"Good." Cortin turned back to her subject, probing between his buttocks, pleased when he whimpered. "Brothers, in particular, express a strong revulsion for what they choose to call 'unnatural' sex--but you would be surprised how many of the older ones show evidence of having participated in it repeatedly. I know I was." She probed deeper, hearing truth in her subject's cries of horrified denial. "This one, however, seems not to be party to such, ah, rarefied pleasures. Yet." She moved to his front, stroking the underside of his penis and smiling at his uncertain response. "Or to more usual ones, it seems. Is it possible you are a virgin, Brother? I do find that hard to believe." "Yes . . ." the subject gasped. "Intriguing . . . I will have to inform my colleagues. But you will cooperate in anything Captain Odeon wants of you?" "No, please!" "Don't bother begging; I am not inclined to show a Brother any more mercy than they showed me. The primary difference is that I finish the job." The youth stared at her, then shook his head. "No, you can't be--the Bitch is dead!" Cortin started to hit him for his insolence, then paused. "Perhaps she is," she said thoughtfully. "But if they killed the Bitch, they gave birth to Azrael." She turned to Odeon. "I gather the Brothers don't believe the news stories of my survival. That is unfortunate; for the maximum psychological impact, they should." She turned back to the subject, frowning as she studied him, her fists on her hips. "Is that it, Brother?" The young man shook his head, then nodded. "Sort of . . . the Raidmaster says you're alive, and a few may believe him, but the others in the raiding party say you can't be--an' since no one wants you to be, well . . ." "I see." Cortin's frown deepened as she thought. "I had not intended to permit any Brother who came to me to live--but I begin to think I should make an exception, use you as a messenger and advertisement." "You can't just let him go!" Odeon exclaimed. "No, of course not--that would give the wrong impression." Cortin scowled as her subject licked dry lips. "He is a Brother, by definition deserving of a painful death and eternal damnation. Conventional punishment, however--especially mine--would leave him in no shape for anything except intensive care or a disabled ward. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate them." "Um." Odeon thought for several minutes, then said slowly, "I don't know if it's possible, but what you said about sexual vulnerability gives me an idea. He's a virgin, and he had a strong negative reaction when you mentioned homosex, both of which his superiors must know about him. He's also beautiful--so how about turning him into a catamite for them?" Cortin turned to him in surprise. She hadn't expected anything that creative; it certainly wouldn't have occurred to her. "It should be possible, given the appropriate drugs and experiences--I like it."