Vagabonds of Gor

35 Farewells

"And what will you do?" I asked Labienus, in the hut of the brigands, near the delta's edge.

We and the others had finished the brigand's repast, not that there was that much, for so many. Yet we had fed. I had even given Ina some.

"I must make my report to Saphronicus, in Holmesk," said Labienus.

"Of course," I said. I regretted deeply the loss of his mind.

"Plenius and Titus," said Labienus, "will attempt to see me to the lines of Ar."

"I see," I said.

Most of those with us had already, after feeding, scattered. We had attempted to teach the new fellows, those who had been pursuing Marcus, both by instruction and example, such things as the concealment of camps and survival in an enemy area. Many of them had elected to leave the delta with one or more of our fellows. In this way I think they increased their chances of survival, particularly if going either east or south. To be sure, the larger the group the greater the danger of its being detected.

"You insist upon carrying your uniform with you?" I asked Labienus. If he were stopped, of course, and it were found in his pack it might be regarded as equivalent to a death sentence.

"Yes," he said. "I wish to wear it while reporting."

I looked at Plenius.

"It is all right," said Plenius.

"You are all brave men," I said.

"We, Titus, and I," said Plenius, "if possible, will go only so far as territory controlled by Ar. We shall then put him on a road, with a stick."

"Even so," I said, "the risks are considerable."

"He is our captain," said Plenius.

"You will then attempt to make your way independently to Ar, by an alternative route?" I asked.

"It is the city of my Home Stone," said Plenius.

"What they do," said Labienus, "they do not from duty, but love."

"Yet," said I, "it seems to me that there is much of honor in it."

"True," said Labienus. "There is much of honor in it."

"You will take the female with you?" asked Plenius, looking down at Ina, who was tied near us.

"Yes," I said.

"I wish you well," said Labienus, rising.

"I wish you well, Captain," I said.

He clasped my hand. I did not cry out. I do not know if he fully realized what he had done to his hands. It was as though he had abandoned them in favor of transforming those parts of himself into some terrible tool, one for which there could be no conceivable purpose. Surely they could no longer perform precise tasks. He could not grasp a marking stick. He could not handle a sword. When he withdrew his hand from mine, though I think he had not meant to grip it firmly, my hand was bloody.

Labienus then, conducted by Titus, exited from.the hut. Plenius lingered, for a moment.

"I was much mistaken about you," I said. "You are, as I now understand, a man of honor."

"I have been taught honor," he said.

"Labienus," said I, "is an excellent teacher."

"He, and others," he said.

"I wish you well," I said. I was pleased that he had learned something of honor from his fellows.

"I wish you well," he said.

He then disappeared from the hut.

I looked down at Ina. She could not look up at me, for I had tied her on her knees, with her head down. In this particular tie, the Tharnan tie, as it is sometimes called, the ankles are crossed and bound and the head is tied down, fastened by a short tether running back to the ankles. Any pressure in this tie is, as usual, of course, at the back of the neck, not at the fragile, vulnerable throat. It can be used with chain collars, and such. The bands, as a last touch, are simply tied together behind the back.

"We should leave," said Marcus.

We were alone, with Ina, in the hut. "Yes," I said.