"They gave me their tongue, as they did you, I notice. They questioned
me much longer than you, as they thought I knew the Zervs might be
caught. I did not tell them much. But it was my fault that poor Holaf
was caught. I did know he was going to try to revive the Croen captive.
They wrung that out of me, and then put me in a room directly above this
one. I knew that you were below me from the talk of the guards. I made a
rope from the hangings and slipped down to see you. I may go back up
when I get ready."
She came toward me as she spoke, her hips undulating exquisitely, that
sultry smile of completely improper intent on her beautiful face. She
wore still the silkily gleaming black net in which I had first met her.
It was torn now and even more revealing.
I fixed my eyes on the wide web of linked emeralds at her throat to keep
my eyes from hers, for she had a disturbing power to make a man's head
swim and his will disappear. It was perhaps no greater power than many
another woman possesses, but to me she was particularly devastating. I
moved back as she came toward me, smiling a little, and said in spite of
my liking for her:
"Keep away from me, Zoorph! You will destroy my soul!"
She laughed huskily.
"What is a soul or so to the passion that could burn us, my Carl? Do you
really fear me, stranger from a strange people? Don't you know how much
I thirst to drink of your lips! Look at me, you coward. Are you afraid
of a woman? Don't you know how curious I am as to how you of this planet
make love? I who am a student of love, am most curious about you. Stand
still. Here we are prisoners, about to die, perhaps, and you refuse me
one sup of pleasure before we die? You are a cruel, and a spineless
creature. I despise you, and yet I want you very much."
I kept backing away, around the room, and she pursued me at arm's
length, her long graceful legs dramatically striding, making of her
pursuit a humorous burlesque, yet I knew she was quite serious about it.
If little Nokomee had not warned me against her, I might have succumbed
then and there, for, as she said--"What good is a tomorrow that may
never exist for us?"
"What did you come for, Carna? To make a fool of me?"
"I thought we might try to escape again, but this pretty queen of the
accursed Schrees has charmed you to her will, and I must await a better
opportunity. But that does not prevent me from trying to outdo her
attraction for you. Do you love her already, Carl?"
"Of course not, I just met her."
This was utterly ridiculous, yet it was a lot of fun and I could see no
real reason why I should resist Carna's advances. To me she was about
the most attractive woman I had ever met, and I might never see her
again. I gave up my retreat, seized the girl almost roughly in my arms,
bent her back with a savage, long-drawn kiss and embrace. Then I
released her, to see what she would make of an earthman's kiss.
She stood for an instant, her hand pressed to her lips, her eyes wide
with surprise, one hand raised as if to push me away. Then she giggled
like a young girl, and put both hands on my shoulders.
"So that is what you call love, strange one? Shall I show you how we of
far-off Calmar do the first steps of courtship?"
"That would be interesting," I said huskily, my lips burning.
Her voice became low and penetrating.
"You will be two, yet alone, above the all." She said other words whose
meanings I did not know. My head swam, my soul seemed to be floating in
a sea of new and strange emotions. I sank into a dream state, and with
her low suggestive words in my ears, a new world came gradually into
form about us, we were two lovers walking among plumed fern-trees,
beside deliciously tinkling streams, the songs of birds rang like little
bells all about. I was conscious of her warm lips upon my own and of her
eyes like two deep dark pools in which my own gaze swam and sank and
rose.
Suddenly a rude, loud voice broke in, the dream of paradise vanished
from about us.
Before us stood Genner, his face angry, and in the wall I saw the panel
by which he had entered where I had thought was only blank wall. He
cried:
"You, Zoorph, I had thought not to interfere. But you are not going to
enslave this man to your will. We need him, and your people need him
too, and what you do is not right, for you know as well as I that if he
falls entirely under your spell he will be left no will of his own!"
Carna, not even abashed at the intrusion, almost spit as she angrily
retorted:
"What is the difference whose will he obeys so long as it is what we all
desire that gets accomplished? He would be better off with my
experienced direction than with his own ignorance of our ways, in
anything you plan. Do you think I want to be left out? Do you think I do
not desire freedom from the Jivros, too? Do you think I want to be made
into a mindless thing when I fail to please them?"
"Never mind; get back where you came from. This man is our ally, not our
slave, and your behavior is bad. I will hold this against you. Go!" He
pointed at the window with one rigid, outstretched arm, and Carna moved
slowly away, saying:
"No, Prince, do not think me an enemy! It is only that my heart _is_
moved toward this strange one, I wanted him _very_ much, and how else
can a Zoorph love than as she has been taught?"
The prince smiled at her words, his arm fell to his side.
"Very well, little temptress. Kiss your love goodbye. It may be a long
time before I let you see him again. If he desires it, you may meet
later on. But I will warn him, so that he does not become your slave."
"I would not rob him of his self, my Prince. I have an affection for
this one!"
"We will see that you do not, sweet Carna. Now get out, and be quick.
The time approaches."
She darted to my side, where I sat still bewildered by the eerie yet
utterly delightful experience with the witchery of a Zoorph, pressed
burning lips to my own, caressed my cheek with her fingertips, gave my
hand a quite American squeeze. Then I watched her slender legs swing up
and out of sight as she went up her improvised ladder hand over hand.
She was athletic as a dancer.
"Whew," I said, passing my hand over my heated face, and grinning at the
Prince.
"Yes, whew! If it had not been for me you would have become her
property, for they are very accomplished in making people do what they
want."
"Hypnotism, developed beyond anything I ever heard of! It must be
hereditary, such power!" I mused aloud. Genner answered as if I spoke to
him.
"The word hypnotism I know not, I guess you mean what we call Zoorph. It
is a cult, teaching the art of enslaving others to your will. But she is
a good girl, and her Zoorph qualities are not evil. For your own sake,
remember always to hold yourself in check, or she will automatically
become your mistress. A man does not like to be a slave even to so
charming a mistress."