Foundation and Empire 7. Bribery

Sergeant Mori Luk made an moodl soldier of the ranks. He came from the Brobdingnagian agricultural planets of the Pleiades w present only army life could break the bond to the dirty and the unavailing life of drudgery and he was typical of that background. Unimaginative plentiful to feel danger with sur expect fear, he was strong and agile enough to face it successfully. He accepted orders instantly, drove the men under him unbendingly and adored his ecumenic unswervingly.And tho with that, he was of a sunny nature. If he killinged a cosmos in the line of duty with extinct a scrap of hesitation, it was also without a scrap of animosity.That Sergeant Luk should signal at the door before entry was further a sign of tact, for he would arrive been perfectly at heart his rights to enter without signaling.The ii within looked up from their withaling meal and ane reached out with his bum to cut off the cracked voice which rattle out of the battered pocket-transmitter with br ight liveliness.More books? asked Lathan D eers.The sergeant held out the tightly-wound piston chamber of film and scratched his neck. It be spaciouss to Engineer Orre, to a greater extentover hell find to have it back. Hes going to brand it to his kids, you jockey, like what you cogency c only a souvenir, you k at a time.Ducem Barr turned the cylinder in his hands with interest. And whither did the engineer nail it? He hasnt a transmitter also, has he?The sergeant shook his head emphatic everyy. He pointed to the knocked- just about remnant at the foot of the bed. Thats the only iodin in the place. This fellow, Orre, now, he got that book from iodin of these pig-pen worlds out here we captured. They had it in a salubrious-favored building by itself and he had to kill a few of the natives that tried to s travel by him from taking it.He looked at it appraisingly. It pay offs a soundly souvenir for kids.He pa make use ofd, then submit stealthily, in that respects big news floating about, by the guidance. Its only scuttle poove, but as yet so, its too life-threatening to victuals. The popular did it again. And he nodded slowly, gravely.That so? verbalise Devers. And what did he do?Finished the Enclosure, thats all. The sergeant chuckled with a fatherly pride. Isnt he the corker, though? Didnt he work it fine? One of the fellows whos strong on get a line talk, says it went as smooth and so far as the music of the spheres, whatever they be.The big offensive starts now? asked Barr, mildly.Hope so, was the boisterous response. I indispensableness to get back on my ship now that my arm is in superstar piece again. Im tired of sitting on my scupper out here.So am I, muttered Devers, suddenly and savagely. There was a bit of underlip caught in his teeth, and he worried it.The sergeant looked at him doubtfully, and give tongue to, Id better go now. The senior pilots round is cod and Id but as soon he didnt catch me in here.He paused at the door. By the way, sir, he say with sudden, awkward shyness to the trader, I heard from my wife. She says that smallish freezer you gave me to send her works fine. It doesnt cost her whateverthing, and she just about keeps a months supply of food froze up complete. I apprise it.Its all right. impart it.The great door moved noiselessly closed in(p) behind the grinning sergeant.Ducem Barr got out of his chair. Well, he gives us a plum return for the freezer. Lets take a look at this new book. Ahh, the act is g un delayable.He unrolled a yard or so of the film and looked through with(predicate) at the light. Then he murmured, Well, skewer me through the scupper, as the sergeant says. This is The Garden of Summa, Devers.That so? give tongue to the trader, without interest. He shoved aside what was go away of his dinner. tantalize down, Barr. Listening to this old- season literature isnt doing me any good. You heard what the sergeant verbalise?Yes, I did. What of it?The offe nsive go forth start. And we sit hereWhere do you want to sit?You know what I mean. Theres no use just time lag.Isnt in that respect? Barr was cargonfully removing the old film from the transmitter and installing the new. You told me a good deal of innovation history in the last month, and it seems that the great leadership of past crises did precious circumstantial more than sit and wait.Ah, Barr, but they knew where they were going.Did they? I suppose they verbalize they did when it was over, and for all I know whitethornbe they did. scarce in that respects no proof that things would non have worked out as well or better if they had non known where they were going. The deeper economic and socio analytical forces arent recite by individual men.Devers sneered. No way of telling that things wouldnt have worked out worse, either. Youre arguing tail-end backwards. His eyeball were brooding. You know, suppose I blasted him?Whom? Riose?Yes.Barr sighed. His aging eyes were troubled with a reflection of the long past. Assassination isnt the way out, Devers. I in star case tried it, under provocation, when I was twenty but it understand secret code. I removed a villain from Siwenna, but not the violet yoke and it was the majestic yoke and not the villain that mattered. exactly Riose is not just a villain, doc. Hes the whole blamed army. It would fall apart without him. They come down on him like babies. The sergeant out there slobbers e genuinely m he mentions him.Even so. There are other armies and other leaders. You must go deeper. There is this Brodrig, for instance no one more than he has the ear of the Emperor. He could de hu composition beingd hundreds of ships where Riose must struggle with ten. I know him by reputation.That so? What about him? The traders eyes lost in thwarting what they gained in sharp interest.You want a pocket outline? Hes a low-born rascal who has by unfailing flattery tickled the whims of the Emperor. Hes well-h ated by the court aristocracy, varmint themselves, because he flush toilet lay claim to neither family nor humility. He is the Emperors adviser in all things, and the Emperors too in the worst things. He is traitorous by choice but loyal by necessity. There is not a man in the Empire as subtle in villainy or as crude in his pleasures. And they say there is no way to the Emperors favor but through him and no way to his, but through infamy.Wow Devers pulled thoughtfully at his neatly thinned rim. And hes the old boy the Emperor sent out here to keep an eye on Riose. Do you know I have an idea?I do now. regard this Brodrig takes a dislike to our young Armys enjoyment?He in all likelihood has already. Hes not noted for a capacity for liking.Suppose it gets really bad. The Emperor might hear about it, and Riose might be in trouble.Uh-huh. Quite likely. moreover how do you propose to get that to go by?I dont know. I suppose he could be bribed?The patrician laughed gently. Yes, in a way, but not in the manner you bribed the sergeant not with a pocket freezer. And even if you reach his scale, it wouldnt be worth it. Theres probably no one so easily bribed, but he lacks even the fundamental honesty of honorable corruption. He doesnt stay bribed not for any sum. Think of something else.Devers swung a leg over his knee and his toe nodded quick and restlessly. Its the branch hint, though-He s windped the door signal was flashing at a time again, and the sergeant was on the threshold once more. He was excited, and his broad face was red and unsmiling.Sir, he began, in an agitated attempt at deference, I am very thankful for the freezer, and you have always rungn to me very fine, although I am only the son of a farmer and you are great lords.His Pleiades accent had grown thick, almost too much so for easy comprehension and with excitement, his lumpish peasant derivation wiped out completely the soldierly bearing so long and so painfully cultivated.Barr said s oftly, What is it, sergeant?Lord Brodrig is coming to see you. Tomorrow I know, because the captain told me to have my men ready for dress review tomorrow for for him. I thought I might warn you.Barr said, Thank you, sergeant, we appreciate that. precisely its all right, man no need for-But the look on Sergeant Luks face was now unmistakably one of fear. He spoke in a rough whisper, You dont hear the stories the men tell about him. He has sold himself to the space daemon. No, dont laugh. There are most nasty tales told about him. They say he has men with blast-guns who follow him everywhere, and when he wants pleasure, he just tells them to blast down anyone they meet. And they do and he laughs. They say even the Emperor is in terror of him, and that he forces the Emperor to raise taxes and wont let him listen to the complaints of the people.And he hates the general, thats what they say. They say he would like to kill the general, because the general is so great and wise. But he cant because our general is a partner off for anyone and he knows Lord Brodrig is a bad un.The sergeant blinked smiled in a sudden incongruous shyness at his own outburst and sanction toward the door. He nodded his head, jerkily. You mind my words. Watch him.He ducked out.And Devers looked up, tight-eyed. This breaks things our way, doesnt it, doc?It depends, said Barr, dryly, on Brodrig, doesnt it?But Devers was thinking, not listening.He was thinking severe.Lord Brodrig ducked his head as he stepped into the cramped living quarters of the trading ship, and his two fortify guards followed quickly, with bared guns and the professionally hard scowls of the hired bravos.The Privy Secretary had little of the look of the lost soul about him just then. If the space fiend had bought him, he had left no visible mark of possession. Rather might Brodrig have been considered a breath of court-fashion come to enliven the hard, bare evil of an army base.The stiff, tight lines of his sheen ed and immaculate costume gave him the illusion of height, from the very top of which his cold, emotionless eyes stared down the declivity of a long meander at the trader. The mother-of-pearl ruches at his wrists fluttered filmily as he brought his ivory gravel to the ground before him and leaned upon it daintily.No, he said, with a little gesture, you remain here. Forget your toys I am not interested in them.He draw forth a chair, dusted it carefully with the iridescent square of fabric disposed to the top of his white stick, and seated himself. Devers glanced towards the mate to the chair, but Brodrig said lazily, You get out stand in the presence of a Peer of the Realm.He smiled.Devers shrugged. If youre not interested in my stock in trade, what am I here for?The Privy Secretary waited coldly, and Devers added a slow, Sir.For privacy, said the secretaire. Now is it likely that I would come two hundred parsecs through space to inspect trinkets? Its you I want to see. He extr acted a small pink tablet from an engrave box and placed it delicately between his teeth. He sucked it slowly and appreciatively.For instance, he said, who are you? Are you really a citizen of this barbarian world that is creating all this wrath of military frenzy?Devers nodded gravely.And you were really captured by him after the scratch line of this squabble he calls a war. I am referring to our young general.Devers nodded again.So Very well, my worthy Outlander. I see your fluency of speech is at a minimum. I shall smooth the way for you. It seems that our general here is campaign an apparently meaningless war with frightful transports of energy and this over a forsaken fleabite of a world at the end of nowhere, which to a logical man would not seem worth a single blast of a single gun. Yet the general is not illogical. On the contrary, I would say he was extremely intelligent. Do you follow me?Cant say I do, sir.The secretary inspected his fingernails and said, Listen furt her, then. The general would not waste his men and ships on a sterile feat of resplendency. I know he talks of corona and of Imperial honor, but it is quite obvious that the affectation of being one of the insufferable old demigods of the Heroic Age wont wash. There is something more than glory hereand he does take queer, unnecessary care of you. Now if you were my prisoner and told me as little of use as you have our general, I would slit percipient your abdomen and strangle you with your own intestines.Devers remained wooden. His eyes moved slightly, first to one of the secretarys bully-boys, and then to the other. They were ready eagerly ready.The secretary smiled. Well, now, youre a silent devil. concord to the general, even a psychic Probe made no impression, and that was a mistake on his part, by the way, for it convinced me that our young military whizz-bang was lying. He seemed in high humor.My honest tradesman, he said, I have a mental Probe of my own, one that ought to suit you peculiarly well. You see this-And between thumb and forefinger, held negligently, were intricately designed, pink-and-yellow rectangles which were most definitely obvious in identity.Devers said so. It looks like cash, he said.Cash it is and the best cash of the Empire, for it is backed by my estates, which are more extensive than the Emperors own. A hundred thousand credits. every last(predicate) here Between two fingers YoursFor what, sir? I am a good trader, but all trades go in both directions.For what? For the truth What is the general after? Why is he skining this war?Lathan Devers sighed, and smoothed his beard thoughtfully.What hes after? His eyes were following the motions of the secretarys hands as he counted the notes slowly, bill by bill. In a word, the Empire.Hmp. How ordinary It always comes to that in the end. But how? What is the road that leads from the Galaxys edge to the peak of Empire so mostly and invitingly?The first appearance, said Devers, bi tterly, has secrets. They have books, old books so old that the run-in they are in is only known to a few of the top men. But the secrets are shrouded in ritual and religion, and none may use them. I tried and now I am here and there is a death sentence waiting for me, there.I see. And these old secrets? Come, for one hundred thousand I deserve the intimate details.The transmutation of elements, said Devers, shortly.The secretarys eyes narrowed and lost some of their detachment. I have been told that applicative transmutation is impossible by the laws of nucleics.So it is, if nuclear forces are used. But the ancients were smart boys. There are sources of power greater than the nuclei and more fundamental. If the Foundation used those sources as I suggested-Devers felt a soft, creeping headliner in his stomach. The bait was dangling the fish was nosing it.The secretary said suddenly, Continue. The general, I am sure, is aware of a this. But what does he intend doing once he fini shes this opera-bouffe affair?Devers kept his voice rock-steady. With transmutation he controls the economy of the whole set-up of your Empire. Mineral holdings wont be worth a sneeze when Riose can make tungsten out of aluminum and iridium out of iron. An stallion production system based on the scarcity of certain elements and the teemingness of others is thrown completely out of whack. Therell be the greatest disjointment the Empire has ever seen, and only Riose will be able to stop it. And there is the top dog of this new power I mentioned, the use of which wont give Riose religious heebies.Theres nix that can stop him now. Hes got the Foundation by the back of the neck, and once hes unblemished with it, hell be Emperor in two years.So. Brodrig laughed lightly. Iridium out of iron, thats what you said, isnt it? Come, Ill tell you a state secret. Do you know that the Foundation has already been in communication with the general?Devers back stiffened.You look surprised. Why no t? It seems logical now. They offered him a hundred tons of iridium a year to make peace. A hundred tons of iron converted to iridium in violation of their religious principles to save their necks. Fair enough, but no oddity our rigidly incorruptible general refused when he can have the iridium and the Empire as well. And poor Cleon called him his one honest general. My bewhiskered merchant, you have earned your money.He tossed it, and Devers scrambled after the flying bills.Lord Brodrig stop at the door and turned. One reminder, trader. My playmates with the guns here have neither lay ears, tongues, education, nor intelligence. They can neither hear, speak, write, nor even make sense to a Psychic Probe. But they are very expert at interesting executions. I have bought you, man, at one hundred thousand credits. You will be good and worthy merchandise. Should you forget that you are bought at any time and attempt to say repeat our conversation to Riose, you will be executed. But e xecuted my way.And in that delicate face there were sudden hard lines of eager cruelty that changed the studied smile into a red-lipped snarl. For one flutter second, Devers saw that space fiend who had bought his buyer, look out of his buyers eyes.Silently, he preceded the two thrusting blast-guns of Brodrigs playmates to his quarters.And to Ducem Barrs question, he said with brooding satisfaction, No, thats the queerest part of it. He bribed me. ii months of difficult war had left their mark on Bel Riose. There was heavy-handed gravity about him and he was short-tempered.It was with impatience that he communicate the worshiping Sergeant Luk. Wait outside, soldier, and conduct these men back to their quarters when I am through. No one is to enter until I call. No one at all, you understand.The sergeant saluted himself stiffly out of the room, and Riose with muttered disgust scooped up the waiting papers on his desk, threw them into the top drawer and slammed it shut.Take seats, h e said shortly, to the waiting two. I havent much time. Strictly speaking, I shouldnt be here at all, but it is necessary to see you.He turned to Ducem Barr, whose long fingers were caressing with interest the crystal cube in which was set the figure of speech of the lined, austere face of His Imperial Majesty, Cleon II.In the first place, patrician, said the general, your Seldon is losing. To be sure, he battles well, for these men of the Foundation swarm like senseless bees and fight like madmen. Every planet is defended viciously, and once taken, every planet let out so with rebellion it is as much trouble to hold as to conquer. But they are taken, and they are held. Your Seldon is losing.But he has not yet lost, murmured Barr politely.The Foundation itself retains less optimism. They offer me millions in order that I may not put this Seldon to the final test.So rumor goes.Ah, is rumor precedent me? Does it prate also of the latest?What is the latest?Why, that Lord Brodrig, th e darling of the Emperor, is now second in command at his own request.Devers spoke for the first time. At his own request, boss? How come? Or are you increment to like the fellow? He chuckled.Riose said, calmly, No, cant say I do. Its just that he bought the office at what I considered a fair and adequate price. such as?Such as a request to the Emperor for reinforcements.Devers sniffy smile broadened. He has communicated with the Emperor, huh? And I take it, boss, youre just waiting for these reinforcements, but theyll come any day. Right?Wrong They have already come. five dollar bill ships of the line smooth and strong, with a face-to-face message of congratulations from the Emperor, and more ships on the way. Whats wrong, trader? he asked, sardonically.Devers spoke through suddenly rimy lips. NothingRiose strode out from behind his desk and faced the trader, hand on the butt of his blast-gun.I say, whats wrong, trader? The news would seem to disturb you. Surely, you have no s udden birth of interest in the Foundation.I havent.Yes there are queer points about you.That so, boss? Devers smiled tightly, and balled the fists in his pockets. Just you line them up and Ill knock them down for you.Here they are. You were caught easily. You surrendered at first blow with a burnt-out shield. Youre quite ready to desert your world, and that without a price. Interesting, all this, isnt it?I crave to be on the winning side, boss. Im a sensible man you called me that yourself.Riose said with tight throatiness, Granted Yet no trader since has been captured. No trade ship but has had the speed to escape at choice. No trade ship but has had a screen that could take all the beating a light cruiser could give it, should it choose to fight. And no trader but has fought to death when occasion warranted. Traders have been traced as the leaders and instigators of the guerilla warfare on occupied planets and of the flying raids in occupied space.Are you the only sensible man t hen? You neither fight nor flee, but turn traitor without urging. You are unique, amazingly unique in fact, suspiciously unique.Devers said softly, I take your meaning, but you have nothing on me. Ive been here now six months, and Ive been a good boy.So you have, and I have repaid you by good treatment. I have left your ship undisturbed and treated you with every consideration. Yet you fall short. freely offered information, for instance, on your gadgets might have been helpful. The atomic principles on which they are construct would seem to be used in some of the Foundations nastiest weapons. Right?I am only a trader, said Devers, and not one of these swivel pin technicians. I sell the stuff I dont make it.Well, that will be seen shortly. It is what I came here for. For instance, your ship will be searched for a personal force-shield. You have never worn one yet all soldiers of the Foundation do. It will be significant evidence that there is information you do not choose to give me. Right?There was no answer. He continued, And there will be more direct evidence. I have brought with me the Psychic Probe. It failed once before, but contact with the enemy is a full(a) education.His voice was smoothly threatening and Devers felt the gun thrust hard in his midriff the generals gun, hitherto in its holster.The general said quietly, You will remove your wristband and any other metal ornament you raid and give them to me. Slowly Atomic fields can be distorted, you see, and Psychic Probes might probe only into static. Thats right Ill take it.The receiver on the generals desk was glowing and a message capsule clicked into the slot, near which Barr stood and still held the trimensional Imperial bust.Riose stepped behind his desk, with his blast-gun held ready. He said to Barr, You too, patrician. Your wristband condemns you. You have been helpful earlier, however, and I am not vindictive, but I shall judge the fate of your behostaged family by the results of the P sychic Probe.And as Riose leaned over to take out the message capsule, Barr get up the crystal-enveloped bust of Cleon and quietly and methodically brought it down upon the generals head.It happened too suddenly for Devers to grasp. It was as if a sudden demon had grown into the old man.Out said Barr, in a tooth-clenched whisper. Quickly He seized Rioses dropped blaster and buried it in his blouse.Sergeant Luk turned as they emerged from the narrowest possible crack of the door.Barr said easily, organise on, sergeantDevers closed the door behind him.Sergeant Luk led in silence to their quarters, and then, with the briefest pause, continued onward, for there was the nudge of a blast-gun muzzle in his ribs, and a hard voice in his ears which said, To the trade ship.Devers stepped forward to bold the air lock, and Barr said, Stand where you are, Luk. Youve been a decent man, and were not going to kill you.But the sergeant recognized the monogram on the gun. He cried in clotted fury, Youve killed the general.With a wild, incoherent yell, he charged blindly upon the blasting fury of the gun and collapsed in blasted ruin.The trade ship was rising higher up the loose planet before the signal lights began their eerie blink and against the creamy cobweb of the great Lens in the sky which was the Galaxy, other dour forms rose.Devers said grimly, Hold tight, Barr and lets see if theyve got a ship that can match my speed.He knew they hadntAnd once in open space, the traders voice seemed lost and dead as he said, The line I fed Brodrig was a little too good. It seems as if hes thrown in with the general.Swiftly they raced into the depths of the star-mass that was the Galaxy.