Free Hunters of Gor by John Norman

than two hundred men about, and
    women and children, as well. I saw some four or five more of my crew. And many
    others, of other crews.
    “Let us see her!” called a merchant.
    The man reached down and seized her by the hair and pulled her again to her
    feet, now bending her body back, exposing her the bow of her beauty to the
    crowd. “Let the men see you, little slave,” he laughed.
    She was indeed beautiful.
    “One silver tarsk,” I called.
    There was a silence in the crowd.
    It was not a bad price for such a girl.
    Rim and Thurnock looked at me, puzzled.
    I waited.
    This girl, I knew, was skillful. She had deft hands. Perhaps, I thought, I might
    find some use for such, a wench. Besides, I knew that she had drugged and robbed
    Arn, the outlaw. I supposed he might be pleased to have her. He might be of use,
    should matters turn out that way, in my pursuit of Talena.
    “I am bid one silver tarsk,” called the man. “One silver tarsk! Am I bid more?
    Am I bid more?”
    I asked myself why I might want her. I told myself I might find use for her
    skills. I might use her to bargain with Arn for his aid.
    “Am I bid more?” cried the man.
    Also, of course, she had stolen from me. This did not please me.
    “Am I bid more?” called the man again. He still held her, bent cruelly
    backwards, his hand in her hair.
    She was a vital, beautiful, sensuous little wench. She struggled in pain. She
    tried to reach his hand in her hair.
    “Sold to the captain!” called the man.
    I owned her.
    “Thurnock,” said I, “give him the silver tarsk.”
    “Yes, Captain,” he said.
    The crowd began to melt away, “Stay,” said to two of my men.
    As Thurnock, by her arm, led the girl down the stairs of the wagon, the other
    slave girls, who had moved the wagon, struck at her, spitting and jeering.
    “Slave!” they cried. “Slave!”
    Thurnock led the girl before me. She looked at me, with glazed eyes.
    I turned to one of the seaman with me. “Take her and chain her in the first
    hold,” I said.
    “Yes, Captain,” he said.
    He began to lead her away, by the arm. Suddenly, she stopped, and looked back
    over her shoulder. “You?” she said. “This morning.”
    “Yes,” I said. I was pleased that she remembered.
    Her head fell forward on her breast, her hair, too, forward. Then she was led
    away to her chains on the Tesephone.
    I thought I would enjoy owning her.
    “Now,” said I to Rim and Thurnock. “Shall we return to the tavern and enjoy our
    paga.
    I was much pleased.
    Rim lifted his key. It bore the number six.
    “Tendite will be waiting for me,” mentioned,” mentioned Rim.
    “I”, said Thurnock, “ wonder about that dancer. She is a juicy, fat little tabuk
    is she not?”
    “Indeed,” granted Rim.
    “What do you think they would charge for her pelt for an hour?”
    “Perhaps tow copper pieces,” I suggested. The other girls, the common slaves,
    like Tendite, went with the price of a cup of paga.
    “let us go to the tavern,” said Thurnock, licking his lips.
    Together, we went to the tavern. It was not long past noon, and there would be
    time, later, to begin the purchase of supplies.
    I did not wish to deny Rim his lovely Tendite, nor Thurnock his Ahn with the
    luscious wench, chained, who had writhed before us on the sand.
    I myself expected, at that time, to be content with a cup of paga.
    But I found more in the tavern, which I did not expect to find.
    4       An Acquaintance is Briefly Renewed
    Rim went to Tendite, whom he had left in the paga tavern.
    She looked at him, in her yellow silk, kneeling in the darkness by the low wall,
    her hands braceleted above and behind her head.
    “Thank you for waiting, my little talender,” he said.
    He unfastened her, and she preceded him across the floor, between the tables. As
    Rim passed the proprietor, in his apron behind the paga-stained counter, he
    tossed him the key. The girl climbed the narrow, iron ladder to the sixth
    alcove. Rim followed