socks placed in his mouth were soaked through and even more pungent than the last pair, as the soldier providing them was very poor at personal hygiene and had not changed them since the start of the march to Nameless field, three days prior. The gag was kept in place, as before, by tying the second pair of socks around his head.
With the gag securely in place, and the corporals rested, the second half of the punishment could begin. The men stood to attention in their orderly platoons, dripping with sweat and breathing hard from their fast session of forced exercise, as the order came to resume the punishment.
“From the left, lay on!” the sergeant shouted.
Murray groaned before the first stroke fell, an admission of unbearable anticipation. The corporal on the left, using the full strength of us hitherto unused right arm, slapped his whip down on the prisoner’s exposed back. Each lash of the second hundred was far more excruciating for Murray than the first, as he knew what to expect this time, and his will and body were weakened from the previous beating.
Murray collapsed at the one hundred forty fourth lash, and hung from his wrists for the remainder of the punishment. He didn’t have the strength to react to the blows lashing more skin off his already raw back, but he felt the keenly the agony of every stroke and his stomach turned with by-then familiar fearful expectation of the next one to land.
At the conclusion of the punishment, the surgeon ordered Murray’s back washed with cool water and caked with rough salt. He ordered that the salt be attended to by a guard and replenished if it dissolved into the wounds or flaked off.
“Now that he knows the meaning of punishment, let him think about it,” Major Blade said.
He ordered that Murray was to spend the night tied to the whipping post, and was to be cut down at sunrise. The guard would escort him the sergeant major for a full day’s labor the next morning.
I must admit, though, that having Murray tied to the whipping post was NOT standard practise and, as much as I like a good whipping, I think it might be going too far. In the movies and in all the literature I’ve read the “culprit” is immediately cut down and has his back tended to. He has earned a good rest after taking a really severe whipping. There is no reason why he cannot enjoy a good night’s sleep if he can sleep. It can sometims can very chilly at night in some places… even those where it’s hot by day.
I must admit, though, that having Murray tied to the whipping post was NOT standard practise and, as much as I like a good whipping, I think it might be going too far. In the movies and in all the literature I’ve read the “culprit” is immediately cut down and has his back tended to. He has earned a good rest after taking a really severe whipping. There is no reason why he cannot enjoy a good night’s sleep if he can sleep. It can sometims get very chilly at night in some places… even those where it’s hot by day.
I meant tied “overnight”.
A rope or leather gag would have been even greater and sexier. The rope would chafe into Murray’s gums thus causing a trickle of blood to emanate from his mouth and flow down the side of his chin like in the “Longitude” naval flogging scene.
Military whippings are my favourite… even more so than naval ones There’s just something about the army and whipping that go together. The army is a masculine institution where discipline is prized and in which bravery is rewarded. Takig a whipping in front of yur comrades is hot! It is not my only whipping fantasy but it IS my favourite.
This story is well-written. The story “The Soldier’s Wife” from the Scott Claver book is also well-written though a bit too gory. The name of the book is “Under the Lash, A history of Corporal Punishment in the British Armed Forces”. Try http://www.abebooks.com if you want a copy.
I believe that junior officers should also be whipped but I have not quite worked out the logistics.
A rope or leather gag would have been even greater and sexier. The rope would chafe into Murray’s gums thus causing a trickle of blood to emanate from his mouth and flow down the side of his chin like in the “Longitude” naval flogging scene.
Military whippings are my favourite… even more so than naval ones. There’s just something about the army and whipping that go together. The army is a masculine institution where discipline is prized and in which bravery is rewarded. Takig a whipping in front of your comrades is hot! It is not my only whipping fantasy but it IS my favourite.
This story is well-written. The story “The Soldier’s Wife” from the Scott Claver book is also well-written though a bit too gory. The name of the book is “Under the Lash, A history of Corporal Punishment in the British Armed Forces”. Try http://www.abebooks.com if you want a copy.
I believe that junior officers should also be whipped but I have not quite worked out the logistics.
Reply iwasflogged on January 24, 2012 at 1:06 am
OMG! Gagged with socks that had been worn for three days on the march… you certainly know how to pile it on!
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OMG! Gagged with socks that had been worn for three days on the march… you certainly know how to pile it on!