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 ï>¿Eveline's Strangest Journey by EC

   Chapter 21 - Jenny's Scholarship Contract

   Coach Strickland showed up with Evelyn just as the student interview
with Jenny was wrapping up.  Jenny was relieved that her naked day at
Lynn's school was about to end.  There would be plenty of fallout from her
time at the school, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad.  One could always
hope...

   The principal immediately recognized Evelyn as the model on all those
auction house advertisements, and the infamous hostess who had her picture
taken with Comandante Foxtrot when he walked off with that famous antique
pot.

   The middle school principal and the high school coach chatted for a few
minutes before Jenny found out an important detail about her hostess.  It
turned out her husband was one of the women's basketball coaches at
Tri-State University.  He also sat on the athletic scholarship committee.

   Coach Strickland knew the university coach, of course, but she did not
know that he was married to the middle school principal.  She was just as
surprised as was Jenny to find out how important the school official would
be in determining Jenny's future.

   "...  so, I'm curious about your athlete here and her nudism.  She was
saying at the assembly that it helps give her an edge with her playing. 
What do you think?  Does she play better when she's naked?"

   "I'd say so.  Yes.  I know she feels a bit apprehensive when she goes on
the court in the nude, and it makes her more aggressive.  I think it also
makes the players from the other team under-estimate her.  And it helps her
skin breathe, you know, she can sweat freely and not have to worry about a
wet uniform."

   "And your other girl here?  What about her game?"

   "Evelyn's game has improved a lot since she decided to go nude.  A lot.
She was mediocre last year, and now she's one of my better players.  Not as
good as Jenny, but still pretty good."

   "That's interesting, and here's why.  The university is considering
implementing a policy that would allow student athletes to go nude.  I'm
thinking that Jenny would be a great candidate to promote the pilot program
for the policy change, and I was going to suggest that to my husband.  She
gets a full-ride scholarship, and in exchange she would promote the nude
athletic option."

   "How would she do that?"

   "Just by representing the program, in the same way that Evelyn is
representing her auction house.  She'd play nude, practice nude, and set an
example for other students by living nude.  Same as Evelyn with her
company. She'd promote the program by promoting a life-style choice through
example."

   "I suppose you'd work out a contract?  That's what Evelyn's supervisor
Nancy did when they hired her.  Evelyn is committed to properly
representing the company at all times whenever she is in public, and in
exchange she's got guaranteed employment."

   "She's contractually obligated to be naked?"

   "Yes, that's part of her end of the agreement.  And wearing those fancy
sandals are as well.  That's how her firm wants to be represented,
stripped-down elegance.  I suppose you'd want to give Jenny a similar
long-term contract, so everyone knows what's expected."

   "Yeah, a contract.  We hadn't thought about that, but it's an excellent
idea."

   Jenny glanced in panic at Evelyn, but Evelyn responded by looking back
at her with a completely neutral expression.  By now she had become very
good at hiding what she was thinking or how she felt about anything.

   Coach Strickland placed her hand on Evelyn's shoulder and continued:
"Jenny signed a 'naked-in-school' agreement for high school that'll take
her through the end of her senior year.  If the scholarship gets approved,
then you could give her a new contract that would pick up from graduation,
and she could represent the college program starting over the summer."

   Jenny cringed.  She'd get her scholarship alright, but only in exchange
for remaining naked, at all times, throughout her entire time at the
university.

   Coach Strickland and Jenny's future university mentor drafted a
scholarship contract.  She returned to the middle school the following day
to sign it.

   It was a dream scholarship, to be sure, but it came with a very heavy
price.  Jenny was strictly prohibited from wearing any clothing for the
next five years.  She was required to follow a strict diet and exercise
regime that would keep her as healthy as possible for her athletic
pursuits. She would appear at "any and all" public events deemed necessary
to promote her university, the basketball program, and the naked-in-school
program.

   Finally, the basketball captain was obligated to obey her current coach,
her college coach, and her sponsor on the scholarship committee without
question.  She also committed to accept and submit to whatever disciplinary
measures her mentors deemed necessary should she "not live up to the
standards" of the scholarship.

   Jenny had dug herself in deep, that was for sure.  She had finalized her
coveted scholarship, so she could go back to her skeptical parents and tell
them that: "...  see?  I told you I knew what I was doing with the nudity
thing." That was great, but now she was prohibited, by contractual
obligation, from touching any clothing for five years.  Also, she
suspected, quite correctly as it would turn out, that her new mentor
planned to enthusiastically spank her bare bottom for the slightest
transgression.



   Chapter 22 - The Nude Basketball Video Series

   Coach Strickland came up with an idea that she calculated would help the
careers of both Jenny and Evelyn.  Why not make a series of instructional
videos for basketball featuring two naked players?  It was sure to be
extremely popular, be an excellent fund-raiser, and increase the public
exposure of the star player and the model.  It would also help to promote
the naked-in-school program around the US.

   Nancy and the college recruiter thought a video series was an excellent
idea.  The two students, because of their contracts, had no say in the
matter.  They would be expected to do their best as presenters and
instructors.  They both knew, if they did not show enthusiasm for the
project, they'd be disciplined.  Jenny's contract actually had a discipline
clause, and Strickland was officially Evelyn's guardian.

   The filming of the video series took place in the middle-school gym on
Sundays.  The university sent over a camera crew from the athletic
department to make sure the videos were of the highest professional
quality.

   The video shoots would lasted throughout the entire basketball season
and not end until after the play-offs.  The goal was to have a total of 30
hours of instruction, which meant many more hours that Jenny and Eveline
had to be on the court creating footage that could be edited.  During the
filming, there was no question that Jenny was the better player.  She lead
all of the demonstrations and later narrated what she was doing and the
logic behind her strategies.

   For the purposes of the project, Eveline was set up to lose, even though
both Jenny and Coach Strickland told her to always do her best.  There was
no humiliation in that detail, because the point of the videos was to show
how to best an opposing player.  Eveline was simply performing that role
for Jenny's demonstrations.

   Eveline played as well she could and, every so often, she did manage to
outplay Jenny.  The video producers included those moments in the
instruction and the demonstrator had to explain what went wrong and how she
needed to correct her strategy for the next turn.

   Eveline didn't realize it, but her game improved as a result of the
endless hours of one-on-one with her team captain in front of the cameras.
Towards the end of the video project she became a more challenging
opponent.

   Evelyn never talked during the videos: she left all the talking to her
team captain.  Her role was to be Jenny's opponent while she demonstrated
dodges and moves.

   After the contract was signed, Coach Strickland took Eveline home and
told her she was free for the rest of the day, which meant an outing with
Lance.

   Jenny was not nearly so lucky.  Her new mentor called her into her
office to explain to her that the scholarship contract had been notarized
and was now legally binding.  Jenny's day-to-day training would still be
under Coach Strickland, but legally she was now obligated to do whatever
the university coaching staff told her to do.

   Since Jenny was not yet at the university, the coaches had delegated
supervision of the new scholarship student to the principal.  One of the
woman's first priorities was to instill discipline and control over the
player.

   "Whenever you talk to me, I expect you to stand straight and put your
hands behind your back.  That's the way they do it in the military and
that's the way you will do it with me.  Do you understand, young lady?"

   Jenny took a deep breath and complied.  With her hands behind her back
she felt more exposed than she had ever felt in her life.

   "Yes ma'am."

   "Good girl.  Now the next thing we need to discuss is how I'm gonna keep
an eye on you when you're not around me or Coach Strickland.  I can't have
you out there doing God-knows-what when we need you to stay focused on your
studies and your fitness training at all times.  Fortunately your little
sister is here to help me out."

   The principal called to the door: "Lynne!  Come in here, please!"

   Lynne stood in front of her principal and looked at her older sibling
with her usual evil smile.  The woman put her hands on the kid's shoulders.
This...  was not gonna be good.  Not at all.

   "You know that your sister is one of my favorite students.  She has been
a hall-monitor for the past year, and I just promoted her to be the student
supervisor of all the hall monitors.  She has helped two of my teachers as
a student aide and has tutored several classmates.  And, of course, she is
class president.  She is the example of what I expect from the kids at my
school.  All I can say, is that you are very lucky to have a sister like
her."

   "I...  yes, ma'am."

   "Anyhow, I've asked her to keep an eye on you at home and she's been
gracious enough to accept.  I have her to watch over you and make sure you
stay out of trouble.  She will keep a diary of how you spend your time,
what you eat, your exercise regimen, and how well you respect your parents.
We are about to put a huge investment into you, so it is important that we
safeguard you.  You will not disappoint us, because we won't give you that
opportunity."

   "I...  "

   The principal looked at Lynne.

   "So, you understand what you're supposed to do, sweetie?"

   "Yes, ma'am.  I'll watch her just like I was a security camera.  Even
better."

   "Thank you, Lynne.  You're such a good girl."



   Chapter 23 - The Golden Sword

   Eveline's career as an auction presenter continued to advance as her
senior year in high school progressed.  She traveled to places like New
York and Los Angeles, in a private jet with her supervisor and company
documentation.  Flying via private jet prevented her from having to get
dressed to take a commercial flight and also saved her a lot of time.

   As Eveline became known throughout the auction industry, Nancy decided
to entrust her with presentations that required her to pick up and actually
handle expensive sale items.  The change was important, because it meant
that Eveline was holding museum-quality merchandise that often sold for
tens of millions of dollars.  She had to wear soft cloth gloves to prevent
getting fingerprints on the merchandise, but otherwise her presenter's
outfit remained the same.

   Some of the items were so famous that she already knew about them.  For
example, at an auction in Hollywood she presented a gold short-sword that
she had seen in a museum while on a field trip when she was in middle
school.  She specifically remembered that sword, precisely because it was
solid gold and 4,000 years old.  It was a centerpiece of the collection and
was protected by bullet-proof glass and an advanced alarm system.  And now
she was actually holding it.

   She wondered why it left the museum and was being sold at auction, but
she also knew better than to ask such questions.  The sword sold for $ 30
million dollars.

   Eveline got her answer about the short-sword as soon as the auction was
over.  It turned out that the buyer was none other than Comandante Foxtrot.
The Supreme Leader had dropped $ 30 million for a single item like it was
nothing, like he was buying something from a souvenir shop.  Well, at least
this time he paid fair market value for the sword, unlike the Niger
Heart-Pot, which he had acquired by totally scamming Tri-State University.

   Eveline had been extremely careful to handle the antiquity with the
greatest caution throughout the bidding.  However, when the new owner came
up to her, he casually grabbed it and brandished it in front of several
photographers.  He put his arm around the naked presenter, held up the
sword, and posed for some trophy-shots.

   Eveline forced a smile, but inwardly she was scared out of her wits.  An
ordinary person doesn't just grab a 4000-year-old solid gold antiquity that
had been on display in a museum for decades and casually wave it around,
but Comandante Foxtrot was no ordinary person.  He owned a quarter of the
African continent.  It was obvious his ego was as grandiose as his wealth
and power.

   Then there was the question about why Comandante Foxtrot would want that
particular sword and pay $ 30 million dollars for it, along with whatever
bribes he needed to persuade museum administrators to move it out of their
collection and put it up for auction.  Eveline knew, through her
pre-auction research, that the sword had a nefarious history, just like the
Niger Heart-Pot.

   After the auction, Eveline wondered if Comandante Foxtrot's newest
purchase would make the news, and sure enough, it did.  The scandal was not
quite as big as the sale that cost Tri-State University its most valuable
asset, but it did involve the administrators of a U.S.  museum parting with
a famous antiquity.  The curators tried to justify their sale by claiming
they were going to use the profit to purchase several famous works of
modern art.  No one was buying that.  A 4000-year-old golden sword in
exchange for some crappy modern art?  Seriously?  And then, the curators
vanished, along with the $ 30 million dollars.  Meanwhile, the Supreme
Leader returned to the Confederation and added his new prize to his
collection of expensive goodies.

   The new scandal had to have a public face and, once again, pictures of
Eveline with the Comandante appeared all over the news.  She became a
subject of interest when several reporters wanted to interview her.  She
was very nervous from suddenly being the focus of so much attention. 
However, she maintained outward calm as she responded:

   "Look.  I am just an auction presenter.  I don't work in the public
relations department.  I am not authorized to speak about Emerald Empire's
policies or any particular sales transaction.  We have specialists to
handle stuff like what you want to ask.  Please talk to them."

   Eveline knew that she could not avoid any controversy involving
Comandante Foxtrot and stolen antiquities.  She was destined to cross paths
with him again in the near future.  She figured the next time that he
wanted some important Old World antiquity, Nancy would lead the bidding and
she would be the presenter.  And...  she would be the subject of yet
another trophy shot and the face of yet another art scandal.

   *****

   Since there would be no avoiding the next high-society art intrigue,
Eveline decided that she needed to inform herself as much as she could
about the West African Confederation's Supreme Leader and what items were
likely to draw his interest.  She drafted Lance to do much of her research.
She demanded reports, summaries of news articles, academic research, and
talking points.  She mercilessly manipulated him by flirting with him and
guilt-tripping him until he dedicated all of his free time to helping her.
As his time at the computer increased, he dropped his other interests and
unwittingly became his girlfriend's servant.

   A strange thing happened shortly after Lance started doing research for
his girlfriend.  One afternoon after making love to her, she told him to
sit at the computer without giving him the chance to get dressed.  From
that day forward, he always sat naked at Eveline's workdesk, even if Coach
Strickland was in the house.

   *****

   Meanwhile, Eveline talked to Nancy about antiquities that were likely to
be offered for sale in the near future.  Upon getting the lists from her
supervisor, she did her own research to find out what historical
significance they had.  She figured out that Comandante Foxtrot had a
pattern with his purchases.  He was not interested in modern art or
anything connected to European or Islamic culture.  He only wanted African
and Egyptian items that held political or religious significance in ancient
times.  He wanted objects that had been the property of ancient royalty and
that would allow him to claim a spiritual connection to the past.  But,
why?

   Lance's research provided a likely answer.  Ever since he started taking
over the smaller countries of West Africa, Comandante Foxtrot had invoked
ancient religious traditions from the region in his speeches and political
rhetoric.  His goal, which he openly admitted, was to unite his young
empire under a new religion that drew upon pre-Christian and pre-Islamic
traditions and beliefs.  The antiquities he was purchasing were the props
he would need to lend legitimacy to the new religion project.

   Eveline impressed Nancy by predicting three items that would interest
the Comandante: a sacrificial stone altar, a set of ancient ceramic
cremation jars, and a jade cat statue that had been used as an idol.  Sure
enough, when each item came up for sale, the Supreme Leader placed the
winning bid.  The two women took advantage of their hunches to pay special
attention to Comandante Foxtrot and feed his ego with subtle flirting.  It
was a dangerous game, they both knew.  If he took too much of a liking to
either of them, it would be very easy for his henchmen to grab them, put
them on a plane, and deliver them to one of his palaces.



   Chapter 24 - City Chat with Giselle - Part 1

   Nancy came under increasing pressure from the upper management of
Emerald Empire to make arrangements for her favorite presenter to be
interviewed.  One of the national news networks was filming a series about
recent changes in the international art market and would include a segment
on the company.  It was an opportunity for publicity that would be foolish
to pass up.

   Nancy did not think having Eveline speaking on television would be a
good idea, but her supervisors overruled her.  Fortunately Nancy's employee
had moved away from being the nervous, shy high school student that had
entered her office just a few months before.  Eveline agreed to do the
interview.

   "I'm gonna need talking points from the public relations department, and
a specific list of things you wouldn't want me to say in public.  Don't
assume I'm gonna just know what to say and what not to say.  You're gonna
have to tell me so I don't mess up.  I also want the public relations
department to get me talking points from the West African Confederation's
embassy.  Same thing with them as with the company.  I want to know, in
writing, what the WAC doesn't want me to say."

   *****

   Eveline drafted Lance to help her get ready for the interview.  She
ordered him to research how the news outlet interviewed models, especially
ones that had been connected to political or business scandals.  She also
instructed him to find previous interviews with officials from the West
African Confederation.  When she told Lance about the likelihood Comandante
Foxtrot was getting ready to set up a state religion, he responded:

   "This is your chance.  You can nail that crazy bastard dictator to the
wall!  You can...  "

   "Nail 'that crazy bastard dictator to the wall'?  What are you talking
about?"

   "If he's buying all that stuff so he can set up his fake religion, you
can get the information out there; warn people what he's up to...  "

   "Uh, no...  I'm not gonna warn anybody about anything."

   "But I thought that was why they were interviewing you."

   "No, they're interviewing me because they want a fluff piece on the
antique market and they want to put a naked blond girl in front of their
cameras."

   "Then make it something more than that!  Don't you want to let everyone
know what's really going on over there?"

   "No, I don't.  Let the diplomats handle that.  And if you think I'd do
anything, anything at all, that'd risk pissing-off Comandante Foxtrot,
you'd better think again!"

   "Yeah!  'Let the diplomats handle that!' Like that's gonna happen! 
That's the problem!  No one wants to piss-off Comandante Foxtrot!  So, he
keeps doing all that shit!  That's...  "

   "Lance!  Lance!  You listen to me!  I've been right next to him a couple
of times!  He's had his arm around me!  He's talked to me and I've looked
him in the eyes!  That dude is fucking scary!  There is something about
him, I can't explain it, but there's something about him...  and that's how
he got to where he is today!  Maybe somebody can stop him, I wouldn't know!
But it's not gonna be me!"

   "But...  "

   "Stop!  Stop!  Let's have a reality check!  I'm an 18-year-old nude
model who's living with my teacher!  My mom's in jail and I've got a
meth-head brother who blew up our house!  That's my fucking reality!  Your
reality is, if you love me, you're gonna do what you can to help me!  I
don't need you pushing a bunch of 'save the world' bullshit and trying to
convince me I need to risk my life, and the lives of everyone at Emerald
Empire, 'for the good of humanity'!  I don't need that shit!  I don't
fucking need it!  What I need is for you to support me!  Do you get it?  Do
you understand?"

   Lance was shocked and terrified by how quickly and how harshly his
girlfriend came down on him.  She was showing the dark side of herself:
angry, cold, and hardened by the realities of life.  He had not realized
that dark side was part of her.

   "Yeah.  I...  I...  understand."

   Eveline was continuing to tighten her grip on Lance.  She was learning
how to better manipulate and control him.  She could also see how much she
had just scared him.  She felt kinda bad about that, because she liked him
and admired a lot of things about his character.  But Eveline had to
survive in a world that was increasingly sinister and hostile.  Given that
truth, his choice was simple.  Either he would assist her in her desire to
survive, or he wouldn't.  And if Lance could not make himself useful to
Eveline, she'd have no choice but to leave him.  She didn't want to do
that. She wanted him in her life, but under her conditions, not anyone
else's.

   *****

   Nancy had doubts about bothering to contact the embassy of the West
African Confederation.  They were going to take time to advise an auction
presenter doing a fluff interview on a late-night talk show?  Yeah right.
However, she decided to humor her employee and give her the benefit of the
doubt.

   To Nancy's surprise, the WAC embassy press secretary responded almost
immediately.  Nancy didn't know that when Eveline gave her high school
presentation about the history of the West African Confederation, the
embassy had sent an official map and a large portrait of the Supreme
Leader. Now that same girl was going to be on national television?  Of
course the WAC was going to respond.

   The embassy sent an interview guide and the talking points Eveline had
requested.  They included a quick-reference statistics flip-booklet and
several maps.  They also sent an ominously-worded memo:

   "Attention, Presenter Eveline Rogers:

   The information we have provided will guide you through most
journalistic inquiries that are usually made about Supreme President
Comandante Foxtrot and current conditions within the West African
Confederation.  To avoid controversy and possible misunderstandings, we
strongly advise you to adhere to the guidance we have given you.  Our team
of international analysts in the Foreign Operations Division of our
Information Ministry will be most interested in observing and evaluating
your performance.  We wish you success in your public endeavor."

   Eveline showed the paperwork to her boss.  "They made it really simple,
if you think about it.  Looks like they want me to do two things: keep
everything vague and positive, and do it while not sounding like a
cheerleader or total idiot."

   "I gotta admit; they did a good job with this script.  A lot better than
what Jackie in PR wrote up for the company.  I'm gonna go upstairs, show
this to her, give her a good kick in the butt, and tell her to write up
some real talking points."

   "Nancy, I wouldn't do that."

   "Why not?"

   "I don't want anyone to know that the WAC embassy gave me these talking
points.  This is between us, you and me.  We're in deep enough as it is. 
Both of us."

   Nancy handed the paperwork back to Eveline.  She was more than impressed
by the girl's sudden show of caution, maturity, and astuteness.  She no
longer doubted Eveline would do just fine during the interview.

   *****

   Eveline was ready when she entered the studio for her appearance on
"City-Chat with Giselle".  All that preparation turned out to be very
fortunate, because the interview was not the "fluff" interview that
everyone was expecting.

   It turned out that Giselle had connections with one of the museums that
had lost an artifact to Comandante Foxtrot's collection.  The talk show
host had an ax to grind against Emerald Empire and their dealings with
corrupt foreign leaders.  Giselle attempted to throw Eveline off-balance
with some hard questions, but the guest responded that her company was
nothing more than an intermediary that connected buyers and sellers of
expensive art.  She managed to stay on script, even though she had no notes
and had to recite everything from memory:

   "Our role is to get the best sale price for each item we present at
auction.  That's our commitment to each customer who entrusts a valuable
item to our care.  Each of us, myself and every one of my companions at
Emerald Empire, has an important part in fulfilling that commitment, which
is, as I stated, to get the best price...  the best fair price.  We are
nothing more than honest facilitators of the free market."

   "The purchases made by Comandante Foxtrot were all fair and honest
purchases, no different from any other transaction we facilitate.  The
seller was providing the artifact and wanted the best price.  Making the
purchase was, in Comandante Foxtrot's judgment, a decision that would serve
the people of the West African Confederation, and it was our role to
facilitate the sale."

   Eveline threw Giselle off by using the professional vocabulary that she
had picked up from studying her briefing materials.  When specifically
asked about Comandante Foxtrot, she kept her personal opinions about him to
herself.  Instead she cited various accomplishments and used the WAC
official talking points to deflect questions about the Supreme Leader's
aggressive foreign policy and massive human rights violations.  She went
slightly off-script only once, when she shared an observation that he was a
savvy customer who was well-versed in the antiquities market and had a real
appreciation for Africa's history.  That was the closest she ever came to
voicing a personal opinion of the Comandante.

   At that point Giselle realized that Eveline was very astute and knew how
to avoid saying anything that would get her in trouble.  She also realized
that her guest was very likeable and she would not be able to press her
much more without making herself look bad, which would hurt the program's
ratings.  The talk-show hostess decided to back down and spent the rest of
the interview chatting about more neutral topics such as Eveline's school,
her basketball team, how she felt about her naked lifestyle, and her plans
for what happened after she graduated.  Oddly enough, the inquiry about
Eveline's future was the one question she had difficulty answering. 
Finally she blushed, laughed a moment, and concluded:

   "I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing now.  I'm really having a
lot of fun with it." She stood up and turned around for the cameras.  "And
you can't beat my work outfit, low-cost, low maintenance."



   Chapter 25 - The Invitation

   Eveline's interview with Giselle would change the direction of her life,
but in a way no one could have imagined.

   The Information Ministry of the West African Confederation recorded her
interview, of course, and an intelligence officer studied the recording to
make sure she had not said anything that embassy would have to "clarify".
There was nothing derogatory.  In fact, this particular girl was very
impressive.  The recording moved up the chain of command until it reached
the Presidential Palace.  Comandante Foxtrot watched the auction presenter
and enjoyed the interview.  He liked the young American, as much as he was
capable of liking anyone.

   Comandante Foxtrot was a vicious megalomaniac with grandiose imperial
ambitions, but he was also a smart megalomaniac who often made calculated
long-term investments that wouldn't benefit him until several years later.
Eveline Rogers was destined to become one of those long-term investments.
The Supreme Leader decided to select her for a "mutually beneficial career
path".

   *****

   Eveline's boss Nancy Lombardi and her guardian Jamie Strickland received
a visit from a messenger of the West African Confederation.  The messenger
was a naked collared servant traveling in a limo with an armed escort.  The
messenger first went to Nancy's penthouse.  Then, with Nancy accompanying
her, she went to Coach Strickland's house.  She placed an envelope on a
silver platter and knelt before offering it to the coach.  (The platter
really was made from solid silver.  In the West African Confederation,
having something important handed to you on a silver platter was not just a
figure of speech.)

   Nancy and Coach Strickland were cordially invited to accompany the
servant and her guard to the local airport.  They would board a luxury
high-speed corporate jet for a direct transatlantic flight to Comandante
Foxtrot's main presidential palace.  The teacher and the auctioneer both
knew better than to turn down the "cordial invitation".  There would be a
second invitation that would be considerably less cordial if they were
foolish enough to refuse the first one.

   Besides being naked and collared, there was an additional detail about
the servant that was very unsettling.  She was not African.  She was
obviously originally from the US, judging by her North American accent and
mannerisms.  Not only was she from the US, but she spoke with a
college-level vocabulary.

   As they sped across the Atlantic, the two women were terrified.  They
barely knew each other and had no idea why they were being transported to
Africa together.  Their trip was obviously secret.  No one knew where they
were.  They fully understood that they had completely lost control over
their fates.  However, at least they were traveling under nice conditions
and had a selection of fine food offered to them during the flight.  They
weren't being treated as prisoners, at least not yet.

   When their jet landed at the military base just outside the
Confederation's capitol, the servant escorting the two Americans told them
they'd have to get undressed and leave their clothes on the plane.  That
meant everything, including jewelry.  Coach Strickland hesitated, but Nancy
admonished her:

   "We have to do it.  We gotta strip down.  Women aren't allowed to wear
clothes on any of Comandante Foxtrot's estates.  He says it's a nationalist
thing, a rejection of Western values, and the guards take it seriously."

   "It's like this everywhere in the WAC?"

   "Not yet, but that's coming, most likely.  Probably after their next
"election".  Right now it's just on presidential grounds, military bases,
and government compounds.  But he's very strict about it.  Women can't have
anything on their bodies if they're anywhere on presidential or government
property."

   After the guests reluctantly parted with their clothes and exited the
plane, they were met by a four-member escort of Comandante Foxtrot's naked
elite female presidential guards.  Their bodies were completely shaved and
they all wore the same short hair-style.  Their flawless oiled dark skin
shined in the blazing African sun.

   In spite of the fact they weren't wearing a stitch of clothing, the
guards' appearance did nothing to reassure the visitors from the US.  They
were four of the largest women either of the Americans had ever seen.  They
were not just tall, they were big and strong; real-life Amazons.  Both
Nancy and Strickland worked out and were physically fit, but their strength
was nothing in comparison with the four guards.  Coach Strickland estimated
they could easily bench 300 pounds.

   The strange futuristic weapons the guards were carrying were just as
intimidating as the women themselves.  Coach Strickland had never seen such
weapons and didn't understand their significance.  Nancy, who as a high-end
auctioneer had some knowledge about the international arms market, knew
what they were, but had not yet seen one in real-life.  She had thought
they were still only prototypes that Mega-Town Associates had in
development.  Apparently not.  Here were four of those weapons, fully
operational, right in front of her.

   The weapons were the latest generation of advanced multi-shot laser
launchers which had just recently been developed by Mega-Town, supposedly
for the US military.  The launchers were the stuff of science fiction, a
hand-held multipurpose blaster that could shoot down an airplane, demolish
a tank, blast a hole through the hull of a warship, or emit a shock wave
that would shatter the arteries of an entire company of enemy soldiers. 
Or...  the laser launchers could be adjusted for more delicate tasks, such
as paralyzing captives or torturing prisoners.  Amazing what wonderful
things humans can invent, now isn't it?

   *****

   Before the auctioneer and high school coach could meet with Comandante
Foxtrot, they had to be cleaned up and shaved.  For Nancy that wasn't a
problem: she had removed her hair by laser surgery earlier in the year. 
All she had to do was bathe.  One of the guards held onto her shoulders to
prevent her from moving while she waited for her companion.

   Coach Strickland did have a mat of offensive hair that had to be shaved
off before she was taken before the Supreme Ruler.  The guards produced a
large straight-edge razor and ordered her to lie down on a stone bench in
the bathing chamber.  She spread her legs while one of the guards
immobilized her hands.

   The most voluptuous of the guards shaved her.  The woman was stunning,
with large breasts, wide hips, and a nice big bottom.  Strickland was
attracted to her immediately.  And here this incredible beauty was touching
her guest's most secret areas with shaving cream and gentle touches of her
fingertips.

   The guard could see that the American was turned on and she took full
advantage.  She gently touched Coach Strickland's vulva and teased her
clit. With her hands held tight, the American was totally helpless.  The
guard finished shaving.  Now that her view of Strickland's vulva was clear,
she could see that her subject was totally wet.  She couldn't resist.  In
full view of Nancy and several of her co-workers, the guard brought
Strickland to orgasm.

   Nancy was frightened by what she was seeing.  She was not surprised at
being forced to go before Comandante Foxtrot in the nude, but the bath
chamber situation was not expected.  She had not anticipated the guards to
take liberties with her and her companion.

   And...  it was very unsettling to see Coach Strickland so helpless and
so out-of-control, having one of the best orgasms of her life against her
will.

   Part of the purpose of bathing guests before taking them before the
Supreme Commander was to assess what sexual vulnerabilities they might
have. From the beginning it was obvious Nancy did not have any.  She was
completely straight and was dating one of the executives from her company.
Actually, Nancy was largely indifferent about sex.  Like everything else in
her life, sex was more a business transaction than anything else.

   Coach Strickland was totally different.  She was a sensuous woman who
throughout her life always enjoyed sexual encounters, with both men and
women.  Unfortunately for her, life was changing.  She was about to go
through menopause, which reminded her that her time in the realm of the
living was rushing by, and that her youth was now past her.  Her
self-confidence was shaken and she was particularly vulnerable to sexual
advances and flattery.

   Coach Strickland had a very strange psychological experience in the bath
chamber.  As much as she thought about it afterwards, she was never able to
make sense out of what happened.  As strong a person as she might have been
in the US, among those big female guards she felt very submissive,
especially towards the woman who shaved her and gave her that awesome
orgasm.  She had developed a romantic crush towards the guard that was just
as strong and irrational as the crushes she had in middle school.  The
woman was half Coach Strickland's age, but she wanted that young African to
take control of her, to seduce her, to totally dominate her.

   The guard played along.  She invited her guest to sit on her lap.  She
had noticed the coach staring at her large breasts and quietly encouraged
her to touch them.  Strickland was enthralled.  The guard responded by
caressing the inside of Strickland's thigh and massaging her bottom.

   Nancy was taken to another room so Strickland could have her privacy.

   Coach Strickland dug herself deeper when the guard let her kiss and
caress her ass.

   The guards had been under orders to observe any vulnerabilities the two
American females might have.  The one assigned to Strickland certainly had
fulfilled that command.  The American was as aroused as she possibly could
be.

   The guard was baffled by her guest's strange behavior, finding it weird
that a professional woman in her 40's would act in such a manner.  She
didn't mind the kisses and caresses on her bottom, however.  It felt nice.
The guard was no longer thinking so much about the orders.  She was
genuinely curious to see what more the American wanted to do.

   The guards' supervisor abruptly entered the bath and ordered her
subordinates to escort the Americans to the Chamber of the Sacred Fire,
where the President was waiting for his visitors.  Strickland had to jump
out and was immediately led away from the guard who was with her in the
pool.  The abrupt separation left her frustrated and disoriented.  Later
she would realize the manner in which she was pulled away from her love
interest was done on purpose.

   She didn't see that particular guard again.

   Strickland was then reunited with Nancy, who had a sour expression on
her face.

   "Nice going, Coach.  That was really smooth."

   "I...  why?  What's...  "

   "You do realize that bath area is full of cameras, right?  That whatever
you did in there was recorded?  From multiple angles, most likely?"

   Coach Strickland's face went white and she felt sick.  Nancy continued:

   "Just sayin', I'm guessing you wouldn't want the school board to know
what went on in there?"

   Strickland shook her head.

   "Yeah.  So he's already got you.  You made that too easy."

   The trek through the presidential palace seemed pretty typical for a
trek through any ostentatious colonial-era governor's palace, until they
exited the back end of the building, walked along a long dark corridor, and
entered a recently-built annex.  It was in this annex where the Supreme
President had his throne and conducted his rituals.  And it was from this
annex where he was making his plans for the future of West Africa. 
Actually.  plans for the entire continent, as soon as his military took it
over.  Comandante Foxtrot certainly thought big.  He was a total
megalomaniac, but was he insane?  Was Julius Caesar?  Was Genghis Khan?

   When Nancy and Coach Strickland entered the Fire-Chamber, they had to
put their hands behind their backs.  They were women and Comandante Foxtrot
had mandated that any women speaking to any man had to put her hands behind
her back before she opened her mouth.  The guards shut the doors, leaving
the two Americans alone with the nation's Supreme Leader.

   They reluctantly approached Comandante Foxtrot.  Coach Strickland
followed Nancy's lead, assuming she'd know how close they needed to get to
the leader before stopping.  They approached until the dictator rose his
hand, indicating not to come any closer.  They knew, from having been
instructed previously, to keep their hands behind their backs at all times
unless instructed otherwise.

   Coach Strickland was very stressed about the humiliating posture.  Nancy
hid her emotions and tried to think of her exposure as a sacrifice
necessary to keep Comandante Foxtrot as her biggest customer.  She had made
a lot of money because of him.  If she treated him the way he wanted, she
would be earning a lot more from future sales.

   Comandante Foxtrot certainly liked to put his treasury's gold reserves
to practical use, instead of just having the metal sit as ingots in the
vault of the National Bank.  Hmmm...  let's see here.  A throne made of the
most expensive mahogany and lined with solid gold.  A solid gold broach for
his cape, a thick gold necklace with lions' claws, and even a gold
belt-buckle for his military trousers.  And the piles of gold-plated skulls
of executed political opponents added a nice touch.

   The fire throughout the room reflected the new religion Comandante
Foxtrot intended to introduce to the masses when he felt the time was
right. The new faith he had in mind was a revival of the ancient
Sun-worship cult of his distant ancestors.  There would be plenty of
ceremonies and sacrifices to tie the West African Confederation to the
remote past, but the Sun-worship cult would also have modifications in
doctrine to make it better fit the modern world.

   As the new religion spread, the foreign-introduced religions based on
"magic men" who put their faith into paper books would be banished.  No man
can be magic, therefore no man can be worshiped, nor can a book written by
mere humans be considered sacred.  The only magic in the Cosmos is the
energy coming from the Sun.  The churches and mosques throughout the
Confederation would be closed and torn down, to be replaced by Sun Temples.
The religious battles between the various "magic man" sects would end, and
the Sun would unify the faithful.  After-all, there is only one Sun.

   The women stood in uncomfortable silence while the Supreme President
studied their faces and bodies.  Finally he smiled slightly.

   "I desire that we be friends, in this room, so I will grant you a
privilege.  You may place your arms at your sides.  I will not require you
to hold your hands behind your backs.  It is a concession I rarely grant
women, but I will grant it to you.  I expect you not to abuse my faith in
you."

   The two women put their hands to their sides and struggled to keep them
from moving any further.  They did not dare cover themselves.

   "Now.  I have you here together for a single reason, to fulfill a single
purpose.  You two are so different, and yet what is most important to me is
the one detail you have in common.  Perhaps you would care to guess what
that might be?"

   There was an uncomfortable silence.  Finally Coach Strickland decided to
take the risk:

   "Supreme President...  I...  would it be my student Eveline Rogers?"

   "Yes, you are correct, Coach.  Your student Eveline Rogers.  I brought
you here to discuss the future of Eveline Rogers, and more importantly, my
plans and wishes for Eveline Rogers.  So, let us not waste any more time. I
have determined, from what I have seen of her, that Eveline Rogers is a
promising young woman.  Would you agree with my observation?"

   "Yes Supreme President."

   "Excellent, so we are in agreement.  Now here is what I expect you to do
with our agreement.  It would benefit my nation to see Eveline Rogers
launch a successful political career.  This is how we will accomplish it.
You will persuade her to run for city council in the upcoming special
election that your town is having next month.  My intelligence officers
have collected some knowledge about your city, enough to know that the
incumbent will be easy to defeat.  It will be an easy win.  An easy win. 
Do you understand me?"

   Nancy managed to respond with the proper enthusiasm:

   "Yes, Supreme President."

   "What about you, Coach?  Why didn't you answer?"

   "Uh...  Yes, Supreme President."

   "Yes, what?  There is doubt in your voice, Coach, which makes me
question your sincerity."

   "I...  I will do what I can, Supreme President.  I will...  I will... 
try to help Eveline."

   Comandante Foxtrot looked extremely irritated.  "Your doubt makes me
suspicious of you.  You don't want that.  Neither would anyone in your
family.  I only work with people I can trust.  So, you must understand that
you've been warned.  When I speak to you and ask something of you, don't
ever again hesitate when you respond."

   "Yes, Comandante Foxtrot."

   For the first time in her life, Strickland was truly afraid.  She went
pale and her knees trembled.  She hoped the Comandante didn't notice, but
of course, he did.



   Chapter 26 - The Mayor's Daughter

   Comandante Foxtrot seemed to have no further interest in Coach
Strickland.  He turned to Nancy:

   "I have another tasking for you, Nancy Lombardi, which will be of mutual
benefit, and perhaps of benefit to an American family; a happy reunion, so
to speak."

   The Supreme President clapped his hands and one of the Amazon guards
brought in a terrified collared young woman.  She immediately assumed the
"Nadu" position and the dictator placed his hand on her head in a
condescending manner.  Like the servant who escorted the women to the Lear
Jet, the servant was black, but not African.  The guard briefly knelt until
the Supreme Leader dismissed her.

   "You know I like beautiful women.  I like to collect them, enjoy them,
and allow those most loyal to me to enjoy them as well.  The Cosmos created
women for man's enjoyment, especially for a man of action like myself. 
That is a divine truth, regardless of what the lies coming from the books
of the false 'magic men' from Palestine and their paper gods might say. 
Every week I purchase and bring hundreds of the finest women from the
Western Hemisphere to enhance my realm.  You know that.  And yet, sometimes
a woman can be worth so much more than simple enjoyment.  This one, for
example."

   Comandante Foxtrot explained the girl's significance.  The servant's
name was Denise Jackson, and she was the estranged daughter of the mayor of
one of the largest cities in the US.  Mayor Jackson was newly-elected to
lead a city that just happened to have a museum that had several very
famous ancient African and Egyptian artifacts.  The girl got caught up in a
dispute between her father and some land developers who he had cheated
after winning the election.  One of the developers had Denise kidnapped and
collared for a delinquent college loan.  She was sold at a private auction
to a broker who purchased young women for several wealthy political or
corporate despots, including the Supreme Leader of the West African
Confederation.

   Along with hundreds of other newly collared women, Denise boarded a
jumbo jet to make the journey to West Africa.  Upon getting off the plane,
each woman's fate would be determined by the dictator's servant-handlers,
who were responsible for deciding which estate to send her to.  The
handlers also examined each woman's biography and identified special skills
or circumstances to separate any who had any personal circumstances that
made them stand out.

   The handlers knew they had a very high-value captive when they
discovered there was a US mayor's daughter among the newest plane-load of
servants.  Not just any mayor's daughter, but the mayor of a city with a
famous museum full of ancient goodies the Supreme Leader coveted...

   "So now you know the story of Denise Jackson.  You will escort her to
her father's house and you will see to it that she safely enters the
residence.  Then you will explain that just because his daughter Denise has
returned to his house, she is not released from her obligation to me.  Even
though she has returned home, she remains my servant and will act as my
servant, even in her father's house.  She is not to get dressed or do
anything else that one of my servants is not allowed to do.  There is a
camera and a recorder in the girl's collar to make sure she complies with
her obligations."

   Comandante Foxtrot continued massaging the kneeling servant's head.

   "I will not release ownership of Denise until her father agrees to work
with me and ensure the success of a project that is of great interest to
me. If he performs to my satisfaction, I will deliver the controller and
ownership certificate to Mayor Jackson, and he can do with his daughter as
he sees fit.  If he fails me, then I will simply reclaim what is mine,
return Denise Jackson to the WAC, and he will never see her again.  I will
ensure he has other regrets as well.  Do you understand me, Nancy
Lombardi?"

   "Yes, Comandante Foxtrot.  I understand."

   "Excellent.  You have a good way of explaining things.  I'm sure Mayor
Jackson will be reasonable."

   "Yes, Comandante Foxtrot."

   "And when those items go up for auction, make sure Eveline Rogers is the
presenter.  I'd like to see her perform again."

   "To hear is to obey, Comandante Foxtrot."

   A few minutes later, Nancy, Coach Strickland, and Denise boarded the
Lear Jet.  The servant who had accompanied them earlier was waiting to
escort them back to the US.  To their huge relief, Nancy and Strickland
were allowed to get dressed as soon as they boarded the plane.  Denise had
to remain naked.

   Upon returning to the US, Nancy wanted to deliver Denise as quickly as
possible and get rid of her.  The Lear Jet first stopped in the women's
home town so Coach Strickland could get out.  Then Nancy instructed the
pilot to fly to the airport closest to Mayor Jackson's residence.  An
unmarked SUV was waiting to take them to the mayor's residence.

   The Jacksons' youngest daughter let them into the living room.  Denise
immediately went to her knees, while the little brat beamed with sadistic
pleasure and fingered her older sister's collar.

   The Mayor came downstairs.  His first reaction was to be infuriated at
Nancy.  How dare she...

   "Mayor Jackson, I'm just a messenger.  I'm tasked to safely deliver your
daughter.  I am also delivering a letter.  Your family is in a lot of
trouble, a lot more than you can possibly imagine.  This letter will tell
you how you can get out of it.  Right now, you are in a very bad
situation."

   "Hey...  I know you.  You're that auctioneer...  "

   "That is correct, Mayor.  And there is a specific reason I am the one
who is delivering your daughter, which you'll understand when you open the
letter.  Just follow the instructions, don't tell anyone why, and you'll be
fine.  And another thing.  Don't expect to be able to talk to Denise.  If
she uses her voice, she'll get a severe zap."

   "You...  you fucking Foxtrot bitch, I'm gonna...

   "I am Comandante Foxtrot's messenger, not his bitch, Mayor Jackson.  And
I wouldn't ever use that type of language or make threats again if I were
you.  That collar is recording everything going on in here, and it just
recorded that remark.  Don't think it'll go unnoticed."

   There was a long, uncomfortable silence.  The Mayor was trying to think
of a come-back that would give him the upper hand, but his mind had gone
blank.

   "At a loss for words, Mayor Jackson?  That's OK, because talking won't
do you any good.  Your future's detailed in the letter.  What you need to
do, how to get the collar off your daughter, how to avoid unpleasantness.
It's all there.  So don't worry."

   Nancy briefly glanced at Denise and her sister.  Tears were rolling down
the older girl's cheeks.  The brat had just whispered a disparaging remark
in her ear.  She couldn't answer.  The instant the collar detected sound
from her vocal cords, she'd get a horrible zap.  Oh yes, little sis was
certainly going to be enjoying herself until that collar came off.

   Nancy left the residence without saying anything more.  As she entered
the SUV to return to the airport, she thought: Wow, I just humiliated one
of the nation's fastest-rising political stars.

   A few minutes later she was in Comandante Foxtrot's jet, staring out the
window as she rose through the clouds and flew home.

   I really am turning into a cold-hearted bitch.  Oh well, too bad.  Seems
that's the only way you can make any money nowadays.  It wasn't what I
wanted to be, but I didn't make this world.  I just have to live in it.

   *****

   Within a few weeks of Nancy's visit to Mayor Jackson's house, the
directors of another large urban museum decided it was time to part with
its most valuable antiquities to raise some much-needed operating money. 
Interesting...  if the administration needed money so badly, wouldn't have
made sense to advertise the auction months in advance to get the highest
possible bid?  Why just a three-day public notice?

   The objects included in the latest auction included the most valuable
item Eveline had seen to date.  It was a 4000-year old golden scarab
mounted on a solid jade circle.  The base was the largest single piece of
carved jade in existence and had been imported from ancient China to Egypt.
The scarab was made from solid gold and weighed more than 50 pounds.  The
artifact was worshiped as a deity for its entire existence and, like the
Niger Heart-Pot, was buried by cultists in the 1800s to prevent French
colonialists from capturing it.

   The scarab-deity sold for $ 28 million dollars, but that was only a
fraction of what it was worth.  Probably $ 600 million would have been a
more appropriate price given its fame, age, and the materials that went
into creating it.  The problem was there was only one buyer who had the
capital on hand to make the purchase.  And...  who could that savvy buyer
have been?

   There were other items as well, including a jade cat statue that was the
companion of the cat the African leader had purchased several months
earlier.  Now that Comandante Foxtrot had both jade cats in his collection,
they were worth much more when put together than they had been when they
were separated.

   Knowing who the buyer was, Eveline was more playful and flirtatious than
she normally would have been.  He threw in a couple of extra million
dollars to his bids to reward her for acknowledging him.  In spite of the
fact the purchases were a total rip-off against a famous US museum, she was
going to get a nice amount of money from the auction, as was her mentor
Nancy.

   Commentators often speculated why Comandante Foxtrot chose auctions as
the means to obtain pieces for his imperial collection.  It was a
complicated process, having to bribe or blackmail officials, making sure
the auctions happened suddenly so he would not be out-bid, dealing with the
public controversy...  why?  Why bother?  Wouldn't buying antiquities in
secret, or even simply having them stolen by professional art thieves be
quicker and cheaper?

   There were several reasons Comandante Foxtrot was so patient and
conducted his business the way he did.  The main reason was he wanted to
make sure his acquisitions were totally legal and could not be fought in
international court.  The WAC had a team of lawyers ready to make sure the
paperwork for each acquisition was in proper order and that he could openly
transport his purchases out of the US or Europe.  Also, the Supreme Leader
wanted to publicly display his power over the hapless curators and western
art lovers.  They were losing their beloved collection items to one of the
world's richest and most powerful men, and no one could do anything about
it.  Museum owners now realized that, if there was something in their
collections Comandante Foxtrot wanted, sooner or later he'd get it.

   The auction of the scarab-deity was yet another art-scandal that would
have Eveline as its face.  She was becoming a celebrity, even though in
reality she was mere a bystander in the dictator's schemes.



   Chapter 27 - City Chat with Giselle: The 2nd Interview

   Because of her notoriety, the producers of "City-Chat with Giselle"
wanted to have Eveline on their show for a second interview, but they
wanted to avoid the touchy subject of Comandante Foxtrot's antiquity-buying
scams.  It turned out there was a perfect topic for a new show with
Eveline: the release of the basketball training video series she had done
with Jenny.  So, both Jenny and Eveline would appear on the show, Jenny as
the representative of her university and Eveline as the representative of
her auction house.  As such, both would appear naked, as stipulated in
their contracts.

   The hostess was more interested in talking to Eveline than to Jenny. 
That worked out just fine, because Jenny started out with a major case of
stage-fright.  At the beginning of the interview she was in no condition to
talk in front of the cameras.  So, Eveline started out by doing all the
talking.  She talked about the videos, but also about fitness in general
and the need for schools to have better physical education programs for all
students.

   When the topic returned to the basketball team and their prospects of
going to the state championships.  Eveline slowly eased Jenny into the
conversation as the interview progressed.  By the end of the show, Jenny
became more comfortable with herself and was able to talk about her
experiences as an athlete, a student, and a nudist.

   Fortunately, after editing, Jenny looked just fine in the show. 
However, both she and Giselle knew that it was Eveline who had saved her
ass during the interview and prevented her from embarrassing herself with a
poor performance.

   When the show Eveline and Jenny aired, it became the most highly rated
episode of "City-Chat with Giselle".

   *****

   The filming for the naked basketball video series finished the week
after the girls' joint appearance on "City Chat with Giselle".  The
director told them it was a wrap and that the final episodes would be
edited and released in a few days.  Demand for the series was expected to
be extremely high, for hours of instructional video where two naked young
women were teaching the viewer everything one needed to know about playing
basketball.  The interview show was essentially a half-hour long commercial
that informed a lot of men about the existence of the videos and sparked a
lot of customer interest.

   Right after they finished filming the final practice video, Jenny and
Eveline went to the locker room to get cleaned up.  Eveline was wondering
if Jenny was going to touch her, but her teammate seemed...  very
different. Very different indeed, as though she were not even the same
person.  She was quiet and troubled, as though she had just woken up from a
very strange dream.  In all the years they had known each other, Eveline
had never seen Jenny behaving like that.

   It was clear that her sexual drive had calmed down considerably: in fact
it was totally gone.  She no longer was grabbing Eveline's bottom or
pinching her breasts, nor constantly talking about getting into a hot tub
or into bed.  She now was bewildered by her own behavior and wondered how
on earth she could have been so aggressively sexual towards her teammate.
She realized had completely lost control of herself, and in doing so had
lost control of her existence.

   She sat down and stared blankly into space.  All of the life seemed to
have gone out of her.  When Eveline got out of the shower she paused.  She
realized that maybe there was a chance to talk and both she and Jenny could
try to make sense out of the very strange events of their recent lives. 
Eveline stood for a couple of minutes, but Jenny just sat on her bench,
continuing to quietly stare off into space.  Eveline got tired of waiting
and broke the silence.

   "Jenny, I'm here if you want to talk."

   "I...  I don't know.  I wish I knew what to say to you.  I wish I knew
what to say.  I'm...  kinda...  you know...  ashamed of...  some of the
stuff...  I did...  that I did to you...  and I'm sorry about it...  I'm
sorry about how I treated you...  and now I'm paying for it.  I'm paying
for it big-time."

   "How are you paying for it?"

   Jenny explained the situation with Lynne, that her mentor at the
university had drafted her little sister to watch over her and report on
her.

   "...  and she's constantly ratting on me.  Lynne's so fucking desperate
to get me in trouble.  Thing is, everyone keeps saying how great she is. 
What a sweetheart she is.  How cute she is.  And she's not!  She's a mean,
nasty little bitch, that's what she is."

   "That's fucked up.  I'm sorry about your situation."

   "I guess I deserve it."

   "Even if you do, it's OK.  I'm not gonna hold it against you."

   "I kinda wish you would, hold it against me.  I wish you'd get mad at
me."

   "I'm...  not exactly mad, Jenny.  I'm weirded-out by what all you did,
to be honest.  But I'm not mad."

   After that, there was more silence.  Finally Eveline spoke again.

   "Things happen.  They just do.  You just gotta learn from it, and see
what you can do better next time."

   For the moment, neither student had anything more to say.  However,
Eveline saw Jenny for what she really was, as someone who was scared,
vulnerable, and not really in control of herself or her destiny.  And
seeing Jenny in a moment of weakness, and having the wisdom to not press
her advantage, made her much more confident about herself.



   Chapter 28 - The Nudist Candidate

   The morning after Eveline's 2nd appearance on "City-Chat with Giselle"
aired, Nancy decided the moment had come to pitch the idea of Eveline
participating in the upcoming City Council election as a candidate.

   At first Eveline thought the idea was totally absurd.  However, Nancy
reminded her that her contract stipulated she needed to make herself
available to whatever publicity campaign in which the auction house wanted
her to participate, and a political candidacy was nothing more then another
type of publicity.

   OK, if she was going to be a political candidate, what issues would she
pursue?  Nancy responded that since nudism was usually associated with a
healthy lifestyle, Eveline's platform would revolve around promoting
health-related and environmental issues in the county.  As a student, she
would also be in a position to talk about the need to improve public
education.  She'd stick with local issues, stuff that would make sense to
any reasonable person.

   A nude politician.  A strange idea, but she had seen modeling agencies
come up with much crazier stunts than that.  Eveline still thought the idea
of a candidacy was absurd, but if Nancy considered it necessary for
publicity, the model was obligated by her contract to go along with the
idea.

   Sure, why not?  She really didn't mind.  She'd perform for the public as
a political candidate, just like she had to perform for her coach and just
like she had to perform for her employer.  She seriously doubted she had
any chance of winning, but she figured that she'd humor everyone.  Nancy
needed publicity for her company, Coach Strickland needed more publicity
for her sports program, and Giselle needed a good human-interest story. 
They each had their reasons to put her in front of the microphone.

   Eveline registered as a candidate for the upcoming election to City
Council.  She had wondered about the legality of giving speeches in the
nude, but it turned out there would be no problem.  The Tri-County area was
one of the few places in the US that had no legal restrictions against
public nudity, even for an aspiring politician giving speeches on TV.

   Eveline's question at the registrar's office would be the last time in
her life she would wonder about wearing any clothing.  Apparently it would
never happen.  Never again would she cover any part of her body.  It was
the destiny of Eveline Rogers to always be totally exposed, no matter where
she was or what she was doing.  Being naked had become an important part of
her identity.  It was how the world saw her, and it was how she saw
herself. And she realized that she no longer wanted to cover herself.  She
had made the transition from being a reluctant nudist to being a dedicated
nudist.

   As she walked outside, she saw that Giselle and Nancy had everything set
up for her to publicly announce her candidacy.  Strickland and Jenny were
present as well to give her support.  Jenny went up on the platform, just
as naked as her teammate, a detail that helped calm Eveline's nerves.

   Eveline cleared her mind and started performing for her mentors.  She
spoke about issues she would be pursuing if she were elected, better
financing for schools, an integrated physical fitness program for all
students, improvements to the county's parks and nature preserves, stricter
controls on food quality, pollution regulations, and financial incentives
for local farming cooperatives.  She promoted increasing funding for the
very programs her opponents wanted to cut.

   There was irony in what was happening.  Eveline was calm precisely
because she thought she had no hope of winning the election.  She'd speak
about issues important to her and then settle back into her routine after
the election was over.  She would have been much more nervous if she had
realized that she really was a serious candidate challenging a compromised
incombant.

   As they watched her political debut, Eveline's mentors breathed a huge
sigh of relief.  Maybe she didn't think she could win the election, but
they knew for a fact that she would.  Her opponent's campaign would
collapse under the weight of negative publicity within days, and she would
be elected in a landslide.

   Coach Strickland and Nancy had fulfilled the first part of their
"agreement" with Comandante Foxtrot.  The Supreme Commander would be
pleased.  Pleasing Comandante Foxtrot was a good thing, now wasn't it?

   *****

   Eveline was surprised by the reaction of her classmates when they found
out she was running for the city council position.  She still considered
the whole thing a publicity stunt, but it seemed that a lot of people who
knew her in school actually wanted her to win.  Some of her classmates,
including most of the players on her basketball team, volunteered to help.
It seemed they were taking her candidacy more seriously than the candidate
herself.

   Eveline accepted the assistance of anyone who wanted to participate in
getting her elected.  After classes, she gave instructions about passing
out information to voters and talking about the issues she wanted to bring
up during the campaign.

   Eveline expected more from her boyfriend Lance and her admirer Jenny
than she did from her other classmates.  She felt that they had committed
to her, so they would be expected to do what she told them to do and work
hard to ensure her success.

   After declaring her candidacy, Eveline decided it would look strange if
her boyfriend remained dressed while she and Jenny were expected to stay
naked.  Therefore, Eveline told Lance he had to give up his clothes if he
wanted to stay with her.  He was surprised, because up until the campaign
she had told him that she preferred he stay dressed.

   "Well, Lance, things are different now.  Appearances are gonna matter
whenever I get in front of the microphone.  I'm a nudist, so you're a
nudist.  On that, you need to back me up, 100 percent."

   Although she ran as the naked candidate, Eveline's campaign was fairly
standard.  She debated her opponents twice and did quite well.  Although
she was by far the youngest of the contenders, she was the best prepared to
talk about issues she wanted to address as a city councilwoman.  Of course,
it helped that, before each appearance in public, Nancy and Coach
Strickland had prepped her with professionally-prepared talking points. 
Those talking points were secretly provided to them by an intelligence
agent of the West-African Confederation.

   It also helped Eveline's candidacy that her opponents were, as one might
say, not top-notch.  The incumbent had held the position for years, and it
turned out he had been diverting city money to his construction company
though bogus projects.  The other opponent was the wife of a plastic
surgeon and no one really knew why she was running for office.  Eveline
gathered that she really didn't know herself.  She was just kinda... 
there. Well, at least she carried an impressive load of silicon in her
chest.

   Eveline's first electoral victory was a surprise to no one except the
candidate herself.  She was a fresh face running against an old-timer who
was known as a corrupt S.O.B.  His cause was not helped by the fact there
was a pending indictment against him from the state attorney-general's
office.  Nor did it help him that he had recently closed a city park to
hand over to a towing company to use as an impound lot.

   And as for the plastic surgeon's wife; well, not much to say about that
one.  Maybe her implants weren't big enough.



   Chapter 29 - Councilwoman Rogers

   Eveline was not really a politician before she won the election.  She
really did not even consider herself a serious candidate.  As far as she
was concerned, running for office was nothing more than a publicity stunt
that her boss had set up to bring notoriety to her modeling career.

   Well, now she was a public official.  Not just any public official, but
the first full-time nudist public official ever elected in the US.  She was
now a public figure, with a lot of media attention directed towards her.

   If I don't watch what I'm doing, this can go really bad.  Really,
really, bad.

   Eveline was obsessed with doing everything she could to avoid looking
stupid.  It wasn't just the notoriety of being first nudist politician in
the US.  Her fear went much deeper than that.  She was convinced that
stupidity ran in her family, based on the fact that her mother and brother
were both in jail for being idiots.  She would avoid being stupid at all
costs, and she would avoid any situation that would make her appear stupid,
at all costs.  Making a mistake or not having her facts straight was not an
option for Councilwoman Eveline Rogers.

   Eveline drafted Jenny and Lance to become her assistants by playing on
their romantic attraction to her.  As she put it:

   "If you are not studying, sleeping, or practicing basketball, I expect
you to be here.  No questions.  I want you here, ready to work.  Whenever
you have a moment of down-time from school is time you'll will be spending
with me."

   Eveline pushed her two lovers mercilessly.  Jenny had to research
everything having to do with school funding, sports, parks, and the
university.  Lance was responsible for researching everything else, as well
as preparing speeches and talking points.

   Eveline insisted that Jenny and Lance be naked at all times, whether
they were with her or not.  Jenny was contractually obligated to be naked
by her university, but now Lance had to join her.

   Nancy and the reporter Giselle were correct that if Eveline ran for
public office, the publicity would give her more notoriety as a model. 
Within six months of starting her career with the auction house, she would
become the most sought-after auction presenter in the US and participate in
the sale of some of the most expensive and famous objects around the world.

   Booking Eveline and Nancy to present at an auction became increasingly
expensive.  However, anyone wanting to sell off an over-priced object knew
that whatever Nancy charged for Eveline to present, she'd pay for herself
many times over.  Eveline started to develop fans, who tuned into and
recorded every auction where she was the presenter.

   Eveline's circumstances had committed her more than ever to living
completely without clothes.  She knew that if she was ever seen or
photographed wearing anything other than her company's sandals, it would
seriously damage her career, not to mention being a breach of her contract.
Her constant nakedness was part of her public mystique, along with her shy
smile and quiet manner of carrying herself while she was working.

   She wondered if she'd ever return to wearing clothing at some point in
the future.  If she did, it certainly wouldn't be anytime soon.

   *****

   Eveline's political career advanced along with her modeling career.

   At the beginning of her public service, no one took her seriously.  She
was nothing more than a novelty candidate.  Yes, it was interesting that
Tri-Rivers had elected the country's very first full-time nudist to office,
but really, who was going to take anything a naked 18-year-old had to say
seriously?

   It wasn't just Eveline's age and choice of attire.  How could anyone say
she was qualified to represent anyone?  She has been elected due to unique
circumstances that ensured she had almost no opposition.  She was still in
high school (after having flunked the previous year) and living with a
teacher.  She was a nude model; a highly-paid nude model, but just a nude
model nevertheless.  How much brains does it take to stand naked in front
of some over-priced item, strike a pose, and smile?

   Then, there was her family.  Definitely not model citizens.  Her mother
was in jail for some pretty nasty financial scams.  And there was her
brother, Lucas the meth cook.  That was one hell of a scandal, even worse
than anything her mother had done.  The explosion and fire that leveled her
family's house had put 38 people in the hospital with burns and fractures
of varying severity.  Some of those casualties, including Lucas and his
girlfriend, would be horribly disfigured for the rest of their lives.

   Nancy and Coach Strickland were very aware of what Eveline was up
against as far as getting anyone to respect her was concerned.  So was the
Foreign Ministry of the West African Confederation.  So was Eveline
herself. But, as Comandante Foxtrot always said: "Nothing is impossible,
especially for a man of action like myself."

   In Eveline's case, "making the impossible, inevitable" meant that
Strickland and Nancy were expected to find out what issues the city council
was planning to discuss at upcoming meetings, passing the information to
the WAC embassy, receiving talking points a day or so later, and using them
to prep Eveline to speak at the council meetings.  To the shock of her
fellow city council members, the nude 18-year-old actively participated in
discussions and always spoke like a professional, using vocabulary that was
way beyond the language of a typical high school student.  She did not just
vote and support or oppose proposals; she started to promote initiatives on
her own.

   One of Councilwoman Rogers' first campaigns, one that really took off,
was to fight to reverse her predecessor's transfer of a city park to a
towing company.  When Joe's Towing took over the land, the company cut down
all the trees, paved the ground, and fenced the area to create an impound
lot.  They literally "paved paradise to put up a parking lot".  It was
great for Joe's Towing, having its impound lot downtown.  The converted
area greatly increased the number of cars the tow-truck drivers were able
to snatch off the streets, because they no longer had to drive their prizes
to the edge of town.  That bribe was definitely money well-spent.

   Regardless of who had been paid what, as far as Eveline was concerned,
the towing company would have to relinquish the property and compensate the
city to have it replanted with grass and trees.  Eveline had the backing of
thousands of residents who wanted the park restored, and hundreds of car
owners who had been victims of the company's predatory towing.  Eveline
made herself popular as she entered into the first conflict of her
political career targeting a business owner who was hated by the public.

   It certainly did not help the cause of Joe's Towing when the day manager
stormed out drunk with a baseball bat and threatened to bash Eveline's
"nudie slut cunt to mush".  Not a smart thing to say to a city councilwoman
in front of a rally of hundreds of angry residents.

   The end for Joe's Towing came quickly after the base-ball bat incident.
The police entered the compound and arrested the manager for threatening a
public official.  As soon as the manager left in handcuffs, angry residents
blockaded the entrances to the lot and refused to let tow-trucks in or out.
The police chief decided that having his officers intervene wasn't worth
the negative publicity for the department, which effectively left Joe's
Towing without any police protection.  The company had to suspend its
operations and a few days later Joe filed for bankruptcy.  In the middle of
the night company employees pulled their equipment off the lot and
abandoned it.  The next day Eveline's supporters poured into the area, tore
down all the fencing, and held a block party in her honor.  Restoration of
the park would take a while, but Joe's Towing was gone, and Eveline had won
her first major victory.



   Chapter 30 - The Boycott

   Two days after Eveline's defeat of Joe's Towing, Eveline left
Strickland's house to go for a hike with Lance.  Almost immediately after
they left, Strickland received a text from Nancy.

   I'm on my way over.  I'm not alone.  Get ready to fly east.  Passing by
to pick you up in five minutes.  Text Eveline and your player Jenny and
tell them you're dealing with a family emergency and you'll be back
tomorrow afternoon.  Nothing more than that.  Hope you know what not to
tell them.  Leave your cellphone at home to charge.  Don't bring anything
with you.

   Strickland took a deep breath.  Fly east with Nancy, on a moment's
notice, and don't bring anything.  She barely had time to send the two
texts to Eveline and Jenny and plug in her phone before a non-descript SUV
with tinted windows pulled up in her driveway.  A guard got out of the
passenger side and opened the back door.

   She entered the vehicle to join Nancy in the back seat.  Both women were
casually dressed, having been pulled away from their Saturday morning
routines with no warning.  Apart from saying hello to each other, they were
silent.

   The driver pulled out of Strickland's driveway.  As soon as their
vehicle turned the corner, two other SUV's joined it, one in front and one
in back.  The driver pressed a button and two small flags popped up on the
hood.  Strickland noticed that the license plate in the vehicle in front of
her had flipped and was replaced with a diplomatic plate, and that vehicle
was also displaying flags.

   The motorcade by-passed the main entrance of the Tri-City International
Airport and entered a secure area for corporate jets.  The private jet from
the WAC was waiting, surrounded by guards and more SUV's.  The vehicle with
Strickland and Nancy pulled next to the jet.  As soon as it stopped, guards
opened both doors and ordered the women to get out.

   The naked, collared servant who had accompanied the two women on their
previous trip approached them and knelt.  She had a military laundry bag in
her hands.  She held it up.

   "Take off all your clothes and put them in here.  Your stuff will be
returned to you when we come back."

   Nancy and Strickland exchanged glances.  Before they had the chance to
show any hesitation, the servant added:

   "You are women currently serving at the pleasure of the Supreme
President.  You know that clothing is prohibited."

   The two guests knew better than to say anything.  They stripped as fast
as they could, even though they were surrounded by 20 African guards,
drivers, and service technicians.  As soon as they were naked, they stood
quietly with their hands at their sides, struggling to resist the
temptation to cover themselves.  The young servant stood up, took the bag
from Nancy, knelt in front of a man in a suit, and handed the bag to him.
He snapped his fingers and she immediately got back on her feet.

   "We're leaving.  Get on the plane."

   They sat next to each other in very comfortable seats.  The servant and
guards took their seats as well.  The jet was in the air minutes later and
speeding towards the east coast and the Atlantic Ocean.  The servant stood
up and handed the passengers menus.  While the guests were trying to decide
what to eat, the servant passed out meals to the guards.

   As they were eating, Strickland finally broke the silence.

   "I thought...  I thought...  they weren't gonna make us strip until we
landed on the other side."

   "They've tightened up on that since our last trip.  Now, women with any
connection to the government are prohibited from wearing any clothes at any
time.  That goes for schools, banks, universities, utilities, public
transportation, you name it.  No clothes.  No jewelry.  Definitely no
make-up.  Stark naked except for shoes, and even shoes only when it's
really necessary.  You and I are obviously connected to the government,
about as connected as we can be.  So, it's no clothes for us as well."

   "But I really don't get it.  Why...  ?"

   "It's Comandante Foxtrot's way of rejecting the values of both the West
and the Middle-East.  He's very 'in your face' about it too.  The UN and
the Nile Caliphate are throwing fits over what is going on with the whole
clothing thing, which is only making him more determined to push hard on
the stripping.  It's sort of a declaration of independence from the rest of
the world, breaking with the recent past and turning to the ancient past.
It's precisely because the colonial regimes and the post-colonial
governments prohibited women to be naked, it's now mandatory.  It's
abolishing the old taboos and putting in new ones."

   "...  and what about that Sun worshiping he's trying to set up?"

   "Oh yes.  It's definitely a religious thing too, with his new Sun Cult.
Up until now, all the religions coming in from Europe or the Middle East
had a big thing against nudity.  Cover-up for God.  Cover-up for God.  They
didn't agree on much else, but they did agree on that.  Cover up for God.
Well, the way Comandante Foxtrot sees it, the only Superior Force in the
Cosmos is the Sun, and for the Sun, the only way to show humility is to be
uncovered.  At least for women."

   "OK, and why not men, too?"

   "I'm guessing it's because he's a man and doesn't want to look at other
men.  But that's just my guess.  I don't know, there's a probably security
part of it too.  Military rule, the National Police, armored guards, all of
them needing to carry equipment, and so-forth."

   Strickland suddenly went quiet.  She realized that probably everything
they had just said was being recorded.  Nancy was not as concerned.  Later,
after they had returned to the US and had some privacy, Nancy would explain
that she had not said anything that Comandante Foxtrot hadn't said himself
through his many speeches and mandates.  She was simply explaining the
logic behind why the WAC regime was doing what it was doing, without
passing judgment.

   The two naked passengers finished their meal just as the jet crossed the
African coastline.  Nancy looked out the window: "Looks like we're flying
over what used to be Senegal."

   As she stared out the window at the Niger River, Nancy pondered all that
she had learned about Comandante Foxtrot's past; what had turned him into
what he was.  Nancy was a businesswoman.  Part of her profession and her
responsibility to Emerald Empire involved knowing as much about her
customers as possible, especially her most important one.

   The western news media could not fathom the ruler's brutality.  However,
within the circumstances of his empire and the internal logic of the "Man
of Action", as he always called himself, Comandante Foxtrot's behavior made
perfect sense.  His obsession was to unite all of the people living under
his control into a single nationality and build a super-state.  The new
society would be unified in every way imaginable, through language,
culture, and, most importantly, a single national religion: the
Sun-worshiping Cult.

   Comandante Foxtrot wanted to transform his part of the world.  He
thought big: the total rebuilding of society.  He had to make sure no one
stood in his way.  He was very aware that life was short and that, at best,
he had about 40 years remaining in the Realm of the Living to re-shape
reality.  He had to move quickly to push away as many obstacles as
possible, so he could move on to confront others.  There simply was no time
for debate or dealing with opposition.  There could be no tolerance for any
ambition other than his own vision of the future.  Tribal conflicts,
religious conflicts, criminal groups, and drug traffickers were all handled
the same manner.  The law under Comandante Foxtrot's regime was very
simple. Everyone would get along with their neighbors, keep the peace, and
support the "unified march to the future".  Anyone who didn't agree faced a
horrible death.

   *****

   The second trip to the WAC started out like the first one, except that
Nancy and Strickland didn't have to get undressed because upon landing
because they were already naked.  They stood in the hot sun, surrounded by
four Amazon female guards.  The servant knelt in front of a uniformed
official.  She leaned forward and stretched her arms out in front of her,
touching her forehead to the ground.  Her knees were spread and her
sphincter and vulva were on lewd display to everyone standing behind her.

   Nancy took a breath.  OK...  that's new: they weren't doing that before.
That's the way prisoners in Danubia kneel.  I wonder if that's where he got
it from.  Hypocritical fucker.  Here he's saying he doesn't want any
foreign influence, but he's making his servants kneel like Danubian
criminals.

   She didn't share her thoughts with Strickland.  There was more important
problem to worry about.  The coach was trying to control herself, but
having a hard time of it.  In spite of the scary situation she and Nancy
were in at the moment, she was totally aroused at the sight of the enormous
powerful women assigned to guard them.  Her eyes were hungrily scanning
their bare bodies and flawless oiled skin.  If Strickland's weakness was so
obvious to Nancy, there was no doubt the Africans had noticed as well.

   As the guests were escorted to the bathing area, the male official in
charge of the group kept glancing at Strickland and talked quietly into a
cell phone in an obscure local language.  He repeated the word
"dubat-dubat" several times, which Nancy would later learn roughly
translated to "I understand and will comply with what you want".

   Sure enough, when the US women entered the bath area, the guard who had
shaved Strickland on the previous trip was waiting for her.  Strickland
fully understood what was going on, but she couldn't help herself.  They
entered the bath and Strickland submissively kissed and caressed her
hostess.  This time the session was not cut short.

   The room was surrounded by curtains, and from there Nancy was forced to
watch.  They female guard escorting Nancy firmly gripped her shoulders to
immobilize her.  She thought to herself: I wonder if she'd be capable of
snapping my collarbone if they told her to.

   Strickland's guard sat calmly on the edge of the pool while the coach
put her face between her legs.  The American was desperate and shameless.
She kissed the younger woman all over her body, concentrating on her large
breasts and ample bottom.  Every so often the guard exchanged glances with
another woman quietly standing in a dark corner of the room, who silently
guided her with subtle finger gestures and by nodding or shaking her head.

   The guard put Strickland over her lap like a naughty child and fondled
her until she climaxed.  It was as undignified as it could possibly be.

   Nancy was infuriated at Strickland and terrified by the situation. 
Clearly she was being set up for blackmail.  As soon as they were alone,
Nancy was going to lay into that idiot.  She was really going to let her
have it, and...

   No.  No.  I get it now.  That's exactly what they want, for me to go off
on her for being so stupid.  They want me to be pissed at her.  They want
us to fight.  That's why they're making me watch, to drive a wedge between
us.  Fine.  I'm not playing along.  The coach and I need each other.  I
refuse to fight with her.  At least not over this.  She's gonna be
embarrassed enough as it is.  I'm not gonna add to it.

   Two guards cleaned up Strickland after her sexual adventure was over. 
She was badly shaken by what had just happened, how she had so totally lost
control over her actions.  She was exhausted, disoriented, and humiliated
at the knowledge that everyone in Comandante Foxtrot's government knew
about her weakness.  She was dreading what Nancy would have to say.  She
couldn't look Nancy in the eye.  In as quiet a voice as possible, Nancy
admonished her:

   "Pull yourself together, Coach.  So you like big African women.  Great.
I get it.  But you need to pull yourself together in the next 30 seconds
and have your wits about you.  Nothing's gonna happen to us.  I need you,
and the WAC needs us both."

   The naked guests and their equally naked escorts walked through the
ornate colonial palace towards the hallway that led to the annex where the
Comandante had his throne room.  Nancy continued:

   "I will do the talking.  I know more about what's going on here than
you. But you need to respond to whatever he says with enthusiasm.  When he
gives an order, the only words that you need to say are: 'to hear is to
obey, Supreme President.' But you've got to say that.  Each and every time
he tells you to do something.  You've got to say that."

   Nancy's confidence took a big hit when they entered the hallway that led
to the annex.  The palace had been the same, but along both sides of the
hallway were newly-installed shelves, running from the floor to the
ceiling, full of gold-plated skulls.  The hallway was illuminated by gas
fires that highlighted all those empty golden eye-sockets.  Nancy drew a
deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady.

   "You teach algebra.  Any thought on how many?"

   Strickland scanned the corridor and did the calculation in her head.

   "About 18,000."

   "Well, let's not add to the collection.  Remember, when we go in there,
put your hands behind your back and follow my lead."

   When they entered the Fire Chamber, the two guests stood quietly
surveying the scene ahead of them.  The Supreme President was at his
throne, surrounded by 30 naked collared women.  They were his favorites of
the moment, all of them extremely attractive and college-educated.  They
were black, but none of them had been born in Africa.  They had been
"repatriated" from around the world: the US, Brazil, the Caribbean, Europe.
As the Supreme President put it: "a man of action like myself deserves to
be indulged with the finest imports."

   With a single clap the Comandante dismissed them.  They quickly stood up
and filed out of the room through two back exits without making a sound. 
He clapped again and the guards who had delivered the guests retreated
through the entrance.  Standing alone, they heard the door latch behind
them.

   Nancy and Strickland faced Comandante Foxtrot.  He sat at his gold and
mahogany throne, surrounded by piles of gold-plated skulls, which a
backdrop of fire burning behind him.  That was not the scariest part.  The
Niger Heart-Pot was sitting immediately to the right of the throne.  Its
base was covered with burn-marks.  The coach didn't understand the
significance of that detail, but Nancy did.  The artifact was no longer a
museum piece: it was being used for its intended purpose.

   They walked towards the throne, with their hands behind their backs,
according to protocol.  Nancy approached at a slow, deliberate pace and
Strickland followed her lead.

   As before, the Supreme President stood up.  And, as before he indulged
the visitors by telling them to put their hands at their sides instead of
keeping them behind their backs.

   "Welcome again, my distinguished Americans.  I am pleased that you have
returned to my home, and that you have been able to indulge in our
hospitality.  Comfort and pleasure are important parts of life, but
unfortunately those who deserve it the most receive it the least."

   "Thank you, Supreme President."

   "Very well.  I am going to introduce you to someone, someone who meant a
lot to me, and tell you a story."

   The ruler picked up a remote controller and a large screen descended to
the right of the throne, immediately above the heart-pot.  A blurry photo
of a school-aged girl, who must have been about 13 when the picture was
taken, appeared.

   "This was Naomi.  This picture is the only thing I have to remember her
by.  I knew her when I was 15.  We were in love.  I begged my father to
talk to her father to see about arranging our marriage.  And, I think he
would have been successful.  Within three years, Naomi would have been my
wife.  She would have borne my sons and we would have lived a happy
existence in obscurity.  As you must now realize, that happiness, the life
I wanted with the girl I loved, was not my destiny."

   Another picture appeared.  It was of a school that had been destroyed by
either shelling or explosives.  There were the mutilated bodies of dozens
of students, teachers, and bystanders lying everywhere.

   "Naomi was killed, along with many of her classmates.  She was killed by
the believers of a foreign god, an imaginary god, a false god, who exists
only in the printed pages of a foreign book.  And the man that I was, up to
that moment, died with her."

   Another picture appeared.  It was of Comandante Foxtrot himself, aged
17, in uniform with a large group of very rough-looking commandos.

   "Over the next two years I learned the most valuable lesson of my life,
the lesson that has created everything you see around you.  Chaos overcomes
all.  Only men in uniforms, carrying good weapons, are capable of defending
themselves, the ones they love, and their homeland.  Words are meaningless.
Books are meaningless.  Chaos overcomes all, unless men with weapons stand
in the way to prevent it.  There were no men with weapons protecting the
girl I loved.  So, she died.  She died because of chaos, and she died
because of a paper god."

   A fourth photo appeared.  Eleven men appeared in the picture, all of
them in officers' uniforms.  The Supreme President must have been about 25
years old when it was taken.

   "We were the survivors.  Eleven of us.  We renounced our names and took
our identities from the alphabet: Comandante Alpha through Comandante Kilo.
Eventually the others picked me as the leader.  The rest of that story you
already know."

   A fifth image appeared.  It was of the Comandante, with his ten
companions and two ancient-looking priests, standing among ancient ruins.
The men were wearing nothing except white robes with sun logos.

   "We will return to the very beginning of our civilization.  The only
power in the Cosmos, the only force that controls life and death, is the
Sun.  I don't understand how we could have forgotten that, forsaken the
true lifeforce to place our faith in magic-men from Palestine.  The people
of my nation will now remember.  I will make the world remember.  The
foreign gods, the imaginary gods, the ones fabricated from paper and ink on
printing presses, will burn.  The lying prophets who teach that God lives
on paper will burn.  Only the Sun will remain."

   A sixth photo appeared.  It was taken just a few days before, of Eveline
Rogers leading the rally to close Joe's Towing.  He smiled with a
condescending expression.

   "A trivial dispute, and an amusing one at that, the fate of a park and
some tow-trucks.  About as significant as two women fighting over a cooking
pot.  Ordinarily I wouldn't have the time or patience for such pettiness.
However, every elephant starts as a single cell.  Every army starts with
its first recruit.  Every investment starts with its first dollar.  I have
invested in Eveline Rogers and I will collect my first dividend.  The first
reward for my generosity, out of many I expect to receive.  Through
Eveline, I will make the impossible, inevitable, and you will have the
privilege of assisting.  Do you understand me?"

   Without hesitation, Nancy and Strickland shouted in unison: "To hear is
to obey, Supreme President!"

   Nancy was relieved that Strickland had actually followed her
instructions and responded properly when Comandante Foxtrot asked the
question.  At least she didn't screw that one up...

   "Excellent.  Now, I am aware that my project with Eveline Rogers remains
a mystery to you.  I am the fourth richest man in the world.  I control
nearly a third of this continent.  Why would I even be interested in
Eveline Rogers?  Why would I take such an interest in placing a high school
student on a local city council in the middle of the US?  That is a mystery
to you, is it not?"

   "Yes, Supreme President."

   "A man of action like myself must think ahead.  A man of action like
myself must develop assets years in advance and patiently build those
assets into something useful.  I have directed my Foreign Minister and my
Intelligence Minister to identify and sponsor young political leaders
around the world.  I will populate local governments, especially in Western
countries, in places like the Tri-City municipal council, with
representatives who will be friendly to the future I am building for the
people of this Continent.  I have many enemies, which means I need to have
many friends."

   Another image appeared, a screenshot of Eveline and Jenny being
interviewed on "City Talk with Giselle".

   "I expect Eveline Rogers to be one of those leaders I plan to develop.
She already has a realistic view of our circumstances and life in general.
I believe her experiences have taught her there are no absolutes and often
the outward appearance of 'good' and 'evil' can be very deceptive."

   The image on the screen changed to a group of demonstrators marching
around Tri-State University.  They were protesting against the university's
exchange program and financial ties to the WAC, and condemning Comandante
Foxtrot's regime in general.

   "The human rights groups find what my government is doing objectionable.
What can I say about that?  A man of action like myself often has to
violate the rights of a few people, to preserve the rights of many others.
That is reality.  Anyhow, those college students are becoming troublesome.
They have been passing around petitions to force Tri-Cities to join a
nation-wide campaign to boycott and divest from companies doing business
with the WAC.  There is an upcoming City Council vote on the petitions, and
fortunately I have Eveline Rogers available to defend me during the debate.
As soon as you return to the United States, I will provide you with talking
points and briefing materials.  You will prep Eveline and we will defeat
that proposal.  Do you understand me?"

   "To hear is to obey, Supreme President."

   "Remember how I said that I view Eveline Rogers as a long term
investment?  Assuming the city boycott vote goes according to my wishes,
which I am confident that it will, we will move forward.  Now, the
long-term future.  Your next tasking will to position Eveline Rogers to
declare herself as a candidate for your state legislature, when she turns
21.  You will make sure she is prepared to fulfill the responsibilities of
that post, because my Foreign Minister will guarantee that she gets it.  Do
you understand me?"

   "Yes, Supreme President."

   "Such smart little women.  When Eveline Rogers passes her 25th birthday,
she will be eligible to become your state's next governor.  I will hold you
responsible for ensuring she is adequately prepared to handle that
responsibility.  I may or I may not want her to actually be the candidate.
But regardless, you will make sure she is educated, trained, and ready."

   Get Eveline ready to run for state governor?  In just seven years? 
Nancy and Coach Strickland tried to catch their breaths.

   "To hear is to obey, Supreme President."

   "I expect us to work together for many years.  You will have plenty of
opportunity to prove your loyalty to me.  You will now return to the United
States.  You are dismissed.  Enjoy your flight home.  But before you leave,
I will make arrangements that will facilitate your service to my
government."

   The chamber doors opened and the guards reappeared.  The Americans and
their escorts re-entered the colonial palace but, instead of going to the
entrance, the guards took them to a small room containing equipment to make
photo ID's.  An official took face-shots of Nancy and Strickland.

   "Stand facing this camera and read the statement underneath."

   "From this day forward I, Nancy Ivette Lombardi, will exercise my duties
and responsibilities as a dual-citizen of the United States of America and
the West-African Confederation.  I understand that my citizenship in the
West-African Confederation grants me the same privileges and rights of any
other citizen.  I understand my citizenship subjects me to the laws of the
Confederation.  Under the Sun, I, Nancy Ivette Lombardi, declare myself a
subject and a citizen of the West-African Confederation."

   "Congratulations.  Here is your national identity card."

   Holding their ID's, the two women returned to the Lear Jet for the
return trip to the US.

   Duties and responsibilities.  Privileges and rights.  Nancy Lombardi and
Jamie Strickland were well-aware that their future would involve far more
"duties and responsibilities" than "privileges and rights".

   Nancy later commented to Strickland: "He already owns us.  But, for
whatever reason, he felt he needed to formalize it."

   *****

   The human rights groups had a rude shock when Councilwoman Rogers spoke
against them at the council meeting.  Instead, she argued the divestment
campaign would be damaging to the area's economy and cited a bunch of
previous examples from other cities to back up her argument.  She also
emphasized that, as bad as people might think Comandante Foxtrot's
dictatorship was, any alternative to his government would be infinitely
worse for the residents of Western Africa.  "And if you don't have a better
alternative, one that will actually work, and work right now, then you
really have nothing to say about this matter, do you?"

   Armed with talking points and preparation provided by one of the best
propaganda ministries and intelligence services in the world, Eveline made
her argument and stared down the activists.  The human rights campaigners
had no convincing responses.  They watched in horrified silence as their
boycott initiative collapsed.

   A few hours later, across the Atlantic Ocean, Comandante Foxtrot,
sitting in his most comfortable chair and surrounded by guards and a dozen
of his favorite women, watched the video of Councilwoman Rogers in action.
That video was followed by the dismayed reactions of the critics of his
regime who had anticipated an easy victory with the Tri-City boycott, and
to build momentum going forward.  That momentum had just been severely
disrupted, to say the least.  They'd have to re-group and try somewhere
else.

   The boycott activists stated that Eveline had betrayed them and the
people of West Africa, but she was ready with a response:

   "I didn't betray anyone.  The university boycott committee never
approached me to get my opinion.  They just took it for granted I'd support
them."

   The Supreme President of the West-African Confederation smiled coldly.
He raised his golden goblet in honor of the naked little blond on his
monitor.



   Epilogue

   Within a year of her public debut, Eveline Rogers was an international
sensation.  It was very fortunate that she managed to graduate from high
school immediately before things really took off in her life.  Auction
houses around the world clamored to have her as the presenter.  Anytime she
showed up, interest in the event soared and sale prices shot up as a
result.

   Advertisers from around the world negotiated contracts with Emerald
Empire to have Eveline presenting various products.  She was featured in
magazines and news features, in advertisements and across the Internet. 
And, she was always naked.  That was her trademark.

   Nancy and her co-workers realized that relying on Eveline too much would
ultimately hurt Emerald Empire, especially if they couldn't find anyone
with the same level of notoriety to replace her when her contract expired.
There was also the issue of Comandante Foxtrot's plans to make her state
governor.  If that happened, she'd no longer had time to model anyway.  So,
the company hired other young women to pose with her, including
Strickland's entire basketball team.  Eveline had become such a sensation
that even being associated with her gave other models a big advantage. 
Emerald Empire cycled through young women they wanted to introduce by
having them appear with Eveline for a couple of months until they got
name-recognition, and then contracted them out by themselves.

   "I posed with Eveline Rogers" was a major plus on any model's resume.

   Unlike her classmate Jenny, Eveline did not even consider going to
college after graduation.  There simply was no time in her life for that.
However, she became very knowledgeable about a broad range of topics
through the strange career she was leading.  She learned about economics
and business, the art market, publicity, the legislative process,
international politics, and photography through her experiences.

   Eveline's home life changed very little, in spite of having a bank
account that was expanding exponentially.  She stayed with her coach and
continued with her responsibilities around the house.  They continued to do
yard work together on the weekends.  Even Eveline's study routine remained
the same: she simply replaced her school homework and studying for tests
with memorizing talking points and conducting research for her city council
meetings.

   Discipline in Strickland's house also stayed the same.  About once a
month she sat on the sofa and pulled Eveline across her lap for a hard
bare-bottom spanking followed by some corner-time.  The punishments usually
were for laziness or "losing focus".  Eveline didn't mind.  She liked the
thought of always being accountable to a parent figure.  Having a sore
bottom every so often helped keep her grounded in reality.

   *****

   Lance got very little rest over the next several years.  Eveline pushed
him to pursue a double major in pre-law and economics when he entered
Tri-State University as a freshman.  She never asked him what he wanted to
major in, nor did she care.  She had a premonition her political career
would go beyond having a seat on the City Council, so she needed a
consultant she could trust and who could conduct academic-level research at
a moment's notice.  She read over all of his term papers and critiqued his
writing more harshly than any professor would have.

   Eveline controlled every detail of Lance's life, even though she
traveled a lot and he was going to school in a town that was an hour's
drive from Tri-Cities.  She checked in on him continuously and there was
hell to pay if he didn't answer her text messages or pick up the phone
immediately whenever she called.  There was another demand she placed on
him.

   "You're my boyfriend.  Everyone knows it.  I have a public image to keep
up, and you're a big part of that.  I have to be naked, which means you
have to be naked.  Don't ever let me catch you wearing clothes."

   Eveline needed Lance to perform a specific role in her life.  Through
manipulating his emotions and his sexual needs, she tightened her control
over him so that he'd be useful to her.  Eventually they would get married:
that was still part of Eveline's plan.  But Lance would have to prove
himself over and over before Eveline accepted his proposal.

   *****

   Jenny was a sensation at Tri-State University due to her connection to
Eveline and the fact that she was "the naked basketball player".  However,
she played much less basketball than she had anticipated before entering
classes that fall.  The university athletic department kept pulling her
away from practices to have her make exercise and training videos for the
department.  When she did get to play, she had not practiced enough and was
mediocre at best.  That only re-enforced the idea that sports videos were
her future, not actual playing.  The university used her to promote various
events, so she did a lot of traveling.

   Whenever she was not in middle-school, Jenny's little sister Lynne
accompanied her.  During her freshman year, Jenny lived in terror of Lynne.
The girl was quick to report any misbehavior by her older sister, knowing
that she'd get to watch any discipline.  Jenny always breathed a huge sigh
of relief when Lynne had to leave the university and return to her school.

   At the end of Jenny's freshman year, she returned to assisting Eveline.
By that time Eveline knew that she was going to run as a candidate for the
state legislature, because Nancy and Strickland had pushed her into it. 
The district she was planning to represent included Tri-State University.
Jenny would be part of Eveline's plan, responsible for organizing support
around campus for her candidacy.  So, whenever she was not traveling or
making videos, Jenny was busy promoting her former classmate.

   There was a strange twist to the situation, one that started because
Jenny had to work with Lance on some of Eveline's projects.  Perhaps it was
inevitable: they were young, they were stressed, they were too busy to have
much of a social life, and they both were constantly naked.  Lance and
Jenny started a relationship with each other.

   Eveline knew both of them well enough to realize immediately what was
going on.  They knew better than to try to hide it from her.  She was not
angry.  In a way she was relieved, because if Lance and Jenny were having
sex with each other, it meant it was less likely they'd hook up with
someone who was not under her control.  Whenever Eveline was home and not
busy with her city council work or her job with Emerald Empire, Lance and
Jenny visited her together.  United with both of her lovers, Eveline had a
chance to experiment with a bunch of new sexual experiences, and also with
dominating two partners at the same time.

   Jenny's crush on Eveline returned in a big way.  But, when she couldn't
be with Eveline, she'd settle for Lance, which was fine with everyone.  At
least she wasn't running off with strangers and getting into trouble.

   Lance and Jenny adored Eveline, but they no longer had to compete for
her love.  She knew that not only was Lance in her future, so was Jenny. 
It would be a odd legal arrangement, but when the time came, Eveline Rogers
would be quite open about it.  She'd have both a husband and a wife.

   *****

   Years later, when Eveline swore in as state governor, Lance and Jenny
stood behind her, holding hands.  They were naked, of course, but there was
nothing new about that.  They had not touched any clothing in nearly a
decade.  As the family of the first nudist politician in the US, they were
used to being naked in public.

   Nancy Lombardi and Jamie Strickland were also present at the
inauguration of Governor Rogers.  They were wearing business suits, in
spite of the fact they were working for the Supreme President of the
West-African Confederation.  Ordinarily it would be considered a serious
violation of the Comandante's protocol, but there was good reason for it.
No one, not even Eveline herself, knew the real reason her candidacy had
been successful, and the role her two mentors had in making it happen. 
Allowing such knowledge to become public did not suit the interests of WAC.

   Nancy's cell phone vibrated.  She read the message and showed it to her
companion:

   "Job well-done.  You assisted in making the impossible, inevitable. 
Enjoy the inauguration ball."

   "So, you think we can finally take it easy, now that she got in?"

   Nancy's cell phone vibrated before she could answer:

   "The Supreme President wants you leave at 23:00 sharp, to fly east.  You
will be picked up at the west entrance by a blue SUV."

   She showed the second text to the coach.

   "What do you think?  Does it look like we're gonna 'finally take it
easy'?"

   "Then, I guess we should get some drinks and make the rounds and say
hello.  And we ought to see if that talk-show host Giselle wants to 'chat'
with us."

   "Yeah, let's do that.  We've got a couple of hours before we head out.
Let's get Giselle knocked off first, so she doesn't come looking for us."

   At 10:45, Strickland took two glasses of wine from a passing waiter and
handed one to Nancy.  They clinked the glasses.

   "Well, let's toast 'to hear is to obey'."

   Nancy smiled slightly.

   "Or, for tonight I guess it's, 'to receive a text is to obey'."

   They clinked glasses again, emptied them, set them on a nearby table,
and quietly exited the state capitol building.  As soon as they entered the
SUV, the vehicle sped off.

   A few minutes later they were in the air aboard the Comandante's Lear
jet, flying east.