Read Online Captive of Gor by John Norman - Free Book Online Page B

shoulders, was afire. I could not take my eyes from the straps.
    The two men released my wrists.
    “Kajira,” said Targo.
    He lifted the straps.
    I shook. I thrust my head to the grass at his feet.
    I took his sandal in my hands and pressed my lips down on his foot, kissing it.
    I heard laughter from the girls.
    He must not have me beaten again!
    I must please him.
    I kissed his foot again, trembling, sobbing. He must be pleased with me, he must
    be pleased with me!
    I sobbed, raising my head and looking after him.
    I was seized from behind by the two men who had held my wrists. I watched
    Targo’s retreating back. I did not dare call out to him. he was no longer
    interested in me. The two men dragged me to the wagon tongue.
    There were ten girls on one side, nine on the other.
    I saw the girl who had beaten me, Lana, some position ahead of me. I noted,
    suddenly, that she was harnessed. There were buckled straps on her wrists,
    fastening her in (pg. 55) place. And about her body, in a broad loop, passing
    over her left shoulder and across her right hip, was a wide, heavy leather
    strap, which was bolted into the wagon tongue. The other girls were similarly
    fastened. Buckled straps were placed on her wrists, fastening her in place. And
    about her body, in a broad loop, passing over her left shoulder and across her
    right hip, was a wide, heavy leather strap, which was bolted into the wagon
    tongue. The other girls were similarly fastened. Buckled straps were placed on
    my wrists. Over my shoulder, about my body, was passed a heavy loop of leather.
    I sobbed. I seemed scarcely able to stand. My legs trembled. The entire back of
    my body stung terribly. I tasted my tears.
    The man began to adjust the strap on my body.
    Near me, across from me, a short girl, with dark hair, very red lips, and bright
    dark eyes, smiled at me.
    “Ute,” repeated the short, dark-haired girl, pointing to herself. Then she again
    pointed at me. “La?” she asked.
    I saw that the girls harnessed at the wagon tongue wore, on their left thighs,
    the same make that I wore on mine.
    I jerked at the straps on my wrists. I was secured.
    “Ute,” repeated the short, dark-haired girl, pointing at herself. Then she again
    pointed at me. “La?” she inquired.
    The man cinched the strap on my body. It was snug. Then he stepped away from me.
    I was harnessed.
    “La?” persisted the dark-haired girl, pointing at me with her strapped hand.
    “La?”
    “Elinor,” I whispered.
    “EL-in-or,” she repeated, smiling. Then, facing the other girls, she pointed at
    me. “El-in-or,” she said, pleased. She seemed delighted.
    For some reason, I was utterly grateful, that this short, lovely girl should be
    pleased by my name.
    Most of the other girls merely turned, and regarded me, not much interested. The
    girl, Lana, who had beaten me, did not even turn. Her head was in the air.
    Another girl, a tall, blondish girl, some two positions ahead of me and on my
    left, smiled, “Inge,” she said, indicating herself.
    I smiled.
    Targo was now crying out orders. He was looking about, apprehensively.
    One of his men shouted.
    (pg. 56) The girls leaned forward into the traces, pulling at the wagon.
    Two of his men thrust at the rear wheels.
    The wagon began to move.
    I leaned against the leather strap, pretending to pull. They did not need me to
    pull the wagon. They had pulled it before. I dug my feet into the grass, as
    though straining. I grunted a little, to add to the effect.
    Ute, at my right, cast a glance, an unpleasant one. Her little body was
    straining at the strap.
    I did not care.
    I cried out with pain, and humiliation, as the switch struck my body.
    Ute laughed.
    I threw all my weight against the strap, sobbing, pushing with all my might.
    The wagon was moving now.
    In a minute or so I saw the girl Lana switched, as I had been, below the small
    of the back. She cried out with humiliation and pain, left with a stinging red
    stripe. The other girls,