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 Slave PositionsOne can be punished terribly for breaking position without permission. Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 61 I cannot have a page entitled Slave Positions without first addressing, and refuting, some widespread misconceptions. When the topic of slave positions is discussed, I think of positions that a slave might be commanded to assume. Defined positions, spoken of in the Books, like Nadu, Bara, Sula and Lesha. But what about this quote: Could you logically say that "Be Held Upright" is a legitimate position? No, of course not. That would just be silly. A slave cannot hold herself upright by holding her own hair. On the other hand, perhaps I make up a slave position. In other words . . . place your hands here and your legs there. Lower your head, raise your head, whatever the case might be . . . I'll call this position "Obeisance to Fogaban". Now, when I command you to "Obeisance to Fogaban", you will position your body in the manner I have described. Yes, I have the right to train a slave to do this and call it whatever pleases me. What I don't have a right to do, is then list 'Obeisance to Fogaban' among other slave positions from the Books. Two points I make here: 1. A commanded slave position is some pose which the slave can assume on their own. 2. The commanded slave position must be Book authentic to be listed under the topic. Which now brings us to some of the so called positions you've probably heard of. Quite likely, the two most commonly misunderstood 'positions' are Karta and the Gorean Bow. Gorean Bow We'll first reason on this 'position' referred to as the Gorean Bow. To begin with, the two words Gorean and Bow never appear together, anywhere within the scrolls. But, ok, I agree, that alone is not enough to disqualify it. Well, what supporting evidence do some use? Across multiple websites, this is the book text used to justify the Bow as a legitimate slave position. her head then touched the furs, her body a cruel, helpless bow. But now, read this sentence in context. Well, what do you know . . . seems her dance partner was supporting the small of her back. The dancer was not commanded to assume the 'bow'. She did now 'bow' on her own. Here is another quote used as proof of the Gorean Bow: Sure enough, this position of the body is specifically called the Gorean love bow. But did the girl tie her own wrists and ankles? No. Did Tarl command the girl to assume the position of the Bow? Not hardly. Here are the first three cases where a girl's beauty is displayed by bending her backwards in a bow. But notice, every time, she was placed in this position by someone else putting her there. (All other references to being displayed in a bow are listed at the bottom - Here) Now, in Book 30, Mariners of Gor, we have this one sentence: Is this finally the proof needed to support this position? No, I still maintain this sentence in Book 30 does not legitimize the Bow as a position for the same reasons. Notice the sentence reads "placed in the slave bow". It does not say 'Others were commanded to assume the slave bow.' So, just as the three quotes cited above, my reasoning is still that this is not now proof of a legitimate position. So, in none of these cases was the slave commanded into the position of a bow. In fact, this 'position' is so ridiculous that at least one site, which yet places it under the topic of Slave Positions, actually adds words to the effect of "this is not shown in the books but is still accepted." No, it should not be accepted because the Gorean Bow is not a Book legitimate slave position. Karta Another online-isim 'position' is Karta. The word Karta does not appear in the Books at all. It is entirely made up and make believe. Supposedly, Karta is a "position of extreme obeisance and requests by slaves may be made from this position." In fact, Karta has become so popular that there is now an alternative to Karta called Suga. If either one of these had, by any stretch of the imagination, a legitimate place among other slave positions, then why do some sites which list it, add "not found in the novels but accepted on this port"? Perhaps some feel compelled to add Karta, Suga and the Bow to their websites in an attempt to be thorough. Perhaps they feel they are helping by showing all the variations possible. In reality this does much more harm because it adds to the glut of misinformation. Perpetuating these misconceptions only leads others to believe them to be authentic. Now, as much fun as I would have taking them, I have not included pictures of naked girls depicting the various positions from the Books. Many other sites do this rather well and, if you ignore the misrepresentations I outlined above, these other sites will provide you with pictures. Instead I show you what the Books really do say on the topic of slave positions. I wish you well, Fogaban Click a heading to jump down to that topic. Positions All Fours Anklet Bara Blindfolded by the Master's Will Bonds of the Master's Will Bracelets Brand Display Capture Position Collar Position Common Position for Disciplinary Slave Rape Common Position of Obeisance Discipline of the She-Tarsk Examination Position First Obeisance Position Forty-Third Position of Joy Gagged by Her Master's Will Heel High-Harness Position Injection Position Inspection Position Kneeling Position Kneeling to the Whip Leading Position Lesha Lie Down Lips To Boots Modality of the Mute Slave Modality of the She-Sleen Modality of the She-Tarsk Nadu Nestle Obeisance Position Position of the Pleasure Slave Position of the Slave Dance Primary Slave Position Rape, Slave Second Obeisance Position Slave Rape Slave-lips Sleep Stake Standard Binding Position Stay Submission Sula Thigh Tile Tower Whip Position
A slave is sometimes put to all fours, that she may move thusly, accompanying masters. In this posture she cannot suddenly run, or dart away. In the situation described the posture was doubtless imposed as a security measure, on an unknown slave, mysteriously arrived from the darkness. In other situations the posture may be imposed upon her as a discipline, to position her for animal usage, to remind her that she is a slave, and so on. "To all fours," he said to her. "Yes, Master," she said. This position can be igniting to a female slave, being so positioned by a master. At the least, they are well reminded, so positioned beside a man, that they are slaves. "We will open the door of the cell," said the spokesman. "The trough contains water. You will emerge from the cell on all fours, and, on all fours, slake your thirst at the trough. He tossed a sandal to the floor, some feet to my right. "Go to it, on all fours, kiss it, and bring it to me, on all fours, in your teeth," he said. I heard a cry of anguish, and, to my right, a cage was opened. Its occupant, on all fours, was ordered forth, and, bending down, the dealer fastened a leash about her neck, following which he led her, she on all fours, to a space on the wharf, amongst the cages. I heard the key inserted into my cage lock. I looked up, frightened. The dealer thrust back the gate. "Out," he said. "On all fours, head down." "Go to all fours," he said. "Fetch the leash, and bring it to me, in your mouth." "Yes, Master," I said. "Emerge," said my master, opening the gate, "and remain on all fours, head down." "To all fours," he said. I went to all fours. He rose, went to the side of the room, removed the whip from its peg, and cast it to the floor, a few feet away. "Go to the whip," he said, "on all fours, put your head down, lick and kiss it, and then lift it in your teeth, and bring it to me, on all fours." "Is this the way you want a woman before you, naked and collared, on all fours?" "Or on your knees," I said, "or belly or back." She approached me, head down, on all fours and then lowered her head to kiss my feet, and then lowered herself to her belly before me, and with her soft lips, tenderly, deferentially, continued to render me a slave's grateful, homage. I retrieved the candy from my wallet and, bent down, held it in the palm of my hand. Not using her hands, the slave, on all fours, head down, delicately took it from the palm of my hand. And would she not look well crawling to me, on all fours, as the beast she is, the whip in her teeth, to be lifted to me, then waiting to see if it would be used upon her? "Go to all fours," I said, "and crawl here, before me, and turn so that your left side faces the chair, and lower your head." I cast the whip across the room, and it slid several feet on the floor. "Fetch it," I said, "on all fours, and do not touch it with your hands. Pick it up with your teeth, and bring it before me so. Then lift it to me in your teeth, and, on all fours, like the worthless beast you are, whimper that you may be permitted to express yourself." "You are not to touch the bowls with your hands," I said. "A sleen does not do so, so why should you?" I said. "And my training continues," she said. "Of course," I said. "You may feed." I watched her, she on all fours, her head down.
"Anklet!" he snapped. Instantly she turned about, sinuously, and, half lying, half kneeling, extended her left leg, gracefully, toward the older woman, her knee slightly bent, her toes pointed, extending the line of her well-curved calf.
"Bara, Kajira!" he said. She rolled quickly to her stomach, placing her wrists behind her, crossed, and crossing her ankles, ready to be bound. "Bara," said Mincon to Tula. "Bara," said I to Feiqa. Both slaves went immediately to their bellies, their heads to the left, their wrists crossed behind their backs, their ankles also crossed. It is a common binding position. "Bara!" he snapped. I flung myself to my belly in the grass, putting my hands behind me, wrists crossed, and crossing my ankles, too. "Bara!" he said. She instantly responded to his command, as she had been trained to do. She was now on her belly, her wrists crossed behind her, her ankles, too, crossed. "Bara," he said. She went to her stomach and crossed her wrists behind her back, and crossed her ankles. Hitherto she had been lying on her belly in the straw, her head turned to the side, in bara, her wrists crossed behind her, with her ankles crossed, as well. It is a common holding, and helplessness, position for a slave. In it, of course, she is positioned perfectly for a swift and secure binding. When the merchandise had been secured, each item had been placed in the bara position, though they did not know the name for the position as yet, each on her stomach, head facing to the left, her wrists crossed behind her and her ankles crossed, as well. "Bara!" she snapped. Instantly we turned about in the neck rope, with its three knotted double loops, and went to our stomachs, our heads to the left, our wrists crossed behind us, and our ankles, as well. It is not advisable to hesitate in responding to a command. The bara position was, I suppose the first slave position in which I had been placed. Of course I did not at that time understand it, or know its name. One is quite helpless in the bara position. One is on one's stomach and one's hands are behind one, so one cannot use them to rise, and one's body is extended, with one's ankles crossed. One cannot easily rise from that position. Too, psychologically, one feels oneself submitted, and at the mercy of others. "Lie here, to my side," he said, "the bara position will do." I lay then beside him, prone, my hip to his left knee, my head forward, away from him as he sat, cross-legged, perusing a scroll. My ankles were crossed, and my wrists, too, were crossed, and held behind my back. In such a position one may be conveniently bound. My head was turned to the side, that my right cheek might be on the carpet. "Bara," said Tullius Quintus. I went to bara. I was then bound, hand and foot, my wrists crossed and bound behind me, and my ankles crossed and bound, as well. This may be conveniently done, as earlier noted, when one is in bara. "Bara!" he said, sharply. Instantly, not even thinking, reflexively, I went to bara. I felt my ankles crossed and tied together. I could not then rise. I was in consternation. My wrists were crossed, and bound together, behind my back. The examination position, like bara, nadu, sula, and such, tends to arouse a slave. In a sense, the slave is helpless in such positions. Significance is woven into the fiber of such things. Meaning and symbolism reign. There are several Gorean slave positions, of which bara was one. I had, of course, been trained in these positions, which must be assumed instantly and unquestioningly upon the command of any free person. They are designed with various purposes in mind; instantly placing oneself in positions in which one is helpless and vulnerable; positions of abject submission in which one's bondage is made clear to all; positions of display; positions facilitating appraisal, and such. In bara, one goes to one's belly, one's head facing to the left, one's wrists crossed behind one, and one's ankles crossed, as well. In such a position a slave may be quickly and conveniently bound, helplessly bound, hand and foot. All of these positions, both symbolic and practical, have certain things in common; for example, in all of them, the slave is presented as, and is understood as, both by herself and by others, a slave, and only a slave. "- if it pleases Master," she said. "We are going to drink and converse for a time," I said. "You will wait for us to finish. Lie beside the table, on your belly, your wrists crossed behind you, your ankles crossed, as well, your head turned to the left." Then, without warning, he said, sharply, "Bara!" Instantly Talena, flung herself to her belly, with her wrists crossed behind her, her ankles crossed, and her head turned to the left.
How much more merciful, I thought, if they would just hood the women. It is hard to be blindfolded by, gagged by, or bound by, the "Master's will," In being "blindfolded by the Master's will" one must keep one's eyes closed. I had, just shortly before, been so "blindfolded."
She wore the "bonds of the master's will." Grunt had put her in them. She lay on her stomach. Her wrists were crossed behind her. Her ankles, too, were crossed. She was "bound." She could not rise to her feet. Yet there was not a rope or a strap on her body. She was "bound by the master's will." She could not move from this position unless, at the word of a free person, she was freed from it. "Kneel, and grasp your ankles," he said. I did so. I was then helpless, bound by his will. "Your hands are now bound behind your back," he said. "Yes, Master," I said. I must now keep my hands or wrists in contact with one another, and behind my back. I was now "bound by the master's will." I could not separate my hands or wrists from one another now without permission. There are many ways, of course, of "binding by the master's will." The behind-the-back position is one of the simplest and loveliest. This exposes the girl, frames the beauty of her breasts and makes her helpless. That the bond is a "will bond," too, makes clear to her the power of the master over her. Another common bond of this sort is when the girl must kneel, grasping her ankles. Another is when she is forced to sit and reach forward between her legs, passing the right arm from inside the right thigh to outside and beneath the right calf, to grasp the right ankle from the outside, and the left arm from inside the left thigh to outside and beneath the left calf, to grasp the left ankle in the same way. In this position she is helpless and cannot rise. Too, after a time, it becomes apparent to her that she also cannot close her legs. A girl may be kept in such bonds for hours. Too, of course, she may be tied in such positions. There are also, of course, different ways of decreeing such bonds. For example, with the behind-the-back-hands-tied bond in which I had been placed I could have been informed, but had not been, that my shoulders were pulled tightly back, which, of course, forces the breasts forward for the pleasure, or attentions, of the master. She had positioned herself on her knees, at a wall, near a slave ring. This was only appropriate. Too, it added to the effect which her appearance must have on all males who saw her, her beauty, her collar and a slave ring. The ring was about level with her neck. To such rings, of course, a master may fasten or chain a girl while he busies himself elsewhere. I was pleased that she had had the intelligence not to act as though she had been put at the ring "bound by the master's will" because her leaving the ring might then have elicited astonishment or comment. There are many ways of putting a girl at the ring "bound by the master's will." One typical way is to stand her at the ring and have her place her right hand behind her back through the ring and grasp her left wrist. Another typical way is to kneel her at the ring and have her put her right hand through the ring, grasping her left wrist. One of the simplest and perhaps the most typical way of "binding by the master's will" is simply to have the girl grasp her left wrist with her right hand behind her back. One may also be "bound by the master's will," in which case one must keep one's limbs in a given position, perhaps wrists crossed at the back of one's head, as though they were literally bound, forbidden to separate them without permission. How much more merciful, I thought, if they would just hood the women. It is hard to be blindfolded by, gagged by, or bound by, the "Master's will," In being "blindfolded by the Master's will" one must keep one's eyes closed. I had, just shortly before, been so "blindfolded." In being "gagged by the Master's will," one may not speak, even to request permission to speak. In being "bound by the Master's will," one must keep one's limbs in the prescribed position, as though they were actually so bound, or so metal-clasped, or chained. There are several familiar versions of this. In one the slave crosses her wrists before her body and must retain the position until freed by "the Master's will." In another she kneels, her head down, and clasps her hands behind her back. If she is right handed, she clasps her right wrist with her left hand. If she is left handed, she clasps her left wrist with her right hand. Another common version of this sort of "binding" is to put the slave on her belly and have her cross her wrists and her ankles. It is thus as though she were bound hand and foot. She remains this way, as in all these cases, perhaps for hours, until she is freed "by the Master's will." A very unpleasant application of this technique is to put a slave in the sun and spread eagle her "by the Master's will." One then smears her face, and body, and hair, with honey and leaves her there, her presence being soon noted by a large variety of unpleasant insects. This is, of course, a punishment. After such a bout with thousands of tiny, swarming, crawling visitors, sometimes almost obscuring her, the slave is much improved. The more merciful master, of course, literally stakes the slave out, binding her wrists and ankles widely apart, to the four stakes, before applying the honey. In either case, the girl will be much improved. Even the threat of this sort of punishment, it might be noted, is likely to be effective. And this slave a good deal of unpleasantness all around, and some honey, as well. To be sure, for the threat to be effective, the girl must understand quite clearly, and will understand quite clearly, that the threat is not an idle one. If she entertains any doubts on that score, the master will see to it that they are soon satisfied. "Forgive me, Master," said Zara, but he had forced her to her knees, and then to her side, her right hand still grasping her left wrist behind her, so bound by the master's will, at one of the rings anchored in the floor. "Your hands are freed," said Barzak, and the girls gratefully released their grips on their left wrists, held behind their back. Afterwards he permitted me to lie by his side "bound by the master's will," I crossing my shackled ankles, and holding my hands behind my back, my left wrist held in my right hand. "She sees the watching, disciplined slave, kneeling at our table, bound by the Master's will," said Clitus. "To amuse herself and the crowd she will ridicule and torment her." Clearly the kneeling slave would have wished to brush away the insulting silk but, bound by the Master's will, could not do so.
"Bracelets!" snapped Ho-Sorl suddenly, and Phyllis flung her wrists behind "Bracelets!", I said in Gorean, harshly. The girl snapped to position, hands behind the small of her back, head lifted, chin up, turned to the left." "Bracelets," he snapped. She put her head in the air and placed her hands behind her back. He had removed a pair of light bracelets, joined by about five inches of light chain, from his pouch. "Slave bracelets," he said. "Turn around, facing the door, your hands behind your back." "You look well," he said, "naked, kneeling before me, marked, and in a collar, shackled, your small wrists locked behind you, in slave bracelets." He then, mercilessly, rapidly, uttered a series of sharp commands, "Lesha!" "Inspection!" "First Obeisance!" "Second Obeisance!" "Tower!" "Bracelets!" "Sula!" "Nadu!" and others, to each of which the slave responded, without thought, instantly, reflexively, beautifully, at the conclusion of which she collapsed at his feet.
"Brand," he said, idly. I knelt up, from my heels, and, still kneeling, turned to my right. I drew up the silk on my left side, with the fingers of both hands, to the waist, as one does, this exposing the tiny, graceful mark there, high on my left thigh, just under the hip. "A lovely flank," he remarked. Many times before had I received such compliments. My flanks, I had gathered, were of interest to men, and other portions of my body, as well, and the whole, the whole. But then I sensed it was the brand he was regarding. "Yes," he said, looking at it. But surely it could mean nothing to him. It was, as I understood it, in its variations, the most common mark on this world for one such as I. It was only the common mark, nothing special, or different. "Yes," he said, again. He seemed satisfied. He was not surprised, of course, that the mark was on me. It would have been utterly improbable that that mark, or some equivalent sign, would not have been upon me, and most likely in that place. That is the most common site for such a mark. Merchant practice, and social custom, tend to standardize such things. I, too, regarded the mark. It is expected, indeed, in such a situation, that we, too, will regard it, as it is exposed on the flank, the silk lifted to the waist with the fingers of two hands. We are to turn our eyes downward and to the left, and look upon it, seeing it once again, understanding it once again. "Mark?" said a man. Swiftly she rose up on her knees and turned her left thigh to the interrogator, at the same time putting her hands behind the small of her back, as though they might be braceleted there. It is one of the positions of brand display. Mirus smiled. Ellen flushed. I hate him, she thought. But she remained in the position, a common one for brand display. Her wrists, behind her back, were nearly touching. The position accentuates the breasts and, given the position of the hands, is provocatively emblematic; I did not give her the "thigh" or "brand" command, but I had little doubt she was now marked. In response to such a command those such as she must kneel on the right knee and extend the left leg gracefully, bared to the hip. The most common marking site on such as she is high on the left thigh, under the hip. "Brand!" I said, sharply. Instantly, without thought, almost despite herself, as she had been conditioned, she turned to her right, and, half kneeling, half lying, drew up her tunic, exposing her left thigh to the hip. "Brand!" I snapped. Instantly, reflexively, without thought, with a snap of her chain, she responded, turning, her left leg extended, facing me. Her hand had even grasped, unguardedly, for a moment, to where might have been the hem of tunic, to draw it up, to her waist, but now, of course, she wore no tunic. This tiny contretemps had embarrassed her, but was to have been expected, given her training. There are several such commands to which a kajira is taught to respond, immediately and without thought. Indeed, sometimes a kajira, hoping to escape in a free woman's clothing, is, by such means, tricked into betraying herself. The girl's left hand was now at her waist, her fingers closed. "Brand!" I snapped. She looked at me, tears running down her cheeks, disbelievingly. "Must a command be repeated?" I inquired. Dalliance on the part of a slave can be cause for discipline. A slave is to respond to a command immediately and unquestioningly. She rose to her right knee, and extended her left leg to display the brand
He thought she looked well on her back, in what is referred to as the "capture position." In this position, the captive locked in the arms of the captor, the captor can assess and enjoy the least nuance of expression in the captive's countenance. This position, too, is enjoyed by many masters with their slaves.
"Collar!" I snapped. Instantly she faced me, holding her hands slightly behind her, and lifted her chin. In this position the collar may be conveniently read.
I went to the side of the room and picked up my sea bag. I threw it to the center of the room. She looked down at it, puzzled. It was of heavy blue material, canvas, and tied with a white rope. "Lie down upon it," I told her, "on your back, your head to the floor." She did so. "No, please," she said, "not like this." It is a common position for a disciplinary slave rape. In it the woman feels very vulnerable, very helpless.
"Common position of obeisance," he said. Immediately, kneeling, she put her head to the floor, the palms of her hands on the floor, beside her head. In this position the knees are closed. It is a position commonly assumed by a slave when a man enters a room. To be sure, this varies from city to city. In some cities all that is required is the common kneeling position, instantly assumed. In other cities, a complete bellying, instantly assumed, is required. Such things may differ, of course, from master to master.
At that time I did not know of the habit of some masters, usually imposed as punishment, to refuse an upright posture to their girls, and to refuse them, as well, the use of human language. They must go about on all fours, or their bellies, and communicate, as they can, by whimpers, moans, and such. They are naked, save for their collars. They are not permitted to use their hands to feed themselves, and so on. Needless to say, they also serve in this modality. There are various Gorean expressions for this; one is the "discipline of the she-tarsk."
"Have that one stand, to be examined," said a man. "Cotina, stand, examination position!" snapped Targo. Cotina stood, her legs widely spread, her head back, her hands clasped behind the back of her neck. It is hard for a woman to move from this position and she must be concerned with her balance. The subtle adjustments and tenseness required to maintain her balance keep her even more helplessly in place, and these adjustments and this tenseness will also be expressed in her posture, providing body-language cues bespeaking obedience and servitude. Too, obviously this posture bares her vulnerably, and her hands cannot interfere with the examination. The position of the arms, the hands clasped behind the back of the neck, or, sometimes, behind the back of the head, lifts the bosom, exhibiting it beautifully. "Assume the standard position for the examination of a standing slave," said Portus Canio. Ellen, in her tunic, puzzled, stood then before him, her legs widely, painfully spread. The split hems of the tunic, slit at the sides, permitted this position. Ellen clasped her hands behind the back of her head, and held her head up and back, in this position looking rather at the height of the great portal, leading into the barn area, from the platform outside.
In this position it is convenient to examine the slave. She cannot easily move without losing her balance. The position of her hands prevents her from interfering with the examination. The raised head, held back, makes it difficult for her to know, or guess, the position of the examiner's hands, where they are, and what they might do, for example, how and when she might be touched, caressed, or tested. Needless to say, this position is normally assumed when the slave is nude. Several of the slaves were standing, in examination position, legs widely spread, hands behind the back of their neck, or head. "Examination position," said the dealer. I had been taught two or three of the most common examination positions in the training house, one of which I assumed, a bit unsteadily, feet widely spread, hands clasped behind the back of the head, head up, and back, looking upward. A woman may be examined in any position, of course, and it is not unknown for a potential buyer to instruct her to assume a variety of positions. Obviously a given item of merchandise may be displayed in any number of ways. It is difficult to move when one's feet are widely spread. One remains in place, and feels helpless. With the hands clasped together, behind the head, the hands are immobilized, and there is nothing to interfere with the customer's vision, or the assessments of his touch. The breasts are also lifted, as is the behind-the-neck tie or the behind-the-neck braceleting. The head being back, and lifted, it is difficult for the slave to be aware of the eyes and expressions of the examiner, and thus of his interests or intentions. It is also difficult, of course, to anticipate and prepare for any evaluative testing or handling. "Examination position," said Drusus Andronicus. We both then spread our legs widely, clasped our hands behind the back of our necks, and raised our heads, looking toward the ceiling. In some cities, the hands are clasped behind the back of the head. To be sure, a slave may be examined in any number of attitudes and positions. The "standard position," on the other hand, at least in the High Cities, as I have been informed, is either the hands-behind-the-back-of-the-neck position or the hands-behind-the-back-of-the-head position. The position is assumed, naturally, while the slave is unclothed, first, that her body be wholly vulnerable, and, second, that nothing interfere with, or impede, the assessment or appraisal. The position of the hands behind the neck or head facilitates appraisal, getting the hands out of the way, and the locking of the hands discourages any attempt on the part of a slave, should she be so foolish, as to attempt to either shield her body or fend away examining hands. The position also lifts the breasts nicely. The raising of the head, fixing the eyes on the ceiling or sky, makes it difficult for the slave to anticipate where, and how, she might be touched. A slave assessment is commonly thorough. After all, money is generally involved. She must, for example, expect her hair, and her nails, of both the hands and feet, to be considered. And she must expect the command to open her mouth, widely, for her teeth to be examined. Many barbarians are characterized not only by a vaccination mark, but by tiny bits of metal in the teeth. The latter, fillings, are sometimes taken, by some Goreans, to be an esoteric form of barbarian adornment. The examination position, like bara, nadu, sula, and such, tends to arouse a slave. In a sense, the slave is helpless in such positions. Significance is woven into the fiber of such things. Meaning and symbolism reign. "Examination position," he said. I straightened my body, spread my legs, I could feel the sawdust about my ankles, put my hands, clasped, behind the back of my neck, and looked upwards. I could see the roof of the hall. Sometimes the hands are clasped behind the head. "Spread your legs more," said the auctioneer. "Yes, Master," I said. The spreading of the legs makes it more difficult to move. In a sense, it holds one in place. The hands behind the neck or head removes the hands from a position where they might obstruct an assessor's view. Also, clasped, they are held in place. This posture also, besides rendering the slave helpless and vulnerable, lifts her breasts nicely. The lifting of the head, looking upward, makes it difficult to anticipate the touch of an assessor. What I did not understand was why I had been commanded to such a position on the block. The block is high, and I was several feet from the tiers. And surely it was seldom that a bidder would be permitted to ascend the block. There might be several interested men in the tiers, making this impractical, and the merchants are eager to keep the sales moving, one item after another. The examination position is more commonly required on a slave shelf or in a sales camp, where a given buyer, perhaps shopping, may be interested in a particular slave, one which he may wish to inspect more closely. She was in a standard examination position, standing, her legs widely spread, her hands clasped together behind the back of her neck, her head up and back, seeing the sky. The spread-legged position makes it difficult for a girl to change her position and induces a sense of vulnerability. The position of the hands behind the back of the neck or head immobilizes the hands and lifts the breasts nicely. Her head up and back, facing upward, prevents her from anticipating where she might be touched or caressed.
"First obeisance position," snapped Barzak. "Beg his forgiveness!" Instantly Ellen went to the first obeisance position, head down, palms of her hands on the cement. "Please forgive me, Master," she begged, frightened. "Kneel up, first position," said Barzak. Ellen went to first position, with all its revelatory delights. In first obeisance position, often assumed by a slave in the presence of a free man, she kneels with her head to the ground, and the palms of her hands down on the ground on either side of her head. "First obeisance position," I said. She put the black wine to the side on the deck, and put her head to the boards, before me, her hands beside the sides of her head. "First obeisance position!" I snapped. Moaning, frightened, the six girls went instantly to first obeisance position, kneeling, their heads to the deck, the palms of their hands beside their head. "First obeisance position," I informed the slaves. Both then went to first obeisance position, kneeling, head to the floor, palms of the hands down on the floor, at the sides of their head. I went to the first obeisance position, kneeling, my head down to the furs, my hands, palms down, at the sides of my head. After a time there was a tapping on the kennel gate, and I rose to my knees, and put my head down, to the floor of the kennel, the palms of my hands beside my head, in first obeisance position. "Heads to the floor," said Kurik. We both went to first obeisance position, kneeling, the palms of our hands down on the floor, beside our head, our heads to the floor. The blanket partly about me, I went to the first obeisance position, kneeling, head to the ground, the palms of my hands at the sides of my head. As soon as I had heard the curtains parted I had gone to first obeisance position, kneeling, head to the floor, the palms of my hands on the floor, on either side of my head. I assumed first obeisance position, kneeling, head to the floor, the palms of my hands on the floor, on either side of my head. "First obeisance position," I said. She put her head to the floor, the palms of her hands down, beside her head. Her hair fell forward, dropping to the sides of her neck. I saw her smaller hair at the back of her neck. First-obeisance position is more common, where the girl kneels, head down, with her hands, palms down, beside her head. When we appeared from about the corner of the inn and she glimpsed Aetius, she, trembling, went immediately to first obeisance position, kneeling, her head down between her extended arms, the palms of her hands on the ground. Ruffio turned to the kneeling, frightened Talena. Then, without warning, he said, sharply, "Bara!" Instantly Talena, flung herself to her belly, with her wrists crossed behind her, her ankles crossed, and her head turned to the left. He then, mercilessly, rapidly, uttered a series of sharp commands, "Lesha!" "Inspection!" "First Obeisance!" "Second Obeisance!" "Tower!" "Bracelets!" "Sula!" "Nadu!" and others, to each of which the slave responded, without thought, instantly, reflexively, beautifully, at the conclusion of which she collapsed at his feet.
"What is the forty-third position of joy?" asked the man. "I do not know, Master," she said. "What is the sixth delight of the hair of a female slave?" he asked. "I have no idea, Master," she said. "What is the title of the eighteenth love song of Dina, the slave poetess?" he asked "I do not know, Master," she said. "Do you know anything?" he asked. "Very little, Master," she said.
The same effect, of course, may be achieved by an ordinary gag which she is forbidden to remove, or even the gagging "by her master's will," in which she is informed that she is not to speak, unless given permission. And indeed, in such a case, she may not even ask for such permission verbally, as is usually permitted to her. Speaking under conditions of imposed silence, of course, even so much as a word, is a cause for discipline. There are many varieties of slave gags, and such. The simplest device for attaining this end is when she is "gagged by her master's will," which simply means that she is prohibited from speaking until given permission to do so. One interesting from of gag is being "gagged by the master's will," in which the woman is simply forbidden to speak, except, of course, for whimpers, in response to direct questions. One may also be "bound by the master's will," in which case one must keep one's limbs in a given position, perhaps wrists crossed at the back of one's head, as though they were literally bound, forbidden to separate them without permission. I do not know why one whimper is used for "Yes," and two for "No." It is probably because one usually thinks of such responses, for whatever reason, in terms of "Yes" and "No," rather than of "No" and "Yes." It does not seem to be correlated with the greater frequency of affirmative to negative responses to questions. For example, "Do you wish a blanket in your cell?" is likely to elicit a piteously affirmative response, whereas "Do you wish to be lashed?" is likely to elicit one which is earnestly negative. How much more merciful, I thought, if they would just hood the women. It is hard to be blindfolded by, gagged by, or bound by, the "Master's will," In being "blindfolded by the Master's will" one must keep one's eyes closed. I had, just shortly before, been so "blindfolded." In being "gagged by the Master's will," one may not speak, even to request permission to speak. One of the advantages of the lock gag is that the girl cannot remove it, any more than a collar. She may thus serve in it with her hands free. To be sure, if the girl is disciplined, such a device is not necessary. An ordinary gag, which she is forbidden to touch, will suffice. Indeed, she may be simply "gagged by the master's will," and thus be forbidden to speak, even to beg permission to speak. To be sure, a simple tie gag, which the slave is forbidden to remove, has the same effect. Too, of course, her mouth may be simply taped shut. Similarly, more mercifully, and at greater convenience to the master, she may be "gagged by the master's will." In that case she is simply forbidden to speak, save perhaps for moans and whimpers. She may, of course, speak later, once she has received permission to do so. "I did not allow her to speak," said Callias. I nodded. She had been then, as it is said, gagged by the master's will. It is hard to make clear, one supposes, to one who has not been put in such a modality, one who has never been "gagged, by the master's will," how this deprivation can so sorely affect a woman, particularly a slave, the most helpless and vulnerable of women. Happily I was not gagged, or put into a slave bit. That was not necessary, of course, for I was not given permission to speak. I had been silenced, as it is said, by the master's will.
"Split your knees," he said. "More widely." "Lift your head," he said. "Higher. Higher!" She looked up at him, her head far back, the leash on her throat. "You need not now keep your head in high-harness position," he said to the girl. She moved her head.
"You will be well taught to heel and obey," said he. The Forkbeard turned about and, one arm about Pudding, the other about Gunnhild, started from the dock. Hilda followed him, to his left. "She heels nicely," said Ottar. The men and bond-maids laughed. The Forkbeard stopped. Hilda's face burned red with fury, but she kept her head high. Pet sleen are taught to heel; so, too, sometimes, are bond-maids; I was familiar with this sort of thing, of course; in the south it was quite common for slave girls, in various fashions in various cities, to heel their masters. Hilda, of course was a free woman. For her to heel was an incredible humiliation. The Forkbeard started off again, and then again stopped. Again, Hilda followed him as before. "She is heeling!" laughed Ottar. There were tears of rage in Hilda's eyes. What he said, of course, was true. She was heeling. On his ship the Forkbeard had taught her, though a free woman, to heel. The Forkbeard said nothing to her, but, the next day, when the sun was hot on the deck, and he released her for her exercise, and he walked about the deck, she, though a free woman, heeled him perfectly. The crew had roared with laughter. I, too, had smiled. Hilda the Haughty, daughter of Thorgard of Scagnar, had been taught to heel. "My Jarl," said a voice. We turned about. Hilda knelt before Ivar Forkbeard, her hair to his feet. "May I not follow my Jarl?" she begged. "A lowly bond-maid begs to heel her Jarl." "Then, heel," said Ivar, good-naturedly, turning away. "Thank you, my Jarl!" she wept, leaping to her feet, falling into step on his left, two steps behind him. I now carried his shield. I walked behind him, and to the left. I suppose I should have minded. I knew, of course, that I was heeling him. He turned about and, with his weapons, strode from the camp. I followed him, at his heel, where a slave girl belongs. I strode toward the market. I must leave soon. The girl stumbled after me, weeping. "Please, Master!" she wept. I did not tell her to heel. It was not necessary. She was slave. After being led on a leash it is not unusual for a girl to beg her master to be permitted to heel him, following him deferentially in her proper place. I extended my hand. I would snap my fingers. When I snapped my fingers she would rise to her feet and follow me, heeling me, like the sleek domestic beast she was, to her master's lodge. One of the first things a girl is taught to do is to heel. A man's slave usually heels him, following behind him, or behind him on his left. When he left the pit she followed him, a bit behind him and on his left, heeling him. "Do you know how to heel, Feiqa?" I asked. "Yes, Master," she said. She was a Gorean woman, familiar at least superficially with the duties and obligations of slaves. To be sure, as a recently free woman, she might perhaps find herself astounded and horrified at some of the things that would now, even routinely, be required of her. I did not know. Certain things which are not only common knowledge to slaves but even a normal, familiar part of their lives seem to be scarcely suspected by free women. These are the sorts of things about which free women, horrified and scandalized, scarcely believing them, sometimes whisper, fearfully, delightedly, among themselves. Some Earth-girl slaves, brought to Got, incidentally, do not even know how to heel. Incredibly, they must be taught. They learn quickly, of course, in the collar, and subject to the whip. I then turned about, again, and hurried even more rapidly after my new master. I did not want to lag too far behind, outside the normal heeling distance. "You, Claudia, slave girl," she said. "Kneel behind him and to his left." A slave girl, in heeling her master, commonly follows on the left. That she follows indicates that she is subservient, that he is master and she slave; that she follows on the left is a cultural matter probably indexed to the fact that most Goreans are right-handed. Her presence on the left, thus, is not likely to interfere with his draw or the movements of his sword arm.
"Heel," I said. "Yes, my captor," she said. I turned to regard her. She would follow me, behind and on the left. In this way the sword arm is not likely to be encumbered. He called Teibar then waved to the men about, and turning about, took his way from the area of the circle. The slave rose to her feet and hurried after him, to heel him. Marcus and I stopped, and Phoebe knelt beside Marcus, back a bit, in close heeling position. In moment or two Marcus was again beside me, and Phoebe behind him, on his left. The girl normally heels a right-handed master on the left, that she not encumber the movements of the weapon hand. I knelt behind the pit master, to his left. That is the common heeling position. That woman now, perhaps, with Laura, heeled her master in Brundisium, some paces behind, and to his left. "Master?" asked Ellen. But already he was threading his way through the crowd, and the fires. Swiftly she fell into place behind him, heeling him, behind his left shoulder, but, given the press of the crowd, much more closely than would normally be the case. A slave girl's heeling distance is a function of a particular situation, of local circumstances, so to speak. In an open area a girl will normally heel three to five paces behind, normally on the left. Whereas following on the left, which is usual, may be a simple matter of gratuitous custom, it might also be noted that this arrangement may have a darker origin. If objects are to be handed to a man, say, a warrior, such as a buckler, or barbed war net, this transfer of articles from the left is not likely to discommode or encumber the most common weapon hand which is, of course, the right. On the other hand, it is thought that following on the left is generally a position of less dignity, and thus appropriate for animals, including slaves. A consideration favoring this possibility is that left-handed Goreans will also, commonly, have their sleen, their slaves, and such, follow on the left. A free woman walks proudly beside a free man or, if the press does not permit this, is often accorded the privilege of preceding him. One of the most humiliating things for a Gorean free woman, after she has been enslaved, other than the loss of her name, is that she must now follow, and neither walk beside nor lead. Cecily had heeled me into the pavilion. After entering with me, she had gone, as was proper, to first obeisance position, beside me, a bit back and to my left. Commonly, the slave heels the master, usually behind him on his left, as his sword arm is usually the right arm. In this way her presence is not obtrusive, and is unlikely to either distract or encumber him. Also, in this way, he is usually between the slave and other males, possible danger, and such, that she, unarmed and half naked, may be shielded. This also tends to protect her from free women. Too, of course, the position is one of subordination, and is thus fitting for a slave, and domestic animal. For example, a domestic sleen is also likely to heel the master, and also on the left. "Heel us," I snapped. Dutifully the girls fell in behind us, on our left. Normally the slave remains behind the master, commonly on the left, as she would in heeling him. The free woman, of course, either walks beside the free man, or precedes him. The slave walks behind, for she is a slave. She heels on the left, by custom, as most men are right-handed, and their weapon arm is not to be encumbered. On the other hand, these arrangements are not without value to the slave. In walking behind him, for example, she is protected, sheltered from danger by the wall of his arm and steel. She increased her pace, to close the gap between herself and her master, that she might follow in prescribed heeling position. Interestingly, the Lady Bina was, in many ways, rather different from the typical Gorean free woman. She had observed other free women, with serving slaves, and so she had me heel her, at the proper distance, on the left, appropriately, head down, but she was not at all strict about my looking about and I frequently did so. I rose to my feet, and tied up, as I could, the torn tunic, and replaced the kerchief. I then, carrying the suls, heeled my Mistress from the market. "May I not heel Master?" I said. "No," he said, "the trail is too narrow." One heels on the left side, usually a little behind. Much depends on the master, the terrain, the crowding, or such. I shall now speak of him simply as Grendel. I heeled him into the large room, and, when he crouched down, at ease, before the broad dais, I knelt behind him, on his left. His slave, Donna, was behind him, kneeling, on his left, a common position in which a slave heels her master. "Would you like to walk beside me?" he asked. "No, Master," I said. "It is the place of a slave to heel her master, or, if he wishes to display her, as on a promenade, to precede him, leashed." "Would you like to be so displayed?" he asked. "I am not a display slave," I said. I thought of Paula, of course. She had been purchased in the Curulean, to be a display slave. Only on Gor had I come to realize how beautiful Paula was, with her high intelligence, her passion, her profound slave needs. "I am better behind you," I said, "in heeling position." I rose to my feet. He was kind. He must have sensed that I would wish to have a better view of what was to ensue. I placed myself on his left and a bit behind him. I was a female slave and he was a free man. That is a common heeling position. I did not wish to be beaten. "You will heel me," I said, "informing me from behind where to turn, and so on." "Yes, Master," she said. "There were men outside," she said. "Beware! I heard them." "They are no longer outside," I said. "Others, however, may appear at any moment. Fetch what food and drink you can and heel me." "I am going to the stern deck," I said. "Heel me." She fell into step behind me, to my left.
"Lie down there," said Tutina, "on the rug, before his desk, on your right side, with your knees drawn up." Awkwardly, and with unsteadiness, and some pain, the older woman, tears in her eyes, humiliated, went to her hands and knees, and then to the position to which she had been directed. "Hereafter," said Tutina, "when you hear the command 'Injection position', in whatever language, you will instantly, and unquestioningly, assume this position."
In inspection position one such as she would normally be stripped, and standing with her feet spread, and her hands clasped either behind the back of her neck, or behind her head. In this way the breasts are lifted nicely, and, given the position of the hands, one has no interference to one's vision, and, similarly, one may, perhaps walking about her, test her for firmness, and for vitality, and such things. He then, mercilessly, rapidly, uttered a series of sharp commands, "Lesha!" "Inspection!" "First Obeisance!" "Second Obeisance!" "Tower!" "Bracelets!" "Sula!" "Nadu!" and others, to each of which the slave responded, without thought, instantly, reflexively, beautifully, at the conclusion of which she collapsed at his feet.
The kneeling position is, of course, a suitable one for slaves. A slave will normally assume such a position on entering the presence of her master or a free person. She will probably remain in it until permitted to rise. It is a common position, too, for her to assume when she is in attendance of a master, for example, awaiting his notice or commands. Too, she will usually speak to her master from this position, unless, of course, she is lying down, as in making her reports to him, inquiring as to his will, answering questions, and so on. Some masters approve it, too, for purposes of general conversation. He then crouched beside the miserable form of the object he had borne to our small camp. It was whimpering and trembling. He jerked it to a kneeling position and thrust the folds of the blanket down about its shoulders. It was veiled and clad in the robes of concealment, layers of silk, satin, and brocade. I then drew her by the upper left arm to the tiny tharlarion-oil lamp, and placed her on her knees.
I crossed my wrists beneath me and touched my head to the floor, exposing the bow of my back. It is the submissive posture of a slave girl who is to be punished. It is called Kneeling to the Whip. "Kneel to the whip!" said Samos. Piteously she knelt, a slave girl. Her wrists were crossed under her, as though bound, her head was to the floor, the bow of her back was exposed. "Kneel to the whip," he said. I obeyed. I put my head down, and, beneath my body, crossed my wrists, as though they were bound. My back was bowed, ready for whatever punishment he might see fit to administer to me. "Kneel to the whip, Melpomene!" she ordered her. Melpomene then, sobbing, knelt, her legs close together, her wrists held crossed under her, as though bound, her head down, touching the floor, the bow of her back exposed, a slave girl awaiting punishment.
She wept, trying to hold the guard's wrist, where it was fastened so deeply, so cruelly, in her hair, she bent over, her head at his hip, hurried forth, into the room, in a common Gorean leading position. "I looked at the girl. I nodded to her to approach me. She did so. I held my left hand open, at my waist. She stiffened, and looked at me, angrily. I opened and closed my left hand once. I saw her training in Gorean customs had been thorough. But she never thought that such a gesture would be used to her. She came beside me, and a bit behind me, and, crouching, put her head down, deeply. I fastened my hand in her hair. She winced. Women are helpless in this position." "I then snapped my fingers and held my right hand, open, at my hip. Swiftly the girl rose to her feet and, half crouching, put her head by my hand. I fastened the fingers of my hand deeply and firmly in her red hair. She winced, and kissed at my thigh. I then, the goblet of paga in my left hand, her hair in my right, dragged her beside me, her slender chains rustling, to the nearest alcove." Others passed, too, with slaves in custody, but differently, the slaves bent over, in leading position, their heads at the hips of free men, held there by the hair, these slaves' hands fastened, too, behind their backs. We then thrust them stumbling to the waiting Ashigaru who took the hair of each in a separate hand and, bending them over at the waist, conducted them both in a common leading position to some point of collection. When I was finished I took her by the hair and pulled her from beneath the table, and held her, bent over, in common slave-leading position, at my left hip, and left the table. Others were put in painful leading position, one in each hand, their heads held at the hip of their keeper of the moment. Then she, unsteady, and rubbing her wrists, was taken by the hair, by the proprietor's man, was bent over, at the waist, and, in standard leading position, was conducted to the back of the tavern, and drawn through a thick curtain of layered, dangling, colored beads. He twisted her rudely, abruptly, about, and downward, and she was then at his feet, he crouching over her, his hand in her hair. He then straightened up angrily, and, she crying out in pain, jerked her to her feet, and held her beside him, bent over at the waist, her head tight against his hip her head down, facing the floor, she then in leading position. In a moment, she had been conducted to the side of the fellow in blue. Her small hands were on the wrists of the fellow who held her. She was whimpering. As she was held, she could only look down, into the straw. She held her head still, extremely still, to avoid more agony, for the guard's hand was tight in her hair. At the door he had put his hand in my hair and bent me over, holding my head at his right hip. Then, I in leading position, he had entered the tavern, I stumbling helplessly beside him, so conducted, my hands on his wrist. We heard a sudden cry of pain, and a gasp. We looked about, to the kajirae, and saw, standing amongst them, Tyrtaios, the Assassin. He had pulled one of the kajirae, the former Lady Alexina, to her feet by the hair. He now held her, by the hair, bent over, her head at his left hip, in leading position. Kurik then stood between us, and took us by the hair. His left hand was tight in my hair and his right hand was doubtless the same in Paula's hair. I winced. Then our heads were thrust down. We were bent over, our heads at his waist. We were in leading position, one on each side of the master. Kurik laughed and put me in leading position, his hand in my hair, my head held closely at his hip. One is not only helpless in this position, but it is awkward, and humiliating. In it, one is well reminded one is a slave. "Leading position," he said. I then bent down, and put my head to his left hip. He then took my hair in his hand, and conducted me through certain passages, and then, arresting his journey, he put me to all fours before a small cage, one of several, some already occupied, and opened the gate. Shortly after the sounding of the gong, Adraste, bent over, in leading position, at the side of the slaver's man, her hair in his grasp, appeared. "Perhaps one of the guardsmen can read," said Florian. He then released my arms and fastened one hand in my hair, his left hand, and bent my head down to his hip. I was then in Gorean leading position. In this position, the slightest resistance or recalcitrance on the part of a slave, or even an unintentional failure to exhibit perfect submission, can result in agonizing pain. One hopes to accommodate oneself as perfectly as possible to the least signal from the captor's grasp, to the least whim or caprice of his will. Too, one is not only vulnerable and helpless in such a position, but so held, in such awkwardness and humiliation, so amusing to the free, one is well reminded of one's slavery. "It seems that Alcove Eleven is unoccupied," I said. "Leading Position." She bent at the waist, and I put my hand in her hair, to hold her head at my left hip. Talena's hands were still bound behind her back. The guard did not see fit to relieve her of this impediment. Rather, he put his hand in her hair and thrust her head down to his left hip. She had thus been placed in a common leading position for a female slave.
"Lesha," snapped the second officer to the blond girl. She spun from facing him, and lifted her chin, turning her head to the left, placing her wrists behind her, as though for snapping them into slave bracelets. The guard was behind me. "Lesha!" he said, Immediately, responsive to this command, I flung my wrists behind me, separated by some two inches, and lifted my chin, my head turned to the left. He approached the slave and indicated that she should stand. He then said, very sharply, "Lesha!" Instantly the girl turned away from him, lifted her head, turned it to the left, and placed her small wrists, crossed, behind her back. "Lesha!" he snapped. We lifted our chins, turning our heads to the left, and placed our wrists behind us. We were then braceleted, and our wrists were fastened behind us, as before. The lesha command is essentially a "leash" command. Placing the hands behind the body facilitates their tying or braceleting. Lifting the chin facilitates the fixing of the leash. As we were already chained by the neck to the rings on the back of the wagon, and thus, in a sense, were already leashed, the command was essentially one to prepare for a "behind the back" binding of the master's choice. The turning of the head in a particular direction introduces a uniformity into the command. For example, if a line of slaves were given such a command, it would be unaesthetic if some of the slaves turned one way and some another. The lifting of the head exposes the throat nicely for its encirclement. That the lifted head is turned to the left has an affinity with a number of other practices, the shackling of the left ankle, or the left wrist, the heeling of a master on the left, and so on. "Lesha!" snapped Addison Steele, behind me. Instantly I flung my head up, turning it to the left, and, at the same time straightened my body and flung my hands, together, behind my back. This response is automatic, immediate, and unthinking. I had assumed the position before I had fully realized I had done so. My hands, together, behind me, were snapped into slave bracelets. "Head higher, slave," said Addison Steele. It was then uncomfortably high. Then I felt the leash snapped about my throat. I faced the woman, and then without warning, suddenly snapped, "Lesha!" Immediately, reflexively, automatically, without thought, with a tiny cry of misery, she straightened her body, flung her wrists, crossed, behind her, and threw her head up and back. Had she been tunicked it would have been convenient then to bracelet her instantly, helplessly, and snap a slave leash about her neck. He then, mercilessly, rapidly, uttered a series of sharp commands, "Lesha!" "Inspection!" "First Obeisance!" "Second Obeisance!" "Tower!" "Bracelets!" "Sula!" "Nadu!" and others, to each of which the slave responded, without thought, instantly, reflexively, beautifully, at the conclusion of which she collapsed at his feet.
"Lie down," I said, "prone."
"Lips to boots," I said. She pressed her lips to my boots, left and right, kissing them, and licking at them.
"You are hereby sentenced to the modality of the mute slave," he said. "You are herewith denied permission to speak. You are silenced. You may not, even, in language, beg for permission to speak. As when gagged, one whimper will serve for 'yes' and two for 'no'. Do you understand?" How helpless and alone, how miserable, one soon is, if placed in the modality of the mute slave!
"Return to your kennel," I said, "in the modality of the she-sleen, on all fours." "Down on all fours," he said. "Master?" I said. "You are now in the modality of the she-sleen," he said. I went down to all fours, looked up at him, and whimpered, questioningly. One can do much with noises, expressions, and attitudes of the body. Does not any pet animal know that? "Yes," he said. "You are now in the modality of the she-sleen." I put my head down, on the leash. I was now in the modality of the she-sleen. One is denied an upright posture. One moves on all fours, or squirms on one's belly. One may kneel, but not rise to one's feet. One is denied human speech. One sound or whimper, as in gag signals, signifies "Yes," and two sounds or whimpers, again, as in gag signals, signifies "No." One feels very helpless in this slave modality. And few slave modalities better convince one that one is a slave. It can be terribly frustrating, trying to communicate in this modality, a frustration that is doubtless shared by many pet animals. Needless to say, as well, one is naked in this modality, as I was; one feeds and drinks from pans, head down, not permitted to use one's hands; and when one is put to use in this modality, it is done as one might expect. "You are pleasant to regard in the modality of the she-sleen," he said, "or, perhaps, in your case, that of the she-tarsk. When you were so unpleasant in your office that afternoon, on your former world, I speculated how you would appear in this modality. I am not at all disappointed."
"You think of punishment," said one of the instructresses, "in terms of the switch, the whip, close chains, the denial of clothing, the affixing of a collar with points, a reduction in rations, being sent naked into the streets, being denied speech, being put in the modality of the she-tarsk, such things?"
"Nadu!" he snapped. She swiftly turned, facing him, and dropped to her knees. She knelt back on her heels, her back straight, her hands on her thighs, her head up, her knees wide. It was the position of the pleasure slave. "Nadu!" he cried, loosening the whip coils on her throat. She swiftly knelt, back on her heels, back straight, head high, hands on her thighs, knees wide. "Nadu!" said Tajima, sharply. The girl struggled to nadu, kneeling back on her heels, her head up, her back straight, the palms of her hands down on her thighs. She did not make eye contact with any of the free men, but kept her gaze forward. It is a beautiful position. "Split your knees," said Tajima. "No!" said Pertinax. "Now!" said Tajima. The girl spread her knees. "Wider!" said Tajima. She was, after all, a collar-girl. The former Miss Wentworth complied, quickly, docilely, with Tajima's command. She had learned obedience to men, slave obedience, in the stable, at the hands of the grooms. "Please!" protested Pertinax. "Stay as you are," cautioned Tajima. The slave remained in the adjusted nadu, as directed. It was a common form of nadu, one almost invariably expected of a particular sort of slave, the pleasure slave. "Nadu," whispered the taverner, and the girl went to position, back on heels, knees wide, back straight, the palms of her hands down on her thighs. She kept her head down. Commonly, in nadu, the head is up, the gaze straight ahead, that the beauty of her features be displayed, and that she be in a position to better detect the slightest nuances of her master, either in tone or expression, but neither the taverner nor the stranger exacted this small adjustment. "Nadu," he snapped, and I assumed position, as well as I could, being back braceleted. I knelt back on my heels, my body tall, my back straight, my head up, my knees spread. I could not place the palms of my hands down on my thighs, for the restraints. "Nadu!" snapped Kurik. The examination position, like bara, nadu, sula, and such, tends to arouse a slave. In a sense, the slave is helpless in such positions. Significance is woven into the fiber of such things. Meaning and symbolism reign. "Note the small, soft palms of her hands," said the officer to his subordinate, regarding them as they were held. "Such palms look well in nadu," said the subordinate, "when a naked slave dares to put the back of her hands on her widened thighs, mutely begging a master to be put to his use pleasure." In the usual position of nadu the palms of the slave's hands are placed down on the thighs. Slaves can be beaten for boldly daring to beg for use in such a way, exposing the delicacy of their palms to the master. Similarly tying the loose bondage knot in her hair may bring discipline. Many masters do not care for such blatant, piteous behaviors, such insolent boldness, resenting the slave's attempt to appeal to them, to plead for the satisfaction of her needs. "Nadu!" I snapped. Instantly she spread her knees, widely, knelt back on her heels, back straight, palms of her hands down on her thighs. "Get your head up," I said. Commonly in nadu, the head is lifted. In this way the least expression or movement of the eyes, lips, or face is visible to the Master. In this position the slave is well-displayed, both with respect to her beauty and her vulnerability. In this position the slave is in little doubt that she is a slave and what she, being a slave, is for. The nadu position is that of the Pleasure Slave. There was a tiny, soft, almost inaudible moan from Iris, whom we had placed to the side, facing the wall, kneeling in nadu, a familiar slave position, one often required of pleasure slaves. She scrambled about, to face us, still in nadu, which position she had not been permitted to break. "Keep your hands, palms down, on your thighs," I said. "Yes, Master," she said. She had, perhaps inadvertently, opened the softness of her palms to me. There are many ways in which a slave girl can beg for attention. "You know how to prepare a slave," she said. "Am I not now to be ordered to nadu?" That is the common position of the pleasure slave, kneeling, knees spread, back straight, the palms of the hands down on the thighs. He then, mercilessly, rapidly, uttered a series of sharp commands, "Lesha!" "Inspection!" "First Obeisance!" "Second Obeisance!" "Tower!" "Bracelets!" "Sula!" "Nadu!" and others, to each of which the slave responded, without thought, instantly, reflexively, beautifully, at the conclusion of which she collapsed at his feet.
"Nestle," I told her. "Yes, Master," she said. She nestled obediently in the crook of my left arm.
"Obeisance!" snapped the guardsman. Instantly Ellen, and her sister slaves, went to first obeisance position, head down to the cement. When we appeared before her cage, she put her head down to the blanket, the palms of her hands on the floor of the cage, beside her head, It is a lovely gesture of obeisance, and required by many masters of their women. I pointed to the sand before me. She immediately, frightened, dropped to her knees and again put her head down to the sand, the palms of her hands, too, on the sand.
"Position," said another of the men. Ellen, the beast having released her hair, went to position, kneeling, knees wide, back straight, head up, hands on thighs. "A pleasure slave," said one of the men. "Obviously," said another. Ellen wondered if she should have kept her knees closely together, before Mirus, but she had naturally, instantaneously, not even thinking about it, assumed the wide-kneed position. "Position," said the auctioneer to Ellen. And then Ellen, tears running down her cheeks, knelt appropriately before the men, as what she was, a Gorean pleasure slave, back on heels, back straight, head up, hands down on thighs, knees widely spread. Her discomfiture amused the human, Peisistratus. "She is kajira?" he inquired of Cabot. "Yes," said Cabot. "Why is she not in position?" inquired Peisistratus. He removed the switch from his belt. She regarded the implement disbelievingly. "Kneel," said Peisistratus to the girl, "now, instantly! Back on your heels. Spread your knees!" "My knees!" she cried. "Yes," he said, "widely. More widely! Straighten your back, place your hands, palms down, on your thighs, lift your head, look straight ahead!" "Never!" she cried. And then the switch fell savagely upon her, twice. "Up, slut, position, position!" said Peisistratus. Wildly, frantically, sobbing, tears streaming from her eyes, in pain, the brunette knelt before Peisistratus, in position, as required. "Keep your hands on your thighs!" snapped Peisistratus, for she had dared to move to cover herself. She complied instantly. Cabot was pleased to note this alacrity. Too, he was pleased to see her in position. She looked well in position, in the position of a Gorean female slave, indeed, rather, in the position of a Gorean female slave of a particular sort, the Gorean female pleasure slave. "Enough," I said. "Position." She knelt then before me, as before, back on her heels, head up, back straight, the palms of her hands down on her thighs. Suddenly one fellow said, sharply, "Position!" Instantly, reflexively, Iole and Alcinoë, frightened, knelt, back on their heels, knees spread, back straight, head up, looking ahead, neither to the left or right, the palms of their hands down, firmly, on their thighs. "Position!" I said. "Master!" protested several. "Need a command be repeated?" I asked. With cries of misery, and sobs, the slaves, or most, went to position. "Hold the lamp," I said to Alcinoë. She took the lamp. "Please, no," wept slave after slave. I drew away blankets, which had not fallen about the slaves. "Backs straight," I said. "Lift your heads. Peer straight ahead. Shake the hair behind your shoulders." I looked about, from one slave to another. It was pleasant to do so. "Shoulders back," I said. "Suck in your belly. Palms of your hands down on your thighs, firmly. Feel them there." "Please, Master," sobbed a girl. "We are high slaves!" "Many of us were once of high caste!" said another. "Split your knees," I said. "Master!" wept a girl. "Wider," I said. She was before me, in position, kneeling back on her heels, her back straight, her head up, looking ahead, the palms of her hands down on her thighs, her knees spread, this making clear the nature of her bondage. "Position," I said. She went to position, kneeling back on her heels, her back straight her belly in, her shoulders back, her head up the palms of her hands down on her thighs. One does not break "position" without permission. "Position," called a fellow himself descending from the ship splashing, and wading to shore. So, cold, wet, and shivering, miserable, we went to "position," kneeling back on our heels, our backs straight, our heads up looking ahead, our knees spread, as the slaves we were, the palms of our hands down on our thighs. "Ai!" I cried, in misery, lashed at the side of the neck by a switch. He had come up behind me, from having brought a small barrel to shore. "Are you not to be in position, your eyes forward?" he inquired. "Yes, Master!" I said. "Forgive me, Master!" I had twisted about, just a little from time to time, to watch the men. "Ha!" he said. "And you two, your eyes are now forward!" "Yes, Master!" they said. Then they cried out, "Forgive me, Master!" I heard their cries, to my right, as the switch struck twice. I was not the only one, it seemed, who had been curious. The side of my neck stung. I had been reminded that a lapse from position, however slight is not acceptable. "Position!" he snapped. Instantly, reflexively, I went to position, kneeling back on my heels, back straight, head up hands palm down on thighs, looking forward, not meeting his eyes, knees spread.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 127 "Position," said Raymond of Ti. I then rose, as well as I could, back-braceleted, to a kneeling position. The simple command, "Position," unqualified, is commonly understood to have this import. How one kneels is determined by how one is understood, what sort of slave one is. I knelt with my knees closely together. I was not a pleasure slave. But, of course, any slave, in a sense, is a pleasure slave. She is a slave. I was back on my heels, my back straight, my head up, my hands braceleted behind me. "Position," said Tullius Quintus. As I was not a pleasure slave, I knelt with my knees closely together. I kept my head down, humbly. "Head up," he said. I lifted my head, but did not dare to meet his eyes. I tried to kneel better in "position." I was back on my heels, my hands, palms down, on my thighs, my back straight, my head up. My knees were closed. "Position," said he. Immediately I went to position. As he frowned, I hastened to spread my knees.
"You may do obeisance, my dear," said Kliomenes. The girl rose to her feet and went to Kliomenes. She knelt before him, on the dais, and put her head down. Gently, softly, she licked and kissed his feet. She then rose again to her feet, backed away, and then, on the tiles, again knelt. She put the palms of her hands on the tiles, and lowered her head to the tiles. Then she straightened up, her back straight, assuming the position of the pleasure slave, though keeping her head bowed, deferentially. She knelt before him, in her collar, in the basic position of the Gorean pleasure slave, back on her heels, her back straight, her head up, the palms of her hands on her thighs, her knees spread, widely. "Spread your knees," he said, "kneel straight, back on your heels, head up, palms of your hands down on your thighs." The slave began to tremble. "Head up!" he said. "Do you wish to be put in a high collar, to keep your head up?" "No, Master," she said, quickly. Such collars are common with Kur pets. They are also used from time to time in slave training. "Do you know in what position you have been placed?" he asked. Certainly this was a rhetorical question, for she would have learned this position in the pleasure cylinder, and Cabot, himself, in the pleasure cylinder, near Lake Fear, and elsewhere, had put her in it often enough. "The position of a Gorean pleasure slave," she said. The position of the pleasure slave, of course, is also respectful, but it is also provocative, and inviting. It must leave no doubt in the observer's mind as to what sort of slave she is. The palms of her hands are usually down on her thighs, and her head up, but, if she is petitioning caresses, as is not uncommon, the palms are usually up, the backs of the hands on the thighs. The palms, then, so offered to the master, with their exposed, sweet, sensitive cupping, the backs of the hands down on the thighs, as though bound to them, as though not permitted to leave them without permission, present a sign not difficult to read. Too, at the same time, the girl's head is usually lowered. This makes clear her humility and need, and how much she is at the mercy of the master, for the least touch. Variations, of course, occur. Sometimes, perhaps in markets, the girl will kneel with her wrists crossed behind her, as though bound, or will have her hands clasped behind the back of her head, or the back of her neck. This lifts the breasts, nicely. "You look well," he said, "kneeling as you are, naked, your hands braceleted behind you." "Thank you, Master," I said. "Still," he said, "I think you should kneel properly." "'Properly'?" I said. "Spread your knees," he said. "That is the position of the pleasure slave," I said. "You look well on your knees," he said. "Split them." "Please, no!" she said. "Now," he said. "And now, back on your heels, place your hands, palms down, on your thighs. Get your back straight, get your head up." Then the Lady Alexina, though free, was before him, in nadu, the position of a Gorean pleasure slave.
She stood in the position of the slave dance, a girl waiting to be commanded to please men.
Tribesmen of Gor Book 10 Page 214
Cabot had then fed her by hand, she in primary slave position, and with her knees spread, as she was that sort of slave. He also, in hand-feeding her, had required that she keep her hands, palms down, firmly, on her thighs.
"Lie down upon it," I told her, "on your back, your head to the floor." She did so. "No, please," she said, "not like this." It is a common position for a disciplinary slave rape. In it the woman feels very vulnerable, very helpless. "No, Master!" I said. "Turn about," he said. "Kneel down. Put your head to the ground, clasp your hands together, behind the back of your neck." "Yes, Master!" I wept. I hastened to obey. This is a common position for slave rape.
"Second obeisance position," he said. Ellen went prone, before him, her hands at the sides of her head. "Return me to my master!" she cried, putting herself to her belly, pleading, in second obeisance position, before Targo. The usual second obeisance position has the slave go to her belly, her hands on either side of her head. "Now," I said, "to second obeisance position." "Please," she protested, her head to the deck. "Must a command be repeated?" I inquired. "No!" she said. The repetition of a command is often a cause for discipline, and she was well aware of what that might involve. She was now on her belly before me, her hands at the sides of her head. It was also noted that now, before Pani warriors, they did not kneel, but prostrated themselves, putting themselves instantly, trembling, to second obeisance position, prone, hands to the sides of their head, eyes to the ground. "Second obeisance position," he said. Instantly I went to the second obeisance position. I did not wish to be again physically chastised for hesitation in responding to a free man's command. I now lay on my belly, prostrate before him. My hands were at the sides of my head, palms down. The most common second-obeisance position is to lie prone with the arms at the side of the head, but one sometimes sees the arms down, stretched back, at the sides of the of the body, commonly palms up. He then, mercilessly, rapidly, uttered a series of sharp commands, "Lesha!" "Inspection!" "First Obeisance!" "Second Obeisance!" "Tower!" "Bracelets!" "Sula!" "Nadu!" and others, to each of which the slave responded, without thought, instantly, reflexively, beautifully, at the conclusion of which she collapsed at his feet.
A girl who is commanded to make slave lips, or who receives the command, "Slave lips," must form her mouth for kissing. She then, commonly, is not permitted to break this lip position until either she kisses or is kissed. Needless to say, a girl cannot speak when her lips are in the unbroken, fully-pursed slave-lips position. The command which commonly follows the "Slave-lips" command is, "Please me."
I would then throw her her brief djellaba against the desert cold, and order her to a position of sleep.
"Stake position," said Ephialtes to the two women. Immediately they both lay down, with a sound of chain. It is not unusual to forbid a rent slave, during her use times, when chained at a stake, to rise even to her knees.
"Standard binding position," he said. I was prone. When a girl is prone, the standard binding position is to cross the wrists behind the back and to cross the ankles."
"Stay, Feiqa." "Yes, Master," she said. She would now keep her place, kneeling, as she was, until a free person might permit her to move.
She had risen and walked across the room, her feet bare on the stone floor, and dropped to her knees before me, lowering her head and lifting and extending her hands to me, the wrists crossed. The ritual significance of the gesture of submission was not lost on me; her wrists were offered to me, as if for binding. "Submit," I told them. They knelt before me, back on their heels, head down, arms lifted and extended, wrists crossed as though for binding. "I submit myself," said each, in turn. They need not be bound. They need not be collared. They need not even have spoken. The posture of submission itself, assumed by them before me, constituted them my slaves. They were now mine. Then suddenly one girl turned from the forest and fled to a crewman, kneeling before him, back on her heels, head down, arms extended, wrists crossed as though for binding. He gestured that she should rise and get into a longboat. She did so, his slave.
"Sula, Kajira!" said the man. She slid her legs from under her and lay on her back, her hands at her sides, palms up, her legs open. Why had he not, at least, issued the "Sula!" command? That was one of several commands she had been trained to respond to instantly. Upon hearing this command, the slave immediately assumes a supine position, her hands at her sides, palms up, her legs open. Why had he not, at least, issued the 'Sula!' command? That was one of several commands she had been trained to respond to instantly. Upon hearing this command, the slave immediately assumes a supine position, her hands at her sides, palms up, her legs open. The examination position, like bara, nadu, sula, and such, tends to arouse a slave. In a sense, the slave is helpless in such positions. Significance is woven into the fiber of such things. Meaning and symbolism reign. He then, mercilessly, rapidly, uttered a series of sharp commands, "Lesha!" "Inspection!" "First Obeisance!" "Second Obeisance!" "Tower!" "Bracelets!" "Sula!" "Nadu!" and others, to each of which the slave responded, without thought, instantly, reflexively, beautifully, at the conclusion of which she collapsed at his feet.
I did not give her the "thigh" or "brand" command, but I had little doubt she was now marked. In response to such a command those such as she must kneel on the right knee and extend the left leg gracefully, bared to the hip. The most common marking site on such as she is high on the left thigh, under the hip.
"You lifted your head from the tile position before free persons had passed you, Renata," he said.
"That is good," she said. She then crawled to me, and knelt before me. "That is the position of a tower slave," I said. "Oh," she said. The position of the tower slave, in most cities, is very similar to that of the pleasure slave. The major difference is that the tower slave, whose duties are commonly, primarily, domestic, kneels with her knees in a closed position, whereas the pleasure slave, in a symbolic recognition of the fuller nature of her bondage, and its most significant aspects, kneels with them in an open position. The tower slave, of course, like any other slave, is fully at the disposal of the master, in any and every way. The distinction between the tower slave and the pleasure slave, though honored in some markets, some specializing in girls sold primarily for housekeeping purposes and others in girls sold primarily for the pleasures of men, is not really a hard-and-fast distinction; it is not absolute; indeed, it can even be transitory. A girl who is ordered to open her knees, or who finds them kicked apart, for example, realizes that she has now become a pleasure slave. Similarly a girl in one context may function as one kind of slave and in another context, as another sort. Serving a supper to a young man and his mother, for example, the girl may appear merely efficient and deferential. She kneels nearby, her knees closed. After the mother departs, however, she may kneel differently before the young man, with her knees open... "You kneel," he said, "with your knees closely together." That was commonly referred to, for some reason, as the position of the tower slave. Girls, of course, may be commanded to one position or another. I did not know, at that time, why the position was referred to as the position of the tower slave. "Your knees!" said the Lady Bina. "Mistress?" said the slave. "Should they not be spread?" "She is in the presence of a free woman," said Cabot. "It is thus appropriate that she kneels in the Tower position." I held the cup of tea, and looked upon Cecily, who knelt before me. She knelt in the position of the tower slave, not that of the pleasure slave, as there was a free woman present. Cecily looked at me, shyly, and smiled. I, too, smiled. Well she knew that any beautiful woman on her knees, stripped and collared, is pleasant to look upon, in whatever position she kneels. The position of the Tower Slave is respectful, and demure. Further, she is usually well tunicked, or even robed. To be sure, her collar must always be visible. It would not do to confuse her with a free woman. I recalled that Ulrick had told me that certain kinds of slaves, house slaves, "tower slaves," and such, whatever they were, might kneel with their knees together, but I had also been informed that I, and the other girls, were not such slaves. "You kneel," he said, "with your knees closely together." That was commonly referred to, for some reason, as the position of the tower slave. Girls, of course, may be commanded to one position or another. I did not know, at that time, why the position was referred to as the position of the tower slave. "How shall I kneel?" she asked. "In the position of the tower slave," I said. She brought her knees together. "Position of the Tower Slave," I said, which position she immediately assumed, back straight, knees together, wrists before her, crossed, as though bound. "Lift your head," I said. In the Tower Position the head may be either bowed or raised. When in doubt the slave bows her head. He then, mercilessly, rapidly, uttered a series of sharp commands, "Lesha!" "Inspection!" "First Obeisance!" "Second Obeisance!" "Tower!" "Bracelets!" "Sula!" "Nadu!" and others, to each of which the slave responded, without thought, instantly, reflexively, beautifully, at the conclusion of which she collapsed at his feet.
In moments the slave, stripped, her wrists crossed and bound, and fastened over her head, to a stout, overhanging branch, that her beauty might be protected, that she might not be dashed against a post or tree trunk, was in whip position.
We saw a Kur leap up and seize a slave girl. He lifted her well above his head, by an arm and thigh. She was screaming, her body helpless, bent in a lovely bow. A warrior had seized the red slave by the hair and pulled her, twisting her, to her feet. He then held her before him, bent backwards, examining the sweet bow of her beauty. I then lifted her up, in effect kneeling her, and then bent her back, her head back to the dirt, that the warriors might assess the bow of her beauty. I then bent her back, one hand on a thigh, the other on the back of her collar, in a slave bow, for the inspection of the young fellows. He then put his left hand on the side of the captive's waist and, with her wrists enfolded in his grasp, bent her backwards, to exhibit the bow of her delights. He then, angrily, took the Lady Constanzia by the hair and bent her backwards, exhibiting the bow of her beauty. Then she felt his massive hand in her hair, tight, and he pulled her up to an erect kneeling position. She then felt her body, her hair in his grip, his left hand on her left knee, bent backward, until she was helpless before him; the 'slave bow,' as the expression is, of her vulnerable, owned beauty thusly exhibited for his attention, or assessment. The rope was then lifted and a length of it looped twice about the slave's neck and knotted there. In this fashion a single rope may be used for both binding and leashing. This is not all that unusual on Gor. One end secures the slave's wrists, the center collars her, and the remainder, the free end, serves as a leash or tether. It may also be used, of course, if one wishes to immobilize her, to fasten her ankles together. Her ankles may be simply bound or, if one wishes, tied closely to her wrists. That tie is sometimes spoken of, properly or not, as the 'slave bow.' It may be called that simply because the slave's wrists and ankles are bound together, and this bends her body, in a natural bow, or it may be called that because of a supposed analogy with exhibitory slave bows, in which, for example, on a slave block, a slave might be bent backward, or knelt, and her head drawn by the hair back to the floor, and so on. These exhibition bows are often utilized in showing the slave, as they accentuate the delights of her figure. There are a number of 'tethering slave bows,' of course, for example, for fastening a slave over a saddle, a wheel, a piece of furniture, or such. These diverse uses and meanings, of course, are not mutually exclusive, because a slave might well be displayed in a 'tethering slave bow.' Some conjecture that the original meaning of 'slave bow' has to do with exhibition. Accordingly, it is their speculation that the 'tethering slave bows' are derivative from that primary usage, that of exhibition. This would make sense because the 'tethering slave bows' certainly do exhibit the slave, as well as rendering her helpless. Others seem to feel that the basic meaning is that of a form of secure and revelatory binding, in which the slave is helplessly and delightfully displayed, and that the exhibitory usages of the expression are secondary, being founded upon, and derivative from, this more basic, original usage. On the other hand, as most suppose, and as seems most plausible to the slave, these usages may very well have been developed independently, both based on the obvious consequences on the slave's body of a certain form of handling or manner of binding. There seems to be some division among Goreans on this matter. And doubtless it is not of great importance. Please forgive this excursion into speculative etymology. Ellen finds such matters fascinating, perhaps in part because she has been so handled and so roped. What is perfectly clear and indisputable is that in Gorean 'slave bow', putting aside considerations of origin, derivation and chronology, and such, has the basic meaning of the forming of the slave's body into a bow, and two application meanings, one pertaining to a modality of exhibition and the other to a modality of binding. Abstract obscurity, as usual, vanishes in concrete context. As this phenomenon is common in many languages, it is not surprising that it should appear in Gorean, as well. A stripped free woman might, of course, be put in a 'slave bow,' without compromising the meaning of the expression. And the free woman might find this situation instructive, and anticipatory. "Let me see her," said Lord Grendel. Statius seized her by the hair and pulled her up, kneeling, so that Lord Grendel could see her face. "Bend her backward," said Cabot. This was done and the body of the Lady Bina was then placed in the position of the slave bow. Others had been placed in the slave bow. The item had been placed in the slave bow, bent backwards, the auctioneer's hand in her hair. A slave, apparently bent on an errand, hurried past, but turned, to look after my master. "Keep your eyes to yourself!" I hissed at her. "That will be enough of that," said my master, and then I cried out in pain, for my master had put his hand in my hair and I was bent back, helplessly, in the position of the slave bow, which position well accentuates a slave's figure. It is often used in auction houses and on slave shelves. The slave laughed merrily, and spun about, hurrying on. She tossed her head, looking away, and then she cried out, sharply, in pain. The massive hand of the slaver's man was twisted in her hair, cruelly. Her head was pulled far back, her body bent backwards, almost in the "slave bow," which so dramatically accentuates the excitements of a woman's figure. He then pulled me up by the hair, and I was half standing in the water, him behind me. I wanted to beg for mercy but could utter no sound. I then felt the sand of the marsh beneath my feet, and between my toes. He then bent me backward. I knew myself considered. I was held, as in the "slave bow." I was assessed, as the slave as I was, a purchasable female, curvaceous, vendible meat, fit to be exhibited on the slave block. How vulnerable this makes a woman feel, and yet, startlingly, reduced to the raw female of her, how thrilled she is, so aware then of her enticements and excitements, her desirability, her worth, that men may buy her, steal her, even kill for her, anything to own her, to number her amongst their possessions. "Yes," said he, "not without interest." |       
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