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Barbarian World

By: Wifetheif



"We will make history as the first in depth field work on Spika Five. Not many barbarian cultures are as much of an enigma."

"Mark, I know you look the part but there is too much about that planet's customs we do not know."

"Which is why exploratory field work is a necessity, Doctor Baines!"

"They don't take well to outsiders. If you are not successful in blending in, they will kill you. If you are dead, no data makes it back to earth. You DO realize that you will have to go in on your own? After what happened on Barnard's Star Six, this university is not likely to sponsor an official field trip,"

"I realize that, Doctor, Baines but the data we come home with will be so rich that the university will have a treasure trove the envy of every university in this hemisphere."

"We?"

"Yes I will be traveling with Amy Landis. She excels at writing. We can also look out for each other."

"Hold on. You are taking a woman to Spika Five?"

"Of course! If we don't get the female perspective our job will only be half done."

"Mark, you DO realize that taking women to that planet borders on foolhardy."

"Amy is fully aware of the dangers."

"Yes," replied an increasingly exasperated Doctor Baines, "the dangers we know about. The Spikans are very secretive."

"Which is WHY we have to study them!"

The elder man threw up his hands, "Mark, I see that your mind is made up. Field work like you want to do should best be done by those who have a bit more maturity, experience, and dare I say. a bit more tact. You are very gifted at field work Samuels. In some ways you are the best student I ever had. I am afraid that you are biting off more than you can chew. Why don't you wait about five years or so? Do a preliminary study on a less hostile world. Work up to Spika Five."

"And get beaten to the punch by those jokers at Stanford or Harvard? Not a chance!" 

The elder man emitted a heavy sigh and said, "How well do you know Amy? Spika Five is going to generate some very close living conditions and a loss of most of your privacy."

"Amy and I are not a couple, if that is what you are asking. To be honest, she is a bit to strident and independent for my tastes but she is fully committed to the project." 

"I take it that she will at least wear the collar of obedience and will show proper deference to you while you are in the field?" asked the professor, aghast.

"Well no. We know that not all women are collared on Spika Five. An anyway, Amy's not the sort of woman to humble herself before a man." 

The professor, gasped even louder and said, "Then she is completely wrong for the assignment! Mark, I must protest this idea with as much vehemence as I can generate. Neither of you understands the seriousness of the dangers you face."

The tall graduates student rose on his heels, accentuating his height as he stood next to his professor.

"Look, Doctor, Baines. Amy and I are committed to our project. I had come to seek your blessing but with summer upon us, we can spend almost three full months in the field whether you approve of our trip or not. Amy and I have already bought our tickets and we already sent the supplies we need to the embassy. Both of us are more than ready to do an outstanding job." 

Professor Baines ran his hands through his graying hair, thought for a long time, and finally said,

"I suppose there is nothing that I can do to convince you to cancel or at least delay your trip. Since you are bound and determined to go, let me fill you in with the latest that we know about Spika Five and about how your reports should be filed." 

Several hours later the middle aged professor sat down for coffee with his students. At Doctor Baines's insistence, Mark Samuels had called Amy Landis so that she could be present for his instructions as well. The professor took a look at his two headstrong proteges. Mark Samuels was tall, 188 centimeters, he was well muscled from constant exercise. His full head of curly brown hair was envied by many men. Mark's skin had a healthy tan from lots of time in the sun. Baines, who tended to paunchy greatly admired his student's physique. "On that planet of barbarians, he will blend in perfectly." The professor thought to himself.

He was more concerned about Amy Landis. He remembered her from some of his lectures but she was really the protege of one of professor Baines' colleagues. Despite her severe, dowdy attire, it was very clear that she was quite well built and very pretty. Rather petite, her large green eyes were probably her best feature. Either that or her flowing red hair and peaches and cream complexion. Such a woman was very much desired on earth and would attract much attention from the barbarians. It was she that Virgil Baines was most concerned about. He had little doubt that Mark could take care of himself, but if they were to become separated from each other ... Every scenario, Baines imagined in that event was quite ugly. Doctor Baines decided to emphasize the dangers she faced.

"Amy, you may think me old fashioned but I have grave reservations about you traveling to Spika Five. While Mark may be able to defend himself, if the two of you were to be separated you could find yourself at the mercy of some rather large and quite hormonal men."

Amy met her professor's intense stare with one of her own. "I am not afraid of any man, Doctor Baines. Even without Mark, I can take care of myself. I may be small but I have taken courses in self-defense. Besides, if we do not get the female perspective the job is only half done."

"Be that as it may, Amy. It would still be extremely wise for you to wear the collar and defer to Mark." 

Amy looked indignant as she replied,

"My parents didn't raise me to be deferential to ANY man. I am traveling with Mark because it is next to impossible for me to travel on my own. Besides, Mark and I are going as observers, we do not intend to do enough mingling with the locals to cause much of a stir. I will be traveling as a female shaman. Women such as those are not collared on Spika Five, so my not wearing one will be immaterial."

Over the next several weeks, Professor Baines continued to try and deter the young people, but he knew that he was fighting a losing battle. On the bright side, they seemed to listen to his instruction and took copious notes which they later both committed to memory. Even though Virgil Baines grew queasy whenever he pictured the duo on Spika Five, he felt that he had prepared them as much as humanly possible. Still, he was not able to shake his nagging doubts as he accompanied them to the local spaceport. With a heavy heart he watched the silver ship vanish into the heavens and wondered if he would see either of the headstrong young people again.

Because they would be living together on Spika Five, and because it saved on ticket prices, Amy and Mark shared a small cabin on the outward journey. Mark had his first inklings of regret while trying to live with Amy. The petite redheaded woman and the tall brown haired young man did not mesh well. Even simple requests from Mark turned Amy cross and full of sass. She accused Mark of all sorts of male chauvinist crimes. She objected to Mark's occasional but very necessary nudity. Amy on the other hand, did not expose a millimeter of skin. Mark wondered how Amy would cope in scanty skirts and tight tops all women on Spika Five wore. True female shaman wore a good deal more but still ... Seemingly the only concession she made for the outward trip was agreeing to share the small bed with Mark. 

Amy dressed in voluminous clothing when the two shared the bed. If Mark wrapped himself tightly about Amy during the night, she would kick and slap him until his grip loosened. Mark spent the majority of his time on the lounge watching the stars roll past.

One of those times in the lounge Mark was greeted by a familiar face. An older retired man who was a part time astronomer, spent nearly as much time in the lounge as Mark. The two often fell into casual conversation.

"What's wrong, Mark? Women problems again?" Asked the pleasant, retired man.

The day had been especially trying and Mark flashed a brief grin and nodded his head.

"It's a real shame that your honeymoon is off to such a bad start. I've seen your missus, she's quite the peach. If I were you I'd be doing everything I could to make her happy.."

Mark did not feel like launching a detailed explanation of the mission that awaited himself and Amy so he simply replied,

"I just don't get Amy. I'm not a bad guy, other women like me, but she seems to think I'm an ogre. NOTHING I do is right, from the way I sleep to the way I chew my food."

"How's the sex, young man?" 

Mark's silence caused an expression of sympathy to dart across the older man's face.

"I see. Well, I may be stepping out of bounds here, but it seems to me that the more fucking a couple does, the less fighting they do. If you ask me, you should be making love to that woman, not sitting out here with an old man watching the stars appear and disappear on the viewing screen."

"It isn't that..." began Mark in reply.

"Fine, I'll shut up. But whatever the problem is between the two of you, you need to iron it out and fast."

Mark fell silent and at last the old man took the hint and left the lounge. A short time later Mark made his way back to the tiny cabin. He did not knock on the door. Amy was sitting, watching a drama on the screen above the door. Mark saw Amy's smiling face and he could scarcely believe how beautiful she was when not frowning. Mark knew that Amy was a man hater, but he never imagined just how frosty their relationship would become. "We need to trust each other if we are going to have a successful field trip." thought Mark, but Amy's hatred, made it difficult for him to even converse with her.

Amy spied Mark in the open door and her face instantly became its familiar mask of hostility. "Oh. You are back. If you want you can watch the program with me but stay on your side of the bed and keep your comments to a minimum."

After the show ended, Mark ventured a question. "Why do you hate me Amy?"

"I don't hate you Mark, I just resent your presence. You take up all the space in the cabin, are very male in your habits and are extremely loud. If I could do this trip alone I would. I resent the patriarchal system of worlds like Spika Five. I resent that the barbarians of that world enslave their women and think only of the lusts of their own flesh. I want to tell the story of these objectified and captive women. They should be a shining reminder to ALL of the inhabited worlds of just how far women have come and how far they still have to go. If there is any sign of dissension among the women of Spika Five, I am going to flame it. I want to turn it into the fires of rebellion,"

"Amy we are just supposed to go and observe, not meddle."

"Promoting woman's autonomy is NEVER meddling, Mark. You look just like the barbarians of that world and you think just like them as well!"

"That's not fair, Amy!" replied Mark vehemently

"Perhaps not, but it IS accurate. When we get to Spika Five you will be ogling the women just like the Neanderthals that live there! You'll want to go native and experience them in EVERY way and that disgusts me! Believe it or not, I don't hate you Mark. I just find you far too male for my tastes. When I am interested in a man he lets me lead and asks for nothing that I do not want to give. I believe in female superiority and any man who I deign to allow into my life will also believe in my natural superiority without question. You, on the other hand, are not fit to catch so much as whiff of my panties!"

Mark's mouth fell open in mixture of shame and rage. He sat many moments gazing at Amy, his emotions flowing like a rapid tide.

"Close your mouth and come to bed, Mark. We make landfall tomorrow and both of us should be as rested as we can be." said Amy as she chuckled to herself over Mark's discomfort.

At the remote embassy Mark came very close to calling off the venture. But the rage that it would inspire in Amy if he backed out now was one of the most terrifying images Mark's mind had ever conceived. He bit his tongue and went about loading the wagon behind the beast of burden. Offworlders called them Rocs but the locals called them Manta. They were the bipedal avian, the natives used them for everything from clothing to food and bedding.

Mark was amazed at how comfortable the trunks, made from the skin of the same beast, that he now wore, were. The warm blue sun cast a pinkish hue on everything. Mark adjusted the rest of his clothing, what there was of it. About his neck he wore a loose red scarf that signified a male warrior of age. About his waist he wore a broad leather belt with a dagger and a large broadsword dangling from it. Upon his feet, reed sandals.

He knew how Amy would be attired, still her appearance was a shock. Her nice sized bust was wrapped lovingly in the tight Manta skin. Mark could discern the outline of Amy's fine nipples through the fabric. The leather skirt Amy wore ended mid thigh. About her head, masking most of her face, Amy wore the loose blue cloth denoting her as a priestess. On Amy's arms were various talismans befitting her rank as a shaman. Most disappointing to Mark, Amy next donned the wooden shaman, "cloak" that looked something like a chest protector from some earth sport, it hid all but the arms and neck of Amy's alluring form from view.

"Very good, Mark, you kept your tongue in your mouth and your ogling to a minimum." Amy mounted the small wagon and pointed off towards the west. "Now let's get started, the trek lanes are off in this direction."

Angry, that Amy was taking the leadership role but with no other option, he compelled the beast forward. Mark could not help but notice how absolutely perfect Amy's legs were as she sat next to him. "What a shame that she keeps such a fine body hidden all the time." thought Mark to himself. The two rode in silence for a while before Amy began chatting once more,

"This trail forks in about five kilometers. We follow the left fork until we reach Asean, where the pilgrims are assembling. We will travel with them to the idol of Samduk. As part of a small group we can travel and make in depth studies."

"Yes Master." Mark replied obediently.

"Don't be glib, Mark. It doesn't suit your personality." 

With the conversation expired, Mark gazed at the passing landscape. Spika Five was a quite beautiful world. Greenery covered much of the land broken up by occasional wide meadows. Wildflowers were in bloom and a few pink clouds scampered across the sky. Mark listened with an ear towards the forest. A dangerous beast, reminiscent of an earth bear, was known to patrol remote areas such as this. Proper reaction was to spur the Manta into flight but if stumbled upon too quickly, Mark might have to dispatch it with his sword. He hoped he was up to the task.

Before long, Amy and Mark's wagon met up with those of other pilgrims. Not even three dimensional projections could do justice to the beauty of the women of this planet. Never before had Mark seen so many enticing breasts and exquisitely turned legs. On earth, even the least attractive of them could be some of the most successful models on the planet. Surprisingly, Amy did not overly stand out. She was shorter than most, but was equally photogenic. 

To Mark's utter delight, the rolling motion of the wagons transmitted a delightful tremor through all of the female breasts. Out of the corner of his eye, Mark looked with supreme disgust at Amy's immobile wooden cloak. He would give just about anything to see her fine chest vibrating with the steady motion of the wagon.

Every other woman they spied was wearing a thick leather collar. Both Mark and Amy knew that the collars represented ownership and submission. Not much was known to outsiders about the life of women in the collar. Solving those mysteries were paramount on the mind of Amy and Mark. The did know that on Spika Five women came to covet their collars. Male warriors exchanged their women at communal gatherings. If a woman did not please her man properly, her warrior would remove her collar leaving her at the mercy of the elements. If another warrior did not choose to re-collar her and take her on, the woman could starve to death or be eaten by the ursine like beasts. Mark recalled the continual scowl Amy wore as professor Baines explained what was known of the intricacies of the collar.

"I'd rather die than submit myself to such an indignity." Amy had confided to Mark in one of their only deep conversations. While Mark knew that Amy's work would assist both of them, part of him wished that he were alone on this world and free to collar a woman of his own and then exchange her with the local men and enjoy every aspect of being a warrior on this world until he was completely sated. Mark could not help but notice that many of the women he passed gave him an appreciative eye. Amy they eyed with curiosity and something that appeared to be respect. For many kilometers the two rode under the hot sun. Mark tried to strike up a conversation but Amy cut him short.

"Mark, we have nothing in common other than a desire to do excellent field work on this planet. Until I have need of your admittedly superior skills, kindly be silent." 

Mark refrained from his desire to give Amy the slap she so richly deserved and tried to force the anger from his mind as he guided the beast along the well trod trail. 

At a watering hole, Mark steered the wagon to the river bank so that their thirsty beast could refresh itself. A group of women were preparing to cook a meal. They eyed Amy and one approached the wagon.

"Sister," she began, "The hunting has been uniformly poor and not all shall eat. Can you call down a prayer, to bless the hunt?"

Amy turned to face Mark her eyes shining. Behind the headscarf, Mark was sure that she was beaming ear to ear as she said, "Watch me work magic with the locals." Daintily, she dismounted the wagon and vanished into the nearby circle of women.

Hungrily, Mark eyed the lovely females. Aside from their beauty they possessed a uncomplicated air that was refreshing. As he watched them, it was clear that they placed their owner's needs above their own. Not a one of them appeared unhappy with or seemed coerced into their existence. The men also looked uniformly content. Truly, Mark thought, civilization, for all of its pluses, certainly had some major negatives.

The sounds of yelling brought Mark out of his reverie.

"Witch!"

"Fraud!"

"Blasphemer!" 

"Despoiler of the Goddess!"

Mark quickly deduced that the anger was coming from the knot of women encircling Amy. He heard Amy's suddenly elevated voice pleading a desperate defense of herself. Rather than listen to her an even louder voice said, "Strike the witch down!"

The enraged crowd tore at Amy's wooden cloak and many of the baubles on her arms scattered to the four winds. Someone threw a stone in Amy's direction and the scrum of women all bent to seek out more rocks. Mark knew exactly what would happen next. Seizing an opportunity that he knew would come only once, Mark sped the wagon to where Amy knelt, panic stricken, and pulled to a stop next to her. Amy was able to mount the wagon and Mark pulled away just as one member of the wild crowd tugged off Amy's headscarf, Amy hid her face and held fast to Mark as he sped down the trail as quickly as he could drive the beast. It was after dark before he felt it safe to stop. Only then did he begin to ask questions.

"What did you do?"

"I tried to inform those wretches that the goddess was punishing their men because they sought too much control of their women."

"Are you nuts! You can't undo centuries of belief just because it makes you uncomfortable. Now we are both in a pickle. Every warrior and every woman in the area is going to be on the lookout for you. It is a good thing they did not get a good view of your face. Still, the fact that you are not collared will give you away. If we try to return to the embassy, the fact that we are traveling in the wrong direction will arouse suspicion. We can't go forward because without your shaman attire, someone will challenge me for ownership of you. These people, as backward as you view them, have definite opinions as to how things should be. You blasphemed their goddess, the ONLY way for you to atone for that sin is with your life! We are screwed Amy. We can't go home without alerting everyone to who you are. We can't stay here because the pilgrims will catch up to us and we can't go forward."


Barbarian World



Mark heard real emotion in Amy's voice as she said "I'm sorry Mark. I guess I'm not cut out to be a crusader."

"No, but you ARE cut out to be a moron. I for one do not intend to die on this world. I look like nearly every other warrior on this planet so I can blend in."

Mark repeated the words "blend in" and then turned to Amy. 

"Blending in is our only chance Amy. I have a spare collar, as all warriors are required to carry several. If I collar you and we travel as a paired couple we can continue our work and save this expedition from disaster. Our field work can continue, just not under the guises we imagined."

"Me wear a collar?"

"It can't be as bad as being stoned to death, Amy. They are looking for a shaman NOT a collared slave."

"Oh, God, NO!"

Mark considered all of the indignities Amy had heaped upon him since this adventure began.

"Suit yourself, Amy. As I said, I can blend in. I can kick you off the wagon and leave you to your own devices. Think your "self-defense courses" can best a broadsword? If they don't stone you to death they WILL put you up for auction. I'm the one warrior on this planet who can return you to the embassy and home. Of course, I COULD simply say that you were killed in an accident. Perhaps you were eaten by a ferocious beast or tumbled off a cliff?. No one will have a reason to question my report on your "death." I will go on to publish my work, giving you a very sweet and sincere seeming tribute on the dedication page." 

Amy faced Mark, her eyes hot. "Back on earth I will denounce you for your threats, I'll get you kicked out of school and you'll never be able to work in our field again."

"Denounce me for what? Saving your life? Preventing your sale to a primitive? Getting you back to earth in one piece? Those things count a lot more than your umbrage and any 'liberties' I may have taken with your person. Amy, you have exactly five minutes to make up your mind. Afterward either you lie across my lap and accept my collar or get off this wagon. You are no longer in charge of this expedition, I am! Your report on the life of a collared slave will be far more interesting than a collection of shaman sermons would have been." 

"Oh, God, Mark, you are serious."

"Yes, I am, Amy. AND I expect full submission to me."

"You can go fuck yourself!" screamed Amy at the top of her lungs.

Mark unsheathed the broadsword from his belt.

"Well I suppose I have my answer. Now get off the wagon or I'll run you through with my weapon."

"Mark!" screamed Amy as Mark's blade glinted in the moonlight.

"I'm sure the local girls will be A LOT more affectionate to me than you have ever been." said Mark as he raised the blade.

"NO!"

Amy quickly dismounted the wagon and gasped as it began moving off into the darkness. Before long it was out of sight and Amy was alone with her panicked thoughts and the frightening sounds of the forest. Following the trail by moonlight, Amy soon lost all of her treasured composure. The realization that she would die chilled her. Would it be a beast of the forest? Would she linger until starvation and thirst took her? If the choice were the "hospitality" of a local barbarian or plunge off of a cliff or drowning herself in the river which would she pick? For the first time since she was a very young girl, Amy cried copious tears. 

After hours of panicked walking , the morning dawn revealed a wagon parked at the side of the trail. Warily Amy approached the vehicle. A small native tent stood not far from where the Manta was tied to a tree. Amy sought warmth from the rapidly dying fire. Her sojourn in the wilderness had made her sure of only one thing, She wanted to live. No matter what else happened to her, Amy wanted to see the sunrise. She wanted to return to her own world and she could never do that as a corpse. 

A naked warrior exited the tent and Amy tried to shrink away. Then she recognized the man.

"Mark?"

"Amy? Well, you have more grit than I imagined. If you are warm you can leave now." replied Mark menacingly,

"No, Mark. Please don't send me away."

"Are you prepared to take my collar, obey me and those in authority over you without evasion, or equivocation. Will you do EVERYTHING I tell you in order to survive and fit in on this world?"

Amy, bit her lip, stamped a sandaled foot and finally replied, "Yes Mark. Yes to all of your questions."

Mark stood by the door of the tent, sword in one hand. Making no effort to conceal his nudity he strode over to wagon and removed something from a compartment. With dread, yet without surprise, Amy noted that the object was a slave collar. Mark gathered up the object and sat on a large rock by the fire close to Amy.

"Very good, Lie across my lap and recite the oath of obedience and receive your first punishment."

Amy found her feet frozen in place for a time but at last she made the few steps between herself and Mark and threw herself across his naked lap.

"I Amy," she repeated at Mark's prompting, "pledge my body and soul to you, my warrior. Use me as you will, treat me as you wish. Keep me safe, clothe me, feed me, and discipline me and I shall be yours for as long as you desire."

"Very good, you WERE paying attention during Doctor Baines's lectures." After a beat, Mark continued, "I Mark, accept you, Amy as my Possession to use as I see fit and share in any way I choose. I shall feed, clothe, and discipline you as I see fit and keep you for as long as I desire."

The last ounce of protest escaped Amy in the form of a small sob as she felt the collar tighten about her neck. Amy knew full well the mechanics of the device. The clasp was designed to yield only under great pressure, few women, certainly not one the size of Amy, possessed the strength to open the collar. Only a warrior could remove it. Now, no matter how much Amy desired otherwise, the collar symbolized to residents of this world her status as chattel. From this point on, in order to survive, she had to become everything she despised. 

As Amy lay in Mark's lap, painfully aware of his current state of arousal, she was surprised to find that the man continued to pinon her arms and hands. Out of the morning dimness, like a lightning bolt, came the sudden impact of Mark's hand upon Amy's soft and sensual derriere. 

"This is your punishment for your arrogant behavior on the space liner and on earth. This is something that someone should have done to you for a very long time."

Amy screamed, first from shock and then from pain as her new 'owner" rained blow after blow on her posterior. It seemed to Amy a very long time indeed until Mark allowed her to slide off his lap to the ground. For the second time that night Amy cried.

Mark allowed her to remain in a pile and weep as he struck the tent and prepared the wagon for another day's journey. The sun had fully risen by the time the wagon was completely ready. Mark strode over to where Amy knelt. The tears had left her, but the woman felt bereft, the air of surety and her superior intellect were of no use to her now. Mark, handed her a cloth to wipe her face and a bit of food.

"I have done only what is necessary, Amy." he said coolly and deliberately.

Amy blew her nose, took a bite of the food and stared up at Mark. Following was something she had never done before. She was silent as Mark removed the last remnants of her shaman disguise and buried it in a hole off the trail. Without a word she mounted the wagon and took her place next to Mark. To her surprise her butt, while sore, was not too bruised for riding on the jostling wagon. Scarcely aware she was doing so, Amy rested her head on Mark's arm as they continued their journey. She was soon fast asleep. 

Mark reveled in the breathtaking morning ad he drove with the ravishing Amy resting against him. Even on the liner, Mark had noticed how utterly beautiful Amy was when she was asleep. As Mark drove the wagon he took as many opportunities as he could to gaze at Amy. Just as he had suspected, Amy's fine breasts quivered most delectably in the thin manta skin as the wagon bounced down the trail. Truth be told, he had often fantasized her in his collar. He began humming to himself as he realized that this expedition had suddenly become far more interesting. 

With the sun high in the sky, Mark pulled the wagon off the road to a watering place. Gently he woke Amy. The beautiful woman's green eyes opened slowly. A sudden look of remembrance and realization soon filled them. Amy pulled herself away from Mark and took a good look around.

"Where are we, Mark?'"

"That should be 'Where are we, Master?'" but I will let that slide right now. We are about twenty kilometers from where we were this morning. Other pilgrims should be arriving soon. We can blend in better with this new group of natives. It is also time to water the manta, get ourselves lunch, and answer nature's call."

Just as Mark finished speaking another wagon pulled alongside heir own. Amy gazed at the barbarian in the drivers seat. Te degree to which he resembled Mark was startling. Like mark he was large, dark, well muscled, and tan. The man stared back at Amy, who did not like what she saw in his eyes. Breaking the intensity of his stare, Amy gazed at his companion, she was blonde, blue eyed and a bit taller than herself. The strange woman flashed Amy a friendly smile and said, 

"Greetings fellow pilgrims. May we make camp with you.?"

Amy preferred to be alone but before she could raise an objection, Mark answered for both of them,

"It would be an honor and a pleasure friend, my tent is your tent."

With a giggle the blonde haired woman leaped to the ground and ran to take Amy's hand. Instinctively Amy accepted the proffered palm and stepped to ground herself. That Amy's life would never be the same became clear in the next words she heard.

The blonde woman turned to her warrior companion and said, "Master, can you watch out for us while we bathe? The road has made us quite filthy."

Only then Did Amy notice the thick coating of road dust, seemingly covering every inch of her skin.

"My Master calls me, Janna. What are you called?"

"Amy, I am called Amy" the college student from another world answered automatically.

On some level Amy understood that the large barbarian was a few steps behind them but everything seemed to be happening to someone else. A short distance from the place to water the beasts was a lovely pool of shimmering water. The pool would have been equally enticing on any world in the universe. Amy stared at the water, she could not understand why her thinking was so lethargic. She gazed uncomprehendingly as Janna shed her clothes and plunged into the pool. She splashed for a few moments before rising from the water and asking,

"Friend, Amy. Are you unwell? Do you need help undressing?"

Suddenly comprehending, Amy quickly stripped off her form hugging top and brief skirt and plunged into the very inviting pool. That a barbarian, a man whom she had only met moments ago, stood on the shore and watched the two of them scarcely seemed to matter. The water felt very nice indeed and Amy took delight in watching the grime roll off of her body.

Amy tried to remember who the last man to see her naked had been. It was several boyfriends at least. Amy had gone through a long string of men whom she had found unworthy of anything beyond kisses. Even those had been given resentfully. Amy could not help but notice that their barbarian guard was quite intensely examining her as she frolicked in the water. 

After they had enjoyed the pool for a while, laughing and playfully splashing each other, Janna announced,

"We must prepare the mid-day meal."

Before Amy could stop her, Janna had rinsed out both her own clothing and Amy's and thrown them over her shoulder. With no alternative, Amy strode naked back to where the wagons were parked. Mark could not believe his eyes as Amy came into view. Not even his most lucid fantasies could match the glory he now beheld. Amy's breasts were fine with light brown Areolas and sharp little nipples. Her long legs seemed carved from the purest ivory and beneath her taut muscular tummy, the red thatch of her womanhood looked supremely inviting. Mark felt himself stiffening.

Forcing his eyes away, his gaze hit upon Janna. Janna's body was every bit as enticing as Amy's. Her legs and butt were equally fine and her blue eyes dazzled. The hair on her head and loins reminded Mark of the freshest honey.

Doing what he understood was expected of him, Mark had busied himself setting up both his own tent and that of the stranger near the rocks that circled the communal fire ring. Janna threw her own and Amy wet clothing atop he tents to dry and then hurried to Amy's side. Mark could tell that his tent raising activity met the approval of his opposite number. Only now did the two men exchange greetings.

"Rusk!"

"Mark!"

The two men shook hands and carefully appraised each other while Janna, completely oblivious to her nudity, aided a rapidly becoming embarrassed Amy remove a portion of meat from Janna's wagon. Amy followed Janna's lead on autopilot. Much of her mind was still awash with memories of the previous evening, the sting in her buttocks had almost completely vanished yet Amy still felt it in ways beyond physical.

Rusk eyed Mark's handiwork and glanced at the busy women.

"Your female is quite enchanting. Have you owned her long, friend Mark?"

"No, not very long, friend Rusk." 

Rusk smiled and said, "My female shall make a request after sunset. I hope it is received with pleasure."

Mark fully understood what would be asked of him later. On the one hand Mark had hoped to be the fist to taste Amy's charms. On the other hand, nothing could demonstrate more fully his power over her and her need to completely rely upon Mark than presenting her to another man for his use. Mark took a long appreciative look at the gamboling Janna, and returned Rusk's smile. He would keep news of Amy's expectations for after nightfall to himself until the time was right.

Mark and Rusk each took turns bathing. One stood on shore while the other washed himself. A warrior never let his guard down for long. Mark could not help notice that naked, Rusk was quite the specimen. Though most would not have noticed much difference between them, Mark felt that the Spikan was stronger and tougher than himself. Mark knew that since he lacked the amount of battle experience of virtually any other barbarian, he could not defeat many in battle. The key to his own survival was to remain good natured and non-threatening. It was not hard to envision being pierced by Rusk's broadsword for saying the wrong thing or inadvertently insulting him. Once both had bathed they began to do more than exchange pleasantries.

Mark was amazed at how well he fell into easy conversation with Rusk. They appraised each others weapons, chatted about hunting, fishing, and the day's travels. Mid-way through their conversation, Mark humorously realized that he had had virtually the exact same conversation on earth countless times, the only difference being that, on earth, sports was thrown into the mix.

Amy followed Janna's lead as the two prepared a meal for all. As it happened Amy had a very good sense of what she should be doing. She had studies the known cooking habits of this world as she had not trusted that Mark would be willing to cook for her all the time. As she worked it occurred to her that their current opportunity far excelled their intended expedition. As anonymous warrior and slave they could fully integrate into the pilgrimage to the Idol of Samduk. All that was known about the pilgrimage was that it involved goddess worship of some kind and fertility rights. Dispelling the mystery would give Amy and Mark academic credibility that simply could not be bought. They had hoped to learn much as observers, but now they could learn far more.

Amy, tugged once at her collar, "Perhaps, Mark's original idea was not so foolish after all." thought Amy to herself. Further, the longer she conversed with Janna, the more Amy realized her own ignorance of so many aspects of this world. With a shudder she realized, that not even under the most ideal of circumstances, could she have passed for a shaman for long. Had Mark not come to her rescue, right now Amy would be either dead or languishing in some slave market. For the first time, Amy had an appreciation for Mark Samuels. That did not mean that she liked him any better or would not chafe under his authority. Amy recalled his recent treatment of her. It still stung. A quiet rage seethed in her, one she successfully kept hidden from Janna and everyone else. 

As the four ate, Amy found the meal especially delicious. She had properly seasoned the meat, and everyone raved about the flavor. Clad now in her dry clothing, Amy faced the sunset and truly appreciated its beauty. Ordinarily, pilgrims would have departed hours ago, but Rusk pointed out that more pilgrims would arrive in the morning and that would provide enough warriors for such niceties as hunting and wagon repair. To Amy's eyes, Rusk was not unattractive. Yes he resembled Mark a great deal but he seemed somehow more appealing and certainly, he was far less of a jerk. 

The sunset became early evening and Amy warmed herself by the fire. She ate the delicious yogurt of this world. Amy had failed to make on her every attempt in practice but Janna was skilled at the art. Amy paid rapt attention and now had a very good idea of what she had done wrong. She noted Janna dart into the tent where Mark was oiling and sharpening his sword. Moments later she stepped out and flashed Amy a knowing smile. A clammy feeling began to creep up Amy's spine.

"Slave Amy!" bellowed Mark from the tent.

Hating every step of the journey, at last Amy entered Mark's tent. Mark sat in the glowlight of the interior, a smug expression on his face. With a condescending tone he began,

"Janna has sent a request to me from her Master. I am inclined to honor it. Warrior Rusk desires use of you this night. You are to go and fulfill his every desire."

"I'm not yours to give away, you cretin!"

"On this world you most certainly ARE mine to give away as I choose. Have no fear, I shall be a benevolent master." 

Amy stared up at the cocky college student in warrior guise. She could tell that Mark was enjoying Amy's imagined predicament enormously. She took in his shit eating grin, his cocksure attitude, and his entire odious being. Amy squared her shoulders and responded in a way Mark was most assuredly NOT prepared for. 

"Better that barbarian's bed than yours! I would rather be pawed and used by a thousand barbarians than spend a single night with you doing nothing more scandalous than sleeping!"

Mark's jaw fell. He expected tears and pleading, resentment and at last contrition, If anything Amy seemed to hate him more than she did aboard the spaceship, "And I saved her life!" he thought to himself incredulously. Without a word, Amy exited the tent and strode the short distance to where Rusk and Janna waited. 

Janna and Rusk smiled when Amy appeared before their tent. The fact that both were glad to see her made Amy feel better about them and herself. Janna passed Amy with a skip in her step as she made her way to the other tent. Amy stared at the barbarian. The fact that he desired her and had asked Mark for permission to use her, meant that he must find Amy quite attractive. Amy thought Janna far prettier than herself so she was very pleased indeed that Rusk desired her. Amy gazed up at the Barbarian and returned his smile.

His grasp, when he embraced her, was surprisingly tender and gentle. Rusk's kiss upon Amy's lips was hot but not demanding. With no alternatives, Amy decided to simply relax in the huge man's arms. She felt certain that he would take what he desired, a fact that enraged her enormously, but Rusk was not Mark and that made all the difference. But then something very strange happened. 




Barbarian World



Rusk was supremely tender as he gently worked off Amy's clothing and his own. Rather than plunge in immediately, he worked his lava hot lips remarkably as they took an erotic tour of Amy's body. Building up to a laser of intensity, he was over her sex and working determinedly. Amy had always been difficult to please orally. Very few of her boyfriends had ever given her the cunnilingus she felt that she not only deserved but was entitled to. The barbarian however, seems to have a sixth sense about Amy's needs and desires. Like never before in her life, she was soon moaning with pleasure. 

Only after Amy had climaxed several times did Rusk plunge his massive manhood into Amy's secret place. His maleness filled her and Amy felt every stress and doubt leave her body. Never had Amy encountered this perfect package; gifted with both his tongue and tool. Amy felt him erupt deep inside her before he softened. As the barbarian watched the flush of orgasm depart from Amy, he held her close and stroked her. Amy's dreams that night were her best in years.

The first light of morning found Rusk gazing rapturously at Amy who returned his smile with one of her own. 

"Thank you, Master, Rusk, you are quite skilled and very tender." she purred contentedly

"And you, slave Amy, are a wonder in the sleeping furs." replied, Rusk with a tinge of awe in his voice.

Amy sat up naked in the furs and knelt before the naked, sitting barbarian,

"I need to properly thank you, Master" said Amy softly as her lips went to work on Rusk's impressive manhood. Amy could not help but notice there had not been a note of sarcasm or irony in her voice when she had used the word "Master." More avidly than she ever had , Amy set to work at the task of fellatio. Usually Amy found sucking cock a chore but, the barbarian had been so tender, giving, and gentle to her the previous night, that Amy was delighted to please him in return. Suddenly, Amy felt the hot cum in her mouth, unlike that of earthmen, it was not bitter, but rather buttery, and almost sweet. It slid delightedly down the earth girl's throat.

Rusk emitted a sound of pleasure and gently stroked Amy's hair and cheek.

"I can scarcely believe that a woman as wondrous as you breaths and walks anyplace besides my dreams. If you were mine, I would show you the sweetest love I was capable of. A woman such as you makes a warrior better in every way."

Amy considered Rusk's words and replied, "Why were you so tender with me, Master? Do not all warriors take what they desire and use women as they wish?"

"Who has told you such lies?" raged the barbarian. "A warrior is tender with a woman always. Even when he disciplines her he is gentle, never marking her. The goddess will not admit a warrior to the eternal hunting grounds if he has a bad reputation among the women. We keep slaves to protect and to treasure them. When we share our possessions, part of our soul covers them and guards them against the wiles of the enemy. It takes much protection for women to please the goddess as she is harsher to her own kind. How do you not know this? Has that tyrant, Mark been keeping you in ignorance? I shall run him through with my sword!" 

"No! Master!" After the anger in Rusk's eyes faded, Amy continued, " I care not for Master Mark but he is not mistreating me or keeping me ignorant. We come from a far land and many of your customs are new to us. I had listened to the words of old fishwives and bitter spinsters." 

At her words, Rusk's features brightened. "You are as puzzling as you are beautiful slave Amy. Come, the time is past for me to return you to your true Master." He bent and gathered up Amy's cast off clothing. The thought of returning to Mark, even of traveling with him, filled Amy with disgust. The only thing she wanted from he partner was his skill in filing reports and his art as an observer, both of those needs could be met through a few hours work each day.

"Buy me Master, Rusk!" cried Amy.

The barbarian stood and gazed down at Amy. "I gave my vow to Janna's father that I would never part with her. I pledged my life!"

"Not forever, Master Rusk." replied Amy. "Just until the pilgrimage is over. When we return to this spot you can sell me back to Master Mark. Since we will be traveling together, you can keep an eye on Janna. Her father did not tell you that you could not part with her for a short time did he? And despite the antipathy I feel for my master, for reasons that you would not understand I must visit with him two or three hours a day." 

"You have no passion for your warrior, wish to be rid of him, yet you also desire time with him every day?"

"It is the way of my people. I will NOT be in the sleeping furs with him."

Rusk thought a moment and said, "You realize that one of your coloring and beauty must be shared often by a warrior to elevate his renown amongst the wagons and to ensure that the goddess looks favorably upon her? You will be very blessed indeed by the shadow of many warriors by the time we return here. But for the honor of possessing and bedding you as often as the desire strikes us, I would be willing to surrender some time to the warrior Mark. You WILL keep your time of visit as short as possible or I will end them." 

Amy listened to the tall, dark warrior. She understood the full impact of his words. As far as Amy was concerned, even a thousand barbarians were preferable to a single night with Mark. Yet, Amy now understood that giving pleasure was as much a part of being a warrior as wielding a sword or killing game, The thought of other men like Rusk, intrigued and pleased Amy, even now her mind was constructing the comparative essay on their sexual attributes. 

"As you wish, Master, Rusk." 

"Are you nuts Amy?" asked Mark incredulously after Rusk had redressed and returned her.

"I prefer his touch to your presence."

"But I saved your life!" screamed mark

"That does not mean that I am going to spread my thighs for you in exchange. My gratitude to you will be expressed in the fantastic way I polish your prose and in my thanking you profusely at the awards ceremonies we attend. I will NEVER submit to you Mark. Unless you want your tent to be one large ice cube, your best alternative is to sell me to Rusk. Decide on a price that is fair. I will no doubt go up in value so work on attaining enough property to buy me back when the month is over." 

"I really really hate you Amy. Perhaps I won't buy you back."

"Yes you will. Our reports will only shine only if we work together. You need my prose writing skills and I need your data collection and observational talents. Without me you just turn in a fairly generic report that will not stand out. Without you, I have a beautifully written report, that is deficient in the data department. As much as we despise each other, we are linked."

"You realize that he will trade you around like sports cards amongst school kids?" said Mark settling down.

"Mark, I'd rather be ravaged by a thousand uncouth barbarians than submit to you in any way."

"Rusk must be hell in the sack."

Amy flushed and replied, "He is the most giving and loving man I have ever met. In some ways he is more sensitive than the best trained submissive on earth. I WILL admit that your initial idea of me wearing a collar was the proper approach and that I had some very deep misunderstandings about this world. I will not be so blind again."

Mark thought a moment and said, "It will be fun to own Janna. She really knows how to give a guy what he needs." 

"You are a pig, Mark and you will not keep Janna happy for long."

"One more crack like that and I won't buy you back." said Mark dejectedly.

"Yes you will, Mark; for the very reasons I enunciated. Now, before more pilgrims arrive, you and Rusk have to haggle over Janna and myself and then come to an agreement."

A short time later, Amy and Janna stood an arm's length apart, contemplating each others nudity. Slaves were sold naked as a social convention. Inexperienced Amy was far more nervous than Janna. Amy thought Janna held the advantages, she was taller, blue eyed and had larger breasts. As for Janna, she envied Amy her exotic hair color, her trim figure and her arresting eyes. Janna smiled at Amy and said,

"Our Masters will have a hard time coming to a decision, even if our sale is not permanent." 

Not far away, Rusk and Mark attempted to barter. Mark had several small kegs of rare liquor in his wagon. The kegs were a gift from a friend of his at the embassy. Instinctively Mark knew that he would need to retain at least three of the kegs to buy Amy back. On the other hand, Janna was quite valuable and meant a great deal to Rusk, but, since the sale was not permanent, Mark thought that he get her for a bit under market value. From the stores Mark produced a jeweled dagger. It was a mate of the one that Mark always wore, he had hoped to take both home as a souvenir of the trip.

Initially, Rusk set the bar very high for Janna so Mark applied the same pricing structure to Amy. Eventually each winnowed down their positions. Mark found that he had a real gift for haggling. He recalled he had last used that skill when he was a much younger man trading sports cards and nudie magazines with his friends. In the end Janna cost Mark his dagger, a quiver of spare arrows, a keg of the rare liquor and five gold coins. In exchange for Amy, Rusk delivered, seven gold coins, his spare long sword which needed repairs to the hilt, and a small keg of fermented, salted fish that was a much sought after delicacy which could double as cash. The two men shook hands over the deal, and then embraced. 

To seal the deal each woman provided a rousing session of fellatio to their new masters before they placed themselves into their master's laps and repeated the oath of bondage. Mark gazed hungrily at Amy as she worked. The fact that he would never experience Amy's charms in any way was finally hitting home. Mark realized that Amy might be the most beautiful woman he had ever met. His pain tore all the harder after the women swallowed their mouthfuls of seed. Mark could not help but notice that subsequent to this act, Amy repeated her vow with far more conviction and vigor than she had when Mark had first placed a collar about her neck. Only now were the women permitted to redress. Mark really hated seeing Amy cover up, the sight of her naked was beyond arousing. Mark wondered anew why the fetching college girl had such an antipathy for him. "I'm not an ogre, why does she see me as one?" He thought again, this time even more bitterly.

Amy and Janna exchanged wagons and each set to the task of making breakfast for their new owners. Janna smiled broadly at Mark and he beamed at her in return. "This world has some truly wonderful ideas that more places should adopt." though Mark as he eyed his new acquisition with pride. The women had just finished cleaning the dishes from the morning meal when a line of wagons entered the watering spot. Mark could not help but notice just how lovely some of the other female slaves were. Still, Mark knew that before the convoy set out again, that he would take Janna several times. 

Mark was amazed at how thoroughly he and Amy blended into the crowd of natives. Mark realized, that his and Amy's field work would be priceless, and likely talked about by generations of subsequent students. That knowledge thrilled him, but Mark realized that he would forgo all of that fame and success if he only Amy would consent to share the sleeping furs with him. He envied Rusk his easy way as he gently ordered Amy about. Amy's smiles appeared very broad and seemed quite genuine as she stood above the fire and warmed some food.

Mark also savored Janna's lean form. It was such a kick to have such a ravishing creature call him "Master" without a hint of sarcasm or resentment in her voice. After she had cleaned the dishes, Mark had Janna enter his tent for a moment so that he could make use of her. This time Mark was more solicitous of what his slave desired sexually than he had been their first time together. Truth be told, Amy's calling him a pig had stung Mark considerably. The last thing he wanted was to turn off Janna, to cause her to resent or despise him. Mark was determined to keep Janna happy and disprove Amy's prediction of their relationship. Janna's delighted moans and cries of gratitude, went a long way to convince Mark that he was on the right track. 

In all fourteen more wagons arrived in the watering spot. Mark and Rusk took their turns standing guard as the new arrivals bathed and set up their tents. The women were all staggeringly beautiful. Most were lithe blondes like Janna, a few were brown tressed, however, Amy's auburn locks were rather scarce. Through casual conversation, Mark learned that they were four days out of the city of Delliel, where the women would be expected to preform some task and then the next day all would arrive at the Gate of Samduk, beyond which the men could not pass The women would progress on to the idol while the men would await their return, exchanging stories and challenging each other with foot races, wrestling matches and shooting contests. Mark also understood that there would be a blessing of some sort from a priestess. All that off worlders understood about the trek to the idol was the barest outlines.

Amy and Mark, compared notes on what they had learned, as they wrote their reports in Mark's tent. 

Mark could not help but notice the complete change in Amy as they filed the reports. She was animated, funny, and made many helpful suggestions. "This Amy," thought Mark to himself, "really understands and appreciates me. This Amy is actually kind to me." For her part Amy, reveled in the technical abilities of Mark's mind. It was the only thing she admired about the overgrown boy. It was the only advantage over her that she would concede. As quickly as possible they completed their work and parted with a handshake.

Amy exited Mark's tent, strode over to where Rusk sat glowering, led him into his own tent, fell to her knees, opened Rusk's trunks and gave the barbarian a blow job that every male eye in the encampment would have envied had they been able to see through tent walls. Amy's service to the barbarian who owned her, and her promises of performances just like that one after each further visit to Mark's tent, greatly soothed the barbarian and made him far more tolerant of the time she spent with Mark. Amy felt so good after filing her reports and polishing Mark's prose that providing fellatio to her "owner" was not the last bit annoying. 

A short time later Mark joined most of the men for a hunting expedition. Mark knew he needed to bag something, Janna had prepared the last bit of meat for lunch. The party was ahead of the graduate student when a tumult went up through the men. An enraged ursine like beast came tearing out of a thicket of trees. The startled mass of men ahead of him hurried to take up attack positions, leaving Mark alone in the path of the beast. Mark knew that he had no hope of fleeing. Without the time to aim his bow Mark cast it away and hefted his broadsword. Functioning completely on instinct, Mark leveled the sword and buried the blade into the chest of the beast. Mark felt the searing pain of the beast's claws along his back before it collapsed in death atop of him. 

After a moment of blackness, Mark heard the tumult of his fellow hunters as they cheered his feat. The dozen men lifted the beast off of Mark and began the process of skinning and butchering the huge animal. Mark had earned prestige that could never have been purchased through his act of slaying the beast. The teeth and claws would be presented to him, these tokens functioned as a kind of currency in the barbarian world. Mark suddenly found himself a very rich man. 

Every one of the hunters clapped Mark on the back. There was now enough food for every mouth at the watering hole for quite a few days. The ranking warrior approached Mark, his smile glowing. In short order he explained to all present, how rare a deed it was for a warrior to kill such a ferocious beat unassisted.

"Friend Mark has earned the totem of the paw. Take a good look, you may not meet another such man in quite some time."

Mark hid his ignorance until he discerned what was to happen and what was expected of him. The totem of the paw was a tattoo placed on the left bicep of a deserving warrior. A smaller tattoo was placed high up on the right thigh of the warrior's woman. The tattoos imparted mystical power as the beasts represented so many sacred concepts and ideas. It was said that the totem of the paw was the very fingerprint of the goddess. There would be much feasting and merriment when the wagons arrived at the next camp for the night.

The ranking warrior took the initiate from all of the others and offered Mark his woman for the night. Janna, after she was marked, would be wrestled for. The first night with a woman bearing the paw was a high honor and every man would strive for it. 

As the men returned to the camp the women greeted them with cheers and praise. Once Janna discovered what Mark had done, she threw herself at his feet and praised him profusely. A woman marked by the paw was more valuable than one unmarked. Viewed as lucky, she could never be abandoned or sent to the open slave markets and would have final say as to who she was sold to. It is said, that the goddess looked upon her marked sisters with the most gentility. As far as men were concerned, women marked with the paw were vessels of good fortune and a man could hope for no higher honor than to bed a woman who bore the paw.

All of the women lined up to give Mark a deep kiss. Even Amy preformed the task but her buss of Mark's lips was the least sexy kiss he had ever experienced. "Even my grandmother kissed me with more passion than Amy." thought mark to himself. Then he forced the thought away, intent on not letting the bad feeling ruin what was a fantastic night.

. Mark's glance took in the wagons. He understood that, ordinarily, children would be part of wagon life but the pilgrimage to the statue of Marduk was only for couples. Amy and Mark had both learned that the children were being tended by older women and men in the villages. Janna had confided to Mark that she was sad that she had not had a child as yet. The trek to the goddess was one expected to be performed at least once by every woman on Spika Five, but it had added poignancy for those with fertility problems. Mark wondered if Amy was up to date with her prophylactic injections, otherwise she might be taking a surprise package back to earth. Mark wore a spontaneous smile when he realized that Amy was the very type of woman who would expect her submissive male partners to assume all of the responsibility for birth control. "It would fit Amy very nicely for her to go home knocked up." The though was a very pleasant one indeed. 

After the beast was butchered and the meat equally distributed the fourteen wagons broke camp and progressed their way to the next way station. Janna hugged Mark close the entire trip. They kissed so often that mark had difficulty keeping the manta on the trail. His action with his sword had undeniably altered her life for the better. When the small group of wagons set up camp at nightfall, Mark realized that both himself and Janna would become very different people in the eyes of virtually everyone they met. 

Some time later a crowd gathered by the communal fire ring around Mark and Janna. Both master and slave were naked, even Janna's collar had been removed. A paw marked woman wore no symbol of servitude on this first night. For the only time in her life, Janna was considered "free' and under full protection of the goddess. That protection would fade when the sun rose and she would return to Mark's collar, but so long as the moon and stars held sway, she was the property of no one. Janna reveled in the fact that, for this evening at least, she was the envy of every man and woman in sight. 




Barbarian World



Two adepts came forward with the tattooing implements. The skill was passed from father to son. Tattooing was a rare event, but a a very sacred and holy one. The ink had been manufactured from the bile of the beast that Mark had killed mixed with iron shavings. The three eldest female slaves stepped forward with a bucket and some soap and carefully washed Mark head to toe. The three eldest male warriors preformed the same task for Janna. While their skin was still wet the tattooing process began. Just as on earth it was considered a sign of weakness to indicate that the procedure was in any way painful. Jana held Mark's hand and squeezed it tight while the adepts worked. 

In only a few minutes a fine outline of a bear like paw was adorning Mark's arm. He gazed with pleasure at the permanent addition to his body. Dimly, he saw a future version of himself showing off the tattoo when on the lecture circuit. He also took a look at smaller tracing on Janna's thigh. It really did compliment her fair skin and blonde hair rather well. Scanning the witnesses, Mark spied Amy, clearly to Mark but no one else, she was taking copious notes. Mark wondered if Amy was unhappy that it was not she who was being tattooed. 

The eldest warrior then escorted Janna to a torch lit circle just below a wagon. Janna would sit on the seat of the wagon, above the circle and watch virtually every man battle for the right to take her into their sleeping furs. Her smile was the widest Mark had ever seen.

The ranking warrior Danth, who had offered Mark his slave, approached next. He took Mark's hand and led him to his Danth's tent. Tonight the warrior would stay awake all night, guarding his tent with a spear and sword. With an appreciative nod, Mark slid into Danth's tent. The woman awaiting him was staggeringly beautiful even by the standards of this world. Naked save her collar, she was a strawberry blond with gray eyes and magnificent breasts. Her legs were long and lithe and her strawberry tinged pussy seemed to Mark one of the most beautiful he had ever encountered.

"Master Mark, on behalf of my warrior I give myself to you. It is hoped that you will find great pleasure in my company. I am yours to command. You shall not sleep tonight for your duty is to bless me with your presence and fill my womb until dawn. It is the hope of both myself and my warrior that you shall place a gifted tiny warrior within my loins." 

Mark was weary in ways he scarcely believed possible when dawn arrived. He had lost count of the number of orgasms he had enjoyed as well as the number of orgasms he had given to Danth's woman. He felt certain that he would not be able to get it up again for at least a week. Danth threw open the tent, he and the woman exchanged a last kiss and Mark delightedly ambled over to his wagon. He was just pulling on his trunks when the warrior who had won Janna arrived holding her hand.

The toll of battle was obvious on the young warrior. His eyes had been blackened and quite obviously, his nose had been fractured, scratches and bruises covered much of his muscular body. Still he grinned broadly. Janna wore a smile of satisfaction and contentment that pleased Mark enormously. The young warrior laid Janna across Mark's lap and she repeated the oath of service as he fastened the collar around her neck.. Janna rose to her feet and allowed Mark to dress her. Now to those not in the know, she appeared to be just another slave. The tattoo upon her thigh however, was her entree into a new and more wonderful life. From this day forward, when she shed her clothes, an event that happened often amongst the wagon people, she would be set apart as different. She would always command a high price and the respect of others, even as an old woman. Any man who owned her could never be poor. Visible tattoos like the paw or the shield, were among the reasons that slaves were exchanged naked. A man could never plead ignorance that his woman was marked.

Janna embraced Mark and kissed him deeply. She gestured toward the tent and Mark, despite his weariness smiled. He followed the woman he owned into his tent. The orgasm that followed was the simultaneously the most painful and most satisfying of his life.

The next three days moved far too fast for Mark. His new status meant that warriors were offering him the most desirable of slaves. Sometimes, to placate the men, Mark had to preform four or more times a day. The warriors in return were tickled to receive Janna in exchange. There was barely time to write up his adventures and consult with Amy each day. Mark was actually quite proud of himself for not ignoring the scientific purpose of his visit.

Amy was disgusted over Mark's new found fame. Never having hunted anything, even in a video game, Amy had no appreciation for the very real danger that mark had faced or the enormity of his quick thinking, To her it was so much carrying on over a dead beast, even though Amy fully understood the spiritual importance of the beast that Mark had killed. Truth be told, Amy was also jealous that her own desirability had been eclipsed by both Mark and Janna. 

Amy found herself shared quite often. Rusk usually made use of her twice during the day and traded her at dusk. Despite their apparent sameness of the warriors, Amy still enthused to the novelty of every fresh encounter. Amy had never thought it possible that men such as the ones who populated this planet existed. Not a one was content with himself or would allow himself to sleep unless he had gotten several orgasms out of Amy. To the barbarians, a woman's orgasm was a divine visit from the goddess, to elicit one from a woman was to reap heavenly blessings. The warriors believed that for each orgasm they provided a woman, the goddess would bless them with an eternal gift beyond description. There was no man as dejected in a warrior's camp than those to whom the goddess paid no visit. Word quickly got around if a warrior was incapable of pleasing a woman. These men were mocked. It is said that after these failures passed on the goddess used them for bricks surrounding the eternal hunting fields, useless for almost anything in the next world. 

Because of this, every warrior male strove to e the best lover he could possibly be. Amy was amazed. Naked they looked very much alike but each prided himself on his own technique. If Amy had encountered men such as these on earth she would have grown up loving men and deferring to them rather than tolerating them and commanding the few that were worthy of bedding her. "If college girls from earth came to this planet for spring break," an amused Amy thought to herself, "not a one of them would go home again."

At last the wagons arrived at the outskirts of of the city of Delliel. Mark and Amy found their small convoy absorbed into a mass of thousands of wagons. A large number of uniformed men directed the wagons to a plain just inside the wall of the city. What happened here was a total mystery to Amy and Mark. They knew that it involved the women and had something to do with the Idol of Samduk, but that was all. 

Confessing her ignorance, Amy got Janna to be her partner and to lead her through the process. Mark and Rusk parked their wagons very close to each other and the men listened as Amy spoke. 

"We don our sacred purses and go to the city in hopes of filling it. We will need six coins for the goddess or we can go no further in our journey. You should have no problem filling your purse Amy."

The sacred purse turned out to be a small leather bag with a strap worn over the shoulder. Amy and Mark had puzzled over the purpose of the artifact back when they had first been fitted out at the embassy. Not one of the diplomats could enlighten the college students now the lights went on and Amy understood.

"Oh I see, since slaves have no money, we must earn it by satisfying the men of this city. By why can not our master's simply give us the fee?"

Janna looked at Amy as though she were a child, "Because this is the way the goddess prefers it. We must earn with our own abilities the fee for the Idol of Samduk. The only men permitted there are eunuch priests. To accept money from your warrior to pay your tribute is a gross insult to the goddess. Did they not teach you anything in your homelands, Amy?"

Mark and Janna exchanged kisses as did Amy and Rusk before the women disappeared into the torrent of females entering the city. The uniformed men opened gates in the wall surrounding the plain and the sound of music and revelry could be heard on the other side.

Amy and Janna held hands in order to not lose each other in the tumult. The city of Delliel had broad streets and impressive architecture. What were obviously grog shops lined the streets fronting large buildings, that Amy understood to be hotels. Apparently this street and the buildings were mostly used once a year. Amy realized that she was a hooker. One with a sacred quest, but a hooker all the same. Only her desire to see the Idol of Samduk and to unveil every last mystery prevented Amy from turning around and leaving the city. 

Janna led Amy to a grog house that looked promising. Inside the men tended to be shorter, paunchier and, in many case, balder than the warriors. Almost all of them were uniformly ugly, truly handsome men were few and far between.

"These men are surely not warriors. If they can they will cheat you as well, try to get the money up front. If you earn more than six coins we can share them with some of our more unfortunate sisters. The goddess said, 'Even the fairest and most blessed woman will have a detestable duty one day.' That verse was clearly meant for time such as these."

Presently, Janna and Amy were being chatted up by two men well into middle age. One reminded Amy a great deal of Doctor Baines. That is if Doctor baines were fatter, balder, and had wretched teeth. One of the men brought grog for all of them the quartet sat at a small table. 

"Now we could talk all night', said the older of the men, "but you ladies have a quota to meet and I have a goal of seeing how many of you lovely ladies I can bed tonight. I have two coins burning a hole in my pocket, who wants them?"

Janna raised her hand and the ugly man led her off. As he left, Amy heard him say, "You get one coin when your clothes come off and another coin afterwards IF I am happy."

Amy turned and faced the man across the table from her. "Well sweetheart, I am in a generous mood tonight. Suck my cock and swallow I'll give you two coins. If you care to linger and let me take you the old fashioned way, I will give you another coin for a total of three."

Amy hesitated and the man's mood changed.

"Look sister, this is a seller's market and prices are best they are going to be right now. By dawn, some of your warrior slut sisters will be hustling for half a coin!"

Attempting to swallow the gorge that was making its way up her esophagus Amy stood and let the foul man lead her upstairs. The room was as spartan as possible. A lantern hung above a simple fabric bed.

"Strip for me beautiful. Let me see every inch of you."

Amy looked askance at the man who had entered the room with him. She was grateful that the gloom of the lighting prevented the man from really seeing her face. Sighing loudly Amy stood beneath the lantern and began removing her skimpy clothing, when she was in just her reed sandals the man said,

"You are really beautiful. Now come sit on the bed and suck my cock." The faster you get to work the faster your get the money. The man removed his hand from his pocket and displayed three small gold coins. 

Feeling miserable, Amy fished out the man's stubby penis and set to work with as much enthusiasm as she could muster under the circumstances. Amy was almost relieved when the man turned out to have a hair trigger. To Amy's considerable disappointment the men of Delliel tasted nothing like the planet's warriors. 

Amy held out her hand and the man placed two of the coins in it. The man insisted on holding Amy close and gracing her with unwanted kisses while he waited for his stubby tool to recharge. Amy was aware that she was wasting time as she needed six coins by dawn. Just before she was about to get up, throw her clothes on, and exit the room the man became fully erect. Hating every moment of the experience, Amy mounted the recumbent man and rode him until he came. The middle aged man promptly fell asleep, Amy, now deeply offended as well as angry, pried open the man's fist and retrieved her third coin. Dressing as quickly as possible my made her way downstairs to the grog hall once more.

It took Amy four trips to various rooms at the top of the stairs before she earned her sixth coin. One man had darted out afterwards without paying her. One the other hand one man had been generous and made up for the deficit of the "dine and dash." Miracle of miracles Amy was able to find Janna once both had completed their unsavory tasks. To her surprise Amy had a surplus of coins. 

"I ventured into another grog hall and stumbled into a group of men preparing for a wedding. The men were very generous and most were actually young and handsome. It was actually fun to sleep with all of them" she touched her tattoo through her skirt and said, "It is the blessing of the paw. Best of all now I can help out our less fortunate sisters. The goddess will look with even more favor upon me. How was your night?"

"Not as good as yours." replied Amy, "but at least I can now offer proper tribute to the goddess." 

Amy helped Janna distribute her windfall to several very grateful women before they joined the tide of female slaves exiting the gates to return to the wagons. With much difficulty, Amy and Janna found the wagons of Mark and Rusk. The men were very happy to see them. Comprehending, a bit, the ordeal that their women had been through, Mark and Rusk made breakfast for all of them. The mood at the barbarian wagons was subdued. Every warrior understood that their women had been used the previous night. The fact that it had been part of the way of doing things for as long as anyone could remember, made no one feel any better. 

Mark and Amy discerned a possible anthropological reason for the Delliel Bacchanalia. The wagon people and the urban peoples rarely interacted. Even though they shared the same planet both moved mostly in proscribed orbits. Rituals such as the encounters in Delliel helped diversify the gene pool. Not every woman returned to the wagons after their night on the town. Some met with mischief but many more, in failing to accumulate the required number of coins, dejectedly stayed behind. Puzzling out what became of these women, Amy was able to deduce that most of them had their collars removed by the new men in their lives and became artisans or merchants. There were many simple jobs in the city for one fresh from the fields. For the barbarian wagon people, if the number of females among them fell below the necessary numbers, outlying unguarded towns were raided. Movement between the big cities and outlying towns was rather fluid. It was not unknown for a woman to fail in her quest, end up in a town only to be recaptured by the barbarians in a later raiding party. Men did not move as casually between the realms but it could occur. 

Amy tried to force the unpleasantness from her mind and focus on the next day's arrival at the Gate of Samduk. The men were all keyed up. The games and the absence of the women would let the warriors really cut loose. Liquors were set to be shared, stories exchanged and the sexual abilities of various slaves compared. For the women it was a profoundly sacred event. As this was Janna's first trip to the idol, she could not diminish the obscurity of the rituals ahead of them. Janna said the best clue was in a phrase of the goddess, "You arrive naked and leave more naked." Only shaman priestesses and eunuch priests knew the goddess fully and had a clear understanding of her often cited purported writings, and he number of those were kept deliberately low. A warrior could go months without seeing a female shaman. He could go his entire life and never meet a priest. 

The bad memories of Delliel faded as the town vanished over the horizon. Beyond the city were vast plains of grass and rocky tors. Beast not unlike the earth's bison grazed innocently in the fields. The Barbarians took a few of these beasts. Some were distributed as food among the wagons but most was saved to become a sacrifice for the goddess.

Neither Amy nor Mark could scarce believe their eyes when they arrived at the gate of Samduk. It was huge, at least twenty meters high and ran for many kilometers as far as the eye could see. Castrated priests were the only men permitted to enter. It was death for any man to even touch the gate. Sufficiently awed, Amy and Mark waited for the huge gate to open.

A short while later every slave had gathered in the vastness in front of the wagons. At noon, the sound of horns was heard and the gate slowly, majestically swung open. Out of the shadow of the gate came a dozen female shaman. There was a raised dais near the gate that was obviously constructed for the purpose of addressing crowds such as the one assembled. One of the shaman climbed the dais and began speaking. Everyone fell silent.

"Sisters, you have journeyed long and suffered hardships to make it to this point. Your quest is nearly at an end. What goes on beyond this gate, is for the eyes of the goddess alone. Men, unless they are properly neutered are unfit to even look upon her face. I can not promise that all of you who desire children will meet the favor of the goddess. However, your journey here ensures you a place in the kingdom of the goddess. At the end of your days she will welcome you to the eternal hunting ground where the men never fail, the sun never sets, and the desires unmet in this world will be fulfilled."

After a pause the shaman announced.

"Naked you will face the goddess, as it is written, 'You arrive naked and leave more naked.' the meaning of that verse will be clear to you at the end of the day. Now sisters, make a line in front of the other priestess present. Remove your clothes and deposit them upon the ground as you enter the gate. Once all of you women are inside, the gate will close and I shall address the men."

Mark and Rusk wore the same expression as they witnessed the thousands of women shed their clothing at the gate and pass into the mystery beyond. The gate closed as quietly as it had opened. Every male eye focused upon the lone female shaman.

"Brothers, your women will be returned to you at noon tomorrow, Your sacrifices will be taken through this window to the right of the gate. May there be much merriment and feasting and may all of you begin to fill your quiver starting tomorrow. I may not re-enter the gate until the ceremony is finished, therefore one of your tents will be blessed by my presence this night. All men must compete for something, therefore I am to be the grand prize of your ultimate champion!" 

The men cheered and began to celebrate. Bedding a priestess was a rare honor indeed, but Mark along with the vast majority of men present realized that they were not ultimate champion material. Still it would be most interesting to hear the ultimate champion's recap the next morning. Mark was impressed at how quickly and expertly the games were organized. Lanes were drawn, circles laid out and hurdles erected. Everyone was expected to participate, even if all he wanted to do was drink. Mark won two rounds of hurdle races before falling to the true speedsters. In the dueling circle his main aim was not to embarrass himself. While Mark thought that he had done a good job, he could not help but hear the griping about one who bore the paw being such an inept swordsman.




Barbarian World



The real fun of the night came when the grand campion was crowned. Every man crowded around his tent and watched the priestess enter. To the utter delight of the assembled runners up the champion, as he stripped the goddess, placed each removed article of her clothing on the ground just beyond the door flap of his tent. Mark had a very good view as the shaman's chest plate joined her skirt. This was followed by her manta skin top and all of her religious trinkets. Saving the best for last, the proud champion stuck his head out of the tent, the shaman's face scarf in his hand. Now it was clear to the entire assemblage that the mysterious woman was completely and utterly nude. It was without question that the warrior would return her clothing in the morning and let her redress before she left the tent but all of the men envied him the privilege. Underneath the stars as the last of them staggered off to sleep they realized that he was the only one amongst the thousands who was getting laid. That fact made Mark and all of the other men miss their women that much more. Mark took one last look a the massive gate and wall and wondered what Amy was observing on the other side. 

Janna had pledged to stay by Amy's side as they made their way through the gates. The warm sun felt good on their naked flesh. Aside from smiles the only thing the women wore was their change purses full of offerings for the goddess. About a kilometer or so past the gate and wall came a very steep hill. Even though Amy and Janna were both fit and active young women the climb tired them out. At the top of the hill Amy's eyes became saucers. Extending hundreds of feet upward in what had once been small mountain was a an intricately carved representation of the goddess. Inlaid jeweled eyes caught the fire of the sun and was quite breathtaking. At ground level, jutting from the base of the Idol of Samduk were thousands of open palms. Amy understood that her offering was to be placed there. She thought of the work she had had to do to obtain the offering and thought to herself, "Yes I really could use a cleansing ritual and rite of rebirth right about now." To one side hundreds of temporary pavilions had been constructed. Standing by the entry flap of each pavilion was a naked priest.

Amy took a good look at one of the "servants of the goddess." He was tall with a shaven head and body. His belly was bit flabby, but that was to be expected because he had been castrated some time ago. Knowing it was impolite to stare but unable to look away, Amy stared fascinated at the flaccid penis. It seemed so strange to not see even a hit of testicles behind the shaft. Despite their disfigurement the men appeared happy and smiled warmly at everyone. Even Amy's rude stares were rewarded with a pleasant grin.

A priestess then came forward and addressed the group that included Amy and Jana. "Sisters," she began, "the goddess will take your offerings now and then you will wait your turn to enter the tabernacle and make your personal sacrifice and receive your blessings."

Under the eyes of a shaman priestess Amy and Janna placed their offerings in two of the great gray palms of the goddess. Because Amy was shorter than average for this world, she had to extend her reach. That task done Amy and Janna awaited in adjoining lines for two of the tabernacles. The wait was of medium length. Amy noted that women exited from the back once they had been blessed. "I suppose they do not want to ruin the surprise." said Amy to Janna, who agreed.

Amy was busy taking everything in, committing as much as she could to memory when suddenly she was at the canvas flap door of the tabernacle. The face of a priest appeared and opened the door. The acrid smell of incense which had been permeating the air for the last few hours was strongest in this room. There was a manta skin covered table, a second priest and implements, the purpose of which Amy could not even begin to grasp. 

Amy was instructed to remove her offering purse. It joined the considerable pile to one side. That task completed Amy was instructed to sit on the table. The second priest came forward with a pair of scissors and carefully removed about three centimeters of Amy's red locks. All the while the priest was making invocations and calling down blessings from the goddess. The hair was thrown into a basin. Amy was instructed to lie down on her back. The first priest then began to run an object over every bit of Amy's exposed skin below the neck. The pretty anthropology student understood that it was a depilatory. The priest went to work on he satiny covering at the juncture of Amy's legs. In less than a minute she was as hairless as newborn. The device was emptied into the same basin that contained her locks and then both were deposited in a brazier. The smell of her own burning hair assaulted Amy's nostrils.

While Amy's hair was being incinerated one of the priests began anointing Amy's body with oil. The touch of the priest was highly skilled. Amy rolled over as instructed and the priest coated every inch of her back and legs, giving her a most relaxing massage in the process. On her back once more, Amy watched as the priests emptied the brazier and mixed the ashes of her hair with some substance, creating a sort of paste. A priest took a paint brush and deftly drew a symbol on Amy's abdomen midway between he navel and her sex. Amy knew from her research that the mark she now wore was a fertility symbol. Wordlessly, a priest directed her to the rear exit.

Outside twilight was begging to fall. Amy fell in with the rest of the dazzled, oiled, and depilated girls and soon found herself at an array of banqueting tables. The food was very good. The sacrifices of the men had been expertly prepared. Surprisingly, there was wine. Ordinarily women on Spika five were denied alcohol, but this was a special occasion. Amy ate and engaged in conversation with the women seated next to her. 

Everyone ate till they were full. When all had finished eating a priestess led the women to a small stream where they were only permitted to wash their hands and faces. Nearby were some latrines and a ways beyond that, thousands of sleeping furs laid out on the hillside. Tonight the women would sleep under the stars while all the sayings of the goddess were read aloud by the shaman priestesses and the eunuch priests. Amy fell asleep, quite contented, to the mesmerizing drone of the sayings of the goddess beneath whose shadow they all laid.

In the morning all were woken by priests clashing cymbals. A very simple meal of bread, fruit, and cheese was provided. Everyone was permitted just enough to take the edge off their hunger then it was time to march back to the Gate of Samduk to be reunited with the men. Along the way Amy was delighted to discover that beautiful yellow robes were being distributed.

The robes were all of one piece with a rectangular hole for the head and two round ones for the arms. They were even shorter than the skirts that were normally worn. They were yellow because it was the color of fertility. The material resembled silk and felt wonderful against Amy's skin. As Amy slid on her robe the priest explained that the robe, which was the only garment permitted female pilgrims for the next month, was then to be saved and turned into infant clothes if the Goddess was predisposed to bless the wearer with children. 

Now Amy had an understanding of the need for her offering. "It must take considerable amounts of money to run an operation such as this." she thought. Amy pressed the brief robe against her skin, never had she felt a more wonderful fabric. The women she was with marched at an easy pace, this time going around the mountain. Everyone lined up in rows at the gate as priests on the wall's catwalk trumpeted the noon hour.

Amy realized that the sight of the gate opening with the sun falling on all of the brilliant yellow robes must be dazzling. Certainly the men appeared to be wearing awed expressions. Amy noted that all of the clothing that the slaves had cast off while entering the gate had been policed up. The camp seemed very clean. In truth the men had been slaving away since dawn to put the camp in spic and span order. The mantas had been groomed, the tents struck and every bit of debris removed. The cast off women clothing had been laundered in a nearby lake, Even the latrines had been cleaned. The men drew lots for the more onerous duties. The men had also taken the time to bathe thoroughly after their night of revelry. The only man exempted from work was the grand champion, who, judging by the sounds emanating from his tent, had taken the morning hours to service the priestess once more.

It took Amy a bit of effort to find Rusk's wagon as all of them were identical but soon enough she was back in the big barbarian's arms. Arriving a short time later, looking radiant was Janna. She kissed Mike with an intensity that surprise Amy. "If I did not know that Mike is such a colossal jerk, I would have to conclude that Janna actually loves him!" She thought to herself.

But that train of thinking brought Amy up short. What did she actually feel for Rusk, her barbarian? He was unquestionably the best lover she had ever had. Despite his rough exterior he was kind and giving, polite even as he ordered her around. And when he did order her around it was only when necessary. Despite the many mistakes that Amy had made, he had not disciplined her a single time. Amy had seen other women taken over knees, but never for small offenses.

Damaging a warriors equipment, ruining his food, insulting his manhood, these could bring down punishment. Amy had ruined the food on more than one occasion, yet Rusk had eaten without complaint. Amy atoned for her sins by being especially adventurous in bed. That this technique was the right approach Amy learned the night after one of her culinary failures. She made an exceedingly demanding dish. Rusk took a bite smiled and then winked, and said mischievously, "Too bad you did not burn this as well."

Then they had both shared a laugh, Rusk did not share her that night, Instead, he was especially tender in the sleeping furs and Amy felt the supremely content in the darkness, her crimson hair splayed over his massive chest, her body wrapped about him for warmth. In a flash, Amy realized that if she did not love Rusk, she either did not understand the word or had no capacity to feel the emotion. With renewed ardor, Amy buried herself in Rusk's arms. 

Because of the nature of the garment, Rusk and all of the other warriors quickly deduced the absence of hair on the sex of the women. A few of the more observant also noticed that their hair had been cut as well. Rusk stared intently at Amy, obviously very anxious to taste her bald pussy but that could not occur until nightfall when they had turned the wagons around and begun the trek home. 

Amy clung to Rusk with an ardor that surprised her. "I don't believe that there are any men like him on earth, will I ever be sexually satisfied again?" Amy thought to herself. In four days their journey would end where it had begun, Mark would buy her back and the two would return to the embassy to await a flight home. She realized that she would miss Rusk desperately.

That she would feel his absence in ways she could not even imagine became clear to her when the made camp. Not a single woman was exchanged that night as every man ached to take his own property. Amy was beyond dazzled as Rusk took her with a sensitivity and power he had never shown before. His already considerable cunnilingus skills seemed to soar past the stratosphere. His tongue felt heavenly on her naked sex. When Rusk entered her, an almost mystical power seemed to emanate from his loins. Amy could not believe that such bliss was possible as she slipped away into slumber. 

The women quickly determined that it was virtually impossible to keep the bright yellow garments clean. It seemed a crime to mar such marvelous fabric so the slaves dispensed with them entirely. Nudity turned out to be the only option as the men had been ordered, under penalty of the goddess, to keep the regular clothes that the women wore, locked away for the month. 

To blend in, Amy joined the other women in constant nudity. Janna reveled in the experience because her bear paw tattoo brought her lots of attention from inquisitive men. Mark had his pick of the most beautiful of slaves in exchange for Janna. Amy watched disgustedly as Mark, sorted the women like the judge of some ancient beauty contest. Yet something very similar happened in her own case. Amy's unusual hair color made he a much desired property. "Does not Rusk do the same think Mark does when deciding who to share me with?" She thought to herself. The realization that it was the truth confused her. "How much does Rusk really love me?" was Amy's next thought. The realization that she had no clear answer put Amy in a bit of a funk. Was what Rusk felt for her love, pride, or an extreme form of lust? Hadn't she in her more downcast days on earth concluded that love was just another incarnation of lust?

Amy still wore the yellow garment when she wrote up her reports with Mark. Even if Rusk had not insisted upon her wearing it during her visit's, Amy would have sought to minimize her exposure on her own. Despite the shared experience of the wagons, Mark was in many ways still an inferior man in Amy's eyes. His eyes still toured her exposed skin hungrily, at least until he caught himself and wiped the lust off his face. Amy hated his subsequent insincere mild look even more than she did his lecherous leers Still, his reporting was first rate and Amy and Mark shared an extreme enthusiasm for the project. Both of them realized that once everything was reassembled on earth, that they had a multiple prize winning monograph. Mark was sure that he would make Doctor Baines extremely happy. Amy imagined the pride of her own professors.

The days dwindled until finally, Amy and Janna were standing naked next to each other while Rusk and Mark haggled over the two of them again. The fact that Janna now bore the paw meant that she was now a very valuable woman. Rusk was afraid that would not be able to purchase her back. However, dropping Janna's price would have been an insult to both of them. Rusk had also developed quite an affection for Amy and was not entirely in a selling mood.

Mark knew that he would not be taking home the second jeweled dagger either. Saving the casks of rare liquor had been a very intelligent move, as was holding onto a few of the beat claws. Because it was most convertible to real dollars, Mark accepted gold and silver coins for Janna as well as 

After hours of hard bargaining Mark welcomed Amy onto his wagon. It had taken him most of the provisions on the wagon, but Amy and Mark would not be needing them again. Eventually Rusk's and Janna's wagon turned off the trail. Both of the graduate students were sad to see them go. With no querying eyes present, Amy donned her yellow garment and fell into her old role of command.

"I think the trail to the embassy is this fork on the right."

Realizing the old insufferable Amy had returned, Mark replied bitterly, "Aye aye, captain." 

Because the embassy was so far away, Amy and Mark had to spend one uncomfortable night together. Since the only option was the small tent Amy wrapped herself in anything she could find, both to ward off the chill and the embrace of Mark. Had they been an actual Spikan company, they simply would have shared the sleeping skins and slumbered together.

In the darkened tent, his arms around a tightly wrapped Amy simply because there was no other place to park them, Mark tried to broach the subject of Amy's antagonism once more.

"Amy, I'm surprised, and frankly dissapointed, this trip has not changed your opinion of me."

"Why should it, Mark? You are still the lecherous barbarian you were back on earth. I can understand your treatment of me at the beginning of our adventure but I will not forgive or forget your abuse. Fortunately for you, it won't make it into our monograph. Part of my gratitude to you will be not revealing what a cad you were and how utterly ungallant was your behavior. Even under the best of circumstances we are not compatible. If the choice on this planet had been either sucking your cock or death by a broadsword I would have chosen the latter. I respect your abilities and I know that I could never have succeeded without you. I am grateful to you, but we are like acids and bases, we don't mix well. Why is so important that I like you anyway, Mark." 

Mark, his mind awash with emotions gave Amy one of the most honest answers he had ever given any woman.

"Because, Amy you are the smartest, most beautiful woman I have ever met and I hate that you won't even give me the time of day."

Under the glowlight of the tent, Amy could see the tears in Mark's eyes. She was truly touched. Amy had no idea that Mark felt anything for her other than hormonal lust. Still, his words were not the sort to erase their history,

"That's very touching, Mark. I'm glad that I am more than just eye candy to you, but I am ballet shoes and you are track shoes. We share the same world only when making anthropological studies. Someday you will meet a smart woman who appreciates you for who YOU are Mark, but that woman is NOT me."

After their discussion, Amy was able to fully relax in mark's big strong arms. It reminded her of Rusk and the other barbarians. There would be big strong men to sleep with on earth but no wonderfully talented barbarians. Mark was the closet thing to the amazing men of this planet that was currently available. Both Mark and Amy awoke with grins imparted by previous days. They awkwardly disengaged from each other and were almost silent to each other for the long ride back to the embassy.

A majority of embassy staff were surprised to see the young couple return. It took Amy exactly ten minutes to shed her skimpy attire and throw on her old familiar clothes. Mark was quick to notice however that Amy selected her shortest skirt and her briefest blouse.

At their lectures on earth, Mark's paw tattoo and Amy's increasingly expanding tummy were the twin topics of conversation. At first Amy was astounded by her pregnancy. Doing her homework, she discovered that she had been so caught up in preparing for Spika Five and getting all of the rest of her shots in order that she had inadvertently skipped her final prophylactic booster shot. Using technology to pin point the moment of conception, Amy realized that she had become pregnant the night after her return from the Idol of Samduk, At first angry, Amy came to see it as an opportunity. Among the men of earth Amy found herself perpetually downcast. Their modern lives did not interest her. Their humor fell flat. Even those who could see beyond Amy's pregnancy, left her cold.

Mark on the other hand kept college girls spellbound with his tales of daring do on Spika Five. He had more dates than he could handle and more first class tail than he ever imagined possible. True, he missed the easy way of the slave women but more than one earth girl had asked him to collar her before a night of passion. As talented as the barbarian women were, there were things that earth women were adept in that the simple slave girls could not conceive of. In the end. The lovelies of earth drove them entirely from Mark's consciousness. Janna was a treasured memory and a lecture topic, not a burning desire.

In a surprising turn, mark was able to read Amy better than she had thought possible. Mark did not bat an eye when Amy took him aside after one of their lectures and informed him,

"I am leaving the future glory to you Mark, I am retuning to Spika Five. I think I can handle the planet on my own now and the monograph on the birth and child raising among the women of that planet has yet to be written. Pregnant women are highly valued so I shall not go uncollared for long."