by John Norman
"The others?"
"Returned to our several camps,” said Grendel.
"I do not understand,” said Peisistratus.
"The victory was ours,” said Grendel. “Slaughter befell, but it was upon the minions of Agamemnon."
"I cannot believe it!” said Peisistratus.
"We are hungry,” said Grendel.
"Slaves,” cried Peisistratus. “Prepare a feast!"
The slaves sprang to their feet, scurrying away.
"But it was reported that you perished in the Vale of Destruction,” said Peisistratus.
"And who conveyed this report?” asked Cabot.
"The sole survivor,” said Peisistratus.
"Flavion,” said Cabot.
"Yes,” said Peisistratus.
"Flavion was mistaken,” said Grendel. “As you can see he was not the sole survivor."
"Happily!” said Peisistratus.
"Thanks be to the Nameless One!” cried a voice. “Glory to our cause!"
In the threshold of the camp, startled, and seemingly jubilant, stood Flavion, who then rushed forward to embrace Lord Grendel, Cabot, Statius, Archon, and others, and then he bounded about, leaping into the air, uttering screeches of pleasure, and then, alighting, again and again, he reached down and cast flags of dirt into the air, and then, struggling to govern his emotions, he returned, fawning and cringing, to the presence of the Lord Grendel.
"Joy! Joy!” he cried. “Did I not see you die?"
"It seems not,” said Cabot.
"I waited with you in the Vale of Destruction,” said Flavion, “but grew suspicious, and withdrew to confirm my suspicions. Unnoted, I ascended the rim of the vale, where, to my horror, I saw minions of Agamemnon, countless minions, converging on our position! I was cut off! I could not return to warn you! Discovered, I fought and slew six enemies, but, turning, saw what could only be the initiation of a most complete and grievous slaughter. I saw them descend, our terrible foes, in their thousands, into the vale, heavily armed. Only one outcome could proceed, given a position so untenable, and odds so fearful. So, stricken in heart, anguished, I must return to the camp, that our fellows be apprised at least of the danger in which they must then stand."
"Noble Flavion,” said Grendel, “how brave you are, how well you did."
"I should have fought my way back, to die with you,” said Flavion.
"No,” said Grendel. “Of what avail could you have been? Obviously your duty was to attain and warn the camp."
"Better I had died with the others,” said Flavion.
"Few died,” said Cabot. “Of our forces."
"Many of those of Agamemnon,” said Archon.
"The victory was ours,” said Statius.
"Ours?” said Flavion. It seemed a shudder spread through his fur. “Splendid!” he said, suddenly.
"Mariners intervened, survivors from the fleet's ruin,” said Cabot.
"Afterward,” said Statius, “they withdrew to their place of ignominious gathering, the place of ropes or knives, and we could not follow up our victory."
"How unfortunate,” said Flavion. “How tragic!"
"We are pleased to see you again,” said Grendel.
"Very pleased,” said Cabot.
"But it is clear we were betrayed!” said Flavion.
"Very clear,” said Lord Grendel.
"We were unable to march on the palace,” said Flavion. “We were surprised in the Vale of Destruction! Agamemnon must have had intelligence of our plans."
"Clearly,” said Lord Grendel.
"And the spy, the traitress, is in this very camp!"
"How can that be?” inquired Lord Grendel.
"Come, I will show you!” said Flavion, and led Grendel, and others, about the camp, to a small, low, open shelter, backed against palings. In the center of this tiny shelter two heavy stakes, some four inches in width, had been driven deeply into the ground, and attached to these stakes were heavy chains, one to each stake. The termination of each chain ran to a ring, one on the left side of a heavy iron belt, the other on the right side. This belt, itself, was hammered shut.
"Come out, traitress!” ordered Flavion.
There was the sound of a bell, dangling from a fair throat, locked on a chain about it.
"You see,” said Flavion. “She answers to the name of traitress."
"Come out, traitress,” he said. “Come out, and kneel, head to the dirt, before your superiors and judges."
The Lady Bina crawled slowly, painfully, from the tiny shelter, against the weight of the chains, lifted her head briefly, saw Lord Grendel, cast a look of terror at him, and then knelt shuddering before the group, her head down, to the dirt, as commanded.
Shortly after her capture and return to the camp, Lord Grendel, with a tool, had widened one of the links on her slave bracelets, so that she might separate her hands, but the rings of the bracelets, each with a bit of dangling chain, were still locked upon her wrists. In this fashion, if it were desired, the opened link might be once more closed, and her small wrists might then be confined as wished, either before her body, or behind it. Gorean masters commonly fasten a girl's wrists behind the body not merely that she will be more helpless, but that her beauty will be more conveniently exhibited, and be the more vulnerable to, and the more accessible to, say, the idlest caress of the master.
"It was you, yourself, who captured her!” said Flavion to Lord Grendel.
"Those chains,” said Cabot, “would hold a tharlarion."
"I did not have her so burdened,” said Lord Grendel.
"It was done to assure that she not again escape,” said Flavion.
"Remove them,” said Lord Grendel.
"As you wish,” said Flavion.
"I had her cleaned up,” said Lord Grendel. “Why is she filthy?"
"To clean her, a traitress, would be a waste of water."
"Wash her, brush and comb her,” said Lord Grendel.
"It will be done,” said Flavion.
"She is a free woman,” said Lord Grendel. “Why is she naked?"
"That she may not conceal weapons,” said Flavion.
"Give her a tunic, as before,” said Lord Grendel. “You need not fear, my dear Flavion, that such a tunic will conceal a weapon, lest it be, and surely to no more than a tiny, almost mocking extent, the beauty of the female herself."
"It will be done,” said Flavion.
"She is to have the freedom of the camp,” said Lord Grendel.
"Surely not!” said Flavion. “She betrayed Peisistratus and Lord Arcesilaus, and doubtless others, to Agamemnon, long ago. Then, escaped from the camp, she betrayed the attack on the arsenal, that encompassing the slaughter of so many of our brothers, and then, clearly, returning, spying, she must have somehow become apprised of our plans involving the palace, and the Vale of Destruction, and betrayed those to Agamemnon, as well."
"I see,” said Lord Grendel.
The girl whimpered, negatively, but dared not speak.
"She was brought to the camp, a prisoner,” said Lord Grendel, “before our march to the Vale of Destruction."
"But not before the plans were laid,” said Flavion.
"That is true,” said Lord Grendel.
"We captured her, pinioned, ragged, dirty, and starving, in the vicinity of a womb tunnel,” said Cabot.
"Doubtless she had, in her espionage, perhaps returning from the palace, to do more mischief, inadvertently fallen into the grasp of our peers, whom she later eluded, but found herself unable then either to return to the palace or, braceleted, to secretly frequent again the environs of our camp."
Cabot may have been about to speak, but Lord Grendel put a hand upon him, and then, it seemed, he refrained.
"Excellent, Flavion,” said Lord Grendel. “What you say makes a great deal of sense, and explains much in a satisfactory manner."
"Thank you, Lord,” said Flavion.
The Lady Bina lifted her head, a little, to regard Lord Grendel. There wa
s a tiny sound of the bell. Then she thrust her head down, again.
"Shall we keep the bell on her?” asked Peisistratus.
"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “as before."
"And when,” said Flavion, anxiously, “shall she be put to death?"
"Do you not think it best that she be interrogated first?” asked Lord Grendel.
"I would think that unnecessary,” said Flavion.
"Might she not, under torture, as she is seemingly a valued and esteemed agent of great Agamemnon,” said Cabot, “be encouraged to betray his secrets?"
"She is human,” said Flavion. “To no secrets would she be privy."
"One might be curious to hear her own account of her treacheries,” said Lord Grendel.
"What could her own words do,” asked Flavion, “other than seal her fate the more securely, other than serve to more fiercely heat the very irons which will burn her?"
"Has she said nothing?” asked Cabot.
"As her guilt is clear,” said Flavion, “she has been forbidden to speak."
"It seems a shame to burn and tear such sweet flesh,” said Cabot. “Might it not be better to auction it off on a slave block?"
"Certainly not, dear Cabot,” said Statius. “Loathsome and despicable as she is, she is a free woman. Surely you would not reduce her to the unutterable shame of bondage. Nothing so shameful for her as chains, a whip, a collar, and a feared master."
"When we captured her,” said Lord Grendel, “she was starving, and I am not sure she is much better off now."
"She is a traitress,” said Flavion.
"What has she been fed?"
"She has had a pan of water, and, from time to time, has been thrown a handful of garbage."
"I see,” said Lord Grendel.
"We knew you would wish for us to keep her alive, that she might face your justice."
"You are thoughtful,” said Lord Grendel.
"I am eager to see her under the irons, the pincers and knives,” said Flavion.
"Feed her, decently,” said Grendel.
"I see,” said Flavion. “Yes! That she will be restored to health and vitality, this enabling her to better suffer, to experience more fully even the least and most exquisite nuances of agony. Too, Lord Grendel, I now understand, as I did not before, your seeming lenience to the traitress, permitting her clothing, such as it might be, the freedom of the camp, and such. It will be almost as though she were free, but she knows she is not free. Things might seem near and possible, but are far, and hopeless. To what tantalizing anxieties, to what false hopes, to what terrifying uncertainties, she will be subjected, not even knowing at what moment she will be roped and carried to the torture table!"
But then Lord Grendel had turned away, with Statius, and others, to confer on matters of policy, diplomatic and military.
Flavion went to accompany them, but Cabot bid him pause, however briefly.
"I had a slave,” said Cabot, “who has displeased me."
"I know the one,” said Flavion.
"I would like to recover her."
"Surely you do not care for her,” said Flavion.
"It is true she is only a slave,” said Cabot.
"I think,” said Flavion, “you would do much, perhaps anything, to get her back."
"Perhaps to teach her what it is to be a slave, and then sell her."
"I am a poor judge of slaves,” said Flavion, “but she is exquisitely curved, is she not?"
"She would probably sell for at least two tarsks,” said Cabot.
"That is a high price, is it not?"
"Yes."
"She fled, days ago,” said Flavion, warily. “Doubtless, by now, she has perished of exposure, or starved, or fallen to wild animals, or has been killed by Agamemnon's Kurii, for they had orders to fire on all humans."
"Doubtless,” said Cabot. “But, as I recall, you suggested that her trail might be found."
"It has been so long,” said Flavion. “How could that be?"
"Find it,” said Cabot.
"What?” said Flavion.
"Find it,” said Cabot.
"I do not understand,” said Flavion.
"Amongst your things,” said Cabot, “before the trek to the Vale of Destruction, I found a purple scarf."
"Of course,” said Flavion. “I needed such to penetrate enemy lines, and prosecute my duties as scout."
"A most satisfactory explanation,” said Cabot.
"Certainly,” said Flavion.
"And did it sometimes prove of use?"
"Yes,” said Flavion, more easily. “Several times."
"Interesting,” said Cabot.
"Why, interesting?” asked Flavion.
"You then, I take it, had contact with Kur patrols, guards, and such."
"Occasionally, inadvertently,” said Flavion.
"You were stopped?"
"Seldom, but sometimes,” he said.
"And you were not killed."
"Obviously not,” said Flavion.
"Why not?"
"I had the disguise,” said he, “the false uniform, the purple scarf."
"You would have to have had more than that,” said Cabot.
"What?” asked Flavion, stiffening.
"The signs, and countersigns,” said Cabot.
"—What do you want?” said Flavion.
"What have you to give?” asked Cabot.
A Kur smile eased the face of Flavion. “I might have much to give,” he said.
"I thought so,” said Cabot.
"The least of which might be a female slave,” he said.
"You can find her?"
"I can try,” he said.
"Do it,” said Cabot.
"I am pleased,” said Flavion, “to learn that you are a wise and practical person. I had feared otherwise. Some are not."
"We shall speak further of this tomorrow,” said Cabot.
"Very well,” said Flavion.
"Perhaps you would like me to groom you?” said Cabot.
"No,” said Flavion. “You are a trusted confidant of Lord Grendel, and stand high in the camp. I am only a lowly scout."
"Perhaps,” said Cabot, “you are less lowly elsewhere."
"Perhaps,” smiled Flavion.
"Come to the feast! Come to the feast!” called Peisistratus.
"Let us go to the feast,” said Cabot.
"Certainly,” said Flavion.
"Have you ever attended a feast served by female slaves?” asked Cabot.
"I have been served by them,” said Flavion, “as have all in the camp, but not at a feast."
"I think you will find it quite pleasant,” said Cabot. “I note that Peisistratus will have them serve typically, as they frequently do on Gor."
"And how is that?” inquired Flavion.
"Humbly, and stripped,” said Cabot.
"I see,” said Flavion.
"You will sit next to me,” said Cabot.
"I would be honored,” said Flavion.
Chapter, the Fifty-Eighth:
CABOT CONTEMPLATES A RENDEZVOUS
"Flavion is not in the camp,” said Grendel.
"He is out, doubtless attending to the arrangements,” said Cabot.
"As I understand it,” said Grendel, “I am to be betrayed into the hands of Agamemnon's agents."
"That is it, precisely,” said Cabot.
"I did not understand I was so important,” said Lord Grendel.
"You are quite important,” said Cabot.
"There are others, in other camps,” said Grendel.
"Your authority is foremost, clearly,” said Cabot. “You are leader."
"There are others,” said Grendel.
"It is the view of Agamemnon that without you the revolution will fail."
"You have this on the authority of our friend, Flavion?"
"Yes,” said Cabot.
"Interesting,” said Grendel. “And what are you to gain from all this?"
"Incidentally, a meani
ngless slave, of course,” said Cabot, “but more importantly the favor of Agamemnon, riches, power on Gor, such things."
"He is renewing his original offer?” asked Grendel.
"It would seem so,” said Cabot.
"His ambition is insatiable,” said Grendel, “even after the disaster of the fleet."
"The attacking navy, it seems, was repelled,” said Cabot. “Thus it may be dismissed."
It may be recalled that there were attacks, in the recent past, on the world. These had impacted the shielding, but had not penetrated to the interior of the cylinder.
"It is not like Kurii to abandon fresh meat, not when it is torn, not when it is run to ground, weakened, exhausted, panting, hot and bloody,” said Grendel.
"Nor is it like them to rush into flames or leap from cliffs,” said Cabot.
"Your own actions, of late,” said Grendel, “have provoked curiosity."
"Suspicion?” inquired Cabot.
"No,” said Grendel. “Curiosity. Why, upon occasion, have you carried meat from the camp, and returned without it?"
"It seems I made a friend, long ago,” said Cabot. “I have only recently renewed my acquaintance with him."
"A friend with a considerable appetite it seems,” said Grendel.
"No more than some Kurii,” said Cabot.
"Can you communicate with your friend?” asked Statius.
"Originally with the help of the translator,” said Cabot, “which produces recognizable Kur. Too, many commands are standard. What is most significant is he who issues the command. A command issued by one individual may be ignored, while the same command, from another, will be acted on, instantaneously. What I then did was to associate commands in Kur with commands in Gorean, and then reward only the Gorean version of the original command."
"So your friend, now, will respond only to Gorean?” said Grendel.
"He will doubtless understand both,” said Cabot, “but respond, hopefully, only to Gorean."
"And it is to your commands only that he will respond?"
"I think so,” said Cabot. “If you like, I shall introduce you, and you may test the matter."
"Perhaps another might make the test,” said Statius.
"This has been done over several days?” said Lord Grendel.
"Yes,” said Cabot. “And often I have not taken meat from the camp. A kind word, a hand knotted in the fur, affectionately, and shaken, is as effective, and seems more savored, I learn, than even roast tarsk."