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Author's note: In Greek mythology the hydra was a many-headed monster that was slain by Hercules. The term also means a persistent or multi- faceted problem that cannot be easily eradicated. This story may not be re-posted without the author's permission. THE HYDRA By Lana B. Brian rolled off Rachel and softly gasped for air as he rested beside her on the bed. It was the second time in the last hour they'd had sex. Brian was proud of himself. Rachel leaned over and placed her lips to his ear. "I don't know what's made you so frisky tonight but whatever it is I like it." Brian turned to her and smiled. "Thanks. It's nice to be appreciated." He softly kissed her. She smiled at him. "You're very welcome. But you still didn't answer my question." "Boy, you're persistent. You really like to have all the answers." "It's my nature. Well?" "I'm not going to see you for six months Rachel. I want to get as much of you as I can before I leave." "So I guess that means you're going to miss me?" "Absolutely." I'm going to miss you too Brian." They smiled at each other and kissed. *** Brian tightened the belt on his bathrobe and sat at the kitchen table. He sipped at the coffee he'd just brewed. He fondly thought of his escapades with Rachel last night. And to cap it all off they'd done it again this morning just a half-hour ago. "Not a bad send-off if I do say so myself," he boasted. He became excited thinking about what lie ahead of him. In two hours he'd board a plane for Los Angeles. And two hours after his arrival in LA he'd take an international flight to Indonesia. He reflected on the circumstances which had led him to this day. Like his father before him Brian Carson was an anthropologist. He'd graduated magna cum laude from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa seven years ago and accepted an immediate teaching position there. He'd taught anthropology classes in the morning and afternoon and at night he'd attended post-graduate courses. Three years ago he'd received his Master's degree. And now he was going for his doctorate. Ben Carson, Brian's father, had obtained his doctorate's degree at age 30. And he'd become Department Head of Drake's Anthropology Department at age 35. Brian was eager to beat those achievements. If everything went as planned he'd have his doctorate by age 28 or 29. And since none of the other current anthropology professors at the college had a doctorate Brian would have the inside track to succeed Murray Fowler as Department Head. Murray Fowler had become Head of Anthropology at Drake five years ago after Ben Carson retired. Fowler did his job well but he'd just turned 72 and wasn't in the best of health. A year ago he'd undergone quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery. He frequently told the faculty that he planned to retire in three years and considering his age and poor health there was no reason to doubt him. Two years after Ben Carson retired, he and his beloved wife Grace, bought a condo in Fort Lauderdale and relocated there. Grace suffered from asthma and could no longer tolerate Iowa's brutal winters. The lovely eight-room colonial in Danville, Iowa in which Brian now lived had been given to him by his parents when they moved. He was their only child and the cozy home had been their legacy to him. And just as his father had done for over 20 years Brian drove to the college every weekday morning and drove back home at night. It was a 60-mile roundtrip but Brian enjoyed driving his Lexus SUV so it didn't bother him at all. Brian returned his thoughts to his impending trip and felt his heartbeat accelerate. He was going on the biggest adventure of his life. It was hard to believe that in one day's time he'd be halfway around the world in Indonesia. Brian was traveling to Southeast Asia because he was on sabbatical from the college. He'd rest and relax in Indonesia but, most importantly, he'd conclude his research for his doctorate's thesis. The subject of Brian's dissertation was, "The Cultural Variations and Languages of the People of the Indonesian Archipelago." Brian's extensive research had revealed that the exact number of cultures was not known but it was believed that approximately 300 ethnic groups lived on the Islands. And they spoke 365 languages and a number of dialects. It was Brian's plan to isolate and categorize every ethnic group that inhabited the Indonesian Islands. He would also trace each group's derivation. It was commonly believed that most groups descended from Malay origin and spread into Indonesia over many thousands of years. But it was also thought that some cultures descended from other areas of Asia and elsewhere. Indeed legend had it that the Minang people of West Sumatra were the direct descendants of King Maharjo Dirajo, the youngest son of Alexander the Great. Brian would write the first detailed and complete essay on the Indonesian cultures and languages and he'd walk away with a doctorate's degree in the process. He heard the advancing footsteps and turned toward the archway to see Rachel walk into the kitchen. She'd just showered and wore a white cheesecloth robe. A light blue towel was wrapped around her hair. He looked at her fondly. "Hey babe. I just made coffee." Rachel poured coffee into a ceramic cup and she walked to the kitchen table and sat down across from Brian. She nervously smiled. "Well I guess the time's arrived. You're flying off to Asia today." "Yeah. Hard to believe, isn't it?" She had a sorrowful expression. "I can't believe I'm not going to see you for six months Brian." "I'll be back before you know it. Did you give any thought to what we talked about?" This morning Brian had once again raised the question of marriage. When he'd previously brought the matter up Rachel had balked. She'd said that they'd just met six months ago and should get to know each other a little better. She'd argued that they shouldn't rush into things. Rachel turned her gaze downward and considered. She truly loved Brian but she wasn't thrilled about his beliefs regarding a woman's place in the scheme of things. He wanted her to give up her job as a tenth grade history teacher at the Danville public high school and devote her full attentions to housekeeping and raising a family. Brian's request troubled her. She'd worked hard to attain her position as a teacher. She was good at it and enjoyed it. She didn't see any reason why she couldn't get married and keep her job. But Brian had stuck to his guns. He had old-fashioned beliefs and claimed that a wife shouldn't work unless her husband didn't make enough money to support his family. And Brian's income was more than enough to support them both. Rachel knew that Brian's opinions had been largely influenced by his father's theories. Ben Carson believed that the alarming rise in juvenile delinquency and illicit drug usage were attributable to the widespread erosion of traditional family values. Brian had told her several times that his father had blamed the degradation of cultural morals on absentee fathers and working mothers. Ben Carson had sincerely believed that the restoration of old-fashioned family values would go a long way in curtailing the rising tide of violence, crime and illicit drugs. He maintained that many of society's ills would be cured if parents set a proper example for their children. And by that he meant fathers who worked hard and provided for their families and mothers who maintained a strong and steady presence in the home. During Ben Carson's tenure as Head of Anthropology at Drake he'd written a number of essays which had been published in the leading anthropology journals. And they'd created quite a stir. The essays were widely assailed by the National Organization of Women and kindred entities who'd denounced Carson's theories as chauvinistic and misogynistic. A good number of conservative groups and politicians, however, embraced his theories as sure-fire solutions for many of society's problems. One of Ben Carson's firmest adherents was his own son. Brian had incorporated many of his father's theories into his class materials. A number of his female students had been displeased by Brian's presentations. Some had even withdrawn from his classes in protest. Rachel was also troubled by Brian's desire to immediately start a family. And he'd told her that he wanted to have three or four children. Rachel was only 24 and she wanted to wait a few years to start a family. And she couldn't see having more than two kids. Rachel looked back up at him. "I don't know Brian. I'll think about it." "We could get married when I get back. I love you Rachel." She smiled at hearing those golden words that every woman yearns to hear. She knew he was sincere. And she loved him too. She just wished he'd abandon his chauvinistic beliefs. "I'll think about it Brian. I promise. Are you all packed?" "Yeah. I finished packing yesterday. I guess I better get dressed." *** Brian turned to the window on his right and looked downward. He gazed at the large puffy white clouds. In the occasional cloud-breaks he could see the distant bright blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The flight had departed on time from Los Angeles three hours ago. He pondered. He hoped that everything would go as planned. He'd complete his research and obtain his doctorate. Rachel would marry him and they'd raise a large family. He'd become Department Head at Drake. And they'd all live happily ever after. He reached under the seat and retrieved his briefcase. He removed a stack of papers and thumbed through them. They represented hundreds of hours of research he'd done online and at the college library. He'd explored from afar every nook and cranny of the cultural distinctions of the Indonesian people. All that remained now was to visit the habitats to find the remaining pieces of the puzzle and tie up the loose ends. He thought of his destination and felt a wave of excitement course over him. Three months later... Brian sat in the restaurant of the Kalibar Hotel in Jakarta and sipped at his customary morning espresso. He'd made this modest fifteen story hotel on Java Island his base of operations over the past ninety days. He reflected on all of the traveling and hard work he'd done since he'd arrived in Indonesia. He'd visited over 40 cities and towns on the islands of Bali, Irian Jaya, Borneo, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara, Riau, Sulawesi and Sumatra. And he'd interviewed Indonesian scholars at these locales as well as town elders, businessmen and clergymen in his quest to delineate the multitudes of Indonesian cultures. Brian discovered several new and interesting facts regarding the cultural attributes of the descendants of the Balinese, Javanese, Sudanese, Portuguese and Australian people who'd immigrated to the Indonesian Islands during the past three centuries. But his real coup was in uncovering credible evidence that the Meto People of East Nusa Tanggara were the direct descendants of Spaniards, not Filipinos as had previously been believed. His research had gone much better than expected. He believed that he'd accumulated nearly enough facts and data to put together a satisfactory dissertation. He concluded that he could wrap everything up in a few weeks and return home to Rachel two months ahead of schedule. Brian's concentration was broken by the sound of someone clearing his throat. He looked up and saw a short, thin man standing in front of his table. The man was dressed in a khaki safari outfit and bush hat. He looked indigenous to Jakarta. And he seemed reluctant to speak. Brian broke the ice. "May I help you Sir?" "Why yes. My name is Miki Soto. I have heard that you are an American scholar researching the Indonesian cultures." Brian immediately noticed that the man's English was nearly perfect, betraying only a slight hint of his Javanese origin. "And where exactly did you hear this Mr. Soto?" "Please call me Miki. This is Jakarta Mr. Carson. Word gets out. You have been here for several months after all." "Okay Miki. The walls have ears. What do you want?" "I have information you may find useful." "Yeah? About what?" "About a people with unique cultural attributes." "Okay. I'm listening." Miki took that as a cue to sit down and he did. He placed his arms on the table and clasped his hands. "I refer to the Butiggni." "The Butiggni?" "Yes." "I've never heard of the Butiggni." "Not many have Mr. Carson. The Butiggni are believed to be a small society of about 3,000 people who'd emigrated from Burma to the southern-most islet of the Mentawai Islands off the western coast of Sumatra approximately two centuries ago." Brian was intrigued by what he'd heard. "And what exactly is so unique about the Butiggni's cultural attributes?" "They are reputed to be a matriarchal order Mr. Carson. A sisterhood if you will. And there's more." "What?" "They also have unique religious beliefs." "Okay Miki. I'll bite." "The Batiggni worship the mystical Hydra." "What's that?" "The Hydra is reputed to be a multi-headed serpent whose bite causes pronounced changes in its victim." "What changes?" "That I do not know Mr. Carson." Brian's interest was clearly provoked. He'd never heard of a matriarchal order in Indonesia. If it could be documented his dissertation would make history. But he knew he'd have to approach the matter cautiously. "And I suppose you can take me to the Batiggni Miki?" "It can be arranged. For a fee of course." "And exactly what is your fee?" Brian watched as the small man considered. He waited for a reply. He became impatient. Miki finally spoke. "I could take you there for five- thousand American dollars." "I'm afraid that's way over my budget Miki. The most I could pay is $2,000." Miki considered the offer for a moment. "I will take you there for $3,500." "I'll up it to $2,500 Miki. That's my final offer." Miki reflected for a moment. He nodded. "Okay Mr. Carson. I will do it for $2,500. But you must pay for all expenses." "What expenses?" "Air fare to Padang in West Sumatra. The rental for a speed boat to the Mentawai Islands. Supplies. And any tributes the Batiggni may demand." "How much will all that cost?" "I should think another thousand dollars, give or take a few hundred." Brian considered. Before he could respond Miki stated, "And that is my final offer Mr. Carson." Brian thought about what a discovery like this could do for his career. He'd have no trouble at all nailing down the Department Head position he so desperately wanted. He smiled and nodded his head. "Alright Miki. You've got yourself a deal." They shook hands. *** Brian looked over the stern of the 20-foot speedboat he'd rented a few hours ago. He gazed down at the roiling brine of the Indian Ocean as the light from the full moon illuminated the water. It was hot and humid but a chill ran down his spine. He felt sensations of excitement and apprehension overtake him. Brian shook his head briskly in an attempt to relax himself. The little trick had worked in the past and it succeeded once more as he felt a sense of calmness settle in. He yawned and realized that he was tired. He reflected on the day's activities. He and Miki had departed on a flight out of Jakarta early this morning and the 35-seater had landed in Padang two hours later. But they ran into an immediate snag when they discovered that all the available speedboats in town had been rented. They'd been told they would have to wait five hours for a boat to become available. They used the intervening time to eat a hearty lunch of steak and boiled potatoes at Demo's Bar and Grill and to stock up on supplies. At Miki's urging Brian purchased a large foot locker. And then he bought non-perishable foodstuffs, camping equipment, and a first-aid kit. He also purchased two twenty-gallon gasoline cans which they'd fill at the marina before they departed. Miki had insisted that Brian also buy rifles for both of them. When Brian had questioned the necessity for that Miki had said, "Better to be safe than sorry Mr. Carson. I would not be here to speak with you right now if I had not carried a firearm on many of my previous expeditions." Brian relented and purchased two Remington's and several boxes of rounds at Gunchi's Sporting Goods. Brian returned his thoughts to the present and wondered how much longer it would take them to reach their destination. He turned around and walked toward the ship's bow. He yawned once more and calculated that he hadn't slept for almost twenty hours. 'Jesus. No wonder I'm tired.' Brian reached the bow and gazed down at Miki who firmly grasped and steered the wheel. He loudly asked, "How much longer before we get there?" Miki looked up at him. "At least another three hours Mr. Carson." Brian nodded in acknowledgment. He walked back to the ship's stern. He sat on the deck and tried to nap but realized that as tired as he was he was still too excited to sleep. *** Brian stood behind Miki and eyed the small isle three hundred yards away as they bore down on it. It was the southern-most isle of the Mentawai Island-chain. It looked very small. "It's not much to speak of Miki." Miki looked up and around at him. "It is about 25 square miles in size Mr. Carson. It is known as Dome Island." The isle appeared a bit larger as they closed in on it. Miki reduced the ship's speed in small increments until it was down to 10 knots as they approached the beach on the isle's eastern shore. Dawn had broken an hour ago and the sun appeared overhead as a large bright white dot in the clear blue sky. It was hot and humid. Brian wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand as he surveyed the nearing isle. He saw that the sand on the approaching beach was as white as snow. Miki slowly guided the boat onto the beach so that the forward half of the hull rested on the sand as it came to a halt. He disengaged the motor and walked to the stern where he and Brian carefully lowered the anchor. They'd finally arrived. *** Brian and Miki grasped the handles on the opposite ends of the foot locker and lifted. They walked toward the edge of the jungle about a hundred yards away. Large birds squawked and whooped from above as they circled the beach. Brian looked up and wondered whether any were vultures. He felt the hair on the back of his neck tingle. The sun was blinding and forced him to look away. They finally reached the perimeter of the jungle. Miki noticed a small shaded clearing amidst the trees and vegetation about twenty yards away and pointed toward it. "We can set up camp over there." They entered the jungle. They set the footlocker down in the clearing and decided to get a little rest before they ventured inland so they pitched two pup-tents. Miki then gathered some brush and started a fire. "I'm hungry. How about you Mr. Carson?" "Yeah. Me too." Miki retrieved two cans of chili and a small pot from the footlocker and rustled up a meal. They washed down the chili with water from their canteens. They entered their tents. They both looked forward to some much-needed rest. *** Miki nudged Brian awakening him from his sleep. Brian blinked his eyes open. "What's wrong?" "Nothing Mr. Carson. We must leave now to take advantage of the remaining daylight." "How long have I been sleeping?" "Six hours." Brian nodded. He felt refreshed but he could have slept for another few hours if he'd had the luxury. Brian exited his tent and saw Miki dismantling his. He watched as Miki folded the tent and placed it into the foot locker. A question occurred to him. "We're not taking the foot locker with us, are we?" "No. We will take only necessary provisions. We will retrieve the foot locker on our return." Brian dismantled his tent and, like Miki, he retrieved a canteen, a can of insect repellant, several sticks of beef jerky, a 5-inch hunting knife and a rifle from the footlocker. Brian and Miki made eye contact and nodded, acknowledging their readiness to proceed. They walked into the jungle. *** Brian retrieved the handkerchief from his rear pocket and wiped the sweat from his brow. Even though the abundance of trees offered adequate shade from the overbearing sun it was hot and sticky and Brian was soaked. He put the handkerchief back into his pocket and he retrieved the canteen from his belt and took a long pull from it. The water was warm but it quenched his thirst. He followed Miki along the trail as they made their way deeper into the jungle. Although he hadn't actually seen any animals since they'd departed the camp-site a half hour ago the bustling sounds of wildlife abounded. He heard an amalgam of howling, yelping, buzzing, cackling, hissing and squawking. He did, however, see plenty of insects including large mosquitoes. But the repellant did its job in keeping the pests at bay. Brian was grateful he'd gotten fully vaccinated before he departed the States. He had no intention of contracting malaria, diphtherias, or any other tropical malady. Miki abruptly halted and held up his left arm. Brian stopped in his tracks behind him. "What's wrong Miki?" Miki pointed to the ground in front of him. "Quicksand." Brian took a few steps forward and gazed downward. He saw a large patch of brown mud that nearly blended into the ground. Miki bent down and picked up a large branch from the side of the trail. He tossed it in front of him. They both watched as the quicksand slowly sucked the branch down until it disappeared. Small bubbles emerged and popped on the sand's surface as if it had smacked its lips in satisfaction of the treat. Brian had no doubt that he wouldn't have noticed the quicksand had he been on his own. He conjured up an image of helplessly sinking into the deathtrap until he suffocated. He felt himself shudder. They walked around the quicksand and got back onto the trail. They plodded deeper into the jungle. They walked in silence for another half-hour. Brian felt a bit fatigued. And his back ached where the rifle had bounced from its strap as he took each footstep. "How much longer Miki?" "I am not sure Mr. Carson. Another mile or two I should think." They continued on and came upon a marsh. Thankfully the six-foot wide trail cut right through it so there was no need to detour. Miki proceeded into the marshland and Brian followed. Slithering and splashing sounds surrounded them. Miki picked up the pace. He was obviously in a rush to get through the marsh. Brian couldn't blame him. They jogged for a minute and finally viewed the marsh's end. They halted to rest and saw that the marsh terminated about a hundred feet ahead. They both smiled. As if out of nowhere a loud splash emanated from Brian's right and he saw the huge crocodile as it quickly emerged from the muddy waters. It bore down on him. He fumbled around his back and grabbed the rifle. He held it in front of him but in his excitement pulled the trigger before he'd aimed. The shot missed its target by six feet. Brian attempted to take aim at the crocodile but he'd run out of time. It lunged into him and knocked him to the ground. His rifle bounced several feet out of his grasp. He looked into the crocodile's eyes and saw hunger there. He watched as it opened its jaw and displayed the crooked rows of two-inch long discolored teeth. He gazed down its darkened maw and believed he'd never see the light of day again. And that's when Brian heard several loud pops. He looked up to see Miki reloading his rifle. The crocodile crawled off Brian and turned its attention to its attacker. It closed in on Miki who backed away from it as he finished reloading. With the crocodile just three feet away Miki took aim and let several more shots fly. One of them hit the croc right between its eyes. Brian watched as the large reptile shivered and shook for at least a minute. And then it finally died. He looked up at Miki who'd reloaded again just in case. Miki stepped around the dead crocodile and helped Brian to his feet. He looked into Brian's frightened eyes and smirked. "It was a wise choice to bring rifles. Would you not agree Mr. Carson?" *** They reached the end of the marsh and walked for another half-hour until they came to a rickety wooden bridge over a deep gulley. They looked across it and saw someone standing on the other side about a hundred feet away. Miki turned to Brian. "I believe that is a Batiggni. I will go and speak to her." Brian watched as Miki carefully navigated the bridge. He could hear the creaking sounds the decayed wood made as Miki advanced. Brian continued to watch as Miki made it to the other side of the bridge. He saw Miki and the native talk. It appeared that they had no trouble understanding each other. Miki had proudly boasted to Brian that he knew hundreds of dialects and that he'd not yet met anyone in Indonesia with whom he couldn't converse. Brian saw that Miki was waving at him. He was obviously summoning Brian to cross the bridge and join them Brian stepped onto the bridge and felt it sway. He slowly advanced and heard it creak and moan. "This is not good." He reached the bridge's midpoint and he stopped and exhaled. He then took a step and felt his right foot break through the wooden plank. He fell onto the bridge and grasped the railing. He felt the bridge swing as his right leg freely dangled below its surface. His heart beat a mile a minute. Brian slowly hoisted himself up and stood on the bridge. He carefully stepped over the gaping hole he'd made and moved forward. His heart raced until he finally made it to the end where he collapsed onto the ground at Miki's feet. Brian excitedly breathed as he attempted to compose himself. He thought, "First a crocodile and now this." He wondered what was next as Miki helped him to his feet. *** Brian and Miki followed the native woman as they advanced deeper into the jungle. Brian watched her shapely derriere wiggle as she took each step. He observed that she wore a frayed brown cloth skirt of sorts that ended a few inches above her knees. Her torso was covered by a beige top that fell to her upper waist exposing about two inches of her midriff. At the bridge he'd clearly seen her nipples poking out from under the top. Brian estimated that the barefoot woman was about 5'10" tall. Her long and straight jet black hair fell onto and beyond her shoulders. She had light brown skin that appeared velvety smooth. Her figure was full and her form lithe. She was attractive and sexy. Brian moved to Miki's side. "So she's Batiggni?" "Yes. Her name is Vinta. She claims to be a Batiggni warrior princess." "What did you tell her?" "I told her that you are a scholar studying the famous cultures of Indonesia. I asked if we could meet with an elder of her honored race so that we may document the Batiggni's valued contributions to Indonesian history." "And what did she say?" "Vinta said she would take us to the Batiggni village. She will consult with her tribal leaders who will then decide whether to grant us an audience." Brian nodded in approval. *** Brian and Miki continued to trail the Batiggni woman deeper into the dense jungle. Brian became impatient. He was fatigued and his feet ached. He wondered how much longer they'd have to walk. He took a long pull from his canteen. Brian briskly stepped beside Miki and leaned toward him. "Are we close to the village or what?" Before Miki could answer the shade disappeared, replaced by bright light. Brian felt the sun's heat on the back of his neck. He stared ahead and saw that the jungle had abruptly ended, spilling out onto a large clearing. The Battigni woman walked into the clearing and Brian and Miki followed. Five minutes later she reached the clearing's edge and looked downward. A few seconds later Brian and Miki reached the edge. They gazed downward too. Brian smiled in satisfaction as he set his sight on the valley two hundred feet below. He observed that the dale was littered by a vast number of variously-sized structures that went on for as far as the eye could see. People were milling and moving about in the community. Miki leaned toward him. "I believe we have arrived Mr. Carson." *** Brian and Miki carefully followed Vinta down the mountain-side's steeply pitched trail. The Batiggni woman moved with the assuredness of an accomplished climber but Brian and Miki found the footing precarious and descended the trail with cautious deliberation. The distance between them widened. When Brian and Miki reached the foot of the mountain they found Vinta sitting on the ground. She'd been waiting for them for ten minutes. She had an impatient expression as she arose and beckoned them to follow. They trailed her to the edge of the village and entered it. The smell and smoke from roasting meat immediately assaulted their senses. They saw a group of small children playing with dogs in the muddy street. Decaying wooden buildings of varying size as well as mud and thatch huts lined both sides of the street. They saw several Batiggni women as they walked deeper into the village. And they all carried weapons. Some had crossbows while others clutched large spears. Brian assumed they were used for hunting. They turned a corner and the aroma from the cooking meat grew stronger. They observed a Battiggni before each hut roasting meat over an open fire. Vinta and Miki conversed for a moment. Miki turned to Brian and advised, "The Batiggni men are preparing the noon-time meal for their families." They turned another corner and walked about twenty feet when Vinta abruptly stopped before a large hut. She turned to Miki and said something. Miki faced Brian. "She says that we are to stay in this hut while she consults with the village leaders." Brian nodded. Vinta pulled the hanging cloth away from the entrance and Brian and Miki stepped into the hut. Shadows from the flickering flames of two small candles danced on the hut's walls. Two straw beds adorned the ground. Miki yawned. "I do not know about you Mr. Carson, but I can use some sleep." Miki's yawn had been contagious and Brian yawned too. He was dead tired and his muscles ached. "You got my vote Miki." *** Miki nudged Brian who bolted upright. He looked into Miki's eyes. "What's wrong?" "Nothing Mr. Carson. Vinta has returned. She has arranged an audience with Niktu, the Batiggni tribal Matra. We must go now." "Oh. Good." Brian considered for a moment. "Matra?" "According to Vinta the Matra is the spiritual leader of the Batiggni people. We must pay a tribute to her. I think she will be happy with one of our hunting knives." Brian nodded. *** They exited the hut and were met by Vinta. She motioned them to follow her. Darkness had fallen but the full moon adequately illuminated the village. They had little or no difficulty following Vinta as they navigated the streets. Silhouettes of large four-legged creatures could be seen moving about. The animals occasionally bayed at the moon. Their piercing howls reverberated in the humid night air and sent a chill down Brian's spine. He hoped they were only dogs. Vinta stopped before a single-story ramshackle wooden building. She entered and beckoned Brian and Miki to follow. They entered the building and immediately saw her sitting on a small rug in the middle of the large room. An array of foot-high candles encircled the woman. The candles' flickering flames and the fluttering shadows they produced had a near-hypnotizing effect. Brian watched as Miki and Vinta conversed. Vinta left and Miki approached Brian. "Vinta has told Niktu that you are a scholar studying the Indonesian cultures. Niktu has agreed to see you for no longer than fifteen minutes." "Only fifteen minutes?" "Yes. We best get started." They stepped between two candles and sat down on the hardened mud floor a few feet in front of the woman. Brian studied her face. It looked weather-beaten. She had wrinkles on her forehead and cheeks. Her straight white hair fell onto her back. Brian guessed that if she wasn't 80 years old she was damn close to it. Miki offered the woman his hunting knife and she accepted it. She pulled the knife from its leather sheath and examined the six-inch blade. She smiled and looked at them. She spoke: "Anto Matra Nictu. Klama un vars dorn edulay dar Batiggni entoy." Miki turned to Brian and translated: "She said, 'I am the Matra Niktu, spiritual leader of the Batiggni people.'" "Tell her it is my honor to meet her and that I would like to ask her a few questions about her great people." Miki told her and she nodded. She briefly spoke and Miki turned to Brian. "She said, 'I will allow you a few questions.'" "Ask her if the Batiggni order is truly a matriarchy." Miki asked the question and Nictu nodded and then replied. Miki translated her response: "She said that the Batiggni people are led by its women." "Ask her whether she considers that unusual." Miki asked the question and they watched as Nictu wrinkled her brow. She responded at length and Miki turned to Brian and interpreted: "She said that it is not unusual for the Batiggni. The Batiggni women hunt for food and protect their families and the men prepare the food and raise the children. It is the natural way because men are not qualified to lead or provide for their families. She wants to know whether you disagree." "Tell her I do. Tell her that in all other known cultures it is the men who provide for and protect their families. And it is the women who raise the children and perform household chores such as cooking. Tell her that that is the natural way of things and that the Batiggni way is unnatural." "Do you really want me to say that Mr. Carson?" "Tell her Miki." Miki turned to Nictu and translated Brian's remarks. He finished and cautiously awaited her reaction. They watched as Nictu's face twisted. She was obviously angry. She then spoke. When she finished Miki turned to Brian. "She said, 'If men were to rule they would lead our great people to ruin just like the men who've led other civilizations have done. The Batiggni people enjoy peace, prosperity and happiness only because of the leadership its sisters provide. But you may take satisfaction in knowing that within many great Batiggni women lays the reshaped soul of a man.'" Brian was perplexed. "Ask her what she means by that last remark Miki." Miki asked the question and Nictu curtly replied. Miki looked stunned. "What did she say Miki?" "She said that most of the adult Batiggni females were born male." "What? How is that possible? Ask her." Miki asked Brian's question. They both saw that Nictu looked impatient and annoyed. Brian worried she'd refuse to answer. Thankfully she spoke. She continued for quite some time and when she stopped Miki had an astonished expression. "Well, what did she say?" Miki faced Brian. He shook his head slightly and proceeded to translate Nictu's remarks: "She said that when a Batiggni male reaches sexual maturity he is taken to the Gol Forest on the western fringe of the village. There he is left tied to a tree to be bitten by the Hydra- serpent, a rare species of snake found only in that locale. The snake's bite causes the male to become a great Batiggni female warrior after he couples with his mate. She said there are also consequences for the mate." "Ask her what consequences." Miki asked the question. Nictu abruptly arose and spoke a few words. Miki faced Brian. "She said the interview is over. We must leave now." "Ask her what happens to the bite victim's mate." Miki hesitated and Brian demanded, "Ask her Miki!" Miki swung around toward Nictu and asked the question again. Nictu loudly responded. She was obviously agitated. Miki arose and Brian did too. Miki said, "She has ordered us back to our hut. And she said that we must leave the village tomorrow morning at daybreak. We must go now Mr. Carson." Miki walked toward the exit and Brian followed. They reached it and Brian impulsively looked to his right and noticed the large statue he'd not seen before. It was as tall as he was and it depicted a large snake whose lower half was wrapped in a coil. The snake's upper half stood straight up and ended in two heads. The mouth on each head gaped wide open and betrayed large fangs. It was frightening. Brian turned away and shivered as he exited the building. *** Vinta had been waiting outside and escorted them back to their hut. She repeated Nictu's admonition: "You must leave the village tomorrow morning." She turned and walked away into the darkened distance. They entered the hut and resolved to get a good night's sleep. They'd leave the village and begin their trek back to the boat at dawn. The lay down on the straw beds and closed their eyes. Miki fell asleep in a few minutes but Brian grappled with the information he'd just received from the Batiggni Matra. He wondered whether what she'd said could possibly be true. He decided that her claims were incredible. Brian pondered how he'd present the story of the Batiggni people in his thesis. He decided he'd treat it as a legend. He had no alternative since there was no evidence to substantiate Niktu's contentions. And besides, Brian thought, who'd believe such wild claims? He fell asleep satisfied that the legend of the Batiggni people would add some color and spice to his otherwise fact-based dissertation. *** Vinta eyed the hut from ten feet away. She stepped out of the shadows and stealthily approached it. She silently entered the dwelling and placed the large canvass bag on the ground. She heard a soft slithering sound. The viper slipped out of the bag and slid toward the sleeping figure. It stopped at its right ankle. It reared its heads back. The serpent's four fangs dripped a milky white substance as its two heads came down on the ankle. A month later... Brian awoke and stretched his arms and legs. He felt comfortable and well-rested. It was the first time he'd slept in his own bed in the last five months. He'd arrived back home in Danville late yesterday afternoon. He'd unpacked and then gone food shopping. By the time he'd cooked and ate dinner it was 9:00. He'd showered and watched some mindless reality show on his bedroom television set that put him to sleep. He hadn't gotten around to calling Rachel yet. Brian turned to a more comfortable position and thought about the past several weeks. He and Miki had left the Batiggni village a month ago and made it back to the boat without incident. That is if you don't count shooting two threatening wild boars near their camp-site. Two days later they were back in Jakarta where Brian paid Miki his fee. The pair then parted company. Brian had decided to stay in Indonesia for a few more weeks. He'd finished all of his research so he just rested and relaxed. He'd spent a good deal of time at the beach and he sailed and fished. He'd taken advantage of the tropical locale and vacationed. Brian arose from the bed and slipped into a pair of briefs and a T- shirt. He saw the four faded marks on his right ankle as he put on his socks. He'd first noticed the marks when he showered in his hotel room on his return to Jakarta. He'd concluded that he'd probably been bitten or stung by something during his expedition to Dome Island. There'd been no pain or rash or any other adverse side-effects so he wasn't really concerned. Brian slipped into his jeans and sneakers and he reached for the phone. He was ready to call Rachel and make up for lost time. That night... Brian and Rachel were wrapped in a loving embrace. They'd just made love for the second time and were as exhausted as they were fulfilled. Brian whispered into her ear: "Have you thought about the marriage thing?" "Yes. But I don't want to leave my job Brian." "You don't need to work Rachel. I make enough to support us both." "This is our first night together in a long time Brian. I don't want to quarrel with you. Okay?" She softly kissed his lips. "Yeah. Okay." They fell asleep in each other's arms. *** Brian sat at the desk in his study and stared at the computer monitor. He'd been working on his thesis for over two hours and his eyes were strained. He decided to take a break. He reached into the desktop humidor and came away with an AVO Domaine Robusto. He removed the cellophane from the cigar and clipped it. He lit it with his Zippo and exhaled a mouthful of tasty smoke. Brian walked to the leather couch and sank down into it. He thought about his recent activities. He'd been back home for a week now and he'd used his time judiciously. He wasn't due to return to Drake for another month and he planned to complete a first draft of his essay over the next few weeks. He took a puff of the cigar as he reflected on his thesis. The draft had been coming along nicely but an hour ago he'd hit a roadblock. He'd reached the part of the essay where he intended to discuss the Batiggni matriarchal order. He'd again become uncertain on how to treat it. He toyed with the idea of eliminating any reference to the bizarre culture. He'd also hit a roadblock with Rachel over the past week. He'd been unsuccessful in his repeated attempts to talk her into leaving her job. She was willing to marry him but not to quit working. Brian couldn't understand why Rachel wasn't willing to leave her job. He made more than enough money to support them both. It wasn't necessary for her to work. Why couldn't she see that a wife's place was in the home? He nubbed the cigar and put it out in the ashtray. He walked back to his desk and sat down. He thought he'd make another attempt at synthesizing the Batiggni culture into his essay. Brian typed on the keyboard for a few minutes and accidentally hit Caps Lock. He looked down to find the key and noticed his hands. They looked... different. He carefully studied the back of his hands. The hair was gone. They were completely bare. And they looked so smooth and soft. He noticed that his fingers looked different too. They appeared long and slender. They looked delicate. And his nails looked different as well. They were no longer square. They'd taken on an oval appearance. He continued to gaze at his hands in puzzlement and it hit him all at once. His hands looked feminine. "They look like a woman's hands," he whispered. And then he remembered all the hair he'd seen in the hair catcher after he'd showered this morning. He'd considered that it was a bit unusual but he hadn't really given it that much thought. Until now. He unbuttoned the cuffs on his flannel shirt and quickly rolled up the sleeves. He saw that his arms were barren of hair too. And then he made the connection. He bent over and rolled down the sock on his right foot. He glared at the four faded marks on his ankle and he thought about the Hydra. He considered, "Could it be true? Could the Batiggni legend be more than just that? Is there something to it?" He abruptly stood up and lowered his pants. His heart raced as he pushed his briefs down. He gazed between his legs. "Oh fuck." He gazed in fear at his shrunken penis. He opened the desk drawer and retrieved the ruler. He measured it and discovered that it was barely three inches long. And its girth couldn't have been nearly half of its former diameter. He was frozen in place with an astonished expression. That night... Brian stood in the shower as the warm water sprinkled over his body. He reflected on the changes he'd seen in his body. His mind was numbed. He couldn't move. And then he felt an irritating sensation on his chest. He pulled himself back to a lucid state. He stepped out of the shower and saw that the tub was covered in hair. He shook his head in disbelief. He dried himself off and again felt irritation on his chest as he rubbed the bath towel over his torso. He walked to the wall mirror in the bedroom and stared at his full-body naked reflection. He gasped in dismay and shock. "This can't be happening." As hard as he tried he could not pull his gaze away from his chest, where two small breasts had taken form. They were not large. They weren't even an A-cup. But they were breasts nonetheless and they were on his chest. He continued to gape at his tiny breasts and shook his head in denial. He saw the slightly expanded and darkened areola and the small erect nipples and felt a shiver run down his spine. "It's not true. It can't be true." He softly shook his torso and felt the breasts gently bounce. Their weight on his chest felt so strange and foreign. He willed them away but they stayed there. Brian stepped closer to the mirror and studied his face. He could see no trace of his beard. His complexion looked smooth and finished. He raised a hand and ran the palm over his face. It felt so soft. He looked at his face again and noticed other small changes. It had taken on a rounded and oval contour. And his nose looked smaller and his lips fuller than they'd been. Brian decided that he looked androgynous. He impulsively said, "I'm a fucking pretty boy." He felt and saw the blood rush into his face. He turned his gaze downward below his chest and saw evidence of the emergence of curves. His waist had thinned a bit and his hips had sprouted a little. And he saw that his body was almost completely hairless. He could find only a few small isolated patches of hair. He forced himself to look between his legs and saw that his penis appeared even smaller than it did this morning. And his scrotum no longer freely swung below it. It hugged his groin now. He reached down and groped for his testicles and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt them. Brian was tempted to retrieve the ruler and measure himself again but he didn't have the heart. He turned away from the mirror and dressed. And he was confronted with some more disheartening news: all of his clothes were too big. His jeans slipped off his waist and his feet swam in his sneakers. He had to use a belt to keep his pants on and wear two pair of sweat socks to keep from stepping out of his Reeboks. He walked back to the wall mirror and gazed at himself again. He realized that he looked smaller. And he felt smaller too. Brian turned away from the mirror and went into the bathroom. He stepped onto the scale. He saw that he was 140 pounds, down from his usual weight of 155. "This is unreal." All of a sudden he recalled that Rachel was due to come over in an hour to make dinner for him. He knew he couldn't let her see him like this so he rang her up and told her that he wasn't feeling well. She expressed concern but he said it was only a mild touch of the flu. Brian lay down on the bed. His head swam. It was impossible. It couldn't be happening. It must be a bad dream. He'd wake up soon. But he knew that it was really happening to him. The legend of the Hydra wasn't a legend. It was real. He'd been bitten by the serpent and the result was just as the Batiggni Matra had foretold. He was turning into a woman. And it was happening fast. He shook his head back and forth and could not stop. "What am I going to do? What am I going to do?" A week later... The melodic sounds of early birds chirping at the brink of dawn awoke Brian. He stretched and sat up on the bed. He felt his breasts tug and sway and he looked down at his chest. They didn't look any larger than they did yesterday but they were already large enough. They'd grown over the past week to the point where they were at least as big as Rachel's. And Brian knew that Rachel wore a size B-cup. He knew where he had to look next but he just couldn't force himself to do it. Three days ago his penis and testicles had vanished into thin air and a day later his unoccupied and withered scrotum had crept onto his groin. And just yesterday the crawling scrotal tissue had taken on the appearance of a vulva. He took a deep breath and gazed down at his crotch. He slowly spread his legs apart as he stared at himself. And all at once he saw his new vagina abruptly pop open. His heart jumped and he became dizzy. He trembled. He nearly slipped off the edge of the bed. He steadied himself and tried to calm down. It took him five minutes but he finally composed himself. He shook his head and for the hundredth time this week exclaimed, "I can't believe this is happening to me!" *** Brian stepped out of the shower and toweled himself dry. He climbed onto the scale and saw that he weighed 120 pounds. He'd lost 35 pounds in a week without even going on a low carb diet. He walked to the bedroom and stood before the wall mirror. He gazed at his full-body reflection. He saw that he now wore the body of a woman. He looked into his face and saw a girl's face. He was pretty now. He saw the semblance of his prior persona but realized that he was now a feminine version of himself. It was as if he were his own twin sister. He walked to the closet and retrieved his bathrobe. He put it on and tightened the belt. He saw that the end of the robe nearly touched the floor. He fully realized that it no longer fit him but he had nothing else to wear. All of his clothes were now way too large for him. He walked into the kitchen and made coffee. He sat at the table as it brewed. He tried to avoid thinking of his troubles but it was impossible. As his body had changed over the past week he'd become a virtual recluse. He hadn't left the house, not even to go into the backyard. He'd become embarrassed, ashamed and humiliated over what was happening to him. Rachel had called him on the phone several times but he'd stalled her. He'd said that he didn't want her to catch his flu. She'd wanted to come over to tend to him but he firmly told her to stay away until he felt better. He didn't know how much longer he could put her off. As if on cue he heard a loud knock on his front door and he looked out of the kitchen window and saw that it was Rachel. "Oh no." He ignored her but she was persistent. She continued to pound the door. He heard her yell, "Open the door Brian! I know you're in there! I saw your car in the garage!" He feared she'd create a disturbance the neighbors would notice. He thought, "She's going to find out sooner or later. It might as well be now." He opened the door and saw that she held a pot in her hands. He looked into her eyes. He noticed they were the same height now. He knew that she was 5'6" tall. Rachel looked at the stranger. She had a perplexed expression. "Uh... I was looking for Brian Carson. I'm his girlfriend Rachel. I brought soup for him." Brian nodded. "Please come in." He heard his voice crack. He ushered her into the kitchen. "Please sit down Rachel." She did and placed the pot on the table. Brian sat down across from her. He looked into her eyes. "I know that you're not going to believe this Rachel, but I'm Brian." He saw that she looked at him like he was one sandwich short of a full picnic. She said, "What is this, some kind of sick joke or something?" "I wish it was. Something happened to me when I was in Indonesia Rachel. Something that turned me into... this." "I don't believe it. This is crazy." Brian tried to think of something that would convince her. And he thought of her mole. "I know that you have a mole an inch above your clitoris Rachel." She turned red. She became angry. And then she realized that no man but Brian could have known about her mole. She was a virgin when she'd met him and he was the only man who'd ever seen it. But then she thought that she wasn't talking to a man. She became confused. "Can I explain Rachel?" "Okay. I'm listening." Brian told her the whole story of Dome Island, the Batiggni and the Hydra. He tried to cover everything. He finally finished and awaited her reaction. "You're telling me that you've become a woman because of some voodoo mumbo jumbo?" "It was a snake bite Rachel. But I guess it's not that much different from voodoo if you really think about it." "Do you honestly expect me to believe this?" "It's really me Rachel. I'm Brian. Before I left I asked you to marry me. I wanted you to quit your job as a teacher and raise a large family." He thought for a moment. "And you love it when I lick your earlobes." She looked at him seriously. She didn't say a word. She considered that the woman's voice sounded similar to Brian's. "Look into my eyes Rachel. You'll see me. I did when I looked at myself in the mirror this morning." She stared deeply into the woman's eyes for a long moment. And she saw Brian there. She put her hand up to her mouth and gasped. "Oh my God. It is you Brian." *** They sat at the kitchen table and drank coffee. Rachel stared at Brian. He noticed. "What?" "Oh. I'm sorry. It's just that I couldn't help but notice..." "Notice what Rachel?" "Well, I don't know. I guess I was considering how pretty you are now." Brian felt his face redden and looked away from her. Rachel immediately felt bad for embarrassing him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Brian looked back at her. "No. It's okay Rachel. I guess I need to learn how to deal with it. And I don't want you to feel like you're walking on eggshells with me." Silence ensued for a moment and Rachel asked, "So you're actually all female now? I mean... uh... biologically speaking that is?" Brian realized that he needed to completely convince Rachel of his transformation. He stood up and unfastened the robe's belt. And then he spread the robe open. Rachel gazed at Brian's feminine form in wonder and awe. "Well you've answered my question, that's for sure. It's amazing." Brian closed the robe and sat back down. "Yeah. That's one word to describe it." "What are you going to do Brian?" "I've got to find some way to reverse this Rachel. I think I'm going back to Dome Island. It happened there. Hopefully I can find a cure there. Maybe there's an antidote or something." She nodded. "Can I ask you something? Do you have any clothes?" "Yeah. Unfortunately they don't fit me anymore Rachel." She rolled her eyes. "That's what I meant Brian. Clothes that fit. I'll bring some of mine over. I'll bet they'll fit you just fine." "That's alright. I'll pick up some new clothes at the mall." "And what clothes will you wear to get to the mall?" She'd made a good point. "You're right I guess." Rachel stood up. "I'll go get them now." She moved toward the door. "Rachel?" She turned around. "No dresses. Understand?" She nodded her assent. *** Rachel returned an hour later carrying two large suitcases. She looked at Brian and smiled. She placed the suitcases on the large wooden coffee table in the living room and she opened one. She removed two plastic packages and handed them to Brian. "What are..." "First things first Brian. You need to put on some underwear. They're a bra and panties." Brian blushed. "Is this really necessary?" "You have to wear underwear Brian. This underwear. Yours don't fit anymore. And I don't believe you have any bras. You can't walk around with your tits flying all over the place." She saw his face redden again. She hadn't meant to embarrass him but she had to drive her point home. Brian looked at her sheepishly. "Okay." She helped him slip into the underwear. "Now doesn't that feel better?" Brian had to admit she was right. For the first time in days his breasts felt secure. He'd grown weary of the way they bounced and flopped at the slightest movement. And the tugging had hurt. He looked at her and nodded. "Yeah. Definitely." She handed him another package. He stared at it for a moment and looked back up at her. "Pantyhose? Why can't I just wear socks?" "Because I don't have any and yours don't fit you anymore. The nylons will keep your legs warm. You'll see." She helped him roll the hose up his legs and over his waist. "Take a few steps Brian." He took five steps and felt a highly erotic sensation on his thighs and calves as his legs softly brushed against one another. His whole body impulsively shivered for a moment. "Doesn't that feel nice Brian?" "Yeah." He felt the blush on his face at the realization that he'd really enjoyed the nylons' feel on his legs. He looked down so that Rachel wouldn't see it. When he looked back up he saw that she was holding a dress. And she was smiling. He became angry. "I said no dresses Rachel." "But..." "I mean it Rachel." He glared at her. "Okay, okay. Don't get you panties in a rage." She placed the dress on the table and reached into the suitcase again. This time she came away with a white silk blouse and a pair of black cotton slacks. She handed them to Brian and helped him put them on. Brian looked down at himself and took it all in. The clothes seemed to fit him perfectly. He observed his new curves at the bust, waist and hips and he blushed yet again. He looked back up and saw that Rachel was holding a pair of black leather shoes. And they had high heels on them. "I'm not wearing those. They're high-heels." "They're the only shoes I brought with me Brian. And the heels aren't that high. They're only two inches." Rachel knew that she'd lied. They were actually three-inch heels. "Are you sure?" "Absolutely." She knelt down and slipped them onto his feet. She then held onto his arm as she stepped around the room with him and taught him how to walk in heels. "See. That's not too hard, is it? And you're taller now too." Brian finally felt secure enough to break away from Rachel and walk into the bedroom on his own. He stood before the wall mirror and shook his head. "Unbelievable. I look just like a real woman." He pulled himself away and returned to the living where he saw Rachel fumbling with cosmetics. She looked up at him and smiled. "You look nice in that outfit Brian. I think a little makeup might be..." "Forget it Rachel. No way. Let's go to the mall." *** Brian and Rachel walked into the house. Their arms were laden with shopping bags. They'd just been to the mall where they spent two hours shopping for clothes. They stepped into the living room and unloaded the bags on the sofa. Brian bought a nice supply of underwear. And on impulse he'd purchased a few packages of pantyhose. The nylons really did keep his legs warm. And they felt nice too. But he'd drawn the line at the hose. Rachel had urged him to buy ladies' slacks and blouses but he'd refused. Instead he'd purchased a number of jogging outfits and sweat suits. And two pair of sneakers. Brian browsed through the bags. He selected a dark blue nylon jogging outfit and a pair of New Balance. "I'll be right back Rachel." He walked into his bedroom. He kicked off the heels and let out a sigh of relief. His feet were killing him. He then slipped off the blouse and slacks and got into the jogging outfit and sneakers. He felt much more comfortable. He returned to the living room where he saw Rachel removing the new clothes from the bags. "Don't bother Rachel. I'll take care of that." He heard his voice crack again. "Okay." She looked at her wristwatch. "I should be going anyway. I've got papers I have to grade tonight. How about if I come over for dinner tomorrow night?" "Okay." The next night... Brian and Rachel sat across from each other at the kitchen table and ate the tuna casserole Rachel had brought over. She broke the silence. "So what did you do today?" "Well for starters I slept until 10:00. I watched some television. And I called Murray Fowler at the college and requested an indefinite leave of absence on medical grounds." "You did?" "Yeah. I can't exactly go back to Drake looking like this." "I suppose you're right." "And I also made travel arrangements." "Travel arrangements?" "Yeah. I'm going back to Indonesia. My flight departs in three days." "You're really going back there?" "I told you Rachel. I'm going to find the cure for this." "Do you really think it's possible?" He hesitated a moment. "I don't really know. But I've got to try. I can't see myself living as a... you know what I mean. "Girl Brian. Can't you even say it? It's not a disease you know." "I didn't mean it like that. It's just so... unnatural. I was born a male. To be changed like this just isn't right. It's not fair. I can't just sit still and allow this to happen to me. I've got to do something about it." "And what if you can't find a way to change back?" "I will. I have to. I refuse to be a girl Rachel. I won't!" "But I've seen you Brian. That's what you are now." "I don't care what I look like Rachel!" He realized he'd shouted and calmed himself down. "I'm a man. I'll always be a man." They returned their attention to their meals and ate for a few minutes. A thought occurred to Rachel. "You know, maybe you should see a doctor Brian. Maybe a good medical specialist can do something to help you." Brian looked annoyed. "A doctor would never believe my story Rachel. I know I wouldn't if someone told it to me. And what could a doctor do anyway? No, I've got to return to Dome Island. That's where it happened. That's the key. Maybe another bite from that God-damn snake will fix me." Rachel realized that he was referring to himself as if he were broken. But she dropped the matter. She didn't want to risk agitating him any further. They finished their meals and cleaned up. Then they settled into the living room and watched a movie on cable. It was a Pink Panther film and Brian actually laughed at a few scenes where Peter Sellers tormented Herbert Lom. Rachel left at 10:30. They resolved to share dinner again tomorrow night. Later that night... Brian rested comfortably on his back. He'd gone to bed a half-hour ago but couldn't fall asleep. He thought about his awful affliction. And the chances of finding a cure on his impending trip. He felt the weight of his breasts on his chest. He moved a bit and shivered as the blanket rubbed across his bosom. It felt quite nice. He thought, "I've got tits now." He felt himself blush. He impulsively lifted his hands and rubbed his nipples. He shuddered. It felt quite nice. And he felt an itching sensation between his legs. He snaked his right hand down his smooth torso and rubbed his new lips. It felt wonderful and he rubbed harder. Without thinking he poked his forefinger into his hole and wiggled it. He quivered in reaction. He pushed the finger deeper into himself and swirled it in a circular motion. He felt his entire body softly tremble. Brian suddenly realized what he was doing and he quickly pulled his finger out of himself. Feelings of shame and humiliation assaulted him. He suppressed a strong urge to cry. He mercifully fell asleep ten minutes later and the darkness of slumber temporarily relieved him of his anguish. Four days later... Brian finished unpacking and hung the garment bag in the closet. He'd checked into the Kalibar Hotel in Jakarta just a half-hour ago. Brian's plan was to track down Miki Soto who'd take him back to Dome Island. He figured that he'd have the best chance of finding Miki in the hotel where he'd first met him. So he returned to his original base of operations. Brian left his room and took the elevator down to the lobby. He walked to the concierge's desk and flashed a twenty dollar bill. He immediately caught the concierge's attention. "I'm trying to locate a man by the name of Miki Soto. Do you know where I can find him?" "No. I am sorry." "Could you get the word out that Brian Carson is looking for him? I'm a guest at this hotel." "That I can do Sir." Brian handed him the bill. *** The clock-radio went off and awakened Brian. He tapped its silver bar to shut it off. He rested in bed and thought of the last three days. He'd checked several telephone directories but there was no mention of a Miki Soto. And he'd made inquiries all over town without success. He'd made absolutely no headway in as