"08 - Hunters of Gor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norman John)

I saw rage flash in his eyes. I heard his chains move. The guards took no note of him. He was well secured. The girl laughed, and continued on, to fetch paga for free men.

"Guard your tarnsman," said Samos.

Instead I swept my Ubar to Ubar's Tarnsman One.

I looked into Samos' eyes.

He turned his attention again to the board.

He had a large, squarish head, short-cropped white hair. His face was dark from the sun, and wind-burned, and sea burned. There were small, golden rings in his ears. He was a pirate, a slaver, a master swordsman, a captain of Port Kar. He studied the board.

He did not take the Ubar's Tarnsman with his spearman. He looked up at me, and defended his Home Stone by bringing his Scribe to Ubar One, whence it could control his Ubar's Tarnsman Three, controlling as well the killing diagonal.

"Talena, daughter of Marlenus of Ar, I learn, had been taken as slave to the northern forests," I said.

"Where did you obtain this information?" he asked. Samos was always suspicious.

"From a female slave, who was in my house," I said, "a rather lovely wench, whose name was Elinor."

"That El-in-or," he asked, "Who is now the property of Rask of Treve?"

"Yes," I said. I smiled. "I got one hundred pieces of gold for her." I said.

Samos smiled. "Doubtless, for such a price," he said, "Rask of Treve will see that she repays him a thousand times that price in pleasure."

I smiled. "I do not doubt it." I returned my attention to the board. "Yet," said I, "it is my suspicion that between them there is truly love."

Samos smiled. "Love," he asked, " - for a female slave?"

"Paga, Masters?" asked the dark-haired girl, kneeling beside the table.

Samos, not looking at her, held forth his goblet. The girl filled the goblet.

I held forth my goblet, and she, too, filled mine.

"Withdraw," said Samos.

She withdrew.

I shrugged.

"Love or not," said Samos, studying the board, "he will keep her in a collar - for he is of Treve."

"Doubtless," I admitted. And, indeed, I had little doubt that what Samos had said was true. Rask of Treve, though in love with her, and she with him, would keep her rightless, in the absolute bondage of a Gorean slave girl - for he was of Treve.

"It is said that those of Treve are worthy enemies," said Samos.

I said nothing.