Some changes in the books
Rollo the Ax~~~ LOL.. well, it looks like time to start...... so I'll call this GS forum to order... same rules as always...... anybody have a topic ???????
Lemuel~~~ ~looks about~ I have something that maybe is not a topic as much as a question or observation...
When searching for a quote last week in one of the new editions of the Gor books, I found that a great deal of the chapter I was looking in had changed from the originals. I was wondering if anyone else had noticed?
Errand Knight~~~ Lemuel: changed? as in content, not just page reference?
Paedur~~~ Tal Lemuel. *nods*
Knows I know nothing of new or old books.
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding~ Yes E.K. - much of the entire chapter seemed different than in the original edition. I had heard that there were some changes and additions to the new editions, but this seemed a rather extensive change.
Kayla~~~ I only have the old editions Lemuel... What kind of changes?
Errand Knight~~~ Lemuel: Im assuming they are Norman edits then?
shirin{SholGar}~~~ ~*~curious to know in what way it has changed, brow crunching as she listens to Master Lemuel~*~
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to E.K.~ Yes, they are supposedly changes that John Norman made.
~looks to the Lady Physician~ There were whole passages that had been rewritten and several additions, some parts were deleted...
Rollo the Ax~~~ I can't give You any input on that, Lemuel.... I have not even seen a copy of any of the new releases..... every book I have is of the old editions...... but I had heard that for some reason, Mr Norman had *edited * some of the books...... WHY ???????? that would be like changing the story once it became a classic...???? *
Friends, Romans, country men, listen up, I want to dis Ceasar...* ????? * A rose by any other name would still stink kinda pretty * ????????
Kayla~~~ That is just strange...
Errand Knight~~~ typical aged academic!
Lemuel~~~ ~chuckling and nodding agreement with Rollo~ Aye Captain. I don't understand the *why* of it much Myself. I just know it confused the hell out of Me when I was trying to find a page reference. ~laughs~
shirin{SholGar}~~~ ~*~thinking this sure will confuse all us goreans~*~ are we now gonna have old world goreans and new world goreans? ~*~rolls her eyes and giggles~*~
Kayla~~~ LOL... This is true shirin...
Lemuel~~~ ~chuckles~ I don't think the philosophy has changed at all, shirin. I know there was an analysis of some of the changes done by Simon over on the WoG board quite some time ago, but I hadn't paid much attention at the time...~shrugs~
Errand Knight~~~ Im sure some academicly minded gorean will write a treatise on the implications of the changes and Normans intent *shakes My head*
Lemuel~~~ ~grins at E.K.~ Sounds like a project for Ubar Luther to Me. ~S~
Paedur~~~ Was trained Old Guard, but that has no implications here. LOL
Kyoto~~~ How different were the new additions?
Kyoto~~~ Guess they may not have been additions so much as actual changes...
Lemuel~~~ ~S~ Tal Kyoto.
Some of the additions/changes were rather dramatic, which is what confused the hell out of Me.
Errand Knight~~~ Lemuel: I was just thinking along similar lines ..going to say its a pity that Luthar isnt as active as he once was..I can see a passage by passage ananlysis with gaps referenced back to greek and barsdom influences ..holy shit!
Kayla~~~ With the following the books already have I just don't understand why the change at all...
Lemuel~~~ ~laughs~ Yes, I know. Luther is still about now and then. He'll post on the WoG board occasionally.
Paedur~~~ Could it be Political correctness for publishing in this day and age?
Errand Knight~~~ Lemuel: My assumption is that the changes are most dramatic to the first 6 or so books
Kyoto~~~ Perhaps it was a ploy to make the hardcore followers buy new editions...
all the second hand trading of the books doesn't put a dime into his pockets.
Kyoto~~~ Where are these books available? (already falling into the trap I just deduced existed mere moments ago)
Kayla~~~ LOL... Now that is a real possibility Kyoto!
Rollo the Ax~~~ This could lead to all kinds of * FUN *..... What, now we will have the * King James * version Goreans, and the * New Word * version Goreans ????? Why didn't the man use the time to just write whole NEW books ????? God, it is not like he would not know that He would have a ready market......
Errand Knight~~~ I am replacing My early books ..but not with new ones ..trying to build a quality first edition series
Paedur~~~ How about writing a book that was worth reading Rollo. LOL
Lemuel~~~ ~shaking My head~ No E.K., it's actually the later books that have the greatest changes, though there are a few additions to "Nomads"... I doubt it was for "political correctness" since the changes seem to be additional dialogue and thoughts on how "right" it is for women to be slaves.
Errand Knight~~~ obviously why his last took 4 years to write
Paedur~~~ Maybe then a clearer definition of His views?
Lemuel~~~ ~looks to Kyoto~ Well, the first four books were reprinted with the changes by WoG and the first 16 (or so) are available as LEGAL electronic books.
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to Paedur~ Could be. The changed scene that Simon referenced from "Nomads" had Tarl being more "Gorean" toward vella.
Oh, and the ebooks are available at Fictionwise.com
Kyoto~~~ e-books, interesting... now if my laptop were actually working, I might consider purchasing a new edition to read at my leisure...
Rollo the Ax~~~ LOL...LOL... Who can say ??? I gave up a long time ago trying to explain why some folks do the things they do...... LOL..
Errand Knight~~~ I read a script of an interview with Lange where he said that he thought it was important to reinforce the pillars of wisdom as so much of gor was becoming less true to his intent ..perhaps he has tried to reinforce it with the changes and with Witness and his intended 27th book
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to the Physician~ Possibly, or it could just be a marketing gimmick like Kyoto said. ~shrugs~ Either way I can see it causing confusion.
Errand Knight~~~ Lemuel: confusion on gor? say it isnt so! *laffin*
Kayla~~~ People will have to quote not only book and page number but edition as well *S*
Kyoto~~~ Think about it, most of the books have been out of print for years, yet there is a huge second hand call for the books, I can imagine that Mr. Lange, in his elder years, is probably looking to pad his pockets. Who wouldn't?
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to Kayla~ Yes, and that's the difficult part with the electronic editions - no page numbers. ~chuckles~
Paedur~~~ But Koyto, do You really think there is that much of a call for His books to be reprinted?
Errand Knight~~~ Lemuel: or perhaps Old Timers desease ..lange is getting on Ya know..and I always thought He had potential for Dimentia after I read the Cognative Paradox which makes a better read held upside down
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding~ Aye Kyoto, could be Mr. Norman is looking to boost his retirement income. ~S~
Kayla~~~ The books are hard to find and too expensive once into the high teens...
Rollo the Ax~~~ LOL...LOL... Maybe that is why the sale of the sencond hand books has dropped off lately ?????? I have noticed that in the past 2-3 months.....
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ ~*listening*~
Lemuel~~~ ~laughing~ Oh yes, One would have to be a little off kilter for "The Cognitivity Paradox" to make sense. ~G~
Errand Knight~~~ its intersting though that the most quoted books tend to be #1 - 12 with #11 the most popular
Rollo the Ax~~~ some of the higher number books are VERY hard to find....
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to Rollo~ Maybe so, I know the books thru to "Guardsman" are now available electronically for about as much as a paper-back ($7.00 or so U.S.).
Paedur~~~ Wonders about the silence.
Lemuel~~~ LOL..LOL.. I didn't know that, Lemuel...... It looks like I might be sitting on My stack for quite some time.......LOL...LOL... Oh well, like I've said before..... SHIT Happens.....
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ It sure did get quiet all of a sudden...
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ ~*winking at Master Paedur*~ can You not hear the ticking of everyones mind Master???? *looks up at the water clock* nope that definately does not tick, it drips....
Lemuel~~~ One good thing about it all is that at least the books are finally getting back into print (if you can call electronic files that). People won't have as much \excuse for not getting them and reading them.
Paedur~~~ Winks back to the lovely fallen angel.
I thought that sounds was My stomach growling, but yes now I can hear the difference. LOL
talendar~~~ ~snuggling close to the Master's thigh listening to the discussion~
Lemuel~~~ Finally got an example of one of the differences typed in...
"Ho!" cried Rask of Treve.
I thrust my head to the wall of the basket.
"Ho!" cried the men of Rask of Treve.
Slave Girl of Gor, end of chapter 12, page 279 original edition.
"Ho!" cried Rask of Treve.
I turned my attention back to the tiny interstices in the woven fabric of the basket.
We were ready to take flight!
I was suddenly excited.
I did not know what was to be done with us, other than that it would be what men pleased.
I had never been in tarn flight. I hoped the ropes on the basket would hold.
I thrust my face to the fibers, looking out.
"Ho!" cried the men of Rask of Treve.
Slave Girl of Gor, end of chapter 12, new World of Gor edition.
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ wow....thats a lil more descriptive
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ *grinning impishly* maybe He didn't think the books were long enough....
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ That's pretty much how most of it is, there are some lengthier passages added between bits from the original as well.
Kayla~~~ That is just strange
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ Yes, it is strange.
Rollo the Ax~~~ LOL...LOL... makes y'all wonder if His publishers made him a * by the word * deal......?????? LOL...LOL... the more words, the more MONEY......LOL.. does he repeat himself as much in the new book(s) ?????? the same basic description, over and over again ??????
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to the Captain~ If anything, I'd say he's probably *more* repetative. ~S~
Kayla~~ Ohhh Wonderful.... NOT
Rollo the Ax~~~ LOL...LOL... Well, it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks......LOL..
At the bottom of the page, there are some more examples of the changes made.
Slaves riding kailla?
Rollo the Ax~~~ Well, I guess that we have complained enough about Mr. Norman and his new books.....LOL.... The question has been raised... * In the Savages and Blood Brothers books, did slaves ride kailla's alone ??? or ONLY with a Master ???
Deirdre~~~ *smiling at those assembled but moving quietly to the window seat so as not to interupt*
Lemuel~~~ ~scratching My head~ The only slave I can think of that rode alone was Tarl...and even then he was usually with someone else, wasn't he?
Rollo the Ax~~~ I remember that example, Lemuel..... but from a logical point.. and using Indians as examples, EVERY person in the tribe would know HOW to ride, even the women... it would just depend on how many horses(kailla's) where available...... to My way of thinking......
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ fa has not read that book...
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to the Captain~ I remember though that it said slave girls were expected to run beside the warrior's mount, tied by the neck to the pommel of His saddle...
Kayla~~~ Where would a slave need to travel that required that they ride alone?... I can see maybe a thrall in some task might need to but never a female slave
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ that is an excellent point Mistress Kayla....especially so far as to ride.....
Errand Knight~~~ are there not different breeds of kaiila? Im trying to remember why I thought so but I had imagined the southern kaiila used by the wagon people to be different from that used as a mount in the Tahari
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ Yes E.K., there are different types. There's a passage in "Tribesmen" that details the differences...
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ fa has found this.....although not about slaves riding them alone, but how Norman is not always consistant.... Nomads of Gor claimed that kaiila did not exist in the northern hemisphere. Norman either decided to change this statement or forgot about it when he placed kaiila within the Barrens region. The kaiila in the Barrens are similar to the desert kaiila of the Tahari region except that they do not have the large padded feet necessary for the desert terrain
Errand Knight~~~ thanks Lemuel ..I will look for it
Paedur~~~ Listening to the forum and the conversation.
Rollo the Ax~~~ I can't give any quote, but I also remember it said that there were some minor differences between breeds...... lighter fur, or wider feet to deal with sand, etc ........
Errand Knight~~~ yes the Red Savages have them
Paedur~~~ They asked this same question last night at the combined forum, perhaps there are more answers in the sribes notes?
Lemuel~~~
"The sand kaiila, or desert kaiila, is a kaiila, and handles similarly, but it is not identically the same animal which is indigenous, domestic and wild, in the middle latitudes of Gor's southern hemisphere; that animal, used as a mount by the Wagon Peoples, is not found in the northern hemisphere of Gor; there is obviously a phylogenetic affinity between the two varieties, or species; I conjecture, though I do not know, that the sand kaiila is a desert-adapted mutation of the subequatorial stock; both animals are lofty, proud, silken creatures, long-necked and smooth-gaited; both are triply lidded, the third lid being a transparent membrane, of great utility in the blasts of the dry storms of the southern plains or the Tahari; both creatures are comparable in size, ranging from some twenty to twenty-two hands at the shoulder; both are swift; both have incredible stamina; under ideal conditions both can range six hundred pasangs in a day; in the dune country, of course, in the heavy, sliding sands, a march of fifty pasangs is considered good; both, too, I might mention, are high-strung, vicious-tempered animals; in pelt the southern kaiila ranges from a rich gold to black; the sand kaiila, on the other hand, are almost all tawny, though I have seen black sand kaiila; differences, some of them striking and important, however, exist between the animals; most notably, perhaps, the sand kaiila suckles its young; the southern kaiila are viviparous, but the young, within hours after birth, hunt by instinct; the mother delivers the young in the vicinity of game; whereas there is game in the Tahari, birds, small mammals, an occasional sand sleen, and some species of Tabuk, it is rare; the suckling of the young in the sand kaiila is a valuable trait in the survival of the animal; kaiila milk, like verr milk, is used by the peoples of the Tahari; it is reddish and has a strong salty taste, features which one supposes are connected with some sort of climatological adaptation; it has a high iron content; men do not drink it unless water is plentiful; I do not much care for it; a similar difference between the two animals, or two sorts of kaiila, is that the sand kaiila is omnivorous, whereas the southern kaiila is strictly carnivorous; both have storage tissues; if necessary, both can go several days without water; the southern kaiila also, however, has a storage stomach, and can go several days without meat; the sand kaiila, unfortunately, must feed more frequently; some of the pack animals in a caravan are used in carrying fodder; whatever is needed, and is not available enroute, must be carried; sometimes, with a mounted herdsman, caravan kaiila are released to hunt Tabuk; a more trivial difference between the sand kaiila and the southern kaiila is that the paws of the sand kaiila are much broader, the digits even webbed with leathery fibers, and heavily padded, than those of its southern counterpart."
Tribesman of Gor, chapter 4, pages 70 & 71
Errand Knight~~~ I vaguely remmeber something about some being carniverous and others being omniverous and about the hair from the underside being used for clothmaking whilst the top hair being used for ropes
Rollo the Ax~~~ But Kayla, I think that from a logical standpoint, and not a * slaves shouldn't do that stuff * point, it would be silly to think that even a female slave could not or would not have an occasion to ride a beast by themselves..... LONG trips, or quick retreats, would also require that even slaves be able to ride...... but hey, I am only speaking out here about logic, NOT about how Mr Norman wrote the stories.....LOL.
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ There are two varieties of kaiila, the southern kaiila and the desert or sand kaiila. The earlier books stated that kaiila did not exist in the northern hemisphere but this was later changed as the Red Savage in the Barrens have kaiila. The two varieties are very similar. The southern kaiila are used by the Wagon Peoples as mounts. It is a silken, lofty, and graceful animal. It is long necked, smooth gaited, and carnivorous. It is mammalian but doesn't suckle its young. The young are born vicious and can hunt as soon as they struggle to their feet. The mother's instinct is to deliver the young near game. Once a kaiila eats its fill, it won't eat for several days. They are extremely agile and can easily outmaneuver a high tharlarion. They require less food than a tarn. They normally stands about twenty to twenty-two hands at the shoulder. They can cover as much as six hundred pasangs a day. Its head bears two large eyes, one on each side, and the eyes are triply lidded so it can travel in adverse weather like storms. It is most dangerous at these times and often hunts then. Some are colored black. They also have long, triangular tongues, long ears and four rows of fangs. They are trained to avoid the thrown spear. Until it is proficient in this skill, it is not allowed to breed. The sand or desert kailla is used as a mount in the Tahari. They are almost all tawny colored though there are some black ones. This variety does suckle their young. Kailla milk is reddish and has a strong salty taste. This is an omnivorous creature and must feed more frequently than the southern kailla. Its paws are much broader, the digits being webbed with leathery fibers and heavily padded. Its hair is never sheared though it is gathered when it sheds.
The most prized hair is found on its belly. Such hairs are commonly used to make cloth. The long outer hairs are coarser and used for ropes and tent cloth.
Errand Knight~~~ thanks Lemuel
Kayla~~~ well I guess I try to logic it out according to what I think would happen in the books... I know that sometimes that is impossible to do because sometimes the books do not follow a logical line of thinking
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ In the tribe of Red Savages women learned to ride a Kaiila ....if a Red Savage woman became a slave she would know how to ride a Kaiila......one just does not forget.... The Red Savages are commonly superb Kaiila riders. They are taught to ride before they can even walk. If a family is well-off, their children will own a kaiila when they are six years old. Most Red Savages, particularly the males, will be skilled riders by the age of seven. Even women learn how to ride kaiila.
Lemuel~~~ As a practical matter of security, I don't think slaves would be allowed to ride unsupervised. They may be the only rider on an animal, but they would not be allowed out of sight I believe.
Kayla~~~ I agree Lemuel
Errand Knight~~~ There was this traveling Merchant working in the Barrens near the Thentis Mountains, see, and he stopped by a Peasant's house to try and sell him a scroll on animal care. He told the Peasant that his animals had told him that he was not a good owner and that he needed to make some changes, and he said that the scroll would help him care better for the animals.
The Peasant scoffed, of course, at the idea that the Merchant could talk with the animals.
"I can prove that I can communicate with animals," the Merchant said.
"For example, when I came up to the door and you heard the hunting sleen making all that noise, it was really telling me that you don't feed it very much at all."
"That's nothing," replied the Peasant. "A hungry hunting sleen is a good hunting sleen."
The Merchant continued, "Then your kaiila told me that you ride it hard and don't take good care of it afterward and that you don't let it feed for long periods at a time."
The Peasant answered very defensively, "Kaiila are supposed to work hard, and they don't need that much care, and I need mine to not get fat and lazy. That's no proof that it talked to you."
"Then," the Merchant went on, "I spoke with that she-tarsk penned over there, and ..."
Here the Peasant interrupted, yelling, "That no-good she-tarsk is a liar! Here, sell me that scroll and be on your way!"
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ yes but for what prupose would a slave need to ride? to exercise the beast? *shrugs* just dont make sense WHY one would have to ride supervised or unsupervised. Unless it was to run errands for ones Master but then she'd be unsupervised.
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ sorry for babbling *blushing*
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ *LOL*
Errand Knight~~~ errands?
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ yes errands, every day jobs, chores if You will
Lemuel~~~ ~laughs at the joke told by E.K.~
The only reason I could think for the slaves to ride would be a long journey or a quick escape from their Master's enemies, but then they would be supervised.
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ yes then they'd be supervised for fa cannot see a Master sending a slave on a long journey alone...she may be killed kidnapped or anything.
Kayla~~~ Ya know run to the store for milk sort of thing.. ride to the next camp with goods to trade for her Master....
Lemuel~~~ ~shrugs~ Personally, I can't see letting the slave ride on chores. If I send jasma to the baker' shop to buy bread, I bind her hands behind her and tie a sack with My order and a few coins in it about her collar. I don't send her out on tarn back to Ar to buy supplies...
Kayla~~~ Agreed... The goods would be brought in by a Merchant I would guess...
Errand Knight~~~ A free woman was shaking out a rug on the bridge of her companion's 17thfloor cylinder when a sudden gust of wind blew her over the railing.
"By the Priest-Kings, that was stupid," she thought as she fell. "What a way to die."
As she passed the 14th floor, a man standing at his railing caught her in his arms. While she looked at him in disbelieving gratitude, he asked, "Do you give oral sex?"
"No!" she shrieked, aghast. So, he dropped her.
As she passed the 12th floor, another man reached out and caught her.
"Do want to have sex?" he asked. "Of course not!" she exclaimed.
He dropped her, too.
The poor woman prayed to Priest-Kings for one more chance. As luck would have it, she was caught a third time, by a man on the eighth floor.
"I suck! I screw! I'll do any and everything you sexually desire!!" she screamed in panic.
The man replied, "Slut," and dropped her.
Rollo the Ax~~~ There would always be a difference between CAN they do it or WOULD they do it .....
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to Kayla~ Aye, or I will rent a tarn and fly there Myself. I might bring jasma along to relieve the dullness of an otherwise long flight, but I wouldn't send her off by herself.
Lemuel~~~ ~LOL!!! ROFLMAO!!!~
Kayla~~~ OMGoodness
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ *smothers a giggle* well duhhhhhhh
Lemuel~~~ ~shaking out the fingers of My right hand after catching up on the notes~
Rollo the Ax~~~ Well, folks, it is that time again...... I wish to thank all of you for coming and taking part in the forum.... I hope to see everyone again next week.....same time, same channel......LOL.
Lemuel~~~ ~S~ Thanks for moderating another great forum Rollo.
fallen~angel{Stan}~~~ thank You for allowing this one to sit in on Yor forum. she wishes All well *smiles and slips out*
Below is an example of changes John Norman has made to the new World of Gor editions of the series. The text in blue has been changed slightly from the original edition to the new. The text in red is text that was added to the new edition.
Original DAW Edition, "Slave Girl of Gor"
We journeyed through flaming halls. In a few Ehn we emerged, after climbing stairs, on the roof of one of the buildings, and, thence, by a narrow bridge, crossed to one of the parapets. There, there were several tarns, great fierce saddle birds of Gor. I could see fire licking through the roof of one of the buildings. The parapet was crowded. Goods were bound over the saddles of tarns. Strings of plates and vessels were tied at the pommels. Girls stood beside the winged monsters, their hands over their heads, slave braceleted through the stirrups of the beasts. They would dangle from the stirrups in flight, two on a side. Behind some of the beasts there were tarn baskets, on trailing ropes. Girls, too, and various goods, had been thrust in these. I saw Sucha, her hands braceleted over her head, at one of the stirrups.
End of page 278.
She looked terrified. Men mounted swiftly to the saddles. Below in the courtyard, chained together, I could see Borchoff, and the soldiers and staff of the keep. There was much smoke about them. I saw tharlarion, released, in the courtyard. Men struggled not to be trampled. I was pulled along by the arm, by my captor. "Let us hurry, Captain," said one of the men.
"We must move under the cover of darkness," said a lieutenant. "We must be at the merchant rendezvous before dawn."
"To your saddle, Lieutenant," grinned Rask of Treve.
The man grinned, and leapt to the ladder leading to the high saddle of the great beast.
I saw below that the great gate of the keep had been swung open. Tharlarion rushed through.
I was thrust into the hands of a soldier, who conducted me to one of the tarn baskets.
Borchoff, below in the courtyard, looked upward. Rask of Treve lifted his hand to him, in a salute of warriors. The gate had been opened. Borchoff and his men might make their way, though chained, to safety.
Then Rask of Treve looked about himself, making swift inspection of his men and tarns, and their burdens, riches and slave girls.
The soldier lifted me lightly from my feet and thrust me, feet first, through a hatchlike opening, with flat door, in the top of the tarn basket. He pushed my head down, thrusting me down between the other girls. I crouched down, wedged in. I could scarcely squirm. I looked up, seeing the flat door swung shut. In an instant he had tied it closed. I knelt. We could not stand upright. Eight of us were imprisoned in the basket. Our wrists were tied behind our backs. Silk, and gold, too, had been thrust in the basket. I looked about. Scarcely could we move. From the left ears of the other girls, as from mine, there dangled a silver leaf, a tag, which had been placed upon them by the men who had taken them.
"Ho!" cried Rask of Treve.
I thrust my head to the wall of the basket.
"Ho!" cried the men of Rask of Treve.
The man who had placed me in the basket, and then tied it shut, climbed swiftly to the saddle of his tarn; our trail lines, those attached to the basket in which we were confined, ran to the tarn’s stirrups. When the tarn took to flight the basket, following it, would be lifted into the air. He awaited only the command of flight.
"Ho!" cried Rask of Treve. He drew back on the first strap of his tarn’s harness.
End of page 279.
New WoG Edition, "Slave Girl of Gor"
We journeyed through flaming halls. In a few Ehn we emerged, after climbing stairs, on the roof of one of the buildings, and, thence, by a narrow bridge, crossed to one of the parapets. There there were several tarns, great fierce saddle birds of Gor. I could see fire licking through the roof of one of the buildings. The parapet was crowded. Goods were bound over the saddles of tarns. Strings of plates and vessels were tied at the pommels. Over several of the saddles, bound, belly up, fastened to rings, was a stripped slave. Some were already squirming, being caressed. Other girls stood beside the winged monsters, their hands over their heads, slave braceleted through the stirrups of the beasts. They were fastened one on each side, or, in some cases, two on a side. In this way the weight is balanced. They must cling as they could to the stirrups with their small strength; else, braceleted as they were, they must simply dangle far above the earth, painfully and helplessly, hoping that not a link in the bracelets would fail. Behind some of the beasts there were tarn baskets, on trailing ropes. Girls, too, and various goods, had been thrust in these. I saw Sucha, her hands braceleted over her head, at one of the stirrups.
End of page 278 (Original Edition).
She looked terrified. She cast me a wild glance and pulled futilely at the bracelets, threaded through the stirrup ring. She was beautiful, fastened at the stirrup. In the light of flames, I saw, reflected, the glint of a marking tag, it suspended from its wire, in her left ear. I did not know what fellow had taken her. Surely he was a fortunate fellow and might be well pleased with his catch. She was a prize. Men mounted swiftly to the saddles. Below in the courtyard, chained together, I could see Borchoff, and the soldiers and staff of the keep. There was much smoke about them. I saw tharlarion, released, in the courtyard. Men struggled not to be trampled. I was pulled along by the arm, by my captor. "Let us hurry, Captain," said one of the men.
"We must move under the cover of darkness," said a lieutenant. "We must be at the merchant rendezvous before dawn."
"To your saddle, Lieutenant," grinned Rask of Treve.
The man grinned, and leapt to the ladder leading to the high saddle of the great beast.
I saw below that the great gate of the keep had been swung open. Tharlarion rushed through.
I was thrust into the hands of a soldier, who conducted me to one of the tarn baskets.
Borchoff, below in the courtyard, looked upward. Rask of Treve lifted his hand to him, in a salute of warriors. The gate had been opened. Borchoff and his men might make their way, though chained, to safety.
Then Rask of Treve looked about himself, making swift inspection of his men and tarns, and their burdens, riches and slave girls.
The soldier lifted me lightly from my feet and thrust me, feet first, through a hatchlike opening, with flat door, in the top of the tarn basket. He pushed my head down, thrusting me down between the other girls. I crouched down, wedged in. I could scarcely squirm. I looked up, seeing the flat door swung shut. In an instant he had tied it closed. I knelt. We could not stand upright. Eight of us were imprisoned in the basket. Our wrists were tied behind our backs. Silk, and gold, too, had been thrust in the basket. I looked about. Scarcely could we move. From the left ears of the other girls, as from mine, there dangled a silver leaf, a tag, which had been placed upon them by the men who had taken them. I wondered who had taken them. I knew who had taken me, who had imperiously thrust the wire of his claiming leaf through the lobe of my left ear, then twisting it shut, tagging me as his property, he, Rask of Treve.
What a fool I had been to taunt him as I had!
Surely I had gone beyond the command Borchoff had imposed upon me.
And how richly he had had his vengeance on me, exacting from me not only the profound and delicious pleasures of a slave girl, which my body had no choice but to deliver to him, but, far beyond this, he had made me piteously cry myself his, had made me yield to him, helplessly, as a devastated, ravished slave!
Well had he had his vengeance!
How thoroughly he had humbled the haughty slave girl, how insolently he had mastered her!
I could see flames through the heavy, woven fibers of the tarn basket. Too, I could catch a glimpse of the moons. It was crowded in the basket. I was wedged in. I struggled a little with my bound wrists but could not free them. The other girls, like myself, were naked. Raiders, I gathered, seldom leave women clothing. Was this to make it difficult to conceal weapons, or to assist in their summary assessments of the catch? Or was it merely because they were raiders and we were woman? To be sure, we were slave girls, animals. Why should animals be permitted clothing? I tried to move a little. I found I could, though with difficulty, do so. Slowly then I made my way, inch by inch, through encumbrances, through the close, flame-lit darkness of the basket, the flickering light from outside oddly in small moving patches illuminating the flesh, the gold, within, to the edge of the basket, so that I might see out more easily through the interstices of the fiber. I wanted to see, though I feared to do so, what was going on, the men who now owned us, their movements, the tarns, the ropes and chains, the slaves bound over saddles, and fastened at stirrups, the flames, the wild, racing, distorted shadows, the parapets and towers of the keep of Stones of Turmus. I reached my goal. The corner of a box hurt my leg. I moved a little. I heard a girl sob. It was crowded in the basket. I could now see outside. Flames were raging. Tarns lifted and spread their wings, uneasily. Sandaled feet hurried by. How magnificent, I thought, were the men! Surely we existed to serve such, hoping only that we might be found sufficiently pleasing. How clearly then did I see the complementarities of men and women! Nothing more was entered into the basket. We would soon depart. I knelt near the side of the basket. The basket had been fastened shut. It was filled with booty. And I knew that I, too, kneeling there in the crowded darkness, as Rask of Treve had called to my attention, was booty, only that, and so, too, of course, were the others. We were all booty, as much as the coins, the plate, the cloth. I thought, oddly, of Earth, and of the rustling of cattle, the stealing of horses. It is not so different, I thought, Indeed, it is the same! We, too, slaves, were properties, animals. We were such that we, too, being animals, could be run off, carried away, driven away, stolen, simply stolen. At that moment, as this comprehension sank in, my entire body shook suddenly with anguish. I think I understood then in yet another dimension what I was, what it was to be such as I, a slave.
I was property. I could be stolen!
I was not being abducted, or kidnapped. No such dignity was mine. Such fates were for persons, not slaves. I was an animal, one being stolen!
I shuddered again, in misery, in anguish. It could not be happening to me!
"What is wrong with you, Dina?" whispered a girl.
"Nothing," I whispered.
"Peek through the fibers, look outside," whispered another girl. "Do not let them see you look. What do you see? What is going on?"
"We are to soon depart," I whispered.
"I am glad to be leaving Stones of Turmus!" whispered another.
"Be quiet!" whispered another.
We had not been given permission to speak. I hoped the masters would not hear us.
"I, too, am pleased," whispered another girl.
We could always be whipped later, I knew.
But it was happening to me!
Of course you can be stolen, foolish Dina, I said to myself. Do you not know by now you are a slave girl?
What do you expect -- _girl_ -- _slave girl_!
It can be unsettling, of course, to understand that you can be stolen, that you are the sort of thing which can be subject to theft.
"I hope to come into the keeping of a personal master," said one of the girls."
"I, too," said another.
Foolish girls! Did they not know they were being stolen?
But sometimes, I thought, suddenly, perhaps it is not so bad to be, say, a stolen horse. Who knew to what new stable one might be taken? Perhaps it is not so bad to be a stolen slave, sometimes, I thought. Who knew to what new chains one might be taken?
Was it not even said that occasionally free women, lonely and miserable, their most profound needs unsatisfied, desperate for love, frequented high, lonely bridges at night, putting themselves in peril of capture and enslavement? Surely a slave girl would not dare to do such a thing, for it might displease a feared and hated master. And was it not said, as well, that sometimes the free woman, before daring to embark upon so perilous a venture, would remove her sandals, loosen her hair and don the tunic of a slave, that she might appear the more to the roving tarnsman or raider a man’s dream of pleasure, the female slave? But men do not enjoy being tricked. Perhaps, discovering she was free, unbranded, her captor would angrily rectify that omission and soon return her, stripped, bound and helpless, to the very bridge from which she had been captured, that guardsmen might find her there and remand her into custody, that she might become then a despised slave in the very city whose precincts she had sought to flee. But, I wondered, would this truly displease her? To be sure, it is not pleasant to feel the lash. But she would have then at last, in any event, the collar she needed, that circlet necessary to make her whole. But perhaps her captor, if she seemed slave-suitable, and was sufficiently desperate and zealous in her pleadings and prostrations, might be moved to keep her, she weeping and kissing at his feet, petitioning for this privilege.
Much depended on many things.
Perhaps things would be better.
In any event, such things were not within our province to direct, influence or alter. Men would decide what was to be done with us.
We were slaves.
Theft was simply a risk to which we were subject. Surely I should understand that.
"Where are they taking us?" I asked one of the girls.
"We do not know," said one.
"What are they going to do with us?" I asked.
"Surely you know," said another of the girls.
"No," I said.
"What do you think?" she said.
"I do not know," I said.
"What a little fool you are," she said.
"You do not know, truly, what will be done with you?" asked another girl.
"No," I said.
"Then you are indeed a little fool," she said.
What would be done with us?
What would be done with me?
I did not know.
"Ho!" cried Rask of Treve.
I turned my attention back to the tiny interstices in the woven fabric of the basket.
We were ready to take flight!
I was suddenly excited.
I did not know what was to be done with us, other than that it would be what men pleased.
I had never been in tarn flight. I hoped the ropes on the basket would hold.
I thrust my face to the fibers, looking out.
"Ho!" cried the men of Rask of Treve.
The man who had placed me in the basket, and then tied it shut, climbed swiftly to the saddle of his tarn; our trail lines, those attached to the basket in which we were confined, ran to the tarn’s stirrups. When the tarn took to flight the basket, following it, would be lifted into the air. He awaited only the command of flight.
"Ho!" cried Rask of Treve. He drew back on the first strap of his tarn’s harness.
End of page 279 (Original Edition)
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