Kur of Gor

Chapter, the Sixty-Sixth: WINTER HAS BEEN ARRANGED; TIME HAS RUN OUT

Cabot crouched down within the ramparts, a robe clutched about him, shuddering with cold. He could not even hold the bow, nor finger arrows from the quiver, so stiff and useless were his fingers.

Wind tore about the ramparts, and blinding snow.

Lord Grendel brushed snow from his face and eyes, and examined the wintry terrain extending to the habitats.

"The weather may be localized,” said Lord Grendel. “I have given permission for the humans to withdraw."

* * * *

"Sharpen blades, and form lines,” had said a Kur. “We will begin the cutting of throats."

"And the last alive may then drive the knife into his own breast,” said another.

"May I speak?” had begged Cabot, and Lord Grendel had bidden the others listen.

"I do not understand the ways of Kur,” had said Cabot. “I do not understand how my friends, my compatriots, and brothers, can contemplate the ruination of a cause for which we have long and well fought. Are we really to abandon our war and accept a defeat which we may ascribe only to ourselves? This seems to me not only an error, a dreadful mistake, but a lapse into abject madness. Further, it is clear to me, as well, that Lord Arcesilaus would not wish this monstrous act, this self slaughtering, to take place, and, indeed, that he would forbid it, and categorically, had he the opportunity to do so. All this, I take it, is clear."

There was general assent to his remarks, but little evidence that his peers were to be dissuaded from their woeful intention.

"Let us suppose,” said Cabot, “that the way of Kur is not to be changed."

"It will not be changed,” said a Kur.

"Why should it not be changed?” asked Lord Grendel.

"It will not be changed!” said more than one Kur.

"Very well,” said Cabot. “Let us suppose the way of Kur is not changed, that this lethal pact, so peculiar and incomprehensible to mere humans, is to be brought to effectuation."

"As it must be,” said a Kur.

"But when?” asked Cabot. “Is there anything in the way of Kur which insists upon a particular hour, or day, or moment?"

"No,” said a Kur.

"The mariners, after their defeat,” said Cabot, “did not all immediately hang themselves or rush to the knife. Days, weeks, passed, before they went to the place of gathering."

"They have still not submitted to the noose or knife,” said a Kur.

"Nor will they,” said Cabot.

"They have changed the way of Kur,” said Lord Grendel.

"This is different,” said a Kur. “Another life is at stake, that of the leader, Lord Arcesilaus."

"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “it is different. But, I take it, the point of our friend Cabot is that we need not act on this precipitately."

"Why should we wait?” asked a Kur.

"Let us be done with it,” said another.

"Let us wait,” pleaded Cabot. “Must we instantly gratify Lord Agamemnon? I, for one, would not care to do so. And what will Lord Agamemnon do, if we wait? His forces are doubtless as anxious as ours to bring our conflict to a favorable resolution. May they not eventually swarm forth as irrationally as many of you seem to propose to do, and might not they then, rather than us, be cut down in the intervening fields?"

"Waiting would disconcert Agamemnon, at least,” said Lord Grendel. “And certainly it will put pressure on his commanders, as their forces grow ever more restless."

"He may kill Lord Arcesilaus,” said a Kur.

"If he does so,” said Lord Grendel, “then he is no longer in a position to bargain with his life."

"Let us wait,” said a Kur.

"Agamemnon will be angry,” said a Kur.

"Excellent,” had said Lord Grendel.

When the Kurii had filed away, Lord Grendel turned to Cabot. “Thank you, friend,” he said.

"We have bought a bit of time,” said Cabot.

"Do you think it will be enough?” had asked Lord Grendel.

"No,” had said Cabot. “I do not think so."

* * * *

It was four days after the return of the delegation that the weather changed.

It began with the wind, and then the temperature.

"You should withdraw, friend,” said Lord Grendel to Cabot.

"I will stay,” said Cabot.

"And others?” asked Lord Grendel.

"Some,” said Cabot.

Wind tore at the cloak of Peisistratus, whipping it about his shoulders. He shut his eyes against the fierce sting of flighted ice.

Archon struggled to breathe, turning away from the wind.

"You are useless here,” said Lord Grendel. “In these temperatures only Kurii might live."

"No,” said Cabot. “We will clothe ourselves against the cold, build fires."

"It may be warmer elsewhere, perhaps in the vicinity of Lake Fear,” said Lord Grendel. “I have ordered several of our humans to withdraw, searching for warmth."

"And what of the slaves?” asked Cabot.

"They will herd the slaves before them."

"Good,” said Cabot.

It is a common practice of humans to care for their domestic animals, taking, say, bosk, kaiila, verr, and such to better pastures, more temperate climes, and such.

"What of the Lady Bina?” asked Cabot.

"We have bundled her well,” said Lord Grendel. “And I have had a litter prepared, which will be dragged by the women of Cestiphon. They, too, are now well bundled, and their feet wrapped."

"The women of Cestiphon?"

"It would amuse you to see them,” said Peisistratus. “They are miserable with cold, and the very rope on their neck is stiff and frozen."

"But they hate the Lady Bina,” said Cabot.

"They are now terrified of her,” said Lord Grendel, “for they have now been taught the difference between free women and slaves, and that they are slaves."

"Interesting,” said Cabot. “Then they now have more than one word for female."

"Yes,” said Lord Grendel. “Whereas they, like Goreans, tend to think of all females as slaves, particularly as they consider their bodies in comparison with those of men, they do recognize that some females, however unaccountably, or irrationally, have a far superior status than themselves, that of the free woman."

"You dare entrust the Lady Bina to them?"

"Yes,” said Lord Grendel. “I assure you they will be zealously solicitous of her welfare. If aught befalls her they will all be killed, and most unpleasantly."

"Do they understand that?” asked Cabot.

"Clearly,” said Lord Grendel. “Very clearly."

"If the Lady Bina had retained her beauty,” said Peisistratus, “perhaps she could train them as serving slaves."

"Do not forget they belong to Cestiphon,” said Lord Grendel.

"True,” said Peisistratus. “But perhaps he might sell them. At least two might bring a tarsk and a half."

"They are beautiful,” said Cabot, “but little more than Kur pets, inarticulate, scarcely speeched."

"Some men like them that way,” said Peisistratus.

"I have seen them in the hands of Cestiphon,” said Lord Grendel, “writhing, squirming, bucking, crying out, begging for mercy one moment, and for more the next."

"Perhaps two tarsks,” mused Peisistratus.

"I see no cattle humans below,” said Cabot, half shutting his eyes against the snow, the swirling wind, the pelting of bits of ice.

"They have the memory of their pens, and the feed troughs,” said Lord Grendel. “I would suppose they would return there and huddle together, for warmth."

"In weather such as this,” said Cabot, “the forces of Agamemnon might well advance, seeking cover in the storm."

"No,” said Lord Grendel. “Perhaps they would do so if the ramparts were held by humans, half blinded, scarcely able to move, but we have many of our folk here, well armed, strung along the ramparts. The blasts of our weapons would in moments destroy regiments, flood the plain with boiling water."

Lord Grendel suddenly lifted his hand.

The wind at the same moment ceased to blow, and the snow to fall. Cabot watched its last flakes gently descend to the white plain. The plain itself now seemed icy and still. The air was sharp and clear.

"Listen,” said Lord Grendel.

The announcement, as before, was in both Kur and Gorean. It would be broadcast throughout the cylinder, throughout the world, even to the shores of Lake Fear.

"Agamemnon's patience is at an end,” said Peisistratus.

"Lord Arcesilaus is to be executed tomorrow, at noon, on the palace steps,” said Cabot.

"The time you purchased us,” said Lord Grendel, “has run out."