Dancer of Gor (42 page)

"Did she attain slave orgasm?" asked Hendow.

"Yes," said Mirus.

"Slave?" he asked.

(pg. 253) "Yes, Master," I said.

"That is your first, is it not?" asked Hendow.

"Yes, Master," I whispered.

"Perhaps you would have preferred to have brought her to this point yourself," said Mirus. "If so, I did not know. In such a case, had you made your wishes known to me, I would surely have respected them."

"What difference does it make," asked Hendow, "who induces the first slave orgasm in a slave?"

"No difference, of course," said Mirus. He shrugged.

"Did you like it, slave?" asked Hendow. I had never seen him like this.

"Yes, Master," I whispered.

"Is that all?" he asked.

"I loved it," I whispered, terrified.

"What was it you loved?" asked Hendow, angrily.

I looked at him, aghast. I was bashful, and shy. I was timid. I was from Earth. I did not want to say such words.

"She is a new slave," said Mirus. "Perhaps-"

"Be silent!" said Hendow.

Mirus stiffened, as though he had been slapped. I was startled. How could Hendow have spoken to a free person in this fashion? Never had I seen him as he was.

"With your leave," said Mirus, coldly.

"Stay," said Hendow.

"I did not know the slave was of interest to you," said Mirus.

"She is meaningless, as is any other slave," said Hendow.

"Of course," said Mirus.

Then Hendow looked at me, again. His eyes were fierce. I must answer. It was painful for me. On Earth I had even been reluctant even to describe the liberating sort of dance I loved so much by such an expression as 'belly dance'. I quailed before that gaze. It was the gaze of my master.

"My slave orgasm," I whispered.

"Speak up, slave," said Hendow.

"My slave orgasm," I said. I shuddered to hear such words coming from me.

"And you want more of them, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes, Master," I said, my eyes suddenly filling with tears. How helpless I was before such men.

"And desperately so?" he said.

"Yes, Master!" I wept.

"You perhaps understand now," he said, "that there is more to slavery than collars and chains."

(pg. 254) "Yes, Master," I said.

"You are more thoroughly imbonded now than ever before," he said.

"Yes, Master," I said. It was true. I wanted such incredible sensations. I would do anything for them. To be granted them I would strive to be a perfect slave. I suddenly put my head in my hands, weeping.

"Hendow," protested Mirus.

"Have you counted the coins?" asked Hendow.

"Not yet," said Mirus, angrily.

"Perhaps you should consider doing so, when you can find the time," said Hendow.

"Of course," said Mirus, angrily. "Do you want the slave send out on the floor, or to your quarters?"

"It was my understanding that in the schedules she was not to go on the floor this evening."

"Yes," said Mirus. "I shall have her cleaned and sent to your quarters."

"No," said Hendow. "She is to be put in her kennel, belly chained and braceleted, hands behind her back."

"I will see to it," said Mirus.

"Tupita will see to it," said Hendow.

"Of course," said Mirus.

Hendow then turned about, and left. I put my head quickly to the tiles, as he left, and then raised it. I looked, then, at Mirus.

"I do not understand," said Mirus, looking after Hendow. "I do not understand."

"Master?" I asked.

"Hendow is my friend," said Mirus. "We would die for one another."

"Master," I said, lifting my hand to Mirus.

"No," he said, angrily. He stepped back. I gasped. His attitude was now so different than it had been. he looked at me. "But you are beautiful, aren't you, Doreen?" he said.

"I do not know, Master," I whispered.

"It is true enough," he said, bitterly. "Perhaps you are even too beautiful."

I put my head down.

"But you are only a slave," he said.

"Yes, Master," I said.

He then turned away from me, and went through the curtain. "Tupita!" I heard him call. "Tupita!"

But it was not Tupita, at first, who came into the passageway. (pg. 255) It was Sita, in her silk. She knelt down beside me. "What is wrong?" she whispered to me.

"I do not know," I said.

"Is there trouble with Mirus?" she asked.

"Hendow is angry, I think," I said.

"It has to do with you," she said.

"I think so," I said.

"You may have favor with Hendow," she whispered.

"I do not think so," I said.

"There are rumors about," whispered Sita. "Have you hear them, that there may be a new first girl?"

"I have heard something about it," I said. "I do not know if it is true."

"Speak well for Sita," she whispered.

"But you are the friend of Tupita," I said.

"Tupita has no friends," she said.

I looked at Sita, puzzled.

"Speak well for Sita, with the masters," she said. "If I am first girl, you will be second.""It is thought that Tupita is losing her control of the girls," I said. There were twenty-seven of us.

"She is," said Sita. "I have seen to it. Who do you think has undermined her?"

"To how many of us have you offered the post of second girl?" I asked.

"Only to you," she said.

I smiled.

"It is true," she whispered. "With the others I needed only rely on Tupita's unpopularity, her arbitrariness, her favoritisms, and, naturally, the promise of an easier time under me."

"Why am I so special?" I asked.

"Because of Hendow," she whispered.

"I do not understand," I said.

"He likes you," she whispered. "I am sure of it."

"No," I said. "I am only a meaningless slave to him."

"Men kill for slaves," said Sita.

I shuddered.

"Speak well for Sita," she whispered.

The beaded curtain parted and Tupita entered the passageway.

Sita sprang to her feet. "You are a stupid slave," she cried to me. "You must learn to better please men!"

"Yes, Mistress," I said.

"What is wrong with Mirus?" asked Tupita. "I have never seem him so angry."

(pg. 256) "It has to do with Hendow," said Sita. "He is angry with Mirus."

"It has to do with this slave?" asked Tupita.

"Yes," said Sita. "I have made her confess. Look at her. You can see she has been recently used."

"Here?" said Tupita.

"Apparently," said Sita.

"Return to the floor," she said.

"Tupita!" protested Sita.

"There is a fellow at table fifteen. He is depressed. He is having problems with his companion at home. Belly to him. Console him."

"Yes, Mistress," said Sita, and went back to the floor.

"So there is trouble between Mirus and Hendow?" she asked.

"Perhaps, Mistress," I said. "I do not know."

"And it is over you?"

"Perhaps, Mistress," I said. "I do not know."

"I wonder how that could be," she said. Then she walked about me, looking at me. "Yes," she said. "I suppose it is possible." She stopped in front of me. "Do you know what is to be done with you?"

"I am to be kenneled, belly chained and back-braceleted," I said.

"So you were used here?" she said, looking about.

"Yes, Mistress," I said.

"That is my impetuous Mirus," she said.

I was silent.

"Did you yield well to him?" she asked.

"Yes, Mistress," I whispered.

"He teaches us our slavery well, doesn't he?" she asked.

"Yes, Mistress," I whispered. "Please do not whip me, Mistress."

"Why would I do that?" she asked, lightly.

"I thought you might be angry," I said, "about Mirus."

"We are all free to the men of the house," she said. "And you are pretty."

"You are not angry with me?" I asked.

"Of course not," she said. "What were you to do? You are only a slave."

"Thank you, Mistress," I said.

"Follow me to the kennels," she said. "I will chain and bracelet you there. Too, I will not make the belly chain any tighter than necessary."

"Thank you, Mistress," I said.

(pg. 257) "And I will bring you a pastry later from the kitchen," she said, "and put it on the floor of your kennel. Though you will not be able to use your hands I expect that you will enjoy it, just the same.

"Thank you, Mistress," I said.

"Speak well of me to Hendow," she said.

"Yes, Mistress," I said.

"If I am kept on as first girl," she said, "I will make you third girl, second only to myself and Sita."

"Thank you, Mistress," I said.

I then rose to my feet and followed here down the passageway, to the stairs leading to the basement, where most of the kennels were. She was as good as her word, and did not make the belly chain tighter then necessary, and, too, she brought me a pastry later from the kitchen."

"Speak well of me to Hendow," she said.

"Yes, Mistress," I said.

I then, lying on my side, and turning my head, ate the pastry. Afterwards, as I could, with my teeth, I pulled the blanket up about me. I then lay there in the darkness, in the kennel. I pulled a little at the slave bracelets. They were not too tight, but they were on me snugly and well. They would hold me, perfectly. I remembered what a man had done to me, and how much of a slave he had made me. Hendow had told me later that I was never so thoroughly imbonded as now. I remembered the sensations. It was true. I did not know whether to weep with the power of men over me, or cry out with joy. I did not know. I was a slave, and, in spite of its vulnerabilities and terrors, loved it. I would try to serve well.

I was frightened by the intrigues of the slaves, Tupita and Sita, and the other girls. I did not really want to be involved in them.

I lay there then and loved the men of Gor. I had not really, in spite of strong feelings and intuitions on Earth, begun to understand my sex until I was imbonded, until I found myself in my place in nature, subservient to men. I now loved my sex. I now loved being a woman. It was marvelous, and wonderful!

14
   
Punishment

I knelt on the rug at the foot of the dais, that surmounted by the curule chair of my master, Hendow, of Brundisium. My head was to the rug, the palms of my hands on the floor. I had been summoned into his presence.

I trembled, kneeling before him, my head down.

I was afraid in this room. I had been here, before. It was the receiving chamber of my master, Hendow. Too, to one side was the panel which opened, admitted the gray hunting sleen, Borko. Somewhere in the dark, simple, terrible brain of that beast my name and scent had been imprinted. It could now be commanded with respect to me, even in my absence.

I trembled.

I did not know why I had been summoned into the presence of my master.

"Lift your head," said Hendow, of Brundisium, "stand."

I obeyed.

"Approach me," he said, "and kneel there, before the chair.

I climbed the broad, carpeted steps of the dais, and knelt before him. He leaned forward. "Turn your head to the left," he said. "Now, turn it to the right."

"Good," he said.

My ears had been pierced. It had been done yesterday morning. The metal worker had put tiny, circular training pins in them, to keep the wounds from closing.

I was relieved. It seemed my master had only wished to inspect the results of the metal worker's work. Too, I was pleased to note that he seemed pleased with the work.

"You may now return to the foot of the dais, and stand," he said.

I backed down, my head down, to the foot of the dais, and then stood there, erect and graceful before my master, as would be expected of a female slave.

I expected to be dismissed.

But I was not dismissed.

(pg. 259) I became afraid, again. "May I kneel, Master?" I asked.

I would feel more comfortable kneeling in the presence of Hendow, such a man. Too, as I was frightened, it would be easier, in a kneeling position, not to falter, or fall.

"No," he said.

I remained standing. I trembled. Standing as I was, and at the foot of the dais, I feared he would have little difficulty in reading my body. My slightest tremor, or the slightest weakness in my legs would be visible to him.