"It would help me survive," she said.

"Yes," I said. "It would also raise your price."

"I see," she said.

"There is in you, and in these other girls," I said, surveying the coffle, "a superb love slave. If you pass through many hands, and many slaveries, your chance of being acquired by one who will be to you your true love master is much increased."

"Do you sell us because you are cruel, or because you are kind?" she asked.

"If I sell you," I said, "it will be done as I wish, when I wish, and because I wish."

"Yes, Master," she said, putting her head down.

"I could sell you to make money," I said. "I could sell you because I am tired of you. I could sell you because it amused me. I could sell you because I would be curious to see what you would look like standing naked in the sawdust on an auction block."

"Yes, Master," she said.

"I have sold girls for all of those reasons, and many others," I said.

"Of course, Master," she said. "Forgive me. We are slaves."

I pulled the hood of her parka up, over her head. "Fasten the hood," I said. "The trek will be cold."

"Yes, Master," she said.

I lightly kissed her lips. Our lips, momentarily, lingered together. Then I took her fully in my arms, and lengthily kissed her. "I will try to be pleasing to you, Master," she said.

I heard the sleen scratching at the ice. Ram coughed. The red hunters set their snittened hands to the uprights on their sleds.

"Be silent, Slave," I said, pushing her from me.

"Yes, Master," she said. She stumbled back, the double coffle line on her neck.

I turned about, to look once more behind me. It is a trick of red hunters, to see what the return journey will look like. But I did not think I would come this way again.

I saw the ice of the polar sea, and the stars, and the feasting house, within which Imnak sang.

Then I turned about and lifted my arm. To my left, in the east, was the first, tiniest glimmering of light, a dawn that would begin the long day of the arctic spring and summer. The night was over.

I lowered my arm. "On!" I said. "On!" The eight sleds left the area of the camp. I moved behind the sled. The girls, behind the sled, and to its left, moved with me.

Our departure was not noticed.