reported his handiwork to Artur, who informed Adolfus. The merchant could barely conceal his excitement as he frantically waved Artur forward. His mouth began to salivate and he felt a tingling in his groin. His breathing became heavy. The group moved silently as the scullion scampered ahead to gently ease the shutters up to allow the others to enter. He was told to remain near the shop front as two of Artur’s men brought down the shutters once more so as not to arouse suspicion. Then he led Artur to the stairs that led to the first floor. Artur held up a hand when he heard some grunts, but then smiled when he realised that it was the sound of pigs in a pen to the rear of the shop. He drew his dagger and slowly walked up the stairs, Adolfus following and the others trailing behind. It was pitch black and so their progress was agonisingly slow. Artur could hear the heavy breathing of Adolfus behind him and smiled. His master could have any whore he wanted and yet here they were, feeling their way upstairs in the house of a humble baker. Sometimes he preferred smuggling. But for Adolfus this was one of the most exciting moments of his pampered life. Paying prostitutes to submit to his unnatural demands was at first desirable but then became boring. But this; this was different. Perhaps it was the prospect of having something that was beyond his reach, notwithstanding his wealth and position. Or perhaps it was the thought of contravening the laws of God and man and getting away with it that was the attraction. He could hear the family’s relaxed breathing now as he stepped into the bedchamber. The others silently filed in behind him. His forehead was beaded with sweat and he kept licking his lips. ‘Hurry, Artur,’ he whispered, his lower body tingling like it was aflame. The anticipation was unbearable. With difficulty Artur identified the sleeping family: the parents in a double bed and two single beds to one side in which their children lay in slumber. The family slept on mattresses stuffed with straw placed on wooden planks under linen sheets and woollen blankets, their heads resting on pillows. Artur clicked his fingers and two of his men rushed forward to hold down Dietmar while he and another man went to the other side of the bed to grab Agnete. It was she who opened her eyes a split second before the blanket and sheet were ripped off the bed and a hand was forced over her mouth. At first she thought it was a nightmare but then with horror realised that the frantic struggling of her husband beside her was very real. Her linen nightshirt was then roughly yanked up to reveal her naked body and she too began to struggle furiously, to no avail. Adolfus ran his hands over her body as Dietmar, a pillow over his face, wrestled with his assailants like a man possessed. Adolfus fondled her breasts and than placed his hand between her legs to feel her most intimate place. ‘Hurry lord,’ hissed Artur. Adolfus was frantically pulling up his tunic and grappling with his braies to set free his hardened manhood, which even in his high state of arousal left a lot to be desired. Then Marie screamed. Artur turned to squint at the figure of the young girl sat up in bed and instinctively lashed out with his right hand, striking the girl hard with the back of his hand and sending her sprawling onto the floor. Adolfus grunted with satisfaction as Artur turned back to the bed and grabbed Agnete’s right leg and pulled it towards him as the man behind the bed who was holding her left arm and had his other hand over her mouth struggled to control her as she thrashed around wildly. The men who were restraining Dietmar were also having problems holding down the baker. Artur was beginning to regret the whole enterprise as Adolfus threw himself on top of Agnete and tried to force his manhood into her. But Agnete was possessed of the strength of a wild woman and his efforts were to no avail. It did not matter: Adolfus groaned and