be done, and it wants only the doing.” He looked about, menacingly. “Do not interfere,” he said. “Draw no weapons, place no quarrel.”
The men about looked to Genserich, and to one another. Indecision was in their eyes, and in their mien.
Rorton, clearly, could move his blade across Darla’s throat before anyone could so much as draw a dagger.
“The matter has not yet been decided,” said Genserich.
“I have decided it,” said Rorton. “The employer is not to be crossed with impunity. Perhaps you have the wish to die, but I do not.”
“But you may die,” I said.
He looked at me, wildly.
“I do not fear to cross the employer, whoever or whatever he may be,” I said. “I do commend the employer, however, for having the foresight to put an agent, or agents, in place to further assure the success of his plans.”
“This one is first,” he said. Darla’s eyes were wide. She remained absolutely still.
I hoped I could count on the support of Axel.
“If you draw the blade on her throat,” I said, “the sleen will be set upon you.”
“Surely not!” said Rorton.
Axel put his head down, close to the shaggy, massive head of the beast. His lips moved, but what was communicated I could not hear, but the beast’s response was instantaneous. Its ears flattened themselves against the sides of its head, and it crouched down, and began to growl.
“It is the command of preparation, of readiness,” I said.
“Kill the beast!” cried Rorton to Genserich, and the others.
“It is a valuable animal,” said Genserich.
“Kill the strangers, both of them!” said Rorton.
“Are they not our guests?” said Genserich.
“Kill them!” demanded Rorton.
“I do not think it would be wise to attack a sleen master in the presence of his sleen,” said Genserich.
“Perhaps you would like to do so,” said Aeson.
“The employer will be displeased,” said Rorton.
“Employers are often displeased,” I said. “Let us suppose that a displeased employer will have you killed. That may or may not be the case. I do not know. If it is the case, your choice is simple. You may choose to die now, or later.”
“Put away your dagger, Rorton,” said Genserich.
Rorton looked to Axel. “You will not release the sleen!” he said.
“But I will,” said Axel.
Rorton stepped back, away from Darla, and returned his dagger, angrily, to its sheath.
Darla sank to the ground, unconscious.
“Who is first?” asked Genserich.
“Genserich is first,” said Rorton.
Three or four men gathered about Rorton. “Kill him,” said Aeson.
“No,” said Genserich. “He was faithful to his fee.”
“Be faithful to yours,” said Rorton. “The women must be killed.”
“Please, no, Master!” said Donna.
“Only a fool and a weakling attend to the words of a slave,” snarled Rorton.
“And only a fool or weakling ignores right and truth, regardless of by whom it is spoken,” said Genserich.
“Kill them,” said a fellow.
“No,” said another.
“They are mere slaves,” said a man.
“They possess knowledge,” said a man.
“So now do we all,” said a man.
“We beg mercy of our masters,” said Tuza.
“We are slaves,” said Emerald. “Show us mercy, Masters!”
“Mercy, Masters!” wept Hiza.
“Deliver them, as slaves, to the employer,” said a man. “He may then do with them what he wishes.”
“Good,” said a man.
“Yes,” said another.
“No, Master,” begged Donna.
“Be silent,” said Genserich.
“Let us count,” said a man.
“Yes,” said another.
“Count, tally,” said another.
“No,” said Genserich. “I am leader, I am first.”
“Then lead,” said Rorton.
“We will sell them,” said Genserich.
“No!” cried Rorton.
“Thank you, beloved Master!” said Donna, joyfully.
Genserich looked down upon her, angrily.
“Forgive me, Master!” she said. She had been warned to silence. I noted he did not strike her. Was he such a fool, I wondered, as to care for a slave? I feared so. Even strong men may have their weaknesses, their absurd flaws.
“We remain divided!” said Rorton.
“I am first,” said Genserich.
“You fear the sleen!” said Rorton.
“Of course,” he said. “What fool would not?”
“It may be killed,” said Rorton.
“Of course,” said Genserich.
“Then kill it,” said Rorton.
“No,” said Genserich. “It is beautiful.”
“It is hideous and dangerous,” said Rorton.
“And beautiful,” said Genserich.
I, and surely Axel, who knew more of sleen than I, realized it would not be difficult to kill the sleen. A swift, unexpected blow across the back of the neck with a gladius would sever the vertebrae.
Genserich looked down at the collapsed, unconscious form of Darla. As she lay in the neck rope, her legs drawn up, I did not think she was all that unattractive. “Awaken the slave,” he said.
Aeson went to the slave, and rudely kicked her, twice, in the thigh. She stirred, and opened her eyes. “Up, slut,”