Posted by PK on October 06, 2001 at 03:50:17:
"Michael! Good to see you! Good God, I never thought you'd really catch anything." He eyed
Sophie. "Not bad at all. And great timing. Chloe will be done in about half an hour, Amanda
isn't back yet, and it's about time we were getting another one ready to go on. Want her
gutted or cooked alive?"
"Whoah, just a minute," Michael cut in as Sophie reacted in rising alarm. "She's not for
eating, she's my guest."
Richard looked her over again. "Dressed like that, she's meat. Come on, man, don't be a
spoilsport. We've only got one so far and I'm sharing mine."
"I caught her, I say what happens to her," Michael said stubbornly. "Look, Richard," he tried
reasonably. "There plenty on one for all of us. How many are there here, eight or nine?"
Richard shook his head. "It's more fun to have the second meal fresh, you know that. Not to
mention the pleasure of watching her cook while you eat the first one. It's tradition."
Michael evaded. "Amanda isn't back yet?" He didn't know the terrifying redhead, but he'd
heard of her. "Surely she'll bring something? What do you bet she won't? I'll lay a hundred on
it, she brings one in before Chloe's done."
"Just a hundred? If you're so sure, why not bet her?" He pulled out his wallet and leafed
through notes. "How much do you reckon? Two hundred against her? Come on, man, mine is
free. Okay, I'll go to three..."
I'm livestock to be sold or wagered, Sophie realised. If he says so. She looked at Michael.
Was he wavering? If he does I'll have to hope Amanda caught some poor bitch and gets her
here fast. Just not Alanna, please....
"Run that by me again, because, not to be rude or ought, but it sounds bloody insane," Sajida
said flatly. She had woken up at last and Alanna had managed to untie her. "I mean, don't
think I'm not grateful you talked her out of killing me, and I really appreciate you holding on
here while I was spark out - though I still think you're mad for that - but now I'm up, why not
leg it with me?"
Alanna shrugged. "I promised. Anyway, if we go she'll hunt you down, and then me...."
"She can bloody try."
"....while this way you're clear and I've got a weeks grace and a fair chance. Look, you can go
any time you like, so..."
"Why bother? If she's not going to top me, I may as well keep you company. None of the rest
of those plonkers can catch me. I just don't get how you're so calm about it, resigned like.
Got a death wish or something?"
Alanna shrugged. "I'm not resigned exactly, more like I've just accepted it."
"Not me. If I ever see the Grim Reaper coming I'll knee him in the goolies and leg it
sharpish."
Alanna laughed. "Yes, I saw that episode of Red Dwarf too." The two women grinned at each
other.
"Hey, did you hear something?" Sajida noted. "Somebody's coming."
Both of them backed off into the trees and watched as the noises approached. Amanda
strode into the clearing, not attempting to be stealthy, with a near-naked blonde in tow. I
might have known, Alanna thought. She's bagged poor Susan. She stepped out of cover just
before Sajida did.
"Hi kids, I'm home," Amanda announced. "And I have my party food." She slipped off her
pack and rummaged in it. "So you two can have these back." She tossed them their knives.
"Coming to the party with me?"
Sajida looked doubtfully at Susan. It was in her face that she wanted to do something.
Amanda shot her a warning look. "Don't even think about it, lass. Face to face we both know
you can't take me and I've made all the concessions I'm going to for one day. Come on, join
the group. It'll be more fun with a couple more girls."
"For extra helpings?" Sajida was suspicious.
"As my guests. Repeat, MY guests. We've got Chloe, who should be about done now by the
smell," she snuffed appreciatively. "And sweet Susie here for later. You're both armed and
you're with me. Believe me, nobody will try anything on us. Not twice, anyway."
Sajida shrugged. "What the fuck, might as well, can't dance. Sorry, Susan." She met the
docile girl's eyes squarely. "She's right. I can't stop her. Alanna?"
Alanna's answer was cut short by the approach of another person. All eyes turned to see an
athletic woman in black leathers arrive.
"I do not BELIEVE it," said Amanda in a passable imitation of Victor Meldrew. "What is this,
Piccadilly bloody Circus?"
The woman clad in Evil But Seductive Barbarian mode took in the scene. "Three of them all
to yourself? Why do you get all the good ones?"
"Think about it for a minute and you might just work it out," said Amanda. "What do you want,
Vicky?"
"One of these will do nicely," Vicky said.
"Forget it," said Amanda flatly. "Come to the picnic ground with us, if you like. We're having
her." She indicated Susan who smiled shyly.
"I think I'll have that one," said Vicky, drawing her sword and pointing at Sajida. She moved
the sword to oppose Amanda who was holding a leash, not a weapon. "Want to argue about
it?"
"Well, yes, as a matter of fact. Though how you'd catch her waving that great pig-sticker
about I can't imagine. She's too quick for you. Don't be silly, Vicky, put it away."
Vicky did not put it away. She moved forward. "You know, I think you trade too much on your
reputation. You talk people to death. I think you're overrated."
Alanna and Sajida looked at each other. The look said 'No, she's not.' They drew their knives
just in case, but Amanda waved them back. She would handle it.
"One last time, Vicky, drop it. Stop this now or you'll regret it. That I promise you."
"Think your bunnies are going to help you?" Vicky sneered. She took another step.
Amanda turned to Susan, dropping her lead. "Sorry about this, but I won't be long. Don't go
away, okay?" Susan nodded obediently. Vicky attacked while her head was turned.
It was getting uncomfortably close to the deadline. Sophie had been given a beer and
Michael hadn't actually wagered her, but she was still a half-naked woman - the only one not
being cooked - in a company of woman-eating male hunters. She could feel the eyes on her
and the pressure was growing on Michael to offer her for the spit. Maybe soon they would
stop even asking. Michael tried to reassure her but he was getting edgy. Oh God, here was
Richard again.
"Hi Sophie," he said politely. She was now guest livestock, food that talked. She nodded
back. "Look, Michael," he went on. "We've all been patient, but it's time we got real. Nobody
knows where Amanda's got to. God knows where Vicky is, not that she's likely to have caught
anything. Time to get on with it. This is a hunting party. She is game." He gave Sophie an
apologetic shrug that said, sorry, that's just how it is.
"Richard, I told you.....hey, what's that? Somebody's coming."
Indeed somebody was, and people were noticing. Amanda and four other women. Four! Oh
God, Sophie thought, one of them is Alanna. She followed Michael and Richard to see what
was happening.
"Amanda!" Richard greeted her. "Four of them? How could I have doubted you!" Something
was odd here. The naked girl and the one in doeskin were carrying knives and not tied. The
blonde bunny was properly secured, but the other - wasn't that...
"Vicky?" The dark haired athletic huntress had been stripped like prey and tied. She looked
embarrassed and angry and wouldn't meet his eyes. "What happened?"
"She drew on me," said Amanda. Beating Vicky had been easier than taking Alanna or
Sajida. She had faked her into a premature attack, dodged the clumsy sword thrust, gone to
close quarters and the rest had been routine. "And before you get ideas, Sajida and Alanna
are with me. You can have one of these two for the party." She indicated Susan and Vicky.
"More than that for a party this size would be...um....piggish, don't you think?"
Vicky looked up in shock. "What? You can't do that!" She was ignored. Sajida grinned at her.
"You get to pick one and my friends are welcome here. Or I pick up my marbles and go,"
said Amanda to Richard.
Richard held up his hands. "Whoah! Who said anything about going? Deal. Your friends are
my friends."
"And they're armed, don't forget. Which one, then?"
"It's a tough choice..." Richard's hunter camaraderie apparently didn't extend to edible
looking females.
"Maybe we should vote," someone said.
"Come on guys, you can''t do this," Vicky protested. "Okay, Amanda, you said I'd be sorry.
Okay, you beat me, you've humiliated me, I'm sorry. Joke's over, okay? I didn't sign on to be
quarry, this isn't legal."
"Actually, the liability waiver covers most of it," Amanda mused. "Hunters get killed
sometimes. Nothing specifically says they can't be eaten. Killed by other hunters, I don't
know. But if a runner gets you...."
"Like me," said Sajida. "I'll say I did it, if anybody asks. I've done it before."
Richard stared at her. "Did you....?"
Sajida grinned savagely. "What if I did? Do you really want to know?"
Richard was no fool. She and her friend had probably killed Jack, they were dangerous.
Somehow, he couldn't imagine how, they were in with Amanda. Nobody in his right mind
messed with her. He shrugged. "None of my business. He knew the risks. As to the other
matter...." He appraised the two potential meals. The blonde bunny was sweet, but she was
obviously into it. A danger addict, she'd come again. Vicky wouldn't, not as quarry, and he'd
always fancied a piece of her. "Let's eat Vicky."
"Fine by me," said Amanda. "Somebody get me and my friends a beer. Let's get this show on
the road."
"Does that mean I don't get eaten?" Susan asked plaintively.
The party came together, orchestrated by Richard and Amanda. Chloe was brought down
and served up by a team organised by Michael and Sophie. Richard and Sajida led the effort
to skewer Vicky, against spirited resistance. All tension between the hunters and the former
runners eased off and party mingling began, helped along by the large stock of beverages
laid by in the rest station's cabin. Amanda had effectively declared the hunt closed, Richard
had agreed, everybody else fell in line. Even Vicky seemed to get excited as the spit entered
her.
Susan stayed close to Amanda, as if she still belonged to her. She seemed entranced by the
sight of Vicky being impaled and mounted. They ate choice pieces of Chloe, who proved as
tasty as she looked, as they admired the sight of the former huntress' beautifully muscled
form going over the fire.
"I think she's enjoying it," Susan said. She was stroking her belly. She seemed almost
envious.
Born muffin, Amanda thought. Thank heaven for 'em. Oh well, she'll keep for another day.
"I'm sure she is," she said equably.
"Oh God, I can't stand it," Susan muttered to herself, watching Vicky writhing over the coals.
"I have a temporary remedy for that," Amanda offered casually.
Susan blushed. "I really need a good fuck."
"I'll drink to that. There's a cabin yonder, if you're interested."
"I don't usually do this, with women I mean...."
Amanda shrugged. "Suit yourself."
"Oh, what the hell. Lead me to it."
Michael and Sophie were eating with Sajida and Alanna, swapping stories.
"I'm really sorry I got you into this," Sophie said. "I mean, next week..."
Alanna shook her head. "Not your fault, forget about it. I knew the risks like anybody else."
She winked at Sajida.
"But she..."
"She'll probably kill me, yes." Or not, as the case may be. Sufficient unto the day. Whatever
will be, will be. Sajida had been right. Roast woman did smell good. Tasted good too. If she
got caught, so would she. Small pleasures, small consolations. She smiled. It was a good day
to be alive.
PK