the queen of paradise island, a tiny uncharted isle somewhere in the atlantic ocean (northwest of freetown, sierra leone), is not happy. the town crier of the all-female hive-like colony (around two thousand strong) has just reported that there have only been two births within the last eighteen months and both of them were boys. as the queen points out to jani, her minister of propaganda: the only thing worse than boys is men. she demands more marriages, even going as far to think about passing conscription into law. however, jani points out that the drones (which is how the inhabitants of this island refer to men) in captivity are not willing to marry any of the beautiful island women, because as soon as the two-month honeymoon is over the bridegrooms are executed.