This work is copyright 2000-2004 by Xaltatun of Acheron (A Pseudonym). It may be posted on the Internet to any free forum. It may be reformatted to match the forum's look and feel, and the forum editor may make minor spelling and grammer corrections. Otherwise it must be posted in its entirety, including these notices. It may not be sold, or included in any compilation that is sold, or posted on any forum that requires a fee for access, without my written permission. My permission will require payment, terms to be negotiated. For purposes of this notice, sites guarded by Adult Check or similar packages are considered pay sites. Posting on any site must include this copyright notice.
Adult Content Warning - this story contains adult themes, including non-consensual bondage/slavery and forced sexual acts. If you are under the lawful age for such materials (18 in most jurisdictions) or if you would find such material offensive, please go elsewhere.
Safety Warning. This story may contain descriptions of practices that are decidedly unsafe, either in general, or if performed by someone without adequate training. There are a number of good books available on safety in the BDSM scene. Most large cities, and some not so large ones, have organized BDSM groups that will usually welcome a newcomer. I'm not going to point out which practices are safe, and which aren't. Any practice is unsafe if performed by someone with inadequate training and experience, or if performed when not paying attention. Please think before you act. Don't make yourself a candidate for a Darwin award.
Now on to the story...
The man and woman got out of the late model, dark blue SUV and walked toward the building, the woman falling into a position half a step behind and to the left of the man as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He was fairly tall, dressed in slacks and casual shirt, and had close-cropped brown hair.
She, on the other hand, wore a one piece dress with a pattern of puppies sitting, running, and sitting up offering a red ball to a woman�s hand. The dress looked a good deal more demure than was currently fashionable, until you noticed that her well tanned legs showed through the slits in the sides of the skirt as she walked. Her long blond hair was done up in two tails that jutted out from the sides of her head, and she wore a pair of mid calf length boots that ended in what looked like very realistic puppy paws.
The building looked like it might have once housed a pair of big box retailers, with some smaller shops fit in for good measure. Today, the only hint of what business the occupants were in was a small, tasteful sign that said: �Pet services and supplies� with a subtext that said: �all services and supplies meet the requirements of the KSPRA�. It still wasn�t quite enough to keep people away who only wanted their poodle misbarbered.
What might have caused them to think they were in the wrong place, though, was the very modern looking guard station in the front lobby, with a sign that directed employees to the right and patrons to the left. The woman�s mouth quirked in what might have been a small smile as she saw that the gates were equipped with both badge readers and scanners, and that the desk in front of the guards also had scanners at waist height.
As the man slid his identification across the desk to the guard, she stepped in front of one of them and raised her skirt, showing the scanner the rows of small colored squares that had been tattooed just above her thatch. The guard looked at his hidden display and then told the man: �you are aware that pets must be kept on leash at all times?�
�She can change here?�
�If you want to continue,� the guard said.
The man gestured, and the woman put her shoulder bag onto the guard�s desk, and took a collar, leash, two front paws and a tail from the bag. Her hands slid down the sides of her dress, the closures popping open with small snaps in the silence. She took it off over her head, showing that she wore nothing else under it, and rapidly folded it and put it into the bag. She buckled the collar around her throat and slid the tail into the socket that had been melded to her tailbone, where it seated itself with a quiet snap. She then slid her hands into the paws, holding them out to her owner. He slid the last zipper up and snapped the concealed lock; then he gestured to the floor. She promptly dropped to all fours, presenting her collar at the ideal place for him to snap the leash.
�You have her quite well trained, Mr. Johnson,� the guard said. �Our showroom is down that corridor and to the right. We have a sales associate expecting you.� Ralph Johnson twitched the leash and walked through the turnstile, his pet puppy following behind.
The showroom, at least, was more what one would expect. The long display window had several models of puppies and kitties with various accouterments, as well as one bored looking puppy in a small enclosure that sat up in a begging position as soon as she saw them. The small decal on the window that proclaimed they were an Authorized Chasti-Permalock Dealer was almost redundant.
�Mr. Johnson?� a neatly dressed woman walked up to him as they entered the showroom. �I�m Kitty, what can we do for you today?�
�Call me Ralph,� the man answered her. �I�m looking for a cage and a traveling carrier for Sassy, here, as well as something in a control collar. I know I want an invisible fence, but I�m not sure what else I want it to do.�
�I may have something, but let�s look at the carriers first,� the saleswoman said. �We have our simplest model over here. It�s only certified for two hours or so, although you can use it a bit longer with some pets.�
She gestured at a four foot long, three foot wide box that stood with its lid open on a pedestal. �This is perfect for transporting your pet from your home to a kennel or show, but as I said, it�s not really recommended for more than two hours. Would you like to see how your pet would fit?�
�Of course,� Ralph said as she pressed some buttons on her controller. The pedestal sank into the floor, bringing the box down with it.
�She lies down in the box,� Kitty said, �both hind and forelegs folded under her.� Sassy poked her head over the box and looked at it a bit doubtfully. �As you can see, the bottom is contoured so that her legs, breasts and head fit very naturally.�
Ralph gestured at his pet, and Sassy obediently stepped into the box and then lowered herself to a prone position. �Perfect!� Kitty said as she settled into the enclosure. She swung the lid closed and fastened the latch. There was a slow hiss that stopped after a few seconds.
�What�s that noise?�
�That�s the bladder filling. The sides extend inwards with compressed air, holding her in place and cushioning a certain amount of jostling. There�s a pressure sensor so that it doesn�t cut off circulation.�
�So why the two hour limit?�
�There are a lot of things this model doesn�t have,� Kitty told him. �There�s no provision for either food or elimination, and there�s nothing to occupy her attention. There�s also nothing to exercise her, so it�s quite possible that she could get cramps from being held in one position too long. The average pet can take several hours of this without difficulty, but more really isn�t recommended. Without stimulation, it�s equivalent to sensory deprivation. That can be fun in short doses, but too much of it is classified as torture, with good reason. The protective associations will come down on you like a ton of bricks if you overdo it.�
�I can see that,� Ralph nodded. �So what does a better equipped carrier look like?�
�Well, let�s get her out of here first,� Kitty said, suiting action to words, �and then look at one.
�This model,� she said, gesturing at another box on a pedestal, �looks almost like the first one, but looks can be deceiving. Let�s get your pet in here so I can show you the features.�
A minute later, Sassy crouched in the box as Kitty brought it back up to where they could look at it. �Bring your head up, dear,� she commanded. �Now, notice that it�s got a nipple that fits into her mouth. That can dispense both water and more substantial liquid food. Unlike the first model I showed you, this one has a number of options. The option here is that you can replace the nipple with a sex simulator so she has to coax a simulated cock into her mouth; it shoots either water or food. It�s not the most popular option, but some owners and pets like it.
�Now another thing on this end is these little things that fit over her eyes. They�re actually very low powered lasers that will project images. They go together with the earplugs. Now drop your head back down, dear,� she told Sassy. The pet obediently put her head into the depression as the saleslady slid the earplugs into her ears.
�The other thing that isn�t obvious is a set of physiological monitors. The carrier can do a certain amount of emergency work, but if she gets into real trouble it will have to call for help.
�I�m going to enable the outside system so she can hear us. She won�t be able to see us unless we stand in front of the carrier. There are actually sensors on all sides, but she can�t switch between one and another unless you enable that function. Of course, you�ve also got to train her to use it!
�Now, moving to the back side,� she said as she slid her hand under the puppy-girl�s rump and pressed up, �we�ve got the stimulator. This is set up for a female, it�s obviously a different part for a male. Right above it, we�ve got the two connections for wastes. We just need to make sure they�re seated firmly, and we�re ready to go.� She pressed on Sassy�s rump, causing her to settle in place, and then closed the lid.
She frowned at her remote for a moment, and then punched in a few numbers. �Good. The one thing we haven�t covered is that she has to do some isometric exercises periodically to make certain that she doesn�t cramp up and that the blood keeps flowing properly to her extremities. What I�ve just done is started that program. It�ll walk her through the exercises and monitor her progress.
�Now over here is the really high end model. It�s got a roughly two week capacity for food and wastes, and it�s got a really capable recycling plant. It�s physically possible to keep a pet in here almost indefinitely, as long as you service it weekly. It depends more on the pet how long she�ll be able to take it without going stir-crazy. I�ve heard of pets that have been in one for several months without problems, and others that simply can�t take it for more than a few hours.�
�Can I take her in and out without servicing it?�
�Of course. It�ll tell you when it needs servicing, although it�s best to service it after it�s been out of use for more than a couple of days.
�Otherwise, it�s the same as the model she�s currently in. There�s no difference in the internal arrangements from the pet�s point of view, so we don�t have to have her to demonstrate it.
�One other thing I need to mention about the recycling plant. It handles her air supply as well as her food and wastes. A pet can be stored in this unit in places where there isn�t an outside air supply; you can�t do that with the other two units.�
�So it all depends on how long she needs to be in the pet carrier in one stretch.�
�Exactly, sir.�
�I need to think about this for a while.�
�Of course. You mentioned that you wanted some kind of control unit for an electric fence?�
�Or something; I�m not exactly sure what. But can you show me the cages next?�
�I think your pet should be there for the cages so you see how she reacts, and I�d prefer to let her finish the isometric program. Her protective association is going to want to make sure she can do it before they�ll let you use one of the high end carriers, so we should get that requirement out of the way now.�
�That makes sense.�
�Now, as far as control and tracking units go, there are several different vendors that do low end units. Only Chasti-Permalock does high end units. We only deal with two approaches, both of which have a number of products with widely varying capabilities, of course!�
She held up a gently curved triangle with a number of ridges and protuberances on the inside, and a rod sticking out the center. �This is one of Chasti-Permalock�s products. It�s for females, of course. It�s a variation on one of their standard chastity products. The rod is, of course, a dildo and fits into the female�s vagina. Unlike some of their other products, this one doesn�t bond into the skin so it can�t be removed. It does bond, but it keeps the underlying skin in good condition. The dildo section contains the antenna needed for the various digital networks, so any female that�s been fitted with one of these can be tracked and controlled remotely as long as she�s in range of the proper equipment.
�This one will do for an invisible fence application. It�ll actually do a lot more than that, of course; things that will only do invisible fences and nothing else tend to be collars or some kind of bracelet or cuff, and even then they�re getting hard to find.�
�Could you demonstrate it?� he asked jokingly.
She laughed. �As it turns out, I can�t demonstrate this unit myself because I had one installed a couple of years ago. My boyfriend gave me an ultimatum: wear one or get out. I didn�t have a job at the time, so I let him have it installed. It took me a while to adjust to the level of control he�s got over me, but at least it got me a job!�
�Oh?�
�This whole female obedience thing is getting out of hand! Technically a company can�t require their female employees to wear one, but in practice it�s getting harder and harder to find a large company that will hire you if you don�t have one installed and allow them to put you into their tracking and control system.�
�I�ve heard of that,� he said thoughtfully. �So what else will this unit do?�
�Well, outside of the rather obvious sexual functions, it�s got a more general pleasure and pain function. It�s also got a conditioned response trigger function, although it takes a substantial amount of training to use it.�
�How�s that work?�
�It can stimulate the nerves in several dozen different places. It�s not at all unpleasant; it�s just low level heat, cold,
�That�s amazing!�
�I�m finding it more disturbing! My boyfriend has me trained to bring him a beer when he pushes the button. When he wants one, I just stop what I�m doing, get the beer, put it on a serving tray and kneel next to him until he takes it and dismisses me. I usually don�t realize what�s happening until I�ve got the beer on the tray, and by then there�s not much point in interrupting the programmed response.�
�That could be fun,� he grinned.
�He certainly thinks it is! In fact, it�s a lot of work to set up a routine unless you have a professional do it. The training aspect is what he likes about it. I�ve had this unit for a couple of years, and the �fetch me a beer� routine is the only one he�s trained me to do that actually works.�
�It could still be fun. Can I use it to turn her ability to speak on and off?�
�Probably, but it�s better for actions rather than status stuff. If you want the status stuff, I�d recommend installing Chasti-Permalock�s Basic ChastiPet package. That�s a nanite package that really will make her a much better pet, and it interfaces with the ChastiControlShield we�ve been talking about.�
�I think I�ve heard of that, but I don�t know much about it.�
�They found that they had the same basic modifications for their Chasti-Puppy, Chasti-Kitty, Chasti-Pony and Chasti-Gerbil lines, so they decided to make it a separate product. Unlike their end user products, it�s designed to be discrete, so nobody will know she�s got it installed unless they know what to look for. It takes a couple of inches off her hind legs and adds a couple of inches to her spine and forelegs. In fact, it adds two additional vertebra and one rib segment. It reshapes her hips and shoulders so she�s much more comfortable on four legs and not as comfortable on two. She can still get around on two legs if you want, but there�s a bit of a tendency to waddle, which simply looks like an exaggerated hip sway. In fact, it may take a bit of discipline and training to make her walk two-legged once she adjusts.
�The foot and hand adjustments make the puppy paws comfortable, and there�s a change to her neck so she can bring her head back when she�s in four footed mode. That�s actually the most obvious change: an unmodified human simply can�t carry their head that way for any length of time, if they can manage it at all.
�However, the real impressive change is a new set of nerve pathways that communicate between the ChastiControlShield and her brain and let you enable and disable brain sections at will. You can use that to turn speech on and off, or remove her ability to understand anything beyond simple one word commands. There are lots of things you can do with that!�
�Could I use this to have her go to the door, scratch and whine if she needed to be let out to do her business?�
�You could set it up so she couldn�t hold beyond a certain point. Every pet I�ve ever seen gets the scratch and whine routine down really fast once they discover that�s the signal you want for when they need to be taken out right now!�
�I guess they would at that!� he chuckled. �That�s really interesting. What else can that do?�
�Well, one interesting difference is with arousal. By itself the ControlShield does a turnon by direct stimulation. With the ChastiPet package it can turn her on sexually by stimulating the brain area. That�s faster and more precise. It can also turn her off, regardless of the amount of stimulation.
�Another thing it�s got is a set of data channels. They�ll never replace looking at the 3V, and it takes a lot of work to set them up, but once you�ve gone through the setup they�ll let you control her with an amazing amount of detail. It�s almost manditory if you�re going to want to show her; hand and voice signals will only do so much.
�You can also set them up so your pet can access your household system for herself. It�s fast enough for audio books, and it�s also fast enough to control just about any household equipment around. I�ve even heard of some people that have trained their pets to drive using it!�
�It�s an interesting idea, but I want to think it through a bit. I does seem like it would be fun, though.�
�Of course,� she grinned at him. �Now, this shield unit is a bit basic. As you can see, there�s a lock and a USB port. The lock will let you keep it in or take it out; if you don�t lock it she, or anyone else for that matter, can remove it.
�The computer port not only lets you program it, but that�s also how you recharge it. It holds a charge for four days, but it�s going to start prodding her if it isn�t recharged in two. That�s what these little lights are for.�
�I see. But what happens if I keep her as a puppy for longer than that? I�d like for her to be able to recharge it herself.�
�We�ve got a couple of accessories for that. You can install one in her kennel, or wherever you�ve got her sleeping, and it�ll crawl up and connect while she sleeps. Which reminds me,� she got out her notepad, �you�re going to need the proper accessory for the carrier as well.
�Now there�s another version,� she added, taking out another curved triangular shield. �This one lets you remove the center and install different accessories. One of them is a dildo for pleasuring her, of course, and there�s a simple shield to prevent access and keep her from pleasuring herself. If you take it out, you can use her yourself; the hole is big enough for all but the most massive cocks.
�It�s also the one you need if you want to share her, like with a day job somewhere that they want control of the unit while she�s on the premises. Or if you want to put her in a kennel for a few days while you�re traveling. They�ve all got somewhat different programs they want to download, and you want to keep them separate from your own programming.�
�I think that�s the unit I want,� he said thoughtfully. �I take it I don�t have to learn how to program it all at once?�
�It�s pretty simple, and we�ve got software that can set up a lot of the more common routines. Of course, if you plan on showing her, custom programming can make all the difference.�
�I�m probably going to have some fun with that,� he answered with a boyish grin. �I just don�t like to jump into things without looking first.�
�I could wish more of our customers were as wise. She should be done with the isometrics by now, so let�s look her over, shall we?�
�I�ve got kind of a personal question,� he said. �Since you�ve got one installed, I�d think that you would use the data facility for demonstrations here?�
�Well, I�m told they tried. It turns out that most of our customers were spooked rather than impressed, and the female sales associates didn�t like having to have one installed in order to work here. Also, it is quite a bit of work to train someone to use the data channels. It takes an hour or more a day over several months for them to mature to where they�re really useful. Putting it all together? They decided it wasn�t the brightest idea they�d ever had.
�They�ve still got the training programs, and most of the store managers encourage the associates that have the Advanced ChastiControlShield installed to learn how to use it. I finished the course a couple of months ago, and it does come in handy to find out what we�ve got in stock, or look up a techincal question or a price list. And of course it lets me set up the invoice before we get to the register! Othewise we keep it really low key so it looks like something the associate could do if she really spent the time to learn how.�
The two of them walked back to where they had left Sassy in her carrier.
�It does look like she�s done,� Kitty said as she inspected her readout. �Not bad for a first time, but she missed on a good number of the muscle groups. Her protective association isn�t going to like that.�
�Protective association? You�ve mentioned it a number of times, but I didn�t think condemned criminals had protective associations.�
�They certainly do, and you�re going to have to register her with one shortly. They don�t do the same things as the kinky sex associations. Although she no longer has any human rights, you�re still subject to the cruelty to animals laws, and they get very strict about treatment that would be likely to turn her viscious.�
�Can I leave her here for training?�
�Certainly. Let me see where we�ve got an opening on the training schedule.� She checked her readout and pushed a few buttons. �We can start training her tomorrow morning. Isometric training usually takes two days.�
He checked his schedule. �You said I�d need a network? Will my regular household network work? Do you have an installation service?�
�Of course. We can have a contractor out tomorrow to find what you need, and install it the day after if your household network won�t handle it and you�re not covered by one you can contract with.�
�Good. Let�s look at cages next.�
�Well, let�s get her out of the carrier first,� Kitty said as she unlatched the top and opened it. �First, we unhook her,� she said as the bladders deflated and retracted. �There�s really not much to it; we take the ear plugs out and then remove the connections on the other end,� she said as she worked. She lowered the carrier to the floor and commanded: �Up, girl!�
Sassy raised her rump and then stood on all fours and stretched before stepping out of the carrier. She turned and looked at the device with respect while her owner clipped her leash to her collar.
�Cages are this way,� Kitty said, leading the way to another section of the display room. �We really only have small cages; if you want to provide somewhere she can walk around and get exercise, we suggest either a custom installation or some kind of a control arrangement.�
�Which is exactly what I�m planning. I think either a cage or a kennel for nighttime; and I�m leaning toward a cage. So what do we have here?�
�Well, this is our simplest model,� Kitty said, stopping in front of a box that looked like it was made out of flat strips. The strips were about an inch wide, a quarter inch thick and spaced about six inches apart. The strips went the full length of the box, either horizontally or vertically, and wove together somewhat like a basket. The box itself was about three feet high, two wide and four long. Kitty swung open one end and took Sassy by the collar. �In you go,� she commanded, giving the puppy-girl a push. Sassy walked into the cage and then twitched slightly as Kitty closed the gate and drove the latch home.
Ralph walked around the cage, looking at his pet. �This is about what I had in mind,� he said. �So why do I want a more expensive model?�
�Well, this one is good for a few hours, at least if she doesn�t need to eat or answer a call of nature. It�s probably all right for overnight, but she�s going to want to be taken out first thing in the morning.� She opened the gate and told Sassy to back out.
�This one, on the other hand, can be used for longer term storage for your pet.� She indicated a similar cage that was about a foot longer and seemed to be perched on a six inch tall base. It also had what looked like a fold down door at the other end, and some kind of ceramic by the gate.
The saleswoman opened the door and propelled the hapless puppy-girl inside, closing the door behind her. �This comes down,� she said as she lowered the inset piece on the other end, �and forms a table where you can put her food and water bowls. She watched as Sassy poked her head out, and scratched her behind the ears. �Good girl!� Sassy gave a light woof in response.
�Well trained,� Kitty complemented her. �Now this ceramic gadget is a toilet. It�s set up so all she has to do is squat over it so that it sets firmly. Then she can let go. It�ll clean her up before she gets up.� Sassy cocked her head, considering this bit of information, and then backed up and squatted gingerly. The ceramic neatly separated her ass cheeks and fit snugly against her skin. She suddenly got a blissful look on her face as they heard her let go. After a minute, she made to get up, but Kitty reached into the cage and held her down. A moment later, she got a really startled expression as a jet of water cleaned her off.
�That�s clever,� Ralph said, looking at his puppy-girl. �Let�s wrap it up, I think you�ve got a sale.� The two of them walked over to the sales counter, where she wrote up the transaction. �I can have you install the control widget while you�re doing the training?�
�We don�t let a pet stay in our kennels unless she�s got one installed, so we install a temporary if she doesn�t have one. Your pet won�t know it�s going to be permanent until it�s time to put her in her carrier and deliver her.�
�Neat,� he said, giving her his credit card. As he signed the sales slip, he saw an attendant take Sassy out of her cage, leash her and lead her away.
Three days later, he took delivery of a largish box, plainly marked: �this end up!� The delivery people had, for once, managed to get it right. He wheeled the box back and let Sassy out of her carrier. She stretched mightily and then walked over to where he crouched, sniffed him once and then licked his cheek lightly. He got up and she rubbed against his leg once before going to the door and whining, right paw lifted.
�You want to go out?� he asked.
She barked once.
�Well, let�s go.� He clipped a leash onto her collar and led her outside. She found a spot in the flowerbed and relieved herself, giving him a somewhat defiant look as she did. He chuckled. �Good girl!�
He picked up a small red ball and caught her attention with it, then threw it to the other end of the garden. His pet looked at it roll, and then looked back at him, �you�ve got to be kidding� plainly written on her face. �Point!� he commanded. She looked at him again, and he pressed a button his remote. She gave a startled yip of surprise, and then aimed herself at the ball, right front leg outstretched and paw curled downwards.
�Good puppy,� he praised her, pressing another button. She gave another yip, and then let her breath out, tongue lolling out one side and a grin on her face. �Now fetch!� he told her.
She trotted over to it, moved it around a bit with a front paw and finally managed to get it into her mouth. She loped back and raised her head for him to take the ball. �Beg!� he commanded. Her mouth worked as if to drop the ball, and then she reconsidered and sat on her haunches, knees drawn up and front paws in begging position. He took the ball and pressed another button. Her eyes widened as she gasped and then gave a low moan.
�Let�s do that again,� he said, throwing the ball to another part of the garden. This time she came to a point promptly and then looked at him. When he nodded, she fetched the ball and presented it for her reward. It wasn�t long in coming; he scratched her under the chin as she sharply drew in her breath and then gasped.
A half hour later, he�d shifted the conditioning regime from standard reinforcement to intermittent reinforcement, and she was responding beautifully. �I think,� he told her, �You�re almost ready to find my golf balls for me. Would you like that?� She briefly looked at the sky as if praying, but dutifully rubbed her head against his thigh and gave a soft woof.
He gestured to his side, and she settled there in the familiar triangle pose. He considered her thoughtfully as his hand rested on her neck and shoulder, idly massaging her jaw. Not only did his ex-wife make a quite delightful pet, but he thought she might be enjoying the experience.
It was just as well that she did, he thought with a chuckle. He hadn�t set her up to conspire with one of his employees to embezzle what was actually quite a lot of money from his business. Exactly why she�d done it was something of a puzzle. On the one side she wanted for almost nothing; he was quite wealthy and all he really wanted from her was a public presence that would excite the right amount of admiration and envy, and a corresponding performance in bed. She was quite the clotheshorse, and appeared in the society pages with fair regularity. She wasn�t anywhere near as good in bed, though. She was a dead loss as far as household work went, but then his maid was quite competent at that.
On the other hand she was already a two time loser, although he hadn�t known that when he married her. That, in itself, was a problem. She was legally obligated to disclose the felony convictions before she married, and the fact that she hadn�t was enough to annul the marriage if he had so chosen. She also had to have known that a third felony conviction carried a mandatory sentence of permanent enslavement and loss of all human rights.
They�d settled the whole thing rather quickly once he�d suggested that he�d be quite happy to take her back as a puppy-girl after her conviction. She wasn�t stupid, and once her attorney had told her what the odds were of her winding up as a household drudge, she�d accepted the offer. A full confession and guilty plea insured she went to the training establishment with a minimum of publicity.
He�d thought his maid might be looking for a little payback, but she wasn�t stupid either. It hadn�t taken her very long to realize that forgiveness had much more immediate benefits than a somewhat theoretical entry on her ledger in Heaven.
And that, of course, was the truly amusing part of it. Even though the marriage had legally ended when she had been convicted and condemned, he could say with a clear conscience that they were faithfully fulfilling their vows.
If you enjoyed this story, please e-mail the author and let him know. He likes to hear from his loyal fans,and it gives him some motivation to keep writing this stuff. Of course, if you're a publisher and you'd like to buy some of these stories, please let him know. The starving author in the garret makes a great story, but it sucks in real life.