Gor he said, is the name of this world. In all the languages of this planet, the word means Home Stone. He paused noting my lack of comprehension Home Stone he repeated simply that.

In peasant villages on this world, He continued each hut was originally built around a flat stone which was placed in the center of the circular dwelling. It was carved with the family sign and was called the Home Stone. It was so to speak a symbol of sovereignty, or territory, and each peasant, in his own hut was a sovereign.

Later, said my father, Homes Stones were used for villages, and later still for cities. The Home Stone of a village was always placed in the market; in a city, on the top of the highest tower. The Home Stone came naturally, in time , to acquire a mystique and something of the same hot sweet emotions as our native peoples of earth feel toward their flags became invested in it.

My father had risen to his feet and had begun to pace the room, and his eyes seemed strangely alive. In time I would come to understand more of what he felt. Indeed there is a saying on Gor, a saying whose origin is lost in the past of this strange planet, that one who speaks of Home Stones should stand , for matters of honor are here involved and honor is respected in the barbaric codes of Gor.

These Stones said my father, are various, of different colors, and sizes, and many of them are intricately carved. Some of the largest cities have small, rather insignificant Home Stones, but of incredible antiquity, dating back to the time when the city was a village or only a mounted pride of warriors with no settled abode.

My father paused at the narrow window in the circular room and looked out onto the hills beyond and fell silent.

At last he spoke again. Where a man sets his Home Stone, he claims, by law, that land for himself , Good land is protected only by the swords of the strongest owners in the vicinity. Swords I asked?

Yes said my father, as if there were nothing incredible in this admission. He smiled. You have much to learn of Gor, he said. Yet there is a hierarchy of Home Stones, one might say, and two soldiers who would cut one another down with their steel blades for an acre of fertile ground will fight side by side to the death for the Home Stone of their village or the city within whose ambit their village lies.

I shall show you someday, he said my own small Home Stone, which I keep in my chambers. It encloses a handful of soil that I first brought with me when I came to this world, a long time ago. He looked at me evenly. I shall keep the handful of earth you brought, he said his voice very quiet, and someday it may be yours. His eyes seemed moist. He added, If you should live long enough to earn a Home Stone.� Tarnsman of Gor, pg. 26-28, by John Norman.

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