Hmm, that was interesting . . . Keith had told her, truthfully, that he had no sexual experience with men, but he was starting manipulation as effective as she'd ever seen. That surprised her almost as much as the fact that he had time to--with such a strong dose of eroticine, she'd have expected the prisoner to erupt within seconds. She wasn't quite sure what he'd meant by saying his people's strongest custom no longer applied to him--his oath, it had to be--but if he could get the idea this quickly, and implement it, she was willing to bet he'd enjoy the other parts of homosex. It would be almost as nice seeing him enjoying himself with Mike or one of the others as it would be enjoying him herself-- She told herself firmly to stop daydreaming. She had no idea if his oath covered sex with his chosen lady--she suspected it could if she wanted it to--but either way she was supposed to be evaluating a new technique, not thinking about who to take to bed. Wait a minute--that was a smile on the Sandeman's face as the prisoner's show of pain increased! Keith was actually enjoying his first attempt at third stage, something so rare she knew of only three others beside herself who'd done so. Mike had been ill at first just watching her work, had taken a week to get where he could help at all, worked as her assistant only because she needed him. Keith could free him of that unpleasantness. Get the Sandeman some training to go with his talent, and he'd be awesome . . . Very good, he was able to keep stimulating the prisoner as movements grew frantic, gasps and cries turning to screams of agony as semen spurted--dear God, what an Inquisitor Keith would make! Keith turned to his chosen lady. "Was that satisfactory, Thakur?" "Most satisfactory," Cortin said with unconcealed admiration. "You've just given me--all Inquisitors, once I get it published--what promises to become an extremely useful standard technique, especially with rapists. I'll see you're given full credit, of course." She smiled at Keith. "You've also changed my plans for him. That degree of pain, administered repeatedly, can be lethal--and I can't think of a more fitting end for a rapist. We'll let him drip overnight, then give him a fresh dose and see how many times he can take what he forced on others. What do you think?" Keith looked flattered that she asked his opinion, but . . . "I don't share your expertise, Thakur, so my opinion may not be valid. Still, it sounds appropriate to me." "So be it, then." Cortin smiled at him, approvingly. "Would you like to help? You seemed to enjoy yourself as much as an Inquisitor would, and Mike doesn't have that particular quirk; he helps because he loves me, not because he likes the work." Keith hesitated briefly before answering. "It surprises me, Thakur, that I did enjoy it. But I would not displace Captain Odeon from something that brings you two close."