John Norman - Rouge of Gor

"The matter was important to the Merchant Council," said Callisthenes, "I merely do my duty. Some of them are uncertain of the effectiveness of the chain."And I am one of them, " said Glyco.

"That is known to me, " said Callisthenes.

"Has the chain now been placed?" asked Glyco. "Yes," said Callisthenes. "It is now in place."

"This work was done in secrecy, was it not?" I asked. I had not heard of it in Victoria, nor had Callimachus or Tasdron.

"Supposedly," said Callisthenes, "though its existence is now doubtless known to the western towns."It was forged in Cos, in a thousand links," said Glyco, "and brought overland around the delta and on galleys east from Turmus. Its mountings and pylons were mostly done at night. It lies west of Port Cos, that we many be protected from the pirates."It would also allow Port Cost to control trafffice on the river from the west," pointed out Tasdrn, irritably.

"We are under pressure from Cos," said Glyco. "I am not personally in favor of the chain. As a merchant I think a freer trade lies in our best interest. Too the chain will not make Port Cos popular with her sister cities."

"That is certain," said Tasdron. "Victoria, hitherto at least, has been primarily Cosican in her sympathies."

"We of Ar's Station would not have mounted such a chain," said Aemilianus, unnecessarily in my opinion."Possibly you do not have the vision or the resources," said Callisthenes."Our concerns, Captains," said Callimachus, "must now be with ourselves and our immediate dangers, not with the politics of Cos and Ar."Politics?" inquired Callisthenes. "Cos and Ar are at war." "Neither Ar nor Ar's Station, Captain," saidd Aemilianus, "are at war with Port Cos."

"This is true," said Tasdron, hurriedly. It was true. The typical colonizing situation among Gorean politics tends to resemble classical colonization, and not the typical colonization of nation states, in which the colony, in effect, is held subject to alien domination. When a Gorean city founds a colony, usually as a result of internal overpopulation or political dissension, the potential colonists, typically, even before leaving the mother city, develop their own charter, constitution and laws. Most importantly, from the Gorean point of view, when the colony is founded, it will have its own Home Stone. The Home Stone of Port Cos, significantly, was not the Home Stone of Cos. Ar's Station on the other hand did not have its own Home Stone, but its Home Stone remained that of Ar. This is not to deny of course that the colonly will not normally have a close tie with the mother city. It usually will. There are not too many bonds, cultural and historical, between them, for this not to be the case.

"The chain was inordinately expensive," said Glyco, "and, I am certain, it will prove ultimately ineffective." "It was forged in Cos," said Callisthenes. "We shall be expected, in the long run, to bear its expense," said Glyco. "That is probably true," said Callisthenes, "but then too, it is we who will be the direct recipient of its benefits." "If there are any benefits," said Glyco, glumly.

"Surley Port Cos will find some benefits in eing spared the predations of pirates," said Callisthenes. "The chain will surely be ineffective," said Glyco. "That is why I came to Victoria, to seek out Callimachus, that he might, in these dark times, with the topaz in transit, lend us his council and his blade."

"The topaz, given the existence of the chain," said Callisthenes, "is now meaningless, though to be sure, I am charged with the attempt to intercept it, a charge in which I have, thanks to our young friend here, failed," Callishenes glanced meaningfully at me. "To have actually delivered thetopaz to Policrates," he said, "was little short of an act of idiocy."I shrugged. "You have herad my plan," I said, "that we muster ships and under the cover of darkness posting as the fleet ofRagnar Voskjard, enter and take the stronhold of Policrates."

"It is a foolish plan," said Callisthenes."You would surely be discovered. Spies abound. The pirates are well informed, I am certain."Only we 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 to 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 an dmy 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."

"It 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 tavrn 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, unneessary. 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 quiet effective," saiod Callisthenes. "A chain can be forged, a chain can be cut," I said.

"The chain is patrolled, of course," said Calllisthenes."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 judgement in this matter seems sound."He is of the merchants," said Callisthenes."he is a man of shrewd and practical judgement," 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 agains determined attacks. Do not permit it to lull you into a false sense of security."

"if there is to be at 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," mounded 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. "It 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."