Two

Lester Hughes was putting the final touches to the scenario. He had been working for USIP for six years. On paper United States Initiative for Pakistan had wide ranging legitimate concerns that pertained to women rights, education, health, poverty alleviation and clean water.

Recently they had launched a new initiative; to tackle modern day slavery. The impoverished in the country were still mostly under the influence of landowners. These landowners were loan sharks who exploited the poor by charging extremely high interest rates. The underprivileged had to work for the lenders in return to pay off the debt. The landowners had free labour under this arrangement. The meagre wages meant that the poor had no chance of ever paying the sum back. If the borrower died the debt was transferred to their children hence it was reminiscent of slavery. The country was so marred by corruption that the authorities didn't intervene.

Lester had got into it for all the right reasons. The job had its perks, nevermind the six digit salary. Two years into the job he had realized that there was more to it than posing as a good samaritan. There were more sinister reasons for him being posted here.

The organisation ran another project. Lester wasn't directly involved in the day to day operations of that program but was still involved in the decision making. He hadn't accepted it wholeheartedly at first but later had found excuses to condone the act.

Today Lester's contact had passed the details of another potential target. The information had arrived on his desk during the evening and he had given the go ahead. Faraz Alam.

Lester was on site. It was an old warehouse in the outskirts of Islamabad where the organisation carried out its lesser known affairs. He had no compulsion to be there but was present nonetheless. Watching the process unfold kept his sanity in check.

Sheer helplessness. He relished seeing someone in that position. He saw the Omar's car pull up into the driveway from the security camera footage and pictured a good night's sleep after tonight's proceedings.

He was concealed from any prying eyes from the one way glass and had the best seat in town to watch it all go down. He had the single storey spot specifically constructed for the purpose. King's view. In anticipation he began to roll a joint.

The weed he got from the local dealer was not first grade. At least not like the one he was used to back in the States. But it was soothing anyhow. Not the strong stuff that boggles the mind within the first hit.

Lester prepared to watch the showdown and lit the 'paka' as it was called in the local language. The mark was brought in through the big door with his face covered and hands shackled. He was unceremoniously dumped onto a long inclined bench. Billy took his place behind the camera while Omar assumed a passive position behind the counter. Gaze uncuffed Faraz and constrained the victim to the bench using leg and arm straps with the help of Yezid. Both Gaze and Yezid had donned on masks. Faraz's head was facing up and he was completely immobilized.

Yezid Abbasi and was built like a beast. He had grown a rough long beard and had shaved his head completely to add to his persona. He couldn't say anything worthwhile and had a rather high pitched voice that did more damage than good during these drills.

Meanwhile Gaze was preparing to work the guy. Lester had often smiled at the absurdity of the routine. The victims had often tried to talk their way out of the ordeal as if giving the right answers would save them. But there were no right answers. That was the beauty of it.

On Billy's cue they began. Lester didn't understand the local language and had made no effort to learn except for a few choice words. So he couldn't make out what was being said but he could still deduce what was going on.

Faraz shook his head vigorously and was screaming his lungs out. Gaze poured water on a towel from a garden hose. He handed the wet towel to Yezid who put it over Faraz's face and held it there. Gradually Gaze started pouring water over the victims face using the hose.

Faraz's body began to shake as if he was having a seizure. Observing it a trace of fulfillment crept up Lester's thighs. He was getting aroused.

Gaze carried out the procedure for a few seconds. Then he removed the towel and the mask from the man's face and allowed him to breathe. He hadn't taken five breaths when the cycle was repeated again. Lester was almost moaning with pleasure. He didn't knew the last time he had got hard like this.

The exercise was gone over once more. With each cycle Gaze was increasing the time that Faraz's face made contact with water. The method was repeated over and over to the point that Faraz was almost done for. Lester had never felt anything like it.

The procedure was repeated for the last time on Billy's signal. Gaze was into it for a longer period of time than usual. Faraz's body was convulsing like crazy. Lester was sweating profusely. He was ready to burst.

Billy and Omar yelled in unison and asked Gaze to stop. But Gaze was like a man possessed. And Yezid was too stupid to know what was happening. He kept pouring water on the poor fellow until he stopped struggling.

The unpuffed joint fell from his hand. Lester was in heaven.