Kur of Gor (87 page)

"Kill him! Kill him!” Flavion was shrieking, with a rattle of chain, the translator conveying this imperative in Gorean with its customary passionless professionalism.

Another Kur raised his head, cautiously, warily, only feet away. It would have been better for him had he been more patient, and waited even Ahn, or until night, but he had not. And so he died, and Cabot changed his position again.

It was quiet then in the glade.

Cabot discarded one rifle, and had at his disposal then only two charges, those configured to the second weapon.

Cabot was then within the enclave, and saw the vessels, the stores, the half-buried amphora for water, the mats for sleeping. There were six such mats. Cabot detected no sign of chains or cages.

"Draw his fire, find his position!” he heard Flavion screaming.

But Cabot had made the determinations he wished. What he had sought, something soft, in a collar, was clearly not here, nor any sign that it had been. Nor was there any sign of coffers, or sacks, which might have bulged with coin.

Fire from various quarters burned into the grass. Some of it blackened and burst into flame just over his head.

Cabot might have obtained a kill with one of the charges, as he placed its source from the pencillike fire stream, but, had he done so, his own position might have been similarly revealed, and the power weapons could sweep out swaths of terrain, and there had been six sleeping mats. Thus, not counting Flavion, he supposed there might be four, or more, Kurii left in the vicinity.

Cabot withdrew.

With him, more silent in the grass than he, came Ramar.

"Better, dear Flavion,” Cabot thought, “I had left you in the trap. Perhaps, however, we will meet again."

Chapter, the Seventy-Third:

THERE WILL BE AN INSTITUTION OF FESTIVALS

"What is in the box?” asked Cabot.

"Agamemnon,” said Lucullus.

He slid back the protective metal lid of the box and, through the glassine ceiling, Cabot could see, within, below, bathed in fluid, complexly wired, a mass of gray tissue.

"Through these ports,” said Crassus, indicating a variety of apertures on the outside of the box, to which wires led, “Agamemnon could utilize his bodies, see and hear through them, speak through them, control them, and so on."

"You should have seen him, you should have known him,” said Lucullus, “when he had his own body."

"He was the most magnificent of the folk,” said Crassus. “How splendid he was, how massive and swift, how splendid of visage, so clear of eye, so quick of hand."

"He was first in the rings,” said Lucullus. “We loved him."

"He was champion, he was first,” said Crassus.

"Never before, and never after,” said Lucullus, “will there be his equal."

"We extended the amnesty,” said Lord Arcesilaus, from his throne in the palace, “and they came in, surrendered."

"You may now kill us,” said Lucullus, indicating himself, and Crassus.

"That is not my amnesty,” said Lord Arcesilaus. “My amnesty is an amnesty. You served Lord Agamemnon well, and it is my hope that you will so serve me."

"We shall, Lord,” they said.

"I think all have come in,” said Lord Grendel. “The amnesty has been general."

On the finger of Lord Arcesilaus was a large ring, heavy and ornate, a symbol of authority. Once Cabot had worn it about his neck on a string, and he had given it to Mitonicus who, later, had returned it to Lord Arcesilaus, who had been the early champion of the revolution, and the chief conspirator who had brought it to its beginning, before he had been betrayed to Agamemnon by a shapely Kur pet.

"At a crucial moment,” said Cabot, “as it was reported to me, in a far camp, one cried ‘Hail Lord Arcesilaus, Twelfth Face of the Nameless One, Theocrat of the World.’ Was it ever discovered who it was who first so cried?"

"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, looking to the side.

"It was I,” said a Kur.

"And I then, as well,” said another.

"Surely you recognize them?” said Lord Grendel.

"From the far arsenal!” said Cabot, suddenly.

"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “the two we spared, and to whom we returned their weapons, that they might return without jeopardy to the habitats."

"We had other adherents, as well,” said Statius, “adherents, and dissenters, many, from those spared, at the Vale of Destruction."

"It seems, Lord Grendel,” said Cabot, “that in a human weakness is sometimes found a wisdom, and sometimes a strength."

"But often not,” said Lord Arcesilaus.

"True,” said Cabot.

"I think there is now little need of me here,” said Zarendargar, war general of Kurii, “and I shall withdraw my people and my ships."

"Pray, remain for a time, noble ally,” said Lord Arcesilaus, “for I shall decree a mighty festival, with days of rejoicing and feasting, which I would that you and yours, your splendid, numberless adherents and crews, shared with us."

Zarendargar, war general of the Kurii, no longer military governor of the world, as Lord Arcesilaus had now been ensconced in the palace, inclined his head, in ready, gracious assent.

"Our two worlds,” said Lord Arcesilaus, “will be as one."

"No,” said Zarendargar. “Each will be its own."

"Good,” said Mitonicus, admiral of mariners.

"It is the Kur way,” said Statius, who stood high in the councils of Lord Arcesilaus, Twelfth Face of the Nameless One, Theocrat of the World.

"The ports have been unsealed,” said Peisistratus. “Our ships are now free, to wharf here, or to return to our lairs on Gor, or our secret places, our islands and dens, on Earth."

"My people,” said Archon, “may return to the forest world, or remain here, or voyage to Gor."

"I will provide ships,” said Zarendargar.

"You remembered me,” said Cabot.

"I returned for you,” said Zarendargar.

"Human will no longer be eaten here,” said Lord Arcesilaus, “nor hunted."

"What of the cattle humans?” asked Cabot.

"Some will be shipped to Gor, others will remain here,” said Lord Arcesilaus. “It makes little difference. As they are reproduced only by artificial insemination, they will be allowed to live well, in their bovine simplicity, and then perish. We will see to it that they are cared for, and have their feed troughs filled. That is all they want, to be fed, and have their needs supplied by others."

"Why should they live at the expense of others?” asked Archon. “Should they not produce, and work?"

"They are too simple, too stupid, to do so,” said Statius. “If they are not cared for they become frightened, confused, and dangerous. They become cruel, and mean, and warlike, and will fight for roots, and will feed on, and kill, one another, and others."

"They are human,” said a Kur.

"A sort of human,” said Cabot.

"What will be done with Agamemnon?” asked Cabot.

"Without a body, he is harmless,” said Lord Arcesilaus.

"Should we not now remove his victory stele from the Vale of Destruction,” said a Kur, “and put there our own, to commemorate our victory?"

"No,” said Lord Arcesilaus, “let his victory there, of more than a century ago, be recalled. He was a great commander. Let it stand."

"He was the Eleventh face of the Nameless One, Theocrat of the World,” said Lucullus.

"He will be remembered for what he was, not for what he became,” said Crassus.

"Is he conscious?” asked Cabot.

"There is activity,” said Lucullus.

"We do not really know,” said Crassus.

"The amnesty is general?” said Cabot.

"Yes,” said Lord Arcesilaus.

"And all came in?"

"All."

"I have in mind, one,” said Cabot.

"Yes,” said Lord Grendel. “Flavion came in, and availed himself of the amnesty."

"And you did not tear his head from his shoulders?” asked Cabot.

"No,” said Lord Grendel.

"The amnesty is the amnesty,” said Lord Arcesilaus.

"He is vicious, cunning, murderous, and treacherous,” said Cabot.

"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “but the amnesty is the amnesty, and he has availed himself of it."

"There is no punishment for him?” said Cabot.

"No,” said Lord Grendel. “It is the amnesty."

"But the Lady Bina,” said Cabot.

Lord Grendel's body shook, and Cabot feared, once more, as he had once feared it in the camp, that he might become something other than he would recognize, something terrible, fanged, merciless, stormlike, predatory, something unmitigatedly and primitively Kur, Kur as Kur might once have been, emerging howling, ravening and hungry, from the first primeval caves of a raw, far, pristine world. Then Lord Grendel recovered himself, again. “It is the amnesty,” he said, quietly.

"The amnesty,” said Cabot, “is not mine."

"It is ours,” said Lord Grendel. “Thus, it is also yours."

"No!” cried Cabot.

"Yes, dear friend,” said Lord Grendel.

"Perhaps,” said Lord Arcesilaus, “he has in mind a pet."

"I have something in mind far less than a pet,” said Cabot. “I have in mind a slave."

"Had you not so precipitately sought Flavion,” said Lord Grendel, “had you waited for me, had you not rushed off, into the forest, as I learned, I might have spared you some effort."

"I do not understand,” said Cabot, uncertainly.

"I gather,” said Lord Grendel, “you believed that a certain slave, who had fled our forest camp, certainly an unwise thing to do, and a most serious offense, one whose gravity she may not have fully understood, had fallen into the company of Flavion."

"Certainly,” said Cabot.

"And he encouraged this view on your part."

"Yes,” said Cabot. “He even bargained with her, or seemed to do so, for services, and, later, for his life."

"Flavion is clever,” said Lord Arcesilaus.

"He never had her,” said Lord Grendel. “I found that out, in the victory."

"I do not understand this,” said Cabot.

"She was picked up by one of our other groups,” said Lord Grendel, “and, as a loose slave, was well roped, hand and foot. After the victory she was brought to the habitats."

"She is alive?” said Cabot.

"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “and is even now nicely, if somewhat uncomfortably, caged in one of the stables, with some others similarly caged, in individual, small shipping cages, waiting to be claimed by their masters."

"Given her collar,” said Peisistratus, “you will have no difficulty claiming her. She is clearly yours."

"Take me to her!” said Cabot.

"There is no hurry,” said Lord Arcesilaus.

"She will wait for you, dear Cabot,” said Archon.

"She is not going anywhere,” said Statius.

"I want to see her,” said Cabot.

"Doubtless she is eager to see you, as well,” said Archon.

"I will change that,” said Cabot.

"Her pleasure will soon turn to terror,” said a Kur.

"She was a flighted slave,” said another.

"Perhaps she does not understand that she has been displeasing to her master,” said a Kur.

"Doubtless she will soon understand it,” said another.

"Yes,” said another.

"She is a slave,” said another.

"There is no mercy for a runaway slave,” said another.

"They will be treated as they deserve,” said another.

"Put from your minds vengeances on foolish animals,” said Lord Arcesilaus. “I am planning several days of celebration, of feasting, and such, and Lord Zarendargar and his forces, I am pleased to note, will revel with us. They will share our joy, and participate in our games, and festivals. Departures may take place thereafter."

"Will there be female Kur slaves?” asked Zarendargar.

"Female Kur slaves!” exclaimed a Kur, shocked.

"Certainly,” said another.

"Surely there are no such slaves,” said he who had expressed astonishment.

"Do not be naive,” said another, to he who had expressed that astonishment.

"Yes,” said Statius, to Lord Zarendargar. “And if you wish we will put them in collars."

"And free Kur females will be denied entrance to the festivals,” said a Kur.

"Unless they submit themselves as slaves,” said a Kur.

"Yes,” said another.

"And will serve as slaves."

"Yes."

"And will be slaves."

"Yes."

"And will be denied harnesses."

"Certainly,” said another Kur.

"And they will serve with human female slaves,” said another Kur.

"They will be so degraded?” asked a Kur.

"Yes,” said a Kur, “and they will be well taught what it is to be a slave."

"Human female slaves often serve unclothed,” said a Kur.

"Save for collars,” said a Kur.

"If no free females are present,” said Cabot.

"They will be denied harnesses?” asked a Kur.

"Yes,” said a Kur.

"Then they will be naked,” said a Kur.

"Precisely,” said another.

"Let them learn what it is to be a slave,” said a Kur.

"Excellent!” said more than one Kur.

"Our females, many,” said Zarendargar, “are quite beautiful. Why should we, who are Kur, not have the same pleasures from our females which the men of Gor enjoy from theirs?"

"From those who are slaves,” said Cabot.

"Very well,” said Zarendargar.

"Perhaps,” said Lord Arcesilaus, “our folk will become less precipitate, and driven, and become somewhat more civil, less inclined to hasty, violent response, if their needs and desires are fulfilled, if vessels are at hand, properties, which they may subject to their will, which they may rule, and on which they may conveniently slake their lusts."

Cabot supposed something of the sort might be true. Contented men, in any event, are unlikely to rob, to kill, to practice cruelties, and such. Cabot wondered if the congeniality and civility of some fellows might have so simple an explanation as the full, pleasant, and convenient satisfaction of their most acute, recurrent masculine needs, those for dominance, ownership of the female, mastery, and sex. Their peace, and perhaps the safety of their neighbors, he speculated, was kept within the collars which encircled lovely necks.