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.Now the girls in white tunics began to serve the strong beverages of Gor, andthe festivities of the evening began.The Musicians began to play, and thegirls in Pleasure Silk, hands over their heads, lifted themselves slowly tothe melody, their bodies responding to it as though to the touch of a man."These girls are not much good yet," said Ho-Tu."They are only in the fourthmonth of their training.It is good for them to get the practice, hearing andseeing men respond to them.That is the way to learn what truly pleases men.In the end, I say, it is men who teach women to dance."I myself would have spoken more highly of the girls than had Ho-Tu, who wasperhaps overly negative in his evaluation, but it was true that there was adifference between these girls and more experienced girls.The true dancinggirl, who has a great aptitude for such matters, and years of experience, is amarvel to behold, for she seems always different, subtle and surprising.Someof these girls, interestingly, are not even particularly beautiful, though inthe dance they become so.I expect a great deal has to do with the girl'ssensitivity to her audience, with her experience in playing to, andinteractingwith, different audiences, teasing and delighting them in different ways,making them think they will be disappointed, or that she is poor, and thensuddenly, by contrast, startling them, astonishing them and driving them wildwith the madness of their desire for her.Such a girl, after a dance, maysnatch up dozens of gold pieces from the sand, putting them in her silk,scurrying back to her master.Suddenly the girls stopped dancing, and the Musicians stopped playing; eventhose at the table stopped laughing and talking.There was a long, incrediblyweird, horrifying scream, coming from far away, and yet seeming to penetratethe very stones of the hall where we enjoyed ourselves."Play," ordered Ho-Tu, to the Musicians.Obediently the music began again, and again the girls moved to the music,thoughI could see they did so poorly now, and were frightened.Some of the men laughed.The slave who had won at hook knife had turned white,sitting far below the salt."What was that?" I asked Ho-Tu."The slave who lost at look knife," said Ho-Tu, pushing a large spoonful ofporridge into his mouth."What happened to him?" I asked."He was fed to the beast," said Ho-Tu."What beast?" I asked."I do not know," said Ho-Tu, "I have never seen it."Chapter 7: The ShipI could see the black disk now, moving swiftly, but not at great altitude,passing among the night clouds, under the three moons of Gor.I, and Cernus and Ho-Tu, and others, stood in the lonely darkness of arecessed ledge on a high peak in the Voltai, some pasangs northeast of Ar.Theledge was attainable only on tarnback.There was no fire, no light.There wereperhaps a dozen of us there.Page 51ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlAbout an Ahn following the eerie cry we had heard in the hall Ho-Tu had arisenfrom the table and gestured for me to accompany him.I did so, and we climbeda long spiral staircase until we came to the roof of the House of Cernus.Though doubtless Ho-Tu was well known to the guards at the tarncot, henonetheless showed them a small, flat rectangle of glazed clay, white incolor, marked with the sign of the House of Cernus.On the roof we met Cernus and others.Some were tarnsmen, others members oftheHouse.On the roof there were eight tarns, beside five of which there werecarrying baskets attached to tarn harness.Cernus had looked at me."We did not specifically discuss your wages," heremarked."It is not necessary," I said, "it is well known the House of Cernus isgenerous."Cernus smiled."I like you, Killer," said he, "for you do not haggle, but youare silent; you keep your own council and then you strike."I said nothing."I am much the same," said Cernus.He nodded his head."You did well to sithighat the table.""Who would dispute my place?" I asked.Cernus laughed."But not so high as I," he said."You are master of the house," I said."You will see," said Cernus, "that the house of Cernus is indeed generous, andmore generous than you have thought to dream.You will come with us this nightand for the first time you will understand how wisely you have invested theuse of your sword.""What will you show me?" I asked."Serve me well," said Cernus, "and in time I will make you the Ubar of aCity."I looked at him startled."Ha!" laughed Cernus, "so even the equanimity of an Assassin can be shaken!Yes, the Ubar of a city, and you may choose the city, any save Ar, on whosethroneI, Cernus, will sit."I said nothing [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]