Centrestage is a solid iron frame with a central post flanked by two converging bars. Members of the audience lash me to this with rope, many yards of which lock my legs and body to the unyielding metal.

One of the volunteers is clearly a sadist. She urges the others to pull my bindings ever tighter. When a move is made to tie my wrists in front of me she declares that she has a better idea, roughly pulling my arms back and securing them to the side bars above and behind my head. I wince in pain as this is done but when the others look concerned I tell them to continue, after all I had previously stated that I could be bound in any way possible. The knots are secured high above me and out of my reach. The sadist produces here final trick, a ball gag.

I twist my head to anxously stare at the knots .....

A screen is place in front of me, a minute later I am free. A heap of rope is tangled at the base of the frame. I step forward to accept the applause of the audience and toss the ball-gag down to the sadist who stares at me amazed.

The sadistic volunteer is, of course, one of my assistants. She has directed the course of my binding, which for the most part is carried out with ruthless efficiency. Her most important job is to ensure the placement of my wrists.

Once the screen is in place I set to work. The side bars taper slighty near the top. This allows me to force my arms straight, so I can reach the knots at the top of the frame. This is the slowest part of the release, I have to force myself not to try and hurry. I untie one of my hands, now one of my arms is completely free. I unbuckle the ball gag, twist it open so that the concealed scalpel blade is visible. With all possible speed I slash through my remaining restraints, conceal the razor and give the signal for the screen to be removed.

The cuts in the tangled mass of rope lying next to the frame are not visible and the ball-gag prop is returned to my assistant for safe keeping.

Stella H.