"But you did not use me," she said.

"No," I said.

"Because I was free?" she asked.

"I suppose so," I said. "I did not know how attractive you were, of course."

(pg. 403) "Had you known," she asked, "would you have used me?"

"I do not know," I said. "Perhaps I am only human."

"Is that why you have dressed me as you have?" she asked. She looked down, demurely, pulling down at the short hem of the leather she wore.

"Yes," I said.

"This is very revealing," she said. She pulled together the sides of the neckline, closing the garment there to some extent.

"Yes," I admitted.

"It bares my arms and shoulders," she said. "That would generally be done only with a slave."

"True," I admitted. She did not mention it, but it was not merely her arms and shoulders which were bared. Once could see a good bit of her legs, a sweet suggestion of her shapely breasts and, at the sides, going to the waist, a high slash of thigh.

She looked at me.

"It is a bit large," I said. The hostess had been a larger woman than she.

She pulled it more closely about herself. This more accentuated her figure.

"You put me in this garment," she said. "And it is the sort of garment a slave might be put in."

"Probably not in leather, however," I said.

She nodded. Leather is generally not permitted to slaves. Softer and more feminine fabrics, silk, rep-cloth, and such, often brief and clinging, not only stunningly attractive and aesthetically pleasing, but also indictive of, and reflective of, their subjection to masculine domination, are generally required of them.

"But I see what you mean," I said.

"Do you think I am a slave?" she asked.

"Of course not," I said.

"Oh, I do not mean legally," she said. "I mean really."

"Oh," I said, "then of course."

"Of course," she said.

"Yes," I said.

(pg. 404) "Beware!" she said. "I am a free woman!"

"Not really," I said.

"Not really?" she asked.

"No," I said. "You are really a slave. All you lack are some minor legal technicalities, such as a collar."

"This garment," she said, looking down, quickly. "It is so brief, so revealing. It makes me feel so strange."

I shrugged.

"How dare you have put me n such a garment?" she asked.

"It pleased me," I said.

"It calls attention to my sexuality," she said.

"It calls attention, at least," I said, "to the potentiality of your sexuality."

"Am I beautiful?" she asked.

"Yes," I said.

"Am I sexually desirable?" she asked.

"Yes," I said.

"Am I beautiful enough and sexually desirable enough," she asked, "to be a slave?"

"That is a strange question for a free woman to ask," I said.

"Am I?" she asked.

"Yes," I said.

"Thank you for rescuing me," she said.

"You are welcome," I said.

"Could you really have carried me into slavery," she asked, "as you intimated in the alcove?"

"I could still do so," I said. "We are not far from the Street of Brands. Within the Ahn I could deliver you into the clutches and metal of a slaver. He would take one look at you, as you are now, and there would be no questions asked."

"You would then get money for me?" she said.

"Yes," I said.

"But it is not your intention to do so?" she asked.

"No," I said.

"Why not?" she asked.

"I do not need the money," I said.

"Please," she said.

(pg. 405) "You are free," I shrugged.

"It is cold," she said, shivering.

"It will grow warmer later in the day," I said.

"What time do you think it is?" she asked.

"Somewhere between the fourth and the fifth Ahn," I said.

"It is so cold," she said, "and so dark and gray."

I turned away.

"Wait!" she called.

I turned back. "What?" I asked.

"I do not live in that direction," she said.

"So?" I said.

"Where then are you going?" she asked.

"To my room," I said. "It is late."

"No!" she said.

"No?" I asked.

"No," she said. "Aren't you going to take me home?"

"Can you find your way home from here?" I asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Then do so," I said.

"Wait!" she called.

"Yes?" I said.

"See how I am clad!" she said.

"I do see," I said.

"I cannot go through the streets like this," she said.

"Many women," I said, "in collars, go through the streets with much less, and in full daylight, among crowds."

"They are slaves!" she said.

"And so, too, really," I said, "are you."

She looked at me, angrily.

"Would you rather do it naked?" I asked. "That can be arranged." I took a step towards her.

"No!" she said, putting out her hand, stepping back.

"Very well," I said. It did amuse me to think of her trying to make her way back to wherever she lived, probably a good way from here, as she seemed an educated, refined, perhaps affluent woman.

"What if I am surprised?" she said. "What if I am caught? What if slavers pick me up?"

(pg. 406) "I really do not think there is much chance of that," I said, "not at the present hour, with it getting light. This is not an ideal hour, too, as you are probably aware, for the practice of activities such as slaving, raping, capturing and such. It is just too miserably early. Don't you really think so? What self-respecting rapist or slaver would be abroad at this hour? What would he expect to find? A miniature domestic sleen among the garbage cans? A brawny teamster bringing in produce from the country? Similarly I assume you live in a frequently patrolled, well-to-do district. I really do not believe you will be in any danger whatsoever. Run along."

"Run along?" she said.

"Yes," I said.

"Just because I am dressed like this, do you think you can dismiss me like a slave?"

"I would go while I can," I said.

She looked at me, suddenly. "This is the Alley of the Slave Brothels of Ludmilla," she said. "Escort me at least back to the Avenue of Turia."

"Very well," I said.

She then led the way back across the street, to the opening between the buildings, one of several which joined the Avenue of Turia, in this section, with the Alley of the Slave Brothels of Ludmilla. She walked well before me. A few yards into the passageway, which was winding, and about a hundred yards long, with some side passages, she stopped, and turned, and faced me.

"I am cold," she said.

"Oh?" I said.

"Put your arms about me," she said.

I did so. She fitted well within them.

"Is that better?" I asked.

"Yes," she said. She looked up at me. "You have saved me from an unspeakable fate," she said, "one worse than death, that of a man having his way with me, against my will."