JК
Tarnsman of Gor :: Норман Джон
Страница: 66 из 145"She hasdone no harm. She did her best to save the Home Stone of your city."
Talena seemed startled that I had asked for her freedom.
"The Initiates have pronounced their sentence," said the officer. "They have decreed a sacrifice to the Priest-Kings to ask them to have mercy and to restore the Home Stone."
In that moment I detested the Initiates of Ar, who, ` like other members of their caste throughout Gor, were only too eager to seize some particle of the political.power they had supposedly renounced in choosing to wear the white robes of their calling. The real purpose of the "sacrifice to the Priest-Kings" was probably to F remove possible claimants to the throne of Ar and thereby strengthen their own political position.
The officer's eyes narrowed. He jabbed me with his sword. "Where," he demanded, "is the Home Stone?"
"I don't know," I said.
The blade was at my throat.
Then, to my amazement, the daughter of the Ubar spoke. "He tells the truth."
The officer regarded her calmly, and she blushed, realizing her body was no longer sacred in his sight, no longer protected by the power of the Ubar.
She raised her head and said quietly, "The Home 'Stone was in the saddle pack of his tarn. The tare escaped. The Stone is gone."
The officer cursed under his breath.
"Take me back to Ar," said Talena. "I am ready." She stepped from the pile of filthy garments at her feet: and stood proudly among the trees, the wind slightly moving her long dark hair.
The officer looked her over, slowly, carefully, his eyes gleaming. Without glancing at the common soldier, he ordered him to leash me, to fasten around my throat the leading chain often used on Gor for slaves and prisoners.
The officer sheathed his sword, not taking his eyes from Talena, who drew back. "This one I'll leash myself," he said, drawing a leading chain from his pouch and approaching the girl. She stood still, not quivering.
"The leash will not be necessary," she said proudly.
"That is for me to decide," said the officer, and laughed as he snapped the chain on the throat of the girl. It clicked shut. He gave it a playful tug. "I never thought that I would have my chain on Talena, the daughter of Marlenus," he said.
"You beast!" she hissed.
"I see that I must teach you to respect an officer," he said, putting his hand between her throat and the chain, drawing her to him. He suddenly, savagely, thrust his mouth on her throat, and she screamed, being pressed backward, down to the clover.
Talena seemed startled that I had asked for her freedom.
"The Initiates have pronounced their sentence," said the officer. "They have decreed a sacrifice to the Priest-Kings to ask them to have mercy and to restore the Home Stone."
In that moment I detested the Initiates of Ar, who, ` like other members of their caste throughout Gor, were only too eager to seize some particle of the political.power they had supposedly renounced in choosing to wear the white robes of their calling. The real purpose of the "sacrifice to the Priest-Kings" was probably to F remove possible claimants to the throne of Ar and thereby strengthen their own political position.
The officer's eyes narrowed. He jabbed me with his sword. "Where," he demanded, "is the Home Stone?"
"I don't know," I said.
The blade was at my throat.
Then, to my amazement, the daughter of the Ubar spoke. "He tells the truth."
The officer regarded her calmly, and she blushed, realizing her body was no longer sacred in his sight, no longer protected by the power of the Ubar.
She raised her head and said quietly, "The Home 'Stone was in the saddle pack of his tarn. The tare escaped. The Stone is gone."
The officer cursed under his breath.
"Take me back to Ar," said Talena. "I am ready." She stepped from the pile of filthy garments at her feet: and stood proudly among the trees, the wind slightly moving her long dark hair.
The officer looked her over, slowly, carefully, his eyes gleaming. Without glancing at the common soldier, he ordered him to leash me, to fasten around my throat the leading chain often used on Gor for slaves and prisoners.
The officer sheathed his sword, not taking his eyes from Talena, who drew back. "This one I'll leash myself," he said, drawing a leading chain from his pouch and approaching the girl. She stood still, not quivering.
"The leash will not be necessary," she said proudly.
"That is for me to decide," said the officer, and laughed as he snapped the chain on the throat of the girl. It clicked shut. He gave it a playful tug. "I never thought that I would have my chain on Talena, the daughter of Marlenus," he said.
"You beast!" she hissed.
"I see that I must teach you to respect an officer," he said, putting his hand between her throat and the chain, drawing her to him. He suddenly, savagely, thrust his mouth on her throat, and she screamed, being pressed backward, down to the clover.