“No, no,” said Mirus, wearily.
“Put the thing with the others,” said the officer.
Mirus shrugged, and went across the camp, between the men and the beasts, and placed the pistol with the others, where they lay on a small knoll. There were five pistols there.
The tharlarion champed at the grass.
Mirus returned to his place.
“Go, go!” shouted Portus Canio to the two beasts. One was still bleeding, and it licked at serrated flesh, visible where the fur was gone. Blood seemed to rise to the surface there, like water rising through sand.
“They cannot understand you,” said the officer. His left shoulder was bloody where he had been clawed. “They are performing beasts,” he said, “dangerous, inexplicable, unpredictable beasts.”
“They can understand,” said Portus Canio.
“Perhaps the gesture,” granted the officer.
Kardok lifted a paw. “Peace,” he said.
“Did he speak?” asked the officer.
“Yes,” said Portus Canio.
“Beware,” said Fel Doron.
“No peace,” called Portus Canio. “Go!”
“Give us the she, the she-slave,” said Kardok.
It was for her, at least in part, Ellen knew, that they, the spokesman and his men, and Kardok and his beasts, had originally followed Portus Canio and the other fugitives from the Brundisium camp. Doubtless some of them, or at least those higher amongst them, had hopes, as well, of obtaining clues as to the location of purloined gold. But they would have followed, in any event, merely to obtain her, for they believed, it seemed, that she had seen or heard too much. This seemed to her pathetically ironic, for she understood little or nothing. To be sure, she had gathered that the beasts and the men were not what they seemed, and that there was some form of communication amongst them. Perhaps that was seeing, and hearing, too much. She did not know.
But all here now, even the soldiers, understood at least that much!
If only she could convince the beasts that she knew nothing! Or that what she knew was meaningless and inconsequential, or no more than what others here, and doubtless others elsewhere, too, might know! If only she could convince them that they had nothing to fear from her, she only a slave!
How naive Mirus had been!
Well he might have understood a quest for gold, for such a quest is no stranger to the interests of men, but how mistaken he had been as to the motivation of a slave’s pursuit! He had foolishly supposed that the interest taken in her by his fellows and the beasts was his own, that it was their intention merely to abet him, to assist him in obtaining her for himself, that she would wear his collar, kneel before him and serve at his feet.
How naive he had been!
It was not their intention to assist him in acquiring a particular property; it was rather their intention to destroy it. It was not their intention to assist him in acquiring a particular animal, one he might find of interest; it was rather their intention to kill it.
It had not been her beauty they sought but her blood.
But did they understand so little?
Did they think she was a free woman, of wealth and title, of placement and connections, who might threaten them, one to whom magistrates would carefully attend?
She was only a slave.
I know nothing, she thought. I have done nothing.
I am not a free woman, she thought. Have I not at least the protection of my collar?
Chain me, she thought. Market me, but do not kill me.
The beasts stood across the grass, waiting.
She moaned. Surely they would give her to the beasts, she of no account, a mere slave, thus winning their way free from this place of war.
“No!” said Selius Arconious.
She looked at him, wildly. Could he care for her? But, of course, no. It was merely his Gorean pride, that he would grant no concession to a foe, not a tarsk, not even an urt?
“May I speak, Master?” cried Ellen.
“Yes,” he said, puzzled.
Doubtless the beasts thought she understood more than she did.
“I know nothing, Masters!” she cried to the beasts. “I am a slave! I am a mere slave!”
“Go!” cried Portus Canio, again waving toward the grasslands.
Kardok looked at Ellen.
“Go!” reiterated Portus Canio.
“Yes,” said Kardok, docilely. “We will go.”
She gasped for breath, in joyous relief. Surely they had believed her!
“They will return,” said Mirus.
She shuddered.
Then she whispered to Selius Arconious. “Give me to them, Master.”
“Be silent, slut,” said Selius Arconious, severely.
“Yes, Master,” she whispered.
Kardok and his ally then began to back away, and, in a few moments, were no longer visible. They had little to fear from sleen, they more terrible individually than most common sleen. Too, if there were foes, or mysterious figures, in the grasses, Ellen did not think they would choose to deter the beasts in their passage.
“We are safe now,” said Tersius Major.
“Prepare to withdraw,” said the officer to his men. “We have been long enough in this place.”
He had but four men left of his original complement of troops. One of these was the soldier who had subjected the slave to unilateral, degrading, irresistible pleasures at the wheel, she helplessly braceleted, pleasures suitable to one of her condition, pleasures which one such as she must accept, pleasures, ecstasies, to which she must yield gratefully, unreservedly. She thought there was no one of those five who did not, somewhere on his body, bear the marks of claws or fangs.
“The tharlarion is ready, the wagon is ready,” said Fel Doron.
The officer held out his hand to Portus Canio. “Farewell, fond enemy, fond ally,” said he.
Portus Canio unhesitantly grasped his hand. “Farewell,” said he, “fond enemy, fond ally.”
“You may not have the slave,” said Selius Arconious.
“Master!” breathed Ellen.
“She is pretty, but a bit young,” said the officer. “Here,” he said, reaching into his pouch, “are the keys to her bracelets.”
Slave bracelets, of course, are useful in the control and management of women, whether free or slave.
Selius Arconious caught the keys. “Thank you,” he said. “But wait a moment. I shall return them momentarily, when I have freed her small wrists from those trivial impediments. We have, of course, our own bracelets.”
“Keep them,” said the officer. “You may find use for an extra pair. You might meet another woman worth taking.”
“True,” said Selius Arconious. “Thank you.”
“It is nothing,” said the officer.
“Please, no, Master!” protested Ellen.
“I will do as I please,” he said.
“Yes, Master,” she whispered, head down, defeated.
“If you have friends out there,” said the officer to Portus Canio, “I assume they will let us pass.”
“Now,” smiled Portus Canio.
“I will be curious to see them,” said the officer.
“I do not think you will see them,” said Portus Canio.
“Prepare to trek,” said the officer to his men.
“Take me with you,” said Tersius Major.
“Put aside the forbidden weapon,” said the officer.
“No!” cried Tersius Major.
“You are welcome to come with us,” said Portus Canio.
“No, no!” said Tersius Major.
“Then remain here,” said the officer, turning about.
The report of the weapon was sharp, and close. And the officer, struck through the back, a sudden stain upon his tunic, fell forward, stumbling, and collapsed to the grass.
Portus Canio hastened to the officer.
The officer tried to rise, but fell to the side, twisted, and fell again, then upon his back. There was blood, too, on his chest. The projectile, at this range, had torn through the body.