by John Norman
"Only we in this room know of this possibility," I said.
"Discuss your plan with Aemilianus," suggested Callisthenes. "The pirates of the eastern Vosk are more your concern than mine. The chain will keep the pirates of the western Vosk out of the waters of Port Cos."
"I do not wish to risk several ships and hundreds of men in such an unusual venture," said Aemilianus. "Besides, how do I know this is not a pirate trick to lure the fleet of Ar's Station into an ambush in cramped waters?"
"You have my word on it," said Callimachus, "the word of a warrior."
"Perhaps you, too, have been fooled," said Aemilianus. "I must think of the security of my men and my ships." Aemilianus looked at me. "Are you of Ar?" he asked.
"No," I said.
"Are you of the Warriors?" he asked.
"No," I said.
Aemilianus spread his hands. "How then," he asked the others, "in so great a matter, can I trust him?"
"You must do so," urged Tasdron.
"Do so," urged Glyco.
"Why should you undertake such risks?" Aemilianus asked me.
"There is a girl, a slave, I want in the stronghold of Policrates," I said.
"You would undergo these risks, these dangers," he asked, "for a girl?"
"I desire her," I said. "I want to own her."
"Is that all?" he asked.
I shrugged. "Too," I said, "I have scores to settle with pirates." Twice I had been demeaned by pirates, once in the tavern of Tasdron, and once in the Pirate's Chain, the tavern of Hibron.
"We are not interested," said Aemilianus. "I am sorry."
"His plan is bold," said Callimachus. "It is brilliant."
"I am sorry," said Aemilianus.
"The plan is not only dangerous," said Callisthenes, "and I would not risk men or ships of Port Cos in such a rash scheme, but it is, at least as far as preventing the gathering of the river pirates goes, unnecessary. The chain will keep the pirates of the west to the west of Port Cos."
"The chain will be ineffective," reiterated Glyco, miserably.
"It will be quite effective," said Callisthenes.
"A chain can be forged, a chain can be cut," I said.
"The chain is patrolled, of course," said Callisthenes. "Too, should there be any massing of pirate ships, we can meet them with the fleet of Port Cos."
"What do you think, Callimachus?" asked Glyco. He was not, of course, of the Warriors.
"With all due respect, my friend, Callisthenes," said Callimachus, "I must concur with Glyco, for his judgment in this matter seems sound."
"He is of the Merchants," said Callisthenes.
"He is a man of shrewd and practical judgment," said Callimachus. "And, in my opinion, his fears are well founded."
"With the chain in place," said Callisthenes, "we need fear nothing."
"Placing the chain," said Callimachus, "is unimaginatively defensive. It will be impossible to defend its length against determined attacks. Do not permit it to lull you into a false sense of security."
"If there is to be an attack at the chain," said Aemilianus, "I am willing to lend you ships from Ar's Station, to strengthen your defenses."
"We can handle our own affairs in Port Cos," said Callisthenes. "The ships of Ar's Station are not welcome in the waters of Port Cos."
"There is no drop of water in this river," said Aemilianus, quietly, "which we of Ar's Station may not put beneath the keels of our fleet."
"You will do so at your own risk, my dear captain," said Callisthenes, grimly.
"Our projects are doomed," moaned Tasdron.
"Captain, Callisthenes," said I, "surely the pirates, as you yourself have suggested, are well informed."
"It seems they know anything that occurs on the river," he admitted.
"If that be the case," I said, "surely the forging of the chain, or at least its transport to Turmus, and later to Port Cos, and the time and effort spent in preparing its mountings, joining the lengths, and setting the chain in place, must have been known to the pirates."
"Supposedly this was done in secrecy," said Callisthenes, "but I think there is little doubt they must have understood what was being done. Indeed, I have heard that there are rumors of the work in various of the western towns, in Turmus and Ven, in Tetrapoli and Tafa."
"Indeed," smiled Glyco. "We have even received a protest from Ven in the council."
"On the assumption that the pirates understood what was occurring," I said to Callisthenes, "does it not seem strange to you that they made no effort to interfere with the placing of the chain?"
"It was guarded, of course," said Callisthenes.
"But no effort, even a small one, or one in force or desperation, by steel or by guile, was made to prevent its placing?"
"None, at least to my knowledge," said Callisthenes.
"You yourself are presumably well informed," I said.
"I trust so," said Callisthenes.
"Does this lack of opposition or interference on the part of pirates as powerful and well organized as those of Ragnar Voskjard not seem puzzling to you?"
"Yes," said Callisthenes.
"What would you conclude from this lack of interest or action on their part?" I asked.
"I do not know," said Callisthenes, angrily.
"The conclusion is clear," said Glyco.
"And what do you conclude?" inquired Callisthenes.
"That they do not fear it," said Glyco, "that they do not regard it as a threat to themselves."
Callisthenes scowled at the portly merchant.
"If that is their belief, they are, in my opinion, surely mistaken," said Callisthenes.
"Do you truly think a chain will stop the fleet of Ragnar Voskjard?" asked Callimachus.
"Surely," said Callisthenes, "the chain—and, too, of course, the vessels of Port Cos."
"We know," said Tasdron, "that the topaz was brought to Victoria. It was doubtless brought as a pledge of Ragnar Voskjard to Policrates. It signifies, in effect, the agreement of Ragnar Voskjard to join forces with Policrates. I do not doubt that the fleet of Ragnar Voskjard, in a short time, will follow the topaz."
"Aiii!" whispered Glyco.
"Voskjard may be on the move now," said Callimachus. "At this very moment his forces may be moving east on the river."
"Policrates is expecting their arrival," I said. "That I know. Indeed, it is that which gave plausibility to my plan."
"The chain will stop them," said Callisthenes. "The chain must stop them!"
"I must return immediately to Port Cos," said Glyco. "Voskjard must be met at the chain."
"But what of the stronghold of Policrates?" I asked. "Would you leave such an enemy at your back?"
"It would take ten thousand men to storm that stronghold," said Callisthenes.
"Five hundred, entered, through the sea gate, could take it," I said.
"Your plan is the plan of a fool," said Callisthenes.
"I have been within the stronghold," I said. "I know it. I tell you it could be so taken."
"I will not risk a large number of men in this," said Callisthenes, "but I will tell you what I might do. I will give you twenty men, if so many will volunteer, and if Aemilianus, of Ar's Station, will similarly supply another twenty. Then, if, truly, you can enter the sea gate, and can hold it, set a beacon at the gate. We can then send supporting forces through the narrow waters to the wall. I have some two hundred men in Victoria and Aemilianus, as my intelligence sources indicate, a comparable number."
"There will be presumably some four or five hundred men in the holding," I said. "You would ask some forty men to stand against them, holding the sea gate for perhaps two Ahn?"
"Surely," said Callisthenes.
"It is not just the sea gate," I said, "and the wall near it, and the tower housing the windlass, but the walks about the walled cove within, and the entry to the main stronghold."
"It would be difficult," said Callisthenes.
"Our men would
be spread too thinly, Jason," said Callimachus. "You must forget the matter."
"It is sometimes surprising," said Callisthenes, regarding me, smiling, "what a few men, determined and skilled, can accomplish."
"Ragnar Voskjard," I said, "would come with a fleet, not one or two ships, and forty men."
"Empty grain ships, towed, their identity concealed in the darkness, might suggest such a fleet," mused Callisthenes.
"Accept his plan in its plausible form, my friend, Callisthenes, or let us put it entirely from our minds," said Callimachus.
"Yes," said Glyco.
"That is doubtless best," agreed Callisthenes.
"I am willing to try it," I said.
"I thought you would be," said Callisthenes.
"What chances do you think we might have?" I asked Callimachus.
He smiled, wryly. "One or two," he guessed, "perhaps one or two, in a thousand."
"Surprise would be on our side," I pointed out.
"Support would not be immediately at hand," said Callimachus.
"The portals and walks to be defended are sufficiently narrow," I said earnestly.
"And many in number," said Callimachus. 'Too, there may be circuitous passages, secret, of which you are unaware. In this event you might be easily outflanked."
I thought of the slave, she who had once been Miss Beverly Henderson.
"Give me twenty men," I said to Callisthenes.
"I think I can supply you with twenty volunteers," he said.
I looked to Aemilianus.
"If Port Cos can give you twenty men for such a venture," said Aemilianus, "Ar's Station, surely, could supply no smaller a number."
"It is now foolishness, and madness, Jason," said Callimachus. "Do not embark upon so mad a venture."
"You need not come, my friend," I said.
"I shall accompany you, of course," said Callimachus.
* * * *
We were now beneath the high, dark walls of the stronghold of Policrates. I could see them rearing some hundred feet above us.
We nosed toward the sea gate, our oars scarcely entering the water.
I could see a lamp lit on a wall, more than three hundred feet within, inside the sea gate. The sea gate itself was fifty feet in height, large enough, when the barred latticework was lifted, to accommodate a masted cargo galley. It was reinforced on two sides with keeplike towers. The tower on the right, as I faced the gate, housed the windlass which lifted and lowered the gate. It was turned by prisoners and slaves, chained to its bars, but these men, without the assistance of the gigantic counterweights, also within the tower, could not have moved it.
"Who is there?" called a man from the wall.
"Step back," I said to Callimachus. "You might be recognized."
I then stood alone on the foredeck of the galley. I climbed to the foot of the prow and stood there, my left arm about the prow. I wore the mask I had worn when I had pretended to be the courier of Ragnar Voskjard.
"Who is there?" repeated the man.
"I am the courier of Ragnar Voskjard!" I called. "We are sent ahead, the scout ships of his fleet!" We had only four ships with us, and three were, substantially, empty. Tasdron had arranged them in Victoria, on the pretense of fetching a consignment of Sa-Tarna from Siba, to be brought to the Brewery of Lucian, near Fina, east of Victoria, with which brewery he occasionally did business.
"The fleet of Ragnar Voskjard is not due for ten days," called the man.
"We are the scout ships," I called. "It is only two days behind us!"
"The Voskjard is eager," called the man.
"There are towns to be burned," I called, "loots to be gathered, women to tie in our slave sacks!"
"How did you pass the chain?" called the man.
"The battle has been fought," I said. "It has been cut!"
"I do not like it," said Callimachus, behind me. "There are too few men on the walls."
"I surely have no objection to that," I said. "Hopefully most of the ships and men of Policrates are abroad."
"Now," asked Callimachus, "when they are waiting for Ragnar Voskjard?"
"He is not due, in their opinion, for ten days," I said.
"Let us withdraw," advised Callimachus.
"The cups of Cos," I cried to the man on the wall, "are not the cups of Ar!"
"Yet each may be filled with a splendid wine," he called down.
"The ships of Cos," I called to the man on the wall, "are not the ships of Ar!"
"But the holds of each may contain fine treasures," he answered.
"The Robes of Concealment of Cos are not the Robes of Concealment of Ar," I called.
"What do they have in common?" called the man.
"Both conceal the bodies of slaves!" I called to him.
"Raise the gate!" called the man, turning about.
Slowly, creaking, foot by foot, I saw the heavy latticework of the sea gate lifting out of the water, dripping, shiny in its wet blackness, in the light of the three moons.
"It is too easy," said Callimachus. "Let us withdraw while we can."
"Surprise is with us," I told him. "It is the one hope we have. On it all depends."
"Enter, Friends!" called down the man.
I, standing on the prow, motioned with my right arm to the oar master, and he, in turn, not on the stern deck, but among the benches, spoke softly to the men. He was from Port Cos. I looked upward at the high gate, now hung almost above us. We began to move slowly through the opening.
"Now!" cried a voice above us, on the wall.
I suddenly heard a gigantic, rapid, rattling sound.
"Back oars!" cried the oar master, the fellow from Port Cos. "Back oars!"
But there was no time. A few feet behind me, hurtling downward, crashing through the foredeck of the galley, fell the great gate of iron.
I was pitched upward, the prow of the galley, the forward gunnels, seeming to leap upward. There had been a horrendous sound of splintering, as the heavy gate had cut through the strakes of the galley like an ax through twigs. In that moment I had seen, through the closely set latticework of the gate, the chopped galley leaping upward. I saw Callimachus thrown into the water, and the men, suddenly, lifted up with the galley, some clinging to benches, others rolling on the deck. Almost at the same time the walls, on the inside, seemed alive with archers, who must have been hidden behind the parapets. The prow, to which I clung, then fell back towards the water, and I leaped from it. In a moment I rose to the surface, gasping, trying to see. The debris of the forequarters of the galley was floating about me. Outside the gate I saw the rest of the galley subsiding into the water. From the walls arrows were raining down upon its settling timbers. The men were now in the water, swimming from the scattered wood, darting arrows piercing the water about them, then bobbing upward. I swam underwater to the base of the sea gate. I could not push through the closely set latticework. There was no passage under or about the iron. Its iron posts were received by rounded holes, six inches in width, drilled in a flat, horizontal sill. At last, lungs bursting, shaking water from my eyes, I rose to the surface and clutched at the iron latticework. It was dark outside the gate. I could see some shattered wood, floating in the moonlight. Too, there were numerous arrows, like sticks, floating about. Doubtless they would later be collected, and dried. The three galleys we had towed were now adrift, aimlessly, almost lost in the shadows. I heard laughter on the wall. I was aware then of a lantern, and a small boat, behind me. I felt, as I clung to the iron, a rope put on my neck.
30
I am Interrogated in the Hall of Policrates;
A Girl is to be Whipped;
I am Taken to the Chamber of the Windlass
"Taunt him," said Policrates.
The red-haired beauty, nude, began to press herself against me, in the long, sensuous, full-body caresses of the female slave. I struggled in the chains. My hair was still wet from the dark waters of the lakelike courtyard of the holding of Policrates. There
were rope burns on my neck, from the coarse tether, now removed, on which I had been dragged, bound, into his presence. My clothes had been cut from me. I had then been chained, hand and foot, on my back, to four iron rings set in the tiles, before the dais on which reposed his curule chair. Policrates, indolent in the chair, lifted a finger and another girl, one whom I recalled was called Tais, from the feast, dark-haired, nude, knelt beside me and began to kiss and lick at my right foot and leg.
"For whom are you an operative?" inquired Policrates.
"For no one," I said, angrily.
Again Policrates signaled and this time Lita, who had once been a free woman of Victoria, pausing only to discard the bit of silk she wore on the marble steps, hurried to kneel beside me. I noticed how the bit of yellow silk lay on the steps. She had been humiliatingly and publicly stripped and knelt on the boards of the wharf at Victoria, before large numbers of her fellow citizens, inactive and frightened. She, nude, kneeling, the blade of the pirate at her throat, had tied the knot of bondage in her own hair. She had been ordered then to the galley, to be bound there as an exposed slave, to be taken to the stronghold of her masters. The bit of yellow silk lay partly on one stair and, descending gracefully, partly on another. It took the edge of the stair beautifully, for such silk is very fine. It reveals even the subtlest lineaments of that to which it clings. It is slave silk. I could see the graining of the marble through the silk. The girl now began to kiss at my left foot and leg. She kissed well. I saw that she belonged in a collar. It was too bad, I thought, that that discovery had first been made by pirates and not by strong free men, before whom pirates might quail. But free men, I knew, were often too simple or ignorant to gather up the unclaimed booty which might lie about them, even though such booty might beg piteously to serve, and to be taken into their homes, to be treasured. It is not easy always, of course, to recognize a slave who wears the robes and veils of concealment; the identification becomes simple, of course, once she has been put in a collar and slave tunic. It is said on Gor that the garments of a free woman are designed to conceal a woman's slavery, whereas the accouterments and garments of a slave, such as the brand and collar, the tunic or Ta-Teera, are made to reveal it.