When the first piercing was made I howled and grunted at the burning transfixion of the thrust she made into and through the stretched flesh. This first piercing was placed across the width of my tongue, close to the back of my mouth and a thick, stainless steel rod was quickly forced into and through the wound, making me utter a keening howl of distress when it became deeply embedded in the muscle, then small, sobbing explosions of panicky breath rose from my throat, swelling against its snug steel collar. The doctor paid my misery no attention whatsoever and continued her terrible work. Next, came the web piercing beneath, and another sobbing cry was torn from me while my heels tried to drum a staccato beat against the thin, black, rubber padding, but the series of tight, steel clamps ca
