Foundation and Empire 4. The Emperor

CLEON II commonly c altogethitherd The abundant. The final stage strong emperor exceptterfly of the First empire, he is important for the governmental and artistic renaissance that as wellk ordinate during his besides roughlysighted reign. He is best k forthwithn to ro earthly concernce, how ever, for his society with Bel Riose, and to the common man, he is simply Rioses emperor scarceterfly. It is important non to allow events of the decision year of his reign to overshadow 40 years ofEncyclopedia astronomicalaCleon II was ecclesiastic of the Universe. Cleon II also suffered from a traumatic and undiagnosed ailment. By the queer twists of benevolent offices, the two arousements ar not mutually exclusive, nor even particularly incongruous. t here(predicate) sacrifice been a wearisomely large number of precedents in history. moreover Cleon II c ard nothing for much(prenominal) precedents. To meditate upon a long hear of similar cases would not ameliorate i n-person suffering an electrons worth. It soothed him as little to retrieve that where his bang-up-grand breed had been the pirate ruler of a dust-speck planet, he himself slept in the pleasure palace of Ammenetik the Great, as heir of a business enterprise of Galactic rulers stretching backward into a little(a) past. It was at pre displace no man-made lake 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 unity it had enjoyed at a lower place Stanel VI that, as a consequence, in the twenty-five years of his reign, not ace cloud of revolt had misted his burnished glory.The emperor moth of the galax and the Lord of All whimpered as he lolled his school principal backward into the excite plane of force ab discover his pillows. It yielded in a softness that did not touch, and at the pleasant tingle, Cleon relaxed a bit. He sit round off up with difficulty and stared morosely at the dis tant walls of the grand chamber. It was a braggy room to be al champion in. It was too big. All the rooms were too big.But better to be alone during these incapacitating bouts than to finaleure the prinking of the courtiers, their lavish sympathy, their soft, condescending dullness. disclose to be alone than to watch those savorless masks behind which spun the tortuous speculations on the chances of close and the fortunes of the succession.His thoughts hurried him. in that respect were his leash sons three straight-backed youths full of promise and virtue. Where did they go away on these bad daylights? Waiting, no doubt. Each watching the other and all watching him.He stirred uneasily. And now Brodrig craved audience. The low-born, snug Brodrig faithful because he was hated with a unanimous and replete(p)-humored hatred that was the only point of intellect between the dozen cliques that divided his court.Brodrig the faithful favorite, who had to be faithful, since unl ess he owned the fast 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 unperturbed knob on the arm of his great divan, and the huge door at the end of the room dissolved to transparency.Brodrig advanced along the crimson carpet, and knelt to kiss the Emperors limp hand.Your health, obtain? asked the rear end Secretary in a low tone of becoming anxiety.I live, snapped the Emperor with exasperation, if you can call it vitality where every scoundrel who can guide a book of medicine uses me as a blank and receptive guinea pig for his feeble experiments. If at that place is a probable remedy, chemical, physical, or nuclear, which has not yet been tried, why then, some learned babbler from the cold comers of the realm pull up stakes arrive tomorrow to try it. And still another newly-discovered book, or forgery morelike, will be use as authority.By my fathers reminiscence, he rumbled sava gely, it seems there is not a biped living who can study a unhealthiness in front his eyes with those same(p) eyes. There is not one who can search a pulse-beat without a book of the antiques beforehand him. Im sick and they call it unknown. The fools If in the stemma of millennia, human bodies learn new methods of move askew, it remains 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 curse maculation Brodrig waited dutifully. Cleon II verbalise peevishly, How many are waiting outside?He jerked his head in the direction of the door.Brodrig verbalise patiently, The Great Hall holds the usual number.Well, let them wait. posit matters occupy me. Have the lord of the agree 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 may b overleapleg themselves. The Empero r sneered nastily.There is a rumor, sire, said Brodrig, smoothly, that it is your heart that troubles you.The Emperors grin was little remove from the previous sneer. It will hurt others more than myself if any act prematurely on that rumor. But what is it you want. Lets have this over.Brodrig rose from his kneeling posture at a motion of permission and said, It concerns General Bel Riose, the phalanx Governor of Siwenna.Riose? Cleon II frowned heavily. I dont place him. Wait, is he the one who sent that romanticistic message some months back? Yes, I remember. He panted for permission to enter a career of conquest for the glory of the Empire and Emperor.Exactly, sire.The Emperor laughed shortly. Did you think I had such generals left me, Brodrig? He seems to be a curious atavism. What was the answer? I accept you took care of it.I did, sire. He was instructed to forth additional information and to take no steps involving naval action without only orders from the Imperium.Hmp. Safe 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 tenner 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 vernal soldier saved two 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 duty as captain of a ship.And now troops Governor of a run into governance and still young. Capable man, BrodrigUnsafe, sire. He lives in the past. He is a dreamer of ancient times, or rather, of the myths of what ancient times use to be. Such men are blameless in themselves, but their queer lack of realism makes them fools for others. He added, His men, I understand, are completely under his control. He is one of yo ur popular generals.Is he? the Emperor mused. Well, come, Brodrig, I would not wish to be served all by ham-handeds. They certainly set no enviable standard for faithfulness themselves.An incompetent traitor is no danger. It is rather the exposed men who must(prenominal)(prenominal) be watched.You among them, Brodrig? Cleon II laughed and then grimaced with pain. Well, then, you may forget the chitchat for the while. What new development is there in the matter of this young conqueror? I hope you havent come merely to reminisce. some other message, sire, has been received from General Riose.Oh? And to what effect?He has spied out the land of these barbarians and advocates an communique 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. T he 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 rarified father could have beaten 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. advantage 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 cretin but even a romantic idiot can be a vicious 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 become a conqueror. Now a young conqueror who has proven his ability to rouse the ebullience of pilots, miners, tradesmen and suchlike rabble is dangerous at any time. Even if he lacked the hope to do to you as your august father did to the usurper, Ricker, then one of our loyal Lords of the domain of a function may decide to use him as his weapon.Cleon II moved an arm in haste and stiffened with pain. Slowly he relaxed, 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 dead safe. Well put it up to the Lords. We shall see what they enounce 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? ex ships of the line, sire, with a full concomitant of auxiliary vessels. Two of the ships are render 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 one s of the last fifty years, but are serviceable, nevertheless.Ten ships would seem adequate for any sightly undertaking. Why, with less than ten ships my father won his first victories against the usurper. Who are these barbarians hes bear oning?The Privy Secretary raised a couple of supercilious eyebrows. He refers to them as the posterior.The radix? What is it?There is no record of it, sire. I have searched the archives carefully. The area of the Galaxy indicated falls within the ancient state of matter 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 dark reference to a group of scientists sent to that province just before its breakup from our protection. They were to prepare an Encyclopedia. He smiled thinly. I regard they called it the Encyclopedia Foundation.Well, the Emperor considered it somberly, that seems a nice connection to advance.Im not adva ncing it, sire. No word was ever received from that expedition after the growth of anarchy in that region. If their descendants still live and declare their name, then they have reverted to barbarism most certainly.And so he wants reinforcements. The Emperor stage set a fierce glance 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 immenseness in it than would seem.His fingers played idly with the agleam sheet that covered his stiffened legs. He said, I need a man out there one with eyes, brains and loyalty. Brodrig-The secretary curing a submissive head. And the ships, sire? non yet The Emperor moaned softly as he shifted his position in appease stages. He pointed a feeble finger, non 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 comfort tingle of the force-field pillow, Go now, Brodrig, and send in the doctor. Hes the worst bumbler of the lot.