It was nearing evening and the women led Mindy to the entrance but before they stepped outside they stopped. The women fastened two leather straps around her ankles, two around her wrists and two on her upper arms just below her shoulders. Each strap had a loop.

"Gawd, are they gonna string me up again?" Mindy thought as she was led out into the gathering darkness.

A huge bonfire was blazing in the middle of the village. Mindy was led to where all the other natives were gathered. She could see that the men and the women all had oiled, glowing skin.

Mindy was not surprised to see that the...