[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

The auctioneer seemed hesitant.
"Seven nine, then," said the fellow.
This, I took it, was the bid the auctioneer had been waiting for. It was an
even silver tarsk, or an even hundred copper tarsks, of the sort common in
Kailiauk, figured in multiples of ten, over the earlier standing bid of six
nine.
Page 80
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Are there any other bids?" called the auctioneer. I sensed there would not be
any. Too, I
did not think the auctioneer expected any. To be sure, it was doubtless his
business to inquire explicitly into the matter.
The girl trembled, her chin obediently high.
No more bids were forthcoming. No one, it seemed, cared to bid against the
fellow in the broad-
brimmed hat. I found this of interest. I had not found this sort of thing
before in a Gorean market.
"Deliver her to the holding area," said the auctioneer, addressing himself to
an attendant near the foot of the block. The fellow, then, climbed to the
height of the block. "She is yours," said the auctioneer to the man in the
broad-brimmed hat. The attendant seized the girl by the arms. It was only
then, I think, that the former Millicent Aubrey-
Welles, from Pennsylvania, realized that she had been sold. She was conducted
from the surface of the block.
"That," said the auctioneer, "concludes the final auction of the evening.
Permit me to remind you all that the market is not yet closed. It remains open
for another Ahn. Peruse now, if you would, in the time remaining before we
close, the lovely morsels, dainties for your delectation, fastened on the
slave plates to the sides. In a lesser house any one of them would doubtless
be worthy the central block. Yet, here, in the house of Ram Seibar, in this
house of prizes and bargains, no one of them is likely to cost you more than a
silver tarsk!"
I glanced about, at the girls on the side blocks.
A few pretended to brazen indifference. Most, however, only too obviously,
were terrified. I
think there was not one among them who did not, now, understand that she was a
slave. I
think there was not one among them who did not now realize that she might
soon, and totally, belong to a man.
"To the side blocks, please, Noble Sirs,''
invited the auctioneer, with an expansive gesture of his open hand, "to the
side blocks!"
The men began to drift to the side blocks.
Several went toward the block of the girl with whom
Ginger had spoken. She had looked well under the attendant's whip. Several of
the girls whimpered. A
woman's first sale, I suspected, is often the hardest.
"Come with me, said the fellow in the broad-
brimmed hat. He then turned about, and went through a side door.
Puzzled, I followed him.
On the other side of the door we found ourselves in a holding area, a long,
shed like structure ancillary to the main hall. It was wooden-floored and the
narrow floorboards were laid lengthwise.
About every five feet a linear set of these boards was painted yellow, thus,
in effect, making long, yellow lines, parallel to the sides of the structure,
on the floor. At the head and foot of these lines, also in yellow, were
painted numbers.
On one of these lines, number six, there knelt, one behind the other, in
tandem fashion, seven girls. They were barbarians, but they had been knelt in
the position of pleasure slaves, back on their heels knees wide, hands on
their thighs, backs straight, heads up.
You handled yourself well in the hall," said the fellow to me. "It is my
suspicion that you are no stranger to war."
"I have fought," I admitted.
"Are you a mercenary?" he asked.
"Of sorts," I said.
Page 81
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Why are you in Kailiauk?" he asked.
"I am here on business," I said, warily.
 Are your pursuers numerous?" he asked.
"Pursuers?" I asked.
"You are doubtless in flight," be said. "Would you give me a hand with these
chains?" He then bent down and, from some things, his, I gathered, near
one wall, he had picked up several loops of light chain, with spaced, attached
collars. He slung these loops over his left shoulder and joined me, near the
last girl kneeling on the line.
He handed me a collar, at the chain's termination. I clasped it about the neck [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]