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Civitatis Ar, Plus!
Avenues / Streets / Districts
Tarn Court
In a few Ehn, on Aulus, in the
vicinity of Tarn Court, I saw one of the free men accompanying the
palanquin hurry forward to stay the fellow with his two companions.
Lavinia was about thirty to forty yards beyond the palanquin. I was about
ten yards or so behind her. Stayed, the whole group awaited the arrival of
the palanquin, which now approached them in a stately fashion, the bearers
impressive in their lack of haste, befitting the undoubted dignity of the
palanquin's occupant. In a moment or two the palanquin had been set down
on its legs, in the shady side of Aulus, near a wall covered with theater
posters, may of them faded, tattered, overlapping and half torn away.*
Many Gorean advertisements, incidentally, notifications and such, are not,
so to speak, authorized. Some of these notifications, and such, perhaps
inscribed by the proprietors of certain taverns or their agents, sing the
praises of various slaves. I wondered, if the fellows passing these
notifications, and such, recounting, say, the charms of a certain Tania or
Sylvia, of such-and-such a paga tavern, even considered the possibility
that these might be former free women of Ar, perhaps women thitherto
unapproachable, once haughty, vain women, women courted in vain by many,
perhaps even by themselves, who had now become slaves, women who must now,
in their collars, answerable to the whip, to the best of their ability,
serve masters. Perhaps they could even arrange for the purchase of one of
them, not to free her, of course, for it is said that only a fool buys a
slave girl, but to take her home and keep her for themselves. Graffiti,
too, in Gorean public places, as the markets and baths, is not uncommon.
Whereas this graffiti is mostly of a predictable sort, as one might
expect, names, proclamations of love, denunciations of enemies,
obscenities, and such, some of it is, in my opinion, at least, of quite
high quality. For example, poets not unoften use the walls to publish
their work, so to speak. Indeed, it is said, though I do not know with
what truth, that Pentilicus Tallux, for whom the great theater is named,
first inscribed his poetry on walls. Needless to say, readers then often
feel free to write their own comments on he poems, or even to edit them.
More than one critic, I fear, had been found bloodied at the base of such
a wall. Indeed, there is a story abroad that Pentilicus Tallux himself,
whose work is noted for its restraint and delicacy, figured in more than
one fracas of that sort. One story had it that he slew seven men in formal
duels alone. MAGICIANS OF GOR-, (25) Pages 377-378
As Lavinia was cognizant of the
usual itinerary of the fellow from the theater to the house of Appanius
and she had gone about to Tarn Court, on the way, and was presumably
stationed there, to the east, under the bowers, I took a similar route,
rapidly striding. In this fashion I would appear to be moving in the
direction opposite the fellow and his two companions. I could then renew
my contact with them from a distance, discreetly observing the encounter
between that party and a girl seemingly in the garments of the state
slave. In a few Ehn I was on Tarn Court, following the fellow and his
companions. Once off Aulus, and perhaps being confident that they were not
followed, they had slowed their pace. Tarn Court is a wide street, or, at
least, wide for a city street of Gor. Several blocks east of Aulus, before
noon, it is the location of a vegetable and fruit market. In the areas of
the market, stretching almost from the north to the south side of the
street, the street is shaded by a large number of vine-covered trellises,
cresting bowers, which provide protection for the produce and, later in
the day, shade for pedestrians. MAGICIANS OF GOR-, (25) Page 387
"Come along," said one of the two
fellows to the slave. The three of them then, together, lost little time
in making their way down Aulus street. I noted that the fellow had not
responded deferentially to the summons to come along, but then, I did not
think that was my business. If the two fellows were disposed to treat the
slave as though he might not be a slave. I did not think that that need be
considered my concern. The interaction had not taken place, with me, for
example. Also, of course, I had upon occasion, though quite infrequently,
to be sure, on this world, remarked an instance in which a slave had
seemed to me at least minimally deficient in deferentially to a master. In
such instances, of course, one does not desire to usurp the prerogatives
of the master, even if he is a weakling. One may always hope that he will
eventually understand what must be done, and reach for the whip. Needless
to say, all Gorean slave girls find themselves sooner or later, perhaps
after a renaissance of manhood in the master, or a new sale, or some
change of hands, kept under perfect discipline. It is the Gorean way. Only
one can be master. The fellow did turn once, and look back at me, as
though puzzled, and then, with the others, he continued on his way. I
suspect he had not been reminded that he was a slave for a very long time.
Perhaps Appanius had let that slip his mind. In my opinion, that would
have been a mistake. At any rate I had seen no reason for doing so,
particularly in the light of my plans. I did not think it would take them
long to reach Tarn Court. Also, as I had cut short the fellow's
conversation with the free woman in the palanquin, I had surely saved them
a little time. I neither expected, nor wished, thanks for this, however.
Briefly I recollected the free woman in the palanquin. Surely I had given
her something to think about. Perhaps she was now curious as to what she
might look like on a sales block, or what the nature of the bids might be.
As Lavinia was cognizant of the usual itinerary of the fellow from the
theater to the house of Appanius and she had gone about to Tarn Court, on
the way, and was presumably stationed there, to the east, under the
bowers, I took a similar route, rapidly striding. In this fashion I would
appear to be moving in the direction opposite the fellow and his two
companions. I could then renew my contact with them from a distance,
discreetly observing the encounter between that party and a girl seemingly
in the garments of the state slave. In a few Ehn I was on Tarn Court,
following the fellow and his companions. Once off Aulus, and perhaps being
confident that they were not followed, they had slowed their pace. Tarn
Court is a wide street, or, at least, wide for a city street of Gor.
Several blocks east of Aulus, before noon, it is the location of a
vegetable and fruit market. In the areas of the market, stretching almost
from the north to the south side of the street, the street is shaded by a
large number of vine-covered trellises, cresting bowers, which provide
protection for the produce and, later in the day, shade for pedestrians.
Many Gorean streets, incidentally, are almost always in shade because of
their narrowness and the encompassing buildings. A result of this is that
one is not always clear as to the position of the sun and, accordingly, it
is easy to lose one's orientation, even as to the time of day. The fact
that not all Gorean streets have generally accepted or marked names can
add to the confusion. To one who knows the area this presents little
difficulty but to a stranger, or one unfamiliar with the area, it can be
extremely confusing. Interestingly enough many Gorean municipalities
intentionally resist the attempt to impose some form of rational order on
this seeming chaos. This is not simply because of the Gorean's typical
reverence for tradition but because it is thought to have some military
advantage, as well. For example, portions of invading forces have upon
several occasions, in one city or another, literally become lost in the
city, with the result that they have been unable to rally, rendezvous,
group and attain objectives. Cases have been reported where an enemy force
has literally withdrawn from a city and some of its components have
remained in the city, wandering about for a day or two, out of
communication with the main forces. Needless to say, the military
situation of such isolated contingents is an often unenviable one. More
than one such group has been set upon and destroyed. To be sure, invaders
usually supply themselves with fellows who are familiar with the city. It
is illegal in many cities, incidentally, to take maps of the city out of
the city. More than one fellow, too, has put himself in the quarries or on
the bench of a galley for having been caught with such a map in his
possession.
I was about fifty yards behind the group of three fellows, who were
sauntering east of Tarn Court. For a long time I did not detect the
presence of Lavinia. Then, some seventy yards or so ahead, and to the
right, near a wall, before the eastern termination of the trellised area
where the morning market is held, from a patchwork of lights and shadows,
I picked her out. She, after entering from the south, from a side street,
had apparently hurried on ahead. In this fashion she could make certain
that she would not miss the group when it passed. She would also have time
to prepare herself, and regain her composure. She had positioned herself
on her knees, at a wall, near a slave ring. This was fully appropriate.
Too, it added to the effect which her appearance must have on all males
who saw her, her beauty, her collar and a slave ring. The ring was about
level with her neck. To such rings, of course, a master may fasten or
chain a girl while he busies himself elsewhere. I was pleased that she had
had the intelligence not to act as though she had been put at the ring
"bound by the master's will" because her leaving the ring might then have
elicited astonishment or comment. There are many ways of putting a girl at
the ring, "bound by the master's will." One typical way is to stand her at
the ring and have her place her right hand behind her back through the
ring and grasp her left wrist. Another typical way is to kneel her at the
ring and have her put her right hand through the ring, grasping her left
wrist. One of the simplest and perhaps the most typical way of "binding by
the master's will" is simply to have the girl grasp her left wrist with
her right hand behind her back. Needless to say whatever amusement,
pleasure or convenience this may afford a master it can be exquisitely
frustrating to a slave to strive desperately and in terror to maintain
this position while, say, being subjected to various attentions typical of
the mastery. Most masters, in such a situation, would simply bind the
girl, tying or braceleting her hands behind her back. In this fashion she
knows her struggles will be unavailing, that she is helpless and cannot
escape. She may then without fear or hesitation open herself completely to
the joy of the subjugation, to the rapture of her conquest, to the bliss
of her surrender. MAGICIANS OF GOR-, (25) Pages 386-389
They then again took their way
east on tarn Court and, in a bit, once beyond the trelliswork, went to the
right side of the street, which now, given the lateness of the afternoon
sun, was the shady side. Normally Goreans keep to the left sides of
streets and roads, as is proper, given that most men are right-handed. In
this fashion the sword arm is on the side of the stranger. A similar,
interesting historical detail, though not particularly pertinent to Gor,
as most Gorean garments lack buttons, is that, on Earth, men's shirts,
jackets, coats, and such, have the buttons on the right side, so that the
opening of the garment is held down, and to the right. This is because the
sheath of the knife or sword is, by right-handed men, commonly worn on the
left, facilitating the across-the-body draw to the right. In this
arrangement of the garment's fastenings, thusly, the hand, or sleeve, or
guard of the weapon, will not be caught or impeded in its passage to the
ready position. A similar provision does occur, incidentally, in various
Gorean garments, having to do with pins, brooches and such. Also the male
tunic of the wraparound variety has its overlap to the right, presumably
for a similar reason. Warriors, in situations of danger, commonly carry
the scabbard over the left shoulder. The scabbard is held with the left
hand and the draw takes place with the right. The scabbard and strap is
then discarded, to be recovered, if practical, later. Obviously the
scabbard attached to a belt is not only an encumbrance but it is something
which someone else might seize, cling to, and perhaps use to his
advantage. MAGICIANS OF GOR-, (25) Pages 394-395
I now went west on Tarn Court.
In a few Ehn I had come to the rendezvous point, on Varick, west of Aulus,
which I had arranged with Lavinia. I waited there, near the doorways. She
would not be loitering in the vicinity, of course, as that would attract
attention. She would, rather, pass this point at certain intervals, in one
direction or another. She may have passed it once or twice already. I
would then, in the concealment of one of the doorways, put her in the
small cloak she had worn before, now folded in my wallet, and we would
then make our way home. MAGICIANS OF GOR-, (25) Page 395
"Yes, Master!" she said, and
scrambled to her feet, not at all gracefully, in her haste, and raced past
me, going west on Tarn Court. Clearly she would not have relished further
attentions from the fellow. Already she was a bruised, thrice-kicked
slave. I do not think that he intended striking her that time,
incidentally, but was only threatening to do so. The threat, however, had
been sufficient to speed her on her way, and had she not leaped up and
departed with suitable dispatch I did not doubt but what her lovely face
in an instant, flashing and burning scarlet, might have suffered the
sting, and perhaps more than once, of that ready, harsh masculine hand.
MAGICIANS OF GOR-, (25) Pages 392-393
Kudos to you, Mr. Norman for writing the Gorean series!
A rich, yet utterly simple saga; a world, a time, a people;
those of the Counter-Earth .. the planet .. Gor.
Thank you!
The material presented herein was researched and compiled by me,
naia{Saul}.
The material referenced comes from John Norman's Gor Series, The
Counter-Earth Saga.
This is a work in process.
Please, do not take, copy, duplicate, or use this work as your own.
If you find it valuable enough to share, please .. share the link to this
page.
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