Kur of Gor

Chapter, the Fifty-Eighth: CABOT CONTEMPLATES A RENDEZVOUS

"Flavion is not in the camp,” said Grendel.

"He is out, doubtless attending to the arrangements,” said Cabot.

"As I understand it,” said Grendel, “I am to be betrayed into the hands of Agamemnon's agents."

"That is it, precisely,” said Cabot.

"I did not understand I was so important,” said Lord Grendel.

"You are quite important,” said Cabot.

"There are others, in other camps,” said Grendel.

"Your authority is foremost, clearly,” said Cabot. “You are leader."

"There are others,” said Grendel.

"It is the view of Agamemnon that without you the revolution will fail."

"You have this on the authority of our friend, Flavion?"

"Yes,” said Cabot.

"Interesting,” said Grendel. “And what are you to gain from all this?"

"Incidentally, a meaningless slave, of course,” said Cabot, “but more importantly the favor of Agamemnon, riches, power on Gor, such things."

"He is renewing his original offer?” asked Grendel.

"It would seem so,” said Cabot.

"His ambition is insatiable,” said Grendel, “even after the disaster of the fleet."

"The attacking navy, it seems, was repelled,” said Cabot. “Thus it may be dismissed."

It may be recalled that there were attacks, in the recent past, on the world. These had impacted the shielding, but had not penetrated to the interior of the cylinder.

"It is not like Kurii to abandon fresh meat, not when it is torn, not when it is run to ground, weakened, exhausted, panting, hot and bloody,” said Grendel.

"Nor is it like them to rush into flames or leap from cliffs,” said Cabot.

"Your own actions, of late,” said Grendel, “have provoked curiosity."

"Suspicion?” inquired Cabot.

"No,” said Grendel. “Curiosity. Why, upon occasion, have you carried meat from the camp, and returned without it?"

"It seems I made a friend, long ago,” said Cabot. “I have only recently renewed my acquaintance with him."

"A friend with a considerable appetite it seems,” said Grendel.

"No more than some Kurii,” said Cabot.

"Can you communicate with your friend?” asked Statius.

"Originally with the help of the translator,” said Cabot, “which produces recognizable Kur. Too, many commands are standard. What is most significant is he who issues the command. A command issued by one individual may be ignored, while the same command, from another, will be acted on, instantaneously. What I then did was to associate commands in Kur with commands in Gorean, and then reward only the Gorean version of the original command."

"So your friend, now, will respond only to Gorean?” said Grendel.

"He will doubtless understand both,” said Cabot, “but respond, hopefully, only to Gorean."

"And it is to your commands only that he will respond?"

"I think so,” said Cabot. “If you like, I shall introduce you, and you may test the matter."

"Perhaps another might make the test,” said Statius.

"This has been done over several days?” said Lord Grendel.

"Yes,” said Cabot. “And often I have not taken meat from the camp. A kind word, a hand knotted in the fur, affectionately, and shaken, is as effective, and seems more savored, I learn, than even roast tarsk."

"Your friend seems unusual,” said Lord Grendel.

"I do not know,” said Cabot. “I suspect, rather, it is that few take the trouble to understand such friends, let alone accord them friendship, or affection."

"I think your friend,” said Statius, “is hideous, and dangerous."

"He is in his way beautiful,” said Cabot, “as the shark, or larl, is beautiful, but it is true he is dangerous."

"I suspect your friend is quite intelligent,” said Lord Grendel.

"He has long been noted for that,” said Cabot.

"And loyal?” asked Statius.

"I fear so, even unreasonably,” said Cabot.

"I think I know your friend,” said Lord Grendel.

"He has long protected the camp,” said Statius, “has he not?"

"I think so,” said Cabot.

"How are we to proceed?” asked Grendel. “Am I to serve as bait in some trap?"

"No,” said Cabot. “I would not put you at risk."

"Is that decision not mine?"

"No, dear friend,” said Cabot. “In this instance, it is mine."