Dancer of Gor

After Callisthenes and Sempronius had left the camp, Mina and Cara were brought forth from the slave wagon and knelt down near the fire. They were still in their chains. Tela was then freed of the cords on her ankles, holding her between the trees. She was then pulled to her feet, drawn along, and then knelt down, in a line, with Mina and Cara. I was then freed of the ankle cords which had kept me in place, between the trees. I was then knelt before the sapling to which my right ankle had been fastened. One of the bracelets I wore was then removed, and my wrists dragged back, about the sapling. It was then replaced in such a way that my hands were now confined behind me, and braceleted about the sapling.

"In that direction," said the stranger, addressing himself to Mina, Cara and Tela, Mina and Cara in their chains, Tela with her wrists braceleted behind her, "lies the Vitkel Aria, and beyond it, continuing in the same direction, the camp of Pietro Vacchi. If you wish to return to Venna, and the camp of Ionicus, go right when you come to Viktel Aria."

Mina, Cara and Tela looked at one another.

He then removed the bracelets from Tela.

"Stand," he said.

They all stood.

"Whence"" he inquired.

"I do not wish to return to the black chain," said Mina. "I shall attempt to fall into the hands of the men of Pietro Vacchi."

"I, too," said Cara.

"I am sure," said the stranger, "that you will both make lovely camp slaves." "it will be done with us as masters please," said Mina.

"And what of you, my dear?" inquired he of Tela.

"I, too," she said, "shall attempt to venture to the camp of Pietro Vacchi, in the hope that one into whose hands I hope to fall will still be there. If he is not, I shall beg, then, to be returned to the camp of Ionicus."

"You have the look of a love slave," he said.

"Perhaps, Master," she said, putting down her head in confusion.

How much I thought must she love Aulus, to be willing to return to the black chain of Ionicus, if only to carry water in the work pits, her limbs chained, where from time to time she might look up to the hill, to the overseer" s tent atop it, or perhaps even to serve in the tent itself, in a rectangle of silk, as before.

"You do not know what became of the rest of us," said the stranger, warningly. "No, Master," they said.

"Go," he said.

"May I kiss Tuka?" asked Tela.

"Very well," he said.

Tela came to kneel beside me. "I wish you well, Tuka," she said. She kissed me. "I wish you well, too," I said to her, and kissed her.

She then, following Mina and Cara, left the camp.

The stranger then stood before me.

I looked up at him, frightened.

He went to the slave wagon, climbed the steps and swung open the iron door. He then returned to where I was secured and removed my bracelets. He then put me to all fours.

"In the slave wagon," he said, "on the right, as you enter, there is a water bag, which is full, and a food pan, in which there are two rolls. In the front of the slave wagon, on the left, as you face forward, there is a wastes bucket. "Yes, Master," I said.

"Go," he said.