Adam listened carefully as Highmother explained all she knew about Helga's origin. Toward the end of her story, however, he glanced around the room and noticed the other women were paying more attention to him than to the woman speaking.
They must already know the story,
he assumed.
But even more strangely, when he made eye contact with any woman at the table, she would not immediately look away, but continued to stare at him with penetrating eyes the way the young nurse had done earlier in his hospital room.
He could not dismiss the idea that they were all flirting with him.
"So Helga learned about the Academy from one of her own students?" he asked Highmother.
"Yes," she answered, "but Darlene quickly came to regret the role she played in bringing the Bitch to our island paradise.
"When Helga arrived, she brought three large crates—each containing one of her 'boy toys,' as she called them. It was unsettling, to say the least, but her slaves were willing and did not wish to be separated from her.
"Her power over them so impressed Mistress Kathy that Helga was immediately promoted to a position of authority. Kathy said Helga was the ideal role model for a dominant woman, and that we should learn from her example. Her boy toys were put to work in the laboratories so they could continue their research into the flower extract, and Helga herself oversaw their activities while teaching classes at the Academy.
"Our enrollment grew dramatically. Before then, the Academy had catered exclusively to the elite and the influential, but the emergence of the internet allowed it to radically broaden its client base.
"Repeat patronage also went up, which greatly pleased Mistress Kathy—but at the time, we didn't know why. Only later did we learn that Helga had found a way to replicate the flower extract and was putting it discreetly into our clients' food. They were eager to return to our island, not knowing that they were actually addicted to an aphrodesiac.
"She wanted to go even further. Helga experimented with ways to make the effects permanent. She claimed she could do this by altering a subject's own DNA. She developed a treatment which would not only intensify sexual urges, but would also stimulate anatomical growth and enhance pheremone production in her subjects.
"Her boy toys insisted on experimenting on themselves—with horrific results. Each was driven mad. Despite their new appeal, they allowed only Helga, their mistress, to touch them, even though she abused them horribly. They competed bitterly for her affection, and one by one, died in elaborate displays of affection for her." Highmother shuddered. "I will not describe the details.
"In spite of the madness she caused, Helga declared her experiments successful and insisted that the experiments should continue.
"By that time, the Academy's culture had changed. The welfare of the clients was no longer our priority. Empathy was no longer valued, and terrible abuses occurred. Some of us objected, but most did not.
Then we learned why. The extract had been slipped into
our
food as well, suppressing our nurturing instincts. Most upsetting of all, it had been done with Mistress Kathy's approval.
"Darlene Charmichael, her former student and friend, was the first to protest when she learned the truth, but her arguments meant nothing to Kathy or Helga. Darlene organised others in a resistance movement, but they were too few. Too many of us had already been compromised.
"When fighting broke out, it was quelled with the harshest of tactics. Darlene was the first to vanish without a trace, then others did as well. Those of us who were left were given an ultimatum—leave the island or suffer the same fate as Darlene.
"So you left?" asked Adam.
"To fight another day," answered Emily with resolve. "And we're almost ready."
"It is time to show Adam what we've accomplished in our exile," announced Highmother, rising from her chair. Again, her chest swayed alluringly beneath her loose fitting toga. She noticed Adam's stare and smiled in return.
"Is it wise to reveal so much to a stranger?" asked another woman at the table. "We've kept our plans secret for years, and this man hasn't been properly cleared." Adam recognized her as the woman he'd seen in the helicopter, although instead of the catsuit she had worn earlier, she now wore a businesslike miniskirt and a midriff-bearing vest.
"I'll vouch for him," said Emily, grinning as she glanced at Adam. "I've already checked him out thoroughly."
"Good," said Highmother. "If we expect his help, we must take him into our confidence. Follow me."
Highmother led them outside and down a paved road past what appeared to be living quarters. Attractive young nudists continued to walk about freely, feeling no need for clothes unless they were performing official duties that required them to have pockets. The strangeness of the people was counterbalanced by the calming influence of the many trees and gardens Adam saw along the way. "We call our community Oasis," explained Highmother, "because it's not our home, nor our destination, but a place to gather strength on our journey."
As they walked, the women in the group seemed to be subtly competing for the privilege of walking at Adam's side. Emily showed no embarrassment at being the only naked woman in the group and inserted herself between Adam and anyone else who got too close. She put one arm around him as they walked, signalling the others to maintain a discreet distance.
"I don't mean to judge," said Adam, "but I'm surprised your sisterhood hasn't sought help from the international authorities."
"They would never help us," insisted Highmother.
"Because they don't believe you," Adam assumed.
Adam's comment irritated Highmother. "Haven't you paid attention? Of course they believe us!
They're customers!
They can only continue to enjoy the Academy's services by denying it exists."
This was rather obvious once Adam thought about it.
The group reached a tall wooden door built into a high fence. Agent Jamie opened it, allowing the others to enter. She twirled her hair and smiled as Adam passed.
"I want you to know," Adam explained to Highmother, "that I intend to rescue Eve with or without your—" He stopped to gape in astonishment at what he saw.
