Kur of Gor

Chapter, the Eighty-First: DEPARTURE

In the narrow, steel corridor, Cabot knelt Cecily, and snapped the short chain about her neck, which would fasten her to the bulkhead. Cecily's eyes were wide, and we fear she was uneasy, but Corinna was similarly secured, near her, and so, too, were several others; all were girls who had been in the pleasure cylinder. This form of custody was not unfamiliar to them.

Each had been accorded, prior to boarding, when they had been stripped, a brief, gray, shipping tunic, which had a number clearly inscribed in Gorean on the upper left side. Cecily's number was 27, and Corinna's was 28. These numbers were correlated with identical numbers at the bulkhead's chaining rings, number 1 with ring 1, and so on. In this manner ship's records might be kept in order. Also, if a girl were to be removed from a ring, say, for pleasure, it would be clear to what ring she was to be returned.

Cabot jerked Cecily's chain against the collar ring, twice, this ring attached to the bulkhead's holding collar, which was rather heavy, which was closed over her slave collar.

In such a way the slave is reminded she is chained, not that they truly need any such reminder. With their small hands they can, if they wish, pull at the chain quite well themselves, and pull it against the ring to which it is fastened, and so on.

"Master?” she said.

"We will be leaving soon,” said Cabot, and left her.

The chain was some three feet in length, as were the others.

Peisistratus, as Cabot, and his slave, had never been, at least consciously, in such an environment, had led them about, the preceding day, introducing them to at least some of the ship's several divisions and systems.

They had visited, for example, the bridge, galley, pantries, mess, crew's quarters, officers’ cabins, engine room, weapon cubicles and turrets, the diverse holds, and such.

Cabot noted that the ship carried propellant, which consumed much space, and functioned on a principle of reaction. In short, the propulsion system of the ship was relatively primitive, at least when measured against what he understood to be the capabilities of the ships of Priest-Kings. For example, if the ship were to lift away from a planetary surface, even one such as Gor, a great expenditure of propellant would be required. This expenditure need not take place, of course, in leaving the steel world. Cabot suspected that certain ships, larger ships, might remain in orbit, while communication to and from a planetary surface might take place by means of shuttle craft. On the ship of Peisistratus, however, which Cabot supposed might be typical, there were no shuttle craft. There were, however, some escape pods. The ships of the Priest-Kings, as Cabot understood, did not carry internal fuel, but drew on the forces of gravity for their propulsion. In this way there was no difficulty in leaving a planet's surface, nor need they face dangers such as the exhaustion of the ship's source of power, the risk of its volatility, and so on. Whereas the force of gravity as normally encountered is, so to speak, a very weak force, widely distributed, obviously it is, in its extent, a titanic force capable of holding moons to a planet, planets to a primary, stars in a galaxy, and so on. The Priest-Kings, Cabot speculated, had discovered a way to gather together or focus this universally distributed force, multiply its effects exponentially, and utilize it for their purposes. Indeed, it was speculated that Priest-Kings could use a planet as what, in effect, it was, a space ship, and shift it, if one wished, from one primary to another, a competence possibly of great value, should alterations or disturbances take place in its local primary.

In one of the holds Cecily was fascinated by closely arranged racks of transparent cylinders, outfitted with various forms of tubing. There were a hundred or more of these cylinders, or containers. Each was now empty.

"What are these?” she asked.

"Slave capsules,” she was informed.

"Earth-girl slaves,” said Peisistratus, “are normally sedated on Earth, brought to collection points, stored in such capsules for the journey to Gor, disembarked unconscious on Gor, and then brought unconscious to the pens. Thus, in a typical case, a girl might retire as usual, in the comfort of her sheets, with no thoughts save for her quotidian existence of the morrow, totally unaware of her selection, and then, later, to her astonishment, awaken in the pens. To be sure, there is a great deal of variation in these matters. Sometimes, for example, if a girl has been somewhat annoying, she might be surprised in her bed, gagged, stripped, bound hand and foot, and then left there for a few hours, to ponder matters, after which she will be sedated, and things will continue in a more routine matter. Sometimes girls are not taken directly to the pens but, particularly when the patrols of Priest-Kings are unusually zealous, are disembarked in the wilderness, and, while unconscious, coffled. Thus they awaken in the grass, naked, on a slave chain, thence to be marched to some predetermined house or rendezvous. In this way they appear no different, to satellite surveillance, than other such coffles, being taken between cities, and such."

"You, however,” said Cabot to his Cecily, “would have been selected by Priest-Kings and brought in one of their ships to the Prison Moon."

"Might I,” Cecily asked Peisistratus, “have been found of interest by you, or your colleagues?"

"Certainly,” said Peisistratus.

"How are your acquisitions selected?” she asked.

"There are usually a number of parameters involved,” said Peisistratus. “Obviously feminine desirability is important, for they are to be sold. One looks, then, for unusual beauty, high intelligence, helpless sexual needfulness, and such."

"It might be understood, however,” said Cabot, “that one is looking, most essentially, for women who will make superb slaves, women who have slave dispositions, who desire to be slaves, who want to be slaves, who need to be slaves, who will not be happy until they are collared, and such."

"They need not, of course, be fully aware of this on Earth,” said Peisistratus. “It will, presumably, however, be clear enough to them in their dreams, dreams which may frighten them, or in their fantasies, which they will perhaps fear and keep as their most closely guarded secret."

"Some of these women are scouted carefully, as I understand it,” said Cabot.

"True,” said Peisistratus. “Our agents often scout them for days, weeks, even months, observing their characteristics and dispositions, considering what they might look like in tunics and shackles, such things, and careful lists are kept."

"You have some sense of their latencies?” asked Cecily.

"Certainly,” said Peisistratus, “we are skilled in the evaluation of slave stock, such as yourself. One can, certainly after a time, sense their needs, and the fires which burn within them, scarcely concealed by their idiotic garments."

"You have lists?” said Cecily.

"Yes,” said Peisistratus, “there are possibility lists, which are, in effect, inspection or assessment lists, and then, if the female is deemed suitable, she is put on an acquisition list. Once on an acquisition list it may still be weeks or months before she is acquired. It is amusing in its way, how they go so naively, so unsuspectingly, about the boring, meaningless trivialities of their daily lives. They do not know that they are already Gorean slaves. They lack only the brands and collars."

"One thing which might be mentioned,” said Cabot, “though you have doubtless noted it in most of your sister slaves, is that almost all of them have the bodies of the natural human female, in height, size, shape, and such."

"With the exciting slave curves of the natural woman,” said Peisistratus.

"The Gorean male,” said Cabot, “tends to find such women pleasing. They are the sort he wants in his collar, at his feet."

"They sell well,” said Peisistratus.

"Cargo the ships,” had called Peisistratus. His men had then carried various supplies aboard. Shortly thereafter, to the crack of a whip, the slaves had been herded aboard, to be put by one of the corridor bulkheads, to be chained in place before departure.

Another object had been loaded as well, a large cage, in which a mighty beast, snarling, wary, impatient, twisting and turning, paced angrily back and forth.

"Are you sure you wish to make this journey, Lord Grendel?” Cabot asked.

"Do not call me Lord Grendel any longer, dear friend,” said Lord Grendel. “Call me by the name of ‘Grendel’ alone, for that is the name of a monster, and I go where I shall not be “lord,” but, at best, a deformity, a beast."

"Remain in the world,” said Cabot. “Here you have prestige, and power."

"I must accompany the Lady Bina,” he said. “She may need me."

"She is a pretentious, treacherous, worthless ingrate,” said Cabot.

"She is very beautiful,” said Grendel.

"She does not care for you,” said Cabot. “She does not even respect you, despite all that you have risked and suffered for her. She loathes you. She despises you."

"Justifiably,” said Grendel, “for I am a monstrosity."

"Strip and collar her, and put her on a chain, here, on the world,” said Cabot. “Put her in a high collar, if you like, and keep her as a pet."

"No,” said Grendel. “She is a free woman."

"Where will you be disembarked?” asked Cabot.

"If all goes well,” said Grendel, “in the vicinity of Ar, perhaps Venna."

"Why is that?” asked Cabot.

"The Lady Bina has made inquiries,” he said. “She seems to feel that her ambitions might have their best play, the greatest scope for their activity, amongst the highest of the high cities."

"Venna is not a high city,” said Cabot.

"Ar, then,” said Grendel.

"You had best encourage her to veil herself, and well,” said Cabot.

"The Lady Bina is a free woman,” said Grendel. “She does as she pleases."

"Perhaps she hopes to catch the eye of a Ubar,” said Cabot.

"Perhaps,” said Grendel.

"There is no Ubar in Ar,” said Cabot.

"Then perhaps that of a high general, or wealthy merchant,” said Grendel, “until a Ubar may be found."

"She has no Home Stone,” said Cabot. “If she catches anyone's eye, she is likely to be seized and put naked in a pleasure garden."

"Thank you for the rubies which you have given us,” said Grendel.

"It is nothing,” said Cabot.

"Where will you be housed?” asked Cabot.

"With the crew,” said Grendel.

"I, too,” said Cabot. “And the Lady Bina will perhaps be chained in the corridor with the slaves?"

"The Lady Bina,” said Grendel, “will be cabined in the private quarters of Peisistratus, who will then share quarters with his officers. She is a free woman, and should be accorded privacy and luxury, at least such that the ship may afford. Peisistratus is amenable to this, as a personal favor to me."

"It is my understanding,” said Cabot, “that the ship, if it eludes the blockade of Priest-Kings, will make more than one landfall on Gor."

"It will elude the blockade,” said Grendel.

"How do you know that?” asked Cabot.

"I have spoken to Lord Zarendargar,” said Grendel, “four days ago, on the evening before he and his ships left. It has been arranged."

"How can that be?"

"There are intermediaries betwixt the Sardar and the worlds,” said Grendel.

"Initiates?” asked Cabot, skeptically.

"Certainly not,” said Grendel. “They have nothing, truly, to do with Priest-Kings. They merely inhale fumes, starve themselves, interpret dreams, and such, and think the Priest-Kings communicate with them."

"Many ships come and go on Gor,” said Cabot, “but the blockade is surely a standing danger."

"Not this time,” said Grendel. “The ship will have safe passage."

"Why?"

"Because of you,” said Grendel.

"I do not understand,” said Cabot.

"When you spoke with Lord Zarendargar, on the day of the great breakfast, that night, did he not speak to you of these things?"

"We spoke of many things,” said Cabot, “of war and weapons, of beasts and ships, of stratagems, of honor, of codes, and such, and we again drank paga."

"But you spoke not of the Sardar, of Priest-Kings, and their will?” said Grendel.

"No,” said Cabot.

"It seems then,” said Grendel, “that I have news to convey to you, which you may welcome."

"Speak,” said Cabot.

"No longer,” said Grendel, “are you outlawed by Priest-Kings. No longer are you to be hunted down by them. No longer need you fear the containers of the Prison Moon."

"How is this?"

"Agamemnon, and his ambitions, it seems, were of some concern in the Sardar,” said Grendel. “Lord Zarendargar made clear to the Sardar your refusal to accept his plans, and your role in his downfall."

"I did nothing by intent for the Sardar,” said Cabot. “I owe it nothing, lest it be the bitterest of enmities."

"I see,” said Grendel.

"In any event, I am pleased,” said Cabot.

"Do not be too soon pleased,” said Grendel.

"I understand,” said Cabot, “the outlawry lifted, that I am free to return to my holding, free to go where I will, and be as I will."

"Let us hope so,” said Grendel.

"I have a slave in Ar,” said Cabot, “whom I am thinking of reclaiming, and collaring."

"Interesting,” said Grendel.

"The Priest-Kings,” said Cabot, “have no more interest in me."

"Perhaps not,” said Grendel.

"Nor Kurii,” said Cabot.

"Let us hope not,” said Grendel.

"I am to be returned to Gor, am I not?” inquired Cabot.

"That is my understanding,” said Grendel. “Somewhere on Gor."

"Somewhere?"

"Yes,” said Grendel.

"In the vicinity of Port Kar, surely,” said Cabot, “in the vicinity of my holding."

"That is not clear,” said Grendel.

"I do not understand,” said Cabot.

"Much is unclear,” said Grendel.

"Am I not free, if the outlawry is lifted, free to return to my holding, free to go where I will, and be as I will?"

"Perhaps,” said Grendel.

"But you are not certain?"

"No."

"In this you see the hand of Priest-Kings?” asked Cabot.

"Perhaps,” said Grendel.

"I hate Priest-Kings!” cried Cabot.

"Perhaps you are no more than a piece on their kaissa board,” said Grendel.

"I move myself!” said Cabot.

"Perhaps,” said Grendel, “that is why they want you on their board."

"We will soon be ready to lift away!” called Peisistratus. “Make haste!"

"Dear Cabot,” said Grendel.

"Speak,” said Cabot.

"There is restlessness in the high councils, suspicions, moves and counter-moves,” said Grendel. “I fear things are afoot."

"Are you not privy to their deliberations?"

"No longer,” said Grendel, “as I have chosen to accompany the Lady Bina to Gor."

"What are you suggesting?” asked Cabot.

"Others may not yet be done with you."

"I do not understand,” said Cabot.

"You are suspect."

"How so?"

"It is feared you may yet be upon the kaissa board of Priest-Kings."

"No!” said Cabot.

"What if it be their will?” said Grendel.

"I repudiate their will!” said Cabot.

"It might be dangerous to do so,” said Grendel. “Are they not world masters, the gods of Gor?"

"If their laws are respected,” said Cabot, “they dabble little in the doings of human beings."

"Or Kurii,” said Grendel.

"Yes,” said Cabot, “or Kurii."

"So it seems,” said Grendel.

"There is no board,” said Cabot.

"I think,” said Grendel, “there may be such a board, but that, unbeknownst to Priest-Kings, two sit at that board."

"I do not understand,” said Cabot.

"Do you think that my people, the Kurii,” asked Grendel, “are merely the messengers of Priest-Kings?"

"No,” said Cabot.

"Might they not, too, see uses for you?"

"No,” said Cabot, angrily.

"Might the game, perhaps one of dozens, not prove interesting?"

"There is no such game,” said Cabot.

"Perhaps,” said Grendel, “it is even a new game, or a changed game, pieces subtly removed, or even swept, from a surface, a different board, even, a game not even of Priest-Kings, but, now, rather, one of Kurii."

"There is no game,” said Cabot.

"But perhaps you are right,” said Grendel. “Perhaps the Priest-Kings have no further interest in you, nor Kurii, and that you will be returned to your holding, freed from the obligations of worlds."

"Certainly,” said Cabot.

"But the rumored coordinates,” said Grendel, “suggest not Port Kar, but a location farther north, a remote beach, far from civilization, in the vicinity of the northern forests."

"Perhaps that Ramar may be freed, in a suitable venue?"

"Perhaps,” said Grendel.

"But you do not believe that?"

"No,” said Grendel.

"But why?” asked Cabot. “To what end, for what purpose?"

"I do not know,” said Grendel.

"And who then might know?” asked Cabot, angrily.

"Perhaps Priest-Kings,” said Grendel.

"Or Kurii,” said Cabot.

"Yes,” said Grendel, “or Kurii."

"Games may be afoot,” said Cabot.

"Perhaps,” said Grendel. “Do you really object?"

"No,” said Cabot.

"I thought not,” said Grendel.

"I see, beyond the port,” said Peisistratus, joining them, “Cestiphon, Statius, Archon, Lord Arcesilaus, many noble humans and high Kurii. They have come to see us off. Several of the humans will take another ship to Gor. Lift your hands to them, and board."

And so hands were lifted, and then Cabot, and Grendel, preceding Peisistratus, entered the lock, which was then closed, behind them, and, in moments, they were within the ship.

"The capsules, below, are empty,” said Cabot.

"After our departure from Gor,” said Peisistratus, “we will make planetfall on Earth. We will stay there as briefly as possible, for little longer than it takes to fill the capsules, as my men do not care to spend much time there, given its various pollutions and poisons."

"With what are the capsules to be filled?” asked Grendel.

"With female slaves, of course,” said Peisistratus. “They have received something of a reprieve, it seems, given the sealing of the ports here, and the war, but that is over now."

"They suspect nothing?” said Grendel.

"Nothing,” said Peisistratus. “They do not yet know they are Gorean slaves."

"We are prepared to cast off?” said Cabot.

"Yes,” said Peisistratus, “momentarily. Have you chained your slave?"

"Yes,” said Cabot.

"I did not show you, in our small tour,” said Peisistratus, “as I saw no point in alerting your slave, but there are small chambers on the ship, furred and suitably equipped, where slaves may be ingeniously fastened for the pleasure of men."

"Excellent,” said Cabot.

"Now,” said Peisistratus, “I must to the bridge."

Shortly thereafter, scarcely noticeably, the ship left the dock, and took its course for the unspoiled, green, fertile world of Gor.