policy might prove useful, from my own point of view. In virtue of it, I thought
I might be able to defend Lavinia, if necessary, without calling too much
attention to myself, in particular, without identifying myself as her likely
master. Who knows? I might be merely a civic-minded citizen, or perhaps a fellow
spoiling for a fight, or one who might find it in his interest, on a certain
occasion, to seem to be such.
In a few Ehn, on Aulus, in the vicinity of Tarn Court, I saw one of the free men
accompanying the palanquin hurry forward to stay the fellow with his two
companions. Lavinia was about thirty to forty yards beyond the palanquin. I was
about ten yards or so behind her. Stayed, the whole group awaited the arrival of
the palanquin, which now approached them in a stately fashion, the bearers
impressive in their lack of haste, befitting the undoubted dignity of the
palanquin’s occupant. In a moment or two the palanquin had been set down on its
legs, in the shady side of Aulus, near a wall covered with theater posters, may
of them faded, tattered, overlapping and half torn away.* Many Gorean
advertisements, incidentally, notifications and such, are not, so to speak,
authorized. Some of these notifications, and such, perhaps inscribed by the
proprietors of certain taverns or their agents, sing the praises of various
slaves. I wondered, if the fellows passing these notifications, and such,
recounting, say, the charms of a certain Tania or Sylvia, of such-and-such a
paga tavern, even considered the possibility that these might be former free
women of Ar, perhaps women thitherto unapproachable, once haughty, vain women,
women courted in vain by many, perhaps even by themselves, who had now become
slaves, women who must now, in their collars, answerable to the whip, to the
best of their ability, serve masters. Perhaps they could even arrange for the
purchase of one of them, not to free her, of course, for it is said that only a
fool buys a slave girl, but to take her home and keep her for themselves.
Graffiti, too, in Gorean public places, as the markets and baths, is not
uncommon. Whereas this graffiti is mostly of a predictable sort, as one might
expect, names, proclamations of love, denunciations of enemies, obscenities, and
such, some of it is, in my opinion, at least, of quite high quality. For
example, poets not unoften use the walls to publish their work, so to speak.
Indeed, it is said, though I do not know with what truth, that Pentilicus
Tallux, for whom the great theater is named, first inscribed his poetry on
walls. Needless to say, readers then often feel free to write their own comments
on he poems, or even to edit them. More than one critic, I fear, had been found
bloodied at the base of such a wall. Indeed, there is a story abroad that
Pentilicus Tallux himself, whose work is noted for its restraint and delicacy,
figured in more than one fracas of that sort. One story had it that he slew
seven men in formal duels alone.
*Twice in the manuscript, later, Cabot refers to a “Flute Street.†From the
context it seems clear that this is “Aulus.†I have accordingly edited the
manuscript in the interests of consistency, changing “Flute Street†to “Aulus.â€
My interpretation is supported by information supplied by a colleague in the
Classics Department, to the effect that there is a Greek expression for a flute
which might be transliterated as aulos. I think we may assume then, apart from
contextual considerations, that “Aulus†and “Flute Street†are the same streets
bordering the great theater, that of Pentilicus Tallux. Flute music is
apparently extremely important in Gorean theater. Indeed, we learn from Cabot’s
miscellaneous notes that the name of the flute player usually occurs on
theatrical advertisements immediately after that of the major performer or
performers. It seems the flute player is often on stage and accompanies
performers about, pointing up speeches, supplying background music and such.
This is accepted as Gorean theatrical convention, it seems, much as locations as
city streets, airplanes, life rafts and deserts. Various “modes†are supposed,
as well, to elicit and express various emotions, some being appropriate for love
scenes, others for battle scenes, etc. Lastly it might be mentioned that ‘Aulus’
can also occur as a Gorean masculine name. This sort of thing is familiar, of
course, in all languages, as Smith, Cooper, Chandler, Carpenter, Carter, and
such, stand for occupations, and names like Hampshire, Lake, Holm, Rivers, and
such, stand for places, and names like Stone, Hammer, Rock , and such, stand for
things.
—J.N.
The palanquin now having been set down, its bearers, its accompanying free men,
and the two men who had accompanied the fellow from the theater, withdrew. This
left the fellow in a position to conduct some form of tête-à -tête with the
palanquin’s occupant, of the privacy of which she would presumably (pg. 379)
wish to be assured. I wondered if this fellow commonly ran such a gauntlet on
his way back from the theater to the house of his master, Appanius of Ar. When
the palanquin stopped, Lavinia did, too, naturally, and, of course, some yards
behind her, as, too, did I. While the fellow was engaged in discourse with the
palanquin’s occupant one of the free men, the fellow who had gone on ahead to
call upon the fellow and his companions to wait, took notice of Lavinia and
began to approach her. She must have seen him coming, for she reacted in fear,
and turned about. She cast a wild glance toward me, but I pretended not to
notice. She began to come back, back down Aulos, in my direction, but he called
out, “Hold, female slave!†I was afraid for a moment that she might panic and
bolt in which case he would presumably have her in custody in a moment and she
would have been beaten. If he did not catch her I would have to beat her
tonight, for having disobeyed a command of that sort, from a free person. Such
are not to be disobeyed. But, to my satisfaction, accosted, although she had
apparently momentarily gripped with fear, she had the good sense to turn about
and kneel. Also, as he was a man, she had her knees in proper position. One of
the advantages of that position, aside from its general suitability and its
effect on the female, is that it commonly has placatory value. The fellow had, I
assumed, noted her lingering about, too, in the vicinity of the theater, and had
probably noted that she was following them, or, more likely, he whom they were
following. Perhaps, while he was waiting, in order to while away the time, it
was his intent to draw her aside, into a doorway, and thrust her back against
the door or wall, for a bit of brief sport. I did not think I would object to
this, if no danger came to the note. Too this might fit in with her guise as a
state slave, for such are often not averse to such attentions, and have
something of a reputation of provoking them. As I have earlier indicated the
state is generally heedless of the sexual needs of its state slaves. At any
rate, it seld
om seems inclined to make any adequate provision for the
satisfaction of these very real, and very profound, needs. To be sure, what does
it matter, as the women are only slaves? On the other hand, it might be noted
that state slaves being sold into the private sector often bring good prices.
They seem eager to become private slaves, with a given master, whom they may
then try to serve with such perfection and devotion that they may hope to exert
some influence, however small, on the quality of their lives, for example, with
respect to the nature of the contentments they may receive, those which their
master may deign to bestow upon them. On the other hand, his mien (pg. 380)
hostile, so I moved somewhat closer. He stood now before Lavinia, angrily, who,
wide-eyed, kneeling, quaked before him. She spread her knees even more. I say
now that it was apparently his intention to protect his employer’s interests, as
he saw them, that he wished to warn her away. That would not do. He drew back
his hand to cuff the slave. As his hand came forward I intercepted it, and held
it, by the wrist, in midair. “Ai!’ he cried out, in surprise, in anger, in pain.
When he ceased to struggle I released his hand. He pulled his wrist away,
angrily, rubbing it.
“What is the meaning of your interference?’ he snarled.
“What is the meaning of yours?†I inquired, eagerly.
He back away a step. “Mine?†he asked.
“Interfering with a state slave,†I said.
“She is following us!†he said.
“Why?†I asked.
“Well,†said he, “not us, but another.â€
“Who?†I asked.
“He,†he said, indicating the direction of the palanquin.
“What business is it of yours?†I asked.
“My employer would not approve of her pursuit,†he said.
“And is your employer a competitive slave girl?†I asked.
“No!†he said. “She is the Lady——“
“Yes?†I said.
“It does not matter,†he said, irritatedly.
“Perhaps her master has not yet given her a name?†I said.
“You can see she carried a note!†said the fellow, gesturing to Lavinia.
“Give me the note,†I said to Lavinia.
“It is private!†she said.
I put out my hand, and she put the note in my hand.
“It is nothing,†I said, glancing at the note, and handing it back to Lavinia.
“Let me see!†he said.
“You dispute my word?†I said, eagerly.
“No!†he said.
“Draw!†I said. My hand went to my tunic.
“I am unarmed!†he said. “It is the law! We of Ar may not carry weapons.â€
“Let us then adjudicate our differences with out bare hands,†I said.
“You are drunk!†he said, stepping back.
If true, that will give you an advantage,†I said.
“It is unseemly for free men to squabble before a female slave,†he said.
(pg. 381) “I shall send her away then,†I said.
“No, no,†he said, anxiously. “She is doing no harm.â€
“You would keep her here, away from her duties?†I asked.
“No,†he said. “No!â€
“Glory to Talena, Ubar of Ar,†I said.
“Yes, glory to Talena, certainly!†he said.
“Glory to Seremides, first minister to the Ubara, high captain, commander of the
Taurentians, to Myron, polemarkos of Temos, to Luris of Jad, Ubar of Cos!†I
said.
“Yes, yes,†he said, “glory to them, glory to them all!â€
“Glory to a fat tharlarion!†I said.
“If you wish,†he said, “yes, of course!â€
“You are very agreeable,†I said.
“I try to be congenial,†he said.
“I think that I shall make the acquaintance of your lady,†I said.
“Do not!†he said.
“To complain of your interference with the duties of a state slave,†I said.
“She is in converse!†he said.
“No matter!†I said.
“Do not interrupt her!†he said.
“Perhaps you wish to stop me?’ I said.
“No!†he said. He then turned and hurried away, toward the palanquin.
“It is my recommendation,†I said to Lavinia, “that you route yourself about and
rendezvous with our quarry on Tarn Court, underneath the bowers. As I understand
it that is his accustomed path. Also, in this way it will seem as though I sent
you away, hurrying you back to your proper business.â€
“Yes, Master,†she said.
“Tuck the note in your tunic,†I said. “Deliver it when the opportune moment
arises.â€
“Yes, Master,†she said. She kissed the note, and then thrust it into her tunic.
“It is a well-written note,†I said.
“Thank you, Master,†she said. She herself, as it had turned out, had written
the note, it compliant, of course, with my directives and objectives. Marcus and
I had struggled with the note for a time and then, for all practical purposes,
had given it up. Lavinia had then composed it. It was sensitive, lyrical,
tender, poignant and touching, the desperate, pleading letter of a highly
intelligent, profoundly feminine, extremely vulnerable, extremely needful woman
hopelessly in love, one eager to (pg. 382) abandon herself and to surrender all
to the lover. Both Marcus and myself were astonished that Lavinia did such an
excellent job with it. It was almost as though she were writing the letter in
her own behalf, and not as part of a plot. Only Phoebe had not seemed surprised,
but had merely smiled. She did make a couple of suggestions, about the formation
of certain letters, but, as it turned out, such things were common in the
cursive script of Ar, a point in which Marcus concurred with Lavinia. The script
of Ar’s Station is, apparently, for the most practical purposes at any rate, the
same as that of Ar. There are some differences in speech, that is, in accent,
but even they tend to be negligible. For example, whereas Marcus’ speech would
have attracted immediate attention in Tyros or Cos, or even in the western Vosk
basin, it attracted little, if any, attention in Ar.
“You understand why I did not permit the fellow to cuff you, do you not?†I
asked.
“To protect me, Master,†she said.
“Not really,†I said. “There are other sorts of points more involved. First,
there is a consideration of fittingness. For example, whereas others,
particularly on certain occasions, and in certain circumstances, may, and should
discipline you, this did not seem to me to be such an occasion, or such a set of
circumstances. For most practical purposes, you see, you are primarily mine to
cuff, or beat, as I might please, and not others.â€
“Yes, Master,†she said, swallowing hard.
“Secondly,†I said, “I do not want you to present yourself before our quarry
with, say, a scarlet cheek, or a swollen bloodied lip, such things. Such might
provoke distractive speculation.â€
“I understand, Master,†she said.
I glanced down Aulus, to the palanquin, still in its place. “You speed about,†I
said to Lavinia. “Our quarry will be along shortly. His conversation with the
lady in the palanquin, although she is perhaps unaware of it, is about to
conclude.â€
“What if I cannot do it, Master,†suddenly wept Lavinia.
“I do not understand,†I said.
“What if I should die of fear, not even daring to approach him?â€
“I am prepared to take that risk,†I told her.
“Master!†she said. “I am serious!â€
“I doubt that you can manage it to die of fear in this business,†I said, “but
if you should manage it, I shall just have to find another girl.â€
(pg. 383) “I see,†she said.
“So, rest easy,†I said. “As you see, there is nothing to worry about.â€
“I am much set at my ease,†she said.
I crouched down before her.
“What are you?†I asked.
“A slave,†she said.
“What else?†I asked.
“Only that,†she said. “A slave, and only that.â€
“That is what you must remember,†I said to her, softly. “When he approaches
remember that, and its truth, in your mind, your heart and belly, that you are a
slave, and only that.â€
“I see, Master,†she smiled, through tears.
“I do not think you will fail,†I said, “and if you do, do not fear, you will be
severely beaten.â€
“I do not think I will now fail, Master,†she smiled.
“Good,†I said, standing up.
“You are so kind,†she said.
“It seems you do wish to be beaten,†I said.
“No, Master!†she said.
Then I waved my arm, back down Aulus street. “Do not dally here, slave girl,†I
said, loudly. “Be off. Be about your duties!â€
“Yes, Master,†she said, springing up, and hurrying back down Aulus.
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