John Norman - Rouge of Gor

"Greetings, Callissthenes," said Callimachus, rising to greet him.

"Greetings Captain," said Callisthenes. "Glyco told me that you would be in attendance." "I am no longer captain," said Calllimachus. "It is now you who are the captain." "There are various captains in Port Cos," grinned Callisthenes. "How are the men?" asked Callimachus. "They remember you, as I do," said Callisthenes, "with warmth."

The two men clasped hands. This pleased me, for I had feared there might be friction between them. It had been on the evidences supplied by Callisthenes that Callimachus had been removed from his command. Callimachus, however, bore him no ill will on this account. Callisthenes in the circumstances, to the thinking of Callimachus, had had no choice in the matter. He had done his duty as he should have, unpleasant and painful though it might have been for him.

"We used to drink together," said Callimachus to Tasdron. "It was largely on the recommendation of Callimachus, after he was relieved of his command," said Callisthenes, "that I was promoted to the captaincy." "A noble act," said Tasdron to Callimachus.

"He was the best qualified man to replace me," said Callimachus. "Otherwise, in spite of my affection for him, I would not have acted as I did."I have tried to live up to your trust," said Callisthenes. "To the trust of a fallen man, a drunkard?" smiled Callimachus."We shall always think of you as our captain," said Callisthenes.

"You are a fine officer," said Callimachus, "and it is a splendid command."You taught me much," said Callisthenes, "and you trained it well."

Again the two men clasped hands, warmly. I stood to one side, not speaking. "Do I not know you?" asked Callisthenes, turning to me. I saw some recollection in his eyes. "I was one of several suspects you brought in for interrogation in the matter of the serach for the topaz," I said.

"Yes," said Callissthenes. "And here is Tasdron, is it not, who testified on your behalf?" "It is," said Tasdron. "What is your name?" asked Callisthenes. "Jason," I reminded him. "Yes," said Callisthenes, "Jason, from the docks." "Yes," I said.

"I would have been here earlier," said Glyco to Tasdron, "but I could not readily find Callisthenes."I was about my duties," said Calliathenes.

"Your shoulder," said Tasdron. "It seems injured,"I fell," said Callisthenes. "Is there anything we can do for you?" inquired Tasdron. "It is nothing," said Callisthenes. He then looked about from one of us to the other. "What is afoot here?" he asked Callimachus. "Is it true that you have some news of the topaz?"

"We shall explain all shortly, I trust," said Callimachus. "What is the delay?" asked Callisthenes. "We are waiting for one more person," said Callimachus. "Who?" asked Callisthenes. "One whom it is important that you meet," said Callimachus. "Very well, "Said Callisthenes.

There was a knock on the door leading to the central room of the tavern. "Enter," said Tasdron.

Peggy, a tray balanced in one hand, opened the door. "Masters," she said, lowering her head."Serve," said Tasdron to her. "Yes Master," said Peggy.

"Sit," invited Tasdron, and we took places about the low table, sitting about it, cross-legged. Callisthenes put his helmet beside the talble and threw back his cloak. His tunic bore the insigna of Port Cos. Peggy knelt before the table and beagn to place the cups, the bessels, and plates on the table. One plate was of meat, another of breads, another of sliced fruits, ther fourth of nuts and cheeses. Each of us, with our fingers, would eat as we wished from the common plates. She had brought, too, paga, Cosian wine and water.

"She is a pretty slave," said Calliathenes. We looked at her. She wore the bit of yellow silk.

There were slave bells on her left ankle. The other collar was lovely on her throat. Her long, blond hair was loose about her shoulders. "She is an Earth girl," said Tasdron. "interesting," said Callisthenes.

Peggy set forth the food and drink deferentially and in silence."We will need another cup for our friend," said Tasdron. "and yet another, for our other guest, who has not yet arrived." "Yes Master," said Peggy.

"I trust," said Tasdron looking at his slve, "that he will arrive." "I trust so, my Master," she whispered, trembling. She then rose to her feet and taking the tray, with a rustle of bells, frightened, almost fled from the room.

I smiled. It would certainly be in her best interest for Aemilianus, Captain in Ar's Station, to have accepted her invitation to our meeting. If he did not do so, she would doubtless be whipped and well.

"Who is this mysterious guest, whom we are expecting?" asked Callisthenes. "One whom it is important that you meet," said Callimachus. "Very well," smiled Callisthenes.

There was a knock on the alley door, a firm knock. It ws struck three times.We glanced at one another. Glyco pulled his cloak about him, concealing the white and gold of his robes. Callisthenes, too, seeing this action, drew his cloak about himself, concealing the insignia of Port cos. Tasdron rose to his feet and went through the door and down the corridor to the alley door. The rest of us too, rose to our feet.

In a moment Tasdron had reappeared in the room. "Enter," said Tasdron.

A tall man, carrying an unmarked helmet, entered. He threw back the hood of a long, brown traveling cloak he wore. I detected the sound of a sheathed blade beneath the cloak. He closed the door behind him and regarded us. His hair was brown and cut short at the back of his neck. He was smoothly shaven. His jaw was square, his eyes clear.

"I am Tasdron, proprietor of this tavern, who has invited you here," said Tasdron.

"I am Jason," I said. "I commonly work on the docks in Victoria."

"I am Callimachus," said Callimachus, adding, "of the Warriors."

"I know of only one Callimachus of the Warriors," said the man, "one who ws once a captain in Port Cos."Who is he?" inquired Callisthenes of Tasdron. His voice had not been pleasant. We were all on our feet. I noted the right hand of Callisthenes had slipped within his cloak, to the hilt of the sword which hung there.The right hand of the newcomer too was then on the hilt of his own weapon.

"We are all folk met in the throes of a common plight," said Tasdron.

"Who is he?" asked the newcomer of Tasdron, nodding toward Callisthenes.

There was a small sound at the door and the newcomer, instantly, backed against the wall, watching us. Peggy entered with the extra cups. Tasdron signed audible. Peggy, the two cups on a small tray, turned about, seeing the newcomer. Swiftly, she knelt before him, putting her head down. I saw that she remembered well what he had done to her.

"The slave," said the man. "Yes," said Tasdron. "I see that I am in the right place," said the man. "Yes," said Tasdron. Then he said to Peggy, "Serve."

Yes, Master," she said. She rose to her eet and then went to the low table and kneeling there put the cups on the table.

"Was she good?" asked Tasdron. "Yes," said the man. "She was paga hot." Peggy put down her head, reddening. The properties of slaves are discussed openly by Masters.

"For what have I been invited to this meeting?" asked the man. "That we may be of mutual assistance in a project of great common interest." said Tasdron.

"Who is he?" asked the man, gesturing with his head toward Callisthenes. "Who is he?" asked Callisthenes, menacingly of Tasdron. I tensed. I saw the hand of Callimachus move subtly toward his sword. "Who is he?" asked the newcomer, indicating Callisthenes. "Let us be patient," said Tasdron.

"I am Callisthenes, Captain of Port Cos," said Callisthenes.

"I am Aemilianus, Captain in Ar's Station," said the newcomer.

Two cloaks, as one, were hurled back. Revaled then in the back room of the tavern were the insignias of Port Cos and of Ar's Station. Two swords, as one, leapt from their sheaths. The girl screamed. I stepped back.