Chapter 5: Pushing Boundaries

The first scheduled show of the tour is in a small industrial city called Stonewell. The city is well away from the popular tourist beaches dotted along the coast. The local ice rink is functional and reasonably well maintained. Until usurped by a new rink in a neighbouring city a decade ago, the rink hosted the area’s Regional skating events. The competition grade changing rooms and other backstage facilities reflect the former glory the rink once enjoyed and trigger Zoe’s flashbacks of her time as a competitive skater.

The routine for the show is similar to the performance the troupe carried out during their unscheduled event in Walter Creek. Zoe discovers that there is little variety in the costumes they wear from one performance to the next. While none of the skaters are allowed to claim any item of costume as exclusively her own, in practise most items are regularly used by the same skater. In particular, the leather harnesses have over a dozen adjusting straps to ensure a snug fit. Rather than spend ages readjusting a harness, the six skaters soon agree which harness ‘belongs’ to whom. The small scratches and marks on the leather make identification easy.

Tonight’s show is attended by over two hundred spectators. The audience erupts into life as soon as the six skaters appear on the ice pulling Mistress Heather on her sleigh. The loud music doesn’t quite drown out the lewd remarks and indecent proposals coming from all corners of the enthusiastic crowd. Zoe initially feels humiliated by the crude shouts. However, what else does she expect with her generous tits nicely framed by her harness? To fire the audience into an even greater frenzy, Mistress Heather doesn’t hold back on the use of her whip. All six skaters feel the impact of the whip on their backs while each does her best to keep in formation. Finally the opening sequence is complete and the skaters are allowed to stop for a brief rest. Zoe isn’t the only one who feels a welt across her shoulders and back from Mistress Heather’s excessive use of her whip. But Zoe won’t get any sympathy from Madame Heather, nor from the other skaters, who are equally marked.

The first round of solo performances begins as soon as everyone is unhooked from the sleigh. Whoever goes first will be at a disadvantage. Not only will she have no chance to regain her breath, but none of the skaters have been told the style of music they are to interpret tonight. Zoe straightens the flimsy bra and miniskirt that supposedly make her costume decent. If anything, it makes her more appealing to those who lust after her body. The bra had started to itch as it became damp from her sweat, so Zoe makes an attempt to dry the sweat off.