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.The ruthlessness of hisuse only doubled my desire, that of a slave, to458serve and love him.it was clear he had known what he was doingwhen he had picked me out on Earth. You may resume your position, he said. Thank you, Master, I said, returning to my place, kneelingacross the fire from him.I was still shaken and heated from myrape.To some extent I was ashamed and chagrined, for had I notonce been a free woman of Earth, but mostly I was very pleased,and grateful, and loving.Too, I was in awe of him.he had wantedme, he had taken me.He would do what he wanted with me.Iwould be treated as he pleased.There would be no compromisingwith me.I was his slave. May I speak? I asked. Yes, he said. How did you know that you might trust Callisthenes andSempronius? I asked. I think I have some skill in reading men, he said. Can you read women, as well? I asked. Yes, he said. And what do you read in me? I asked. Straighten your body, and spread your knees more widely, hesaid.I complied. I read that you are an exquisite female slave, he said,  whoneeds only a strong master to achieve the total perfections of herfemininity. It is true, Master, I said, reddening, putting down my head.Iwas sorry I had asked.I was so embarrassed! It was as though hecould read my innermost thoughts and needs.Was I truly so open tohim? It seemed that my thoughts and needs were as naked to him asnow, by his will, was my body.He then fetched a bit of oil and a sharpening stone from histhings and, returning to his place, removed his sword from itsscabbard.He then, slowly, patiently, with great care, addressedhimself to the blade.Gorean men usually sharpen their own swords.They tend to trust the edge on the weapon to no one but themselves.I regarded the blade with uneasiness, but fascination.I had seensuch things at work. Be certain that we speak in English, he said, not looking up. Very well, Master, I said.We had been speaking in English.Idid not understand why he should say that now. We must made do, as we can, he said. Master? I asked. Had you oil to pour upon the fire, causing it to blaze up459suddenly, from the darkness of embers, that might make it difficultto see, for a moment, the light. Yes, Master? I said. But it is too early for the fire to have died down as yet, he said. Yes, Master, I said, puzzled.I watched the sharpening stone move to the blade, so slowly, sosmoothly, so evenly. If someone were to approach, he said,  from behind me, youwould undoubtedly see him almost immediately. Yes, Master, I said. There is a clearing behind you, forperhaps fifty feet or more.His head was down.He worked with the stone. Accordingly, he said,  if someone did not wish to be observedin approaching the camp, he might come from that direction whichlies more behind you, where there are trees and brush. I suppose so, Master, I said. Do not look around, he said. Very well, Master, I said. Such an individual, he said,  might await his opportunity, forexample, for a time when he might approach, unobserved. Master? I said, frightened. For example, he said,  when someone might be intent uponsome other task, not paying attention to that avenue of approach. Master? I asked. Do you recall this afternoon, he said,  when we went for ourwalk? Of course, I said. Do you recall the bodies of the two beasts in the meadow, heasked. Yes, I said.I had not cared to much look at them, but he haddrawn me to them, by the leash, and had had me do so.They hadlain contorted in death.The sight was not pretty.He had then,mercifully, had us return to the camp. Do you recall anything unusual about them? he asked. No, I said. Do you not recall, he asked,  that on each there was asprinkling of dust? Yes, I said, puzzled. How do you suppose it got there? he said. Blown by the wind, I said. No, he said,  not in the meadow.460 I do not understand, I said. You do not understand the significance of that dust? he said. No, I said. They, too, have their ceremonies, and rites, he said. They? I asked. Yes, he said. The dust is ceremonial.I said nothing.The tiny hairs on the back of my neck rose. It would seem, he said,  I am now nearly finished withsharpening the sword.Shortly, then, I might be expected to lookup. Oh, Master, I said, terrified. Do you detect anything? he asked. No, I said. He will approach from downwind, he said. Yes, Master, I said. If you have time, he said,  you are not to rise to your feet, butto throw yourself to the side.You may then rise up and flee. Hespoke with an unnatural calmness.His movements with the stone ofthe blade were smooth and unhurried, but I sensed that every nerveand cell in his body was tense and alive. I will have the opportunityfor only one thrust, he said.The blade was now oriented towardme.Almost directly toward me. Do you remember the direction inwhich I sent Tela, and Mina and Cara, from the camp? Yes, I said. In that direction lies the camp of Pietro Vacchi, he said. It willalso, of course, bring you to the Vitkel Aria. Master! I said. Do you understand? he asked. Yes, I whispered. Remember that there is no freedom or escape for you on thisworld.You are merely a collared slave.It is my advice, accordingly,that you submit yourself as soon as possible to the first man, or men,you think are capable of defending you.If you are caught, on theother hand, you might be considered a runaway, and be forced tobear the grievous consequences of such a foolish indiscretion. I am a slave, I said. I do not wish to be free. You will not be, he said. I am afraid, I said,  terribly afraid. Do not be afraid, he said. He is not coming.461 Oh, Master, I breathed, joyously,  Master! I felt incrediblerelief.My entire body relaxed.I leaned forward, toward him, towardmy master.Almost at the same time I heard a sudden, bestial, deafening,screaming roar behind me and the movement of a huge body and mymaster was leaping to his feet lunging over the fire thrusting hissword into the darkness behind me over my head and I twisted andsaw two great, hairy arms outstretched reaching for him, whichclosed about him, and I screamed, the body and jaws of the thingover me.I between it and my master, and I threw myself to the side.In an instant I turned, wildly, on all fours, and, in the halfdarkness, the fire muchly struck and scattered, tiny flames about,from fiery brands and flaring leaves, saw two shapes, a giganticbestial shape, and that of a human being, a man, locked together,swaying, clawed feet and sandals moving in the dirt, struggling forleverage and position.My master had said it was not coming, but how could he haveknown that, I now realized, at that particular time, without evenlooking up? No, he had know it was coming.When he had said thatit had seemed, in my relief, that the entire physiology to the tone ofmy body had changed.Perhaps this had suggested to the beast, bysight, and perhaps even by smell, that its presence was undetected,unsuspected, that we were unready, that we thought ourselves safe,that that was the moment of attack.Naturally it would wish todispose of the man first.I, a female, unarmed and naked, if it wereinterested in me at all, could be left for later.I had even leanedforward, happily.Clearing the path to him [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]