been built were to my left, and, a hundred paces or so to my right, was the eastern end of the long dock at which the great ship was moored. North of the dock, amongst some of the shops, and workers’ huts, I saw the high pole at which was flown the long, some yards long, unfurled, wind-whipped, scarlet triangle of silk, which I had been informed was the “ready banner,” the banner that was put in place three days before departure. But neither, at that time, my captor nor myself knew when it had been hoisted into place. He would doubtless soon learn, whereas I, if I were to inquire of a free person, might be cuffed. Curiosity, as it is said, is not becoming in a kajira.
Standing at the edge of the shore, I could see, across the river, some of the buildings, and the mysterious stockade, which had excited my curiosity in the past. I gathered that there might be special supplies stored there, even treasure. One story was that slaves were held there who were too beautiful to risk holding in Tarncamp or Shipcamp, for fear men might mutiny to claim them. I thought it quite possible that high slaves might be housed there, and perhaps unusually beautiful slaves, or exotics, or such, but I did not think there would be that much difference between one girl on a block and another. Unusual prices are usually the results of unusual goods, or unusual market situations. One would expect, for example, that an unusual dancer, a trained physician, the daughter of a defeated general, or such, might go for more than another slave, even if the other slave might, for most intents and purposes, be an equivalent, even a better, buy. For example, two of my friends, sister slaves, kennel sisters, Relia and Janina, I thought, were quite beautiful. I did not expect many slaves to be more beautiful than they. Too, men may see beauty differently. One man’s pleasure slave may be another man’s pot girl, or kettle-and-mat girl.
At the edge of the shore, there were several small boats tied in place, to stakes anchored in the beach, some, long boats, propelled by several oars, and others, smaller boats, propelled by a pair of oars. These boats sufficed for traffic across the river. They were not equipped with the weights and cords, the water-tight cabinets for marking tools and charts, used by the fellows who regularly plotted, and sounded, the river’s sometimes treacherous depths and channels.
“Master?” I said, gazing across the broad, shimmering waters.
“Oh!” I cried, taken by the hair and flung down, on my back on the beach. I squirmed, trying to avoid the pebbles.
“Master!” I said.
But several coils of rope were tying my ankles together and then more rope was being tied about my calves and thighs. I was then put to my stomach, and I felt the small key inserted into the locks of the slave bracelets, and they were removed and, I suppose, placed in his wallet or pack. Then my hands were tied behind my back, and more coils of rope, as I was being positioned, rolled, and turned, were being put about my body, binding my forearms in place, and reaching, in coil after coil, even to my shoulders. These were no lovely, silken cords, supple, delightful cords, bright with color slave cords, suitable for the attractive binding of a secured, helpless slave, but were a common, coarse ropage, the same, it seemed, as that which tethered the boats in place. “Please, Master!” I begged. I squirmed, swathed in the coarse constraints. I was uncomfortable. “Please, Master,” I said, “the ropes are coarse. They scratch. I am tightly bound. I can hardly move.” He had left the leash collar and leash on me, and now, by it, pulled me to a sitting position on the beach. “Please, free me, Master!” I said.
“You are a she-tarsk,” he said. “Does a she-tarsk object to being bound as what she is, a she-tarsk?”
“Master!” I said.
Then he pulled me to my feet by the leash under my chin, and I could not stand upright, as I was bound, my ankles closely crossed, save for his left hand on my arm, and his right hand on the leash, close to the collar.
“I am only a female slave,” I said. “I am much smaller and weaker than you. Please show me mercy!”
He then scooped me up, lightly, and carried me to one of the nearby small