Dancer of Gor

Apparently, as the guards had conjectured, they had adjudged "favorable." That being the case it seemed likely the links would soon be returning to the camp. The masters, incidentally, had no bothered to separate out the illicit prisoners from the genuine prisoners, rearranging the chains, as Tupita had expected, but had simply sent those links which contained any illicit prisoners from the camp. This decision was motivated, it seemed, by an understanding that the auspices were to be soon taken, and would be likely to be "favorable," as the councils in Venna were eager to get on with the repair of the walls. Shackling which is closed by hammers, as was that of most of the black chain, is not as easily changed as lock shackling, responsive to keys. Two days ago, aediles had come to the camp to inspect the chains. They found none which contained illicit prisoners. No mention was made of the fact that a third of the chains was absent. The next day the auspices had been taken, and, seemingly, all had gone well. The chains in camp were already back at work. Preceding the time of taking the auspices, of course, and until they had been taken, things are very quiet. For example, the shops and baths are closed, the courts do not hear cases, and so on. Tupita, of course, had gone with the chain, south. I had not gone with it because I had been brought to the tent of the overseer. He had seen me from the ridge, and found me of interest. Certainly I had muchly served him the last few evenings. Too, to my irritation, he made me work hard during the day, precisely as though I might have been a house slave. "Slave," said the guard, coming up behind me.

"Yes, Master?" I whispered. His hands on my arms did not permit me to kneel. I realized then he must have been watching me stand there, Venna, and her lights, in the background. I recalled that he had told me to stand straightly. I had done so, of course.

"The city and the night are beautiful, are they not?" he asked.

"Yes, Master," I whispered.

"Surely you have business in the tent." He said.

"Yes," I said. "I should hurry back to polish boots. I thank master for letting me stay here for a few moments, master has been kind."

I made as though to move away, to return to the tent, but his hands, from behind, on my upper arms, held me where I was.

"Tela can polish boots," he said.

"She is polishing the shield of Aulus," I said.

"Have you received permission to leave?" he asked.

"No, Master," I said. "Forgive me, Master."

"Do not make noise," he said.

"No, Master," I said.

He lifted me, lightly, in his arms. I felt slightly giddy for a moment, held off my feet by a man. One has no contact with the ground. One is so much in their power.

"Put your arms about my neck," he said. "Kiss me,"

I obeyed. Then suddenly I kissed him again, this time as a slave.

He laughed softly.

I moaned inwardly. How had I changed? What had men done to me?

He put me gently to my back, beside the tent, perhaps not feet from Aulus, the overseer, within, working on papers.

My body leaped to his touch.

I looked up at him, wildly.

Men had done much to me on Gor. they had imperiously, for their amusement and pleasure, summoned forth from me my latent slavery, a slavery which on Earth I had hardly dared acknowledge. They had taken a woman of Earth and lit slave fires in her belly. They had taught me how to feel. They had required that I show my slavery, and yield to it, wholly and honestly. They would let me be the slave I was, lovingly and helplessly. I loved them for it! I kissed the master eagerly.

He drew aside that bit of silk, that slender mockery of a shield.

"Yes, Master," I whispered.

He then used me, as a slave.

"I must polish boots," I said, at last, frightened. "I must polish boots." "be about your chores, girl," he said.

"Yes, Master," I whispered. He then left me. I readjusted the bit of silk. I tried to wipe dirt from my back with my hands. I did not Aulus to know. Perhaps I, a slave, should not have gone out of the tent, clad as I was. There were tears in my eyes. How helpless the touch of men made us!

I hurried back about the tent and reentered it. Aulus glanced up, from the small, low table, behind which he sat, cross-legged, working. I performed obeisance, and then made as though to rise, to hurry to the rear portions of the tent, where my mat was near Tela" s.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

I remained on my knees, addressed. Indeed, from performing obeisance I was on all fours. "Outside," I said. "I went out for air. The night is very beautiful." "Do you expect Tela to do your work?" he asked.

"No!" I said. "No, Master!"

"Your nipples," he said, "are swollen. Your skin is like a field of scarlet dinas."

I did not respond. I was terrified.

"Are you well warmed?" he asked.

I flung myself, in terror, to my belly before him. I did not want to be punished.