A Crying Shame (83 page)

She thought she had never in her life seen an uglier smile. She looked up at him.
I don't think I'm going to like this story.”

Yes. I feel reasonably certain of that, Miss Gray. But I can spare you the gory details. Just tell me the truth. Why are you really here?”

I told you, Jon. Really, I did.” Her voice was shaky. This was supposed to have been easy. It wasn't turning out that way at all. What had she done to give it away?

Then perhaps I'll leave you alone for a moment while I go to the swamp's edge . . . in search of a snake.”

Man! A snake? What . . . ? You're nuts!”

Perhaps. My line of work does call for a certain amount of mental looseness. That tribe I mentioned? They strip the woman they're questioning, then spread-eagle her on the ground, staking her legs wide apart. They then wet the lips of the woman's . . . ah . . . I do so hate to be crude . . . cunt, and show her the snake. The snake itself is quite harmless; nonpoisonous. If she still refuses to admit the truth, or confess her crime, they open the lips of her cunt and position the snake by her inner thigh, head pointing upward. Do I have to tell you where the snake goes when it is released?”

She hissed fear and revulsion. She wanted very much to go to the bathroom. She didn't want to believe the story, but somehow she felt it was true.
Is that shit true? Man . . . you're crazy!”

Jon shrugged.
Personally, I believe my mental condition is fine, considering all I've done in my life, and I feel that must be taken into consideration. The truth now, Miss Gray?”

You're perverted!”

Oh, I've never done the snake bit, my dear,” Jon replied innocently.
Just seen it done a time or two. I found it most effective. Of course, if the victim is really without guilt it is a very traumatic experience, I'm sure.”

Tammy huddled into a soft naked ball on the bed, weeping softly.
You wouldn't do that to me. Not to me. What I've done isn't all that bad.”

Compared to what, darling? Lady—and I use that word very loosely—I've done almost everything there is for a man to do in this world. Much of it bad. I told you: I cannot tolerate a spy.”