The Adventures of Modesty Blaise

Episode 1 The Lhasa Incident

 

This pathetic effort is a parody and is only remotely intended to resemble the characters created by Peter O’Donnell.  Other than the names and images of some of the characters all work is original and any resemblance to any of Mr. O’Donnell’s works is purely accidental. 

 

Chapter 3  The Mole

 

MODESTY sipped at the hot cup of yak-butter tea, cradling it in both hands.  She had come to enjoy the flow of warmth and energy through her body that the drink provided.  Outside the tent the wind shrieked, bringing to mind the legends of the mythical snow-beast the Nepalese called the yeti.  They hadn’t seen any sign of the legendary creature yet, but on a night like this she could well image one or more of them lurking outside in the blinding snow.

 

Next to her sat Willie Garvin and across from her squatted Paul Rawlins.  There was a lot more to Rawlins than she had thought.  It turned out that he could read, write, and speak Chinese; something she would never have guessed from his rough exterior.  But there was even more to him than that.  He was Tarrant’s China expert and had been sent along to interpret the document that would lead them to the hiding place of the heart of Tibet. 

 

For three weeks they had been on the high trail that led from Nepal to Tibet and for the most part luck had been with them until the advent of the sudden summer storm.  Heavy snow in July would have been considered unusual in England, but Modesty understood from the Nepalese porters that it was very much the norm in Nepal; especially at their current elevation of fifteen thousand feet.

 

Modesty had never breathed air so thin and even modest exertion left her gasping for breath.  Fortunately all she and her fellow lowlanders had to do was walk.  All of the packs and other necessary gear were carried by the Sherpa porters who formed the backbone of the expedition.  Even so, every ten hour trek meant that they arrived in camp on the verge of exhaustion.  Fortunately, Abhik, the head porter never let it get that far; careful to make sure his charges were not driven into the ground from exertion.  “We’re being babied,” Modesty thought.  But she was grateful all the same.  It was all she could do to put one foot in front of the other at the end of the day and she expected it was the same for Willie and Rawlins.

 

“How did you come to learn Chinese, Mr. Rawlins?” she asked as she finished her tea. 

 

“Korea, Miss Blaise.  I had the misfortune to be taken prisoner when the Chinese overran us at the Imjin River and spent three years in a prisoner-of-war camp in Manchuria.  Found I had a gift for languages I’d never suspected.”

 

“Three years,” Willie cut in.  “That must have been hell.”

 

“More than you can ever imagine, Mr. Garvin,” Rawlins said.  “Most of the men who were captured with me died.  I survived only by making myself useful.”

 

“Useful?” Modesty asked.  “And what did the Chinese communists consider useful?”

 

“Well, learning their lingo for one thing.  Made it easier to get the other POWs to do what they were told.  Eventually I was called in whenever the camp commandant wanted something special from us or wanted to subject us to a particularly grueling rend of brainwashing.”  Rawlins sighed.  “However, that was ten years ago and its something I’ve tried to blot from my mind.”

 

Modesty nodded.  Putting events from one’s mind was something she could relate to.  Taking Rawlins’ hint she changed the subject.  “How many more days do you estimate we have?”

 

“Abhik reckons, two more weeks if the weather improves.  We can’t go straight in.  All of the major passes are watched by the Chinese.  That means we have to take a longer route.  And from the pass it is another three weeks or so to Lhasa.”

 

Modesty nodded.  “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to take advantage of this break to get a little more sleep.  Wake me up when supper’s ready.”  She arranged her sleeping bag on the ground and curled up on it.  Soon her deeper breathing showed that she was asleep.

 

 

WILLIE Garvin studied the sleeping woman.  She seemed to show no effects of the incident in Kozlov’s townhouse, but he wasn’t fooled.  Modesty kept everything buried deep within her.  It had taken more than a month before her physical injuries healed completely, although she had resumed training a week or so before that.  However, her psychological injuries went much deeper.  It was more than just the rape.  She had been completely humiliated; helpless in the hands of her captor.  Although she knew she was grateful to him for rescuing her there was also the fact that she had been forced to depend upon him.  It would take awhile for her psyche to heal.  In the meantime he would keep an eye on her and hope that her ordeal would not affect the mission.

 

 

MODESTY awoke much refreshed.  Supper was ready, such as it was.  It was the usual meal of rice mixed with some sort of meat, probably goat.  However, she had certainly eaten worse.  It was filling and restored her energy.  After supper she sat with Rawlins and Willie and went over the map. 

 

“We’re here,” Rawlins said, pointing to a spot on the map.  “Just ahead is a checkpoint near the Chinese border.  Probably there is no danger.  But it might be wise to have a look at it before we go much farther.”  If the snow clears I’ll go on ahead and give it the once over.”

 

“Why don’t we just go around it?” Modesty asked.  “It looks like we could go down this trail here and not have to pass it.”

 

“That’s right,” Rawlins replied, “but we might be lucky.  If the post is not manned then it will save us several days walking since we can go straight through.”

 

“Alright,” Modesty said.  “That sounds like a good plan.”

 

“I’ll set out early,” Rawlins continued.  “It will take awhile to get moving what with the snow and all.  I should be able to check it out and get back and let you know if it’s alright.”

 

“You’re going by yourself?” Modesty asked.  “Is that wise?”

 

Rawlins seemed to think for a little.  “Well, two are always better than one.  If there is any trouble the other can report back.”

 

“Sounds to me like you’d both end up getting caught,” Willie cautioned. 

 

“No,” Rawlins said.  “We’ll keep a couple of hundred paces apart.  Just keep one another in sight.  If the leader runs into something he can’t get out of the other will be able to report.”

 

“Alright,” Modesty said.  “I’ll go with you.  Willie can stay behind and supervise the camp.”

 

“Heh,” Willie grunted.  “I doubt Abhik needs my help.  But I’ll stay and pretend I’m doing something.”

 

“Tomorrow then,” Rawlins said as he folded up the map.  “Provided the weather breaks.”

 

 

IT DAWNED clear and cold.  Modesty and Rawlins breakfasted quickly and then were off before the Sherpas broke camp.  Although it had snowed, it was not deep and they were able to move along at a reasonable pace.  Neither of them carried much more than their clothing.  Tucked into her jacket was a nine millimeter Beretta.  It wouldn’t be of much use against men armed with rifles, but Modesty rarely carried anything heavier in the way of firearms.  Rawlins strapped a heavier Browning .45 over his jacket.  “I like something with a bit of kick,” he commented as he checked the action.  Then slipping the gun into its holster he set off.

 

Modesty let him get a little bit ahead and then followed.  Rawlins set a leisurely pace.  He was after all, not trying to outrun the rest of the expedition, just scout a bit ahead, and Modesty had no trouble keeping him in sight.  The going was fairly easy, in spite of the snow.  The uphill grade was gentle enough that Modesty was able to move without tiring in spite of the thinness of the air. 

 

They walked for abut an hour and then Rawlins suddenly stopped.  He made no effort to hide, but stood waiting until Modesty caught up.  “What is it?” she asked.

 

“The border post is just up ahead, but the trail up to it is wide open.  I’ll go first and if nothing happens I’ll whistle.  Then you come up.”

 

“Alright,” Modesty agreed, “but if there is no whistle?”

 

“Then head back and warn the others.”

 

Modesty nodded and sat down behind a large boulder.  From here she could see the winding mountain trail and mark Rawlins’ progress without being seen.   She watched as he headed across the open area and then disappeared from view around a turn in the trail.

 

Modesty waited, checking the time every now and then.  They had not agreed on how long she should wait, but she’d give him half an hour before taking any action. 

 

Twenty minutes went by and then there was a long loud whistle of the sort that might be made at a football match.  Getting to her feet, Modesty slipped quickly along the trail.  She passed the turn where Rawlins had disappeared and found that the trail turned upward creating a fairly steep climb.  The trail was now slippery with melting snow, but moving with care, she was able to make it to the top and work her way around a large boulder that had fallen and partially blocked the trail.  As she did so, she spotted the guard post.  In this mostly treeless landscape, its walls were of stone with wooden beams supporting a roof of flat stones.  It appeared to be empty, and Modesty guessed that Rawlins must be waiting inside.  She stepped toward it and then something exploded against the base of her skull.

 

 

When she awoke she was lying face down on an earthen floor.  She tried to move, but her hands had been trussed tightly behind her, and a brutal lance of pain stabbed through the back of her head.  She moaned, unable to contain the pain.

 

“Sorry I had to do that, darling, but I couldn’t take a chance on you putting up a fight.  You’ll probably have a bit of a bad head for awhile, but it should clear up.”

 

Modesty recognized the voice.  “Rawlins,” she gasped.  “What…”

 

“Yes, it’s me,” Rawlins said.  He was somewhere behind her, but standing very close.  She tried to turn her head as he continued to speak.  “Ever since I first saw you I knew I had to have you.  Course, that damned Kozlov got to you first, but I knew if I waited I’d get my chance.  And now here it is.”

 

His words sent a chill through Modesty.  She tried again to move her arms, but found that Rawlins had not only tied her hands, he had tied a rope around her arms, pinning them to her body. 

 

“Well, much as I’d like to chat.  We better get moving.  The rest of the bunch will be along soon and I want to be away from here.”  Modesty felt a tug on the ropes that pinned her arms as Rawlins pulled her into a sitting position.  As she regained her feet she found that her ankles had been bound as well, but loosely, enabling her to take a step.  However, she could not run or use her feet as any sort of weapon.  Rawlins directed her forward.  He was not particularly rough with her, but he got her going the way he wanted. 

 

He pushed her through the door of the hut and back onto the trail.  Once outside he stepped in front of her and looped a length of rope around her neck.  “Can’t be pushing you everywhere,” he said.  “From now on you’ll follow.”

 

Modesty stumbled forward under the pressure of the rope around her neck.  Her head throbbed, but it did not prevent her from thinking.  What was Rawlins up to?  It didn’t make sense.  All of the food and other equipment was with the rest of the expedition.  How did he hope to stay alive in the hostile environment of the Himalayas?  He seemed to have gone mad.  His words made it clear what he wanted to do to her, but was he willing to die of exposure just so that he could have his way with her? 

 

She could have asked Rawlins all of these questions, but chose not to, guessing that she would get her answers in due time.  In that she was proved correct.  Rawlins led her up the trail at a steady pace and then, passing a large boulder, turned at right angles and moved into a narrow cleft to his right. 

 

At first Modesty thought they were entering a cave, and then she saw that it was another narrow trail.  She also realized that unless a person knew where the hidden trail was, it would be almost impossible to discover.  Willie and the others would eventually pass right by the place they had turned off and not have the faintest idea that they had passed them by. 

 

The new trail was, however, more than a dead end.  It broadened into a well defined trail the same width as the one they had been on.  It appeared that Rawlins had planned her abduction with care, a fact that was confirmed by Rawlins himself.

 

“Planned this for quite some time.  Fortunately I had access to the aerial photos of this region and was able to work out exactly what to do.  In a few miles we’ll be in the camp I had set up for me a week or so ago.  You and I will spend a bit of time there before moving on.”

 

Once again Modesty felt the familiar hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.  She was in the hands of a madman, or so it seemed.  And then it came to her.  “Your captivity in the war,” she exclaimed.  “You didn’t tell the whole story.  You said you’d made yourself useful to the Chinese.  You’re still working for them.”

 

“Right you are,” Rawlins said cheerfully.  “They pay better than British intelligence and I reckon I was owed something for what happened to me in the war.  Most of those years in that POW camp were pure hell.  But once I went to the Chinese and agreed to cooperate, well everything turned in my favour.  I’ve been working for them ever since.”

 

“But you’ll be found out,” Modesty protested. 

 

“Not likely,” Rawlins said.  “No one from British intelligence is ever going to see you again.  But I reckon the Chinese will want to talk to you.  Before than though, you and I are going to have a bit of fun.”

 

“You’re a traitor.  A mole,” Modesty continued.  “Tarrant is bound to figure it out.”

 

“Tarrant.”  Rawlins stopped and spat on the trail.  “You know what it’s like working for that arrogant bastard?  Always parading his knighthood in front of you.  And what did he do to get it.  Kissed a few bums in Whitehall.  He didn’t pay any real price for it.  Not like the three years I spent as a POW.  It’s people like me who do all the work and he gets all the credit.  I don’t worry about Sir Gerald.  I’ll just say you had an accident.  Who’s going to prove me wrong?”

 

Modesty was sweating by now, and not just from the exertion.  She tried to fight down the rising panic.  It would get her nowhere if she became hysterical.  Rawlins was going to rape her and then turn her over to the Chinese.  Somehow she had to find a way to escape.

 

Unfortunately, nothing presented itself.  They walked for three hours, Modesty constantly straining at her bonds, until she was so exhausted she could hardly stand, but Rawlins had tied her too well, and he made sure she stayed that way by stopping every half hour or so and checking the ropes.  The smell of smoke alerted her to the end of their trek and they walked into a small collection of tents where Rawlins was met by several Sherpas.  They glanced interestedly at Modesty, but said nothing and then Rawlins pulled her into one of the tents.

 

“Make yourself comfortable,” Rawlins said as he pushed her into a sitting position.  Once on the floor he moved behind her and began to rearrange her bonds.  He first secured her wrists to her ankles so that she could not rise and then untied her left arm just enough that she could move it to her mouth.  Then he called to someone outside and foot and tea were brought into the tent.  Although Modesty had little appetite, she forced herself to eat.  Escape would be impossible if she starved herself into weakness. 

 

The meal finished, Rawlins secured her free arm once again and then went to the tent entrance again and called to someone outside.  A few seconds later a woman entered.  “Hariti will see to you,” Rawlins said.  “I’ll be waiting when you return.” 

 

Modesty’s heart pounded as she was led from the tent.  Once again the old horror was overtaking her, and she fought for composure even as cold chills rain down her spine.  She had to use all of her strength of will to keep from trembling.  Rawlins would make a mistake.  He was too confident.  She just had to remain calm and take her chance when it came.

 

Her bodily functions attended to, Hariti helped pull her pants back up and then took Modesty back to the tent.  The whole time she was out of the tent, Modesty looked for a chance to escape, but she was still hobbled and her wrists still bound.  Even the middle-aged woman who attended her had no trouble keeping her under control. 

 

Rawlins was waiting as he had promised.  He pulled Modesty over to a sleeping pallet that had been set up on one side of the tent and forced her to her knees again.  Then he proceeded to prepare her for her night of romance.

 

He started with her jacket, opening it and pulling it down her arms to the elbow.  Then he tied her elbows so that they were pulled painfully toward one another, before untying her wrists so that he could finish taking off her jacket.  Rawlins appeared to be in no hurry and he said so.  “I’ve waited a long time for this.  Ever since I saw you in that first interview I knew I had to have you and now I’ve got you where I want you and I’m going  to do it right.”

 

Once her jacket was off he pushed her flat, face down on the pallet and then pinned her there by sitting on her legs.  While Modesty squirmed as he held her there he reached underneath her and undid her belt and then began to slide her pants down her legs.  It took a few minutes.  Rawlings had to untie her ankles and remove her boots to achieve it, but he took no chances, keeping her pinned while he stripped her.  When he was finished Modesty was clad only in her panties and shirt. 

 

He didn’t tie her ankles back together.   Instead her folded her legs, forcing her first the calf of her right leg against the back of her thigh and then tying it there, and then doing the same thing with the left.  As each step brought her closer to complete nudity, Modesty began to struggle.  But the situation was hopeless.  Rawlins methodically bound her and then rolled her onto her back.  The position automatically parted her thighs and Rawlins could have taken her right here, but he was not quite finished. 

 

He took out his knife and slit the sleeves of her shirt from wrist to neck.  Her shirt fell away, leaving her body protected only by her bra and panties.  Rawlins rolled her over and pushed a four foot length of wood between her arms and her back.  Holding her down he tied her arms just above each elbow so that they were bound to the wooden staff.  It effectively immobilized her arms, while keeping her back arched. 

 

“Now, princess,” Rawlins said, using Willie’s pet name for her.  “It’s time.  I’ve waited long enough.”

 

While Modesty watched helplessly, he stripped, revealing a strong body and a fully erect penis.  His erection was so hard that it stood almost straight up, and Modesty tried not to look at it, but her body was quivering in fear as he hooked his fingers into the straps of her bra, and then exerting his strength, snapped them, letting her breasts fall free.

 

“God,” Rawlins gasped.  “I can hardly believe this is happening at last.”  He touched her breasts, caressing her peach pink nipples, and then lifted each breast.  “What lovely fruit,” he drooled.  He bent forward and sucked hard on each nipple leaving each as erect as thimbles.  And then he moved his hands to her panties and tore away the material, leaving the quivering Modesty completely at his mercy.

 

He took her slowly, leaving her in a sitting position as he used his knees to further part her legs.  “No,” Modesty moaned as she felt the tip of his phallus probe her vulva.  “Ahh, you bastard,” she gasped as he began to work his way into her.

 

As with Kozlov she tried to prevent him from penetrating her.  But the tightness of her garden of pleasure merely made the experience that much more enjoyable and Rawlins fucked her slowly, easing his way into her until at last he penetrated her fully.  “You’d make a perfect whore,” he grunted.  “Tightest bloody cunt I’ve ever fucked.”  He withdrew slightly and then began a slow, leisurely violation of her body, enjoying the erotic bouncing of her breasts and the arch of her back as he took her.  Bending his head he took one of her erect nipples between his teeth and lightly bit down.  Modesty clenched her teeth, biting back a whimper.  Overcome with terror and revulsion she began to pant uncontrollably and her senses reeled.

 

“Ahhh!”  The slap brought her back from the brink of oblivion.

 

“Oh no you don’t,” Rawlins growled.  “I’ve heard of that trick.”  He twisted both of her nipples.  Modesty cried out at the sudden pain, her body twisting in agony. 

 

“Now to finish you off,” Rawlins grunted.  He quickened his pace, his breathing increasing as he hammered her unmercifully, driving his body into her, before finally releasing into her with a moan of ecstasy. 

 

Rawlins got slowly to his feet, and began pulling on his clothing.  “Not bad for a first installment,” he commented.  He stared down at the beaten woman.  “Tonight we’ll try it again.”  He finished dressing and left the tent.    

 

Modesty fell back on the pallet.  Her struggles had left her completely exhausted.  Her loins ached from the vicious pounding Rawlins had given her and her breasts throbbed where he had bitten her.  Burning with shame and anger she fought to keep from sobbing.  Once again she had fallen into a trap and although she had no reason to suspect Rawlins she blamed herself for being stupid enough to accompany him alone.  She had practically begged to be taken prisoner.  However, she had paid a high price for her foolishness and faced still more brutality if she did not escape. 

 

She roused herself from her exhaustion.  She could barely move, but she had to try to escape.  She strained her arms, trying to loosen the ropes that tied her arms to the wooden staff that fitted into the hollow of her back.  Slowly she felt the ropes stretch.  It was not enough to escape, but it was a start.  She tensed her muscles again, arching her body against the wooden staff and again felt a slight loosening of her bonds.  But the effort left her so completely fatigued she could do nothing more for several minutes.  She lay still, regaining her strength and then put everything she had into her next effort.  She fell back, her chest heaving, but now she could feel that the staff was actually loose.  With a little bit of effort…

 

She forced herself back into a sitting position, balanced on her bound legs, and twisted her body in an attempt to slide the staff from behind her back.  By moving her arms back and forth she managed to work the staff through the bindings.  Slowly the staff edged to her left, its end just inches from the loops of rope that held her.  Just a little bit more…

 

The tent flap was swept back.  Rawlins entered.  “Well, I can see that it is a mistake to leave you alone.  I won’t make it again.”  He moved over to her, pushed her face down on the pallet and tightened the ropes binding her.  Modesty winced as the tough cords bit into her flesh.  But Rawlins did not stop there. He looped a rope around her neck and connected it to the ropes that bound her legs.  It left Modesty bent forward, crouched on the pallet in a completely submissive position.  She could offer no resistance when Rawlins once again stripped off his clothing and took her for the second time.

 

He entered her from the rear, cupping his body against her buttocks and thrusting into her tender vulva.  Modesty whimpered as the already bruised flesh was ravaged once again. 

 

“A little bit sore, are you?” Rawlins.  “Well, you’ll get used to it before I’m finished with you.  And god knows what the Chinese will do to you.”

 

“Ughn!” Modesty cried as he penetrated her fully.  He reached around her and grasped her breasts, squeezing them hard enough to make her cry out again, while thrusting in and out of her.  And then suddenly he released her and pulled out of her long before he was finished.

 

Modesty gasped in relief, but quickly changed her tune a few seconds later when she felt Rawlins change his target.  “No!” she cried, as she felt him push between her buttocks.  His phallus, now slick with semen and vaginal lubricant, slid easily to the button of her anus, but from then on it was tough going as Modesty fought him all the way.  Unfortunately, the contest was completely one sided.  Modesty could lock Rawlins out of her sphincter for only so long.  Using his weight to his advantage and gripping her breasts, he slowly worked his way into her. 

 

Modesty screamed.  The pain was excruciating.  Worse than almost anything she had ever endured.  But Rawlins did not stop until he had satisfied his lust, slamming into her again and again until her buttocks were bright red from the impact and her anus bled from the violent intrusion.  When he was through, he left her whimpering in agony.  Even if she had not been tightly bound, she would not have been able to move. 

 

“You were every bit as good as I hoped,” Rawlins said.  “It is a shame I can’t keep you, but that would be impractical.  And anyway, the Chinese have expressed a very strong interest in interviewing you.  Something about an organization you used to run called ‘the Network.’  Apparently some of the deals you were involved in trod on the toes of a few friends of theirs.  The money they are paying me to bring you in will keep me in whores for a decade.” 

 

While he had been speaking Rawlins had been spreading out another pallet.  He lay down on it and pulled a blanket over himself.  “Time to get some sleep.  We still have a couple of days before the Chinese show up.  It should be long enough to try out a few more positions.”

 

Modesty fought back tears of rage.  Her vagina and backside throbbed with pain and her body cramped from the tightness of her bonds and the awkwardness of her position.  Somehow she had to escape.  If she didn’t what she had faced so far would pale into insignificance.  “Scum,” she moaned to herself.  “I’ll make you pay for this.”  But even as she contemplated vengeance she knew that Rawlins had her completely in his power.   It was going to be a long ordeal if she could not find some way to escape. 

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