Cabot regarded the former Miss Pym, who had wisely retained position.
"I think so,” said Cabot.
Women well understand the switch, the whip, the rope, the chain, such things, often from the very first sight of them.
Outside the stable, a slave, not knowing herself a slave, she might inadvertently behave improperly, and find herself subjected to reprimands which might place her very life in jeopardy. Too, in many milieus it is far safer for a woman to be a slave than to be free. The free person might be simply slain; the slave, as a valued domestic animal, would be far more likely to be spared. Similarly, one would not slay valued kaiila but would add them to one's herds.
Peisistratus then spoke to the brunette in English.
"Repeat,” he said, “firmly, and clearly, the first words you learned in Gorean."
"La kajira!” she said.
"Again!” he snapped.
"La kajira!"
"Keep your knees apart!"
She complied, frightened.
How soft, and inviting, were her thighs, and how sweet the secret gate to which they led.
"Again!"
"La kajira!” she cried.
"It is true,” he said.
"Sir?"
"What do they mean?” he said.
"I do not know,” she sobbed. “That I am a beauty, that I am beautiful, I do not know!"
"You are vain, are you not?"
"I do not know!” she wept.
"You are,” he said.
"Yes, Sir,” she sobbed.
"But that is quite all right, for one such as you,” he said.
"For one such as I?"
"Yes,” he said, “for one who is kajira."
"It does mean then that I am beautiful?"
"No,” he said, “but it is seldom that one who is not beautiful is kajira."
She regarded him, frightened.
"You suspect, do you not?” he asked.
"No,” she said. “No! No!"
"Yes,” said he. “It means ‘I am a slave girl.’”
"No!” she cried. “No! No! No!"
"Do not break position,” warned Peisistratus.
"You bespoke yourself slave on the Prison Moon,” said Cabot. “The words were spoken. The thing was done."
"I was frightened!” she said. “I didn't think! I didn't know what I was saying!"
"Slaves may not lie,” said Cabot. “Do not lie. You knew well what you were saying. Do not lie. You are not a free woman. They may lie, you may not. Do not lie. You are now subject to discipline, and may be whipped."
"Whipped?"
"Yes,” said Cabot. “The words were spoken. That is sufficient. It was done. Clearly, too, you meant what you said. It was obvious. But that is not important. It does not matter whether you meant what you said or not. The words were spoken. The thing was done."
"I was then a slave?"
"Yes."
"I am a slave?"
"Yes."
"You knew this all the time!” she said to Cabot.
"Yes,” he said.
"But you did not tell me!"
"Of course not,” said Cabot. “I was amused by your arrogance, and such, how you carried on as though you might be free."
"You were playing with me!"
"Yes,” said Cabot.
"Beast!” she wept, but feared to break position.
"Yes,” said Cabot.
"Free me!” she cried.
"Free yourself,” he said.
"How, how?” she asked.
"There is no way,” he said. “You are slave. There is no way you can free yourself."
"I despise men!” she cried.
"I do not think so,” he said.
"I do, I do despise them!” she wept.
"You now belong to them,” he said.
"I do not want to be a slave!” she cried.
"You will commonly kneel in the presence of free persons,” said Cabot. “You will address free men as “Master,” free women as “Mistress.” Instant and unquestioning obedience is expected of you. Commonly, you are not to speak unless you have been given permission to do so. When you speak you will speak with softness and deference. You can own nothing. It is you who are owned. You are a property, an animal, subject to buying and selling, trading, and such. You are completely at the disposal and pleasure of your master, in all ways."
"In all ways?"
"Yes."
"—Even?"
"Yes,” he said, “and particularly so."
"I do not want to be a slave!” she cried.
Peisistratus lifted his switch, but Cabot placed his hand gently on his arm, and stayed his hand.
She had not requested permission to speak.
"You do want to be a slave,” Cabot informed her.
"No, no!” she said.
"But it does not matter one way or another,” he said. “You are a slave."
"No,” she wept. “No, no!"
Arcesilaus, who was large, even for a Kur, had witnessed the preceding exchanges with a certain degree of tolerance. Kurii, as I may have mentioned before, do not make slaves of humans, no more than, say, humans make slaves of dogs or cats. They tend to regard humans, on the whole, as food. Indeed, in Kur there is a generic word for “food,” and it is understood that it covers a wide variety of edible organisms, for example, verr, tarsk, vulo, human, and so on. Similarly, in many of the Earth languages I am informed there is a similar generic word which refers to a wide variety of edibles, vegetables, fruit, nuts, meat, and so on. Kurii do, of course, recognize that humans may serve several purposes beyond those commonly associated with food, that they may, for example, have uses as workers, pets, confederates, and so on.
Arcesilaus then gave a slight shake to the blonde's leash, and she, who had been curled on the wood at his feet, quickly stood up.
"Would you like to see our world?” inquired Arcesilaus of Cabot, through the translator.
"Very much so,” said Cabot.
Pyrrhus, much smaller than Arcesilaus, no more than four or five hundred pounds, who was in the ring hierarchy subordinate to Arcesilaus, was looking at the brunette, who was still in position. That movement of the features which Cabot was learning was a Kur smile, appeared about his jaws.
Peisistratus replaced his switch on his belt.
"Follow us, if you would,” said Arcesilaus.
The group then prepared to leave.
Cabot turned to the brunette.
"Cecily,” he said. Then he repeated the name, firmly, not unkindly. “Cecily."
He wondered if she would understand what was required.
"—Master?” she whispered.
He saw she was highly intelligent.
"When we leave,” he said, “you may break position.” Then he continued to look at her, obviously awaiting a response.
"Yes, Master,” she said.
He continued to regard her.
"—Thank you, Master,” she whispered.
Yes, he thought, she is quite intelligent. Doubtless with some training much might be expected of her in the furs, at the foot of one's couch.
He then turned to leave, and followed the others, who had preceded him a bit down the passageway.
As he left he heard her sobbing behind him, and wildly pulling at the chain, trying to free it from its fastening.
She would not, of course, be successful in this endeavor.
* * * *
"I have noted, from the stable,” said Cabot to his guides, “there seems to be an alternation of day and night."
"It agrees,” said Arcesilaus, “with that of Gor, adjusted seasonally, to the middle latitudes of that world."
"Intentionally,” said Cabot.
"Surely,” said Arcesilaus.
"I would have thought,” said Cabot, “it would have been adjusted to that of your Home World."
"Much has been lost,” said Pyrrhus, “pertaining to the Home World."
"It is important to index these things to Gor,” said Arcesilaus.