“You deserted us, in the prairie,” said Fel Doron.
“No,” said Portus Canio. “They doubtless understood the meaning of the tarns in the sky, the scent of sleen. They then, under the cover of darkness, given the priorities of war, made their rendezvous, and saw to the care of the purloined gold.”
Selius Arconious cast aside the great head of Kardok.
“I love you, Master!” cried the slave, from her knees.
“Who were those outside the camp, our unseen allies?” asked Fel Doron.
“They,” said Portus Canio. “But there were but two, and thus they found it judicious, and most convenient, to do their work from without.”
“We owe you our lives,” said Portus Canio, “on more than one occasion.”
Bosk shrugged.
“It was you who brought the tabuk to the camp?” said Fel Doron.
“Yes,” said Bosk of Port Kar.
“You have drifted with us, have you not?” asked Portus Canio.
“Yes,” he said.
“Why did you not announce yourselves, after the departure of the Cosians?” asked Fel Doron.
“There were five beasts,” he said. “We located the bodies of only three. We conjectured then that two remained at large. As they had seemingly pursued you, we supposed they might not easily abandon that venture. Thus we stayed with you, unseen, that we might, if they should attack, act unexpectedly in your behalf, act with the element of surprise in our favor. But it seems you needed little assistance.”
“You saved my life,” said Mirus to Selius Arconious.
“Are we not then even?” asked Selius Arconious.
“Perfectly,” smiled Mirus, and the two men grasped hands, warmly.
“The beasts, and their allies,” said Portus Canio, addressing himself to Bosk of Port Kar and Marcus of Ar’s Station, “followed us, at least in part, it seems, to obtain and destroy this slave.”
“That was not my intent,” said Mirus.
“No,” smiled Fel Doron. “But it seems you were ready to carry her off.”
“I found her, as you have doubtless conjectured,” said Mirus, “a piece of goods of some interest, an attractive item of livestock.”
Ellen looked at him, suddenly. Impressed, thrilled, she on her knees. How Gorean he seemed now to be! He understood her now not as a person to be abducted, but as a slave, an item to be purchased or stolen, and mastered. At last he seemed to understand the meaning of the collar on her neck, truly. She felt slave fire within her, heat at his virility. She had no doubt that when he had a woman, perhaps a purchased barbarian, she recalled he had a score to settle with the women of Earth, he would now master her — fully. My love is Selius Arconious, she said to herself, but surely one could do worse than belong to one such as Mirus, he who once owned me. Fortunate will be the woman who finds herself in his chains! I rejoice in her happiness, whoever she may prove to be, she who will one day wear his collar!
“There was interest, as well, it seems,” said Fel Doron, “in Cosian gold.”
“I did not understand that,” said Mirus.
“Apparently not,” said Fel Doron.
“I am not clear as to the nature of their interest in the slave,” said Portus Canio. “Clearly it was not the sort of interest one would expect men to have in a well-curved slave.”
Bosk of Port Kar looked upon the kneeling Ellen.
Beneath his gaze, Ellen trembled.
Could he ever have been of Earth, Ellen asked herself.
We are both of Earth, she thought. Thus, should this not win me some concern, some understanding, some sympathy, some tenderness, some softening of his regard? Yet see how he looks upon me! I am seen merely as female and slave!
Momentarily Ellen was angry.
How complacently he regards me!
It does not matter to him that I am here, a woman of his former world, now with a collar on my neck! Indeed, I can see in his eyes that he regards it with indifference.
Then she dared to look up at him, again, briefly, furtively, and then, frightened, looked away, and down, fearing to look again into his eyes, those of a free man.
But she was angry again.
For she had seen the smile on his lips. It was as though he had read her concern, and had been amused.
How dare he look upon a woman once of Earth that way, she thought. Would he on Earth so look upon them? But presumably not, as they would be free, or most of them, save a few perhaps in secret enclaves.
She had seen the smile, that of a master.
He sees the collar on my neck as appropriate, she thought. Can he just look upon me and see that I belong in a collar?
How could he know that?
Clearly he has no intention of lifting me from my knees, and freeing me! He does not even look upon me with pity. He does not even express sympathy, or hasten to comfort and console me.
I saw his eyes!
He wants me in a collar! He likes it! If I were not collared, he might put me in one himself, if only to sell me or give me away! He looks at me! He understands me! He understands that I belong in a collar!
And doubtless he has seen many women of Earth in Gorean collars. We are nothing special. We are only more slaves.
Doubtless we belong in our collars!
Doubtless he likes us in our collars.
Would not any male?
Goreans, interestingly, believe the mistake was that we had not been made slaves on Earth. Our collaring, in their view, should have taken place on our native world.
Many Goreans also misunderstand the vaccination marks on many of us, taking them for a discreet slave mark, far inferior of course, in precision and beauty, to the various slave marks of Gor, usually burned into the thigh under the left hip.
She thought of Gorean free women.
Such hateful creatures!
He would pay heed to one of them, she thought. One does not ignore such! She would not be looked upon as he looks upon me! Would he not give her his undivided attention? Would he not treat her with the utmost civility and regard! Would he not esteem her and be solicitous for her, and see to it, as he could, that her many wants and concerns, however absurd or annoying, were attended to with alacrity and courtesy? But I, who was once a woman of his own world, how does he look upon me? How does he see me? I am at his feet, and find myself in his eyes looked upon as no more than what I now am, as no more than a slave!
But your lofty free women, she thought, would be no more than I, were they embonded!
I am half naked, kneeling, and collared, she thought.
Would you not like us all this way, or, at least, the pretty ones?
How many men of Earth, she wondered, see women so, see them as what they should be, see them as what they are?
He is now Gorean, she thought. But I, too, am now Gorean. He is Gorean as Master. I am Gorean as slave.
I am content.
“May I speak, Masters?” asked the slave.
“Yes,” said Selius Arconious.
“Perhaps they thought I had heard them speak, in the great camp, outside Brundisium, and was thus inadvertently privy to some plan, some plot, or secret,” said Ellen, “but I heard nothing, truly. It was all a terrible mistake. I am ignorant. I know nothing!”
Bosk of Port Kar turned his attention to Mirus. “You were allies of the beasts, you, and the other, there?”
“Once,” said Mirus, “but no more, enemies now, surely.”
“I think then it will not be necessary to kill you,” said Bosk of Port Kar.
“I am pleased to hear that,” said Mirus.
“I vouch for them,” said Portus Canio.
“I, too,” averred Selius Arconious.