on the dock hooted at, seized, and caressed as workers pleased, and, often enough, as a joke, stripped on the boards. Some rushed away in tears, but others posed provocatively, and then fled away, laughing. The public taking of a slave had been forbidden by the Pani. There were slave houses for such things. If paga was prohibited on the dock, for fear it might compromise or slow work, it was not surprising that the “ka-la-na” of the collar girl should be prohibited, as well.
“We are not in the camp,” she said.
“It does not matter,” I said.
“Please do not strip me,” she said. “Have you not done enough? I am before you on my knees!”
“Where you belong,” I said.
“You have made me beg to eat from your hand as a slave.”
“As the slave you are,” I said.
“Yes,” she said, “as the slave I am!”
“You understand you are a slave?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Have you any doubts on the matter?”
“No, Master.”
“Are you modest?” I asked.
“A slave girl is not permitted modesty,” she said.
“So, are you modest?” I said.
“No!” she said. “But please do not strip me.”
“Very well,” I said.
She seemed startled, and then angry, furious. I smiled, and turned away, to return the pail, and the remaining pellets, to Aeson.
“I hate you!” she called after me.
Bundles were laid in a line, and ready to be distributed. I noted there were seven.
The hands of the former Panther Girls had been unbound, but they remained kneeling, on the neck rope.
Perhaps they envied the other slaves their tunics. I considered removing the tunic from one of the other slaves. That can be useful as a discipline. But, too, not removing a slave’s tunic, when she expects to be stripped and boldly surveyed, perhaps for the pleasure of a master or to conjecture a likely block price, can be disconcerting, even dismaying, if not insulting, to a slave. Is she not worth regarding? Is she of so little interest?
“Please approach,” called Genserich to me, from across the camp.
In the hands of Genak, who stood beside him, with some others, there were two lengths of cord. Axel was with them.
“Do not resist,” said Genserich to Axel. “The sleen might be agitated.”
Axel’s hands were tied behind his back.
I submitted, similarly, and Genak, with the second length of cord, was tying my hands behind me. A rope was then put on our necks, to keep us together.
The sleen gave no more thought to this than to other events in the camp. I was confident, however, that if Axel had cried out, or fought, the sleen, perhaps startled or confused, might have become active, presumably to the end of its own destruction and, most likely, that of some others.
“Please, forgive us, noble guests,” said Genserich, “but we would not wish to risk losing you in the forest. I am sure you understand.”
“Quite,” said Axel.
“Be ready,” called Aeson to those about. “We depart shortly.”
I saw one of Genserich’s men approach, from outside the camp. He bore two light hunting spears, and two belts, with swords and daggers, presumably those of Axel and myself.
“Get away from me,” I said, suddenly, angrily.
She was near to me, too near.
I had not commanded this.
“Ah,” she said, sympathetically, “poor Master is helpless, as helpless as a slave.”
I tried to tear apart my wrists, but the several twists of the cord only ground the more deeply into my wrists.
“And he is on a neck rope,” she said.
How close she was to me!
“Away!” I told her.
“Do not be afraid, noble Master,” she purred. “The proximity of a lowly, mediocre kajira, an ordinary, average kajira, a meaningless collar girl, one of no interest to you, will be without effect; doubtless it will not even be noticed.”
I did not speak.
Her head was lifted to mine. She brushed back her hair, behind her shoulders. I supposed they teach them that.
I feared her lips, those soft lips, those of a female slave, a property girl, goods which exist for the pleasure of men, might touch my face.
There was little I could do, bound as I was, should this take place, save perhaps cry out with rage.
But they did not, but were less than a hort away.
“Fortunately I am of no interest to handsome Master,” she said. “Otherwise he might find my presence disturbing.”
“Away,” I said.
“Am I too close to Master?” she asked. “I trust not.”
I did not respond to her.
“There is nothing to fear,” she said. “I am less than nothing, only a lowly, unimportant kajira.”