Margo propelled him toward the ring； but Margo's strength prevailed。
He found himself stumbling against the edge of the ring as she gave him
a final push。 Once again he climbed the steps to the arena and
clambered between the ropes； while Margo effortlessly jumped onto the
apron and vaulted into the ring。
Dominique awaited them in the center of the ring。 There were three
lines of tape on the ring floor。 One was set up so that it stretched
between two opposite corners。 The other two were set about five feet on
either side of the first。 A rope with a rag tied around the middle crossed
the three tape lines。
〃The rules for the tug of war are simple；〃 Dominique explained。 〃You
start behind the tape nearest the corners and you each grab an end of the
rope。 You can't tie it around you； but you can wrap it around your arm if
you want to。 I'll position the flag over the middle line and when I say
'go'； you pull like hell。〃 She smiled and continued； 〃The object is to pull
the flag past the line on your side of the ring。〃
Margo nodded and busied herself in wrapping her end of the rope around
her right arm。 Larry picked the rope up in his hands and set himself。
〃By the way；〃 Dominique added； 〃if the rope slips out of your hands；
we'll start again。〃
Larry quickly wrapped the rope around his bare arm； wishing he'd worn
long sleeves。 Dominique grabbed the rope where the flag was fastened
and positioned it to her satisfaction over the center line。 〃Take up the
slack；〃 she ordered。 Margo and Larry obeyed； pulling the rope in until it
was taut。 〃Get ready；〃 Dominique called。 With a quick glance at Margo
and Larry； she released the rope and called； 〃GO！〃
Larry put his entire body into the effort； using all the strength of his
arms； back； and legs in an attempt to pull the flag across the line on his
side of the ring； but the flag didn't move a millimeter。 Sweat broke out
on his forehead and dripped into his eyes as he strained to pull Margo
across the ring。 He looked up and saw Margo just standing there； a
mocking smile on her pretty face； totally at ease； as she withstood his
best pull without strain。 Now the rough rope began to cut into his arm
and hands； burning and bruising the flesh。 He redoubled his efforts；
grunting as he tugged and pulled； but the only effect on Margo was a
broader smile。 To anyone watching only him； it might have looked as if
Larry was pulling on a rope tied to a large tree。
Margo called； 〃Are you having fun yet？〃 The crowd of women laughed
at that。 Margo turned to the bleachers and asked； 〃Has he started to
pull？〃 Once again the crowd responded with amusement。 〃Well； I
might as well finish this；〃 said Margo。
Even through her sweatshirt； Larry could see the muscles in Margo's
arms bulge as she started to pull for the first time。 Hand over hand she
hauled in the rope； with Larry desperately trying to resist her pull。 〃Just
like reeling in a little fish；〃 crowed Margo as Larry was dragged across
the ring。 Margo pulled Larry toward her with only the power in her
arms。 Those huge； sinewy legs never moved； and she never seemed to
need to put her back into the effort。 First the flag； then Larry himself；
were pulled across the tape on Margo's side of the ring。
〃Margo wins again；〃 called Dominique； sounding somewhat bored。
Larry slumped to the canvas covering the ring as Margo shook loose the
coils of rope and again raised her arms over her head in a victory pose。
Disdainfully； Margo looked down at Larry groveling at her feet。 〃That's
where you belong； you know；〃 she said as she stepped across his body to
chalk up another mark under her name。
〃The score is Margo three； Larry nothing；〃 called Dominique。 〃By the
rules； Margo wins the test of strength； but Larry still has to compete in
the last two events。〃
Margo walked over to Dominique and whispered to her。 〃Well； now；
that's mighty generous of you；〃 said Dominique。 〃Margo says if Larry
can win even one of the remaining events； he'll win the whole thing。〃
She looked at Larry； then turned back to Margo。 〃I still like your
chances； Margo；〃 she said。 The spectators erupted in laughter。 〃We'll
get the ring ready for the last two events。〃
Margo vaulted out of the ring and picked up her towel； drying a thin
sheen of perspiration from her upper lip。 Larry slowly pulled himself up
to his feet using the ropes。 Dominique's two assistants were busy
removing the tape and rope from the ring。
Dominique walked over to Larry； an amused look on her pretty face。
〃You look like you've just about had it； buddy；〃 she said。 〃There's a
water cooler just outside the door over there；〃 she continued。 〃Why
don't you get yourself a drink and relax for a minute？〃
As Larry crawled out of the ring and staggered toward the door；
Dominique followed him with her eyes。 〃You're out of your league；
skinny；〃 she muttered。
Larry drank deeply from the water cooler； then rinsed his sore arms；
trying to take the sting out of the rope burns。 He thought about running
down the stairs and out the door； but a quick glance back into the gym
showed that Margo was watching him closely。 He took a deep breath
and went back in。
〃I thought you might try to escape； Larry；〃 said Margo。 It's a good thing
for you that you didn't。 If I had to catch you and bring you back here； it
might have made me mad。〃 She leaned closer and whispered； 〃And
you'd better not quit on me； Babycakes。 If I think you're not trying； I'll
make you wish you'd never been born。〃
Margo turned away and pulled her sweatshirt over her head。 Larry was
astounded by the big woman's muscular development。 Bulging muscles
covered her back； and her arms were massive。 Her wide shoulders
tapered to her narrow waist。 As she turned to face him； he saw that her
chest was thick and powerful。 Even the breasts under her bikini top
looked firm。
〃Now do you understand？〃 asked Margo。 〃I've been holding back
whenever we competed so you'd feel that you might be able to beat me。
Now you can see what you're really up against。〃 She flexed her arms
and chest in a 〃most muscular〃 pose。 The sinews danced under her
glistening skin。 〃Eighteen inch biceps； Larry；〃 went on Margo； 〃and a
forty…six inch chest。 Thighs that are bigger than your waist。 All of it；
hard as granite。〃 Now she flexed her biceps so they bulged like
cannonballs。 〃And you really thought you had a chance？〃 Margo shook
her head in mock pity。 〃Tsk； tsk； tsk。 You were dead meat from the
minute you and I met。 Now get in the ring and take your punishment。〃
Larry clambered slowly into the ring。 He knew that Margo was deadly
serious about this contest； and he also knew that he was overmatched。
He also knew that there was no escape。 He turned slowly to face his
massive female opponent as Dominique explained the rules of the fourth
contest。
〃You get each other in a bear hug； with your right arm over the other
person's left arm。 Lock your hands together and squeeze。 To give up
you must say the words 'I quit' so I can hear them。〃 Dominique looked
at them both。 〃That is； if you've got the breath to speak。 If you can't
speak； let go of your hold。 Are you ready？〃 she asked。
Larry gulped and nodded。 〃Let's do it；〃 growled Margo。
They stood chest to chest and secured the bear hugs。 Larry had to tilt
his head back to look into Margo's eyes； which showed no pity。 He could
feel the awesome power in Margo's arms first hand now； and it
frightened him。 Larry could barely stretch his arms out far enough to
clasp his own hands behind Margo's broad back。
〃GO！〃 called Dominique。 Even though he knew it was useless； Larry
put all his strength into his arms； trying to squeeze the breath out of
Margo's body。 He tried desperately to force the big woman to concede；
but made no impression on her。 Margo deliberately increased the
pressure of her brawny arms； until she could feel Larry beginning to
have trouble breathing。 She held there； waiting； secure in the knowledge
that she could crush Larry at any time she wished。
Larry was unable to cause Margo any discomfort at all； while she had
nearly cut off his breath。 He began to gasp for air； bringing a smile to
Margo's lips。 Margo slowly lifted Larry's hundred and seventy…one
pounds off the floor until his feet were dangling helplessly。 She kept
intensifying the power of her arms； tightening the circle surrounding
Larry's torso； until he gasped in pain。
〃Aaarrgghhh！〃 Larry moaned。 He tried to say 〃I quit〃； but didn't have
the air in his lungs。 Margo's brawny arms continued the crushing
pressure on Larry's trapped body until he was sure his ribs were
breaking。 He started to black out； his brain starved for oxygen。
〃You'd better give up； Larry；〃 murmured Margo； 〃or I'll have to really
squeeze。 I'm barely using half my strength at the moment。〃 She gave
him a quick jolt of even greater force； forcing another groan from his
mouth。 〃I could hold you up here and keep squeezing forever。 If you
can't speak； let go of your hold； dummy。〃
Larry dimly remembered that his arms were still wrapped loosely around
Margo's body。 He released his grasp just as he completely lost
consciousness。
〃Margo wins！〃 called Dominique as Larry's right arm flopped limply to
his side。 His left arm was still trapped under Margo's right arm。 〃Let
him go。〃
Margo reluctantly released her prey； and Larry crumpled to the mat。 She
placed one foot on his head and flexed her biceps as Dominique announced；
〃Margo now leads four to nothing。〃 She looked down at Larry's supine form。
〃Somebody wake him up； please。〃
Margo chalked up a fourth mark under her name and looked back to where one
of Dominique's assistants was trying to revive Larry with smelling salts。
Larry sniffed the pungent aroma and shook his head； then suddenly his eyes
opened and he sat up。 The pain in his head and ribs reminded him of where
he was and he sank back down again。
〃Time now for the final contest。 So far； you haven't done too well；
Larry；〃 said Dominique while the onlookers laughed。 〃But you can win
it all if you can make Margo give up in this one last test of strength。〃
She snickered loudl