"Thank you, Lord,” said Flavion.
The Lady Bina lifted her head, a little, to regard Lord Grendel. There was a tiny sound of the bell. Then she thrust her head down, again.
"Shall we keep the bell on her?” asked Peisistratus.
"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “as before."
"And when,” said Flavion, anxiously, “shall she be put to death?"
"Do you not think it best that she be interrogated first?” asked Lord Grendel.
"I would think that unnecessary,” said Flavion.
"Might she not, under torture, as she is seemingly a valued and esteemed agent of great Agamemnon,” said Cabot, “be encouraged to betray his secrets?"
"She is human,” said Flavion. “To no secrets would she be privy."
"One might be curious to hear her own account of her treacheries,” said Lord Grendel.
"What could her own words do,” asked Flavion, “other than seal her fate the more securely, other than serve to more fiercely heat the very irons which will burn her?"
"Has she said nothing?” asked Cabot.
"As her guilt is clear,” said Flavion, “she has been forbidden to speak."
"It seems a shame to burn and tear such sweet flesh,” said Cabot. “Might it not be better to auction it off on a slave block?"
"Certainly not, dear Cabot,” said Statius. “Loathsome and despicable as she is, she is a free woman. Surely you would not reduce her to the unutterable shame of bondage. Nothing so shameful for her as chains, a whip, a collar, and a feared master."
"When we captured her,” said Lord Grendel, “she was starving, and I am not sure she is much better off now."
"She is a traitress,” said Flavion.
"What has she been fed?"
"She has had a pan of water, and, from time to time, has been thrown a handful of garbage."
"I see,” said Lord Grendel.
"We knew you would wish for us to keep her alive, that she might face your justice."
"You are thoughtful,” said Lord Grendel.
"I am eager to see her under the irons, the pincers and knives,” said Flavion.
"Feed her, decently,” said Grendel.
"I see,” said Flavion. “Yes! That she will be restored to health and vitality, this enabling her to better suffer, to experience more fully even the least and most exquisite nuances of agony. Too, Lord Grendel, I now understand, as I did not before, your seeming lenience to the traitress, permitting her clothing, such as it might be, the freedom of the camp, and such. It will be almost as though she were free, but she knows she is not free. Things might seem near and possible, but are far, and hopeless. To what tantalizing anxieties, to what false hopes, to what terrifying uncertainties, she will be subjected, not even knowing at what moment she will be roped and carried to the torture table!"
But then Lord Grendel had turned away, with Statius, and others, to confer on matters of policy, diplomatic and military.
Flavion went to accompany them, but Cabot bid him pause, however briefly.
"I had a slave,” said Cabot, “who has displeased me."
"I know the one,” said Flavion.
"I would like to recover her."
"Surely you do not care for her,” said Flavion.
"It is true she is only a slave,” said Cabot.
"I think,” said Flavion, “you would do much, perhaps anything, to get her back."
"Perhaps to teach her what it is to be a slave, and then sell her."
"I am a poor judge of slaves,” said Flavion, “but she is exquisitely curved, is she not?"
"She would probably sell for at least two tarsks,” said Cabot.
"That is a high price, is it not?"
"Yes."
"She fled, days ago,” said Flavion, warily. “Doubtless, by now, she has perished of exposure, or starved, or fallen to wild animals, or has been killed by Agamemnon's Kurii, for they had orders to fire on all humans."
"Doubtless,” said Cabot. “But, as I recall, you suggested that her trail might be found."
"It has been so long,” said Flavion. “How could that be?"
"Find it,” said Cabot.
"What?” said Flavion.
"Find it,” said Cabot.
"I do not understand,” said Flavion.
"Amongst your things,” said Cabot, “before the trek to the Vale of Destruction, I found a purple scarf."
"Of course,” said Flavion. “I needed such to penetrate enemy lines, and prosecute my duties as scout."
"A most satisfactory explanation,” said Cabot.
"Certainly,” said Flavion.
"And did it sometimes prove of use?"
"Yes,” said Flavion, more easily. “Several times."
"Interesting,” said Cabot.
"Why, interesting?” asked Flavion.
"You then, I take it, had contact with Kur patrols, guards, and such."
"Occasionally, inadvertently,” said Flavion.
"You were stopped?"
"Seldom, but sometimes,” he said.
"And you were not killed."
"Obviously not,” said Flavion.
"Why not?"
"I had the disguise,” said he, “the false uniform, the purple scarf."
"You would have to have had more than that,” said Cabot.
"What?” asked Flavion, stiffening.
"The signs, and countersigns,” said Cabot.
"—What do you want?” said Flavion.
"What have you to give?” asked Cabot.
A Kur smile eased the face of Flavion. “I might have much to give,” he said.
"I thought so,” said Cabot.
"The least of which might be a female slave,” he said.
"You can find her?"
"I can try,” he said.
"Do it,” said Cabot.
"I am pleased,” said Flavion, “to learn that you are a wise and practical person. I had feared otherwise. Some are not."
"We shall speak further of this tomorrow,” said Cabot.
"Very well,” said Flavion.
"Perhaps you would like me to groom you?” said Cabot.
"No,” said Flavion. “You are a trusted confidant of Lord Grendel, and stand high in the camp. I am only a lowly scout."
"Perhaps,” said Cabot, “you are less lowly elsewhere."
"Perhaps,” smiled Flavion.
"Come to the feast! Come to the feast!” called Peisistratus.
"Let us go to the feast,” said Cabot.
"Certainly,” said Flavion.
"Have you ever attended a feast served by female slaves?” asked Cabot.
"I have been served by them,” said Flavion, “as have all in the camp, but not at a feast."
"I think you will find it quite pleasant,” said Cabot. “I note that Peisistratus will have them serve typically, as they frequently do on Gor."
"And how is that?” inquired Flavion.
"Humbly, and stripped,” said Cabot.
"I see,” said Flavion.
"You will sit next to me,” said Cabot.
"I would be honored,” said Flavion.
Chapter, the Fifty-Eighth:
CABOT CONTEMPLATES A RENDEZVOUS
"Flavion is not in the camp,” said Grendel.
"He is out, doubtless attending to the arrangements,” said Cabot.
"As I understand it,” said Grendel, “I am to be betrayed into the hands of Agamemnon's agents."
"That is it, precisely,” said Cabot.
"I did not understand I was so important,” said Lord Grendel.
"You are quite important,” said Cabot.
"There are others, in other camps,” said Grendel.
"Your authority is foremost, clearly,” said Cabot. “You are leader."
"There are others,” said Grendel.
"It is the view of Agamemnon that without you the revolution will fail."
"You have this on the authority of our friend, Flavion?"
"Yes,” said Cabot.
"Interesting,” said Grendel. “And what are you to gain from all this?"