the campfire they’re building. They sit me down on the grass. They don’t tie me, but every time I try to move or get to my feet, I’m roughly pushed down again.
The cavemen give me curious glances as they set up for their feast, letting their gazes unashamedly wander down my body. It’s quite unpleasant, and a cold ball of dread grows in the pit of my stomach as the sun sets and night begins. The cavemen in the slayer army never do that, only giving me short, friendly smiles when our paths cross and otherwise ignoring me completely.
The hunters bring back turkeypigs and not-sheep, and soon the meat is being grilled over the fire on large skewers. The men sit down in a large ring, and the atmosphere is filled with excitement and tense expectation. They send me invasive glances and make jokes that are pretty innocent to an Earth girl, but are extremely lewd by Xren standards.
The chief sits down next to me and strokes my cheek with a proprietary air.
I pull away from him. “What are you going to do?”
“Wonderful things,” he says and once more reaches out to touch me.
Again a draw away. “But not so wonderful for me, right?”
“That is entirely up to you. We know women can greatly enjoy the act of mating. In your own tribe, warriors mate with women often. Some warriors, that is. Only a handful. While the rest must listen to the sounds of the mating. Womanly sounds of great enjoyment! I have heard it, myself. No, this will be wonderful for you. For the other women only have one man each to mate with them. Whereas you have all of us! Truly, you are rich!” He waves his hand to indicate all the other men in the circle, and they all laugh.
This is a planet without women, and some things I take for granted must be explained. These guys probably don’t know how things work.
“I do not want that,” I state loudly. “I will not mate with any of you. Not on your life. The women in the tribe only mate with their husbands! They are married! No man will mate with a woman who is not his wife. Nor will a woman mate with a man who is not her husband.”
I think I hear a low snort from over at the edge of the woods where Caronerax is tied up, but I’m probably mistaken.
“Trying to mate with a woman who does not want to mate with you is the worst dishonor,” I continue, trying to keep my voice steady. “If you try, you will always be an outcast. Your tribe will be hunted to the last man. You will be slaughtered like a pack of rekh.” I am maybe exaggerating, but I think that’s fair, under the circumstances.
“Perhaps,” says the chief, accepting a grilled meat skewer from another. “But I think not. First, nobody will know. Secondly, even if they knew, we are a tribe. We are not harmless. On the contrary, we are fierce and feared among the other tribes. And third, any other tribe that had a woman fall into their midst would do the same.”
I get colder. “What do you mean, nobody will know? I will tell everyone I meet about the dishonor of you and your tribe.”
“Undoubtedly, you would spread the tale of your ecstasy wide and far, so it is better for all if you don’t get away from us,” the chief says matter-of-factly. “For that reason, and because we might want to enjoy your pleasures more than only tonight.” He holds the skewer out to me, offering it.
“You will never enjoy my pleasure,” I vow, ignoring the food. “I’d rather die.”
He shrugs and bites into the grilled meat. “I think we can prevent that. We shall protect you as well, don’t worry.”
I glance over at Caronerax. I can barely see him in the dark. Only his yellow stripes shine in the light from the fire.
“Why are you doing this?” I finally ask. “Your men look healthy and strong. Their blades are shiny, their clothing whole. You must have been a good tribe recently. Why turn to dishonor?”
“These are strange times,” the chief admits. “Women on Xren! Marrying men from other tribes, mating with them. Women giving birth, as well. To girl children! The holy mountain Bune is suddenly gone. Dragons arrive in their hundreds.”
The man on the other side of me leans forward. “All the prophecies were wrong! Do the Ancestors even