JК
Tarnsman of Gor :: Норман Джон
Страница: 63 из 145She tried frantically to readjust the folds of her veil, but with both hands I tore it fully away, and she lay at my feet, as it is said on Gor, face-stripped. A marvelous cascade of hair, as black as the wing of my tarp, loosened behind her, falling to the ground. I saw magnificent olive skin and those wild green eyes and features that were breathtakingly beautiful. The mouth, which might have been magnificent, was twisted with rage. "I like it better," I said, "being able to see the face of my enemy. Do not replace your veil."
In fury she glared up at me, shamed as my eyes boldly regarded the beauty of her face. She made no move to replace the veil.
As I looked upon her, incredibly perhaps, my rage dissipated and with it the vengeful desires that had filled me. In anger I had dragged her, helpless, mine by all the Codes of Gor, to the shelter of the trees. Yet now once again I saw her as a girl, this time as a beautiful girl, not to be abused.
"You will understand," I said, "that I can no longer trust you."
"Of course not," she said. "I am your enemy."
"Accordingly I can take no chances with you."
"I am not afraid to die," she said, her lip trembling slightly. "Be quick."
"Remove your clothing," I said.
"No!" she cried, shrinking — back. She rose to her knees before me, putting her head to my feet. "With all my heart, Warrior," she pleaded, "the daughter of a Ubar, on her knees, begs your favor. Let it be only the blade and quickly."
I threw back my head and laughed. The daughter of the Ubar feared that I would force her to serve my pleasure — I, a common soldier. But then, shamefacedly, I admitted to myself that I had, while dragging her to the trees, intended to take her and that it had only been the sudden spell of her beauty which, paradoxically:. enough, had claimed my respect, forced me to recognize — that selfishly I was about to injure or dominate what Nar would have referred to as a rational creature. I felt ashamed and resolved that I would do no harm to this girl, though she was as wicked and faithless as a Charylarion.
"I do not intend to force you to serve my pleasure," I said, "nor do I intend to injure you."
She lifted her head and looked at me wonderingly.
Then, to my amazement, she stood up and regarded me contemptuously. "If you had been a true warrior," she said, "you would have taken me on the back of your tarn, above the clouds, even before we had passed the outermost ramparts of Ar, and you would have thrown my robes to the streets below to show my people what had been the fate of the daughter of their Ubar.
In fury she glared up at me, shamed as my eyes boldly regarded the beauty of her face. She made no move to replace the veil.
As I looked upon her, incredibly perhaps, my rage dissipated and with it the vengeful desires that had filled me. In anger I had dragged her, helpless, mine by all the Codes of Gor, to the shelter of the trees. Yet now once again I saw her as a girl, this time as a beautiful girl, not to be abused.
"You will understand," I said, "that I can no longer trust you."
"Of course not," she said. "I am your enemy."
"Accordingly I can take no chances with you."
"I am not afraid to die," she said, her lip trembling slightly. "Be quick."
"Remove your clothing," I said.
"No!" she cried, shrinking — back. She rose to her knees before me, putting her head to my feet. "With all my heart, Warrior," she pleaded, "the daughter of a Ubar, on her knees, begs your favor. Let it be only the blade and quickly."
I threw back my head and laughed. The daughter of the Ubar feared that I would force her to serve my pleasure — I, a common soldier. But then, shamefacedly, I admitted to myself that I had, while dragging her to the trees, intended to take her and that it had only been the sudden spell of her beauty which, paradoxically:. enough, had claimed my respect, forced me to recognize — that selfishly I was about to injure or dominate what Nar would have referred to as a rational creature. I felt ashamed and resolved that I would do no harm to this girl, though she was as wicked and faithless as a Charylarion.
"I do not intend to force you to serve my pleasure," I said, "nor do I intend to injure you."
She lifted her head and looked at me wonderingly.
Then, to my amazement, she stood up and regarded me contemptuously. "If you had been a true warrior," she said, "you would have taken me on the back of your tarn, above the clouds, even before we had passed the outermost ramparts of Ar, and you would have thrown my robes to the streets below to show my people what had been the fate of the daughter of their Ubar.