"It is a standard collar, Master,” she said, “but one similar to a public collar, as that of a state slave."
"What does it say?” asked Cabot.
"It says, Master,” said the girl, “that I am a slave of the Pleasure Cylinder."
"Kurii are not to eat women found in such collars,” said Peisistratus.
"Would you not rather, Lehna,” asked Cabot, “wear a collar on Gor, and have a private master?"
She put down her head, fearing to respond.
"You need not reply,” said Cabot.
"Thank you, Master,” she whispered.
"Kurii prefer that we not have private slaves here,” said Peisistratus. “That gives the Kurii greater control over the slaves."
"And the men?"
"Perhaps,” said Peisistratus.
"There is then less bother, too, is there not,” asked Cabot, “should the Kurii desire to select some out for redistribution?"
"Yes, or food,” said Peisistratus.
"Lehna,” said Cabot, sharply.
"Yes, Master!” she said.
"Serve another,” said Cabot.
She looked at him, wildly.
"He,” said Cabot, pointing across the room, toward a fellow who had only too obviously, and perhaps disgruntledly, been inspecting the flanks of Cabot's waitress.
The girl, weeping, sprang to her feet, and hurried to the fellow indicated, who cried out with pleasure, waved good-naturedly, drunkenly, at Cabot, in appreciation doubtless for the unexpected gift, and, in a moment, the girl was being dragged, bent over, by the hair to a nearby alcove.
Cabot then returned his attention to the dancing sand.
There was a final, loud snap of the whip, and the dancer threw herself, half kneeling, half sitting, to the sand, and lifted one hand, piteously, to the fellow who had conducted his part of the whip dance.
"What do you think?” asked Peisistratus.
"Of the dance?” said Cabot.
"If you wish,” said Peisistratus.
"It was nicely done,” said Cabot. The whip dance is a not unfamiliar component in a tavern's entertainment, which often includes slave dance.
"You are a connoisseur of slave dance?” inquired Peisistratus.
"Not really,” said Cabot. “I know little of its subtleties."
"I feel that those who judge too exactly, too critically, of such matters,” said Peisistratus, “the position of the hands, the perfect framing of the head and body with the arms, the angle of the head, the lightness or moderation of a stamping foot, such things, miss much of the pleasure of the dance."
"I would suppose so,” said Cabot.
"Too, it is not always the most technically flawless dancer whom men wish to conduct to an alcove,” said Peisistratus.
"Perhaps a dancer who is too concerned with the assemblage of minute perfections,” said Cabot, “forgets the point of the dance, which is to dance her slave before masters."
"True,” said Peisistratus.
"Slave dance well displays a woman,” said Cabot.
"As a slave,” said Peisistratus.
"Of course,” agreed Cabot.
The dancer was now kneeling, and a chain was being put on her neck, some five feet in length, rather as a leash.
"And what do you think of our Corinna?” asked Peisistratus.
"A lovely slave,” said Cabot.
"I am told,” said Peisistratus, “she is an excellent dancer."
"One must agree,” said Cabot.
"Even technically."
"Interesting,” said Cabot. “But I suspect few men would be capable of forming a judicious opinion on that matter, and that even fewer would find it of the least interest."
"True,” smiled Peisistratus.
"In any event,” said Cabot, “putting aside her skills as a dancer, which are doubtless considerable, she is obviously a luscious piece of collar meat."
Some Goreans claim that it is the existence of beautiful women that is the justification of the slave collar. Other Goreans claim that it is the existence of women which is the justification of the slave collar.
"Behold,” said Peisistratus, “she approaches."
The dancer knelt before Cabot, and, with both hands, lifted the chain to him. “I offer you my chain, Master,” she said.
Cabot took the chain and jerked it against the back of her neck, and she gasped. “I take it, if I wish,” he said.
"Yes, Master,” she whispered, frightened.
"You like her?"
"She is lovely."
"You may take her home with you, to the hillside villa in the Steel World,” said Peisistratus, “and keep her as long as you wish."
"You are generous,” said Cabot.
"The Kurii are generous,” said Peisistratus.
Ah, thought Cabot, Peisistratus is interested in this slave.
"She is muchly concerned to please a man,” said Peisistratus.
"Does she fear the whip?"
"Very much,” said Peisistratus.
"Good,” said Cabot. It is useful to the master that the slave girl is terrified of the whip. Thus it seldom needs to be used. She knows, of course, that it will be used on her if she is in the least bit displeasing. Accordingly, she does her best to be found pleasing, and fully so.
Cabot noted that the slave cast a look of misery at Peisistratus, and that the hands on her thighs lifted slightly, as though she would expose her palms to him, but then she quickly returned them to her thighs, palms down.
"She has been deprived?” inquired Cabot.
"Yes,” said Peisistratus, “to prepare her for you."
"Girl,” said Cabot to the dancer, “return to your cage, or kennel."
She leapt up, gratefully, cast another look at Peisistratus, and hurried from the room, departing through the beaded curtain. It shook behind her.
One of the Kurii growled menacingly. It was obviously displeased.
Cabot thought that Peisistratus leaned back, a bit.
"You did not send her to another, as with Lehna?” said Peisistratus.
"Let her rest, from the dance,” said Cabot.
"I see,” said Peisistratus.
One of the Kurii, Cabot noticed, was looking toward the beaded curtain.
"You did not find her attractive?” asked Peisistratus.
"She is very attractive,” said Cabot.
"There are others, of course,” said Peisistratus. “Would you like to inspect them?"
"No,” said Cabot.
"Nature has designed them all, and well, for the collar,” said Peisistratus.
"I am pleased to hear it,” said Cabot.
"All would sell well."
"I am sure of it."
"And all have been readied for you."
"As the paga of Temus?"
"Yes,” said Peisistratus.
"I am grateful,” said Cabot.
"Perhaps you are interested in the brunette from the stall, the pet of Pyrrhus?” asked Peisistratus.
"The one whose hair is too short?"
"Yes."
"Why would one be interested in her?” asked Cabot.
"Agamemnon could easily arrange for her to be brought to you,” said Peisistratus.
"She is the pet of Lord Pyrrhus,” said Cabot.
"He does not want her,” said Peisistratus. “He only took her to anger you. Indeed, he might kill her."
"That would be a waste of slave,” said Cabot.
"There are others,” said Peisistratus, “from the cylinder, even from the cattle pens. Humans are cheap."
"Where is Zarendargar?” asked Cabot.
The bluntness, the suddenness, of this question, startled Peisistratus. He looked uneasily back at the two Kurii behind them.
"I do not know,” he said.
"Tell me,” said Cabot.
"He is not in the Steel World,” said Peisistratus. “He was removed from the domain of Agamemnon, under custody, seven days ago."
"He was merely used to bring me to the Steel World?” said Cabot.
"I fear so,” said Peisistratus. “He was intent to rescue a friend, with whom it is told he had once shared paga, to save him from death or dishonor at the hands of Priest-Kings, a noble endeavor, but instead he brought him unwittingly into the grasp of Agamemnon."