The Warrior Within

3

I opened my eyes to the comfort of my bedcovers around me, but wasn’t ready to get up yet. I shifted position onto my back—and gasped at the soreness. I remembered then what the barbarian had done to me, and I moved my head to look at him. He lay peacefully asleep beside me, his blond head unpillowed, just as though he were the most innocent being ever created. I realized that my clothes were gone again and my hair had been released from the clips that had held it in place, and knew whom I had to thank for the condition.

I shifted the other way onto my side, trying to come up with a positive course of action. The night before I’d been too shocked to do anything more than react, but something had to be done. He couldn’t be allowed to beat me and order me about as if I were his—belonging. I was a Prime, and had my pride to consider.

“Are you refreshed from your long sleep?” Tammad’s voice came suddenly from behind me. “You did not even stir when I placed you beneath the coverings.”

So he was awake now, too. “Beatings are well known for curing insomnia,” I told him coldly keeping my eyes on the lace wall dress. “Perhaps some day you’d care to try it yourself.”

“What need have I of an aid to sleep?” He chuckled, then pulled me around to face him. When I stiffened in his arms, he frowned at me, almost as though he were confused. “I had thought you were now pleased by my touch,” he said, looking down at me. “Why do you again resist me?”

“I haven’t stopped resisting you!” I told him, hands flat against his broad chest. “And how am I supposed to know what your mood is? Am I to welcome you with open arms, only to be greeted with that branch again?”

“You seem to learn very slowly” He sighed, moving me closer to him to stroke my hair. “You were beaten at the end of the last sun for disobeying my word. If you do not disobey me, you will not be beaten. Is this now clear to you?”

“No, it is not!” I answered hotly squirming against that unreasonable giant-strength of his. “You have no right to beat me for any reason! I’m a grown woman and a Prime, and I needn’t listen to anyone!”

“You must now listen to me.” He grinned, putting his hand beneath my hair onto my back. “I do not wish to see you die upon Rimilia, which is all too likely to occur if you fail to obey my word. Beginning with you then would be too late; therefore I have begun with you now. The switch will remind you should you ever forget.”

His hand on my back reached more than just my skin, making me frantic. Desperately I said, “If you ever touch me again—in any way—I won’t help you“ ‘ He was a barbarian and I feared his strength, but more than that I feared that his body would call to mine again. I hated him, hated everything he said and did, but my body didn’t hate his. He had bewitched me somehow, and I didn’t know how to break the spell. I watched him closely and his grin faded to a small smile.

“Then I will have the help of another,” he murmured, pulling me so close I could barely breathe. “You will merely return with me as a green-eyed woman I shall keep—or gift to a friend. Rimilia will then truly be yours.”

He wasn’t joking—I could see he wasn’t joking. I felt sick at the thought and closed my eyes to keep the tears from escaping, but they seeped out anyway and ran down my cheeks to his chest. I didn’t want to obey him, didn’t want to go to Rimilia with him, but if I didn’t obey him he would beat me, if I didn’t help him he would own me. It wasn’t fair, and I began screaming it out loud, beating against him with my fists, over and over, until the rage had evaporated and the tears were left by themselves, then he held me close again and let me cry against him. I cried a long time in the circle of his arms, and he didn’t begin to take me until the tears were gone, but then he took me so completely there was no longer opportunity for tears. His body gave mine what it so desperately wanted, but my exhaustion was so great afterward that I fell asleep again.

When I awoke the second time, I was alone in the bed. I squirmed comfortably in the wrinkled linen and thought about Tammad with a great deal of annoyance. He was so damned difficult to understand that it was almost more than one could be expected to bear. One minute he was beating me terribly, and the next minute he was comforting my tears. How was I supposed to deal with him if I didn’t know what to expect from him next?

And the way he treated me in bed! My body had begun to enjoy such treatment, had begun to demand it! He answered my demands so perfectly that I would likely be ruined forever because of it. Where would I ever find another barbarian on Central?

I sighed at the absurdity of the thought, then got up. Considering that the soreness of the beating and the barbarian’s “love-making” was still very much with me, I would never again seek the company of a barbarian for any reason. They were much too prone to wanting things their own way, which did not agree with my own outlook on life.

I waited for the tub to fill, then stepped into the water. My mirror had shown me my bruises, and I was not at all pleased. There were no breaks in the skin, but it hadn’t been for want of trying. The beast had applied the switch with a will, and I still flinched at the thought of it. If ever I had the opportunity to repay the favor, I would be sure to do so.

“Should you continue to bathe so often, you soon will have no skin left,” Tammad’s amused voice came from the doorway I jumped in surprise, then glared at him.

“Don’t you ever make any noise when you walk?” I demanded. “And what are you doing in here? I’m accustomed to having privacy in my bath!”

“You must now accustom yourself to other ways,” he commented as he looked around. “On Rimilia you will never bathe without a guard on shore, and the guard may be any of my warriors. For what reason are these things here?”

He stood at my dressing table, fingering the pure white wood and the matching white furred chair. Then he lifted a bottle of scent, turned it this way and that, and finally moved his finger over the tiny photocell area. A thick mist of the scent sprang immediately out of the nozzle, spreading itself all over his chest. At the appalled look on his face, I lost all control and laughed uproariously.

“Those things are for trapping the unwary” I gasped, watching him trying to wipe the scent off. He was totally unsuccessful, of course, as the scent was designed to penetrate the skin immediately. He gave up trying with a sigh, and looked at me ruefully

“Truly have I forgotten that the unknown should be approached with caution. Now I, too, shall require a bath.”

“About time, I’d say” I commented under my breath, standing up to redial the tub. The dirty water was gone by the time I stepped out and fresh water had replaced it by the time I had my towel, so I waved a hand at it. “The tub is now yours, barbarian, but don’t complain about the fit. It was never designed for someone of your proportions.”

“I shall make do,” he said, stepping carefully into the water When it didn’t immediately dissolve him, he lowered himself to a sitting position, then glanced at me. “When a man relaxes in the camtah of his people,” he mused, “often his woman will dance for him. Do you now remove the covering and dance for me.”

His eyes moved to study me in that way he had, but that in itself wasn’t enough to make me lose control.

“Sorry but I don’t dance,” I told him, pulling the towel more closely about me. “Dancing tends to disturb the mental attitudes necessary for Mediating, so I must avoid it. I’m sure you understand.”

He continued to stare at me for a minute, then slowly nodded his shaggy blond head. “Perhaps it is the truth,” he decided. “You dance well when lying down, but have no control of your aman then. It is your aman which will be needed at the Great Meeting. Why have you not yet eaten? The bathing could have waited.”

“I always bathe when I arise.” I said, reflecting that bed with him was the only time I had no control of my aman. There was nothing wrong with my mental ability under other circumstances. “And I didn’t know I was to be allowed to eat. I thought perhaps you had decided I was too fat.”

“You’ve hardly enough flesh to lure a man’s hands.” He grinned, leaning back and making the water slosh onto the floor. “When you are not permitted to eat, you will be told so. Go you now and see to it quickly. The remainder of the writings of the Murdock McKenzie must also be seen to this day”

Being reminded about the reports annoyed me, but not as much as his automatic assumption of obedience. I shrugged a bit, as if resigned to my fate, then dropped the towel and went for my body lotion. I began spreading it slowly in long, sweeping curves, timing it so that I’d be through and gone before the barbarian could wash and dry himself. I’d teach him to order me around.

Suddenly there was a great splash of water, and I was seized from behind and thrown to the carpeting. The barbarian was on me at once, his dripping body in possession of mine before I could gasp out my shock. He took me hard, forcing his hands below me so that I jerked my soreness from him, only to be hammered at by him from above. He dictated my movement with his hands, meeting it at just the right moment with his hips, and through it all I barely knew what was happening. When he had used me well, he stood straight above me and looked down at my dazed and battered form.

“Do not offer temptation when you do not care to have the offer accepted,” he lectured, folding those massive arms. “The lesson will serve you well on Rimilia. Go you now for your sustenance, lest I decide to find other use for you.”

I sat up and pulled my towel to me, thoroughly wide-eyed by what had happened, but I must not have moved quickly enough for him as he took a step toward me and began reaching out a hand. I gasped and jumped to my feet, then fled to my kitchen, trailing my towel and the sound of his laughter. The laughter infuriated me, and I would have broken something if my kitchen had had anything that was breakable. A lesson had been taught, all right, but when would I be able to teach one to him?

I dialed my meal, then wrapped the towel about me while it was being delivered. I had no interest in Murdock McKenzie’s reports, but I knew I would read them anyway after I’d eaten. I was damp from the dripping wet barbarian, and also because of him needed another bath, but after I’d eaten, the reports would be seen to. I’d already had my orders.

I ate my food with very little appetite, cursing Murdock McKenzie all the while. If not for him, I would not be where I was subject to the whims of a giant. I’d not had such restrictions even as a child having been raised in a creche for the gifted. We’d had such freedom there that my mother and father had found visiting painful. When their visits had stopped I hadn’t even missed them, and I’d been surprised when they came to my formal appointment as XenoMediator. They’d shown pride and considerable shyness, but to me they’d been half-remembered strangers whom I’d avoided as soon as possible. They’d never tried seeing me again.

Annoyed with the turn my thoughts had taken, I began disposing of the dishes, but was interrupted by the signal of the call. I waved my hand in its direction, and was startled to see the features of Janverin Elliott.

“Terry!” she said at once. “I’m so glad I caught you in. How are you?”

“The question is, how are you?” I countered, studying her unmadeup but radiant face. “I saw Vera yesterday, and she seemed to think you were in a lot of difficulty”

“I know” Jan laughed, looking somehow both younger and older. Jan had always been a proud woman, almost larger than life, but there was nothing left of her former pride. “I spoke to her myself this morning. That’s how I knew you were back. I haven’t much time, so I’ll get straight to the point. Rod is letting me have a party tonight, and I’d like you to come. Will you, Terry?”

“Why you know I’d love to.” I temporized, shocked at the change in her, “but I have a house guest now, and . . . .”

“Please, Terry, you must come!” she begged, her face now pleading. “I want you to see my new happiness and understand it. And Rod said I was to get you here if you were back. Vera will be here, and you can bring your house guest. Please, Terry, say yes.”

“Jan, what’s happened to you?” I demanded, staring as she brushed anxiously at her loose, black hair. “People used to beg you for invitations, and you would laugh at them. What has Rod done to you?”

“He’s made me a fulfilled woman at last,” she said, her eyes gazing glowingly on some faraway promised land. “I’ve never been as happy as I am now, and I pray daily that he never tires of me.” Her gaze, still shining, came back to me again. “Will you come to the party, Terry? For the sake of old friendship?”

“All right, Jan,” I conceded, feeling more than just disturbed. “I’ll be there. But what have you . ..”

“Please forgive me,” she interrupted,” but I have other calls to make before Rod awakens from his nap. I’ll see you tonight, and perhaps I’ll be allowed to speak with you. I hope so. Clear.”

“Clear,” I repeated automatically to the already blank screen. I was shocked again to realize that Jan was no longer chatting for hours with each call she made. The changes in her were incredible, and I’d get to the bottom of it that night—whether Rod cared for the idea or not!

“You may serve me before going to the writings,” Tammad said from behind me. I was tired of having him sneak up on me, but I had other thoughts to occupy me.

“Barbarian, we’ve been invited out tonight.” I said as I dialed femmer stew for him. “Did you say Murdock McKenzie sent clothes for you?”

“He did.” He nodded, keeping serious eyes on me. “The woman who called upon friendship—was it she who asked for our presence?”

“She’s the one.” I agreed. “I’ve already told people that you’re a colleague of mine from Dremmler’s sector, so they won’t be expecting much from you. There’s also very little risk since her crowd includes only two XM’s—me and Len Phillips—and Len left the planet last night. If you feel you’d rather not take the chance, though, I can always go alone.”

“I shall accompany you,” he said, taking the plate I handed him. “The woman did not seem right, and you will not go alone.”

“Your concern is touching.” I told him with a snort. Are you going to protect me from a feral Jan Elliott?”

“Your amusement is misplaced,” he countered. “It is not the woman herself who bids caution, but the reason for her condition.” He started toward the wall with his plate, hesitated, then turned back to the table. He put the plate down, then gingerly lowered himself into the chair. The chair creaked under his weight, causing him to grab for the table edge, but it held together in spite of the threat and he was able to glance at me again.

“Do you need the switch to remind you of that which you must do?” he demanded testily “Get you gone!”

I swallowed a smirk, then turned and left the kitchen. Unless I was mistaken, he planned on trying to use a prong as well as a chair, and I was much better off not seeing that.

I took the opportunity to rinse off quickly in the tub before stretching out across the foot of my bed with the reports. The third one that I’d been unable to read the night before was nothing more than the explanation of Rimilian customs that Sandy had neglected. I glanced through it, sure that it held nothing I hadn’t already learned, then picked up the final report. It was a thick one, filled with geographical exactitudes, approximations of barbarian populations, definitions of Centran aims, and more nonsense of the same sort. I began at the obvious point, bored with the thing already, and made my way through it.

I read for hours, mostly under the watchful eye of Tammad. He had come into the bedroom and stretched out on my bed, but hadn’t said a word. He napped lightly for a while, opening his eyes each time I shifted my position, only to close them again immediately. Finally, he opened them and kept them open, reaching over to unwrap the towel from me so as to have what to look at. The action irritated me, but there was little I could do about it. I read the report, and ignored him completely

When I finally finished the last page, I sighed and stretched, looked at the time, then stood up. “We’d better eat now if we’re going to dress for the party” I said. “This is one party I have no intention of being late to.”

“Will there not be food at this party?” he asked, snatching at the towel I’d wrapped around me again. I jumped back out of his reach, and tucked the flap firmly in place.

“The place to eat is at home.” I lectured over my shoulder as I headed for the kitchen. “Parties are for socializing and nothing more. Don’t tell me you eat at parties on Rimilia because I already know it and am shocked no end.”

“We both eat and drink at gatherings on my home world,” he answered lazily following along behind me. “My brethren too would be shocked at such singular lack of hospitality. To invite a man to your roof and then fail to offer sustenance is a deadly insult.”

“We’re much more broad-minded on Central,” I said, dialing two portions of matider in cream sauce. A nice, chilled wine also seemed to be called for, so I ordered a bottle, then added, “Deadly insult is a refined art here, and a game most of us enjoy playing. If your planet is ever civilized, you’ll know what I mean.”

“Such does not mean civilization to me,” he muttered, lowering himself carefully into a chair. “Such are the ways of beings without a purpose in life.”

And I suppose you have a purpose?” I snapped, stung unreasonably by his backward, barbarian criticism.

“Indeed I do,” he answered, taking the plate I handed him and sniffing at it. “For the moment, my purpose is to learn what manner of dimral this might be. Do you serve me poison, woman?”

“Poison?” I repeated in deep indignation. “I’ll have you know, barbarian, that that dish is not kept in every home. Only those of the highest social position can even consider it, and ....”

“I shall be pleased to taste it after my host,” he interrupted flatly, gesturing toward my plate. I glared at him, then took a good-sized prongful without further comment. He watched me chew and swallow, then tasted his own. The taste did not please him, but he began eating anyway. I controlled my outrage, and poured two glasses of wine.

“I’m sure you’ll find this vintage much too bitter,” I said, lifting my glass without really looking at him. “Don’t bother if you aren’t in the mood.”

“It is discourteous to refuse the offerings of a host,” he muttered, taking the glass with a singular lack of enthusiasm. He sipped at it, his brows went up, then he drained the glass in a single gulp. “The drink has no body, but it pleases me,” he announced graciously “You should have offered this sooner.”

He took the entire bottle then, drinking half of it without using a glass. I rubbed my eyes for a moment, then turned my attention to my food. In future, I’d make a point of separate meals.

As soon as I finished eating, I went back to my bedroom, but my house guest was right behind me—with something to say.

“Do not dress as you did during the last sun,” he ordered in an offhand manner, going toward a pile of boxes that was nothing of mine. “Should there be men at this party, such a display would be most improper.”

I stopped where I was, and turned to stare at him in disbelief.

“You have more nerve than an aching tooth!” I said in outrage. “How many times have you stripped me naked in the last few days? How many times have you raped me? How many times have you...”

“That has no bearing,” he interrupted impatiently, waving it all aside with a single gesture. “Will you never learn that you are my belonging? Do as I bid you, and do not cover your face as it was covered. A woman’s beauty was not meant to be hidden beneath the paint of savages.”

“Savages!” I echoed weakly, realizing again that he was beyond belief. He, a barbarian, spoke to me, a woman of civilization, of savages! I closed my eyes in surrender, then continued on to my bathroom.

I set my makeup applicator for the barest minimum possible, then studied the results in the mirror. I’d asked for the barest minimum, and that’s what I’d gotten. I hadn’t even received cheekbone underlining.

Sighing deeply I settled myself under the hair styler. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised to have my hair parted in the middle and combed straight down, but I still felt upset. If I hadn’t been so eager to see Jan, I would have gone directly to bed.

Considering my mood, there was only one thing for me to wear. I hadn’t worn it since I’d Mediated a dispute on Garendar, but it was absolutely perfect for the occasion. It was a sheer, gauzy material of brilliant green, wrapping so many times around me that it covered me tightly from neck to ankles, winding one extra time around my shoulders and half my upper arms. Nothing could be seen of me but my face, and naturally I went barefoot. I examined myself in the mirror with a very deep sigh, then returned to the bedroom.

Tammad was there, but I almost didn’t recognize him. He wore a dark gold formal suit, one-piece and form-fitting, with a light blue ascot at his throat that matched his eyes. His feet were encased in short gold boots that gave him unnecessary extra height, and his blond hair had been combed. When he heard me he turned, and a small smile touched his lips.

“Collat indeed,” he murmured, coming close to stare down at me. “Should the men of your world prove to be other than darayse, I will have to fight for you this night. Gladly will I do so.”

“The men of my world don’t fight for women.” I said, ignoring the feeling that I sounded apologetic. “They offer themselves, and then wait for a woman to choose them.”

“More fools, they” He grinned, stepping back again. “We had best be on our way now, lest we find the need to redress. You tempt me sorely, and I am but a man.”

I didn’t have to be told that twice, and hurriedly led the way to my hangar. I opened the door of my speedster and tried to step up to the hatch, but found that it was impossible—the windings of the cloth were much too tight. I stood there, wondering what to do, and the problem was solved for me. Tammad picked me up without the least effort, then put me in through the hatch; I got to the controls as quickly as possible—he had put his face to my stomach before setting me back on my feet.

The safety harness of the second seat closed around Tammad, but only on the last notch, and at that, just barely. I got us airborne and set the course for Jan’s place, then put it on automatic. It was a twenty-five minute flight, and I didn’t care for the thought of accidents, but I needn’t have bothered. Tammad sat stiff and straight in the seat, his jaw set, no expression on his face. He was obviously afraid of flying, and that confused me. If he was that afraid, why had be come?

We eventually reached Jan’s house, where I landed among dozens of other speedsters and quadriwagons. It was barely past the earliest party time, but most of the other guests had already arrived. Obviously, I wasn’t the only one who was curious about the new Jan.

Tammad unstrapped with a great deal of relief, led the way out of the speedster, then lifted me down; I took over the lead to Jan’s front door and walked right in. The short hall into Jan’s party room was deserted, but the party room itself was beginning to be well filled.

Jan had decorated floor, walls and ceiling with dimmed pinpoint glows, giving the effect of jewels scattered about all over. She had resisted this year’s furniture choice, wisely staying with last year’s long, low, plain look. People stood or sat about, chatting around the soft music, but Jan was nowhere in sight. I caught a glimpse of someone coming toward me, and turned to see Vera. She wore a short, lilac party dress of plumed feathers, and nervously plucked at one of the feathers as she hurried over.

“Terry, I’m glad you came,” she whispered. “I wanted to refuse the invitation, but Jan begged me. You must have spoken with her this morning. What did you think?”

“I didn’t like it,” I admitted, looking at the crowd again. “Hasn’t she come down yet?”

“Not yet,” Vera said. “And that isn’t like her, either. Terry, you don’t think she’s—sick?”

“We’ll find out once we talk to her,” I said soothingly. “It isn’t smart jumping to any ...What’s the matter?”

Vera’s glance had gone past me, and she’d suddenly paled and gasped. I looked around to see what had frightened her, but couldn’t find a thing. I turned back, and she pointed a restrained finger behind me.

“Don’t you see him?” she demanded in a whisper. “I’ve never seen a man that big! He makes me nervous just standing there.”

It finally came through that she was talking about Tammad, so I smiled weakly, “As a matter of fact, Vera, he’s the house guest I was telling you about. Do let me introduce you.”

Vera had as little choice about going as I’d had about offering. We both turned reluctantly to Tammad, but I knew I was the more reluctant. I had no idea how he would acknowledge introductions.

“Vera, allow me to present Tammad sek L’lenda, my colleague from Dremmler’s sector. Tammad, this is my friend, Verasten Hardy”

“I am honored, Verasten Hardy,” Tammad said, his direct, blue eyes smiling at Vera. “Your presence makes the room glow more brightly”

“Why thank you!” Vera simpered, forgetting all about how frightened she’d been. “You’re going to be a wonderful new addition to Central. Terry, why have you been hiding him? He’s absolutely delightful.”

“I’m glad you think so.” I muttered, and then kept quiet. It was a miracle that Tammad had said the right thing. He might just as easily have ripped off her clothes and raped her. But then in all honesty I had to admit that that wouldn’t have been possible. Rimilian customs demanded courtesy from a man when dealing with a woman who wasn’t his. He was only free to rip and rape after the woman was given to him.

Strangely enough, the other women in the room began drifting over, keeping me busy for a while with introductions. Then the women had Tammad surrounded, and he was busy being courteous. He seemed to be enjoying himself so much that I walked away from the throng to sit down.

“Terry that wasn’t very fair of you,” Allynson Scoville scolded gently as he came up to me. “Bringing a man like that to a party almost guarantees that the other men will sit alone. Shame on you.”

“I’m a ba—a-d girl.” I answered unsympathetically “How have you been doing, Allyn?”

“Well enough.” He nodded amiably as he sat down near me. “I must compliment you on your outfit tonight, my dear. The stark simplicity of it is very stirring. Would you like to go to a real with me later on this week? I understand there are some good ones about these days.”

“I think I’ve had enough of reals for a while,” I answered, brushing at my hair. “Have you any idea about what’s been happening with Jan? She called me this morning and I almost didn’t know her.”

“I haven’t the faintest.” he said, shaking his head. “Rod called me with the invitation, and he seemed a bit strange, too. I imagine that’s why everyone is here so early—they want to hear about this magnificent revelation.”

“Well, they’d better get down here soon,” I muttered, looking back toward the party room’s entrance door. “I’ve never been to Jan’s private part of the house, but if they take much longer, that’s just where I’m going.”

“You’d better have patience, Terry,” Allyn cautioned, bringing my attention back to him. “This is not a situation we’ve ever come across before. We’ll all find out about it eventually, but right now the music is lovely. Would you care to dance?”

Allyn had always been a good dancer, and I almost accepted before remembering that Tammad was there, too. I enjoy dancing, and had no intentions of ruining that enjoyment by being forced to dance for a barbarian.

“Some other time, Allyn,” I answered, shaking my head. “I’m too upset right now”

He nodded in understanding and sat back, and we continued to chat for a while. A few of the other men came over, asking whom the stranger was, and I repeated my explanations. They nodded too and glanced over at the knot around Tammad, but made no move to join them.

A few more people showed up, two of the women going over to the others around Tammad. They’d urged Tammad into a chair out of respect for the cricks in their necks, and were taking turns trying to get his attention. Tammad himself had a slightly amused smile on his face, as if he were used to having women throw themselves at him. The whole thing irritated me, so I looked away and didn’t look back.

The soft music that had been playing since I’d arrived trailed off and then stopped altogether. No one noticed it at first, but when they did the buzz of conversation grew louder. Music was rarely interrupted at a party until the party was over.

Vera appeared next to me and started to say something, but she was interrupted by the arrival of our host and hostess. Rod came in first, dressed in a deep blue formal suit with wine red ascot, and he paused in the doorway with fists on hips to look around. He was a big man, broad shouldered and hefty, but as a man, Rodmil Holper had never appealed to me. His narrow, dark eyes rested briefly on Vera, shifted slightly to me, and a hint of amusement showed on his lips. He glanced around at his silent guests again, then laughed shortly.

“I’m glad to see you’re all here,” he said in a superior way “And so early, too. Well, you won’t regret it. Jan.”

At the flat-voiced summons, Janverin Elliott appeared, making me gasp along with everyone else. Jan was a big woman, taller and broader than either Vera or me, usually flaunting her size. She normally wore high heels, high-piled hair styles, wide, flowing outfits, matching them all with quick-tempered, sweeping gestures and moods. But the Janverin Elliott we all knew so well wasn’t there. Instead, we saw a woman with nothing left of her former pride. Her black hair hung loosely above the thin, short, cut-out garment that was her only clothing, and when Rod said her name she hurried to kneel before him, pressing her forehead to the floor. We were all speechless at this terrible servility, and Rod laughed again.

“As you can see, friends, Jan has learned what will please me. Let’s see how Jan feels about it.” He reached down and pulled Jan up by her hair, then slapped her face so hard that blood appeared in the corner of her mouth. “What do you say Jan? Do you want me to turn you loose?”

“No, Rod, please!” she begged, quivering with emotion, but seeming to be afraid to touch the man who held her so cruelly “Please keep me as your woman. I’ve never known such happiness as that which I’ve known as your woman. You’ve taught me what being a woman really means, and I’ll devote my life to you if you’ll let me.”

Rod let go of her hair and she slid down to grasp his ankles, kissing them and pressing her face on them. Vera was very quiet beside me, but I felt sick to my stomach.

“You see?” Rod asked the other men smugly “She knows when she’s well off. And the same can be accomplished with any woman if you just bother to try Watch.”

He looked toward the doorway and we all followed his gaze to see Guylor Sutton standing there. Guy wasn’t as big as Rod, but they both had the same narrow-eyed look and were close friends. Beside me, Vera began shivering.

Guy entered the room and stopped about five feet from Vera, his eyes angry as though he had been deeply insulted.

“Verasten Hardy your time has come,” he said in an ugly voice. “Place yourself before me in the correct manner.”

Vera shuddered, her eyes and fists closed tight, and I quickly put my arms around her.

“Guylor Sutton, you leave her alone!” I snapped. “I don’t know what sickness has gotten into all of you, but Vera wants no part of it. Leave her alone, I say!”

Guy’s lips tightened, but Rod kicked Jan away from him and came to stand near Guy

“Terrillian Reya,” Rod said, looking me over in a way I didn’t like. “You’re another one who needs to be taught how to be a woman. You’ll stay with us, and Jan will show you what to do to avoid the lash—or usually avoid it. Whipping you will be a pleasure.”

He was nearly drooling as he discussed his twisted expectations, and I had never been so repelled by anything or anyone.

“You are sick.” I told him coldly holding Vera even more tightly “What’s the matter, Rod, can’t you cope with a woman who isn’t a slave? Can’t you face her if she isn’t groveling at your feet? Can’t you realize your masculinity without a whip in your hand? Treating Jan like that doesn’t make you a man, Rod! It makes you a self-professed coward!”

Rod’s face had twitched at everything I’d said to him, but the last word was more than he could stand. He snarled wordlessly and came forward to hit me the way he’d hit Jan. I put my arm up to ward off the blow, but it never reached me. Tammad was suddenly there between us, and he lifted Rodmil Holper by the front of his suit. He lifted the man clear off the floor and threw him, easily and without effort, into the wall ten feet away Rod struck the wall with a thud, slid down to the floor, then looked up at Tammad with a dazed but fear-filled stare.

“She is correct,” Tammad told Rod calmly, staring down at him without expression, but with a definite tinge of disgust to his voice. “Only darayse cause pain to women without reason. The woman learned nothing through the pain you gave her, and no true man could be tempted by a slave such as her. To raise your hands in such a manner to another man may gain you the name of warrior; to raise your hands in such a manner to a woman gains naught but shame. It is time to depart.”

The other people in the room shook themselves, as if coming out of a daze. They began filing past Rod, who was still on the floor with Jan crying in a heap near him, and none of them said anything or looked at the couple on the floor. When I began urging Vera out of the room, Guy tried to get in our way, but Tammad just brushed him aside so that we could leave.

Once outside, I tried to talk Vera into coming home with me, but the night air seemed to have braced her. She straightened up, brushed at her hair, and smiled weakly

“Thanks anyway Terry,” she said and patted my shoulder. “You’ve done enough, and believe me, it helped. I’m not afraid of Guy any longer, because now I know that he can’t do that to me unless I let him. And I’m not going to let him! I’m going to stay with some friends for a while, and if Guylor Sutton shows up, I’ll call the peacemen.”

She ended with an emphatic nod of her head, marched to her speedster, climbed in, and flew away I watched until she’d disappeared into the distance, then looked back at Jan’s house. “You cannot aid the other,” Tammad said quietly, almost reading my thoughts. “She wishes to remain as she is, and will not allow you to help.”

“But why?” I asked him, really needing an explanation. “Why should she want to live like that?”

“She does not care to direct her own destiny’ he said, looking down at me and brushing the hair from my cheek. “She will accept the abuse of the non-man because she believes him to be stronger than she. If he were truly stronger, he would force her to do the right, not the pleasurable. Let us return home.”

I looked away from him, back toward the house again, feeling very reluctant to leave Jan like that. She had been a friend of sorts for a long time, but the choice was taken from me. Tammad lifted me in his arms, carried me to my speedster, and thrust me into the hatch.

“You can do nothing further, so let us be gone;” he directed, slapping my bottom to move me out of the way “I would be beyond the necessity for flying through the air as quickly as possible.”

“I’m calling the peacemen as soon as I get home,” I decided as we both strapped in. If they detain Rod, Jan will have a chance to...”

“You shall not,” he said, giving me a disapproving look. The woman has chosen her lot in life, and cannot be taken from it save through her own will. If she does not feel death preferable to slavery-slavery is the proper place for her.”

“You’d never say that if you were the slave!” I snapped. “Wouldn’t you want someone to come and help you?”

“One cannot free a slave.” he answered, still patient, but just barely. “Likewise, one cannot enslave a free man. The former may be unshackled, but will soon seek a new master to serve; the latter may be weighted down with chains, but can never be made to bend the knee. Think upon that, woman, as you take us home.”

I started the speedster and got us airborne, but I still didn’t care for what he’d said. Jan was no natural born slave; all she needed was a little help. The peacemen would help her, and she would be fine again.

By the time I rolled into my hangar, I’d long since made up my mind. A call to the peacemen would harm nothing, and Jan would one day be grateful. I followed Tammad to the speedster hatch, but instead of lifting me down, he took me by the waist, put me over his shoulder, and proceeded to carry me into the house.

“What are you doing?” I demanded of him. “Put me down immediately!”

“I shall not,” he answered without even slowing. “I see by your face that you are determined to court a further switching. I shall save you from it by occupying your time with other things.”

“Barbarian!” I screamed. “Let me go!” But he didn’t. He carried me to my bedroom, stripped the wrappings from me, and showed me what other things he meant. By the time he was through with me, I hadn’t the strength left to walk to the call.