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interestingly, the many affinities between their languages suggest a common
ancestor.
The distinction between dialects and languages, as the dialectical
divergencies increase, can become, at times, almost arbitrary. Most people,
for what it is worth, regard Fleer and Kaiila as different languages.
Certainly the Fleer and Kaiila do, and few see much profit in arguing the
point with them.
"Wopeton," said Grunt, pointing to me. "Wopeton,"
he said, pointing to himself. This is the word in both Dust Leg and Kaiila for
a trader, or merchant.
The fellow did not drop his lance into the attack position, grasping it
firmly, anchoring it under his right arm.
"Do not move," said Grunt.
The fellow then, kicking back with his heels into the flanks of his kaiila,
moved his beast about us, and our party.
"Stand straight," called Grunt to the coffle, which now, in our pause, had put
down its burdens.
"Keep your heads up, but do not meet his eyes. It
is you who are the merchandise, the beauties, the slaves, not he. It is not
yours to examine, but to be examined, not yours to consider, but to be
considered."
I thought Grunt was wise not to have the girls look into the eyes of the Fleer
warrior. Such an exchange of glances, or looks, can be like an electric shock,
an encounter almost fearfully significant. Who knows what each might recognize
in the eyes of the other? Does she see in his eyes that he is one such as
might be her master? Does he see in her eyes that she is one who could not
help but acknowledge herself, and soon, despite what she might now take to be
her desires, his helpless and natural slave? Sometimes, at as little as a
meeting of eyes, masters and slaves know one another. "I
must have her. She is mine," he tells himself. "I
belong to him. I am his slave," her heart whispers to her.
This matter of eye contact is interesting and has many facets. One of the most
initially frightening and disturbing things to Earth women brought to Gor as
slaves is the way Gorean men look at them. They are not used to being looked
at as women, truly, with appraisal, desire and ownership. This tends, in the
beginning, when they are still new to their collar, to confuse and frighten
them, but also, of course, as it will continue to do, and even more
powerfully, to stimulate them. It is the first time that they have found
themselves in the order of nature, and as what they are, and it is the first
time that they have found themselves being looked at, frankly, and honestly,
within the order of nature, and as what they are, females, appropriate objects
of male predation and desire. This recognition of her femaleness, and this joy
in release and self-discovery, often comes as a stunning revelation to the
Earth female. Never again, once having discovered this, does she retreat to
the conditioned ideals of neuterism and pseudomasculinity, nor, indeed, even
if she desired to do so, would her masters permit it. Sometimes in training,
incidentally, or as a discipline or punishment, the slave is not permitted to
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look into the eyes of the master. Indeed, sometimes, in training, she is not
permitted to raise her eyes
above the belt of the trainer. Also, it must be recognized that many slaves
often, and perhaps all slaves sometimes, find it difficult to look into the
eyes of the master. He, after all, holds total power over them and they fear
to displease him.
What if he should interpret her gaze as suggesting the least insubordination
or insolence? Are they truly prepared to have the soles of their feet lashed
or to live on bread crusts for the next five days? But, on the other hand,
there is, on Gor, in circles of the mastery, no discouragement, commonly, of
eye contact between masters and slaves.
Indeed, in the deep and profound relationships of love and bondage, such eye
contact is usually welcomed and encouraged. What can be understood of the
glances of masters and slaves by those who have been united only in lesser
relationships? Too, to be sure, from the practical point of view, it is useful
for a girl to be able to look into the eyes of the master. In this way she may
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