***
It was evening. The sky to the west was still bright, but it was fading. Corliss and Mana lay together in a patch of grass. The blades tickled Corliss’ body in a familiar way. Also familiar was the feel of the dog collar they’d put around her neck, and the sight of the bright, heavy chain that locked it, and her, to the tall iron rod six feet away. She held Mana spoon fashion, her breasts and belly pressing up against Mana’s back. They hadn’t been forbidden to speak, but neither one of them had anything to say. What could they say to each other? Total strangers that morning, they were thrown together now as naked captives. Mana’s skin felt every bit as silken as it looked. Her small, lovely body was something warm to hold on to. Her long, black hair smelled faintly of flowers and swea
