ØWPC™ ESrcêuaN.QÆ­?ljÞ2¨9{eÓâÞßh'ç„Àz:uBê’fž\= Õîº]½$ LŸš2óÌœ(² "&4±â‰"|ѧ©Ânæg0K™`\¡…+¦¥DFD£V )`g…Ìž®ãá³7¥øÕH<Çu\+vÞ«¨¾¥áéãqHö‡Žw«¢´=øzË̇o¾Dòá,‰°¯$ÞˆÕ¢ú1‚A´DÀ$ºs*[¥„M‹_"p+¿‚ÎR3›%ßÆ4îZ*PD0ÓËAŬ8[Ú¯¸ÄKíE>WÔÄúOqvskMôÛ?Ä^=¶në¹Q2œZáòëBé¾çFQ|kÕÌ{+ŸÖ®®-ˆªŠúŽÒ°¯‡Â×Yó³¼ÑÚ¯ÆþôþSy裀Î2˜K((Ep\Òb.wQs ³ð¸ë!*)§oaê{13*vÅ¡dÆR©&.PŒå䛢¬…$?n&ÔÙ˜§&Vý.I9¤Üâzñ²>oéåØo–V8eÈÿ6*6íŸPrt¸› ÌàçÐÔz‹Ö9)< kõ*j &¥î„[h3N" :¼¿hÉðÈ2[TLDŒiôÍŸ õèžmötÃÂǜƛÞ9dn…³'åm,¼TUNd %Ó 0(ü4ˆ#|x%(éhH  Z Ñ6Times New Roman RegularX($ÁÁBKà ï™` Ø  °!     í8.¥FINALE¥AND¥CODAí(first¥part)íí¥¥¥¥They¥brought¥Hikati¥back¥to¥the¥camp¥unconscious,¥lashed¥to¥the¥––í––back¥of¥her¥horse¥with¥herìown¥lasso.¥The¥older¥women¥came¥to¥her¥––í––tent,¥and¥Ariti¥and¥Silini¥joined¥them;¥the¥rest¥of¥theìSisterhood¥gathered¥outside,¥whispering¥between¥them.¥¥Ariti¥came¥out¥briefly¥– –í– –and¥told¥them¥thatìthe¥chiefess¥had¥cried¥out¥suddenly¥during¥the¥– –í– –hunt,¥clutched¥her¥chest¥and¥fallen¥off¥her¥steed.ìClearly,¥the¥thread¥on¥her¥loom¥had¥run¥out,¥for¥only¥rarely¥could¥an¥evil¥––í––spirit¥touch¥a¥greatìsorceress¥such¥as¥Hikati.¥The¥horsewomen¥––í––nodded¥agreement,¥and¥some¥of¥them¥began¥driftingìaway,¥but¥a¥few¥remained¥sitting¥outside¥the¥tent¥until¥nightfall.¥Nobody¥had¥any¥––í––time¥for¥theìmales.í¥¥¥¥¥Both¥Atossa¥and¥Sarissa¥were¥very¥muted¥this¥evening,¥and¥Fallou¥––í––deemed¥it¥wise¥to¥keepìcompletely¥silent.¥Late¥in¥the¥night,¥Ariti¥––í––entered,¥her¥face¥rigid¥with¥emotion,¥took¥Atossa¥asideìand¥spoke¥to¥her¥in¥such¥a¥low¥voice¥that¥he¥could¥not¥hear¥what¥she¥was¥––í––saying,¥but¥Atossaìseemed¥to¥put¥a¥question¥to¥Ariti,¥she¥received¥–!–í–!–an¥affirmative¥nod¥and¥fell¥silent¥for¥a¥while.¥Thenìshe¥spoke¥to¥–#–í–#–Ariti¥again,¥they¥embraced¥and¥Hikati's¥elder¥daughter¥left.í¥¥¥¥¥Fallou¥woke¥up¥in¥the¥hour¥before¥first¥light,¥when¥the¥spirit¥–'–í–'–of¥man¥and¥woman¥is¥at¥low¥ebb,ìand¥the¥Nameless¥Ones¥walk¥the¥–)–í–)–earth.¥He¥imagined¥at¥first¥that¥he¥had¥heard¥the¥scream¥of¥aídistant¥bush-cat,¥then¥fear¥struck¥him¥and¥he¥thought,¥banshi¥...¥–+–í–+–until¥it¥was¥clear¥that¥the¥wailingìwas¥human.¥The¥death-song¥had¥–-–í–-–begun,¥and¥the¥old¥gynarki¥was¥dead.¥Fallou¥did¥regret¥herìpassing,¥for¥she¥had¥once¥made¥the¥decision¥that¥he¥would¥live,¥and¥not¥go¥–1–í–1–to¥the¥killing-pole,ìand¥she¥had¥always¥treated¥him¥as¥gently¥as¥–3–í–3–could¥be¥expected¥of¥a¥horsewoman¥when¥she¥wasìusing¥him;¥but¥there¥–5–í–5–was¥also¥a¥vague¥foreboding¥in¥his¥heart.¥Death¥walked¥among¥them.íWould¥she¥be¥satisfied¥with¥Hikati's¥old¥hide¥and¥leave¥them¥alone?í¥¥¥¥¥His¥two¥owners¥rose¥and¥went¥out;¥he¥followed¥them¥discreetly¥at¥–9–í–9–a¥distance.¥Women¥wereìalready¥gathering¥around¥the¥tent¥of¥the¥–;–í–;–chiefess,¥carrying¥torches,¥and¥Atossa¥and¥Sarissa¥bentìdown,¥smeared¥their¥faces¥with¥dirt¥and¥joined¥in¥the¥chorus.¥But¥when¥–?–í–?–the¥sisters¥saw¥them,¥theyìfell¥silent¥and¥looked¥at¥each¥other;¥–A–í–A–and¥a¥voice¥was¥heard:¥Atossa!¥Atossa¥gynarki!¥The¥otherìwomen¥raised¥their¥torches¥high¥and¥took¥up¥the¥cry:¥Atossa¥gynarki!¥–E–í–E–Atossa¥shall¥be¥ourìwoman-ruler!¥And¥Atossa¥gestured¥acceptance¥and¥–G–í–G–embraced¥all¥the¥women¥as¥they¥throngedìaround¥her,¥old¥and¥young,¥–I–í–I–and¥more¥of¥them¥arriving¥every¥moment.¥The¥grey¥streak¥at¥theíhorizon¥that¥no¥one¥had¥noticed¥grew¥red¥and¥was¥seen¥by¥all.¥A¥new¥–K–í–K–day¥was¥coming,¥andìAtossa¥was¥chiefess¥of¥the¥Sisterhood,¥Sarissa¥–M–í–M–was¥the¥gynarki's¥companion¥and¥Fallou¥too¥hadìprobably¥risen¥in¥rank---if¥any¥such¥thing¥could¥be¥said¥to¥exist¥among¥beings¥as¥–Q–í–Q–lowly¥asìman-slaves.¥Ariti¥and¥Silini¥emerged¥from¥the¥tent¥and¥–S–í–S–joined¥them,¥very¥solemn,¥and¥were¥alsoìembraced¥and¥kissed¥by¥–U–í–U–Atossa.¥She¥entered¥the¥tent¥and¥was¥gone;¥Fallou¥suddenly¥felt¥theícold¥of¥the¥morning¥air¥and¥shivered,¥and¥Sarissa¥took¥him¥by¥his¥arm¥and¥led¥him¥home.í–^–í–^–¥¥¥¥¥Hikati¥was¥decked¥out¥in¥her¥best¥finery¥and¥carried¥to¥the¥top¥of¥a¥small¥hill,¥just¥a¥longìarrow-shot¥away¥from¥the¥camp.¥She¥was¥laid¥out¥on¥a¥platform¥built¥out¥of¥sods¥and¥coveredìwith¥furs¥and¥fine¥patterned¥drapes,¥and¥the¥sisters¥gathered¥again¥in¥the¥cool¥–b–í–b–of¥the¥evening¥toìsee¥her¥off¥to¥the¥Ever-flowing¥Springs.¥Fires¥–d–í–d–were¥lit,¥torches¥were¥raised¥on¥poles¥to¥light¥theìceremony.¥The¥death-song¥was¥chanted¥again,¥rising¥and¥falling¥under¥a¥sky¥bright¥–h–í–h–with¥stars.í¥¥¥¥¥Fallou¥sat¥with¥the¥other¥males¥outside¥the¥circle¥of¥women.¥Old¥–l–Ü Ý-@), Ü–l–Kakou,¥Hikati's¥own¥male,Ü Ý-@), Üwaited¥apart¥from¥the¥others,¥and¥close¥–n–í–n–by¥him¥sat¥two¥of¥the¥women,¥Timesse¥and¥Ipparki.ìFallou¥wondered¥–p–í–p–what¥would¥become¥of¥Kakou¥now.¥A¥dead¥woman's¥companion¥usuallyíinherited¥her¥slave¥or¥slaves,¥while¥the¥rest¥of¥her¥belongings¥–r–í–r–went¥to¥her¥daughters,¥but¥Hikatiìhad¥no¥widow.¥Kakou¥looked¥queer;¥–t–í–t–his¥eyes¥gazed¥blindly¥into¥space¥and¥he¥was¥rocking¥slowlyìto¥and¥fro.¥But¥now¥the¥singing¥ceased,¥and¥Silini¥approached¥the¥–x–í–x–platform,¥leading¥the¥geldingìthat¥had¥carried¥Hikati.¥¥The¥animal¥–z–í–z–was¥uneasy,¥flicking¥his¥ears¥back¥and¥forth,¥and¥his¥eyesìwere¥red¥with¥the¥light¥of¥the¥torches.¥Ariti¥stood¥in¥front¥of¥the¥bier,¥a¥–~–í–~–large¥sledgehammer¥in¥herìhands;¥she¥sang¥an¥incantation¥while¥the¥–¥–í–¥–sisters¥rose¥expectantly.¥The¥hammer¥swung¥and¥struck,ìand¥the¥horse¥dropped¥like¥a¥grotesque,¥articulated¥toy¥and¥the¥women¥–³–í–³–screamed¥approval¥inìunison.¥Blood¥was¥gathered¥in¥a¥bowl¥and¥–º–í–º–brought¥to¥Atossa;¥she¥stood¥up,¥removed¥boots,ìbreech-clout¥and¥all¥and¥smeared¥herself¥with¥it,¥head¥to¥foot.¥Again,¥the¥crowd¥–É–í–É–roared.¥Two¥orìthree¥women¥started¥butchering¥the¥carcass¥of¥the¥–Ô–í–Ô–horse;¥it¥would¥follow¥its¥mistress¥and¥serveìher,¥as¥it¥had¥in¥life,¥but¥it¥would¥not¥need¥its¥body,¥only¥its¥spirit;¥anyway,¥–Æ–í–Æ–horse-meat¥was¥aìdelicacy¥which¥could¥be¥had¥only¥after¥great¥–â–í–â–sacrifices¥to¥the¥gods,¥and¥should¥not¥be¥left¥to¥rot.ìWhen¥the¥choice¥cuts¥had¥been¥sent¥to¥the¥communal¥pot,¥lower¥down¥on¥the¥–ö–í–ö–hillside,¥the¥rest¥ofìthe¥carcass¥was¥arranged¥below¥the¥platform.¥–ú–¥–ú–But¥the¥head¥was¥cut¥off¥and¥raised¥above¥it,¥onìHikati's¥own¥–ý–í–ý–lance.í¥¥¥¥¥A¥hush¥fell.¥The¥waiting¥women¥glanced¥around¥expectantly.¥Then,¥–Ä–í–Ä–Ipparki¥and¥Timesseìappeared¥in¥the¥firelight,¥leading¥Kakou¥–Á–í–Á–between¥them.í¥¥¥¥¥Not¥until¥now¥did¥it¥dawn¥upon¥Fallou¥that¥the¥man¥was¥drugged.¥–Ï–¥–Ï–He¥did¥not¥seem¥to¥seeìwhere¥he¥was¥going;¥his¥will,¥what¥little¥of¥–¬–í–¬–it¥that¥remained¥after¥long¥years¥of¥slavery,¥had¥beenìtaken¥away¥from¥him¥and¥his¥eyes¥were¥wide¥open¥but¥unseeing.¥The¥two¥women¥––í––steered¥him¥toìthe¥foot¥end¥of¥the¥platform;¥there¥they¥threw¥him¥–¨–í–¨–to¥the¥ground.¥Eager¥hands¥grasped¥him,ìturned¥him¥on¥his¥back¥and¥–¡–í–¡–held¥him,¥arms¥above¥his¥head.¥Suddenly,¥a¥completely¥naked¥womanístood¥by¥his¥feet,¥looking¥down¥on¥him.¥It¥was¥Sarissa,¥looking¥–Ó–í–Ó–like¥a¥painted¥demon¥in¥theìfirelight.¥A¥murmur¥was¥heard.¥She¥–«–í–«–knelt¥and¥sat¥down¥on¥Kakou's¥hips.í¥¥¥¥¥She¥seemed¥to¥do¥something¥to¥him.¥By¥raising¥himself¥a¥little,¥–ü–í–ü–Fallou¥managed¥to¥see¥what¥itìwas.¥She¥was¥caressing¥him,¥stroking¥–¼–í–¼–him,¥and¥Fallou¥heard¥faintly¥above¥the¥sounds¥of¥theìwaiting¥crowd¥that¥she¥was¥soothing¥him¥with¥words.¥¥Kakou¥moved¥his¥head¥a¥–²–í–²–little¥from¥side¥toìside,¥but¥made¥no¥sound.í¥¥¥¥¥She¥was¥holding¥his¥member,¥working¥it,¥making¥it¥grow¥between¥–å–í–å–her¥palms.¥Now,¥Fallouìsaw¥more¥than¥heard¥Kakou¥groan.¥Sarissa¥was¥–€–í–€–in¥no¥hurry,¥but¥worked¥up¥a¥good¥erection;¥theìonlookers¥commented¥favourably¥on¥it.¥Hikati¥would¥be¥pleased.¥Then¥Sarissa¥raised¥–é–í–é–herself¥aìlittle¥over¥the¥helpless¥body¥below¥and,¥guiding¥the¥–æ–í–æ–member¥with¥her¥hands,¥she¥took¥it¥intoìherself¥and¥sat¥down¥on¥it,¥–í–í–í–using¥him.í¥¥¥¥¥She¥rode¥him¥slowly¥at¥first,¥leaning¥over¥him,¥supporting¥her¥–Ü–í–Ü–hands¥on¥his¥shoulders.¥Sheìpraised¥him¥loudly:¥he¥gave¥pleasure,¥–ñ–í–ñ–he¥was¥good.¥He¥had¥served¥his¥mistress¥well¥and¥sheìwould¥be¥well¥served¥by¥him¥again.¥All¥the¥while,¥she¥observed¥him¥closely.¥Kakou¥–…–í–…–threw¥hisìhead¥right¥and¥left¥and¥his¥body¥began¥to¥heave.¥–ô–¥–ô–Suddenly,¥Sarissa¥shifted¥her¥hands¥to¥hisìthroat.¥Her¥fingers¥closed¥around¥it,¥she¥pressed¥and¥moved¥her¥hips¥violently,¥and¥not¥– –í– –until¥thenìdid¥Fallou¥understand¥what¥he¥saw.¥It¥was¥a¥human¥–§–í–§–sacrifice:¥Sarissa¥was¥strangling¥Kakou¥whileìshe¥raped¥him.¥í¥¥¥¥¥Kakou's¥eyes¥bulged,¥his¥face¥contorted,¥his¥tongue¥hung¥out¥of¥his¥–‰–í–‰–gaping¥mouth¥and¥hisìbody¥rose¥in¥a¥great¥arch¥under¥his¥rider,¥and¥–Š–í–Š–in¥the¥moment¥of¥his¥death,¥he¥came¥inside¥her.í¥¥¥¥¥Fallou¥fell¥to¥the¥ground¥while¥the¥women¥screamed¥insanely.¥It¥––Ü Ý-@), Ü––had¥happened¥again.¥One¥ofÜ Ý-@), Üthe¥women¥he¥belonged¥to¥had¥killed¥––í––ritually.¥The¥night¥rocked¥and¥rotated¥around¥him¥and¥asìfrom¥a¥great¥distance,¥he¥heard¥the¥sisters¥raise¥the¥death¥chant¥again.¥–•–¥–•–A¥hand¥touched¥him,¥andìhe¥recoiled¥in¥terror.¥But¥a¥voice¥spoke¥–––í–––kindly¥to¥him,¥and¥it¥was¥Ginesse;¥and¥she¥raised¥him¥toìhis¥feet¥and¥held¥him¥and¥reassured¥him.¥Hikati¥and¥old¥woman¥Death¥had¥got¥–›–í–›–their¥due¥and¥wereìsatisfied.¥She¥led¥him¥slowly¥down¥the¥hillside,¥–Ö–í–Ö–both¥of¥them¥stumbling¥in¥the¥dark,¥following¥theìsinging¥women¥down¥to¥the¥cooking-fire¥and¥the¥pot.¥There¥she¥sat¥him¥down¥and¥–ž–í–ž–waited,¥herìarm¥around¥his¥neck.¥He¥could¥not¥keep¥himself¥from¥–à–í–à–shaking,¥and¥was¥ashamed.¥His¥own¥peopleìhad¥after¥all¥done¥this¥sort¥of¥thing¥not¥too¥many¥generations¥ago.¥The¥custom¥had¥fallen¥––í––intoìdisuse,¥but¥he¥suspected¥that¥peace¥and¥rising¥prices¥of¥––í––slaves,¥not¥better¥manners,¥had¥broughtìthis¥about.í¥¥¥¥¥Ginesse¥was¥still¥holding¥him¥when¥Sarissa¥appeared¥in¥front¥of¥––í––them.¥He¥froze.¥Sarissa¥kneltìdown¥in¥front¥of¥him,¥took¥his¥hands¥– –í– –and¥spoke¥to¥him.¥Now¥Kakou¥had¥followed¥Hikati¥to¥theìSprings,¥just¥as¥the¥horse¥had¥done,¥to¥serve¥her¥until¥they¥both¥faded¥away¥– –í– –and¥were¥carriedìalong¥by¥the¥night-wind.¥Hikati¥would¥be¥pleased¥––í––to¥have¥him;¥he¥would¥be¥much¥better¥off¥withìher¥than¥in¥the¥world¥above,¥worked¥by¥all¥and¥comforted¥by¥none,¥living¥out¥his¥––í––miserable¥yearsìuntil¥his¥thread¥reached¥its¥end¥or¥until¥somebody¥––í––took¥pity¥on¥him¥and¥clubbed¥him---would¥heìnot?¥He¥would¥be¥young¥––í––again,¥and¥Hikati¥would¥be¥young,¥and¥they¥would¥never¥know¥hungeríor¥thirst¥in¥the¥dry¥season,¥for¥surely¥the¥Springs¥flowed¥without¥––í––end.¥She¥insisted¥until¥he¥calmedìdown¥and¥felt¥the¥tension¥and¥the¥––í––fear¥gradually¥leave¥him.í¥¥¥¥¥She¥leaned¥closer:¥what¥had¥been¥done¥was¥done¥only¥when¥a¥great¥––í––sorceress¥died.¥He¥wouldìnot¥be¥required¥to¥follow¥Atossa¥on¥her¥–!–í–!–last¥ride,¥unless¥he¥asked¥for¥it;¥Sarissa¥would¥be¥his¥soleìowner¥then,¥if¥she¥lived,¥or¥else¥she¥would¥have¥committed¥him¥to¥some¥–%–í–%–other¥woman¥who¥wouldìcare¥for¥him.¥Ariti¥would¥be¥pleased¥to¥take¥–'–í–'–him¥on,¥that¥she¥knew¥for¥certain.¥She¥knew¥that¥heìliked¥Ariti---no,¥she¥was¥not¥displeased,¥she¥loved¥Ariti¥herself,¥but¥–+–í–+–not¥as¥much¥as¥Atossa,¥ofìcourse.¥Ariti¥was¥very¥popular¥among¥the¥–-–í–-–sisters.í¥¥¥¥¥Sarissa's¥presence¥would¥be¥required¥during¥the¥ceremonial¥–1–í–1–feasting,¥and¥Atossa's,¥too.¥AndìAriti¥and¥Silini¥would¥have¥to¥be¥–3–í–3–there,¥as¥next¥of¥kin.¥But¥would¥Ginesse¥take¥Fallou¥down¥toíAtossa's¥tent¥and¥comfort¥him?¥They¥would¥save¥some¥nice¥pieces¥of¥–5–í–5–boiled¥meat¥for¥her¥return,ìthe¥feasting¥would¥continue¥until¥–7–í–7–daybreak¥anyway.í¥¥¥¥¥And¥Ginesse¥undertook¥this¥mission¥of¥mercy¥and¥led¥Fallou¥away¥–;–í–;–to¥the¥camp,¥with¥a¥torchìto¥light¥them.¥Inside¥the¥tent,¥she¥put¥–=–í–=–the¥torch¥carefully¥away¥in¥the¥fire¥basket¥and¥put¥Fallou¥onìthe¥bed.¥She¥held¥him.¥She¥spoke¥to¥him;¥she¥insisted¥that¥he¥must¥–A–í–A–agree¥that¥what¥Sarissa¥hadìsaid¥was¥true,¥and¥that¥the¥right¥thing¥–C–í–C–had¥been¥done;¥and¥he¥was¥too¥exhausted¥and¥emotionallyìspent¥to¥gainsay¥her.¥¥Yes,¥the¥customs¥of¥the¥Sisterhood¥and¥of¥the¥–G–í–G–Grasslands¥had¥beenìhonoured.¥Ginesse¥kissed¥him¥and¥rolled¥him¥–I–í–I–over¥on¥his¥back.¥For¥a¥fleeting¥moment,¥the¥imageìof¥Kakou¥flitted¥through¥his¥mind,¥but¥he¥banished¥it.¥She¥came¥down¥on¥top¥of¥him,¥¥–M–í–M–held¥hisìwrists¥and¥pushed¥his¥legs¥apart¥with¥her¥knees,¥so¥that¥–O–í–O–he¥would¥lie¥under¥her¥the¥way¥the¥unfreeìwomen,¥the¥horse-less¥and¥–Q–í–Q–weapon-less¥women¥did¥when¥men¥used¥them;¥she¥raised¥her¥hips¥aílittle¥and¥moved¥his¥member¥with¥one¥hand¥so¥that¥she¥would¥not¥–S–í–S–hurt¥it.¥It¥came¥to¥lie¥betweenìher¥thighs.¥Then¥she¥rested,¥–U–í–U–silently,¥while¥he¥savoured¥the¥warmth¥and¥the¥heaviness¥of¥heríbody.¥She¥was¥not¥fully¥grown,¥of¥course,¥and¥he¥found¥himself¥–W–í–W–wishing¥that¥she¥would¥haveìbeen¥heavier,¥robbing¥him¥of¥more¥of¥–Y–í–Y–his¥will¥and¥stilling¥his¥disquiet¥better¥by¥pinning¥himìdown¥more¥decisively.¥But¥Ginesse¥was¥good;¥and¥soon¥he¥caught¥himself¥–]–í–]–thinking¥of¥the¥grassyìlittle¥hollow¥near¥where¥the¥horses¥grazed.¥–_–í–_–í¥¥¥¥Ginesse¥let¥go¥of¥his¥wrists¥and¥suffered¥him¥to¥put¥his¥arms¥–b–Ü Ý-@), Ü–b–around¥her¥neck.¥She¥rubbed¥herÜ Ý-@), Üface¥against¥his.¥The¥memory¥of¥–d–í–d–what¥he¥and¥Ginesse¥and¥Silini¥had¥done¥worked¥its¥magic¥onìhim,¥and¥he¥was¥calm.¥But¥Ginesse¥felt¥his¥member¥stiffen¥and¥rise¥–h–í–h–before¥he¥did,¥and¥she¥mustìhave¥recalled¥their¥game¥too;¥for¥she¥–j–í–j–parted¥her¥thighs¥a¥little,¥permitting¥his¥penis¥to¥come¥upìand¥be¥held¥in¥her¥crotch,¥caught¥in¥the¥little¥space¥between¥it¥and¥the¥–n–í–n–smooth¥insides¥of¥herìthighs.¥She¥made¥a¥reassuring¥sound¥and¥–p–í–p–squirmed¥on¥top¥of¥him;¥she¥too¥was¥pleased¥with¥theìmemory.¥–r–í–r–í¥¥¥¥¥After¥a¥while,¥she¥broke¥her¥silence.¥He¥had¥been¥a¥good¥and¥–u–í–u–obedient¥slave¥that¥time,¥whenìSilini¥had¥helped¥her.¥¥The¥thought¥–w–í–w–of¥it¥made¥her¥horny.¥Would¥he¥be¥capable¥of¥serving¥herìtonight?í¥¥¥¥¥Yes,¥he¥thought¥so;¥and¥stammering,¥he¥tried¥to¥convey¥to¥her¥his¥–z–í–z–feelings¥toward¥her¥andìSilini,¥and¥what¥a¥pleasant¥memory¥they¥had¥–|–í–|–given¥him.¥Aha,¥said¥Ginesse,¥which¥had¥he¥likedìbest,¥the¥fucking¥or¥the¥whipping?¥Boldly¥he¥said,¥both.¥She¥laughed¥at¥him.¥All¥–¥–í–¥–right,¥he¥wouldìhave¥both¥again.¥She¥wanted¥him¥to¥lie¥on¥top¥of¥–­–í–­–her¥and¥use¥her¥(these¥were¥her¥actual¥words)ìthe¥way¥he¥had¥done¥with¥Silini.¥No¥one¥was¥looking,¥so¥she¥would¥not¥lose¥standing¥–º–í–º–amongìwomen,¥and¥he¥would¥keep¥silent¥about¥it.¥He¥assured¥her¥of¥–Öí–Öhis¥loyalty.¥But¥first¥the¥whipping.ìIt¥was¥a¥pity¥that¥he¥could¥–É–í–É–not¥be¥whipped¥while¥he¥was¥using¥her,¥the¥way¥she¥herself¥had¥doneíthat¥time,¥but¥never¥mind.¥She¥would¥do¥it¥before¥the¥copulation.¥–Ô–í–Ô–í¥¥¥¥¥So¥she¥rose¥and¥rolled¥him¥over¥on¥his¥face¥and¥uncoiled¥the¥–¶–í–¶–whip¥she¥wore¥around¥her¥waist.ìThe¥remains¥of¥the¥torch¥were¥still¥–Ζí–Ζgiving¥off¥a¥little¥light.¥She¥stood¥above¥him,¥with¥one¥foot¥oníthe¥small¥of¥his¥back,¥and¥then¥she¥gave¥him¥six¥lashes,¥but¥they¥–ã–í–ã–were¥not¥as¥hard¥as¥she¥couldìhave¥made¥them.¥And¥then¥she¥threw¥–ð–í–ð–herself¥at¥him¥and¥he¥mounted¥her¥and¥was¥a¥man¥again,ìand¥he¥entered¥her¥and¥possessed¥her,¥working¥steadily¥in¥and¥out¥while¥–ú–í–ú–she¥writhed¥under¥himìand¥made¥curious¥little¥sounds¥that¥he¥had¥–ý–í–ý–never¥heard¥a¥horsewoman¥make¥before.¥Briefly,¥heìwondered¥if¥she¥was¥a¥pervert,¥and¥then¥he¥asked¥himself¥what¥that¥word¥meant,¥here¥–Ä–í–Ä–amongìthese¥women.¥He¥held¥himself¥back¥until¥he¥heard¥and¥felt¥her¥–Á–í–Á–let¥go.¥After¥the¥orgasm,¥heìremained¥as¥he¥was¥for¥quite¥some¥–£–í–£–time,¥and¥Ginesse¥did¥not¥seem¥to¥object.¥The¥memory¥of¥theípleasure¥and¥the¥aching¥of¥his¥rump¥filled¥him.¥Then¥he¥rolled¥–´–í–´–away,¥and¥Ginesse¥remained¥withìhim¥until¥he¥went¥to¥sleep.¥Later¥–¤–í–¤–that¥night,¥he¥woke¥up¥and¥she¥was¥gone,¥but¥now¥he¥was¥calm.ìHe¥listened¥for¥a¥while¥to¥the¥distant¥sounds¥of¥the¥carousing¥women,¥–Ç–í–Ç–and¥then¥he¥slept¥again.ìWhen¥morning¥came,¥it¥was¥Sarissa¥who¥was¥–Жí–Жsleeping¥by¥him,¥her¥arm¥across¥him.¥He¥did¥notìmove¥for¥fear¥of¥disturbing¥her.¥Only¥briefly¥did¥he¥feel¥queasy¥when,¥close¥to¥his¥–±–í–±–face,¥he¥sawìher¥right¥hand.¥Finally,¥a¥full¥bladder¥and¥an¥aching¥–Ò–í–Ò–member¥forced¥him¥to¥disengage¥himself¥andìrise,¥but¥Sarissa¥did¥not¥move.¥He¥found¥Atossa¥on¥Sarissa's¥other¥side.¥Both¥of¥them¥–á–í–á–slept¥theìwhole¥morning¥away.–ü–¥–ü–í¥¥¥¥¥But¥on¥the¥crest¥of¥the¥hill,¥Hikati¥and¥Kakou¥and¥the¥horse¥–¹–í–¹–waited¥for¥the¥carrion¥birds¥to¥pickìtheir¥bones¥clean¥and¥release¥their¥spirits¥for¥the¥ride¥to¥the¥Springs,¥and¥he¥could¥already¥see¥–Ë–í–Ë–theìfirst¥of¥the¥black¥dots¥circling¥high¥above¥when¥he¥returned¥to¥–å–í–å–the¥tent.í¥¥¥¥¥Being¥a¥chiefess¥made¥no¥great¥difference¥to¥Atossa.¥She¥had¥–®–í–®–always¥been¥a¥very¥respectedìmember¥of¥the¥Sisterhood,¥not¥least¥–é–í–é–after¥her¥ordeal¥in¥the¥Passage-place,¥and¥of¥course¥a¥chiefessìhad¥no¥power¥to¥command¥and¥coerce¥other¥women.¥Her¥new¥role¥meant¥–í–í–í–simply¥that¥her¥adviceìwas¥asked¥more¥often,¥and¥that¥common¥–ë–í–ë–decisions¥were¥referred¥to¥her¥when¥there¥was¥noìgeneral¥agreement.í¥¥¥¥¥She¥led¥the¥communal¥hunts,¥of¥course,¥but¥hunting¥was¥done¥in¥–„–í–„–small¥groups¥of¥two¥or¥threeìat¥this¥time¥of¥the¥year.¥Everybody¥–î–í–î–knew¥when¥it¥was¥time¥to¥move¥camp,¥and¥where¥it¥would¥beìmoved.Ü Ý-@), Ü¥¥¥¥¥Fallou¥did¥his¥chores¥as¥usual,¥and¥had¥not¥expected¥otherwise.¥–×–¥–×–Ginesse¥came¥by¥now¥andìthen,¥smiled¥and¥patted¥him,¥but¥did¥never¥–ô–í–ô–comment¥on¥that¥night¥in¥Atossa's¥tent.¥But¥Silini¥andìAriti¥went¥about¥smeared¥all¥over¥with¥ashes,¥looking¥like¥ghosts,¥and¥no¥– –í– –sexual¥intercourse¥withìthem¥was¥permitted.¥This¥taboo¥would¥be¥in¥–§–í–§–force¥for¥three¥cycles¥of¥the¥moon.¥¥Gradually,¥hisìrelations¥with¥Sarissa¥returned¥to¥what¥they¥had¥been:¥he¥honoured,¥feared¥and¥–‹–í–‹–obeyed¥her,¥but¥noìhorror¥surrounded¥her¥anymore.¥She¥was¥a¥normal¥–Œ–í–Œ–horsewoman,¥just¥like¥any¥other,¥except¥thatìshe¥owned¥him.¥The¥––í––women¥were¥savage,¥but¥fully¥human,¥dangerous,¥but¥not¥completelyíunpredictable.¥He¥understood¥them.í¥¥¥¥¥Having¥no¥witch¥was¥a¥problem,¥of¥course.¥Silini¥had¥been¥–‘–í–‘–apprenticed¥to¥her¥mother,¥but¥wasìnot¥fully¥qualified¥yet.¥There¥–’–í–’–were¥still¥things¥to¥learn¥and¥ceremonies¥to¥observe.¥It¥was¥agreedíthat¥this¥autumn,¥Silini¥would¥ride¥to¥the¥camp¥of¥a¥great¥–•–í–•–sorceress¥further¥east¥and¥ask¥to¥beìaccepted¥as¥her¥pupil¥for¥the¥–––í–––winter;¥that¥would¥probably¥be¥enough,¥and¥next¥summer,¥she¥wouldíbe¥able¥to¥preside,¥with¥Atossa,¥over¥Niki's¥rites¥of¥passage.¥–™–¥–™–Ginesse¥was¥devastated:¥could¥sheìnot¥accompany¥her¥lover?¥But¥this¥–š–í–š–idea¥was¥not¥received¥favourably¥by¥the¥women,¥and¥Atossaìvetoed¥it.¥They¥would¥be¥three¥women¥short¥that¥way,¥and¥that¥was¥too¥–œ–í–œ–much.¥Aryana¥spoke¥up.ìGinesse¥could¥move¥in¥with¥her,¥share¥her¥–Ÿ–í–Ÿ–tent¥until¥they¥went¥into¥winter¥quarters,¥and¥share¥herìfurs¥and¥Ippou¥then.¥Silini¥would¥not¥mind,¥would¥she?¥Silini¥looked¥long¥at¥––í––Ginesse,¥sighed¥andìaccepted¥the¥arrangement.¥She¥must¥do¥her¥duty¥––í––to¥the¥sisters,¥as¥the¥mores¥of¥the¥horsewomenìdemanded,¥and¥it¥––í––would¥be¥very¥exciting¥to¥meet¥the¥famous¥old¥witch,¥of¥course.í––¥¥––¥¥¥So¥the¥life¥of¥the¥Sisterhood¥resumed¥its¥normal¥course.í¥¥¥¥The¥daily¥work¥was¥done,¥the¥territory¥was¥scoured¥for¥game,¥the¥– –í– –time-honoured¥trails¥wereìfollowed.¥What¥else¥could¥a¥horsewoman¥– –í– –do,¥or¥the¥horsewoman's¥slave?¥Fallou¥did¥his¥chores,ìserved¥his¥two¥owners¥and¥their¥friends¥and¥trudged¥across¥the¥plains,¥towed¥––í––by¥his¥balls¥byìAtossa¥or¥Sarissa.¥¥One¥day,¥when¥they¥wanted¥to¥––í––hunt¥together¥on¥the¥march,¥they¥handed¥himìover¥to¥Ariti¥for¥safekeeping.¥And¥Ariti¥accepted¥the¥job¥merrily,¥and¥while¥she¥was¥––í––putting¥himìon¥his¥leash,¥she¥told¥him¥that¥she¥had¥rescued¥and¥––í––saved¥the¥arse-bracket¥and¥the¥neck-band,¥andìshe¥had¥plenty¥of¥nails,¥too!¥When¥they¥were¥in¥winter¥camp,¥she¥would¥bring¥out¥the¥––í––hardwareìand¥hook¥and¥nail¥him¥to¥a¥log¥and¥ride¥and¥use¥him,¥and¥––í––then¥leave¥him¥as¥he¥was,¥impaled¥andìhelpless,¥perhaps¥for¥a¥day¥– –í– –and¥a¥night¥and¥another¥day,¥and¥use¥him¥again,¥and¥again.¥Wouldínot¥that¥be¥terrible?¥Yes¥it¥would,¥said¥he,¥and¥he¥feared¥her¥and¥–"–í–"–he¥longed¥to¥be¥used¥by¥her,¥andìit¥showed.¥She¥kissed¥him¥and¥then¥–$–í–$–she¥paid¥out¥the¥rope¥and¥mounted¥her¥pony.í–%–í–%–ÝÝ