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.Leda could ride, dance, sing, swim, ski, supervise a household, do arithmetic slowly, read and write if necessary, and make the proper responses.She was an intelligent, pretty, well-intentioned woman, culturally equivalent to a superior female head-hunter -- able, adjusted and skilled.But this strange lost-found cousin was a new bird to her.She said hesitantly, “Excuse my ignorance, but we don't have anything like that on Earth.I have trouble visualizing it.Was it terribly unpleasant?”Thorby's mind flew back; he was squatting in lotus seat in the great Plaza with Pop sprawled beside him, talking.“It was the happiest time of my life,” he said simply.“Oh.” It was all she could manage.But Daddy had left them so that she could get to work.Asking a man about himself never failed.“How does one get started, Thor? I wouldn't know where to begin.”“I was taught.You see, I was up for sale and --” He thought of trying to explain Pop, decided to let it wait.“-- an old beggar bought me.”“ 'Bought' you?”“I was a slave.”Leda felt as if she had stepped off into water over her head.Had he said “cannibal,” “vampire,” or “warlock” she could have been no more shocked.She came up, mentally gasping.“Thor -- if I have been rude.I'm sorry -- but we all are curious about the time -- goodness! it's been over fifteen years -- that you have been missing.But if you don't want to answer, just say so.You were a nice little boy and I was fond of you -- please don't slap me down if I ask the wrong question.”“You don't believe me?”“How could I? There haven't been slaves for centuries.”Thorby wished that he had never had to leave the Hydra, and gave up.He had learned in the Guard that the slave trade was something many fraki in the inner worlds simply hadn't heard of.“You knew me when I was little?”“Oh, yes!”“Why can't I remember you? I can't remember anything back before I was a -- I can't remember Terra.”She smiled.“I'm three years older than you.When I saw you last, I was six -- so I remember -- and you were three, so you've forgotten.”“Oh.” Thorby decided that here was a chance to find out his own age.“How old are you now?”She smiled wryly.“Now I'm the same age you are -- and I'll stay that age until I'm married.Turn about, Thorby -- when you ask the wrong question, I shan't be offended.You don't ask a lady her age on Terra; you assume that she is younger than she is.”“So?” Thorby pondered this curious custom.Among People a female claimed the highest age she could, for status.“So.For example, your mother was a lovely lady but I never knew her age.Perhaps she was twenty-five when I knew her, perhaps forty.”“You knew my parents?”“Oh, yes! Uncle Creighton was a darling with a boomy voice.He used to give me handfuls of dollars to buy candy sticks and balloons with my own sweaty little hand.” She frowned.“But I can't remember his face.Isn't that silly? Never mind, Thor; tell me anything you want to.I'd be happy to hear anything you don't mind telling.”“I don't mind,” Thorby answered, “but, while I must have been captured, I don't remember it.As far as I remember, I never had parents; I was a slave, several places and masters -- until I reached Jubbulpore.Then I was sold again and it was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me.”Leda lost her company smile.She said in a still voice, “You really mean it.Or do you?”Thorby suffered the ancient annoyance of the returned traveler.“If you think that slavery has been abolished.well, it's a big galaxy.Shall I roll up my trouser leg and show you?”“Show me what, Thor?”“My slave's mark.The tattoo a factor uses to identify merchandise.” He rolled up his left trouser.“See? The date is my manumission -- it's Sargonese, a sort of Sanskrit; I don't suppose you can read it”She stared, round-eyed.“How horrible! How perfectly horrible!”He covered it.“Depends on your master.But it's not good
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