Mariners of Gor

“Then,” she said, “let them find themselves at the feet of a man, stripped, and in his collar. Let them find themselves mastered, and then let them examine their feelings anew.”

“Might they not cover their chains with tears?” I said.

“Yes,” she said, “and then kiss the chains that bind them, so helplessly, so securely!”

“Many free women,” I said, “fear the collar.”

“And long for it!” she said.

“Perhaps,” I said.

“Many were the civilized women, educated and refined, and barbarian females, illiterate and primitive, not even able to speak Gorean, brought, shackled, to the markets of Ar, lamenting their fate,” she said, “but before Tor-tu-Gor had run half his course, they had only one thing in common, their submission to masters, the love of their collar, and the fear that they might be freed.”

“Would you impose your views and values on all?” I asked.

“I leave that to others,” she said.

“I see,” I said.

“Do you speak for all women?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Perhaps,” I said.

“Whatever might be the truth in these matters,” she said, “for those of us who are slaves, and know we are slaves, and would be slaves, and are complete only at the feet of men, do not be cruel, do not begrudge us our collars!”

“You would be owned?”

“Wholly, and helplessly!”

I regarded her, not speaking, not releasing her.

“Is it wrong for one who is a slave to want to be a slave?”

“No,” I said. “It is not wrong.”

“Keep me in a collar!” she said. “I belong in it, I want it.”

“I do not own you,” I said.

She sobbed, pressing herself against me.

I looked to the former Talena of Ar, once Ubara.

“And perhaps you, Adraste,” I said, “would be pleased, in your collar, to serve naked, at another’s feast.”

Swiftly, she turned away.

I thrust Alcinoe from me, and she slipped to the polished floor, of dark wood, and knelt there, holding my leg, pressing her cheek against it.

“Master, Master,” she said.

I disengaged her hands and held them apart, looking down on her, she on her knees at my feet. Then, holding her hands, I put my right foot against her left shoulder, and then spurned her to the floor, as the slave she was, and she turned, tears on her cheeks, and looked up at me. “I love you,” she said. “I love you! Care for me, care for me, just a little, Master!”

“You are a slave,” I said, turning away.

She sobbed.

At the exit, I turned, again. “Continue serving,” I said.

“Yes, Master,” said Adraste.

“Yes, Master,” said Alcinoe.

I then left the small dining area, the Hall of the Three Moons.

It was dark outside now, but, under torches, there was still feasting at the long tables in the courtyard.

What a glorious victory had been that of the exploratory force!

I would ascend to the parapet.

When I reached the height of the wall, the inner wall, the highest wall, I looked over the wall, down, toward the village. Near me were two Pani, guards, on the parapet, as well. The village, or where it had been, was dark, but, as far as I could see, scattered about, to the south, were a great number of campfires.

The force of Lord Yamada, or his generals, was in place.

I stayed sometime on the parapet, for the most part, however, not looking over the wall, but looking back, down to the courtyard, where I might observe the tables.

As I feared, later, near the nineteenth Ahn, a number of men withdrew from the tables, and I saw them gather in a corner of the courtyard. Others were now joining them, from various barracks, and halls.

I thought of Alcinoe.

I attempted to scorn and detest her. Did I not know she was a slave? Was I not a free man, and a warrior? Why then, I asked myself, would I die for her.

What a weakling and fool I was!

I wondered if she should be freed?

Did I hate her so much?

Were her soft lips not made to be pressed to the feet of a master?

I laughed, and the two Pani guardsmen regarded me, puzzled.

Free her, I thought. Never!

How absurd such a thought, for such a woman!

If I owned her, I thought, she would well know herself slave. Her collar, as it is said, would be well locked.

Women such as Alcinoe belong in a collar.

Accordingly, they are to be kept in one.

They do constitute a danger, of course.

They are appealing, desirable, helpless, and owned.

One must thus be careful lest one begin to care for them, lest one begin to succumb to their charms.

What curvaceous, cunning little brutes they are!

Take no chances with them!

Keep them in the strictest and most perfect of bondages. Do not let them forget they are slaves. Let them fear the whip. If necessary, they may be taken to the market and sold. Such women, after all, however delightful in their collars, are nothing. They are only slaves.

I hastened down the steps from the wall.

Many had now left the tables.

I saw Seremides hobble out of the darkness. “They are going to take the ship!” he said.

“I know,” I said.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

What Occurred at the Gate

Four Pani, in defensive stance, glaves at the ready, stood before the innermost gate.

“Stand aside!” commanded Tereus.

The Pani did not budge, though, obviously, resistance would have been useless.

“Stand aside!” said Tereus.

Behind him were a large number of armed men. Later, as they would be counted, there would be eight hundred and seventy men, precisely.

“We may not do so, honorable one,” said one of the guards politely.

Clearly Tereus did not wish to force the gate, but, as clearly, he was prepared to do so.

“We are going to the ship,” said Tereus.

“Have you permission?” inquired the guard.