Free Hunters of Gor by John Norman Page A

her.
    Thurnock then began to negotiate with the proprietor. I had had Thurnock give me
    some coins, which I had placed in my tunic. I did not wish to be embarrassed by
    not having the price of a cup of paga. The coins were from the profit taken on
    Tana and Ela. The proprietor slopped out from behind the counter, and Thurnock,
    impatiently, stamped about. In a few moments, I saw the luscious, short-bodied
    dancer, in pleasure silk, hurry from the kitchen and climb to the eighth alcove.
    In a moment, Thurnock had leaped to the ladder, following her. I saw him draw
    tight the curtains of the alcove behind him.
    I expect she would have more than she bargained for with great Thurnock, of the
    Peasants.
    I looked about myself.
    There were the men at the tables, the girls, in slave bells, and yellow silks,
    serving them.
    The proprietor had now returned behind his counter, and was polishing paga
    goblets.
    I smiled.
    To one side, the Player and the fellow from Torvaldsland, with the ax, were
    still engaged in their game. Neither had left the board to investigate the
    commotion which had, shortly before, taken place outside. They, perhaps, had
    been oblivious of it.
    I was served a cup of paga, and I drank it slowly, waiting for Rim and Thurnock.
    They would not hurry. Gorean men do not.
    I looked down into the paga cup, and swirled the liquid slowly, and again drank.
    In the next few days, in Lydius, we would lay in supplies. We would then make
    our way upriver to Laura.
    I was content. Things were going well.
    It was then I saw her.
    She came through the kitchen door, in the tiny slip of diaphanous yellow silk
    allotted to paga slaves, bells locked on her left ankle. She was doubtless
    returning to the floor after her rest, to freshen her for further service. I had
    not seen her before. She carried a vessel of paga. She was barefoot on the
    tiles.
    She saw me, and gasped. Her hand fled before her mouth. She turned, and ran back
    into the kitchen.
    I smiled.
    I snapped my fingers for the proprietor to come to my table. He did so.
    “One of your slaves,’ I said, “just stepped from the kitchen, and then returned
    to it.”
    He looked at me.
    “Send that slave to me,” I said.
    “Yes, Master,” he said.
    I waited.
    In moments, the girl approached, carrying her vessel of paga.
    She knelt before me.
    “Paga,” I said.
    Elizabeth Cardwell poured me paga.
    We looked at one another. We did not speak.
    I well remember Elizabeth Cardwell. Once we had cared for one another. Together,
    we had served Priest-Kings. I had brought her, in such service, into much
    danger. Then, in the Sardar, I had decided what was best for her. She would be
    returned to Earth. She would be freed of the perils of Gor. There she might
    contract a desirable marriage. There she might be safe. There she might own a
    large house, and have the convenience of labor-saving devices.
    She had dared to protest.
    What place was Gor for a woman?
    I had made up my mind.
    I knew what was in her best interest, and I would see to that interest.
    I knew what was best for her.
    But that night she had fled the Sardar. Ubar of the Skies, my great war tarn,
    for some reason, though, he had slain men for this attempt, permitted her, only
    a girl, to saddle him and fly.
    I had seen what was best for her. But she had refused to accept my will.
    Ubar of the Skies returned, four day later. In fury I had driven him from the
    Sardar.
    I had not seen him since.
    I had seen what was best for Elizabeth Caldwell. But she had not seen fit to
    accept my will.
    “Tarl,” said the girl, now, whispering it.
    “Go to the wall,” I said.
    She put down her vessel of paga, and rose lightly, I saw the beauty of her body
    beneath the silk. She went to the wall, where Tendite had been chained.
    I went to the proprietor. “Key,” I said, handing him a copper tarn disk.
    It was number ten.
    I went to the wall, and indicated that the girl should kneel before ring ten.
    It, like the others, had,