Smugglers of Gor

Chapter Thirty-Six



“How many are there?” I had asked.

“Not many,” said Axel. “I would guess six or seven altogether.”

“At least one is a slave,” I said.

“Most likely more,” said Axel. “Panther Women, who tend to be large and fierce for women, often hold smaller, weaker women as slaves.”

“Feminine women?” I said.

“Yes,” he said, “they despise feminine women, and enjoy holding them as slaves.”

“How many would be armed then?” I asked.

“Four or five,” he said.

“I trust we would make a determination on this matter before doing anything precipitate,” I said.

“Certainly,” he said. “While you seize one Panther Girl, binding her helplessly, another might drive her javelin into the back of your neck.”

“It seems they touch weapons,” I said.

“Certainly,” he said, “until they are collared, and then it might mean their death to touch one, even inadvertently.”

“Are there men with them?” I asked.

“It seems unlikely,” he said, “for Panther Girls seldom league themselves with men, for before men their bravado fades, its fraudulence becomes transparent. They no longer find themselves dominant, but find themselves before the truly dominant, and then must fight their blood, as other women who long for the raptures of submission, the fulfillments of being owned and mastered.”

“Still,” I said, “might there not be men in the party, if only temporarily?”

“I think not,” he said, “the size and depth of the prints do not suggest that.”

“Some of the prints are those of small, bared feet,” I said.

“Three are with bared feet,” he said, “and they are probably slaves. Still, one cannot be sure. Sometimes Panther Girls trod the forest barefoot. Too, a ruse might be in play, to suggest fewer Panther Girls than are actually with the party.”

“But no men,” I said.

“I think not,” he said, “but we shall soon know.”

“How soon?” I asked.

“Quite soon,” he said.

It was late in the afternoon. There were many shadows. It was hard to see the tracks. It would soon be night.

Axel held Tiomines back. “No, fellow,” he said.

“You pause,” I said.

“We will camp here,” said Axel. “It is growing dark. The forest is dangerous.”

“Panthers might lurk,” I said.

“And knives, and javelins,” he said.

“I see,” I said.

“It would be most unwise to come upon our friends inadvertently, suddenly,” he said.

“You seem to think they are quite close,” I said.

“Yes,” he said, “can you not smell it?”

“What?” I said.

“A campfire,” he said.