In the face of dwindling resources the empire must exercise restraint and care in the applications of its still considerable power, judiciously applying it, on the whole, only to critical points at crucial times, and only to the measure deemed suitable to a given situation. Accordingly, to speak figuratively, while the farmer might go forth bravely to confront the wolf or arn bear, a thousand filchen might be free to nibble in his granaries.
We have already mentioned elsewhere, the cheapening of citizenship. No longer was it something of considerable value which, for many, must be earned, but it was now a gift bestowed in virtue of the accident of birth. Few respect that which costs nothing; it is taken for granted, and not prized. As the ecology of life deteriorated, the empire sought remedies. In the hope of improving the economy, the coinage was debased, with the natural consequence that, after the semblance of a brief recovery, money became less valuable, would buy less, and the situation, instead of being improved, grew worse, which lapse initiated a further debasement, with similar results, and so on. Later, the state would seek out those who might still be in a position to pay taxes, and attempt to save itself at their expense. But confiscatory taxes tended to be resisted by the prosperous who, expectedly, would reduce the output of their enterprises, transfer resources to new locales, conceal resources, and so on. To be sure, many of the prosperous were punished for such unconscionable behavior, and, accordingly, as they were methodically and systematically ruined, and reduced to the humiliori, the tax base declined proportionately. And finally, of late, on many worlds, to stabilize the tax base, the bindings had been emplaced, which forbade changing locales and occupations. For example the son of a farmer must be a farmer, the son of a physician a physician, the son of an artist or actor must be an artist or actor, and so on. On many worlds, associated with the decline of the influence of the empire, this would lead, particularly in agriculture, to a “binding to the soil,” or serfdom, as strong men with armed followers would come to take the place of a larger, more civilized state.
Lastly one might note that the remaining wealth of the distraught empire, its gold, its women, and such, particularly given the attenuation and deterioration of imperial power, constituted no small temptation to the eyes and appetites of the ambitious, strident, and covetous. Many “barbarian nations” existed within and without the empire, and several of these nations, so to speak, despite certain rude customs, traditions, and values, were technologically adept in their own right, and others might be armed and trained by jealous or rebel worlds who bore no love to the imperial court. The successful attack of the Ortungen, a secessionist movement within the Drisriaks, on the imperial cruise ship, the Alaria, might be recalled.
Prominent amongst the barbarian leaders was a man known as Abrogastes, the Far-Grasper.
We apologize for these historical remarks, but I felt they might render certain aspects of the succeeding accounts more readily comprehensible.
14
“Elena,” said Iaachus, Arbiter of Protocol, “you may withdraw.”
“I have brought kana,” she said. “Am I not to serve it?”
“No,” he said.
“But who, then, will serve it?” she asked.
“Leave it on the table,” said Iaachus.
“Surely I have not offended you?” she said.
“Not at all,” Iaachus assured her.
“I do not understand,” she said.
“Do not concern yourself,” he said.
“You are to entertain a secret guest?” she said.
“Not at all,” he said.
“I hope I am not in disfavor,” said Elena.
“No,” said Iaachus.
“I fear I have offended you,” she said.
“No,” said Iaachus. “I fear you might offend another.”
“Ah!” she said. “Your guest is a free woman!”
“Perhaps,” he said.
“I am fully clothed,” she said, “and well, if simply, gowned.”
“You are barefoot,” he said, “and neck-ringed.”
“Of course,” she said.
“Nonetheless,” he said.
“I see,” she smiled.
“What free woman would not detest you?” asked Iaachus. “You are beautiful, quite so, your brown hair, your gray eyes, your exciting limbs and latitudes, the turns within your plain gown, that permitted you, your only garment, your body which, suitably exhibited, would fetch good coin off a girl block.”
“It is my hope,” she said, “that Master has no intention to sell me.”
“Not at present,” he said.
“I love Master,” she said. “I love his chains! I love the feel of his hands on my body. Long ago he made me his! I was banded and branded, and then, later, he caressed me into the understanding of what I truly was, one appropriately submitted to a Master, which I had only suspected when a free woman.”
“It was pleasant for me to do so,” he said.
“Doubtless there are many pleasantries attendant on the Mastery,” she said.
“Of course,” he said.
“But there are pleasures, too,” she said, “I wonder if you understand them, on the part of the owned, on the part of those who find themselves subjected helplessly and without recourse to a welcome, coveted, enforced servitude.”
“The feelings of a beast,” he said, “need not be considered. It exists for the service and pleasure of its Master.”
“Master made me what I most desired, in my deepest heart, to be,” she said, “a slave.”
“You had no choice,” he said. “It was done to you.”
“As it should have been!” she said. “How I longed to have it done to me! It prospered in my most secret dreams! How I longed to be one who is owned and must obey, one who must yield all and serve choicelessly, one who would find herself, kneeling, collared, head down, wholly subject to another.”
“I see,” he said.
“The conflicts, the wars, were done,” she said. “I was subdued, as I had desired, I was chained, made helpless, as I had hoped. In losing, reduced and tethered, I won, as I had dreamed, and wished. My victory was in my defeat.”
“Do not concern yourself,” said Iaachus. “These things are neither here nor there. You are a slave.”
“The unhappinesses, the uncertainties, the troublings, the ambivalences, the anxieties, the confusions were done,” she said. “I would belong! So let it be confirmed! Let the collar be locked on my neck!”
“It was done,” he said.
“A beast is grateful,” she said.
“What free woman would not see you as a reproach? What excitement and fear you might inspire in her! She need only look at you, gowned, and banded, to see herself similarly reduced and owned. What recognitions, and uneasinesses, what fears and desires, you would stir in her body!”
“I shall withdraw,” she whispered.
“Do so,” said Iaachus, “but the guest is not a free woman.”