Swiftly, startled, gasping, she flung herself to her knees before her master, and, head down, kissed him, again and again, about the knees and thighs.
"Was it instructive?” he asked.
"Well was I taught my servitude,” she said.
"Good,” he said.
"But, too, Master,” she whispered, “I felt so slave!"
"Good,” he said.
"And I knew myself so yours,” she said. “My belly was stirred. My thighs were hot. I was enflamed!"
"I know,” he said.
"But now I am to follow you freely?” she asked.
"Yes,” he said. “At least for now."
Grendel was dividing the arrows.
"But, why, Master?” she asked.
"Because, Lita,” he said, “though you are collared, you are obviously human."
"Of course, Master,” she said, puzzled.
"It has to do with the message,” said Lord Grendel.
"Your bonds, and such, even your collar,” said Cabot, “no longer afford you protection."
"The message,” said Lord Grendel, “was clear."
"What was it?” asked Lita.
"'Kill all humans',” said Lord Grendel.
"We may not live out the day,” said Cabot.
"Humans are safe with the revolutionaries,” said Lord Grendel, “as they are regarded either as allies or neutral, but those with the purple scarves will destroy all humans on sight."
"Why?” asked the slave.
"They are suspect,” said Lord Grendel, “and if one kills them all, one will surely kill those who might favor the revolution."
"And perhaps, in particular, one or two,” said Cabot, bitterly.
"Precisely,” said Grendel, thrusting several arrows into his quiver, and bundling others, to be carried by hand.
"What of the cattle?” said Cabot.
"They are human,” said Lord Grendel.
"I must try to save them,” said Cabot.
"They are cattle,” said Lord Grendel.
"They are human,” said Cabot.
"Where are you off to?” asked Cabot.
"The Lady Bina,” said Lord Grendel, “is human."
"Forget her,” said Cabot.
"I cannot, I will not,” said Lord Grendel.
"I may never see you again,” said Cabot.
"I wish you well,” said Lord Grendel.
"I wish you well,” said Cabot.
The slave put down her head and gently kissed her master's foot, and then lifted her head to regard him.
"We may not live out the day?” she said.
"I do not know,” said Cabot.
"You gave me great joy last night,” she said.
Cabot shrugged.
"And I no more than a slave,” she said.
"Such things are commonly done to slaves,” he said.
"A slave is grateful,” she said.
"I found you pleasing,” said Cabot.
"A slave is grateful,” she said.
"Do you know what the sort of joy you experienced is called?” asked Cabot.
"Yes, Master,” she said.
"What?” he asked.
"Collar joy,” she said.
Chapter, the Forty-First:
THE SLEEN
"Do you hear it?” she asked.
"Yes,” he said. “Sleen."
"They are animals,” she said.
"You have never seen one,” he said.
"No,” she said. “Are they dangerous?"
"Some are wild, some are domesticated, all are dangerous,” he said.
"It sounds in pain,” she said.
"Yes,” said Cabot. “It may be wounded, torn, dying."
"It is over there,” she said.
"Be careful,” said Cabot. He bent his bow, and set an arrow to the string.
This was not an unwise act on the part of the human, Tarl Cabot. Many sleen are clever animals, and it is not unknown for some, particularly older animals, to pretend to be disabled or incapacitated, in order to encourage curious animals to approach them, often to their subsequent instruction and sorrow.
The slave threw her hand before her mouth, and half screamed. Her eyes wide.
The large beast lifted his head and snarled.
"Steady,” said Cabot to the slave.
"I have never seen such a thing!” she said.
"It is a big one,” said Cabot, lowering the bow.
"Its head,” she said, “it is like a snake, a viper!"
"Not at all,” said Cabot, “but the width, the triangularity, is typical."
"Its legs!” she said.
"It is hard to tell as it lies,” said Cabot, “but there are six."
The sleen exposed its fangs and hissed at Cabot.
The slave leapt back.
"It can't reach you,” said Cabot. “The rear leg on the left, the bloody leg. You can see the teeth of the trap buried in it."
"It is wild,” she said.
"No,” said Cabot. “See, the collar."
"How is it loose?” she asked.
"I do not know,” said Cabot, “but I suspect it, and others, were released into the habitats."
"For what reason?” she asked.
"To kill humans,” said Cabot.
The slave shuddered.
"The trap may have been set by our colleagues,” said Cabot, “to protect, as they could, their human allies."
The sleen lunged toward them, briefly, and then screamed with pain. There was the sound of the heavily linked chain which held it in place.
"It cannot reach you,” said Cabot.
"Let us leave,” said the slave, looking about.
"It will die in misery here,” said Cabot. “It will bleed to death, or it will starve. The leg will never be of use to it again."
"Then kill it,” said the slave.
"It is a magnificent animal,” said Cabot.
"It is a monster,” said the girl. “Kill it, in kindness, or come away!"
Cabot put down his bow, and approached the sleen more closely, but did not come within its reach.
He then turned about, to the slave. “I thought I recognized this animal,” he said. “From the arena. It is the one called Ramar. It is a valuable beast, a fighting sleen. It might kill ten sleen, or a hundred humans. That it should be released is interesting."
"How is that?” asked the slave, keeping back.
"It would indicate, I suppose,” said Cabot, “that Lord Agamemnon is concerned with the revolution, that he takes it seriously, truly, and that he recognizes that its humans may pose some threat to his forces, that their opposition is not negligible."
"Lord Agamemnon is afraid?” asked the slave.
"I doubt that,” said Cabot. “But I find it encouraging that he might be concerned."
The sleen snarled.
The slave backed away, further. “Let us get away from here,” she said.
"You see,” said Cabot. “He may not know the extent of the revolution, of the unrest, and he may not be certain as to who is loyal to him, and who is not."
"Come away, Master,” she said, “please."
"I cannot leave this powerful, beautiful thing to die here,” said Cabot.
"Then kill it, Master,” she said, “and come away. I am frightened. It is a terrible thing. And there may be Kurii about."
"True,” said Cabot. “Keep watch."
"What are you going to do?” asked the slave. “No!” she said. “Come away, Master! Please, Master, come away!"
Cabot held his hands open, and spoke soothingly to the beast.
"It is used to Kur!” said the slave.
"Gorean will do,” said Cabot. “Even English. It does not know Kur, any more than it knows Gorean or English. Some simple commands perhaps, perhaps its name, that would be all."
He continued to speak soothingly to the sleen.
It regarded him, and snarled.
"Come away, Master!” said the slave. “Come away, please, Master!"
"I will not hurt you,” said Cabot, soothingly to the beast. “Be calm, be patient, big fellow."