Anne hung alone by her wrists on the empty stage until sundown. Eugenie entered and contemplated her for a moment; then the assistant principal reached out and pinched her nipples so hard that tears started from her eyes, and kissed her full on the mouth.
She slackened the rope; Anne sank to her knees and bowed her head in silent apology before the woman she had spurned as a girl.
Her sister arrived soon after and with Eugenie loaded her in the van. By nightfall she was back in the cellar of her parents' house, lying bound on the stone floor next to her water bowl and reflecting on her experience.
It was colder than before down here. Soon the furnace would come on and warm the house, until then she would just have to be patient. She curled up in a ball and slept.
That weekend was the reception Michelle promised the mayor. On the evening before, the two descended to the cellar where Anne lay chained; with them was a third man, a stranger. She rose and knelt before them.
The mayor told her to stand and inspected her then turned to her sister. He introduced his companion, the parks commissioner.
The commissioner explained his presence to Michelle. A sister city had recently given his zoo a young male gorilla, a rare highland species; it was a great honor. But the outsider was rejected here by the tribe; he was growing listless and refusing food. The zookeeper feared for his health.
Kong needed female companionship; the mayor had mentioned Anne as a solution and he wondered...
Michelle looked grave for a moment as she considered the request. Was there any danger?
Nothing was certain with these creatures, he replied; but he did not believe so.
How long would her sister live in a cage with Kong?