work, called to, summoned, teased, commented upon, and such. Familiarities were often taken with us. I had often been sped on my way with a smack below the small of my back. It was common to be delayed in our duties, to be embraced, fondled, and kissed. We were, after all, slaves. It was more difficult for some former free women of Ar who were hooted at, cuffed, and jeered. The memories of men were long, particularly those who were veterans of the former occupational forces in Ar, and they wished to well impress upon the women that they were no longer proud, free, noble, and untouchable, but were now mere properties and animals, slaves.
“What have you in your bota?” he inquired.
“It is empty,” I said. Surely that was clear.
“You will replenish it,” he said.
“Yes, Master,” I said.
“I saw you sold,” he said.
I had been purchased, as had many others, by agents of the Pani. There were private slaves in Tarncamp and Shipcamp, but I, like most, was one of the public slaves.
“I hope Master found me pleasing,” I said.
“I bid on you,” he said, “twenty tarsks. What did you go for?”
“Forty-eight,” I said.
“That would be about right, at the time,” he said.
“Master was seeking a bargain,” I suggested.
“Of course,” he said. “You would go for more now.”
“Master?” I asked.
“You are trimmer now,” he said, “sleeker, better toned, more alive, more beautiful, more slave.”
“I have been longer in the collar, Master,” I said.
“Doubtless you are more helpless now,” he said, “more responsive.”
I put my head down.
“One can tell such things,” he said.
I bent down and kissed his right foot, softly, and then his left. It pleased me to do this, for such a male, so strong, so powerful.
“Now,” he said, “you might go for close to a silver tarsk.”
I then knelt up. “A slave is grateful,” I said, “if Master is pleased.”
I did not dare meet his eyes. How attractive were so many Gorean men! I knew their eyes had often been upon me, and more so in the last weeks, but I, too, often cast my glances shyly, unnoticed I trust, upon them. I did not think this was different from other slaves. There are, after all, men, and there are women, and it is natural that each should feel desire, the man the desire of the master, and the woman the desire of the slave. How marvelous, I had thought, to be owned by one of them, to be the slave of just one man, to be his alone, to be his to be done with as he pleased. And often, at night, in the long, low kennel, chained with others, I would think of one particular man, one whom I recalled from long ago. Never had I forgotten him. His memory was ever with me. I did not even know his name. I had first seen him in an emporium on a far world. I had once lain at his feet, bound. I had seen him through the bars of an exhibition cage, prior to my sale. I had no doubt that he had been somehow instrumental in my transition to Gor, in my collaring. He had not recognized me in the cage. He had not even remembered me. I was nothing to him, only another beast to be acquired, to be herded about, to be bought and sold.
“And with what,” he asked, “will you replenish your bota?”
“With water, surely, Master,” I said.
He looked about, as though warily. “Mix in paga,” he said.
“It is early,” I said.
“Nonetheless,” he said.
“There is to be no paga on the dock,” I said.
“Just a little,” he said.
“There is to be no paga on the dock,” I said.
I dared to look up at him, and then quickly turned my eyes away, down. I feared he was not pleased. I was not a paga girl. This was not a tavern. I could be lashed for even approaching a paga vat. “We are not to be used on the dock,” I whispered.
“Fear not, pretty tasta,” he said.
“Forgive me, Master,” I begged.
“Will you try?” he asked.
I was terribly afraid.
“Well?” he asked.
“I will try,” I whispered.
“It seems you should be lashed,” he said.
“Master?” I said.
“Do you not know that there is to be no paga on the dock?” he said.
“Yes, Master,” I said, confused.
“Then why would you fetch some?” he asked.
“I do not understand,” I said.
“Do you want to be lashed?” he asked.
“No, Master!” I said.
He slapped his knee, and laughed, uproariously. I now saw two