"Ar bleeds," said Marcus.
"Yes," I had said.
"Where are we going?" asked Marcus, following me.
"I want to see what is going on at the walls," I said.
"The same thing," said he, "as was going on last time."
"I wish to see what progress is being made," I said.
"You merely wish to observe the flute girls," he said.
"That, too," I admitted.
In a few Ehn we were on the Avenue of Turia, one of the major avenues in Ar. It is lined with Tur trees.
"What a beautiful street!" exclaimed Phoebe. The vista, when one comes unexpectedly on it, particularly after the minor side streets, is impressive. Marcus turned about, sharply, and regarded her. She stopped.
"Are you in a collar?" he asked.
"Yes, Master!" she said.
"Are you a slave?" he asked.
"Yes, Master!" she said.
"Do you think," he asked, "that just because I did not slay you on the day of the victory of Cos, that I am weak?"
"No, Master!" she said.
"Or that you may do as you please?"
"No, Master!"
"I decided then to think of you as merely what you are, a slave girl."
"Of course, Master," she said.
"Do you think that any of the fellows of Cos about would free you because you were once of Cos?" he asked.
"No, Master," she said, "for I am now no longer of Cos. I am now no more than an animal, no more than a slave."
"Perhaps then," he said, "you will consider such matters before you next speak without permission."
"Yes, Master," she said.
We then continued on our way.
Marcus, enamored even as he was with every glance and movement, every word and wisp of hair, of his slave, was determined, I was pleased to note, to keep her under perfect discipline. To be sure, he had not beaten her. On the other hand, she had had her warning, and might, the next time, be taught the penalties for such an infringement, in a sense, a daring to exceed her station. Sometimes a girl will court the whip, and even provoke her master. After her whipping, reassured of the strength of her master, and that she will be kept in her place, where she belongs, and wishes to be, she curls gratefully, lovingly, at his feet, eager to serve in all way, his to command. To be sure, I think that Phoebe's outburst was genuinely inadvertent. I was now sure what I would have done in Marcus' place. Perhaps the same thing. Perhaps, on the other hand, I would have cuffed her. I do not know. There are, of course, inadvertences and inadvertences. Usually a girl can tell when she has an implicit permission to speak, that is, for example, when the master would not be likely to object to it, or would even welcome it, and when it would be wise to ask for such permission explicitly. When she is in doubt it would be wise to ask. I myself, incidentally, am occasionally inclined to encourage a certain inventiveness and spontaneity on the part of slaves. On the other hand the girl must always be clearly aware that she is subject, at any time. she is, after all, a slave.
"Did you notice the haircut of that young fellow we just passed?" I asked. "Yes," he said. "It is done in the style of Myron, the polemarkos."
"Yes," I said.
"Here are public boards," said Marcus.
Such are found at various points in Ar, such as the vicinity of squares and plazas, near markets, and on major streets and avenues.
"Is there anything new?" I inquired. I would prefer for Marcus to make out the lettering. He read Gorean fluently.
"Not really," said Marcus. "The usual things, quotations from various officials, testimonials of fidelity to both Cos and Ar, declarations of chagrin and shame by various men of not concerning the crimes of Ar under Gnieus Lelius."
"I see," I said. It was now some two months since the entry of Myron into the city and the subsequent triumph of Lurius of Jad, celebrated a day later in his name by Myron, the polemarkos, in which triumph he, Myron, acting as proxy for Lurius of Jad, was joined by Seremides and Talena, and several weeks after the ascension of Talena to the throne of Ar, as Ubara. Her coronation may have been somewhat less spectacular then Myron's entry into the city and Lurius' subsequent triumph, which may have grated upon her somewhat, but I think it had been impressive enough. The crown of Tur leaves was placed upon her head by Myron, but on behalf of the people and councils of Ar. Seremides and most members of the High Council were in attendance. Certain other members of the High Council were asserted to be indisposed. Some rumors had it that they were under house arrest. A medallion of Ar was also placed about Talena's neck but the traditional medallion, which had been worn by Marlenus, and which he had seldom permitted out of his keeping, and which he may have had with him upon his departure from the city long ago, had not been found. Too, the ring of the Ubar, which in any event would have been too large for the finger of Talena, was not found. But that ring, it was said, had not been in Ar for years. Indeed, it had been rumored in Ar, even before the disappearance of Marlenus, that it had once been lost in the northern forests, upon a hunting expedition. After the medallion, Talena had been given the Home Stone of Ar, that she might hold it in her left hand, and a scepter, a rod of office, signifying power, that she might hold in her right. Her coronation was followed by a declaration of five holidays. The triumph of Lurius of Jad, as I recall, had been followed by ten such days. The chief advisors of the new ubara were Myron of Cos, and Seremides, once of Tyros.
"Here is something," said Marcus, "though I do not gather its import."
"What?" I asked.
"There is a charge to the citizens and councils of Ar to consider how they might make amends for their complicity in the crimes of their city."
"Reparations?" I asked.
"I do not know," said Marcus.
"I would have thought that Ar had already made considerable amend," I said. I recalled the convoys of wagons which had passed by the insula of Torbon on the street of Demetrios.
"Be careful what you say," said a man near me.
"We are guilty," said a man.
"Yes," said another.
"It is only right," said another, "that we should attempt to make amends to our good friends of Cos and others whom we may have injured."