John Norman - Rouge of Gor

"And later," said Tasdron, "it was the testimonies of Callisthenes which resulted in Callimachus' loss of command."He did his duty, as I had done mine, earlier," said Callimachus. "I cannot as a aoldier hold that against him. My only regret is that I had not resigned my command. In that way I might have precluded the disgrace of the hearing, the admonishment of my fellow officers, the embarassment of being publicly relieved of my duties."

"Be that as it may," said Tasdron, "they surely do not bode well for the future of our plans." "It cannot be helped," said Callimachus. "If you wish I shall withdraw from participation in these matters."

"Nonsense," said Trasdron, "You are well remembered, and with affection in Port Cos. I know this from Blyco Why else do you think he sought you in Victoria?" What do you know of Aemilianus of Ar's Statio?" I asked Callimachus and Tasdron."Victoria is closer to Port Cos than Ar's Station," said Tasdron. "Indeed, Ar is substantially a land power. We know little of men such as Aemilianus. I have heard that he is a good officer."I know nothing of him," said Callimachus, his voice slightly hardening, "save that he is from Ar."

"Your Cosian sympathies are showing," I cautioned him. "Nothing will be much advanced if you and this fellow find it necessary to slice one another into pieced." "Particularly in my tavern," grumbled Tasdron.

"The immediate problem remains," said Callimachus. "How can we contact this Aemilianus and bring him to this meeting without attracting the attention of the spies of Policrates?" "We have no choice, I think," said Tasdron, "but to contact him directly and take what risks are unavoidable."Even, so," said Callimachus, "do you thank that he, a warrior of Ar, a captain, will simply disguise himself and hurry off to a rendezvous in Victoria? He is surely aware that many in Victoria bear those of Ar little love. He will be suspicious."

"He will doubtless demand that the meeting be held in his headquarters," said Tasdron. "Then all we hve to do," said Callimachus, bitterly, "is to convince Callisthenes to put himself in the power of the men of Ar's station."He may be bolder than we think," I said."I do not undestand," said Tasdron. "I have a plan," I said."What?" said Tastron.

"Do you have the common keys to the collars and bells of your girls on the premises?" I asked."Surely," said Tasdron.

I then drew from my pouch a piece of silk. It was heavy, from what it was wwrapped about. I placed it carefully on the table. "I think the matter will not be as difficult was you might suspect," I said.

"I understand," said Tasdron. He eyed the silk-wrapped object which I had placed on the table. He had detected the telltale sound.

"Master," said Peggy, approaching the table, kneeling beside it, bearing a tray. She placed the tray on the table and removed three plates of bread and meat from it, a dish of assorted cheeses, a bowl of dates, a pitcher of water, a pot of block wine, steaming, and tiny vessels of sugars and creams, and three goblets.On the table too, she placed small spoons of silver from Tharna for use with the black wine, and at each place, a kailiauk-horn-handled eating prong from distant Tura. Finger towels then and a silver fingerbowl too, she placed on the table. The bowl was also of Tharnan silver. When she had placed thses things on the table, she looked about still kneeling, and saw me close the door to the room, locking her within with us. She suddenly trembled. She knew that she was a slave and that absolutely anything could be done with her.

"Leave the tray where it is," said Trasdone. "Remove your silks, and remain kneeling."Yes, Master," she said, swiftly slipping the silk back from her shoulders.I smiled to myself. Peggy had obeyed immediately and unhesitantly. Gorean slave girls do not daily in their compliance.

I unwrapped then the object from the silk on the table. There was the sound of the metal clapper in the narrow, flatish, triangular-shaped bell, the rustle of the chain and lock, the sound of the small, metal, sturdy, rectangular, locked coin box. I dangled the chain, the girl bell and the coin box before her eyes."Do you know what this is?" I asked her. "Yes, Master," she whispered frightened.

"Excellent," said Tasdronk "excellent," and he rose from the table letting himself out of the room with a key, by means of a side door, one which led up a flight of stairs, presumably to private compartments.

He locked the door behind him. He would return shortly with the keys to her bells and collar.

"Stand, Slave," I said.Peggy stood beautifully.

Tasdron crouched beside her left ankle and with his key removed the slave bells from her left ankle. Such bells are seldom put on by the slave or removed by the slave. Almost always they are put on or removed by one who is in authority over the slave. The girl seldom puts them on or removed them; rather it is hers to wear them, and as a slave, for as long or briefly as masters see fit.

I then, not hurrying, lifted the heavy chain with its bell and box about the girl's neck. I stood behind her. I then, not yet dropping the chain about her neck, but holding it about her neck, closed the lock. She shuddered. It was on her, though she could not yet feel its weight as I had not yet released it, that it might fall against the back of her neck. Tasdron then, with a key, removed his collar from her throat. I then dropped the chain about her neck. The heavy block links were obdurate against the small soft hairs on the back of her slender lovely neck. I then threw her hair back again, in place. I then walked about her and before her. She who had once been peggy Baxter of Earth then stood before me in the apparatus of a Gorean coin girl.

"An excellent idea," sid Tasdron. "Now whe will attract only the attention natural to a coin girl in the streets."Some may recognize her, of course," I said."I do not think many will," said Tasdron, "and if some do, they will simply assume that she has been put into the streets for discipline."

"That too was my conjecture," I said. though the Gorean coin girl is commonly one of several girls, one of a stable there so to speak, sent daily into the streets to earn money as the chattels they are for their master, under the penalty of whippings or tortures, or death, if their day's work does not prove sufficiently lucrative, it is not unknown for this sensual charge to be also placed upon a private girl, usually as a punishment for having failed in some way, often trivial or negligible, to be fully pleasing.

After having been sent into the humiliations and dangers of the streets, it is a rare girl who does not hurry back, eager and chastened, to the intimate joys of a private slavery.

"Do you know what you are to do?" I asked the girl. "Yes, Master," she said, "You have explained the matter fully to me."Do not fail slave girl," I said to her menacingly."I shall do my best, Master," she whispered."It may work," said Tastron, regarding the slave. He looked to Callimachus. "What do you think?"

"It amy quiet possibly work," said Callimachus. "We shall hope so."She is pretty, isn't she?" said Tasdron, "What do you think of her?"

Peggy straightened her body, scarcely daring to breathe. She was beautiful.

"She is not totally displeasing," said Callimachus.

Tasdron then took the girl by an arm and thrust her toward a rear door, before which he stopped, the girl then standing beside him, to unlock it.The girl turned to face us, "But am I not to be given even a Ta-Teera to wear?" she asked."You will be more alluring, more fetching, without it," I told her."Yes Master," she said, half choking.

Tasdron then had the door open, and he took her by the arm. "But in the streets," she said, "seen as I am, what if others should wish to use me?" You are inthe guise of a coin girl," I told her. "But what should i do?" she asked."See that you serve them well," I said. "Yes, Master," she whispered, and then Tasdron, by her arm, half dragging her, pulled her through the door and down the corridor toward the alley door. The sound of the bell on her neck was exciting. Then the door unbolted and opened, she was thrust into the darkness of the alley. She looked at us once and then turned about and sped away, the bell on her neck, on our business. Tasdron closed the door and resecured it.