Norman, John - Gor 09 - Marauders of Gor.txt

by Marauders of Gor [lit]

  She smiled contemptuously. " You were never a man," she said. "Always you were a

  boy, a weakling." She lifted the coins again in her hand. "Farewell, Weakling,"

  said she, and left the room. I now sat in my own hall, in the darkness, thinking

  on many things. I wondered how to live. "within the circle od each man's sword,"

  says the codes of the warrior, "therein is each man a Ubar." "Steel is the

  coinage of the warrior," says the codes. " With it he purchases what pleases

  him." Once I had been among the finest swordsmen on the planet Gor. Now I was a

  cripple. Talena would now be in Ar. How startled, how crushed would she have

  been, to learn at last, incontrovertibly, that her disownment was true. She had

  beeged to be purchased, a slave's act. Marlenus protecting his honor, on his

  sword and upon the medallion of Ar, had sworn her from him. No longer had she

  caste, no longer a HomeStone. The meanest peasant wench, secure in her caste

  right, would be more than Talena. Even a slave giorl had her collar. I knew that

  Marlenus would keep her sequestered in the central cylinder, that her shame not

  reflect upon his glory. She would be in Ar, in effect, a prisoner. She was no

  longer entitled even to call its HomeStone her own. Such an act, by one such as

  she, was subject to public discipline. For it, she might be suspended naked, on

  a forty foot rope from one of the high bridges, to be lashed by tarnsmen,

  sweeping past her in flight. I had watched her go. I had not attempted to stop

  her. And when Telima had fled my house, when I had determined to seek talena in

  the northern forests, I had, too, let her go. I smiled. A true Gorean, I knew,

  would have followed her, and brought her back in bracelets and collar. I thought

  then of Vella, once Elizabeth Cardwell, whom I had encountered in the city of

  Lydius, at the mouth of the Laurius River, below the borders of the forest. I

  had once loved her, and had wanted to return her safe to earth. But she had not

  honored my will, but, that night, had saddled my tarn, great Ubar of the Skies ,

  and fled the Sardar. When the bird had returned, I, in fury, had driven it away.

  Then I encountered the girl in a paga tavern in Lydius; she had fallen slave.

  Her flight had been a brave act. I admired her, but it was an act not without

  its consequences. She had gambled; she had lost. In an alcove, after I had used

  her, she had begged me to buy her, to free her. It was a slave's act, like that

  of Talena. I left her slave in the paga tavern. Before I had left, I had

  informed her master, Sarpedon of Lydius, that, as he did not know, she was an

  exquisitely trained pleasure slave, and a most stimulating performer of slave

  dances. I had not returned that night to see her dance in the sand to please her

  customers. I had matters of business to attend to. She had not honored my will.

  She was only a female. She had cost me a tarn. She had told me that I had become

  harder, more Gorean. I wondered if it were true or not. A true Gorean, I

  speculated, would not have left her in the paga tavern. A true Gorean, I

  speculated, would have purchased her, and brought her back, to put her with his

  other women, a delicious new slave fopr his house. I smiled to myself. The girl,

  Elizabeth Cardwell, once a secretary in New York, was one of the most delicious

  weches I had ever seen in slave silk, Her thigh bore the brand of the four bosk

  horns. No. I had not treated her as would have a true Gorean. I had not brought

  her back in my collar, to serve my pleasures. And, too, I knew that I had, in my

  fevered delirium attendant on my wounds, when I lay in the stern castle of the

  Tesephone, cried out her name. This had shamed me, and was weakness. Though I

  was half motionless, though I could not close the fingers of my left hand, I

  resolved that I must burn from myself the vestiges of weakness. There was still

  much in me that was of Earth, much shallowness, much compromise, much weakness.

  I was not yet in my will truly Gorean. I wondered how to live, " Do not ask how

  to live, but, instead, proceed to do so." I wondered, too, on the nature of my

  affliction. I had had the finest wound physicians on Gor brought to attend me,

  to inquire into its nature. They could tell me little. Yet I had learned there

  was no damage in the brain, nor directly to the spinal column. The men of

  medicine were puzzled. The wounds were deep, and severe, and would doubtless,

  from time to time, cause me pain, but the paralysis, given the nature of the

  injury, seemed to them unaccountable. Then one more physician, unsummoned, came

  to my door. "Admit him, " I had said. "He is a renegade from Turia, a lost man."

  had said Thurnock, "Admit him," I had said. "It is Iskander," whispered

  Thurnock. I knew well the name of Iskander of Turia. I smiled. He remembered

  well the city that had exiled him, keeping still its name as part of his own. It

  had been many years since he had seen its lofty walls. He had, in the course of

  his practice in Turia, once given treatment outside of its walls to a young

  Tuchuk warrior, whose name was Kamchak. For this aid given to an enemy, he had

  been exiled. He had come, like many, to Port Kar. He had risen in the city, and

  had been for years the private physician to Sullius Maximus, who had been one of

  the five Ubars, presiding in Port Kar prior to the assumption of power by the

  Council of Captains. Sullius Maximus was an authority on poetry, and gifted in

  the study of poisons. When Sullius Maximus had fled the city, Iskander had

  remained behind. He had even beenm with the fleet on the 25th of the Se"kKara.

  Sullius Maximus, shortly after the decision of the 25th of Se'Kara, had sought

  refuge in Tyros, and had been granted it. :greetings, Iskander," I had said.

  "Greetings, Bosk of Port Kar," he had said. The findings of Iskander of Turia

  matched those of the other physicians, but, to my astonishment, when he had

  replaced his instruments in the pouch slung at his shoulder, he said," The

  wounds were given by the blades of Tyros." "Yes," I said," they were." "there is

  a subtle contaminant in the woinds," he said. "Are you sure?" I asked. "I have

  not detected it," he said. "But there seems no likely explanation." "A

  contaminant?" I asked. "Poisoned steel," he said. I said nothing. "Sullius

  Maximus," he said, "is in Tyros." "I would not have thought Saurus of Tyros

  would have used poisoned steel," I said. Such a device, like the poisoned arrow,

  was not only against the codes of the warriors, but, generally, was regarded as

  unworthy of men. Poison was regarded as a woman's weapon. Iskander shrugged.

  "Sullius Maximus, " he said," invented such a drug. He tested it, by pin pricks,

  on the limbs of a captured enemy, paralyzing him from the neck down. He kept him

  seated at his right side, as a guest in regal robes, for more than a week. When

  he tired of the sport he had him killed." "Is there no antidote?" I asked. "No,"

  said Iskander. "Then there is no hope," I said. "No," said Iskander, " there is

  no hope." "Perhaps it is not the poison." I said. "Perhaps," said Iskander.

  "Thurnock," said I, " give this physician a double tarn, of gold." "No," said

  Iskander," I wish no payment." "Why not?" I asked. "I was with you," he said,"

  on t
he 25th of Se'Kara." "I wish you well, Physician," I said. "I wish you well,

  too, Captain," said he, and left. I wondered if what Iskander of Turia had

  conjectured was correct or not. I wondered if such a poison, if it existed,

  could be overcome. There is no antidote, he had informed me. The refrain ran

  through my mind: "Do not ask how to live, but, instead, proceed to do so" I

  laughed bitterly. "Captain!" I heard. "Captain!" It was Thurnock. I could hear

  running feet behind him, the gathering of members of the household. "What is

  it?" I heard Luma ask. "Captain!" cried Thurnock. I"I must see him m

  immediately!" said another voice. I was startled. It was the voice of Samos,

  first slaver of Port Kar. They entered, carrying torches. "Put torches in the

  rings," said Samos. The hall was lit. Members of the house came forward. Samos

  appeared before the table. At his side was Thurnock, a torch still uplifted in

  his hand. Luma was present. I saw, too, Tab, who was captain of the Venna.

  Clitus, too, was present, and young Henrius "What is wrong?" I Asked. Then one

  other stepped forward. It was Ho-Hak, from the marshes, the rencer. His face was

  white. No longer about his throat was clasped the collar of the galley slave,

  with short dangling chain. He had been a bred slave, an exotic. His ears were

  large, bred so as a collector's fancy. But he had killed his master, breaking

  his neck and escaped. Recaptured, he had been sentenced to the galleys, but had

  escaped, too, killing six men in his flight. He had, finally, succeeded in

  making his way into the marshes, in the Vosk's vast delta, where he had been

  taken in by rencers, who live on islands, woven of rence reeds, in the delta. He

  had become chief of one such group, and was much respected in the delta. He had

  been instrumental in bringing the great bow to the rencers, which put them on a

  military par with those of Port Kar, who had hitherto victimized and exploited

  them. Rencer bowmen were now used by certain captains of Port Kar as auxilaries.

  Ho-Hak did not speak but cast on the table an armlet of gold. It was bloodied I

  knew the armlet well. It had been that of Telima, who had fled to the marshes,

  when I had determined to seek Talina in the northern forests. "Telima," said

  Ho-Hak. "When did this happen?" I asked. "Within four Ahn," said Ho-Hak. Then he

  turned to another rencer, one who stood with him. "Speak," said Ho-Hak. " I saw

  little," he said. "there was a tarn and a beast. I heard the scream of the

  woman. I poled my rence craft toward them, my bow ready. I heard another scream.

  The tarn took flight, low, over the rence, the beast upon it, hunched, shaggy. I

  found her rence craft, the pole floating nearby. It was much bloodied. I found

  there, too, the armlet." "The body?" I asked. "Tharlarion were about." Said the

  rencer. I nodded. I wondered if the beast had struck for hunger. Such a beast in

  the house of Cernus had fed on human flesh. Doubtless it was little other to

  them than venison would be to us. "Why did you not kill the beast, or strike the

  tarn? I asked. The great bow was capable of such matters. "I had no

  opportunity," said the rencer. "Which way did the tarn take flight?" I asked.

  "To the northwest," said the rencer. I was certain the taern would follow the

  coast. It was extremely difficut, if not impossible, to fly a tarn from the

  sight of land. It is counterinstinctual for them. In the engagement of the 25th

  of Se'Kara we had used tarns at sea, but they had been kept below decks in cargo

  ships until beyond ther sight of land. Interestingly, once released, there had

  been no difficulty in managing them. They had performed effectively in the

  engagement. I looked at Samos. "What do you know of this matter?" I asked. "I

  know only what I am told," said Samos. "Describe the beast," I said to the

  rencer. "I did not see it well," he said. "It could only have been one of the

  Kurii," said Samos. "The Kurii?" I asked. "The word is a Gorean corruption of

  their name for themselves, for their kind," said Samos. "In Torvaldsland." Said

  Tab, " that means "beasts'." "That is interesting," I said. If Samos were

  correct that "Kurii" was a Goprean corruption of the name of such animals for

  themselves, and that the word was used in Torvaldsland as a designation for

  beasts, then it seemed not unlikely that such animals were not unknown in

  Torvaldsland, at least in certain areas, perhaps remote ones. The tarn had flown

  northwest. It would, presumably, follow the coast north, perhaps above the

  forests, perhaps to the bleak coasts of forbidding Torvaldsland itself. "Do you

  surmise, Samos," I asked, "that the beast killed for hunger?" "Speak," said

  Samos to the rencer. "The beast," he said, " had been seen earlier, twice, on

  abandoned, half-rotted rence islands, lurking." "Did it feed?" I asked. "Not on

  those of the marshes," said the man. "It had opportunity?" I asked. "As much or

  more as when it made its strike," said the man. "The beast struck once, and once

  only?" I asked. "Yes," said the man. "Samos?" I asked. "The strike," said

  Samos," seems deliberate. Who else in the marshes wore a golden armlet?" "But

  why?" I asked. "Why?" He looked at me. "The affairs of worlds," said Samos,

  "apparently still touch you." "He is crippled!" cried Luma. " You speak

  strangely! He can do nothing! Go away!" I put down my head. On the table I felt

  my fists clenched. I suddenly felt a hideous exhilaration. "Bring me a goblet,"

  I said. A goblet was fetched. It was of heavy gold. I took it in my left hand.

  Slowly I crushed it. I threw it from me. Those of my house stood back,

  frightened. "I will go," said Samos./ " There is work to be done in the north. I

  will seek the vengeance." "No, Samos," I said. " I will go." There were gasps

  from those about. "You cannot go," whispered Luma. "Telima was once my woman," I

  said. "It is mine to seek the vengeance." "You are crippled! You vannot move!"

  cried Luma. "There are two swords over my couch," said I to Thurnock. "One is

  plain, with a worn hilt; the other is rich, with a jewel-encrusted hilt." "I

  know them," whispered Thurnock. "Bring me the blade of Port Kar, swiftm fit with

  inhilted jewels." He sped from the room. "I would have paga," I said. " And

  bring me the red meat of bosk." Henrius and Clitus left the table. The sword was

  brought. It was a fine blade. It had been carried on the 25th of Se'Kara. Its

  blade was figured, its hilt encrusted with jewels. I took the goblet, filled

  with burning paga. I had not had paga since returning frm the northern forests.

  "Ta-Sardar-Gor," said I, pouring a libation to the table. Then I stood. "he is

  standing!" cried Luma. " He is standing!" I threw back my head and swilled down

  the paga. The meat, red and hot, was brought, and I tore it in my teeth, the

  juices running at the side of my mouth. The blood and the paga were hot and dark

  within me. I felt the heat of the meat. I threw from me the goblet of gold. I

  tore the meat and finished it. I put over my left shoulder the scabbard strap.

  "Saddle a tarn," said I to Thurnock. "Yes, Captain," he whispered. I stood

  before the captain's chair. "More paga," I said. Another vessel was brought. " I

  drink," said I, " to the blood of beasts." Then I drained the goblet and fl
ung

  it from me. With a howl of rage I struck the table with the side of my fists,

  shattering the boards. I flung aside the blanket and the captain's chair. "Do

  not go," said Samos. " It may be a trick to lure you to a trap." I smiled at

  him. "Of course," I said. "To those with whom we deal Telima is of no

  importance." I regarded him. "It is me they want," I said. "They shall not fail

  to have their opportunity." "Do not go," said Samos. "There is work to be done

  in the north," I said. "Let me go," said samos. "Mine," I said, " is the

  vengeance." I turned and strode toward the door of the hall. Luma fell back

  before me, her hand before her mouth. I saw that her eyes were deep, and very

  beautiful. She was frightened. "Precede me to my couch," I said. "I am free."

  She whispered. "Collar her," I said to Thurnock, "and send her to my couch." His

  hand closed on the arm of the thin blond scribe. "Clitus," I said, "send Sandra,

  the dancer, to my couch as well." "You freed her, Captain," smiled Clitus.

  "Collar her," I told him. "Yes, Captain," he said. I well remembered Sandra,

  with her black hair, brownish skin and high cheekbones. I wanted her. It had

  been long since I had had a woman. "Tab," said I. "Yes, Captain," said he "The

  two females," I told him, "have recently been free. Accordingly, as soon as they

  have been collared, force them to drink slave wine." "Yers, Captain," grinned

  Tab. Slave wine is bitter, intentionally so. Its effect lasts for more than a

  Gorean month. I did not wish the females to conceive. A female slave is taken

  off slave wine only when it is her master's intention to breed her. "The tarn,

  Captain?" asked Thurnock. "Have it saddled," I told him. " I leave shortly for

  the north." "Yes, Captain." He said. Chapter 2 The Temple of Kassau The incense

  stung my nostrils. It was hot in the temple, close, stifling. There were many

  bodies pressed about. It was not easy to see, for the clouds of incense hung

  heavy in the air. The High Initiate of Kassau, a town at the northern brink of

  the forest, sat still in his white robes, in his tall hat, on the throne to the

  right, within the white rail that separated the sanctuary of Initiates from the

  common ground of the hall, where those not anointed by the grease of

  Priest-kings must stand. I heard a woman sobbing with emotion to my right.