The Chain - The Event

Jack and Jill were holding hands nervously in the almost dark ante-room, as they waited to be called into the main audetorium at the most famous modern art museum in New York. They were also completely naked.

But it wasn't the ordinary nakedness that most people experience a couple of times or more a day, it was a special nakedness that few ever achieve.

Jack mused on how a blacksmith from rural Suffolk in the East of England was standing in such a predicament with an outstanding ballet dancer and choreographer from Texas. Albeit one with whom he'd shared his life, work and success for nearly eight years.

Their bodies were fit as they had partly devised a supreme artistic challenge that needed everything to be more than perfect. All their muscles showed the hard work and preparation that they had put in over the last few months in the gym. His shoulders were broad and powerful as befitted a man of hard physical work and his waist was trim, flat and firm. Jill was feminine and fit with a narrow waist, a smooth and unmarked body and breasts that could easily be described as beautiful, perfect or immaculate.

Their tans were without blemish. His was darker than hers, but like Jill's it was complete with no pale patches, where a swimsuit, a bikini or even a watch had obscured the sun from their bodies.

They also glistened in what light was available in the room, as they had spent the last quarter of an hour annointing and giving themselves a last pleasure with an aromatic massage oil.

The only differences other than their sex, was that Jill wore spectacular makeup and he only had gold rings in his nipples. On the other hand she was adorned in her ears as well.

But the most striking feature was that neither of them possessed a single hair on legs, arms or body. His head was shaven too and it contrasted to the long blonde hair that cascaded down Jill's back almost to her waist.

***

'...As you know Jack and Jill are the world's foremost performance artists and have enchanted us with their sculptures, installations, paintings, dances and events. Who can forget Jack's wonderful sculptures, that encase and entrap people so beautifully. Or Jill's wonderful dancing, whilst she paints and gets entangled in Jack's work. I think you'll all agree that they are truly special.' They could hear the voice through the closed double doors that led to the audetorium. 'This time, they will set a whole new level for performance art!' Their agent, Steve, who was acting as announcer, paused for applause. 'But before we meet them, I must first introduce the person who will control and orchestrate this wonderful evening of truly revolutionary art.' Steve was at his flowery best! 'Everything Jack and Jill will do, will be under this person's absolute control.'

There was more appreciation, clapping and some whistles and after it died down, they could just hear the sound of a greeting through the door.

'This is Rosein, who won the competition to be the Controller. She and the other entrants helped us to raise nearly half a million dollars for cancer research. Well done to everyone who entered or just gave a donation!' More applause, indicated the approval of the audience. He had his arm around Rosein. 'Are you nervous, Rosein?'

'A bit!' They heard a firm female voice that didn't seem at all nervous. They both felt they knew and recognised the deep Irish tones.

'Well! You don't look it!' Steve clapped her and the audience agreed. 'You do look stunning though! Tell us about yourself!'

'I'm Rosein.' She laughed. 'But you all know that!' She changed tone to the sincere tones of actresses receiving awards. 'I'm forty five! And Irish!' The audience laughed appreciatively and cheered her origins. 'Married with four children!' The audience gasped. She returned to the confident voice. ' We live on Long Island. And I run my own art business, discovering modern artists, organising shows and putting works into public spaces, buildings and companies.'

'So why did you bid to be the Controller?'

She was now switching between tones for effect. 'I can't paint! I can't draw! I can't sculpt! I can't even cook! Not even potatoes!' More laughter. 'So I guessed that this was the only way I'd get to do any art. By being what I'm good at. That is organising! And being bossy!' A long burst of applause broke out.

'So without any more ado, let's get this show on the road. Rosein go and fetch the artists!' Steve reached out and gave Rosein two black velvet cloths. 'You'll need these!' She examined them and immediately guessed their purpose. 'Let's have a big welcome for Jack and Jill!' He led the clapping and backed to the side of the stage.

***

As the doors drew back, the artists didn't know what to expect. All they had been told was to stand facing the door about a metre from each other, with their hands at their sides and their feet slightly apart. They knew that there would be an audience, but they didn't know how many tickets had been sold. They weren't even that sure where they were, as they had been blindfolded for the journey from their loft in the meat packing district of Manhattan.

At least the noise that greeted them was a good sign.

They were still apprehensive, but they had trusted Steve to look after their interests. It was just that although they'd laid down the basic principles of what was going to happen, they knew that circumstances, promoters, gallery owners and other vested interests would take the performance in any one of a number of directions. If they were right about Rosein, they knew they could trust her too. So far everything had gone well as the event had generated enormous interest and they'd already done several substantial and thought-provoking interviews with important television and radio stations, newspapers and magazines. Hopefully, it would all work out well, both artistically and financially. Jack quietly asked Jill if she was OK. She nodded, reached over and tightly gripped his hand for a few seconds.

Framed by the lights behind her in the open door, they recognised Rosein. They were pretty sure it was her, but they had never seen her dressed like this before. She was dressed like a dominatrix in a tight black leather corset, that laced up the back, made her waist impossibly small and raised her breasts to create an enormous cleavage. Stockings not tights, high-cut knickers, long gloves, mask and polished, very high heels all in black completely the ensemble. The recognition was confirmed, as the mask she wore couldn't hide all of that amazing long red hair that was famous throughout the New York art world.

'Rosein?' Jack asked quietly to check his deduction.

Rosein said nothing, but put a finger to her lips to ensure silence. Jack smiled back and he could see from the corner of his eye that Jill was smiling too. But to him, she appeared to be much more nervous than he was. A gloved hand from Rosein indicated they should take this seriously.

They were completely surprised by what happened next, as the wall between the ante-room and the audetorium outside started to rise. They realised they were now at the end of a large exhibition space on a slightly raised stage and they could see about a hundred people standing around watching and clapping the performance. All the audience were in full evening dress. Only Rosein and themselves wore anything less!

As the partition rose, the lights dimmed and they were then caught in two bright spot-lights. They both blinked and stood there motionless.

Rosein walked towards them and indicated that they should turn away. Only when Rosein reached up and tied the velvet cloths around their heads, did they have any idea about what was going to happen. As each was blindfolded Rosein turned them back towards the audience and when she was finished she led them carefully towards the middle of the stage.

***

'As you know, we are here to experience the start of a major new performance by Jack and Jill called Denial.' Steve was now standing at the side of the room under another spotlight, as the two artists were led forward. 'It will explore the minds and bodies of two amazing people, as they cope with the various problems that life throws at many of us. Imprisonment, blindness, unhappiness, domestic abuse, deafness, violence, discrimination and all those other things we wish to avoid. All of the taboos will be explored. Judging by this audience, you, like me, are the privileged and thus, if their performance can raise our awareness, then that will be to the good of all mankind.' He paused and turned towards the artists. 'Can I have another round of applause for Jack and Jill?'

The applause this time was tumultuous, but Jack and Jill were unmoved as they stood there like two naked soldiers at ease. A slight draught was blowing from the right across the stage and Jill's hair was waving in the breeze and reflecting the lights that illuminated their bodies.

Steve raised his hand and the applause turned to silence. 'Thank you!' He contined after a pause. 'So that they can explore the sense of blindness or the denial of sight, the artists will now be led through the room. As part of this first experiment, you may touch the artists, but please not where it's naughty or rude!' The audience giggled expectantly. 'In this first experiment, you mustn't talk to them or give them any idea as to what you think of their bodies. They are nothing less than living sculptures or paintings for your enjoyment.'

Hesitantly, they were both led through the audience, guided by the glare of the spotlights. The audience behaved well, but they couldn't resist touching. Backs, buttocks, legs and stomachs were stroked, shoulders were kissed, and many could not resist his shaven head and the taste and feel of her long hair. After perhaps twenty minutes, they were led side-by-side back to the stage.

'Is there a lady here with a shaven head or someone, who has lost all her hair at some time?' Everybody including the artists, were surprised at Rosein's announcement. What had this got to do with their performance? They knew some of what was going to happen, but they didn't think that this was in the script. But then they felt that the script was now only a set of milestones on the road.

The audience was silent at the question, except for the distinctive percussive sound of a pair of stiletto heels on the wood floor walking towards the stage. They started to clap again, as the spotlight caught a lady in perhaps her early fifties, in an extravagant blue and silver gown, with a high halter at the front and virtually nothing at the back, walked purposely onto the stage, waving to everyone.

As she got to the stage, she drammatically took the blonde wig she was wearing and threw it to the floor to reveal a very short grey haircut, that would not have looked out of place on a soldier. The audience gasped. She smiled at Rosein, who put the microphone to her mouth. 'How's that for you? I've just finished chemotherapy for breast cancer.' The audience started to applaud. 'I hate this look, so perhaps this will help me get over it.' The audience was now cheering. 'What can I do? The name is Rebecca!'

The two women hugged and Rosein could see there was a tear in the lady's eye and could feel a trembling in her body. 'Rebecca! Have you ever done any hairdressing?'

'Why?' Rebecca thought she knew what was going to happen and smiled impishly.

'Because if this lady is to be denied her senses and attributes.' Rosein pointed at the blindfolded Jill. 'She should be denied of her ability to appeal to men. And one of the main things that appeals is her lovely hair. It has not been seriously cut for twenty years.' She walked behind and picked up and stroked Jill's long blonde locks. The artist didn't move as although she or her partner hadn't been told, Jill had always felt that in the performance, she would be made completely naked too. She steeled herself for what she knew was inevitably going to happen.

***

The blindfold was now removed and she blinked as she saw the audience fully in the light for the first time. Jill thought about smiling but didn't. Defiance definitely wasn't what was needed, although she thought sad about losing her hair that had been her pride and joy. But she also realised the publicity and commercial aspects of that loss. A stool padded in velvet was brought forward from behind a screen towards the side of the stage and Jill was ordered to kneel, bow her head and put her hands behind her back, as if she was about to be beheaded. Rosein quickly stooped behind her and tied her hands with the discarded blindfold.

Two pairs of scissors were produced and then Rosein and Rebecca set about their task. Large hanks of hair were carefully cut off and collected by one of the assistants. In a few minutes, the artist had no hair longer than a centimetre of so and all the blonde tresses, that had taken so long to grow, had been removed from the stage to behind the screen. The audience who had been so much in the swing of the event, were now much more subdued, as they watched her fate. A few members had left the room in disgust.

Rosein then collected a pair of battery operated clippers and handed them to Rebecca. She quickly reduced what was left of the hair to a millimetric stubble. The artist now smiled for the first time and when Rosein beckoned she stood up. Rosein then untied her hands and immediately they went to explore her scalp, that was now almost naked for the first time in her life. Jill smiled broadly as she stroked.

Rosein made an expansive gesture and spoke. 'Would you like to take a walk through the audience?'

She complied and this time nearly everyone felt and stroked her near-naked scalp. By the end of the walk, she was offering it to be kissed and men and women alike were kissing and hugging her. Many gripped her hands, embraced her and showed their support in other ways.

By the time she had returned to the stage, Rosein had produced a top of the range electric razor, which was noted for its multiple heads, a very close shave and a built-in moisturiser. Had the manufacturers expected that it would ever be used in such a scenario? A minute or so later and Rebecca had made the artists's scalp completely clean of hair.

What happened next was not planned, in anybody's version of the script or even expected by anyone in the room!

After Jill came back from another walk through the audience, Rebecca presented her with the clippers and razor. She then knelt in the same way on the stool with her hands behind her, smiled at the audience and then bowed her head. Within a minute, the artist had shaved Rebecca's scalp equally naked. Rebecca stood and the two women kissed and embraced extravagantly before taking a joint promenade arm-in-arm through the audience.

***

'It is now time to move to the next phase of Denial.' Steve had now retaken control. 'Have you ever thought what it would be like to be denied sexual contact with the one you love.' The audience gasped. 'How would it feel for a man to be denied any erection, sex or the slightest relief? Or for a woman to not be able to even see herself? Let alone play? These two famous artists love each other deeply and completely and until the Controller allows it, they will not be allowed any sexual or intimate contact between their bodies. Or even by themselves! They will effectively be sexual eunuchs. Rebecca! Rosein! Bring on the steel.'

At this point Rosein and Rebecca disappeared and then emerged from behind the screen under separate spot lights. Each was carrying a steel contraption high above their heads, which they paraded in front of the audience. Some rushed forward to inspect the steel belts, that many correctly surmised would ensure the absolute chastity of the artists.

Rebecca had the belt for Jill. It was effectively a plastic-lined steel waist-band, with several strong rings for attachments, with a lock at the front. A double shield with perforations at the front protected the wearer's sex from entry and any stimulation however small. This was connected by a plastic coated steel bar, that ran between the buttocks to the back of the waistband, where it appeared to be securely riveted. So even access to the rear was denied. The belt intrigued, excited and sometimes horrified everybody who felt and touched it. For most it was their first experience of a chastity belt, that to them was just something from history or fantasy. It was not something that they would choose to wear for a long time. If at all!

When Rebecca returned to the artists, she held it in front of Jill who knelt and gave it a dramatic kiss. Rebecca then handed it to the artist and she held it high like a boxing champion's belt. Without any further ceremony, Jill stepped into the steel before securing it around her waist. The lock clicked shut without a key and now she was denied everything, until a key was produced, placed in the lock and turned. She again promenaded arm-in-arm with Rebecca. Many in the audience were laughing and some were horrified, but all wanted to feel the steel around its prisoner.

Jack's turn was next and this time after removing the blindfold, Rosein made sure that Jack was fully secured.

***

'Well! Jack and Jill.' Steve was asking the questions. 'How do you feel now?' He grabbed the front of Jack's belt. 'How does it feel to be locked so you can't do anything with Jill?' He smirked.

'Before I answer, I must thank everyone for coming.' Jack spoke and Jill nodded approval. 'It's good that on a night as cold as this, you all turn out to wish us well and give money to charity.' The audience clapped themselves and Jack waited for the noise to subside. 'As to how it feels.' He looked first at Steve and then at the audience. 'It's frustrating. Of course it is! But it just makes you look on life from a whole different point of view. Just think too! When my body is in a personal prison like this, it is very mild compared to somebody being locked up in a cage at Guantanamo, without trial and no hope of release, just because they happen to have a different political view to your President and the neo-cons.' There were a couple of hostile shouts from the audience. But Jack continued. 'It's just my penis that's under lock and key. I still have my freedom, the joy of female company, good food and wine, many creature comforts and if I really want out, I just get a pair of bolt cutters.'

'But they are terrorists! Evil murderers!' A man in the audience shouted his point again.

'I'm not going to debate that now!' Jack paused and raised a finger to the heckler. 'But if they are murderers, then why haven't they been charged? Some of my grandmother's brothers died in Nazi concentration camps, so don't lecture me on liberty, pain and suffering. Just because they were Jewish! All violence is evil. That's one of the points we're trying to make.'

Steve was about to step in, but the man withdrew shaking his head.

'I believe that we're all going to have drinks now.' Jack continued. 'But before that I have a present for Jill.' He retired behind the screem and brought forward what looked like a steel bra. 'It is what you think it is.' He held it up for all to see. 'I made it to match Jill's belt, so she can be decent where it is necessary.'

Jill turned towards him and he placed the halter neck bra around her body and clicked it shut in the front. 'Thanks!' She kissed him and then felt how the bra fitted her body. 'I like it! It feels good and so safe!' They held a long embrace.

***

'How do you feel?' The question was asked of Jill, by Rebecca's husband, David, as six or seven of them drank champagne together, whilst waiting for the performance to resume.

'I'm fine and comfortable. And I did mean what I said. So safe! Really I am!' She turned around in almost a dance to show him her steel bra and knickers. 'It's not the first time I've been in an outfit like this. But my longest before was only six weeks.'

'Six weeks!' Rebecca broke in. 'You must have been going mental.'

'No! After a week or so, you just accept it. You have been through something much worse over the last few months.' She reached out and hugged Rebecca. 'You were in pain, and the drugs were attacking your cancer and your body as well. To go through that is courage. I'm just doing this for art, the fame and the money!'

'Are you as cynical as that?' Another lady in the group asked the question.

'Possibly!' Jill waved her hands dismissively. 'I don't know. As Jack said, we do want to make people think about oppression, torture and all the other evils of the world. And if we make a little bit for ourselves, so be it!'

'You've certainly got a good crowd here tonight.' Rebecca spoke. 'I'm told that there wasn't a ticket to be had. And you certainly made me think about my future. I've got rid of that silly wig and my bald head will tell everybody that I'm fighting back. Thank you, Jill!'

David put his arm round his wife. 'I'll always love you, hair or not!' He kissed her and almost lovingly stroked her bald head, before turning back to the group. 'Rebecca won't like me saying this, but over the last few weeks, she never been so open about wanting sex. She feels wretched and what does she want? Sex! Perhaps, sex is one of the things that drives us to survive!'

'Perhaps, what will keep me going, is that wonderful sex, when I get this all off!' Everybody laughed.

***

'Jack!' A dark lady in a red sequinned dress, obviously worn over a very tight corset and slit right up the thigh, embraced him. 'I've just spoken to Jill. She looks wonderful! And so composed at what she is going to face!'

'Elaine!' He hugged her tight and then stood back. 'You look wonderful in that dress! You are the best when it comes to designing something really formal and sensational! I take it, it's one of yours!'

'Thank you, dear. Yes, it is!' She looked around the room. 'I think I've dressed quite a few tonight.'

'I thought that!' Jack looked deliberately at her waist. 'I get the impression, that the corset is rather tight underneath.'

'One must suffer for beauty!' She giggled. 'At my age I'd prefer to use the skills of a corsetiere, than the knife of a surgeon. It seems I'm never out of a corset these days. They can be very addictive!'

'Is that any different to me in this belt?' Jack smiled.

'It's a lot different.' She laughed out loud. 'Sex is wonderful for a lady, when she's wearing a corset. Can you have sex in that? Also as you get older, a corset holds all those bits ruined by childbirth together and makes sex even better!'

Jack kissed her whilst she stroked his belt. 'I must move on, otherwise everyone will be jealous!'

'By the way, Jack!' She held his arm to stop him leaving. 'Seeing Jill here, I have a wonderful idea for a dress to wear with that belt. It would be Grecian-like in white diaphanous silk, but slit up one side so that the belt was visible. It would be very virginal.'

'That sounds great. Make one for Jill's birthday in a couple of weeks.'

'Of course!' Elaine waved him away! 'Jill has such wonderful breasts, that the dress will have to be topless to do them justice!'

***

'I hope everyone is refreshed?' Steve was back on stage with the artists and Rosein. Rebecca was there too and she really seemed to be enjoyed herself. 'We must move on to the next phase of this performance. Is there an engineer in the house? We need a critical examination to be performed.' The spotlight searched the audience and several hands had been raised. It stopped on a lady. 'Would the lady in black in the light like to come forward?' She was surprised and pointed at herself, before walking towards the stage.

He handed her the microphone. 'Do I introduce myself?'

'If you would like!' He looked at all the others as if they would give guidance.

'I'm Lizzie and I work for the Subway.' She expected an answer but as she didn't get one, she continued. 'I don't know what sort of engineer you need, but I'm a Mechanical one! Will that do!'

'Excellent!' He beckoned to one of the assistants to fetch what looked like a small old-fashioned cabin trunk, which was wheeled out on a trolley. 'We'd like you to check the contents!' He drammatically opened the trunk with a key. 'Get what's inside out and show everything to the audience.'

She bent over into the trunk. 'It looked like we've got all the bits for a chain gang in here!' She stood up and pulled a length of chain out of the trunk. 'This is very strong.' Lizzie pulled it for effect. She turned to Jack. 'And light too! Is it titanium?' Jack nodded. 'Wow! That's cool! It's so beautifully made.'

'What else have you got, Lizzie?' Rosein was smiling as she looked over Lizzie's shoulder into the trunk.

'I guess these are wrist or ankle cuffs!' She held up a pair of cuffs, each hinged in the middle. 'I think, they are titanium too!' She put one down and looked on the inside of the other cuff. 'It say's Jack left wrist.' Jack walked forward and she fitted the cuff around his wrist. 'It doesn't seem to fit too well?' Jack smiled. 'How does it close fully?' She tried to push it shut.

'I think we all need some muscle! Do we have any strong men here today?' Steve was appealing to the audience. 'Or strong women for that matter! We're not proud!' He then retrieved something that looked like a massive clamp with large handles and a screw to close it shut from behind the screen. 'You can also use this!' As he spoke, two very large men were approaching the stage to massive amounts of cheering. They were greated by Rosein, Rebecca and Steve, who introduced them to the audience. 'Judging by the noise, most of you know these guys, I believe. Welcome to two of the toughest heavyweight boxers of all time! You'll find this a piece of cake.'

The clamp was attached around the cuff and one boxer held it tight, whilst the other turned the screw. There was a loud click as the cuff was forced shut. Jack held it up to the audience, so that they could all see the ring forged into the cuff.

One by one, Lizzie produced more cuffs and they were attached to the ankles and wrists of the two artists.

Rosein now took the microphone. 'Would the audience like to check the security of the cuffs?' She smirked. 'But before we do that, I think we need a little bit of restriction.'

***

'Jack! Can I have a word?' The man tapped Jack on the shoulder and he turned. 'Chuck! We met in Washington a few years ago.'

'Of course!' Jack remembered the meeting. 'You were a Senator then. You bought one of my best mobiles! Or at least I thought it was. But it was odd!'

'Not odd! Great! Unusual!' He looked to shake hands but couldn't as Jack's hands were chained behind his back and linked by a short chain to another between his ankles. Four large brass padlocks ensured security. 'You're a bit tied up at the moment!' He laughed. 'I'm still a Senator. Not all my colleagues would approve of what you do!'

'I thought they would!' Jack laughed. 'With all this titanium, I certainly have to be chaste. No gratuitous sex! No birth control! No abortions! Isn't this just what they want. A nation taking a vow of chastity! Just think what the millions of sales would do for manufacturing industry!'

'They'd make them in China!' The Senator laughed loudly. 'I don't think it will work! In fact I know it won't, whether you used steel or the mind.' He took hold of the woman at his side and gently guided her in front of Jack. 'Have you met my wife, Helen!' She extended a hand towards Jack.

'No!' Jack had only met the Senator in Washington and hadn't realised that his wife was blind. 'Pleased to meet you! I can't shake hands, but you can give me a big hug! I can understand that your husband wouldn't want to be seen doing that with a subversive artist! Few votes in that sort of behaviour!'

She laughed! 'I feel a bit out of all your visual art!' She pulled Jack in close and explored Jack's body with her hands. 'Do you mind, Jack?' The hands moved down to his belt. 'Oh! Are you sure you don't mind?' Her hands wandered further and up to his face, checking all of his features. 'Thank You! I now know what you feel like and to me that is what you look like!'

'Keep exploring, if you want to!' Jack kissed her forehead and continued to plant gentle kisses all over her face. 'Do you mind? Or does Chuck?'

'It's my way of saying thank you for all the pleasure that your sculpture has brought me in so many ways.' She kissed him full on the mouth, with her hands placed on his waist. She pulled him in close and then kissed him again before withdrawing. 'My hands touch the sculpture every day. It's almost as I use it to get my mind into gear. There are so many textures, angles and all that movement and sound. It's funny but we have it in our garden, and it seems to guide me around with all the gentle noises it makes.' She hugged and kissed him again. 'Thank you!'

***

'Jill! How can you do this?' She turned and saw Marla, one of New York's foremost columnists, who was noted for her outspoken and very feminist views. She hugged Jill, but Jill couldn't reciprocate due to her chains. 'I don't know how I'm going to report this?'

'Truthfully! I hope.'

'We've got plenty of photographs, but I'm not sure we can use any of them!' She beckoned her photographer over. 'You're decent now, so can we do some for tomorrow's paper?'

'Yes! We're trying to push barriers, so make them as explicit as you want.' She thrust her breasts forward and smiled for the camera. 'How about a nice head, shoulders and chastity bra shot?' The camera flashed several times. 'She turned and stuck her bottom out as best the chains allowed. 'Or a nice trim backside!' She paused. 'Encased in steel!' More flashes.

'That's good!' She turned Jill back round. 'Can we have some full frontal shots and then some of us together?' The camera flashed repeatedly and then the photographer retreated.

'I bet there'll be more pictures of me than Jack in the media!'

Marla was now examining one of the wrist cuffs. 'Are these comfortable? Don't they rub?' She turned her attention to the belt. 'Surely those knickers and that bra make you sore!'

'Of course they don't! Jack made them to fit perfectly!' She tried to point at Marla's wrist. 'You have that enormous bracelet on tonight. Does that hurt?'

'I suppose not, but I don't like the idea of you...' She paused. 'And especially you a dancer to be restrained and pinioned! It's cruel.'

Jill noted the spectacularly-high heels that Marla was wearing. 'I bet I can get to the other side of the room in my chains, quicker than you can in those heels.'

***

'Many of you have asked all sorts of questions of our brave artists.' Steve started when Jack, Jill, Rosein and Rebecca were back on the stage. 'So I think it only fair, that everyone can ask a few questions.' He looked around the audience and picked out a man with a raised hand. 'Yes! Sir!'

'This may seem a rather technical question, but is there any particular reason to use titanium? Isn't that a bit of a waste of a very expensive metal?'

'That's not what I expected.' Everyone laughed. 'Has anyone had a hip transplant?' Several hands were raised and a few affirmatives were heard. 'Then you most likely have a large piece of titanium in your body. It's non-toxic, easy-to-fabricate, stronger than steel, very light. And it looks good. I could have used stainless steel as I did in the belts and bra, but I think you'll agree that titanium is better for the chains and cuffs.'

'Is it recycled?' The original questioner added a supplementary question.

'Yes! I try and use recycled materials if I can.' Jack replied. 'Some of the titanium was from some worn-out Concorde bits and unneeded spares.' He paused. 'Next question!'

'I know this is personal?' A lady was asked the question. 'How do you go to the toilet?'

Jill stepped forward. 'With difficulty!' Everyone laughed. 'Remember we have a lot of experience of this form of denial, so we cope well.' She would have put her hand to her mouth if she could have. 'Don't mention it, but we have one of those fiendish French inventions in the bathroom.'

'I always wondered what a bidet was for!' The voice sounded Australian. 'I always thought it was for keeping beer cold. Now I know the real purpose!' Everyone laughed and applauded.

'How long do you intend to keep yourself in denial?' Another question from a man in the audience.

'That's up to Rosein! She's the Controller!' Jack answered and Rosein bobbed her head knowingly. 'I'm sure she has some fiendishly difficult tasks for us to perform. She'll let us out when she's ready. Is that right, Rosein?'

'Yes! Absolutely. Jack and Jill have both done six weeks before without trouble.' Rosein had taken the microphone. 'So that very short time would be easy. But as this is not meant to be a cakewalk, six months would be a good start.' The audience gasped. 'But as you know, this event is about charity as well. So if you keep donating through that web site, perhaps you'll force them to stay in denial longer. Perhaps, if there's a minimum amount raised in a month, they stay in denial.'

***

'We're almost ready for the first test! If test isn't too strong a word.' Rosein was still talking and brought Jack and Jill to the front of the stage. 'However before that, I want to make sure that Jill is properly dressed.' She glanced towards Rebecca. 'Can you get the shoes, please?'

Rebecca brought a pair of very high heeled sandals with straps back onto the stage. 'I like these!' Rebecca was showing them to the audience, as she paced up and down the front of the stage. 'These locks would stop you taking them off for relief. Good!' She called out to her husband. 'David! Can I have a pair?' David waved back and gave a thumbs-up, whilst the audience enjoyed the exchange.

A couple of minutes later and with help from the stool and Rebecca, Rosein had got Jill into the shoes. They were then locked securely by means of two small brass padlocks.

'As Jack and Jill will be working and living normally, we must first change the chains.' Rosein started to unlock Jill, whilst Rebecca took a set of keys to Jack's chains. 'I would also suggest you have a last kiss and cuddle for some time!'

They looked puzzled as they embraced, as they both thought that their plan of returning home that night had been hijacked. The audience cheered and asked for more. They decided instinctively they had better put on a good show.

Rosein had now produced a chain about five metres long and four padlocks. 'One of the rules of Denial is that they will be chained together for as long as the performance lasts. Where should they be attached?' The audience shouted lots of answers but nothing was definite. 'I think that I'll put Jack's wrists at one end of the chain and Jill's at the other! Hands behind the back please!' Jack and Jill complied and Rosein secured the chain, with their respective hands together at the ends.

'I get the impression, that you're thinking, that I'm not keeping to your script.' Jack and Jill nodded together to Rosein. 'You're right!' They could all hear the buzz in the audience. 'You thought that you'd be going home to a nice warm appartment. First we're going to blindfold you and then put a hood on you so you can't see and hear very well!' Obediently, the artists both dipped their heads as Rosein applied the blindfolds before two padded orange hoods were placed over them. The hoods were then strapped tight and secured with a padlock around the neck.

Carefully, Rosein brought Jack back towards the trunk that had held all of the restraints. She made him step inside, kneel and then bend over so that he was a very snug fit within the trunk. The chain was then positioned in a notch at the side, so that the lid could be shut and securely locked. Another slightly smaller trunk was then brought on and Jill was fitted and locked inside.

***

'Now that Jack and Jill are safely out of the way, I think we should see what they will get up to next. After all we want to test them to the ultimate!' The wall to the left of the stage now started to fold back and the audience crowded to see what was behind. There appeared to be what looked to be two identical living spaces in the middle of the white-walled exhibition space. They were separated by a solid brick wall about four metres high.

'Some of you will recognise this piece by Jack!' Rosein was talking. 'You may remember that two years ago, Jack and Jill lived together, but apart, within it in London, to show the futility of many relationships. It's called Marriage.' She walked through into the other space.

'As you can see we've modified it slightly from its original state, in that the wall can be split to allow the chain to be passed through.' She was now standing in the middle of the piece. 'Take another drink, sample the buffet and have a really good look. Then you'll know what Jack and Jill will go through.

'Rosein!' Rebecca emerged from the bathroom at the back of one living space. 'They've got everything they need in there, but why is this one so much dirtier than the other. The toilet needs a good clean.'

'This side is Jack's!' She smiled. 'We've made it very man-friendly.'

'I can't say I like the shower.' Rebecca continued. 'It's glass on the outside and anybody can see the person who's having a shower. It's not very private!'

'Think! They'll always be decent in the shower!'

Rebecca laughed. 'I hadn't thought of that! What they're wearing is both very rude and decent at the same time!'

'When they did the original, they wore jeans and t-shirts, so the showers and bathrooms were fully closed in for privacy.' Rosein had seen the London event. 'But it's more or less the same. Large wide flat TV in here for the man, kitchen in the other one for the little lady, twin exercise machines and bathrooms and a double bed sawn down the middle at the wall'.

'I like it!' Rebecca drank to it as well! 'Not that I recognise David and myself. But it strikes a chord! It's been very well thought out!'

'It'll be interesting to see how they manage with the chain between them.' Rosein giggled. 'If one is in the bathroom or on the exercise machine, then the other will have to be on the bed.'