Kur of Gor

Chapter, the Eleventh: IT IS LIKE A TAVERN

"They dance well,” said Cabot.

"There is not one,” said Peisistratus, “who would not bring three silver tarsks, even in Turia or Ar."

"I am sure of it,” said Cabot. Rarely had he seen women who presented themselves so well before masters.

"You may, of course,” said Peisistratus, “have your pick."

"The musicians,” said Cabot, “might grace the feast of a Ubar."

"Many have,” said Peisistratus.

"What is the meat?” had asked Cabot.

"Have no fear,” had said Peisistratus. “It is bosk, tarsk, and verr."

"The paga is splendid,” said Cabot.

"It is the paga of Temus of Ar,” said Peisistratus.

"It is my favorite,” said Cabot.

"We know,” said Peisistratus. “That is why it is being served."

"I am muchly pleased,” said Cabot.

"Good,” said Peisistratus. “Agamemnon, too, will then be pleased."

"It seems you know much about me,” said Cabot.

"Inquiries were made,” said Peisistratus. “It is our desire that you find your stay with us comfortable and pleasant."

Cabot looked about himself. “This might be a tavern in a high city,” he said, “the counter, the vats of paga, the square of sand for the dancers, the polished wooden floors, the low ceiling, the hangings, the cozy dimness, the small lamps, the curtained alcoves, such things."

"That is our intention,” said Peisistratus, “that it should seem so."

"The men about,” said Cabot, looking about the tables, “seem in good spirits."

"Most are drunk,” said Peisistratus. “They would rather be on Gor."

The Pleasure Cylinder, as other subsidiary cylinders to the Steel World in question, those for sport, industry, and agriculture, is reached by an automated shuttle, which departs from and docks at predesignated portals. Entrance to the shuttle and departure from it is by means of a system of locks. In this fashion the occupants, or passengers, never exposed to the rigors and perils of a near vacuum, need not concern themselves with complex suiting, reaction devices, safety lines, and such. If one could conceive of swimming without water, so to speak, that gives a sense of movement within the shuttle, while it is in flight. Handles within the shuttle, which may be held, or grasped, provide leverage for staying in position, or, if one wishes, moving about within the shuttle.

"Who are the two Kurii?” asked Cabot.

"They are strangers,” said Peisistratus. “Those commonly in attendance, to monitor the cylinder, are not present."

"Strangers?"

"Officers of Agamemnon,” said Peisistratus.

"Why are they here?"

"Because you are here,” said Peisistratus. “Doubtless they would not wish any harm to come to you."

"They are spies."

"Yes."

"As are you?"

"Perhaps."

The two in question, large and fearsome, crouched almost at the shoulder of Cabot. He could occasionally feel the breath of one on his neck.

"Do you not recognize them?” said Peisistratus.

"No,” said Cabot.

"You encountered them in the audience hall of Agamemnon,” said Peisistratus.

"His attendants?"

"Yes."

As the names of these two individuals are in Kur we shall refer to them, as is our wont, by choosing, almost at random, names whose phonemic nature will be accessible to readers who may be supposed unfamiliar with Kur. We shall refer to them, in this case, by names which are not unfamiliar in Ar, indeed, names somewhat common in Ar, Lucullus and Crassus.

"Doubtless,” said Peisistratus, “Kurii look much alike to you."

"I fear so, many of them,” said Cabot.

"Some Kurii have difficulty distinguishing amongst humans,” said Peisistratus.

"Interesting,” said Cabot.

"Particularly in the case of human cattle."

"I understand,” said Cabot.

"We and they, however,” said Peisistratus, “with more familiarity with one another have little difficulty in distinguishing amongst individuals. Indeed, Kur young must learn to distinguish amongst different members of their own species."

"Perhaps it is so, too, with humans,” said Cabot.

"Perhaps,” said Peisistratus.

"Perhaps one learns to see,” said Cabot.

"Possibly,” said Peisistratus.

"Our friends,” said Cabot, indicating with a slight gesture of his head the two crouching, hulking forms behind them, “do not seem much interested in the entertainment."

"They are Kurii,” said Peisistratus. “They see us primarily as food, I fear."

"Do they hear the music as we do?” asked Cabot.

"I do not know,” said Peisistratus.

"They seem uncomfortable,” said Cabot.

"It is too loud for them,” said Peisistratus. “Have you ever heard Kur music?"

"No,” said Cabot.

"It is commonly inaudible to the human ear,” said Peisistratus. “Sometimes when they seem to move strangely, or meaninglessly, they are listening to their music."

"Why then are they so close?” asked Cabot.

"They are trying to overhear our conversation,” said Peisistratus, “but I fear you have frustrated them, as you persist in speaking English. Their translators then are ineffectual."

"You may of course later convey to them the gist of our converse."

"True,” said Peisistratus.

With a swirl from the czehar and kalikas, and a pounding of the tabors, the dancers prostrated themselves in the sand, as slaves, and then, as Peisistratus struck his hands sharply together, they leapt up, and fled from the room, exiting through a portal, it curtained with dangling strands of blue and yellow beads, the caste colors of the slavers.

Another dancer, a single dancer, then entered the sand. Like the others, she was barefoot, and bangled.

She wore bells on her left ankle.

It is not unusual for a slave to be belled.

Bells help the female keep in mind that she is a slave.

"What will she dance?” asked Cabot.

The dancer was now kneeling in the sand, her head bowed, waiting for the first strumming of the kalika. She was nicely silked, in the diaphanous dancing silks of Gor. Her hair, long and dark, fell to the sand.

"I do not mean to be importunate,” said Peisistratus, “but Agamemnon is curious to know if you have reached a decision with respect to his proposal."

"I am still considering the matter,” said Cabot.

"I would not consider it too long,” said Peisistratus, “as Kurii are not noted for their patience."

"He may be informed,” said Cabot, “that his offer is under the most earnest scrutiny."

"Doubtless he will be relieved to hear that,” said Peisistratus. “If it will speed your deliberations, you might consider that a similar offer might be made to others, whose deliberations might be less prolonged."

"To you?"

"Not to one of my caste, surely,” said Peisistratus.

"I see."

A whispering sentence of notes emanated from the kalika, and the dancer rose gracefully to her feet, her knees flexed, her head still bowed, her hands at her thighs.

"If you accept the offer,” said Peisistratus, “the medallion of a world's Ubar might be yours, power, hundreds of cities, rivers of wealth, innumerable pleasure gardens, exquisitely stocked with game and slaves."

"Who but a fool could refuse such an offer?” said Cabot.

"Indeed,” agreed Peisistratus.

"But suppose one did refuse such an offer?"

"I would not care to be he,” said Peisistratus.

"I see,” said Cabot.

"Paga, Master?” inquired a soft, feminine voice.

She knelt beside the table, suitably as a pleasure slave. She was red-headed, and naked, save for the collar on her neck.

Women look well so, and slaves in particular.

"Yes,” said Cabot, handing her his goblet. She then rose to her feet and backed away, and then turned, and hurried to the counter, to replenish the contents of the goblet.

"Ho, the whip dance,” said Cabot, returning his attention to the dancing sand.

"You like it?"

"She is lovely,” said Cabot.

"She is Corinna,” said Peisistratus. “She writhes well."

"Yes."

At certain points in this dance the whip snaps and the dancer reacts as though she was struck with the whip. If she does not do well, of course, she will feel the whip.

"You are tempted, are you not?"

"Who would not be?” asked Cabot. “But I think I shall soon return to my lodgings."

"The evening is young,” said Peisistratus.

The red-haired paga slave then returned with the goblet, brimming, and knelt beside the low table, at which Cabot and Peisistratus sat, cross-legged. It is common for Gorean men to sit cross-legged, and for Gorean women to kneel. Chairs on Gor are commonly reserved for individuals of rank. Gorean society is muchly based on status and hierarchy. There is little attempt on Gor to pretend that obvious differentiations in such matters do not exist. On Gor that would be regarded as dishonorable hypocrisy. The slave's eyes met Cabot's and in her glance, pathetic and pleading, he read her need. And then, looking down, she pressed the metal of the goblet to her belly, and then to her breasts, and then lifted the large cup to her lips, and, looking at Cabot over the rim, kissed the cup, lingeringly. She then lowered her head between her extended arms and proffered him the goblet, which he accepted.

"May I speak, Master?” she asked.

"Yes,” said Cabot.

There were tears in her eyes. Her lip trembled. “I desire to be found pleasing,” she said.

"I see,” said Cabot.

"Take me to an alcove, Master,” she whispered, tensely, “I beg it!"

"She is needful,” explained Peisistratus.

"Take me to an alcove, Master,” she said. “Chain me! Make me helpless! Whip me, if you wish! But use me! I beg to be used!"

"I gather she has been deprived,” said Cabot.

"Yes,” said Peisistratus.

"Why?"

"She and some others,” said Peisistratus, “in order to be readied for your entertainment."

"I see,” said Cabot.

Slave fires, as the expression is, are cruelly and mercilessly lit within the bellies of female slaves. It is often a part of their training. It is interesting to see a slaver take a free female, complacent in her sexual inertness, even one arrogantly proud of her frigidity, and transform her into a needful, helpless, vulnerable, begging slave, zealous to serve, that she may be rewarded with even the least touch of a male. Once the slave fires flame in the belly of a woman her freedom is behind her. She is then spoiled for freedom, is beyond it, and lives instead for the attention, love, and touch of her master. Indeed, it is not unusual that one who is familiar only with free women, with their reservations, suspicions, calculations, and inhibitions, their inertnesses and frigidities, is often astonished to encounter a female slave, one whose needs have now put her vulnerably, helplessly, at the mercy of men. Sometimes a fellow encounters in an alcove a woman earlier courted in vain, now a collared slave. It is then as though there were two women, and, in a sense, this is true, for where there was once a free woman there is now a slave. Perhaps he buys her, and takes her home. Perhaps she begs him, kissing piteously at his feet, to do so.

"Go ahead,” said Peisistratus. “Take her to an alcove."

"What is your name?” asked Cabot.

"Lehna, if it pleases Master."

"Tell me of your collar,” said Cabot. “What does it say?"

She touched the collar. Cabot had been curious about the collars of the slaves in the cylinder. They were of a common type, a flat, light, closely fitting band, locked at the back of the neck.

"It is a standard collar, Master,” she said, “but one similar to a public collar, as that of a state slave."

"What does it say?” asked Cabot.

"It says, Master,” said the girl, “that I am a slave of the Pleasure Cylinder."

"Kurii are not to eat women found in such collars,” said Peisistratus.

"Would you not rather, Lehna,” asked Cabot, “wear a collar on Gor, and have a private master?"

She put down her head, fearing to respond.

"You need not reply,” said Cabot.

"Thank you, Master,” she whispered.

"Kurii prefer that we not have private slaves here,” said Peisistratus. “That gives the Kurii greater control over the slaves."

"And the men?"

"Perhaps,” said Peisistratus.

"There is then less bother, too, is there not,” asked Cabot, “should the Kurii desire to select some out for redistribution?"

"Yes, or food,” said Peisistratus.

"Lehna,” said Cabot, sharply.

"Yes, Master!” she said.

"Serve another,” said Cabot.

She looked at him, wildly.

"He,” said Cabot, pointing across the room, toward a fellow who had only too obviously, and perhaps disgruntledly, been inspecting the flanks of Cabot's waitress.

The girl, weeping, sprang to her feet, and hurried to the fellow indicated, who cried out with pleasure, waved good-naturedly, drunkenly, at Cabot, in appreciation doubtless for the unexpected gift, and, in a moment, the girl was being dragged, bent over, by the hair to a nearby alcove.

Cabot then returned his attention to the dancing sand.

There was a final, loud snap of the whip, and the dancer threw herself, half kneeling, half sitting, to the sand, and lifted one hand, piteously, to the fellow who had conducted his part of the whip dance.

"What do you think?” asked Peisistratus.

"Of the dance?” said Cabot.

"If you wish,” said Peisistratus.

"It was nicely done,” said Cabot. The whip dance is a not unfamiliar component in a tavern's entertainment, which often includes slave dance.

"You are a connoisseur of slave dance?” inquired Peisistratus.

"Not really,” said Cabot. “I know little of its subtleties."

"I feel that those who judge too exactly, too critically, of such matters,” said Peisistratus, “the position of the hands, the perfect framing of the head and body with the arms, the angle of the head, the lightness or moderation of a stamping foot, such things, miss much of the pleasure of the dance."

"I would suppose so,” said Cabot.

"Too, it is not always the most technically flawless dancer whom men wish to conduct to an alcove,” said Peisistratus.

"Perhaps a dancer who is too concerned with the assemblage of minute perfections,” said Cabot, “forgets the point of the dance, which is to dance her slave before masters."

"True,” said Peisistratus.

"Slave dance well displays a woman,” said Cabot.

"As a slave,” said Peisistratus.

"Of course,” agreed Cabot.

The dancer was now kneeling, and a chain was being put on her neck, some five feet in length, rather as a leash.

"And what do you think of our Corinna?” asked Peisistratus.

"A lovely slave,” said Cabot.

"I am told,” said Peisistratus, “she is an excellent dancer."

"One must agree,” said Cabot.

"Even technically."

"Interesting,” said Cabot. “But I suspect few men would be capable of forming a judicious opinion on that matter, and that even fewer would find it of the least interest."

"True,” smiled Peisistratus.

"In any event,” said Cabot, “putting aside her skills as a dancer, which are doubtless considerable, she is obviously a luscious piece of collar meat."

Some Goreans claim that it is the existence of beautiful women that is the justification of the slave collar. Other Goreans claim that it is the existence of women which is the justification of the slave collar.

"Behold,” said Peisistratus, “she approaches."

The dancer knelt before Cabot, and, with both hands, lifted the chain to him. “I offer you my chain, Master,” she said.

Cabot took the chain and jerked it against the back of her neck, and she gasped. “I take it, if I wish,” he said.

"Yes, Master,” she whispered, frightened.

"You like her?"

"She is lovely."

"You may take her home with you, to the hillside villa in the Steel World,” said Peisistratus, “and keep her as long as you wish."

"You are generous,” said Cabot.

"The Kurii are generous,” said Peisistratus.

Ah, thought Cabot, Peisistratus is interested in this slave.

"She is muchly concerned to please a man,” said Peisistratus.

"Does she fear the whip?"

"Very much,” said Peisistratus.

"Good,” said Cabot. It is useful to the master that the slave girl is terrified of the whip. Thus it seldom needs to be used. She knows, of course, that it will be used on her if she is in the least bit displeasing. Accordingly, she does her best to be found pleasing, and fully so.

Cabot noted that the slave cast a look of misery at Peisistratus, and that the hands on her thighs lifted slightly, as though she would expose her palms to him, but then she quickly returned them to her thighs, palms down.

"She has been deprived?” inquired Cabot.

"Yes,” said Peisistratus, “to prepare her for you."

"Girl,” said Cabot to the dancer, “return to your cage, or kennel."

She leapt up, gratefully, cast another look at Peisistratus, and hurried from the room, departing through the beaded curtain. It shook behind her.

One of the Kurii growled menacingly. It was obviously displeased.

Cabot thought that Peisistratus leaned back, a bit.

"You did not send her to another, as with Lehna?” said Peisistratus.

"Let her rest, from the dance,” said Cabot.

"I see,” said Peisistratus.

One of the Kurii, Cabot noticed, was looking toward the beaded curtain.

"You did not find her attractive?” asked Peisistratus.

"She is very attractive,” said Cabot.

"There are others, of course,” said Peisistratus. “Would you like to inspect them?"

"No,” said Cabot.

"Nature has designed them all, and well, for the collar,” said Peisistratus.

"I am pleased to hear it,” said Cabot.

"All would sell well."

"I am sure of it."

"And all have been readied for you."

"As the paga of Temus?"

"Yes,” said Peisistratus.

"I am grateful,” said Cabot.

"Perhaps you are interested in the brunette from the stall, the pet of Pyrrhus?” asked Peisistratus.

"The one whose hair is too short?"

"Yes."

"Why would one be interested in her?” asked Cabot.

"Agamemnon could easily arrange for her to be brought to you,” said Peisistratus.

"She is the pet of Lord Pyrrhus,” said Cabot.

"He does not want her,” said Peisistratus. “He only took her to anger you. Indeed, he might kill her."

"That would be a waste of slave,” said Cabot.

"There are others,” said Peisistratus, “from the cylinder, even from the cattle pens. Humans are cheap."

"Where is Zarendargar?” asked Cabot.

The bluntness, the suddenness, of this question, startled Peisistratus. He looked uneasily back at the two Kurii behind them.

"I do not know,” he said.

"Tell me,” said Cabot.

"He is not in the Steel World,” said Peisistratus. “He was removed from the domain of Agamemnon, under custody, seven days ago."

"He was merely used to bring me to the Steel World?” said Cabot.

"I fear so,” said Peisistratus. “He was intent to rescue a friend, with whom it is told he had once shared paga, to save him from death or dishonor at the hands of Priest-Kings, a noble endeavor, but instead he brought him unwittingly into the grasp of Agamemnon."

"I see,” said Cabot. This did not come to him as any great surprise, for he had supposed as much, having neither heard nor seen aught of Zarendargar after his extrication from the Prison Moon.

"Agamemnon will want his answer soon,” said Peisistratus.

"I understand,” said Cabot.

"Tomorrow,” said Peisistratus, “you are to go hunting."

"Hunting?"

"On the game world,” said Peisistratus, “with Lord Pyrrhus."

"Are there weapons here, in the Pleasure Cylinder?” asked Cabot.

"We are not to speak of such things."

"Are there?"

"In the ships,” said Peisistratus.

"Are the ships accessible, and free?"

"They require authorization to depart, to dock, and so on,” said Peisistratus. “And they are not a match for the speed or armament of Kur ships."

"They are slavers’ ships?"

"Yes."

"What does one hunt on the game world?” inquired Cabot.

"Animals of various sorts,” said Peisistratus.

"And humans?"

"Yes."

"This is a test of sorts, I suppose,” said Cabot.

"I suppose so,” said Peisistratus. “They probably wish to see if you will kill humans."

"I see."

"But, too,” he said, “these are unusual humans, and our hirsute friends may be interested to see if they kill you."

"Unusual humans?"

"They have been bred to be elusive, dangerous prey animals. Some have slain Kurii."

"And if these unusual humans kill me, I would thus be proven a poor choice to abet the schemes of Kurii?"

"Yes, and then they could turn to others."

"Tomorrow then I shall go hunting."

"Cabot,” said Peisistratus.

"Yes?"

"Beware of Lord Pyrrhus."

As Cabot made ready to access the shuttle and return to his hillside villa on the Steel World, he heard the blows of a lash and the screams of a whipped slave.

"It is Corinna,” said Peisistratus. “She is being punished."

"Why?” asked Cabot.

"Our friends will have it so,” said Peisistratus.

"But, why?” asked Cabot.

"She failed to seduce you,” said Peisistratus.