"I did not understand," she said. "It had not occurred to me that you would have removed it from your pouch without telling me." I shrugged. "In that," she said, "Not tkaing me into your confidence, you treated me as a slave, did you not, Jason?"
"I may have saved your life," I said. "Slave girls have value — as articles of property." "I see, " she said angrily. "Besides," I said, "obviously you were willing to reveal the location of the topaz with alarcity,as I had feared.
It is important that it not reach Policrates. If it does, the major forces of the pirates of the eastern Vosk would achieve unification, at least for a time, with those of the western Vosk.This is to be prevented, if at all possible. If you did not know the location of the topaz it seemed obvious to me that you could not reveal its location, unless by some chance inadvertance. Doubtless the fewer that know of its ocation the better.
"Do you think I am a slave, Jason?" she asked.
"I assumed that any who might search for the topaz would be likely to regard you in such terms. You are the type of woman, sexually stimulating and curvacious, desirable, whom Gorean men, rightly or wrongly, look upon in terms of the parameters of bondage, in terms of such things as their potential for yielding incredible gratification and service. Too, do not forget that your left thigh bears a certain lovely brand, that of many Gorean kajirae.
"Do you think I am a slave, Jason?" she asked. "Why do you ask?" I asked. "You have not untied me," she said. "You have let me bound as a slave. I did not speak.
"I lie before you, bound as a slave," she said. "Use me if you wish," I am tired, helplessly, I cannot resist you. Take me as a slave if you wish!" I did not speak.
"Untie me," she begged. "No," I said. "Why not?" she asked. "You look well tied as a slave," I told her. "Perhaps that is because I am a slave," she said. "Perhaps," I said. "You are punishing me aren't you?" she said. "Yes," I said. "And as a slave," she said. "Yes," I said. "You do regard me as a slave," she said. "You are a woman of Earth," I said. "How can you be a slave?" "I am a woman of Earth," she said, "How can I not be a slave?" I rose from the couch and went to the door.
"Where is the topaz, Jason?" she inquired. "I choose not to inform you of its location," I said. "Excellent," she said. "You keep your slaves in ignorance."
"Do not confuse yourself with a slave, Miss Henderson." I said. "If you were my slave, you would be in no doubt about the fact." "I wonder," she said.
I considered her throat. I did not think it would look bad in a close-fitting steel collar, properly inscribed, identifying her as mine. Then I forced such thoughts from my mind. She was Miss Beverly Henderson of Earth.
"May I inquire as to the duration of my punishment?" she asked. "An Ahn or two, I expect," I said. "I will have Lola restore the house to order. When she is finished you will be freed and sent to your room. You many emerge in the morning."
"And little Lola will come in here to lick your feet," she said bitterly. "She wil do what she is commanded," I said. "I may have her do that. I may not. It will depend totally upon my will."
"What manner of man are you?" she asked horrified. "One who does not mind having a beautiful woman naked, collraed, a slave at his totaly mercy, licking his feet." I said. "How pathetic to be a slave!" she cried.
"Rejoice in your freedom," I told her. I then opened the door and preapred to exit."Jason," she said. "Yes," I said. "I yielded to my rapist," she said. "As a slave?" I asked. "Yes," she said."Am I not then a slave?" Perhaps," I said. "I will never yield to you," she said. "You canot make me yield to you."
I smiled to myself, for was she not female? Then I put such thoughts from my mind.She was Miss Beverly Henderson of Earth.
I exited and closed the door, quietly, "I hate you!" she cried out from within.
16. Lola Has Not Greeted Me as I Return Home I Hurry to the Wharves
"Lola!" I called. "Lola!"
The days work had been long on the docks. I was looking forward to receivng the attentions of the lovely little slut."Lola!" I called.
Where was she? By now she should hve run to me and knelt before me, happily, waiting to be commanded. "Lola!" I called. "Lola!" I began to grown slightly irritated. Was the girl lax? Perhaps it would be necessary to put her under some unpleasant discipline.
"She is not here," said Miss Henderson, lightly.
"You have sent her shopping?" I asked."No," she said. "Where is she?" I asked. "You know I like her at my feet when I come home."
"She is not here," said Miss Henderson, somewhat evasively I thought.
"Where is she?" I asked. "She was a poor slave," said Miss Henderson. "She was lazy. Her work was not adequate."Where is she?" I asked. "I grew displeased with her," said Miss Henderson.
"Where is she," I asked."I sold her." said Miss Henderson.
I looked at her disbelievingly."Her work was not satisfactory," she said. "I ordered her to submit to binding, as a slave must. I then with a switch, conducted her to the whaves where I sold her."
"To what merchant?" I asked angrily. "I did not inquire his name," she said. "The market was on what wharf?" I asked. "I received two copper tarsks for her," she said. "The market was on what wharf?" I asked.
"I will give you the two copper tarsks if you wish," she said. "The market was on what wharf?" I asked.
"I did not pay any attention," she said. "Doubtless, by now, she has been sold off anyway, Jason! Take your hands off me!"
I held her rudely by the arms, almost lifting her from the floor. "She was not yours to sell!" I said.
"I wil give you the two copper tarsks if you wish," she said. "We can buy another work slave, if you wish,a better worker, one mutually agreeable to us."
"Lola was a splendid worker," I said. "I did not care for her," said Miss Henderson. "Jason!"
I had flung her halfway across the room in fury. "Beware!" she said. "I am free!" You had no right to sell her," I said."I am free!" she said. "I do what I please!"
I glared at her in fury. Then I turned about. "Where are you going?" she asked. "To the wharves," I said. "She will have been sold by now!" she cried. "You will never find her."
"When did you take her to the market?" I asked. "Early this morning," she said, "as soon as you had left." "You planned well," I said. "You will never find her!" she cried.I left the house in fury slamming the door. "You will never find her!" she cried from within. I began to run toward the wharves.
17. I Ponder the Contentment of a Slave
"You take me with some bitterness, Master," she said. "has Peggy displeased you?" No," I said. "I am angry."Ah," she said, "then ventilate your emotions upon me, for I am only a slave," She kissed me. "I must submit in whatever means you you choose to do to me. Do you wish to whip me?" No," I said. "It is not you whom I should make suffer."
"Some free woman has displeased you?" she asked. "Yes," I said. "Then take your vengance upon her," she said. "Collar her. Make her your slave."She is from earth," I said."We are not different from other women," she said, "unless it might be, perhaps, that we make better slaves." She leaned back on the furs of the alvoce. "Is this the same female concerning whom we once spoke? "she who was with you in the restaurant?"