'Master is far from Brundisium,' I observed.
'I have come to Argentum seeking my fortune,' he said. 'I will seek service with some mercenary captain.'
It seemed to me certainly that one might find such service closer to Brundisium. 'What happened to Tupita?' he asked. 'Do you know what became of her?' 'We were both sold in Samnium,' I said. 'I do not know who purchased her. I do not know where she went.'
'She was pretty,' he said.
'Yes, Master,' I agreed.
'The recovery period is passed, long ago,' he said. 'You are both the full legal properties of your new masters.'
'Yes, Master,' I said. I heard the wheels of the cart trundling from the alleyway now. The fellow who had been bound and gagged was doubtless now tied down in the cart, hand and foot, belly and neck, and covered by the tarpaulin.
'What is wrong?' he asked.
'Nothing, Master,' I said.
'Are you hips still loose?' he asked. 'Do you still sway well?' I cast a frightened glance back toward the opening of the alleyway. 'My current master does not use me as a dancer,' I said.
My master' s men, with the cart, one of them drawing the car, the other thrusting it from behind, emerged from the alleyway. 'Greetings, Citizen,' said the first of my master' s men, he between the handles of the cart.
'Greetings,' said the fellow before whom I knelt. He was not, of course, a citizen of Argentum.
'Watch out for her,' grinned the first of my master' s men. 'She hangs out around here from time to time, begging to be touched.'
'Thank you for the warning,' laughed the fellow before whom I knelt. I put my head down, so spoken of. Yet truly I was needful. It seemed my sexual needs had increased a thousand times on Gor. I could not help myself.
'Have you contented her?' asked he before whom I knelt.
'Not I,' laughed the fellow. 'She is in a collar. She is nothing. Let her grovel, and scream with need. It amuses us.'
'I see,' said the fellow before whom I knelt. He did not seem too pleased with what he had heard.
'Besides,' said the first of master' s men, 'as you can see, her pretty, little body is snugly enclosed in the iron belt.'
'So it might seem,' said the fellow before whom I knelt.
They then, to my relief, seemingly continued on their way, albeit slowly, one drawing the cart, the other pushing it. Perhaps the cart was heavy.
'I must go now, Master,' I said. I wished to leap up, and be on my way. 'Have I given you permission to rise?' he asked.
'No, Master,' I said. 'Forgive me, Master.'
I could see, behind him, that the two men of my master had stopped, apparently adjusting the tarpaulin in the cart.
'The key has been left in the belt,' he said. 'Did you know that?' he had had no difficulty in making this determination, as I had knelt before him, earlier, my head down to his feet.
'Yes, Master,' I said.
'That would seem very careless of your master,' he said.
'Yes, Master,' I said.
'Perhaps he does not pay as close attention to you as he might,' speculated the fellow.
'Perhaps, Master,' I whispered.
I looked beyond the man, to my master' s men. The cart was now a few yards down the street. The first of my master' s men was looking at me. The second was pretending to be inspecting the wheel of the cart.
'Doubtless Master has pressing concerns,' I said. 'He must doubtless soon be on his way.'
'No,' said the fellow. 'What is the matter with you?'
'Nothing, Master,' I said.
'I think you are needful,' he said.
I looked beyond the fellow. I saw the first of my master' s men make the sign, the signal of designation.
'Something is wrong,' said the fellow before whom I knelt, 'I can tell.' 'No, Master,' I whispered.
The first of my master' s men then, unpleasantly, severely, impatiently. Abruptly, as though he could not understand my dalliance, made an angry gesture across his lower belly. I put my head down, in my hands. I sobbed.
'You are in need,' said the fellow before whom I knelt.
I lifted my head. I lowered my hands from before my face. 'My master,' I said, 'is much preoccupied with his business, and neglects me.'
21 The Panels
I knelt in the alcove, naked, on the furs. A heavy metal collar, and chain, was on my neck. It fastened me to the back wall of the alcove.
I saw the leather curtains part. The fellow was drunk, and stinking of drink. He did not even close the curtains behind him. but they were closed. Perhaps by my master' s men. I had not been put into the streets for the last five days. I had spent much time in my cell, in the basement. Twice I had been brought up from the basement, ostensibly to serve on the floor, but actually to interest one fellow or another in me. These were invariably strangers, and alone, in Argentum on business. Too, they were large, strong fellows. I would moan, and lick, about them, arousing their interest. If I failed, I had been told that I would be whipped or slain. My master' s men would tell him, too, that I was an excellent slave lay. I hoped that this was true. I do not know, however, how they would have known this, as none of them had ever used me. Part of my master' s policy with respect to me was to systematically deny my needs. When the fellow would express interest in me I would be taken to an alcove, Alcove Two, and chained there, to await him. meanwhile my master' s men would ply him with drink, sometimes even mixed with sedating drugs. This made their work easier. Some of these fellows were very strong.
'Where is the little honey cake?' asked the fellow, looking about, squinting. He then fell forward, on his hands and knees, on the furs. He slipped to his stomach. His head lifted. His eyes were bleary with drink.
'I am here, Master,' I said, shrinking back against the wall.
There were side panels on each side of the entrance to the alcove. Such panels, where they exist, are normally kept locked on the inside. These, however, were not locked. Such passages are rare in alcoves, and from alcoves to the rear of the tavern, without reentering the main floor area. Such exits have various utilities, such as making it unnecessary for a fellow on the way out to encounter another on the way in, and permitting a fellow to withdraw from the area unnoticed, perhaps thereby avoiding an enemy or enemies, and gaining time on them, perhaps two or three hours, while they wait for him to emerge. Too, as a general policy, many Goreans prefer rooms with at least two exits.
'Where?' asked the fellow, thickly.
'Here,' I whispered.
The panels were well greased. They would be moved back quietly, behind the fellow on the furs.
The fellow moved himself to a sitting position, and sat there, half asleep, on the furs.
'Here,' I whispered, again.
He blinked, sleepily, in my direction. He then went to all fours, to crawl toward me.
I did not know if he could reach me.
'Open your arms,' he said, slowly.
I could smell his breath, heavy with drink, and garlic, and herbs, across the furs. I opened my arms,
