It was finally time for the two girls to go back home. Apart from a visit to the Presidential Palace to receive the country's highest decoration for bravery, which the genial and delighted old gentleman was unable to pin to their still unadorned chests,  and a few phone calls to the British High Commission, they had spent the entire time in their hotel suite, recuperating from their ordeal and getting to know each other again after such a long time apart.

A doctor had come to the hotel to examine Harriet and pronounced her in absolurely splendid health except for hair and body lice which soon yielded to treatment.  Gwendoline, he also declared to be none the worse for her ordeal.  Calls to the High Comission had not succeeded in finding Mr.  Bernard James, of whom the official spoken to denied all knowledge.

They had refused to appear at a press conference.  Harriet and Gwen both agreed to a request from Katie to let her newspaper have an exclusive story and interview after their return to London.  A large cheque had been promised.  Gwen wanted Harriet to have all the money, but Harry had insisted they share it equally.

They had a couple of hours to wait before the official limousine collected them to take them to the airport, and were lying naked together on the bed, engaging in one final act of love before getting dressed and going down to the foyer.
 

"You serious when you say my father really wants me to go and see him, Gwen?"

"Oh, Yes! After we got the news that you were dead, and I was well enough to get up again, I went straight to see him and your mother.  He was heartbroken.  Your mother, alas, is too confused nowadays to know much, Harry, but maybe that was a blessing in disguise for her."

"Poor old Mummy!  She always was a scatter-brain, even before Alzheimers struck,  but at least she used to know what planet she was on - some of the time!"

They continued to fondle each other for a few minutes.

"I suppose you'll off to Oxford in a few weeks, my love" said Gwen, drawing back from a lingering kiss.

"What, Gwen!  I'm not to be your slave after all?  What a disappointment!"

"That was just a silly fantasy of mine!  As if that kind of thing could go on nowadays!"

Harriet replaced her tongue in Gwen's mouth and kept it there a long time, moving it about and hungrily massaging Gwen's.  Finally she withdrew.

"I can't spend three years running around with a bunch of sillly little kids, Gwen!  It's too late for that.  I'm a very experienced young woman by now!  Please let me come and work for you!"

"But, Harry" said Gwendoline, "You'll be a heroine to all the other undergraduates.  A big fish in a small pond!  And you always were the one who wanted to do well and show the world what women are capable of.  Be sensible, darling!"

"I have already shown the world that a woman can do, only in my own way!  I have the dubious distinction of having developed a physique many guys would die for, and all I want now is the chance to keep it in shape and even better it.  And you have a splendid library at your place, so my mind won't lose out altogether!"

"Well, Harriet.  I cannot deny that I would love to have you around, but only as a friend and lover - not a slave!"

Harriet returned to her frenzied kissing for a while.

"If you love me, Gwendoline, then you will let me be your slave.  I  want to be yours for ever.  I mean to say, Gwen - I went out to Africa because I was upset that you had married and I would be 'de trop'.  I knew it was a cruel mistake when I kissed you goodbye at the airport.  You were so brave, but I knew how much pain you were feeling.

"And then I went and got myself kidnapped and you came out and got me free.  I can't possibly survive without you to look after me!   So please be my mistress - it's all I want!"

"What about Bernard?  What if he asked you to marry him?"

"He won't.  I knew that somehow when we said godbye at the rebel base.  I daresay he'll come around to screw me from time  to time, always with your permission, of course,  but marriage for him would be too confining."

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"Get undressed, Harry!  I've something incredibly important to tell you!"

The two were walking to board the aircraft.

"What?"

"I own fifty per cent of the shares in this airline!  I got a message yesterday from  my London office, confirming the deal! Isn't that a lovely last-minute surprise!   We go home nude - how lovely.  A perfect ending to our African Odyssey!"

To Gwendoline's delight, the steward was the self-same young man who had looked after her and Jessica on the outward journey.  This young gentleman could scarcely believe his good fortune as he attended to the needs of two naked ladies.  He was particularly amazed by Harriet.  Never in his life had he seen a woman who was so lovely and incredibly strong at the same time.  He fussed around the pair, who were the only occupants of the first class accommodation - the other first class passengers had been imperiously downgraded by Gwen, who had sweetly promised them a handsome recompense.

"When do you want me to start work, Mistress Gwendoline?"

"Whenever you like, darling.  And don't ever call me mistress again.  Get it out of that empty head of yours that you are my slave!  You are my darling friend - the most beloved person in my life - bar none!"

"Yes, Mistress!"

"You fucking idiot!"

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