Glimpses of the Island

First Night

Cathy watched Anna head back through the trees from the rear kitchen window. A new home, new friends, and a new life; it would take some time to adjust to all of it. She picked up a bag from her pile of luggage and took it into the bedroom. For now she would unpack just the bare essentials. She opened the garment bag and hung some outfits in the closet. No serious wrinkles so she could wear one to dinner.

She thought about Mark somewhere out in the vast countryside of central Africa. She knew it wasn't jungle or rain forest where he was staying. Farmland, small villages, and low mountains dotted with some of the richest mines in the world. That was how he had described it. It was also a country with rampant civil wars breaking out every few years. She couldn't help but worry about him, even after all his assurances.

There was a clock radio on the nightstand. Glancing at the time, she decided a quick shower and a short nap would fit in her schedule. The trip by sea had been long enough for her to gradually get used to the time change, so she wasn't tired from jet lag. She headed into the small bathroom off the master bedroom. As Anna had warned her, it was very middle class suburban. No golden fixtures or roman style bathtubs, all she found was a plain shower. She took off her clothes and climbed in.

The hot water felt good. Whoever had furnished the house had been kind enough to leave a new bar of some nice smelling soap for her. Mark had told her the water was actually from the Indian Ocean. Given the surplus of electricity, the Island had several desalinization plants to convert sea water and store it in reservoirs and cisterns, so the Island's natural water supplies weren't depleted. There were no water restrictions to prevent her from enjoying a long, luxurious shower.

Afterward she lay down on the bed to get some rest and think about the day. She ran through the radio stations; some in were other languages but she was relieved to find a number in English. Settling on an easy listening format she stretched out on the bed. Be careful what you wish for, was her first reaction to what she had seen so far. Everything could come true just as Mark had promised, but was it the best choice for the two of them? She would have to pay careful attention to everything she saw in the next few weeks.

Could she sign away her life to Mark? In her mind she had already done so, but up to now she knew if it all went horribly wrong she had the option to walk away. Could she give up that last little bit of control, even if it was only for a year? How well did she really trust him? Would her dream fantasy turn into a nightmare reality?

She stopped. This always happened when he left her alone too long. If Mark were here she wouldn't be having all those doubts and questions. Until they were together again her job was to learn, not to talk herself into a bout of depression fueled by insecurity. Cathy checked the clock. It was late enough to start getting ready for dinner. She was beginning to feel hungry too. The food on the ship wasn't that bad, but the crew had all been from Asia and many of the dishes had been unfamiliar to her. It would be nice to eat a normal meal, something without curry or coconut milk in it. Roast beef and mashed potatoes would be nice , she thought , but they are probably foreign and exotic here .

She got up and went to the closet. What to wear? She should have asked Anna where they were going. Cathy settled on a skirt and blouse combination that might be out of place at a burger stand or a fancy gourmet room but would be appropriate for a casual night out with friends. She got dressed and headed out the back door.

It was still light out, which confused her for a moment before she remembered. Southern hemisphere, it was springtime here and the days were getting longer instead of shorter. Just as Anna had said, their back door was open. Cathy knocked on the open door and called out.

Anna appeared almost immediately. "Hi, come on in. I'll tell John you're here as soon as he gets off the phone." Cathy was relieved to see Anna had changed into a casual dress. No evening gown, so they wouldn't be going anywhere formal.

"Hi Anna, I forgot to ask where we will be going for dinner. Is this okay?" Cathy gestured to her own outfit.

"Sure, I think he was going to take us to an American style steak house. He mentioned you were probably tired of African and Asian cooking. How does a T-bone and baked potato sound?"

"I'm ready to sell my soul for one." They both laughed.

John must have heard them talking because he walked into the kitchen where the two women were standing. "Hi Cathy, ready to get some real food? I promise, not a hint of squid or banana leaf, and you will recognize everything on the menu. By the way, the office just got another satellite link message from Mark. He's in the field inspecting the route for the power transmission lines. He should reach the capital in two days and from there will catch a flight to the Seychelle Islands, where he can meet the next ship heading to the Island. You should expect him within no more than a week from now if the weather holds. He asked me to tell you he would call as soon as he gets to Victoria, that's the main city in the Seychelles. He might get through from Kinshasa before his flight out but the phones aren't too reliable in the Congo."

"Thank you, sir. I worry when he has to go to places like that, but I know it's his job. And I would love to have some real food." Cathy knew her husband was an idealist at heart, that he took the assignment in Africa because he saw it as bringing the modern world to some of the most deprived people. The only problem was not everyone agreed with him, and some of those people had guns. Still, he didn't go into the really dangerous areas. He had promised her he would never go to any country with active rebels or guerilla units. Going to the Congo was skirting that promise but at the moment the countryside was quiet.

"Okay, if everyone is ready?" Both Cathy and Anna nodded. "Then let's go eat." They all headed out the door and got into the car. As before, John opened the rear door for Cathy first followed by Anna's door. He started the car and drove back toward the center of town, following the same route from earlier in the day. The sun was setting as he pulled into the parking lot in front of the restaurant.

This would be Cathy's first real opportunity to see how Anna and her master acted in public, in a normal social setting. It was obvious from the way Anna waited for John to open doors that he was controlling her, but Cathy wanted to see the other subtle differences that came with living on the Island. Aside from the collar around her neck, Anna would not stand out in public anywhere else in the world. Why did they come here , she wondered, what was so different about this place? Perhaps tonight there would be something that told her it really was worth the trip.

They went into the restaurant. The first surprise, the hostess also had a collar around her neck, though from what Cathy could see none of the other female employees had one. John had called ahead for reservations so they didn't have to wait for a table. The hostess seated them immediately, but Cathy caught the nod from John before the hostess returned to the front door. Had he actually dismissed her, or had she simply waited to see if everything was in order? Yet one more question to ask.

A waiter brought the menus. He handed one to Cathy, and the other two to John. He asked if they would like any drinks before dinner but pointedly did not look at Anna. John ordered a beer for himself and iced tea for Anna, then turned to Cathy. She thought for a moment then added an iced tea for herself. Out of the corner of her eye she watched as John opened a menu, glanced at it, and handed it to Anna. Cathy was sure something unusual had just happened. She decided to ask, "John? Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Sure, Cathy, what is it?" He looked up from the menu.

"Just now, the waiter didn't hand Anna a menu, or ask if she wanted a drink. Why is that?"

Anna looked to John, to see if he would answer. He turned toward her and said, "Anna, why don't you explain."

"Yes sir. Cathy, this collar signifies I belong to my master. If I am permitted to look at a menu then he will hand one to me. Same for selecting a drink or food, the waiter rightly expects my master to order for me. He was not ignoring me; he was respecting the collar I wear and my master's rights over me. If John had given me permission to order, from that point on the waiter would ask me, but the key difference here is he assumes John will act on my behalf. In fact, if I had spoken up and told the waiter I wanted iced tea, without waiting for John, he would have disregarded me until John gave some indication he approved. Far from ignoring me, the waiter was being polite.

"There is another principle at work here you should know about as well. Under Islamic law and tradition a proper woman minimizes her interactions with a strange man, speaking to him as little as possible and in neutral tone of voice. I know, sounds archaic, but it still applies here. Since John is with me the waiter would naturally start with him. You noticed he asked John for the drink order first, then you? That was because John did not speak up and order for you, a cue that the waiter could talk to you directly.

"Fortunately, not everything comes from Middle Eastern traditions. The dress code isn't mandatory, so I don't have to wear one of those coverall burqa type dresses. Unless he orders it, then I wouldn't have a choice."

Anna's explanation made sense to Cathy. This was the information she had been looking for, the ways people would look at and treat her differently with a collar in place. But there was one piece missing, so she asked Anna. "What if John weren't here, just the two of us, what would the waiter have done?"

"Well, first thing he would want is an explanation of why I was out after hours without my master. I'd be in considerable trouble. The restaurant staff would detain me until the police arrived. Anyone with a collar has a curfew, 6pm to 6am, no travel except in the company of one's owner or a mahram . That's an Arabic word that refers to a male member of the immediate family or household that can act in place of one's husband. The definition here on the Island is a liberal one. A mahram can be a trusted friend as well.

"Now if this were lunch it would be different. Assuming I had permission to meet you then the waiter would have asked you for your order first, and then turned to me. He would not assume you would order for me, since it's obvious you are not my master or a mahram ."

Cathy thought about it for a moment. Something didn't sound quite right. "Wait a minute, how would he know you don't have a mistress instead of a master?"

John laughed and Anna smiled, "Cathy, remember where you are now. For one thing, it isn't possible simply because it is outlawed here. Islamic law is very clear when it comes to any relationship like that. For another reason, this island exists to provide a shelter for a group of people with definite ideas on how they want to live. There are dominant males, submissive females, and that's it. We are all here because we believe that's how we should live. Anyone who disagrees is asked to leave. Is it prejudice, discrimination, a sign of intolerance? I suppose so, but that's why we choose to live apart."

Anna continued. "Now it's true I can't leave here, at least not of my own accord, but no one forced me to come. When I signed away my freedom I knew exactly what I was doing. I love it here and have no desire to go back to the outside world, but if for some reason I couldn't take it anymore, I trust John to do what's best for me, either to keep me here or allow me to leave. I'm sure there are a small number of unwilling inhabitants, but they all knew in advance what would happen and what this island was like. I am here because I want what this island represents. If the laws seem unjust to someone else, well that's too bad. I want those laws in place to preserve the kind of life I want."

John held up a hand to stop her. "Anna is very passionate about protecting our little corner of paradise. The truth is we are exclusionary. We do not invite in people who would disapprove of our society or have trouble fitting in. If a mistake is made we have procedures to correct the error. We are not fanatics. As Anna said, she cannot leave, but if I saw she was miserable here I would take her back to the outside world. I'm sure most of the other men here would do the same. For the few who won't, that's why we have time limits."

John was interrupted by the waiter returning with the drinks. He asked if they were ready to order. John looked to Cathy and asked what she would like.

"I'd like the T-bone steak, well done, with baked potato and ranch dressing on the salad," Cathy told the waiter.

Nodding toward Anna, John ordered for her. "She'll have the Ribeye steak, medium well done, sweet potatoes, and Italian dressing on her salad. I'll have the Delmonico, medium rare, with fries and the soup. Add a side order of mushrooms in butter too." The waiter took down the orders and left.

"I can anticipate your next question, Cathy. That's Anna's preferred meal when we come here. Since she didn't pick up the menu or say anything I knew what she wanted. There's no rule on doing that, it's just something between us. By the way, the beef comes from cattle ranches in Kenya. The taste is a little different so be prepared."

The dinner conversation continued on with other subjects. Cathy told them about southern California and Los Angeles. She was surprised to learn John and Anna were Canadian, from a rural town in Alberta. The Island was a very cosmopolitan place, with residents from all over the world. After the waiter delivered their plates and cleared the salad bowls, John explained about how the influence of Muslim law came to be.

"The island had no sovereignty, no guarantee of independence. The people living here at that time knew something had to be done. Some felt South Africa should be approached, but then the UN embargo was voted in and that became impossible. This place survives by trading on the expertise of its people. The embargo would have led to economic disaster. India wasn't considered because the politics there are chaotic, nor did the Island want to become embroiled in a possible war with either Pakistan or China. Then someone suggested the Persian Gulf states, Saudi Arabia or Oman. The Omani sultan wasn't interested because we were not predominately Arabic, but to the surprise of almost everyone the Saudi king indicated he would consider annexing the Island.

"There were conditions of course. The primary duty of the Saudi king is to protect Islam and the two holy shrines, the cities of Mecca and Medina. He didn't demand conversion of everyone to Islam, but he did insist that the laws follow Sharia , a code of conduct derived from the Koran. A mosque had to be built, and for believers the laws had to essentially match Saudi Arabia. Non-believers are tolerated since there are no holy shrines here, but the secular requirements of Sharia had to be merged with Western law. Quite a bit of negotiation went on, but eventually an agreement was reached and we became a self-governing autonomous province of the Saudi kingdom.

"There are some exemptions from the less tolerant Saudi laws. Alcohol is allowed but not public intoxication; pork is available but can't be sold on the street in an open market; women are allowed to work alongside men and drive a car; and the requirement to attend prayers was set aside. The hijab , a head cover, was made optional for those women not of the Muslim faith. Laws of inheritance though must follow Sharia if you are a permanent resident."

"How has it worked out for you and Anna?" Cathy asked. "What were the biggest changes you had to make?" She could live without a can of beer and a bag of pork rinds but was a little anxious about the rest.

"The major change is in how responsibility is assigned." John continued, "I now have a legal mandate to take care of Anna. There are minimum standards I have to meet; I think Anna has told you about them too. We don't have to attend a mosque for prayers, but it is expected that we donate to charity commensurate with our financial status. We can't accept interest from loans, but we can collect dividends on ventures that share risk, which means we had to change some of our retirement investments from bonds and mortgages to common stock. That's both of us; even though Anna wears a collar she is entitled by law to her own assets and property. This may also surprise you…she is allowed to take a reasonable amount from my assets if I fail to provide for her, but I cannot make use of her finances without her agreement. Anna, tell her how your responsibilities changed too."

Anna looked up from her plate on hearing her name. She picked up the conversation while her master ate his dinner. "I have real security here. No worrying about making a living on my own or anything like that. I have a guarantee he won't abandon me. I know he will always be there for me, no matter what. I don't have to make the hard choices. You know what I mean, the times it seems you will hurt someone no matter what you do. I have the priceless luxury of letting my master decide for me.

"I always know what I'm supposed to do, every day. I don't have to guess or anticipate. I can tell John anything without fear of making him angry or disappointing him. He tells me exactly what he wants, and if I'm not sure he explains to me how to accomplish it. The biggest worry in my life is what to fix for dinner, providing he doesn't decide that too.

"But, I no longer control my own destiny. Except for a few conditions we agreed on, and those were written down in the contract, he has virtually unlimited control over my life. And here comes the real differentiation between the Island and the outside world. He has a legal right to demand my obedience. My consent ends with my signature on a piece of paper. From that point on I can't tell him no. He gets the last word if we disagree, whether I like it or not.

"Now you might think it doesn't make a difference. After all, you want to serve him anyway. That's why you are together. But after a few days, when the excitement dies down, you get up one morning, look in the mirror at the collar around your neck, and realize you can't take it off. For better or worse, as the vows go," Anna smiled, "you serve and obey your husband and master. You can't give up and walk away if it becomes too much. You are committed to making your relationship work, to bring the fantasy into reality.

"I can promise you there will come a time when you feel like he can't understand you at all, that he's deliberately being mean, arrogant, stubborn, and unreasonable. You will be boiling mad, so angry with him you can't even talk. However he decides to handle your outburst, you have to accept it, even if it means he makes you stand in the corner for hours." Anna pointedly looked over at John, who stopped eating long enough to laugh. "Through all that I knew no matter how furious I was with him, still I could not disobey. Part of it is the submissive side in me, but in a way it was easier to accept because this collar was a constant reminder that there was no loophole, no escape clause. It wasn't just the two of us; in effect I had made a public promise to everyone on this island. If I broke that promise I would have to answer not only to my master but also to the community as a whole. So I stood in the corner as he ordered, silently fuming. Eventually I calmed down, but I had to stand there staring at the wall until he ended my punishment. He made me sit down and explain why I was so upset. We both made some changes, and it solved that particular problem."

Cathy took a bite of her steak and thought about what Anna had just told her. Could she give Mark the same kind of unconditional obedience? And would he be patient with her? As Anna had described, it would not be her choice to stay or leave. Did she really trust Mark that much? She had never disobeyed in the past, and could not imagine a situation where she would want to leave him. Still, he would have an unprecedented amount of power over her, more than he had ever experienced before. Would he change for the worse because of it? For that matter, how would it change her?

One question she had been avoiding, but now had to ask. "Anna, what would have happened if you had walked out the door? If you really couldn't take it anymore and just had to leave."

John sat back in his chair, one hand holding his beer glass, watching Anna as she answered. "Well, it's not something we like to talk about here. If I had tried to leave the house, I imagine John would have stopped me. If I somehow got away and ran off, then it would be serious. It doesn't happen very often, but running away is actually a crime, the equivalent of a felony. I don't know where I would have gone; no one would help in a situation like that. Sooner or later I would be caught by the police, or turned in by friends." Anna turned to look at her master. "What would happen after that I don't know. There is some sort of hearing where John would have to appear before a judge. Then I would be punished.

"There was a case like that about a year ago. The woman ran away from her master and hid in the forest in the interior of the Island for several days. Eventually she was apprehended by the police when she tried to sneak into town. After the hearing she was sent to a disciplinary center. I don't know for how long, or what happens in there. For all practical purposes it's a prison, on a small island by itself. I don't know anyone who has been there."

That shocked Cathy. Prison, Police, Court? She hadn't realized it went so far. The words legally enforceable didn't seem that significant when Mark had first told her about the Island. She had some half-formed idea those who broke the agreement would be asked to leave. Now she understood how it was enforced. She finished her meal with small talk, lost in thought about what Anna had told her.

After dinner as they were heading back to the car, Cathy started to ask Anna if they could get together again tomorrow, then she stopped before speaking. Who should she ask? Better to start with John first. In the car she turned to him and asked, "Sir? Anna mentioned she would be assisting me to prepare in accepting a collar, and to help me settle in here. I'd like to go over some matters tomorrow with her, should I ask you first, or what?"

John nodded in approval, "You catch on quick, Cathy. Arrange schedules with Anna. Feel free to call her at any time. If there is a conflict she will let you know. Anna has permission to help you out any way she can, including frank answers to your questions. I'm sure there are subjects you would feel more comfortable discussing without me around. Anna? Why don't you two have lunch tomorrow? Then run by the grocery store. I'm sure Cathy has to stock up in the kitchen."

Anna looked over at Cathy, who nodded in agreement. "Yes sir, we need a few things too. Cathy, come on over when you are ready tomorrow, anytime after 9am."

A few minutes later they were back at John and Anna's house. John invited her to stay and visit but Cathy declined. She was tired and still had much to do getting the house ready for Mark. She headed straight home through the trees between their yards to her back door.

A quick look in the kitchen confirmed she needed to go shopping. There were a few basics, some bread and coffee for breakfast but not much else. First task in the morning would be a grocery list. And she would have a list of questions for Anna. Cathy headed for the bedroom and some sleep. Her first day had come with some surprises, but she still felt Mark had made a good choice in bringing her to the Island. Seeing the interaction between John and Anna made her yearn for the same for Mark and herself. Sprawled across the empty bed she imagined the weight of a collar around her own throat.

Mark would put it there. He'd have the only key, so she could never take it off. It was a real, tangible symbol of the excitement of actually being owned, his hold on her so strong she could never resist him. She had to ask Anna about the legal issues though. She trusted Mark with her life, but she wanted a better understanding of what she would be giving up to him. It sounded scary the way Anna had described it. She had a fleeting vision of the police carrying her off because she didn't want to wash the dishes, but it couldn't really be that bad. Anna didn't seem to worry about it, and that made Cathy rest easier.