buildings beauty. The morality of Earth, from the Gorean point of view, is a
morality which would be viewed as more appropriate to slaves than free men. It
would be seen in terms of the envy and resentment of inferiors for their
superiors. It lays great stress on equalities and being humble and being
pleasant and avoiding friction and being ingratiating and small. It is a
morality in the best interest of slaves, who would be only too eager to be
regarded as the equals of others. We are all the same. That is the hope of
slaves; that is what it is in their best interests to convince others of. The
Gorean morality on the other hand is more one of inequalities, based on the
assumption that individuals are not the same, but quite different in many ways.
It might be said to be, though this is oversimple, a morality of masters. Guilt
is almost unknown in Gorean morality, though shame and anger are not. Many Earth
moralities encourage resignation and accommodation: Gorean morality is bent more
towards conquest and defiance; many Earth moralities encourage tenderness, pity
and gentleness, sweetness; Gorean morality encourages honor, courage, hardness
and strength. To Gorean morality, many Earth moralities might ask." Why so
hard?'. To these Earth moralities, the Gorean ethos might ask, "Why so soft?' I
have sometimes thought that the Goreans might do well to learn something of
tenderness, and, perhaps, that those of Earth might do well to learn something
of hardness. But I do not know how to live. I have sought the answers, but I
have not found them. The morality of slaves says. "You are equal to me; we are
both the same"; the morality of masters says. " We are not equal; we are not the
same; become equal to me; then we will be the same." The morality of slaves
reduces all to bondage; the morality of masters encourages all to attain, if
they can, the heights of freedom. I know of no prouder, more self-reliant, more
magnificent creature than the free Gorean, male or female: they are often
touchy, and viciously tempered, but they are seldom petty or small: moreover
they do not hate and fear their bodies or their instincts; when they restrain
themselves it is a victory over titanic forces; not the consequence of a slow
metabolism; but sometimes they do not restrain themselves; they do not assume
that their instincts and blood are enemies and spies, saboteurs in the house of
themselves; they know them and welcome them as part of their persons; they are
as little suspicious of them as the cat of its cruelty, or the lion of its
hunger; their desire for vengeance, their will to speak out and defend
themselves, their lust, they regard as intrinsically and gloriously a portion of
themselves as their thinking or their hearing. Many Earth moralities make people
little; the object of Gorean morality, for all its faults, is to make people
free and great. These objectives are quiet different it is clear to see.
Accordingly, one would expect that the implementing moralities would, also be
considerably different. I sat in the darkness and thought on these things. There
were no maps for me. I, Tarl Talbot, or Bosk of Port Kar, was torn between
worlds. I did not know how to live. I was bitter. But the Goreans have a saying,
which came to me in the darkness, in the hall, "Do not ask the stones or the
trees how to live; they cannot tell you; they do not have tongues; do not ask
the wise man how to live, for, if he knows, he will know he cannot tell you; if
you would learn how to live, do not ask the question; its answer is not in the
question but in the answer, which is not in words; do not ask how to live, but,
instead, proceed to do so." I do not fully understand this saying. How, for
example, can one proceed to do what one doers not know how to do? The answer, I
suspect, is that the Gorean belief is that one does, truly, in some way, know
how to live, though one may not know that one knows. The knowledge is regarded
as being somehow within one. Perhaps it is regarded as being somehow innate, or
a function of instincts. I do not know. The saying may also be interpreted as
encouraging one to act, to behave, to do and then, in the acting, the doing, the
behaving, to learn. These two interpretations, of course, are not incompatible.
The child, one supposes, has the innate disposition, when a certain maturation
level is attained, to struggle to its feet and walk, as it did to crawl, when an
earlier level was attained, and yet it truly learns to crawl and to walk and
then to run, only in the crawling, in the walking and running. The refrain ran
through my mind. "Do not ask how to live, but, instead, proceed to do so" But
how could I live, I, a cripple, huddled in the chair of a captain, in a darkened
hall? I was rich, but I envied the meanest herder of verr, the lowest peasant
scattering dung in his furrows, for they could move as they pleased. I tried to
clench my left fist. But the hand did not move. How should one live? In the
codes of the warriors, there is a saying, "Be strong, and do as you will. The
swords of others will set your limits." I had been one of the finest swordsmen
on Gor. But now I could not move the left side of my body. But I could still
command steel, that of my men, who, for no reason I understood, they Goreans,
remained true to me, loyal to a cripple, confined to a captain's chair in a
darkened hall. I was grateful to them, but I would show them nothing of this,
for I was a captain. They must not be demeaned. "Within the circle of each man's
sword," say the codes of the warrior, "therein is each man a Ubar" "Steel is the
coinage of the warrior," say the codes, "With it he purchases what pleases him"
When I had returned from the northern forests I had resolved not to look upon
Talena, once daughter of Marlenus of Ar, whom Samos had purchased from panther
girls. But I had had my hair carried to his hall. "Shall I present her to you"
asked Samos, " naked and in bracelets?" "No," I had said." Present her in the
most resplendent robes you can find, as befits a high-born woman of the city of
Ar." "But she is a slave," he said. " Her thigh bears the brand of Treve. Her
throat is encircled in the collar of my house" "As befits," said I, " a
high-born woman of the city of glorious Ar." And so it was that she, Talena,
once daughter of Marlenus of Ar, then disowned, once my companion, was ushered
into my presence. "The slave," said Samos. "Don not kneel," I said to her.
"strip your face, Slave," said Samos. Gracefully the girl, the property of
Samos, first slaver of Port Kar, removed her veil, unfastening it, dropping it
about her shoulders. We looked once more upon each other. I saw again those
marvellous green eyes, those lips, luscious, perfect for crushing beneath a
warrior's mouth and teeth, the subtle complexion, olive. She removed a pin from
her hair, and, with a small movement of her head, shook loose the wealth of her
sable hair. We regarded one another. "Is master pleased?" she asked. "It has
been a long time, Talena," said I. "Yes," she said, "it has been long," "He is
free," said Samos. "It has been long, Master," she said. "Many years," said I. "
Many years." I smiled at her. " I last saw you on the
night of our
companionship." "When I awakened, you were gone," she said. " I was abandoned."
"Not of my own free will did I leave you," said I. " That was not of my will" I
saw in the eyes of Samos that I must not speak of Priest-Kings. It had been them
who had returned me then to Earth. "I do not believe you," she said. "Watch your
tongue, Girl." said Samos "If you command me to believe you," she said," I
shall, of course, for I am slave." I smiled. "No," I said, " I do not command
you." " I was kept in great honor in Ko-ro-ba, " she said, " respected and free,
for I had been your companion even after the year of companionship had gone, and
it had not been renewed." At that point, in Gorean law, the companionship had
been dissolved. The companionship had not been renewed by the twentieth hour,
the Gorean Midnight, of its anniversary "When Priest-kings, by fire signs, made
it clear Ko-ro-ba was to be destroyed, I left the city." No stone would be
allowed to stand upon another stone, no man of Ko-ro-ba to stand by another. The
population had been scattered, the city razed by the power of the Priest-Kings.
"You fell slave," I said, :"Within five days," she said, " as I tried to return
to Ar, I was sheltered by an itinerant leather worker, who did not believe, of
course, that I was the daughter of Marlenus of Ar. He treated me well the first
evening, with gentleness and honor. I was grateful. In the morning, to his
laughter, I awakened. His collar was on my throat." She looked at me, angrily.
"He then used me well. Do you understand? He forced me to yield to him, I, the
daughter of Marlenus of Ar, he only a leather worker. Afterwards he whipped me.
He taught me to obey. At night he chained me. He sold me to a salt merchant."
She regarded me. "I have had many masters," she said. "Among them, " I Said,
"Rask of Treve." She stiffened. " I served him well," she said. "I was given no
choice. It was he who branded me." She tossed her head. "Until then, many
masters had regarded me as too beautiful to brand." "They were fools," said
Samos. "A brand improves a slave." She put her head in the air. I had no doubt
that this was one of the most beautiful women in Gor. "It is because of you, I
gather," said she to me, "that I have been permitted clothing for this
interview. Further, I have you to thank, I gather, that I have been given the
opportunity to wash the stink of the pens from my body." I said nothing. "The
cages are not pleasant," she said. " My cage measures four paces by four paces.
In it are twenty girls. Food is thrown to us from above. We drink from a
trough." "Shall I have her whipped?" asked Samos. She paled. "No," I said. "Rask
of Treve gave me to a panther girl in his camp, one named Verna. I was taken to
the northern forests. My present master, noble Samos of Port Kar, purchased me
at the shore of Thassa. I was brought to Port Kar chained top a ring in the hold
of his ship. Here, in spite of my birth, I was placed in a pen with common
girls." "You are only another slave," said Samos. "I am the daughter of Marlenus
of Ar," she said proudly. "in the forest," I said, "it is my understanding that
you sued for freedom, begging in a missive that your father purchase you."
"Yes," she said. "I did." "Are you aware," I asked, "that against you, on his
sword and on the medallion of Ar, Marlenus swore the oath of disownment?" "I do
not believe it." She said. "You are no longer his daughter" I said. "You are now
without caste, without Homestone, without family." "You lie!" she screamed.
"Kneel to the whip!" said Samos Piteously she knelt, a slave girl. Her wrists
were crossed under her, as though bound, her head was to the floor, the bow of
her back was exposed. She shuddered. I had little doubt but what this slave knew
well, and much feared, the disciplining kiss of the Gorean slave lash. Samos'
sword was in his hand, thrust under the collar of her garment, ready to thrust
in and lift, parting the garment, causing the robes to fall to either side,
about her then naked body. "Do not punish her," I told Samos. Samos looked at
me, irritably. The slave had not been pleasing. "To his sandal, Salve," said
Samos. I felt Talena's lips press to my sandal. "Forgive me, Master" she
whispered. "Rise," I said. She rose to her feet, and stepped back. I could see
that she feared Samos. "You were disowned," I told her. " Your status now,
whether you know this or not, is less than that of the meanest peasant wench,
secure in her caste rights." "I do not believe you," she said. "Do you not care
for me," I asked, "Talena." She pulled the riobes down from her throat. " I wear
a collar," she said. I saw the simple, circular, gray collar, the collar of the
house of Samos, locked around her throat. "What is her price?" I asked Samos. "I
paid ten pieces of gold for her," said Samos. She seemed startled that she had
sold for so small a sum. Yet, for a girl, late in the season, high on the coast
of Thassa, it was a marvelous price. Doubtless she had obtained it only because
she was so beautiful. Yet, to be sure, it was less than she would have brought
if expertly displayed on the block in Turia or Ar, or Ko-ro-ba, or Tharna, or
Port Kar. "I will give you fifteen," I said. "Very well," said Samos. With my
right hand I reached into the pouch at my belt and drew out the coins. I handed
them to Samos. "Free her," I said. Samos, with a general key, one used for many
of the gray collars, unlocked the band of steel which encircled her lovely
throat. "Am I truly free?" she asked. "Yes." I said. "I should have brought a
thousand of gold," she said. "As daughter of Marlenus of Ar my companion price
might be a thousand tarns, five thousand tharlarion!" "You are no longer the
daughter of Marlenus of Ar," I told her. "You are a liar," she said. She looked
at me contemptuously. "With you permission," said Samos, " I shall withdraw.
"Stay," said I, "Samos." "Very well," said he. "Long ago," said I, "Talena, we
cared for each other. We were companions." "Irt was a foolish girl, who cared
for you," said talena. " I am now a waoman." "You no longer care for me?" I
asked. She looked at me. "I am free," she said. "I can speak what I wish. Look
at yourself! You cannot even walk. You cannot even move your left arm! You are a
cripple, a cripple! You make me ill! Do you think that one such as I, the
daughter of Marlenus of Ar, could care for such a thing? Look upon me. I am
beautiful, Look upon yourself. You are a cripple. Care for you? You are a fool,
a fool!" "Yes," I said bitterly, " I am a fool." She turned away from me, robes
swirling. Then she turned and faced me. Slave!" she sneered. " I do not
understand," I said. " I took the liberty," said Samos, " though at the time I
did not know of your injuries, your paralysis, to inform her of what occured in
the delta of the Vosk." My right hand clenched. I was furious. "I am sorry,"
said Samos. 'It is no secret," I said. "It is known to many." "It is a wonder
that any man will follow you!" cried Talena. " You betrayed your codes! You are
a coward! A fool! You are not worthy of me! That you dare ask me if I could care
for such as you, is to me, a free woman an insult! You chose slavery to death!"
"why d
id you tell her of the delta of the Vosk?" I asked Samos. "So that if
there might have been love between you, it would no longer exist," said Samos.
"You are cruel," I said. "Truth is cruel," said Samos. "She would have to know
sooner or later." "Why did you tell her?" I asked. "That she might not care for
you and lure you from the service of those whose names we shall not now speak."
"I could never care for a cripple," said Talena. "It remained yet my hope," said
Samos, " to recall you to a lofty service, one dignified and of desperate
importance." I laughed. Samos shrugged. " I did know until too late the
consequences of your wounds. I am sorry." "Now," said I, "Samos, I cannot even
serve myself." "I am sorry," said Samos. "Coward! Traitor to your codes! Sllen!"
cried talena. "All that you say is true," I told her. "You did well, I
understand," said Samos," in the stockade of Sarus of Tyros." "I wish to be
returned to my father," said Talena. I drew forth five pieces of gold. "This
money," said I to Samos, " is for safe passage for Ar, by guard and tarn, for
this woman." Talena drew about her face her veil, refastening it. "I shall have
the monies returned to you," she said. "No," I said, "take it rather as a gift,
as a token of a former affection, once borne to you by one who was honoured to
be your companion." "She is a she-sleen," said samos, "vicious and ignoble." "My
father would avenge that insult," she said, coldly, " with the tarn cavalries of
Ar." "You have been disowned," said samos, and turned and left. I still held the
five coins in my hand. "Give me the coinsd," said talena. I held them in my
hand, in the palm. She came to me and snatched them away, as loath to touch me.
Then she stood and faced me, the coins in her hand. "How ugly you are," she
said. " How hideous in your chair!" I did not speak. She turned and strode
toward the door of the hall. At the portal she stopped, and turned. "In my
veins," she said, "flows the blood of Marlenus of Ar. How revolting and
incredible that one such as you, a coward and betrayer of codes, should have
aspired to touch me." She lifted the coins in her hand. It was gloved. "My
gratitude," said she, "Sir," and turned away. "Talena!" I cried. She turned to
face me once more. "It is nothing," I said. "And you will let me go," she said.
Norman, John - Gor 09 - Marauders of Gor.txt Page 2
