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********** Heel **************
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`
The slave moves quickly to kneel behind the Master's left
foot. She remains there until receiving further orders. If the
Master moves, the slave is to follow him, maintaining the space
from him that he indicated or permitted initially. The distance
will vary according to circumstances. In a crowded market, the
slave should be directly behind the Master, but in the open
country with danger about, the distance can extend to as much
as 20'
`
"The Forkbeard turned about and, one arm about Pudding, the
other about Gunnhild, started from the dock. Hilda followed
him, to his left. 'She heels nicely,' said Ottar. The men and
bond-maids laughed. The Forkbeard stopped. Hilda's face burned
red with fury, but she kept her head high. Pet sleen are taught
`
to heel; so, too, sometimes, are bond-maids; I was familiar
with this sort of thing, of course; in the south it was quite
common for slave girls; in various fashions in various cities,
to heel their masters. Hilda, of course, was a free woman. For
her to heel was an incredible humiliation. The Forkbeard
`
started off again, and then again stopped. Again, Hilda
followed him as before. 'She is heeling!' laughed Ottar."
`
"These things vary, I learned from city to city, and depend,
also, on such matters as context and conditions. In a market,
in the crowding and jostling for instance, a girl may follow
so closely she pressed against the back of his left shoulder.
Girls seldom follow behind and on the right. If she is thusly
`
placed it is commonly a sign she is in disfavor. If more
than one girl is involved, she who follows most closely on
the left is generally taken to be in highest favor; girls
compete for this position. In an open area, such a the fields
in which we trekked, the girl is placed some five or ten feet
`
behind, and on the left. If he must move suddenly she will
not, thusly, constitute an impediment to his action."
`
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