Hunters of Gor coc-8 Page 10

  It was not yet time for a slave girl to escape.

  Things were going well.

  I went to inspect the work of the men, setting the sharpened stakes about the camp.

  We had made one alteration in our original planes, an alteration to take into account the arrival in Laura of the Rhoda of Tyros.

  We had taken the Tesephone from the wharves of Laura, and ascended the river some twenty pasangs. It was there, on the north bank, that we made our camp. Above Laura the river is less navigable than below, particularly in the late summer. The Rhoda, though a shallow drafted galley, was still considerably deeper keeled than the Tesephone. Moreover, it was a much longer ship. The Rhoda would be unable to follow us to our camp. Furthermore, I would post guards, downriver, to warn us of any approach, say, by longboats, from Laura. I had also pointed guards about the camp, in case, as was unlikely, there should be an attempt to make an approach through the forests.

  I suspected that these precautions were unnecessary, but I saw fit to decree them nonetheless.

  Furthermore, the camp above Laura, on the north bank of the Laurius, provided us with privacy for our business. We might be simply, as far as those in Laura knew, attempting to achieve better prices on sleen fur by establishing this camp. Such things were sometimes done. No one in Laura need know the true object of our expedition.

  The riverside camp was not untypical of a semipermanent Gorean naval camp. The Tesephone had been beached, and lay partly on her side, thus permitting scraping, recalking and resealing of the hull timber, first on one side and then, later, when turned, on the other. These repairs would be made partly from stores carried on board, partly from stores purchased in Laura. There would also, of course, be much attention given to the deadwork of the ship, and to her lines and rigging, and the fittings and oars. Meanwhile, portions of the crew not engaged in such labors, would be carrying stones from the shore and cutting saplings in the forest, to build the narrow rectangular wall which shields such camps. Cooking, and most living, is done within the camp, within the wall and at the side of the Tesephone. The wall is open, of course, to the water. Canvas sheets, like rough awnings on stakes, are tied to the Tesephone, and these provide shade from the sun and protection in the case of rain.

  I was fond of my crew. I would have girls, paga slaves, brought up for them from Laura.

  “How goes the work?” I asked Thurnock.

  “It goes well,” said he, “my captain.”

  The men would soon be finished.

  The camp of Marlenus, the great Ubar of Ar, I had learned was somewhere within the forest, north or northwest of Laura. It was quite possibly the same camp he had used several months ago, when, as recreation from the duties of the Ubar, he had gone hunting in the northern forests, a sporting trip in which he had captured a large number of animals, and, as well, Verna, a famed outlaw woman, and her entire band.

  Marlenus, I was certain, would be overconfident.

  Verna, I was certain, would not be so easily taken a second time.

  “Another two stakes, and we are done,” said Thurnock.

  I looked at the sun, it was now low, behind the trees, well below them. In half an Ahn, it would be dusk.

  It was now time for a slave girl to escape.

  I looked at Sheera. “On your feet, Slave Girl,” I said.

  She stood up, her wrists braceleted before her body. She faced me. She wore the brief, sleeveless garment of white wool, her dark hair back by the fillet of white wool. She was barefoot. My collar was at her throat.

  I realized, suddenly with a start, that she was a quite beautiful woman. She regarded me.

  Her fists were clenched in the slave bracelets. The short chain, joining the bracelets, was taut.

  “Is this why you purchased me?’ she asked.

  “Yes,” I said.

  She turned quickly, wrists braceleted, and slipped between two stakes, where Thurnock had not yet closed the defenses of the camp. She sped swiftly into the forest.

  It was in her best interest, braceleted, to fall swiftly into the hands of Verna’s band. Within the Ahn, hungry, nocturnal sleen would slip from their burrows to hunt.

  “What shall we do now, Captain,” asked Thurnock. He had finished closing the wall, setting the two stakes, sharpened, inclined toward the forests, into place.

  “We shall cook some food,” I said, “and we shall eat, and we shall wait.” About the twentieth Ahn, the Gorean midnight, we heard a sound, beyond our defensive perimeter.

  “Do not put out the fire,” I told my men, “but stay back from it.”

  That we kept the fire burning would indicate that our intentions were not hostile, and that we wished to make contact.

  We remained back from the fire to make it more difficult for the panther girls, were it their intention, to slay us from the darkness with arrows.

  But that was not their intention. Had it been I do not believe we would have heard the sound we did.

  It had been the breaking of a branch, to alert us, to permit them to see what our response would be.

  But the fire was not covered.

  I stood near the fire, and lifted my arms, that they might see I held no weapons.

  “I am Bosk, of the Free Island of tabor,” said I. “I am a merchant. I would hold converse with you.” There was only silence.

  “We have trade goods,” I said.

  From the darkness, beyond the perimeter, there stepped forth a woman, boldly. She carried a bow. She wore the skins of panthers.

  “Build up your fire,” she commanded.

  “Do so,” said I to Thurnock.

  Reluctantly Thurnock heaped more wood on the fire, until the interior of the perimeter was well illuminated in the darkness.

  We could not see beyond the fire.

  “Keep the fire high,” said the woman.

  “Keep it high,” said I to Thurnock.

  Each of us, now within the defensive perimeter, between the stakes, was an easy mark.

  “Remove your sword belts and weapons,” said the woman. I dropped my belt, with sword and sheath, and knife, to the ground, beside the fire. My men, at my signal, did likewise.

  “Excellent,” said the woman, from the other side of the stakes.

  She looked at us. In the light from the recently built-up fire I could see her more clearly. I saw the brief skins, the bow. She had a golden armlet on her left arm, a golden anklet on her right ankle.

  She was truly a panther girl.

  “You are surrounded,” she said.

  “Of course,” I said.

  “You understand,” she asked, “that you might be now, should it please us, taken slave?” “Yes,” I said.

  “Of what would you hold converse?” she asked.

  “Let us speak,” I said.

  “Remove some of the stakes,” she said, “and we will speak.”

  I gestured to Thurnock.:Remove four stakes,” I said. Reluctantly the peasant giant did so.

  The panther girl, her head high, strode into the camp. She looked about herself. Her eyes were strong, and fearless. With her foot she kicked the dropped weapons closer the fire, away from my men.

  “Sit,” she said to them, indicating a place near the back of the wall of stakes, “and face the fire.” I indicated they should comply with her direction.

  “More closely together,” she said.

  I again indicated that they should comply with her directive.

  She had had them face the fire, that their eyes might not quickly adapt to night vision. If the fire were suddenly extinguished they would, for an Ehn, for all practical purposes, be blind, at the mercy of the panther girls. They had been told to sit together that an arrow loosed into their midst could not but find a target.

  The girl now sat down across from me, cross-legged, near the fire.

  There was another sound from beyond the perimeter. I saw something white move in the darkness, stumbling between two panther girls.

  A panther girl h
olding each arm, she was thrust into the camp. She was still braceleted, of course, but now her hands, in the bracelets, with binding fiber, had been tied close to her belly. Her brief white garment had been torn to her waist. The fillet was gone from her hair. Sheera was thrust forward, and forced to her knees, head down, by the fire. She had been much switched.

  “We encountered this strayed slave,” said the girl.

  “She is mine,” I said.

  “Do you know who she was?” asked the girl.

  I shrugged.:A slave,” I said.

  There was laughter from girls beyond the perimeter, in the darkness. Sheera lowered her head still more.

  “She was once a panther girl,” said the girl.:She was once Sheera, the panther girl.” “Oh,” I said.

  The girl laughed. “She was a great rival to Verna. Verna now takes pleasure in returning her to you.” The girl looked at Sheera. “You wear a collar well, Sheera,” said she.

  Sheera looked at her, her eyes glazed in pain.

  “This merchant,” said the girl, “tells us that you are his slave. Is that true?” She looked at her, in fury.

  “Speak, Slave,” said the girl.

  “Yes,” said Sheera, “he is my master.”

  The girl laughed, and so, too, did the others. Then the girl looked at me, and nodded at Sheera. “Is she any good?” she asked.

  I looked at Sheera. “Yes,” I said, “she is quite good.”

  Sheera looked away, in fury, and put down her head. There was much laughter from the girls.

  “We will take four arrow points for her,” said the girl, “for returning her to you.” “Your fee is quite reasonable,” I remarked.

  “More than enough,” said the girl, “for a cheap girl.”

  Sheera’s fists were clenched. Then she put her head down, and wept, a slave. I indicated that one of the girl’s companions might remove four arrow points from the pack of trade goods. She did remove four, just four, and no more. “So you are Verna?” I asked the girl “No,” she said.

  I looked disappointed.

  She regarded me warily. “You seek Verna?” she asked.

  “I have come far,” I admitted, to do business with her.” I looked at the girl, not much pleased. “I had understood that this was the territory ranged by Verna and her band.” “I am of the band of Verna,” said the girl.

  “Good,” I said. I was now more pleased.

  The girl facing me was blond, and blue-eyed, like many panther girls. She was lovely, but cruel looking. She was not particularly tall.

  For some reason, I found myself not displeased that this woman was not Verna. “I am Bosk, of Tabor,” I said.

  “I am Mira,” she said.

  “Do you come from Verna?” I asked. “Can you speak for her?”

  “Yes,” she said. “For whom do you speak?”

  “For myself,” I said.

  “That is interesting,” she said. Then she mused, “Verna told us that Marlenus of Ar would not approach us as you have done, and that he would not use a merchant to do his business for him.” I shrugged. “She is probably right,” I said. Marlenus, with men, would hunt the forests. He would not be likely to address himself to a panther girl unless she was stripped and knelt before him in slave chains.

  “Do you know Marlenus is in the forest?” she asked.

  “Yes,” I said, “I have heard that.”

  “Do you know the location of his camp?” she asked.

  “No,” I said, “other than the fact that it is said to be somewhere north or northeast of Laura.” “We know where it is” said Mira.

  “I am interested in obtaining,” I said, “a woman, who is rumored to be a prisoner in Verna’s camp.” “A slave?’ smiled Mira.

  “Perhaps,” I said. “She is said to be dark haired, very beautiful.” “You speak of Talena,” smiled Mira, the daughter of Marlenus of Ar.” “Yes,” I said. “Is she in your camp?” “Perhaps,” said Mira. “Perhaps not.” “I am prepared to offer much,” I told her. “I am prepared to offer weights in gold.” The weight is ten Gorean stone. A Gorean stone is approximately four pounds in weight.

  “If you obtained her,” said Mira, “would you sell her back to Marlenus of Ar, for even more?” “It is not my intention,” I said, “to take a profit on her.” Mira stood up. I, too, stood up.

  “Tens of weights of gold,” I said to Mira.

  But I looked into her eyes, I realized that Talena was not for sale. “Is the girl in your camp?” I asked.

  “Perhaps,” said Mira, “Perhaps not.”

  “Set a price on her,” I said.

  “These woods,” said Mira, “belong to panther girls. In the morning, Merchant, leave them.” I faced her.

  “It is well for you,” said the girl, lifting the four arrow points she had received for the return of Sheera, “that e have done business.” I nodded, understanding her.

  She looked at my men, as a man might have looked upon women. “Some of these men,” she said, “seem interesting. They are strong and handsome. They would look well in the chains of slaves.” She strode to the opening in the stakes, and there turned, again to face me. “Be warned,” said she. “These are the forests of panther girls. Leave them!” “I understand,” I said.

  “And, Merchant,” said she, “do not seek hereafter to mix in the affairs of Verna and Marlenus.” “I understand,” I said.

  The girl turned and, swiftly, disappeared in the shadows, the others disappearing with her.

  My men leaped to their feet and seized their weapons.

  I went to Sheera, and lifted her head. “Did you see Verna?” I asked her. “Yes,” she said.

  “Were you at the camp?” I asked.

  “No,” she said.

  “Do they hold Talena?” I demanded. I held her cruelly by the shoulders. “I do not know,” she said.

  I released her.

  “Did Verna give you any message for me?” I asked.

  “It is unimportant,” she said.

  “What was it?” I asked.

  “It concerns me,” said Sheera, head down.

  “What was the message?” I asked.

  “I am to say it to you,” whispered Sheera.

  “Say it,” said I.

  “Teach me slavery,” whispered Sheera. Then she put her head down.

  I thrust her aside with my foot, furious. “Thurnock,” said I, “replace the stakes.” The peasant giant did so.

  I looked into the darkness of the forests. We would indeed leave the forests, and by noon of the morrow.

  But we would come back.

  I had given Verna, and her band, her chance.

  I unsnapped the slave bracelets from Sheera.

  “Cara,” said I, “see that this girl is taught the duties of a female slave.” “Yes, Master,” said Cara. She led Sheera away. Sheera looked at me, over her shoulder.

  She would be taught to cook, to sew, to iron and wash clothing.

  The former panther girl would learn to perform well the menial tasks of the female slave.

  She would find Cara a helpful but exacting teacher.

  We had been welcomed by my men. We had returned to the camp by the river but within the Ahn. My first task had been to see to the Tesephone. The work was going well.

  In my absence, some hunters and outlaws had brought sleen fur to trade. We had given them good prices, in gold or goods. As far as those in Laura knew, or those in the forests, with the exception of the panther girls of Verna’s band, we were what we seemed, traders in fur and sleen.

  I was not dissatisfied.

  “Look,” said Rim. “The little she-sleen!”

  I observed Tina, carrying a pitcher of water to two of the men working at the side of the Tesephone.

  Her feet sank to her ankles in the sand. I noted that she had, with a light cord, belted her brief woolen slave tunic. I smiled.

  Rim and I approached her. She turned about, startled, and looked up at us. “Masters?” she asked.
/>   “Raise you arms over your head,” I said.

  Apprehensive, she did so. The men watched, curious.

  The cord belt she wore, drawing the brief tunic tight about her, dramatized the small, sweet delights of her body.

  But we suspected that that was not the reason the little she-sleen wore the belt as she did.

  Rim tugged the knot loose.

  From the garment, to the sand about her ankles, there fell several small Gorean plums, a small larma fruit and two silver tarsks.

  “Pretty little thief,” said Rim.

  “My father was a thief!” she cried. “And his father!”

  Several men had gathered around. “I am missing two silver tarsks,” said one. He retrieved his tarsks from the sand.

  The girl was now frightened. Thievery on Gor is not much approved.

  She attempted to run but one of my men seized her by the arm, and flung her back before us.

  “Where is your cache?” I asked.

  She looked at me, and from face to face. Then again she looked at me. “I have no cache,” she whispered.

  “You have ten Ihn,” I told her,to show us where it is.”

  “I have no cache!” she cried.

  “One,” I said.

  “I have no cache!” she cried. “There is none!”

  “Two,” I said.

  With a moan she ran from us, to a place near the wall, near which she was, at night, chained in the sand.

  We walked over to where she knelt in the sand, terrified, digging, weeping. “Nine,” I said.

  She lifted a piece of folded leather, many particles of sand clinging to it, to me.

  Then she knelt with her head to my feet.

  I opened the folded leather. It contained many small articles, some rings, trinkets, small mirrors, coins.

  “You are a skilled thief,” I said.

  “My father was a thief,” she said, “and his father before him.”

  She trembled at my feet.

  I passed her bit of loot about, and cast aside the scrap of leather in which she had wrapped her small horde.

  “You understand,” I said, “that a slave girl may not possess goods.” She shook. “Yes, Master,” she said.

  “Do you think, within the Ehn,” I asked, “that you could bring me a tarn disk, of gold, of double weight?” “I have no gold!” she cried.