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.No matters of prolongedmoment would be likely to be discussed in the presence of such.Normally slavegirls, with a snap of the fingers or a wave of the hand, are dismissed from anarea when sensitive information is to be discussed.They then scurry away,until summoned back.Also, interestingly, they will usually take pains on their own (pg.418) behalfto avoid such areas.Total ignorance, they know, as they are mere slaves, isoften in their best interests.If they hear too much they know that it is onlytoo easy to dispose of them.Page 257 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html What I tell you now, said Aemilianus, is already common knowledge in PortCos. But these things were brought by the dispatch boat this morning? said a man. Yes, said he, and with the routines of the couriers of Port Cos, that wemightfile:///F|/My%20Shared%20Folder/John%20Nor.20Gor%2023%20-%20Renegades%20of%20Gor.html (373 of 399) [1/21/03 7:54:44 PM]23 Renegades of Gor learn them before we disembarked.But there is little herethat I have not suspected, and that our friend, Calliodorus, recently, has notintimated to me, privately.I recalled that Calliodorus, even on the first morning out from Ar s Station,after we had attended to the females, those who were now both slaves, and laynear us in their chains, had seemed ready, then not ready, to speak toAemilianus of certain weighty matters, that he might have been consideringconveying to him warnings, or perhaps confiding suspicions or misgivings.Hehad hesitated then, Isuspected, because he was not yet sure of such matters, or, perhaps, becausehe had thought it wise to hold them in abeyance until his friend was stronger. Stand, said the keeper of the two slaves, one of the fellows of Port Cos, onthe bow deck, to the two slaves.They stood up.He checked the chain andleather of their harnesses.He lifted their shackled wrists over their head,lifting with them part of the chair to which they were attached.Then he letthem stand there, with their shackled wrists lowered, before them.He didadjust their posture, rudely, with a slap or two.Then they stood there,softly, beautifully erect, on the bow deck. Hail Port Cos! cried a fellow in a small boat, off the bow to starboard.Behind him there stood a long-legged half-naked slave girl in a bit of a rag. Hail PortCos! she cried, happily, waving. Hail Port Cos! She was rather nice.Thecollar looked well on her neck.I thought that she, too, might have beenworthy to put at a prow.Seeing her, both Publia and Claudia stood even alittle straighter, though apparently paying her no attention.(pg.419) One of the fellows on the bow deck waved to them. Hail Port Cos! he responded. We are coming to Port Cos, said Aemilianus. That will seem to confirm thestory circulating in Ar, which, I take it, is the official version of whatoccurred atAr s Station. Speak, Commander, urged the young warrior, Marcus. It will be of interest to you to learn that Ar s Station was surrendered toCos more than two months ago, he said, dryly, before the relief forces couldreach it.Lacking siege equipment that is why they did not proceed directly to Ar sStation but went into winter quarters. Ar s Station was never surrendered! said a man.file:///F|/My%20Shared%20Folder/John%20Nor.20Gor%2023%20-%20Renegades%20of%20Gor.html (374 of 399) [1/21/03 7:54:44 PM]23 Renegades of Gor I do not understand, said another. She fell but seven days ago thisafternoon. Thousands must know the falsity of such allegations! cried another man. Not officially, not in Ar, said Aemilianus. They know, on the whole, exceptfor rumors, only what they are permitted to know.I suspect it would even beunwise o speak certain truths to Ar herself. I do not understand, repeated the fellow who had spoken before. The situation is reputed to stand thus, said Aemilianus. Supposedly, overPage 258 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmltwo months ago, I, and my high officers, and the caste officials, and councilsof the city, treasonously, and without a fight, surrendered Ar s Station to adelegation ofCosians.In return for this perfidy we received much gold and were grantedsafe passage to Port Cos, within whose walls we are to receive domicile andsecurity. Our arrival here will make it seem so! cried a man. I fear so, said another. Would you rather return to the ashes of Ar s Station? asked Aemilianus,bitterly. Surely those of Port Cos do not believe such lies! cried a man. Of course not, said Aemilianus. The truth is generally known her.It is inAr, and the south, that it will not be known. Where have you learned of such matters? asked a man. Specifically, from the dispatches, said Aemilianus. Cos, it seems, had manyspies.Too, it seems she possesses swift, (pg.420) covert channels ofcommunication.I do not doubt but what her work on the continent has been longin preparation.Naturally Cosians are in close contact with those of Port Cos,whose support to them is important on the river.I would not suppose thatthere is complete openness between them, but there seems to be no problemabout sharing information of this sort. Captain Calliodorus takes these reports seriously? asked a man. Yes, said Aemilianus. Indeed, he had even anticipated, as I had, given theabandoning of Ar s Station by Ar, that matters might be construed in some suchperspective. It seems the spies of Cos are efficient, said a fellow. It is said, said Aemilianus, as Calliodorus has told me, that even awhisper inAr is heard in Telnus by nightfall. We were nearing the harbor.file:///F|/My%20Shared%20Folder/John%20Nor.20Gor%2023%20-%20Renegades%20of%20Gor.html (375 of 399) [1/21/03 7:54:44 PM]23 Renegades of GorThere were clouds of small sails about us now, as many small boats had comeout to meet us. Oh! said Publia, as one of the fellows of Port Cos lifted her up lightly inhis arms and threw her over the rail of the port side of the bow deck.Therewas a sound of chain, pulling against the beam ring, the links suddenlygrowing taut, and Publia, suspended from the beam, in her chain-and-leatherharness, hung at the port side, out, about a yard from the rail, her feet nowslightly below the level of the bow deck, over the water.There was a shout ofpleasure from several of the small boats.Although her weight wassubstantially borne by the harness her small wrists were pulled high over herhead, and held in place there, close to the chain, by her wrist shackles.Herankles, too, were closely shackled.I considered her small hands.How piteousthey appeared, so held in place, so helpless in their inflexible metal bonds
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