It had been remarkably easy to capture the helicopter, but Joanne’s hope of capturing the pilot and forcing him to fly them to the mainland deep into rebel territory had been thwarted by that gentleman’s bellicose response and yet more deadly accurate shooting from Frieda. So they were still stuck on the island and with the threat of a replacement helicopter full of armed men, or of a landing from a Government warship. She guessed neither of these possibilities was imminent. The authorities might well decide to cut their losses and let the girls starve over time.

The food supply would last only a few months. There was plenty of protein swimming about in the sea, but for the rest of their diet, the outlook was not promising. They would have time to build a raft to cross over to the mainland in at the most, four months time..

In the meantime they were stuck here. As soon as the helicopter had been secured, and Francesca had switched off the engine, Angela was released from the cage. The ever trigger happy Frieda did this by shooting off the padlock, much to Joanne‘s annoyance.  How was Annie to be locked in now? Francesca eased her concern by pointing out that it should be easy enough to devise a simple catch, which a person on the inside would be unable to reach. That made Joanne happy, although not Annie.

With Angela at her side, Joanne addressed the newly liberated women and explained the code which she, Annie and Francesca had agreed of total nudity as a condition of belonging to her rebel faction.  Some of the new arrivals agreed at once, but most asked for time to think it over, eying the clothing left by the deceased guards with much longing.

Angela, who had endured so long stuck in the cage day and night felt able to go along with it, despite some reservations. She liked Joanne and wanted to serve with her. Frieda was also enthusiastic - a tough little girl, she relished the physical challenge and she wanted to make a good impression on Francesca.  Josephine also agreed without hesitation and without enthusiasm either. If Frieda could do it, then so could she!

Those who accepted the no clothing rule followed Joanne around to the other side of the island and under her direction, started establishing themselves, using the cave as the main living quarters.

Over the next three days, the rest of them agreed to join up and a ceremony was held where all swore to uphold the main rule through thick and thin and no matter what the conditions. There was not one of them who did not feel a tremor of excitement mixed with fear as they took on board the extremity of hardship they were likely to suffer before the struggle was over.

Joanne posted a three woman guard over the stranded and useless helicopter. It was to be set on fire in the event of an attempt to land on the island. In the meantime, Joanne decided to let it stay where it was. Francesca agreed with her. She had her reasons for this - of which more later.

Thirty years ago there had been a fleet of these helicopters, as well as winged warplanes,  at the disposal of the government, but the State’s obstinate rejection of technology had  resulted in a steady fall in their number. Now there were very few left. The regime must have fallen long ago had it not been that the opposition forces were every bit as lacking in  what was once called  modern weaponry.

Angela had replaced the original pair of Francesca and Annie as Joanne’s right hand woman. Frieda and Josephine had to live with the fact that Angela was once more in authority over them, but with Joanne in overall command, the former prisoner was less of a pain in the neck than she might have been.

None of the women seemed anxious to try making the rather dangerous crossing to the mainland, and the sight of a light aircraft patrolling the sea made them even more afraid. They would be sitting targets on a makeshift raft. Joanne decided to wait and see. If they could defeat an attempt to take back the island, they might then have the means of escape. With the large amount of weaponry at their disposal, they would have a fair chance.

It was a week after the deaths of the four Inspectors and Joanne had time to take stock of her own position. Annie was due to be sent to the cage in a day or two for her disobedience but Joanne knew that her own guilt in falling asleep at such a vital time was a far worse offence, for which she was paying no penalty, save that of being eaten up by inward shame and guilt. Finally she had had enough.

She must confess her offence and pay the penalty for it. What Angela had said about her own unit, where an officer could be reduced in rank for a time and punished like an ordinary soldier was making more and more sense. She would step down in favour of one of the others and submit herself to the disciplinary action of the new commander.

Francesca was her first choice. This young woman was far cleverer than Angela and impressed Joanne more and more each day. But she was young and too close to her. Because of her obligation to the girl who had saved her life, the others might feel that she would be less than fair in any decision she made .

Annie was out for the same reason. More than that she  even closer to Joanne and far  too young.  In any case, she was shortly to be punished herself. No! The only choice was Angela. She wondered how that inflexible and tough lady would act. Pretty harshly, almost certainly, but she would have to be the one.

One day, Joanne  ordered all the women around to the other side. She and Angela walked behind the others and Joanne prepared to put her fate in the other woman’s hands. As soon as they were all within sight of the helicopter, the cage,  the stakes and whipping post, she turned to Angela.  Now was the moment of truth!