CLEON II commonly called "The Great." The last strong Emperor of the First Empire, he is important for the political and artistic1 renaissance2 that took place during his long reign3. He is best known to romance, however, for his connection with Bel Riose, and to the common man, he is simply "Riose's Emperor." It is important not to allow events of the last year of his reign to overshadow forty years of...
ENCYCLOPEDIA4 GALACTICA
Cleon II was Lord of the Universe. Cleon II also suffered from a painful and undiagnosed ailment5. By the queer twists of human affairs, the two statements are not mutually exclusive, nor even particularly incongruous. There have been a wearisomely large number of precedents6 in history.
But Cleon II cared nothing for such precedents. To meditate7 upon a long list of similar cases would not ameliorate personal suffering an electron's worth. It soothed8 him as little to think that where his great-grandfather 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 line of Galactic rulers stretching backward into a tenuous9 past. It was at present no source of comfort to him that the efforts of his father had cleansed10 the realm of its leprous patches of rebellion and restored it to the peace and unity11 it had enjoyed under Stanel VI; that, as a consequence, in the twenty-five years of his reign, not one cloud of revolt had misted his burnished12 glory.
The Emperor of the Galaxy13 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 pleasant tingle14, Cleon relaxed a bit. He sat up with difficulty and stared morosely15 at the distant walls of the grand chamber16. It was a bad room to be alone in. It was too big. All the rooms were too big.
But better to be alone during these crippling bouts17 than to endure the prinking of the courtiers, their lavish18 sympathy, their soft, condescending19 dullness. Better to be alone than to watch those insipid20 masks behind which spun21 the tortuous22 speculations23 on the chances of death and the fortunes of the succession.
His thoughts hurried him. There were his three sons; three straight-backed youths full of promise and virtue24. Where did they disappear on these bad days? Waiting, no doubt. Each watching the other; and all watching him.
He stirred uneasily. And now Brodrig craved25 audience. The low-born, faithful Brodrig; faithful because he was hated with a unanimous and cordial hatred26 that was the only point of agreement between the dozen cliques27 that divided 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 Emperor's death, it would be the radiation-chamber the day after.
Cleon II touched the smooth knob on the arm of his great divan28, and the huge door at the end of the room dissolved to transparency.
Brodrig advanced along the crimson29 carpet, and knelt to kiss the Emperor's limp hand.
"Your health, sire?" asked the Privy30 Secretary in a low tone of becoming anxiety.
"I live," snapped the Emperor with exasperation31, "if you can call it life where every scoundrel who can read a book 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 yet been tried, why then, some learned babbler from the far comers of the realm will arrive tomorrow to try it. And still another newly-discovered book, or forgery32 morelike, will be used as authority.
"By my father's memory," he rumbled33 savagely34, "it seems there is not a biped extant who can study a disease before his eyes with those same eyes. There is not one who can count a pulse-beat without a book of the ancients before him. I'm sick and they call it 'unknown.' The fools! If in the course of millennia35, human bodies learn new methods of falling askew36, it remains37 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 while Brodrig waited dutifully. Cleon II said peevishly38, "How many are waiting outside?"
He jerked his head in the direction of the door.
Brodrig said patiently, "The Great Hall holds the usual number."
"Well, let them wait. State matters occupy me. Have the Captain 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 may betray themselves." The Emperor sneered40 nastily.
"There is a rumor41, sire," said Brodrig, smoothly42, "that it is your heart that troubles you."
The Emperor's smile was little removed from the previous sneer39. "It will hurt others more than myself if any act prematurely43 on that rumor. But what is it you want. Let's have this over."
Brodrig rose from his kneeling posture44 at a gesture of permission and said, "It concerns General Bel Riose, the Military Governor of Siwenna."
"Riose?" Cleon II frowned heavily. "I don't place him. Wait, is he the one who sent that quixotic 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 believe you took care of it."
"I did, sire. He was instructed to forward additional information and to take no steps involving naval45 action without further 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 ten years back. He had part in that affair off the Lemul Cluster."
"The Lemul Cluster? You know, my memory isn't quite ?Was that the time a young soldier saved two ships of the line from a head-on collision by ... uh ... something or other?" He waved a hand impatiently. "I don't remember the details. It was something heroic."
"Riose was that soldier. He received a promotion46 for it," Brodrig said dryly, "and an appointment to field duty as captain of a ship."
"And now Military Governor of a border system and still young. Capable man, Brodrig!"
"Unsafe, sire. He lives in the past. He is a dreamer of ancient times, or rather, of the myths of what ancient times used to be. Such men are harmless 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 your popular generals."
"Is he?" the Emperor mused47. "Well, come, Brodrig, I would not wish to be served entirely48 by incompetents49. They certainly set no enviable standard for faithfulness themselves."
"An incompetent50 traitor51 is no danger. It is rather the capable men who must be watched."
"You among them, Brodrig?" Cleon II laughed and then grimaced52 with pain. "Well, then, you may forget the lecture for the while. What new development is there in the matter of this young conqueror53? I hope you haven't come merely to reminisce."
"Another message, sire, has been received from General Riose."
"Oh? And to what effect?"
"He has spied out the land of these barbarians55 and advocates an expedition in force. His arguments are long and fairly tedious. It is not worth annoying Your Imperial Majesty56 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 interpretation57 of the Charter. It always comes to that."
"It can't be avoided, sire. It might have been better if your august father could have beaten down the last rebellion without granting the Charter. But since it is here, we must endure it for the while."
"You're right, I suppose. Then the Lords it must be. But why all this solemnity, man? It is, after all, a minor58 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 annexes59 a vagrant60 barbarian54 planet or two, he will become a conqueror. Now a young conqueror who has proven his ability to rouse the enthusiasm of pilots, miners, tradesmen and suchlike rabble61 is dangerous at any time. Even if he lacked the desire to do to you as your august father did to the usurper62, Ricker, then one of our loyal Lords of the Domain63 may decide to use him as his weapon."
Cleon II moved an arm hastily and stiffened64 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 utterly65 safe. We'll 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 Emperor's eyes narrowed with wonder. "What force has he?"
"Ten ships of the line, sire, with a full complement66 of auxiliary67 vessels68. Two of the ships are equipped with motors salvaged69 from the old Grand Fleet, and one has a battery of power artillery70 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 undertaking71. Why, with less than ten ships my father won his first victories against the usurper. Who are these barbarians he's fighting?"
The Privy Secretary raised a pair of supercilious72 eyebrows73. "He refers to them as 'the Foundation.'"
"The Foundation? 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 province of Anacreon, which two centuries since gave itself up to brigandage74, barbarism, and anarchy75. 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 prepare 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."
"I'm not advancing 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 reverted76 to barbarism most certainly."
"And so he wants reinforcements." The Emperor bent77 a fierce glance at his secretary. "This is most peculiar78; to propose to fight savages79 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 don't penetrate80. 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 loyalty81. 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 pointed82 a feeble finger, "Not till we know more. Convene83 the Council of Lords for this day week. It will be a good opportunity for the new appropriation84 as well. I'll put that through or lives will end."
He leaned his aching head into the soothing85 tingle of the force-field pillow, "Go now, Brodrig, and send in the doctor. He's the worst bumbler of the lot."
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1
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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renaissance
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| n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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encyclopedia
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| n.百科全书 | |
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ailment
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| n.疾病，小病 | |
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precedents
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| 引用单元； 范例( precedent的名词复数 )； 先前出现的事例； 前例； 先例 | |
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7
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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tenuous
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| adj.细薄的，稀薄的，空洞的 | |
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cleansed
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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morosely
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| adv.愁眉苦脸地，忧郁地 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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bouts
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| n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作 | |
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lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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tortuous
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| adj.弯弯曲曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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24
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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cliques
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| n.小集团，小圈子，派系( clique的名词复数 ) | |
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divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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millennia
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| n.一千年，千禧年 | |
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askew
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| adv.斜地；adj.歪斜的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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48
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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incompetents
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| n.无能力的，不称职的，不胜任的( incompetent的名词复数 ) | |
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incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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52
grimaced
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| v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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56
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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57
interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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58
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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annexes
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| 并吞( annex的名词复数 )； 兼并； 强占； 并吞（国家、地区等）； 附加物，附属建筑( annexe的名词复数 ) | |
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60
vagrant
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| n.流浪者，游民；adj.流浪的，漂泊不定的 | |
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rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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usurper
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| n. 篡夺者, 僭取者 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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64
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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auxiliary
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| adj.辅助的，备用的 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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salvaged
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| （从火灾、海难等中）抢救（某物）( salvage的过去式和过去分词 )； 回收利用（某物） | |
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70
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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brigandage
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| n.抢劫；盗窃；土匪；强盗 | |
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anarchy
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| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
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76
reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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77
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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80
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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81
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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82
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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83
convene
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| v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合 | |
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84
appropriation
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| n.拨款，批准支出 | |
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85
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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