John Norman - Kur of Gor

"It is my wish,” said Lord Grendel, and none would gainsay him.

"I think this is a world of Kurii,” said the Lady Bina, “not of humans. I have heard of Gor. I think I will see what it is like. I think it would be interesting to live on the surface of a world, rather than within a world."

"Lady?” said Cabot.

"I shall wish,” said the Lady Bina, “to be given transportation to Gor. Others, as I understand it, are being indulged in this particular."

"Gor is dangerous, Lady!” said Cabot. “You are attractive, and you have no city, no village, no Home Stone. You might end up in the markets."

"In the markets?” she said.

"Being sold,” he said.

"I,” she laughed, “being sold! Absurd! I am a free woman!"

"I assure you,” said Cabot. “There is danger."

"I am a free woman,” she insisted.

"So, too, once, were most slaves,” said Cabot.

"Then they were not true free women,” said the Lady Bina. “They were only uncollared slaves.” She then looked at Cecily, who feared to meet her gaze. “Is that not true?” she asked.

"I do not know,” whispered the slave.

"But it is true of you, is it not?” asked the Lady Bina. “You were merely an uncollared slave."

"Yes, Mistress,” said Cecily. “It was true of me. I was only an uncollared slave."

"And the collar belongs on you, does it not?” asked the Lady Bina.

"Yes, Mistress,” said Cecily. “The collar belongs on me!"

"Are you insolent?” asked the Lady Bina.

"No, Mistress,” said Cecily, quickly. “Forgive me, Mistress!"

"Slave,” sneered the Lady Bina.

"Yes, Mistress,” said Cecily. “I am a slave, and should be a slave."

"Quite true, slave girl,” said the Lady Bina. Then she looked at Cabot. “I will need funds,” she said.

"If you are determined,” said Cabot, “I will provide some rubies, and I would suppose that Lord Grendel might contribute something, as well."

"Surely,” said Lord Grendel.

"You will accompany me,” she said to Cabot. “I will need guidance, and protection."

"Not I,” said Cabot.

"I will reward you richly,” she said, “for I intend to become a Ubara."

"Do not be absurd,” said Cabot.

"My beauty,” she said, “will win me influence, and soon a throne."

"Do not be foolish,” said Cabot. “There are thousands of women on Gor as beautiful as you, if not more so, and a great many of them are in cages, on shelf chains, and in coffles."

"Am I to understand that, despite their beauty, they are for sale?"

"It is largely because of their beauty,” said Cabot, “that they are for sale."

"They are slaves?"

"Of course,” said Cabot. “They are slaves."

"Then,” she said, “it is appropriate for them, as they are slaves, that they be for sale."

"Certainly,” said Cabot.

"Slaves?” she said.

"Yes,” said Cabot.

"Men have made them so?"

"Of course."

"I am a free woman,” she said.

"Yes,” said Cabot.

Cabot thought it a shame that the Lady Bina was a free woman. Was there not there a waste of slave? Cabot thought that at a man's feet, naked and collared, under his switch, she might be much improved. Certainly she was beautiful, even slave beautiful. Many free women are slave beautiful, of course, but they have not yet been brought to the feet of men, and put in their collars.

Only then, mere slaves, reduced and exalted, in love and fulfillment, might they become truly beautiful.

Many a free woman, naked before her sandal slave, might inquire, “What do you think? Am I not beautiful enough to be a slave? Would I not sell well?” And to this the sandal slave, kneeling before her mistress, might well respond, and truthfully, “Yes, Mistress.” The sandal slave might then be lashed, and informed that the beauty of a free woman is far superior to that of a slave, any slave, to which she had best reply, “Yes, Mistress,” one of the few lies which a slave might safely utter. After all, what could a collar do for her mistress, really, other than enhance her beauty, and make her a thousand times more desirable to men? The sandal slave might think, “Be sold, great lady. I would bring more on the block than you!"

"I wish you to accompany me,” she said.

"I will ship with you,” said he, “to the surface of Gor, then we part."

"I will accompany you, Lady,” said Lord Grendel, quietly.

"No!” cried Lord Arcesilaus, and several others, amongst the Kurii. “Remain with us,” said a Kur. “Here you stand high in the rings,” said another. “Here you are champion, and hero!” said another. “Stay with us!” begged another.

"On Gor,” said Cabot, “you will be seen as no more than a beast!"

"What am I other than that here?” said Lord Grendel. He lifted his hand, which bore only five digits, not six. Some of the Kurii looked away. “And my voice,” said Lord Grendel, “is different. It is not fully Kur."

"You have rendered great services to the world,” said Lord Arcesilaus. “We will cheerfully overlook such deformities."

"Keep the slut here, and chain her to a ring,” said Cabot.

"No,” said Lord Grendel.

"Go to Gor, yes,” said a Kur, “but later, and only in war, to win her, and claim her, for the folk!"

"Stay with us, and help us to conquer Gor,” said another.

"No,” said Lord Grendel.

"Perhaps he should go,” said one of the Kurii.

"Perhaps there is, truly, no place for him here,” mused another.

"It is true, he is a monster,” said one of the Kurii. “There is no gainsaying that."

"But we salute him,” said another.

"Yes,” said another.

"He must be permitted to go, if he wishes,” said Lord Arcesilaus. “I, for one, will cruelly regret his departure, but I would not oblige him to remain, nor attempt to influence him to do so, against his will."

"You may accompany me then,” said the Lady Bina. “I may have need of you, if what friend Cabot suggests is true, that some peril might obtain. You may be my protector, rather like a sleen, my beast, my pet."

"Collar her,” said Cabot.

"She is a free woman,” said Lord Grendel.

"I may need a serving slave,” said the Lady Bina. She then looked upon Cecily. “That is a pretty slave,” she said. “What do you want for her?"

"She is not for sale,” said Cabot, “not now."

"Later?"

"Perhaps,” said Cabot.

Cecily looked at her master, in fear. She was property, of course, and could be disposed of, as the master might please.

"I think you want her,” said the Lady Bina, “—perhaps for slave use."

"Of course,” said Cabot. “Why do you think men make slaves, buy them, and such?"

"That they may have slave use from them?"

"Of course."

"Doubtless you make her grovel and squirm,” said the Lady Bina.

"Certainly,” said Cabot.

"She seems quite modest, and quite demure now,” said the Lady Bina.

"Now,” agreed Cabot.

"Doubtless she is different, in your arms, or under your whip."

"Of course,” said Cabot.

"She is a pleasure slave,” said the Lady Bina.

"Yes,” said Cabot.

"Why is she kneeling, then, with her knees together?"

"She is in the presence of a free woman,” said Cabot.

The Lady Bina then looked at Cecily. “Show what you are, slut,” she said.

"Before a free woman, Mistress?” said Cecily, frightened.

"I like the word ‘Mistress’ on your dirty little slave lips,” said the Lady Bina. “It belongs there."

"Yes, Mistress,” said Cecily.

"Now!” said the Lady Bina.

Cecily spread her knees.

The Lady Bina then laughed, merrily.

"Grendel,” said the Lady Bina.

"Lady?” said he.

"I do not too much care for this hood, and all these veils,” she said. “I think it better if my hair were seen, attractively flowing, and if my face were visible, that my beauty might be the better noted."