The fifth and final phase, of the dance, is far more dramatic and exciting. In this phase the girl, overcome by sexual desire and terrifed that she may not be found sufficiently pleasing, clearly manifests, and utterly, that she is a slave female. In this portion of the dance the girl is seldom on her feet. Rather, sitting, rolling and changing position, on her side, her back, her belly, half-kneeling, half sitting, kneeling, crawling, reaching out, bending backwards, lying down, twisting with passion, gesturing to her body, presenting it to masters for their inspection and interest, whimpering, moaning, crying out, brazenly presenting herself as a slave, pleading for her rape, she writehes, a piteous, begging, vulnerable, ready slave, a woman fit for and begging for the touch of a master, a womean begging to become at the least touch of her master, a totally submitted slave. The fourth phase of the dance, as I have mentioned, is sometimes known as the Heat of the Collared She-Sleen. This portion of the dance, the fifth portion, is sometimes known as the Heat of the Slave Girl.
"I had expected the topaz to be delivered earlier," said Policrates. "I had sent word to Ragnar Voskjard more than fifty days ago."
"There were many deliberations in the holding of Ragnar," I said. "Junctions of hthis kind are not to be entered upon lightly. Too, I was detained in Victoria. There are many guardsmen in Victoria, both of Port Cos and Ar's Station, who seach for the bearer of the topaz."I would feel better," said Kliomenes,"if I could see your face."The mask I wear," I said, "must be to conceal my identyl"
"It is common, Kliomenes," said Policrates, "for the courier, he carrying the topaz, to cover his features in foreign holdings. The concealment of his identity is essential to his work."
"For all you know," I said to Kliomenes," I might be Ragnar Voskjard himself." Kliomenes shrank back."But you are not," said Policrates, "For Ragnark a shrewd fellow, would not venture upon such dangerous work as the personal transport of the topaz."
"I think that is true," I grinned. "At any rate it is certainly true at lesat that I am not Ragnar Voskjard." "There is something about you which seems familiar," said Kliomenes. "Have I ever seen you before?" asked Kliomenes. "Perhaps," I said.
"You see, Kliomenes," said Policrates, "our friend may be well known upon the river. If so, it is scarcely in Ragnar Voskjard's interest, or in ours, or in the interest of our friend here, to be recognized as the courier of the topaz. If he is highly placed in some town on the river then his utility to Voskjard and to use would be considerably diminished if it were understood such a highly placed person was secretly in league with men such as ourselves and Voskjard."
"True," said Kliomenes. "And I think that we may be certain," said Policrates, "that our friend is indeed well known in at least one town on the river."
"That is true," I admitted. Indeed, I was reasonably well known in Victoria.
The music ended with a swirl of sound and the girl with a jangle of bells, lay before the table of Policrates, whimpering, her hand extended. She lifted her head. I read the unmistakable need in her eyes. She was indeed a slave female.
"Master!" she whimpered. "Please Master!" Policrates glanced at her. "Throw me to your men, please Master," she begged.
Policrates gestured to a brawny fellow who, coming up behind the girl bent down and by her upper arms, lifted her from the floor. She was helpless in his arms. Only her toes, well painted, scarlet nails, touched the floor. Policrates gestured gain to a table to the side, and the fellow, carrying the girl went to the table. He then threw her with a jangle of bells and a clatter of places and goblets to the surface of the table. Instantly the girl was held down on the table, on her back, her arms and legs held apart, and several men crowded about her. I heard her cry with pleasure.
"I know who you remind me of," said Kliomenes. "Who?" I asked. "A brawler and dock worker of Victoria," he said, "one called Jason." I smiled. "There is a resemblance," said Policrates. "Jason of Victoria," said Kliomenes, "did not know the sword." "Then how could I be he?" I asked.
"Draw!" cried Kliomenes, leaping across the table and whipping out his blade. I looked, unconcernedly, at Policrates. "My identity is surely established sufficiently by my former possession of the topaz," I said. "Surely too, none who were not of the party of Ragnar Voskjard, should they come into the possession of the topaz would dare to bring it here. What could be the point?"
"These things seem to me true," said Policrates, "but as Kliomenes has said, there seems a resemblance." "Surely I am not to be blamed for that?" I smiled. "Will it hurt to make a test of the matter?" inquired Policrates. I grinned, "No," I said. "But on the other hand, it is well known upon the river that Kliomenes is an excellent swordsman, surely I should be forgiven if I did not find myself eager to be spitted upon his blade. "Draw!", said Policrates.
I threw the cloak behind me and drew forth the blade which was slung at my hip.
With one foot I moved aside the low table watching Kliomenes, that he not attack me as I step upon the table, maintaining an uneven balance.Kliomenes, I saw noted this.Then there was silence in the hall. The pirates, feasting at the low tables, stopped eating and watched. The girls too with their vessels and trays, serving, many of them nude, save for their collars and bangles, stood or knelt quietly, not moving, watching. The torches could then be heard, crackling at the walls.
Kliomenes thrust suddenly at me and I parried the blow, smartly. I did not attempt to strike him. He thrust then thrice again and each time I turned aside the steel.
Men murmured at the tables. He had been too easily thwarted. Suddenly angrily, Kliomenes attacked. For three or four Ehn he struck and slashed at me. Then, sweating, he lowered his blade angrily. I had of intetne particularly in the last two Ehn parried heavily. Strength as well as skill is signifgicant in swordplay, something which is insufficiently understood by many unfamiliar with weaponry. It is particularly telling if the action is prolonged. Whereas one may turn aside steel deftly one may alsok if one chooses, turn it aside with power, which necessitates an additional exertion on the part of the antagonist to return his steel to the ready position. He must, in order to protect himself, under such conditions, bring his blade back through a greater arc, and with additional speed and pressure. Similarly, as may be understood in terms of a simple simile, if one is holding an implement and it is struck with greater force it will be more difficult and tiring to return it to its original position than ifif has not been struck heavily and has not been moved significantly. Sometimes, throuth I had tried not to make this obvious, I had, in effect beaten his blade to the side, rather than merely turned it away.
"Obviously this man cannot be Jason of Victoria," smiled Policrates. Kliomenes angrily thrust his steel into its sheath. I dropped my blade, too, into my sheath. I had not attempted to respond to him, truly, but had only defended myself. Since I has limited myself only to defense, and had not risked the exposures of attack, I had been in little danger, at least for a time.
It is difficult of course to strke a swordsman who is both competent and careful. It is dangerous of course over a period of time to rely solely on defense. For one thing the antagonist, embolded, may press ore and more dangerous sttacks, far more difficult to avert than if he were subject to the necessity of protecting himself. Secondly, of coures, one's defense might falter or become imperfect, particularly over time. Obviously the consequences of even a moment's inadvertence in the dialogue of blades could be irremediable. One who limites oneself solely to defense, and is unwilling to attack, obviously can never win. Too, sooner or later, it seems, he must be doomed to lose. There is no wall so strong that it will not one day crumble.