"We will need money," she said. I said nothing. "You may call me Beverly," she said. "What about Veminia?" I asked.The veminium is a small lovely Gorean flower, softly petaled and blue. "That is a slave name," she said. "That is what I was called in the house of Oneander of Ar."

"Most Goreans," I said, "would regard 'Beverly' as a slave name."What of 'Jason'?" she asked angrily. "I am sorry to disappoint you," I said, "but that is a not uncommon name on Gor, particularly as I understand it, west on the river, and on the islands of Cos and Tyros."

"Oh," she said. "Unlike Beverly," I said. "I see," she said acidly. "Beverly," I added. "The name Beverly may be worn as a free name, as well as a slave name," she said. "I sahll wear it as a free name." "Very well," I said.

"We shall have to make careful arrangments to gover our shring common lodgings," she said. "Of course," I said "I shall bathe first," she said. "There is asmall copper tub," I said. "And each of us shall do his share of the cooking, the cleaning, and the housework," she said. "Each wil have full responsiblity for his own portions of these labors." "I am to work the day," I said, "and the, do half the work of the room or lodgings?" "Do not expect me to perform menial labors for you," she said.

"I am a free woman. I shall take care o fmy things. And you shall take care of yours." "I see," I said. "I trust your room is not in this dismal structure," she said, looking up at a swinging lantern hanging over and inn's threshold. "Yes," I said. "We shall have to do better than this," she said. I looked down at her. I considered tearing the sheet from her. I wondered what she would look like with a bell and coin box on her neck. Then I reminded myself that she was a free woman, and that she was from the planet Earth, my old planet. She was not a Gorean girl, but something nobler and finer, an Earth woman.

"You did not even pay a full silver tarsk for me," she said looking up at me angrily. "there were girls who were sold for as much as two or three silver tarsks." "They were very beautiful woman," I said, "and some were of high caste., two were exquisitely trained pleasure slaves." "Surely I was worth more than any of them," she said petulently. "Are you angry?" I asked. "Yes," she said, "I am worth much more than 98 copper tarks. "I am not ussre you are worth 98 copper tarks," I said. She cried out with anger.

"If youhad been worth a silver tarsk in a Gorean market," I told her, "you would have brought a silver tarsk in a Gorean market." "You are hateful!" she said. "You are not a silver-arsk girl," I told her. "Hateful!" she said. "I do not think you are worth two copper tarsks," I said. "Beast!" she said, "Beast!" Remember," I told her, "you have no Home Stne." "What are you telling me," she asked, "that I keep a civil tongue in my head?" "It would not hurt," I told her. "Oh yes!" she said, "I know! I have no Home Stone! You might just tear the sheet from me.

"You might just throw me down in the threshold on the stones under the lantern and rape me and re-enslave me!" I could," I said angrily. "You would not dare," she said. "Do not tempt me," I said in fury. "You are too weak to treat me as a woman and a slave!" she said.

I seized her by the upper arms under the sheet, and shook her violently. "Oh," she cired, "please, Master be gentle!" "The word 'Master' comes easily from your lips," I said.

Quickly she pulled the sheet back about her. She looked down. "Forgive me," I said. "I'm sorry. I behaved like a cad." "Am I in danger, Jason?" she asked. "No," I said, "of course not." She looked up. "I am a woman of Earth," she said, "not a Gorean girl." "I am well aware of that," I said. "I am really very sorry."

"I know that you will not treat me with power and strength," she said. "Forgive me," I said. "I had become angry."

"You are a man of Earth," she said, "and are decent and kind. You are tender and gentle. You are accomodating and wish to be pleasing. Remeber that women have nothing to fear from men such as you. Keep that clearly in mind."

"Forgive me," I said. "I am very sorry." "In the future," she said, "keep your hands off of me.»

"I'm sorry," I said. "I am a person," she said. "Of course," I said, "I'm sorry."I am not a I'm sorry," "I am not a pleasure toy," she said. "I'm sorry," I said. "I'm sorry." How greviously I had insulted Miss Henderson.

"Tonight," she said, "when I was being displayed before Gorean buyers, did you see me move in certain ways and cry out in certain ways?" "Yes," I admitted.

"Put such things from your mind," she said. "The auctioneer, the beast, caught me off guard. His action took me by surpise. He did not permit me to be myself. I am stronger than that, as you will learn. It was like another girl, a slave girl who moved like that, and cried out like that.

Have no fear. The delicious pleasures which may have been suggested by her movements or cries will not be yours." "I see," I said. "I am not a licking and kissing pleasure girl, one who can scarcely control herself and fears the whip." "I see," I said.

"I shall endeavor to see that I am fully worthy of your respect and of my own respect as a free woman,"I understand," I said. "Let us go inside now," she said. "The room must be properly partitioned." "Are you not grateful that I rescued you from bondage." I asked. "I am extremely grateful," she said. "You have no idea how wonderful it is to be free. It is just what every woman wants." "You have not much expressed your gratitude," I said. "And how do you, a man, suggest that I express it?" sah asked acidly. I looked down reddening.

"I am not a slave Jason," she said. "I am a free woman." "I understand," I said. "Is that why you bought me," she asked, "that I a weak silly woman, overhelmed with gratitude would grant you my favors!"

I did not raise my head. "Favors which you were too weak to obtaqin in any other way?" she asked. "I'm sorry," I said."But do not think that I am not grateful" she said. "I shall teach you how to be a true man, solicitous and tender, and that sort of thing. "I see," I said. "Do not touch me!" she said.

I drew back. "Permit me to kiss you," I said. She was so beautiful. "No," she said, "I am not a pleasure object." "I'm sorry," I said. Again I had insulted Miss Henderson. It seemed I could do nothing right with her. "But I am grateful," she said. "You may give ma a small kiss, a quick kiss."

I touched her cheek with my lips, kissing her. "It is enought!" she said. My hands had tightened on her arms under the sheet. "You are very strong Jason," she said. I had lifted her to her toes and holding her, pressed her back against the door to the inn. She looked at me frightened. I saw her lovely cherry lips, the amll fine white teeth behind them. I consideered administering to her the kiss of the master to the female slave. "No!" she said.

I held her, my own hands trembling, power in my body. "I am a woman of Earth," she said. "You are a man of Earth!" I held her.

"Do not rape me, Jason," she said. "I'm sorry," i said. I put her down. "Beg my forgiveness!" she said. "I'm sorry," I said. "I'm sorry!"

"Never look at me again like that, with such lust and power," she said. "I am a woman of Earth!" Forgive me," I said."I see it wil not be easy to teach you to be a true man," she said. I shurgged angrily. "But I think you will learn Jason," she said, "you are a man of Earth."Perhaps," I said.

"We must now go inside," she said. "The room must be properly partitions." "Please let me kiss you," I said. "It has been a trying day for me," she said. "I am weary. Surely you must understand." "Please," I said. "After what happened a moment ago," she said, "I do not think I will permit you to kiss me again for a very long time, if ever."

"Perhaps you will permit me to kiss you from time to time," I suggesed, "just o keep me performing peoperly." "Perhaps," she said angrily. "We shall see."