"The amnesty,” said Cabot, “is not mine."
"It is ours,” said Lord Grendel. “Thus, it is also yours."
"No!” cried Cabot.
"Yes, dear friend,” said Lord Grendel.
"Perhaps,” said Lord Arcesilaus, “he has in mind a pet."
"I have something in mind far less than a pet,” said Cabot. “I have in mind a slave."
"Had you not so precipitately sought Flavion,” said Lord Grendel, “had you waited for me, had you not rushed off, into the forest, as I learned, I might have spared you some effort."
"I do not understand,” said Cabot, uncertainly.
"I gather,” said Lord Grendel, “you believed that a certain slave, who had fled our forest camp, certainly an unwise thing to do, and a most serious offense, one whose gravity she may not have fully understood, had fallen into the company of Flavion."
"Certainly,” said Cabot.
"And he encouraged this view on your part."
"Yes,” said Cabot. “He even bargained with her, or seemed to do so, for services, and, later, for his life."
"Flavion is clever,” said Lord Arcesilaus.
"He never had her,” said Lord Grendel. “I found that out, in the victory."
"I do not understand this,” said Cabot.
"She was picked up by one of our other groups,” said Lord Grendel, “and, as a loose slave, was well roped, hand and foot. After the victory she was brought to the habitats."
"She is alive?” said Cabot.
"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “and is even now nicely, if somewhat uncomfortably, caged in one of the stables, with some others similarly caged, in individual, small shipping cages, waiting to be claimed by their masters."
"Given her collar,” said Peisistratus, “you will have no difficulty claiming her. She is clearly yours."
"Take me to her!” said Cabot.
"There is no hurry,” said Lord Arcesilaus.
"She will wait for you, dear Cabot,” said Archon.
"She is not going anywhere,” said Statius.
"I want to see her,” said Cabot.
"Doubtless she is eager to see you, as well,” said Archon.
"I will change that,” said Cabot.
"Her pleasure will soon turn to terror,” said a Kur.
"She was a flighted slave,” said another.
"Perhaps she does not understand that she has been displeasing to her master,” said a Kur.
"Doubtless she will soon understand it,” said another.
"Yes,” said another.
"She is a slave,” said another.
"There is no mercy for a runaway slave,” said another.
"They will be treated as they deserve,” said another.
"Put from your minds vengeances on foolish animals,” said Lord Arcesilaus. “I am planning several days of celebration, of feasting, and such, and Lord Zarendargar and his forces, I am pleased to note, will revel with us. They will share our joy, and participate in our games, and festivals. Departures may take place thereafter."
"Will there be female Kur slaves?” asked Zarendargar.
"Female Kur slaves!” exclaimed a Kur, shocked.
"Certainly,” said another.
"Surely there are no such slaves,” said he who had expressed astonishment.
"Do not be naive,” said another, to he who had expressed that astonishment.
"Yes,” said Statius, to Lord Zarendargar. “And if you wish we will put them in collars."
"And free Kur females will be denied entrance to the festivals,” said a Kur.
"Unless they submit themselves as slaves,” said a Kur.
"Yes,” said another.
"And will serve as slaves."
"Yes."
"And will be slaves."
"Yes."
"And will be denied harnesses."
"Certainly,” said another Kur.
"And they will serve with human female slaves,” said another Kur.
"They will be so degraded?” asked a Kur.
"Yes,” said a Kur, “and they will be well taught what it is to be a slave."
"Human female slaves often serve unclothed,” said a Kur.
"Save for collars,” said a Kur.
"If no free females are present,” said Cabot.
"They will be denied harnesses?” asked a Kur.
"Yes,” said a Kur.
"Then they will be naked,” said a Kur.
"Precisely,” said another.
"Let them learn what it is to be a slave,” said a Kur.
"Excellent!” said more than one Kur.
"Our females, many,” said Zarendargar, “are quite beautiful. Why should we, who are Kur, not have the same pleasures from our females which the men of Gor enjoy from theirs?"
"From those who are slaves,” said Cabot.
"Very well,” said Zarendargar.
"Perhaps,” said Lord Arcesilaus, “our folk will become less precipitate, and driven, and become somewhat more civil, less inclined to hasty, violent response, if their needs and desires are fulfilled, if vessels are at hand, properties, which they may subject to their will, which they may rule, and on which they may conveniently slake their lusts."
Cabot supposed something of the sort might be true. Contented men, in any event, are unlikely to rob, to kill, to practice cruelties, and such. Cabot wondered if the congeniality and civility of some fellows might have so simple an explanation as the full, pleasant, and convenient satisfaction of their most acute, recurrent masculine needs, those for dominance, ownership of the female, mastery, and sex. Their peace, and perhaps the safety of their neighbors, he speculated, was kept within the collars which encircled lovely necks.
A man wants nothing so much as a slave, and nothing so pleases a man as a slave.
It is no wonder they are brought to the markets.
"Return now,” said Lord Arcesilaus, “to your habitats, your shelters, your tents, your ships, your bivouacs, and refresh yourselves. Prepare jewelries and festive garments, for tomorrow there will be music, enactments, martial dances, and games. Tomorrow we feast!"
Outside the palace Cabot and Lord Grendel paused, on the steps.
A figure, small for a Kur, lurched toward them. It had apparently been waiting for them to emerge from the palace.
Cabot, with all his strength, held Lord Grendel in place.
"Peace, noble sirs,” said Flavion, saluting them with great ceremony. “Greetings, and may the peace of the amnesty be with you.” He then, with another bow, and flourish, took his leave.
"No,” said Cabot. “No."
A moan, almost human, of rage, of grief, of helplessness, came from the shuddering, hirsute massiveness of Cabot's companion.
"No,” said Cabot, gently.
"Does he think we have forgotten?” asked Lord Grendel.
"No,” said Cabot, “he does not think that, nor has he, in his turn, forgotten."
"Will you now forth to the stables, to claim a slave?” asked Lord Grendel.
"I think,” said Cabot, “that I will wait a bit. What I would like, however, is for you to see to it that she comes to understand, and quite clearly, the changes that have taken place in the world, the new arrangements, and such."
"She is a slave, of course,” said Lord Grendel.
"But she is to come to this understanding,” said Cabot, “seemingly in a manner appropriate for a slave, a manner seemingly innocent of intention, as if none were interested in informing her. Let her obtain this information from the actions of diverse, seemingly unconcerned, casual intermediaries, perhaps from guards, attendants, even passersby, in the vicinity of the cages, bit by bit, from, say, a word dropped here and there, to which she, in her cage, desperate for knowledge, would be eagerly alert. Let her assemble this understanding then from seemingly inadvertent scraps, which she will zealously scrutinize, that she may put pieces together, as in a puzzle. Let her suspect nothing."
"Then she is to be informed, without suspecting that she is being informed."