“Few have grooming slaves,” he said.
I supposed that was true. It seemed to be generally understood that the kajirae in this place had been purchased for men, not Kurii.
“You have groomed Lysymachos, too, have you not?”
“And some others,” I said. “Mostly iron-chain Kurii.”
Interestingly, the iron-chain Kurii seemed to wish to keep me much for themselves. I think little love was lost between the iron-chain Kurii and the golden- or silver-chain Kurii.
“How is it, Master,” I asked, “that you are free. I do not understand.”
“Some other slaves may be present, as well,” he said.
“You are free,” I said, uncertainly. “How is this?”
“You are a clever slave,” he said. “Surely you can speculate.”
“I dare not,” I said.
The beast’s lip curled up a little, about a fang. I conjectured this was a sign of amusement. I had accounted it so, in the domicile.
“You are even housed in the Golden Corridor,” I said.
“I have my freedom,” he said. “I may even leave the Cave, to venture about, should I wish to do so.”
“I understand nothing of this,” I said.
“While I was incarcerated,” he said, “you were to be my informant, my eyes and ears for the outside.”
“Yes, Master,” I said.
“Now,” he said, “I will still have use for your eyes and ears, and perhaps for your hands, as well.”
“How is it that you are free?” I asked.
“I have become rational,” he said. “I am no longer foolish. You, if anyone, Allison, given your nature and character, must understand this.”
“No,” I said.
“Who,” he asked, “would reject untold wealth, and almost absolute power?”
“They threatened to torture and kill the Lady Bina,” I said. “Under this duress, you succumbed to their importunities.”
He looked at me, his head slightly to one side.
“Poor Master,” I said.
“Not at all,” he said. “It is rather that I see, clearly, eventually, the Kur conquest of this world, and, indeed, later, of another. Humans are a weak and inferior species, a vermin species, appropriately to be supplanted by a superior life form. Do not fear. Some role may be found for select humans, grooming, fetching, carting wastes, perhaps decorative objects, as exotic fish or colorful birds, and, certainly, for those who enjoy the taste, food. And for their part, Priest-Kings, whatever they may be, such passive, inert, aloof, sessile creatures, they may be ignored or, if one chooses, destroyed.”
“Surely all this is to preserve and protect the Lady Bina,” I said.
“Do not concern yourself,” he said. “She will be quite happy. We will give her the title Ubara of Gor, and I will govern the planet, under the authority of Agamemnon, Theocrat of the World, Eleventh Face of the Nameless One.”
“But surely all this is for her?” I said.
“No,” he said. “It is for me, and my superiors. We may, however, while it pleases us, amuse ourselves at the pretensions of a naive young woman.”
“Surely this cannot be Master Grendel, Lord Grendel,” I said.
“You now see Lord Grendel,” he said, “as he is.”
“Yes, Master,” I said.
“We are not so different from humans, are we?” he asked. “I am told that Priest-Kings regard us as rather equivalent species.”
“Please, let me go,” I said.
“I do not wish to destroy you,” he said. “You do not wish to be destroyed, do you?”
“No, Master,” I said.
“Prepare to accompany me,” he said. “You will enhance my prestige amongst the others. Few have grooming slaves.”
“I am not a grooming slave,” I said. “I am a kajira, intended for the use of my masters.”
“Nonetheless,” he said, “this afternoon you will appear as a grooming slave.”
“I will be a display item,” I said.
“A modest one,” he said.
“But one redounding to your dignity?”
“In your small way,” he said.
“I see,” I said.
“This sort of thing is not that unusual,” he said. “For example, many rich men keep display slaves. Have you not seen chains of them in Ar, lightly tunicked, back-braceleted, neck-coffled, perhaps double strings of them, chained to the back of a palanquin?”
“Where are you taking me?” I asked.
“To the audience chamber of Agamemnon,” he said, “Theocrat of the World, Eleventh Face of the Nameless One.”
“Was there not a revolution fought against this Agamemnon?” I said.
“A tragic misadventure,” he said. “Had it not taken place, we might now be the masters of all Gor.”
“Yes, Master,” I said.
“Let us be on our way,” he said.
“Yes, Master,” I said.
Chapter Thirty-Two
I shall now speak of him simply as Grendel. I heeled him into the large room, and, when he crouched down, at ease, before the broad dais, I knelt behind him, on his left.
It took some time for my eyes to grow accustomed to the light, as, for a human, it was almost dark, at least until this adjustment took place.
If humans of interest or importance were to be present, I supposed that the room would have been better lit.
I did not know how deep the room was, for, at the front of the room, at the back of the dais, there was a heavy, drawn curtain. To our right, crouched on the dais, at its edge, before the curtain, was Lucius, whom I recognized, partly from his size, and partly from the glint of the golden chain from which hung his translator. Looking about myself, as inconspicuously as possible, I noted that almost every Kur in the room was a silver-chain Kur. I saw few iron-chain Kurii. Although almost every Kur in the room bore a translator, and in spite of the fact that there were several kajirae, some six or seven, in the room, none of the translators would be activated. What took place was entirely in Kur. Accordingly, my account of what occurred is based almost entirely on what I saw, and my interpretation of what I saw. Had there been human males in the room, perhaps the translators would have been activated, but there were not. There were only a few humans in the room, the human animals known as kajirae. The absence of human males in the room I later thought not only interesting, but perhaps significant. Perhaps it was thought that some, at least, of what took place in the room may not have been judiciously shared with the Kurii’s human allies. Had human males been in the room they would doubtless have requested that, or insisted that, they be provided with a translation of the proceedings. Kajirae, of course, would make no such request, or demand. They would remain silent.
There were already some twenty Kurii in the room when Grendel entered and took his place, a prominent place, near the front of the room, before the dais.
A number of the other Kurii witnessed his arrival, and there was a stirring amongst them.
Grendel, I gathered, was noteworthy, perhaps important.
