I supposed there was little in Victoria that was not known to its nude or half-clad tavern slaves. Such girls in spite of their collars often know more of what transpires in a town or city than many free folks.
"Doubtless I am a laughing stock in Victoria," I said bitterly. "No, Master," she said, "But it is true that many are puzzled as to why you did ot at that time make her your total slave."
I said nothing."Your are known and respected in Victoira," she said. "You are known for your ability with your fists, a thing which Gorean men can understand, and for your work on the docks and for your strength."
"Is it also known how I withdrew from the tavern of Hibron the Pirate's Chain, when I sought there the Lady Beverly?" I asked."You call the little slut a Lady" she asked.I looked at her sternly."Forgive me Master," she smiled. "but I saw her in the restaurant on Earth. I assure you that she is as much or more a slut than I, and fully worthy or more worthy than I for the degrading circlet of bondage."
I looked up, lying on my back, at the low ceiling of the alcove.
"Yes," she smiled. " it is well known in Victoria what occurred in the tavern of Hibron but none blame you. You are not the master of the sword and even had you been, you were grievously outnumbered. None blame you, I assure you. Indeed many feel you were courageous to have even entered the tavern under the circumstances to attempt to extract the unwitting little fool from the situation in which she had placed herself."
"I did not fight," I said."You had no choice," she said."I withdrew," I said. "You had no choice," she said."I am a coward," I said. "That is not true," she said. "In such a situation only a master swordsman or a fool or a madman, would have fought." "I see," I said.
"A wise man would have withdrawn as he did," she said. "Or a coward," I said."You are not a coward," she said. "Glyco, the Merchant of Port Cos, has spoken freely of your bravery on the wharves, in your recovery of his purse. "Oh," I said.
"And the thief, Grat, the swift, who has long been a nuisance in Victoria, has fled the town, obedient to your command."
"That is interesting," I said. I had not even know his name.
"There are even those who say there should be guardsmen in Victoria, and that you should be chief among them," she said. We were silent for a time.
"The stronghold of Policrates is impregnable," she said. "You are an intelligent woman," I said. "Do not attempt it," she said. I was silent. I had, I knew the means whereby I might, if I wished, gain admission to that dark, rearing fortress, the walled river cove at its base.
"Forget her, Master," advised Peggy."I have seen Glyco of Port Cost, in the tavern," I said. "He had wished to see Callimachus once of Port Cos. I have seen them more than once on various nights engaged in conversek Glyco earnest and Callimachus sullen and noncommital."It is true," said Peggy. "Of what do they speak?" I asked."I do not know Master," said Peggy, "We girls are warned away from their table, save when we are called forth to serve, and then they remain silent, except to give us our commands.
"How long is Glyco to remain in Victoria?" I asked. "I do not know Master," said Peggy. "Perhaps he is gone now, for he has not been tonight to my knowledge in the tavern." Peggy fingered the chain dangling from her collar. "Master seems curious," she said. "Master seems curious," said said.
"I would like to know the business of Glyco with Callimachus," I said."I will tell you one thing I know," she said. "Glyco stays with the guardsmen of Port Cos near the wharves. "Not in an inn?" I asked. "No," she said. "Interesting," I said.
"And it is said too," she whispered, coming close to me, the chain on her neck touching my chest, as she put her head over me, "that Glyco is not only a merchant but stands high in the merchant council of Port Cos."
"I wonder what such a man is doing in Victoria, speaking with Callimachus," I said. "I do not know Master," she said. Then suddenly she pressed her softness against me, in a slave girl's piteous need. "I am only a slave permitted to live on the sufferance of men that she may please them," she said.I then took her in my arms.
Later we lay quietly, softly, together. Her head was at my waist. I again looked at the ceiling of the alcove, at the roughened texture, and the tiny cracks of its plaster and wood, reddish in the flickering light of the tiny lamp.
"Is Master distracted?" she asked. "Perhaps," I said. "You still remember her, do you not?" she asked. "Perhaps," I said. I put my hand with rough gentleness in her hair holding it.
"You have well ravished me, Master," she whispered. "You are a responsive wench," I said. "I cannot help but be responsive in your arms," she said. "You merely fear the whip," I smiled. "I do not fear the whip," she said, "and I know that it will be well laid upon me at the merest suspicion on the part of Tasdron my Master that a customer may not have been fully pleased, but even if it were not for the whip, I know I could not help but respond to you as a vulnerable and spasmodic slave."
I released her hair and took her again in my arms, throwing the chain back over her shoulder. "What woman would not be a slave in your arms?" she asked. "I beg to be had again." "Very well," I said and then lengthily, contented her. It is pleasing to have a female slave.
"The stronghold of Pollicrates is impregnable," she said. "Forget her."How is it that you know what I am thinking?" I asked smiling.
"Slave girls must pay close attention to men, "she smiled, "for they are her Masters."
I smiled. It was true. Slave girls are extremely sensitive to the moods, the feelings and thoughts of men. they must be, for they are their Masters.
"By now she doubtless wears the steel loops of a pirate's pleasure girl," she said. I thought this not unlikely. "You have money," said Peggy, "Buy another girl, one to lick your feet and content you."
Slave girls tend to speak opening and honestly. They are under few delusions as to the desires of men. Hypocrisies are not encouraged in them, as they often are in their free sisters. Similarily, Goren men tend on the whole, unabashedly to be perfectly frank about such matters. What true man, in his vitality, does not want a beautiful woman as a slave?Two major differences between the men of Eart and the men of Gor are, first, that the men of Gor are perfectly straighforward and open about this and secondly, that such woman may normally be purchased at a modest price in a convenient market. On Gor the order of nature, as old as the switch, the rope, the cave and the raid has never been denied.
She put her lips close to my ear. I heard the tiny, heavy sound of the links of the chain, moving against one another, depending from her collar. "Buy Peggy, if you wish," she whispered."Do you wish me to buy you?" I asked."I would rather be purchsed by only one other man on all Gor," she said, "and he has never even had me. He scarcely notices me and seems not even to know I exist. Yet I almost faint with joy at the very thought of serving him." I looked at her. She was very beautiful.
"I am unworthy even to think of him," she said. "I am only an Earth woman and a branded slave. "Who is he?" I asked.
"Please do not make me speak his name Master," she said. "Very well," I said. We lay together quietly for a time not speaking.We could hear conversation outside from the floor of the tavern."Have you heard of the topaz?" I asked. "No Master," she said. "But it is thought to be in Victoria."
"The men of Victoria seem adament in refusing to pay the tribute to Policrates," I said."Yes Master," she smiled.
I thought this was courageous on their part, but I did not know if it were wise. It had been the first time in five years that this had happened. The lat time the pirates of the dark stronghold had carried fire and sword to a dozen wharfed ships. The tribute had then been rapidly forthcoming. To be sure, in the past years the pirates had become more and more dependent on the markets of Victoria to dispose of their loot and captures. In the light of this, many in Victoria regarded themselves as having at last attained a position in which they might succeed in evading the humiliating burden of tribute.