One day, a girl saw the Ubar sitting on His porch, and decided to approach, and ask Him a question. After kneeling, and greeting, she asked Him, 'Master, will the winter be cold?' this girl was new to Gor, and had not been through a Gorean winter.
'yes, Gorean winters are always cold', replied the Ubar. 'Master, is there anything that this girl can do help prepare for the winter?', the kajira responded. the Ubar smiled down on the small figure, pleased that she was trying to think of the best for the clan. 'Yes, girl, for the next few hands, after you do your morning chores, go out onto the plains and gather dung, try to help fill the storage wagons'. The girl slides back, and nods her understanding. The next morning, after her chores, she set off and began gathering sack after sack of dung.
A couple days passed, and the Ubar began to ponder. Maybe this winter would be colder than most. He decided to travel to Turia, and speak to the representative of the Priest-Kings. He saddled up one of His tarn, and flew to the city. After paying the fee, He sat behind a screen and asked His question, 'Will this be a cold winter?' He heard the representative speaking into a handset, and then He was told, 'Yes, it will be a cold winter'. The Ubar flew back to the camp, deep in thought.
After a few hands, the slave happened upon the Ubar again, and knelt. 'Master, will this winter be really cold?' The Ubar looked down on the girl kneeling in front of Him, and pondered, again. The Priest-Kings did say that it would be a cold winter, maybe it will be colder than most. He came to a quick decision, and issued His instructions. 'Girl, tomorrow, after your morning chores, I want you to gather three Or of your sisters, and you will all gather dung. Also, each of you should recruit a thrall to help '. The girl nodded her understanding, and backed away. That night, she spread the word in the kajira kennel wagon, and, in the morning, thirty kajira, each accompanied by a thrall, headed out to the herds of bosk to gather dung. Over the next few days, the sacks of dung began to fill all of the dung wagons.
The Ubar watched the labor of the slaves with some concern, a lot of effort was being expended, but it could save the clan if the winter was truly cold. He decided to consult with the Priest-Kings again, and flew back to Turia. His brow was furrowed with concern as He consulted with the representative, and again heard the man speaking into some device. The man returned, and speaking through the screen said, 'Yes, this winter will be colder than most'. The Ubar flew back, deep in thought, concerned with the future of His people.
A few hands later, the girl sees the Ubar at the main furs, and kneels. 'Master, will this winter be colder than any other on record', she asks in her little voice. The Ubar rubs His temples, the Priest-Kings did say that it would be a colder than normal winter. Thinking back on past winters, He realizes that one can never be too well prepared. He stands, and looks down on the girl. 'Pass the word, little one. All slaves that are not already assigned essential tasks are to gather dung, until further notice'. The girl nods her understanding, and during the evening the word is passed between all of the kajira and thrall kennel wagons. The next morning, several thousand slaves head out, towards all points of the compass, and dung bags soon fill the regular wagons, and the reserve wagons start to take on the extra bags.
The Ubar is still unsettled, seeing that some other tasks are being neglected, but the dung sacks represent heat and life during the winter. He decides to consult with the Priest-Kings again. His brow is troubled as He makes the long flight to Turia, and strides up the steps to the Priest-Kings representative. Two double gold tarn disks are handed over, and He poses His question. 'Will this winter be the coldest on record for Gor?' Again, the Ubar hears the man speaking into a handset, and then the representative returns to the screen. 'Yes, this winter will be the coldest ever on record. The Priest-Kings say that the Tuchuk are gathering dung like crazy'.
(With my utmost apologies...)
Leda
