Dancer of Gor

"But one thing is certain," he said, "suck rankings, even granting their subjectivity, and their silliness, and all the nonsense and absurdity associated with them, point to something, and that is your beauty and desirability." I looked at him, frightened.

"You are one of the most beautiful and desirable slaves in Brundisium," he said. "I am in your grasp," I whispered.

I would have pressed my belly against him but I could not do so. He held me from him. I would have reached forth to touch him, but I could not do so. My hands had been bound behind my back, by his will.

"Hendow has received several offers for you," he said, "excellent ones, but he has not sold you."

I was startled. So simply I could change masters!

"Do you wish to know their nature?" he asked.

"Curiosity," I said, humbly, "is not becoming in a kajira."

"Very well," he said.

"Please! Please!" I begged.

"Two of them were from other tavern owners," he said. "But several have been from private individuals."

I wondered what it would be like to have a private master. I would surely try to serve such a one well. Almost all girls hope, someday, to have a private master. "What were the amounts?" I asked, eagerly.

"You are a slave, aren" t you?" he asked.

"Yes!" I said.

"One was for seven tarsks," he said.

"Seven!" I cried. "I am not worth so much."

"True," he said. "I myself only offered five."

"Five!" I cried.

"Yes," he admitted.

"You made an offer on me?" I asked, delighted.

"Yes," he said.

I wondered what it would be like to be owned by Mirus. Slaves often wonder what it would be to be owned by this man, or that. I found him extremely attractive. If he purchased me, I would certainly try to serve him well. Of course, too, any man who purchased me I would have to serve well, and, indeed, as I was a Gorean slave girl, in so far as I could, perfectly.

"I am not worth five tarsks," I laughed.

"True," he said.

"Why, then, did you offer so much?" I asked.

"I was drunk," he said.

"Tonight," I said, "I am not scheduled to return to the floor." "I know," he said.

"Master prepared the schedules," I laughed.

"Yes," he said.

"Summon me to your quarters," I whispered. "I will show you that maybe I am worth five tarsks after all!"

"Perhaps I will summon Tupita," he said.

"No, Doreen," I said.

"Did you know that Hendow is thinking of placing restrictions on your use?" he asked.

"Why would he do that?" I asked.

"I think he is fond of you," he said.

"I am pleased, if my master finds me pleasing," I said.

"Has he never ordered you to him?" asked Mirus.

"No," I said.

"Interesting," said Mirus. "Normally he disciplines new girls well." I shuddered. I had no doubt that Hendow, my master, could discipline a woman well. He seemed remote, and mighty. He was the master of the entire tavern, and of all the girls. There were twenty-seven of us. I was terrified of him. "But I do not think he will really put restrictions on your us," he said. "Why not?" I asked.

"I do not think it would be good for your discipline," he said.

"I understand," I said. In relationships between men and women, it is a common observation that the relationship tends to be improved considerably when the woman is subject to his usage. When she knows that that a fellow may, if he wishes, simply hurl her to his feet and put her to woman uses, she is likely to behave rather differently toward him than toward one who does not have this power over her.

"You have not displeased him lately, have you?" asked Mirus.

"Not to my knowledge," I said. "I hope not."

"Something is going to be done to you," he said.

"What?" I asked, apprehensively.

"But if you have not displeased him lately," he said, "I gather that it is not being inflicted as a punishment."

"What?" I asked.

"You haven" t heard?" he asked."No," I said.

"A leather worker is coming to the tavern tomorrow, with his kit," he said. "Why?" I asked.

"I" m sorry," he said. "I thought someone would have told you." "What?" I asked.

"It is nothing to fear," he said.

"What?" I said.

"It is done to many slaves," he said.

I looked at him, frightened.

"You have not displeased Hendow?" he asked.

"I do not think so," I said.

"That is what I thought," he said. "Then it is being done merely to improve you, to make you even more desirable."

"Please, Master," I said, "I am a helpless slave. What is to be done to me?" "Hendow is going to have your ears pierced," he said.

I looked at him, disbelievingly.

"It is true," he said, gravely.

I tried not to laugh.

"What is wrong?" he said.

I laughed, out loud in his grasp.

"I do not understand," he said.

"That is all?" I asked.

"All?" he asked. "Do you not understand the gravity of this?"

"I always wanted to have my ears pierced," I said. "Only I never had the courage."

"You wanted it?" he asked, startled.

"Yes," I said.

"What a slave!" he breathed.