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possible strategies.” I placed the ring and the papers in my robes.
    “I am optimistic,” said Samos.
    “I, too,” I said.
    “But beware of Shaba,” he said. “He is a brilliant man. He will not be easily fooled.”
    Samos and I stood up.
    “It is curious,” I said, “that the rings were never duplicated.”
    “Doubtless there is a reason,” said Samos.
    I nodded. That was doubtless true.
    We went toward the door of his hall, but stopped before we reached the heavy door.
    Samos wished to speak.
    “Captain,” said he.
    “Yes, Captain,” said I.
    “Do not go into the interior, beyond Schendi,” said Samos. “That is the country of Bila Huruma.”
    “I understand him to be a great ubar,” I said.
    “He is also a very dangerous man,” said Samos, “and these are difficult times.”
    “He is a man of vision,” I said.
    “And pitiless greed,” said Samos.
    “But a man of vision,” I reminded him. “Is he not intending to join the Ushindi and Ngao with a canal, cut through the marshes, which, then, might be drained?”
    “Work on such a project is already proceeding,” said Samos.
    “That is vision,” I said, “and ambition.”
    “Of course,” said Samos. “Such a canal would be an inestimable commercial and military achievement. The Ua, holding the secret of the interior, flows into the Ngao, which, by a canal, would be joined with Ushindi. Into Ushindi flows the Cartius proper, the subequatorial Cartius. Out of Ushindi flow the Kamba and the Nyoka, and those flow to Thassa.”
    “It would be an incredible achievement,” I marveled.
    “Beware of Bila Huruma,” said Samos.
    “I expect to have no dealings with him,” I said.
    “The pole and platform below, on which is held prisoner our lovely guest,” said Samos, “was suggested to me by a peacekeeping device of Ella Huruma. In Lake Ushindi, in certain areas frequented by tharlarion, there are high poles. Criminals, political prisoners, and such are rowed to these poles and left there, clinging to them. There are no platforms on the poles.”
    “I understand,” I said.
    “But I think you have nothing to fear,” said Samos, “if you remain within the borders of Schendi itself.”
    I nodded. Schendi was a free port, administered by black merchants, members of the caste of merchants. It was also the home port of the League of Black Slavers but their predations were commonly restricted to the high seas and coastal towns well north and south of Schendi. Like most large-scale slaving operations they had the good sense to spare their own environs.
    “Good luck, Captain,” said Samos.
    We clasped hands.
    As we exited from his hall, Samos spoke to one of the guards outside the huge double doors. “Linda,” he said.
    “Yes, Captain,” said the guard, and left, moving down the hall. The Earth slave, Linda, was not kept in the pens. She was kept in the kennels off the kitchens. In spite of this she wore only the common house collar. Too, she was allotted a full share of domestic duties. Samos did not pamper his slaves, even those who knelt often at his slave ring.
    I thought of the girl below, imprisoned on the tiny platform in the tharlarion cell. She would have the ring on her neck removed and then be placed in a slave sack and taken to the house of Bejar. I supposed that Bejar, or the slaver to whom he sold her, and the others, would mark her slave.
    How piteously and helplessly she had clung to the pole. She had already begun to learn that Gor was not Earth.
    “I wish you well, Captain,” I said to Samos.
    “I wish you well, Captain,” said he to me. Again we clasped hands and then I strode from him, down the hallway toward the double gates leading from his house. At the first of the two gates, the one which consists of bars, while awaiting its opening, I glanced back.
    Samos was no longer in sight, having gone to his chambers. A guard was in the hallway, with his spear.
    The gate of bars was unlocked and I slipped through. It