J McKenna: Slave Planet

Her fear that they would be punished proved to be groundless. Although the Baktu culture was based on male superiority, the Earth women were considered to be valuable property. Would you damage a Van Gogh or a Stradivarius?

Once Beth had the medical kit, she was able to partner with Niktus to aid many of the villagers. She felt she was making a difference and having the support of Niktus made it much easier. When she learned she was pregnant, rather than being dismayed at the thought of having an alien child, she was overjoyed that she could share her love with the older man.

Jorja had several more fights, mostly exhibitions and warm-up spots on the cards. She was treated with as much respect as any man, especially after an incident in a village bar when a drunk man claimed the fights were fixed and tried to show that a man who wasn’t in on the scheme could defeat her easily. After Jorja threw him into a table, twice, her legend only grew.

They realized that the image of this race that they first observed was really a sham. Men were in charge, but behind the scenes, women wielded considerable power. Like Ally did with Pitus, women who had some worthwhile talents used them to support their “masters.” In exchange, the men would give them great latitude in the house, out of sight of the other men in the village.

The sight of women being led around by leashes was simply a tradition, a holdover from earlier, darker days. Women actually enjoyed this display because it showed how much she was valued by her master.

Many years later, recently promoted Captain Allyson Egerton returned with a newer, faster ship to Devon to visit her former crewmates.

She touched down near the village, which had grown considerably since her first visit. A welcoming procession arrived. By now, the villagers were used to visitors from their “sister planet,” Earth. When Beth and Jorja saw it was Allyson who had returned, they were overjoyed.

Beth introduced Jamel, her son, now six, and Berda, her daughter, three. Jorja had a son, Kendor, age two, and was pregnant with another child.

Both women were naked and both wore their collars proudly. Allyson felt a little embarrassed to be overdressed in her NASA coveralls. She stripped down to tee-shirt and shorts in the heat and they strolled back into the village for a feast.

“You are both looking very pleased with yourselves,” Allyson remarked. “You’ve really adjusted well to this culture.”

“Yes, we had to travel two million miles to find men we could love,” Beth admitted. “I’m not sure why. I think it was because men on Earth are so hung up on body image. Just because I was carrying a few extra pounds, some men acted like I didn’t exist. Before I joined NASA and started traveling the heavens, I probably had ten dates. None ever went anywhere.”

“I had the same problem for different reasons,” Jorja told Ally. “I’m a big-boned, bold, beautiful woman. I think I intimidated men. At six feet, there aren’t that many men who were willing to be seen with me. And when they learned I could kick their butts if I had to, that only made it worse. Earth men are so insecure.”

Ally laughed. “And to think we were worried when we had to leave you behind. I can’t tell you how that tore us all up.”

Beth chewed on the inside of her lip. “Yeah, I was worried too, at first. But deep down, I think I wanted to be left behind. I felt there was so much more I hadn’t accomplished here yet.”

“My reason was more practical,” Jorja said. “I knew I had to stay behind because I was the best equipped to survive here. What started out as a sacrifice led to a very satisfying life.”

“Do you think you’ll ever go home?”

“No, except for a visit,” Beth said. “And I’m not sure I can handle being away for so long.”

“The new ships can make the trip in two months. Some don’t even bother with cyrosleep,” Ally told her.

“I’d be interested in returning, but not to stay. Like Beth, my life is here. I finally feel like a normal-sized woman on Devon. I wouldn’t want to go back and deal with all those problems again.”

“I’m impressed. And frankly, having you two as our goodwill ambassadors is doing wonders for our relationship with the Devon planet. Thanks to you, the elders have even agreed to let us build a starbase here.”

“We may be seeing a lot more of you, huh, Captain?” Beth said. “You may be stopping by to partake in our local delicacies. Maybe even try out one of our well-endowed men?”

Allyson blushed. “Hush, now. I hope a starship doctor isn’t advocating interstellar sex!

“Oh, hell no, Captain,” she laughed, patting Jorja’s ample belly. “After all, we wouldn’t want to violate the Prime Directive!”