Anna Huang first. Then the darkness, the dimness of light, the swaying bodies rocking to the deep, throbbing beat like supplicants worshipping before the altar of Baal. Within seconds, she was swarmed like a queen bee spraying pheromone into the air. Two men, three men, four, suddenly surrounded her, their faces handsome, sharp, one androgynously pretty, another dark as burnished teak, the two others a lighter brown like bleached driftwood washed ashore. Hands touched her, reached for her. Anna had wanted a man, had come here looking for one, but, sweet Jesus, this was ridiculous. They pushed her, pressed her back out the door she’d just entered. Or maybe she’d backed out. The deafening music muffled with the closing of the door, and her voice rang out in the silence. “No! Don’t touch me.” Anna heard now what they were saying. Money. Amounts varying from 50,000 rupiah, five U.S. dollars, to 250,000 rupiah, twenty-five dollars, spewing forth like a bidding war from their eager mouths.
