Magicians of Gor by John Norman Read Free Book Online Page B

valuable,” I said.
    “Only a silver tarsk,” he said.
    “Are you a resident of Ar?” I asked.
    “I am leaving the city,” he said. “I fear Cos.”
    “But Cos is to be met and defeated on the march to Ar,” I said.
    “I am leaving the city,” he said. “I have no longer a need for the ostrakon.”
    “Let me see it,” I said.
    Surreptitiously, scarcely opening his hand, he showed it to me.
    “Bring it here, by the light,” I said.
    Unwillingly he did so. I took it from his hand.
    “Do not show it about so freely,” he whispered.
    I struck him heavily in the gut and he bent over, and sank to his knees. He put
    down his head. He gasped. He threw up into the dirt near the fire.
    “If you cannot hold your paga, go elsewhere,” growled a peasant.
    The fellow, in pain, in confusion, in agony, looked up at me.
    (pg. 38) “It is indeed a yellow ostrakon,” I said, “and oval in shape, as are
    the current ostraka.”
    “Pay me,” he gasped.
    “Only this morning I was at the sun gate,” I told him, “where the current lists
    are posted, the intent of which is to preclude such fraud as you would
    perpetrate.”
    “No,” he said.
    “The series of this ostrakon,” I said, “was discontinued, probably months ago.”
    “No,” he said.
    “You could have retrieved from a carnarium,” I said. This was one of the great
    refuse pits outside the walls.
    I broke the ostrakon in two and cast the pieces into the fire.
    “Begone,” I said to the fellow.
    He staggered to his feet and, bent over, hobbled quickly away. I had not killed
    him.
    “They may have to give up ostraka,” said the peasant sitting cross-legged by the
    fire.
    “Why?” I asked.
    “It is dangerous to carry them,” he said. “Too many folks are killed for them.”
    “What then will Ar do?” I asked.
    “I think she will shut her gates,” he said.
    “But her forces are interposed between her gates and Cos,” I said.
    “True,” said the peasant.
    I then continued my search for Marcus and Phoebe. He was, of course, quite proud
    of her. I did not doubt but what he was now circulating about, seemingly merely
    wandering about, but showing her off. She would surely be one the most fetching
    slaves in the area.
    How lofty, I thought, are the walls of Ar. Yet they were only of stone and
    mortar. They could be breached. Her bridges could be, as the Goreans have it,
    washed in blood. But there were forces of Ar between her walls and banners of
    Cos. It was well.
    I stopped for a moment to watch an amusing race. Several slave girls are
    aligned, on all fours, poised, their heads down. Then, carefully, a line of
    beans, one to a girl, is placed before them. She must then, on all fours, push
    the bean before her, touching it only with her nose. The finish line was a few
    yards away. “go!” I head. The crowd cheered on its favorites. On this sport, as
    well as on several others, small bets were placed. Sometimes a new slave, one
    who has recently been a haughty, arrogant free woman, is used in such a race.
    Such things, aside (pg. 39) from their amusing, and fitting, aspects, are
    thought to be useful in accommodating her to her new reality, that of the female
    slave. In them she learns something more of the range of activities that may be
    required of her.
    I passed two fellows wrestling in a circle, others watching.
    Another group, gathered about a fire, were singing and passing about a bota, I
    presume, of paga.
    I passed a pair of fellows intent over a Kaissa board. It seemed they were in
    their own world.
    A female slave passed me, looking shyly down. She moved, excellently. I saw
    another regarding me. She was on her master’s leash. I recalled that Phoebe,
    too, had been on a leash. Perhaps by now, I though, Marcus would have returned
    with his slave, suffering in her need, to the tent, if only to satisfy himself
    with her, for he, too, I was certain, was in an agony to have her. Yet, in spite
    of his need, his intense desire for her,