Free Renegades of Gor by John Norman

then
    there are fewer fights, and free women almost always prefer to have their own
    space. Too, with spaces, you can charge more.”
    “This inn then, in its way, I gather, is a luxury in for this area.”
    “Precisely,” he said.
    “Perhaps they you can send a girl to my space for the night,” I said.
    “Not for the night,” said he, “but only for the quarter of an Ahn.”
    (pg.55) “Your sign,” I said.
    “I know,” he said, “but we are too crowded now for that. On the other hand, we
    would charge you only three copper tarsks for the time.”
    “For a quarter of an Ahn?” I said.
    “The keeper is a scoundrel,” he said.
    “I thought you said he had a congenial, noble side.”
    “He keeps it under control,” he said.
    “He may not be the scoundrel you think he is,” I said.
    “No, he is a scoundrel all right.”
    “Three tarsks seem a good deal for a quarter of an Ahn,” I said. I wondered if I
    might not have greater success with the keeper himself. But I supposed he was
    not up at this hour.
    “We have a debtor slut serving in the paga room,” he said. “We could let you
    have her for an Ahn for a tarsk bit.”
    “Does she know she is subject to such uses?” I asked.
    “No,” he said.
    “I will take a look at her, and let you know later.”
    “That would be fourteen copper tarsks,” he said.
    “I would count twelve,” I said. “Ten for lodging, two for the bath and
    supplies.”
    “I thought you might want some blankets,” he said.
    “Of course,” I said.
    “Fourteen then,” he said. I saw this inked on a tab.
    From a cabinet to one side, he fetched forth the bath supplies and put them on
    the counter.
    “I will pick up the blankets after I have eaten,” I said.
    “I will reserve two for you, with your ostrakon,” he said.
    “I would like a space near the wall, preferably in a corner,” I said.
    “So would everyone else,” he said. “Your space is S-3-o7. That is 97, in the
    south wing, on the third floor.”
    “Very well,” I said.
    “Try not to step on any drovers,” he said. “They can be ugly fellows when
    stepped on in the middle of the night.”
    “I will do my best,” I said.
    “If you must step on them,” he said, “it is well to do it in such a way as to
    incapacitate them, at least temporarily.”
    “I understand,” I said.
    “Do you wish to give your name?” he said.
    “No,” I said.
    (pg.56) He did not seem surprised. Many folks coming through here, I gathered,
    did not identify themselves, or used false names.
    “We shall make the bill out to your space then,” he said, “S-3-97.” He put the
    identification on the tab.
    “Excellent,” I said.
    “Payment is due before, or at, departure,” he said. “To be sure, if the inn
    grows suspicious, we reserve the right to require payment, to date, upon
    demand.”
    “That is reasonable,” I said.
    “We think so,” he said.
    “Your prices,” I said, “as I think you have admitted, or as much as admitted,
    are rather expensive.”
    “They certainly are,” he said. “I, for one, would not want to pay them.”
    I looked at him.
    “They are not negotiable,” he said.
    “Are you really sure?” I asked.
    “Yes,” he said.
    “It is hard for me to believe that the keeper is as adamant as you portray him,”
    I said.
    “He is, I assure you,” said the fellow.
    “Surely he cannot be the scoundrel you claim,” I said.
    “He is,” said the fellow. “I know.”
    “I do not suppose he would be up at this hour,” I said.
    “But he is,” said the fellow.
    “Do you think I might speak to him?” I asked.
    “You have been doing so,” he said. “I am he.”
    “Oh,” I said.
    4       The Baths
    (pg.57) I closed my eyes in one of the second tubs, the cleaning tubs. There
    were five first tubs, and five second tubs. These were all large, shallow, round
    tubs, of clay, covered with porcelain, mounted on open-bricked platforms, each
    platform about a yard high. In this