Players of Gor by John Norman Page B

gesturing to the girl, bound hand and foot on the cushion, the wallet tied at her dollar.
    "A drugged slave," I said.
    "Was she unconscious when you entered the booth?"
    "Yes," I said.
    "Then she probably would not be able to give helpful witness," he said.
    "She might know who drugged her," I said.
    "Presumbably she would only know that it was some fellow in a mast," said Samos. "Too, it may bery well have been done to her by her master, Vart, whose booth this is, he doing this under instructions."
    "We could contact Vart," I said.
    "The fellow to whom he rented the booth would presumably have been masked," said Samos. "It is, after all, carnival time. I doubt that Vart would be able to help us. Besides he is not noted, anyway, for his excessive concern for scrupulosity in his business dealings."
    "What, then, do you think?" I asked.
    "The signs, it seems to me," said Samos, "suggest a calculated ambush and one in which your friend here was probably implicated."
    "I agree," I said. "You are thinking, then, in terms of a carefully planned robbery?"
    "Not really," said Samos. "All things considered, such as the coins in his wallet, robbery sems to me, at least, to be a very unlikely motive for this attack."
    "What could have been the possible motivation then?" I asked.
    "I do no know," he said. "Who do you know who might wish to hav this done?" he asked.
    "I do not know," I said. "What did you wish to see me about?"
    His face clouded.
    "You wish to speak to me," I said.
    "Yes," he said.
    "Let us leave the booth," I suggested.
    "No," he said. "Not now. I must speak to you privately in any case. This place is as good as any. Then we will leave the booth separately. It would not be good for us to be seen together at this time."
    "Why not?" I asked.
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    "I fear spies," he said.
    "The spies of Kurii?" I asked.
    "No," he said.
    "Of whom, then?" I asked, puzzled.
    "Of Priest-Kings," he said.
    "I do not understand," I said, puzzled.
    "I think there is a new order in the Sardar," he said. "I suspect it."
    "That is possible," I granted him. I remembered the tale of Yngvar the Far-Traveled.
    "Twice, rather recently, I have heard from the Sardar," he said, "once some ten days ago, and once yesterday."
    "What is the import of these messages?" I inquired.
    "They pertain to the arrest and detention of one who is reputed to be an enemy of Priest-Kings."
    "Who is he?" I inquired. "Perhaps I can be of assistance in his apprehension."
    "His name," said Samos, "is Tarl Cabot."
    "That is absurd!" I said.
    "When the first message arrived, some day ago, I was certain there was some grievous error involved. I sent back to the Sarder for confirmation, if only to buy time."
    "It is no wonder you were so uneasy when I ws in your holding," I said.
    "I wanted to speak to you," he said, "but did not know if I should do so. I thought it best, finally, not to do so. If the whole thing turned out to be a mistake, as I was sure it would, we could then, at a later date, no harm done, have a fine laugh over the matter."
    "But yesterday," I said, "the confirmation arrived."
    "Yes," he said, "and the terms of the orders are unmistakable."
    "What are you going to do?" I asked. "I am unarmed. Doubtless you have men outside."
    "Do not be silly," he said. "We are friends and we have stood together with blades before enemies. I would betray Priest-Kings before I owuld betray you."
    "You are a brave man," I said, "to risk the wrath of Priest-Kings."
    "The most they can take is my life," he said, "and if I were to lose my honor, even that would be worthless."
    "What are you going to do?" I asked.
    "I am sure," he said, "that this whole business is founded on some mistake, that it can be rectified, but the orders are clear. But I will need time."
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    "What are you going to to?" I asked.
    "I shall send a report to the Sardar tomorrow," he said, "dated tomorrow. I shall inform the Sardar that I am unable to carry out their orders for I am unable to loacte you,