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quixotry to defy such experienced warriors."
Beran assented gloomily. "No question but what Pao needs protection against
brigands... Still, we are well able to afford the tribute, and it is cheaper
than maintaining a large military establishment."
Palafox agreed. "The tribute is a decided economy."
Beran searched the long lean face for the irony he suspected, but finding
had said nothing. Theoretically, I agree to the need for an army, and also an
efficient industrial establishment. But Bustamonte's procedure is cruel,
artificial, disruptive!"
Palafox spoke gravely. "Suppose that by some miracle you were able to recruit,
train and indoctrinate a Paonese army--then what? Whence will come their
weapons? Who will supply warships? Who will build instruments and
communications equipment?"
"Mercantil is the present source of our needs," Beran said slowly.
"Perhaps one of the out-cluster worlds might supply us."
"The Mercantil will never conspire against the Brumbos," said Palafox.
"And to procure merchandise from an out-cluster world, you must pay in
suitable exchange. To acquire this foreign exchange, you must engage in
trading."
Beran gazed bleakly from the window. "When we have no cargoships, we can not
trade."
"Precisely true," said Palafox, in high good humor. "Come, I would show you
something of which you are perhaps not aware."
In a swift black torpedo, Palafox and Beran flew to Zelambre Bay. In spite of
Beran's questions, Palafox said nothing. He took Beran to the eastern shore,
to an isolated area at the root of Maesthgelai Peninsula. Here was a group of
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
new buildings, stark and ugly. Palafox landed the boat, took
Beran inside the largest. They stood before a long cylinder.
Palafox said, "This is the secret project of a group of advanced students.
As you have deduced, it is a small space-ship. The first, so I believe, ever
built on Pao."
Beran surveyed the vessel without comment. Clearly Palafox was playing him as
a fisherman plays a fish.
He went closer to the ship. The finish was rough, the detailing crude; the
general impression, however, was one of rugged serviceability. "Will it fly?"
he asked Palafox.
young men and women attack the problems and lacks of Pao with
tremendous energy. Every day they undertake something new."
Beran grunted skeptically. "As soon as possible, these isolated groups shall
be returned into the main current of Paonese life."
Palafox demurred. "In my opinion, the time is hardly ripe for any dilution of
Technicant enthusiasm. Admittedly there was inconvenience to the displaced
population, but the results seem to vindicate the conception."
Beran made no reply. Palafox signaled to the quietly observing group of
Technicants. They came forward, were introduced, showed mild surprise when
Beran spoke to them in their own language, and presently conducted him through
the ship. The interior reinforced Beran's original conception of rough but
sturdy serviceability. And when he returned to the Grand Palace it was with an
entirely new set of doubts and speculations in his mind.
Could it be possible that Bustamonte had been right, and he, Beran, wrong?
well. The civil service was uncharacteristically self-effacing and honest; the
taxes were light; there was none of the fear and suspicion prevalent during
Bustamonte's reign. In consequence the population lived with almost non-
Paonese gusto. The neolingual enclaves, like tumors, neither benign nor
malignant, were not forgotten, but tolerated. Beran paid no visit to the
Cogitant Institute at Pon; he knew however that it had expanded greatly:
that new buildings were rising, new halls, dormitories, workshops,
laboratories--that the enrollment increased daily, derived from youths
arriving from Breakness, all bearing an unmistakable resemblance to Lord
Palafox, and from other youths, rather younger, graduating from the
Institute crèches--children of Palafox and children of his children.
Another year passed, and down from space came the gay-colored corvette of Eban
Buzbek. As before, it ignored the challenge of the monitor, and landed on the
roof-deck of the Grand Palace. As before, Eban [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]