This month we continue with Book II, Outlaw of Gor.

Chapter 7

Tarl, mighty hero of Gor, takes on four skilled Warriors. He kills one and wounds another causing Thorn to try another approach. They discuss things for a bit and then Tarl tells Thorn who he is. That changes things. Tarls name is "the most hated on Gor." The girl chooses to go with Thorn, as his slave, even though Tarl offers to free her (foolish young Tarl that he is). Tarl knows he is defeated, but he suspects something. He discovers the girl was once of Ko-ro-ba. He explains he has come back to avenge Ko-ro-ba, and that lightens her mood a bit, though she still goes with Thorn.

Chapter 8

Tarl arrives in Tharna and finds it to be a very odd city (although he has only seen three - trivia question: What are the only three cities Tarl has seen at this point?). The men of Tharna seem pale and depressed although industrious. The average man of Gor, Tarl explains, "with his impatience and lightness of heart. . . tends to regard the joys of life somewhat more highly than its duties." Only a small patch of color indicates caste in contrast to the normally colorful Gorean cities. Tarl wonders at this for all Goreans, he explains, even those of lower caste are quite proud of themselves. Tarl also misses the presence of slave girls in the crowd, but he realizes that there will be few, if any, female slaves in Tharna. We learn that male slaves are usually hidden, their collars being covered up by robes. This is the only reference of its type that I know of, and should be taken in the context that this is only the second book. Norman is still making things up as he goes at this point, I imagine.

We learn that female slave livery is, in part, designed to be enticing in order to protect the free women from tarn raids. The free women of Tharna walk about the city unattended and in rich colorful robes. Men step aside to let them pass. Each woman wears a silver mask.

Eventually Tarl finds himself in a marketplace. Again it is different. Whereas a normal Gorean marketplace might be boisterous and noisy, this one is somber and quiet. Tarl tells us that the marketplace is a common place for young men and women to meet. Although a woman isnt supposed to have met her future companion until after her parents select him, it isnt unusual for him to be someone she has met in the marketplace.

As Tarl leaves the marketplace he is followed by two men. He ascends to a high bridge and notes again how unusually dreary Tharna is. The whole place is "gray, rather cold, and gloomy." Yet Tarl says that from his point of view Tharna is one of the most enlightened and civilized places on Gor. So whats wrong with that picture? The point being made here is that Tarls view isnt yet Gorean. Tarl is still of Earth and he hasnt yet become fully Gorean. His view is skewed. Also, it must be remembered, Tharna has to draw strangers to itself. Thus, the stories one hears of it outside of Tharna are bound to be propaganda.

The two men approach Tarl on the bridge and offer him a tarn and a thousand gold tarn disks to capture the Tatrix.

Chapter 9

Tarls not interested. One of the men gives him a small sack of money anyway and then takes off. Tarl is rather puzzled by this, but the man is gone. He decides to seek an inn or even a Paga Tavern. Asking for directions he gets disturbing news. Although he doesnt understand it yet, he is "welcomed to Tharna" both by the stranger he asks for directions and by the guard at the now closed gate. He wanders for awhile and finds a Kal-da shop. The proprietor tells him that men of high caste shouldnt be there, but Tarl tosses him a silver tarn disk and asks him, "What caste is it?" Smart guy, our Tarl. Ive always liked him. He comes up with some great lines :)

Tarl comes up with enough other great lines ("I have lived in Tharna all my life") that the place is soon rocking. The next morning, however, he wakes up in just in time to be arrested for stealing coins from the man whose name we learn is Ost, on the bridge.