December 5, 2026   Somewhere in Europe

Naive American tourists Judy Tillman and her husband Boyce didn't listen when friends told them recently not to travel in countries controlled by non Libertarian regimes. The secret police have just brought them to headquarters for interrogation about "archaeological artifact removal".

The commandant sees Judy and instantly decides to keep her for himself. Break her heart first, of course, then her spirit. He has the couple separated and Judy is shown to a small waiting room.

Boyce is taken to another part of the building. His head is cut off, and using the latest technology, the skull is quickly purged of all ancillary tissue including the brain. Unavoidably the skull retains a slight pinkish look like any fresh supermarket butcher bon, but is otherwise display-case-ready.

The skull is quickly carried to the commandant, who with boyish delight, secures it on a nice walnut base. He carefully positions the skull facing front on his desk. He presses a buzzer and Judy is instructed to enter the office. As she sits down she glances at the skull, especially noticing the teeth.

The commandant begins to make the usual phony accusations about artifact removal and to ask Judy all the usual phony questions. She looks at the skull again. The teeth look so familiar! More questions. More glances at the skull. Then the commandant says,

"Mrs. Tillman, you seem quite taken with my desk ornament. Any particular reason?"

She answers nervously "No, I ..."

"No matter" he replies. "Mrs. Tillman did you happen to see that interesting television movie recently about the army of ants. In one scene the ants actually stripped a fallen elk to the bone in just a matter of minutes?"

Judy now looks harder at the skull.

"Now there you go trying to stare down my desk ornament again" guffaws the commandant, unable to contain his mirth any longer. Now he leans forward, chuckling a bit, lifting one eyebrow sardonically, and asks Judy with a very sly smirk "Look like anyone yooou know?".

"Oh God, no! Where's Boyce? Where's my husband?" Judy screams.

The commandant now presses a different buzzer. Two big uniformed thugs enter. "Good morning gentlemen. This is Mrs. Tillman. Please take her to the training room, prepare her the usual way, and place my riding crop, baton, and jar of petroleum jelly on the side table."