Foundation and Empire 4. The Emperor

CLEON II commonly wauled The Great. The last strong emperor moth of the initial Empire, he is important for the political and artistic renaissance that took place during his long reign. He is best know to romance, however, for his connection with Bel Riose, and to the common man, he is simply Rioses emperor. It is important not to allow in timets of the last yr of his reign to overshadow forty years ofEncyclopedia GalacticaCleon II was Lord of the Universe. Cleon II also suffered from a painful and undiagnosed ailment. By the queer twists of human offices, the 2 statements argon not mutually exclusive, nor even particularly incongruous. There have been a wearisomely large number of precedents in history. still Cleon II c atomic number 18d zip fas ten dollar biller for such precedents. To meditate upon a long list of similar cases would not ameliorate personal measly an electrons price. It soothed him as little to think that where his great-grandfather had been the pirate rul er of a dust-speck planet, he himself slept in the pleasure palace of Ammenetik the Great, as heir of a line of Galactic rulers stretching rearwards into a tenuous past. It was at present no source of comfort to him that the efforts of his father had cleansed the realm of its leprous patches of rebellion and restored it to the peace and champion it had enjoyed under Stanel VI that, as a consequence, in the twenty-five years of his reign, not one obliterate of revolt had misted his burnished glory.The Emperor of the Galaxy and the Lord of All whimpered as he lolled his head backward into the invigorating plane of force about his pillows. It yielded in a softness that did not touch, and at the lovely tingle, Cleon relaxed a bit. He sat up with difficulty and stared morosely at the distant walls of the grand chamber. It was a bad room to be alone in. It was too big. All the rooms were too big.But reveal to be alone during these crippling bouts than to endure the prinking of the c ourtiers, their lavish sympathy, their soft, condescending dullness. Better to be alone than to pale those insipid masks behind which spun the tortuous speculations on the chances of death and the fortunes of the succession.His thoughts hurried him. There were his three sons three backed youths full of promise and virtue. Where did they disappear on these bad mean solar days? Waiting, no doubt. Each watching the some different and all watching him.He stirred uneasily. And now Brodrig craved audience. The low-born, faithful Brodrig faithful because he was detest with a unanimous and cordial hatred that was the only point of agreement between the dozen cliques that separate his court.Brodrig the faithful favorite, who had to be faithful, since unless he owned the fastest speed-ship in the Galaxy and took to it the day of the Emperors death, it would be the radiation-chamber the day after.Cleon II touched the smooth knob on the arm of his great divan, and the huge door at the e nd of the room dissolved to transparency.Brodrig advanced along the crimson carpet, and knelt to kiss the Emperors limp make pass.Your health, sire? asked the bath writing table in a low tone of becoming anxiety.I live, snapped the Emperor with exasperation, if you can call it life where every scoundrel who can read a countersign of medicine uses me as a blank and receptive field for his feeble experiments. If there is a conceivable remedy, chemical, physical, or nuclear, which has not withal been tried, why then, some learned babbler from the far comers of the realm get out arrive tomorrow to set about it. And stock-still another newly-discovered book, or forgery morelike, will be used as authority.By my fathers memory, he rumbled savagely, it seems there is not a biped extant who can study a disease in the beginning his look with those same eyes. There is not one who can count a pulse-beat without a book of the ancients before him. Im sick and they call it unknown. The fool s If in the course of millennia, human bodies learn new methods of falling askew, it remain uncovered by the studies of the ancients and uncurable forevermore. The ancients should be alive now, or I then.The Emperor ran down to a low-breathed horror while Brodrig waited dutifully. Cleon II said peevishly, How m some(prenominal) are waiting outside?He jerked his head in the direction of the door.Brodrig said patiently, The Great Hall considers the usual number.Well, let them wait. State points occupy me. Have the senior pilot of the Guard announce it. Or wait, forget the state matters. Just have it announced I hold no audience, and let the Captain of the Guard look doleful. The jackals among them whitethorn betray themselves. The Emperor sneered nastily.There is a rumor, sire, said Brodrig, smoothly, that it is your heart that troubles you.The Emperors smile was little removed from the previous sneer. It will hurt others more than myself if either act prematurely on that rumor. But what is it you want. Lets have this over.Brodrig rose from his kneeling posture at a gesture of permission and said, It concerns General Bel Riose, the Military Governor of Siwenna.Riose? Cleon II frowned heavily. I dont place him. Wait, is he the one who sent that quixotic message some months back? Yes, I remember. He panted for permission to accede a life of conquest for the glory of the Empire and Emperor.Exactly, sire.The Emperor laughed shortly. Did you think I had such generals left over(p) me, Brodrig? He seems to be a curious atavism. What was the answer? I believe you took care of it.I did, sire. He was instructed to forward additional information and to throng no steps involving naval action without further orders from the Imperium.Hmp. estimable enough. Who is this Riose? Was he ever at court?Brodrig nodded and his mouth twisted ever so little. He began his career as a cadet in the Guards ten years back. He had part in that affair off the Lemul Cluster.The Lemul Cluster? You know, my memory isnt quite Was that the time a newfangled soldier saved cardinal ships of the line from a head-on collision by uh something or other? He waved a hand impatiently. I dont remember the details. It was something heroic.Riose was that soldier. He received a promotion for it, Brodrig said dryly, and an appointment to field job as captain of a ship.And now Military Governor of a border system and still young. Capable man, BrodrigUnsafe, sire. He lives in the past. He is a dreamer of ancient propagation, or rather, of the myths of what ancient times used to be. Such men are harmless in themselves, but their queer lack of realness makes them fools for others. He added, His men, I understand, are completely under his control. He is one of your common generals.Is he? the Emperor mused. Well, come, Brodrig, I would not wish to be served entirely by incompetents. They certainly set no desirable standard for faithfulness themselves.An incompetent traitor is no danger. It is rather the capable men who must be watched.You among them, Brodrig? Cleon II laughed and then grimaced with pain. Well, then, you may forget the lecture for the while. What new development is there in the matter of this young conqueror? I hope you havent come merely to reminisce.Another message, sire, has been received from General Riose.Oh? And to what outcome?He has spied out the land of these barbarians and advocates an expedition in force. His arguments are long and fairly tedious. It is not worth annoying Your Imperial Majesty with it at present, during your indisposition. Particularly since it will be discussed at length during the session of the Council of Lords. He glanced sidewise at the Emperor.Cleon II frowned. The Lords? Is it a question for them, Brodrig? It will mean further demands for a broader interpretation of the Charter. It always comes to that.It cant be avoided, sire. It might have been better if your haughty father could have overcome down the last rebellion without granting the Charter. But since it is here, we must endure it for the while.Youre right, I suppose. Then the Lords it must be. But why all this solemnity, man? It is, after all, a minor point. Success on a remote border with limited troops is scarcely a state affair.Brodrig smiled narrowly. He said coolly, It is an affair of a romantic idiot but even a romantic idiot can be a deadly weapon when an unromantic rebel uses him as a tool. Sire, the man was popular here and is popular there. He is young. If he annexes a vagrant barbarian planet or two, he will come a conqueror. Now a young conqueror who has proven his ability to rouse the enthusiasm of pilots, miners, tradesmen and suchlike rabble is dangerous at any time. Even if he lacked the desire to do to you as your august father did to the usurper, Ricker, then one of our loyal Lords of the Domain may decide to use him as his weapon.Cleon II moved an arm hastily and stiffened with pain. Slowly he relax ed, but his smile was weak, and his voice a whisper. You are a valuable subject, Brodrig. You always suspect far more than is necessary, and I have but to take half your suggested precautions to be utterly safe. Well put it up to the Lords. We shall see what they say and take our measure accordingly. The young man, I suppose, has made no hostile moves yet.He report none. But already he asks for reinforcements.Reinforcements The Emperors eyes narrowed with wonder. What force has he?Ten ships of the line, sire, with a full complement of auxiliary vessels. Two of the ships are equipped with motors salvaged from the old Grand Fleet, and one has a battery of power artillery from the same source. The other ships are new ones of the last fifty years, but are serviceable, nevertheless.Ten ships would seem adequate for any reasonable undertaking. Why, with less than ten ships my father won his first victories against the usurper. Who are these barbarians hes fighting?The Privy Secretary rais ed a pair of supercilious eyebrows. He refers to them as the Foundation.The Foundation? What is it?There is no file of it, sire. I have searched the archives carefully. The area of the Galaxy indicated falls within the ancient province of Anacreon, which two centuries since gave itself up to brigandage, barbarism, and anarchy. There is no planet known as Foundation in the province, however. There was a vague reference to a group of scientists sent to that province just before its separation from our protection. They were to work up an Encyclopedia. He smiled thinly. I believe they called it the Encyclopedia Foundation.Well, the Emperor considered it somberly, that seems a tenuous connection to advance.Im not advance it, sire. No word was ever received from that expedition after the growth of anarchy in that region. If their descendants still live and retain their name, then they have reverted to barbarism most certainly.And so he wants reinforcements. The Emperor bent a fierce gl ance at his secretary. This is most peculiar to propose to fight savages with ten ships and to ask for more before a blow is struck. And yet I begin to remember this Riose he was a handsome boy of loyal family. Brodrig, there are complications in this that I dont penetrate. There may be more importance in it than would seem.His fingers played idly with the gleaming sheet that covered his stiffened legs. He said, I need a man out there one with eyes, brains and loyalty. Brodrig-The secretary bent a submissive head. And the ships, sire?Not yet The Emperor moaned softly as he shifted his position in gentle stages. He pointed a feeble finger, Not till we know more. Convene the Council of Lords for this day week. It will be a good opportunity for the new appropriation as well. Ill put that through or lives will end.He leaned his aching head into the soothing tingle of the force-field pillow, Go now, Brodrig, and send in the doctor. Hes the batter bumbler of the lot.