The Usurper

45

“So,” said Iaachus, “it is the Day of a Thousand Martyrs.”

“It seems Sidonicus, the noble Exarch of Telnar, will have it so,” said Julian.

“Will he not send his mindless minions into the streets again?” said Otto.

“I do not think so,” said Iaachus. “A thousand martyrs will do for now.”

“At least,” said Julian, “he will be unable to blame the blood in the streets on the empire.”

“Not at all,” said Iaachus. “It will depend on what he sees as judicious at the time. He may well, he being skilled in conspiracies, see conspiracy here. For example, the city batteries did not fire. Thus, perhaps the empire, colluding with barbarians, arranged for the raid, a small raid, that civil disturbances might be ended, but seemingly by a third party. Thus, the empire is at fault. And thus allegiance to the empire may be foresworn.”

“But the princesses were abducted,” said Julian.

“How would one know?” asked Iaachus. “Perhaps the supposed abduction was merely a clever way of lending a smell of authenticity to the conspiracy. Perhaps they were not abducted, but merely hidden away, to be produced later, when appropriate.”

“What is the exarch to gain,” asked Otto, “by lawlessness, by trespass, by arson and theft?”

“Power,” said Iaachus. “He wishes to use his adherents, his converts, and such, to bring about a new society, one in which such as he will be sovereign. He who wishes to rule, and cannot rule in the world as it is, wishes to change the world in such a way that he will rule. It is not an unusual situation. It requires little more than the unscrupulous readiness to lie, and the willingness to destroy and kill. The dilemma presented to us is patent. Either surrender the empire or lose it.”

“I do not understand,” said Otto.

“If the empire does not declare for his faith,” said Iaachus, “the riots will continue, or may begin again, destroying the empire from within, or, alternatively, at the very least, Floonians, in their growing numbers, will remain quiescent while the empire perishes. If, on the other hand, the empire does declare for his faith, as he wishes, and promotes it with imperial resources, by means of the burning rack, the sword, and such, he will see to it that his herds and flocks support the empire, the new, revised empire, the empire as he wishes it to be. Thus, the empire as we know it is to be either lost or surrendered, either to perish or change, either to be destroyed or transformed into an eccentric, hideous tyranny, a prison house of the mind and body, with Sidonicus and his sort, with their riches, ensconced as jailers and guards.”

“I have known Floonians,” said Otto, “when I was on Tangara, some, brothers of the festung of Sim Giadini, and others, as well. They were good, kind people. Many were devout, unworldly, humble, sincere in their strange faith.”

“These are the cattle on which the herdsmen batten,” said Iaachus. “And I have little doubt of the honesty, the devotion, and sincerity of many of the ministrants of Floon, as well. Indeed, where would Sidonicus and his sort be were it not for the services of simple, unquestioning men?”

“Most men will believe whatever they are told,” said Julian. “It is only necessary to tell it to them repeatedly and with confidence. Who would dare to suppose that what is heard so often and uttered with such assurance might, nonetheless, be a lie, or simply false, or, more likely, merely meaningless? Who asks for evidence? Is that not in poor taste, or even dangerous? Thought, like pain, can be unpleasant. When the body does not move less pain is felt. Many men would rather die than think, and some who can think would rather die than act.”

“We know,” said Otto, “from the business of the medallion and chain, that the Exarch of Telnar, or his agents, have contacted barbarians.”

“The strategy, as I now realize,” said Iaachus, “and had not realized before, is not only devious, but multifaceted. Sidonicus will accept the empire either from the throne or from the bloody swords of barbarians. Consider the possibility that Sidonicus enrolls his Floonians under the banners of barbarians. Instructed, they would do war for the empire or its foes, either one. Or, indeed, otherwise instructed, do no war, at all. Indeed, it would be more in accord with the purer, more primitive teachings of Floon, as I understand it, that no resistance is to be offered to enemies.”

“Yes,” said Julian, “and on some worlds entire populations of such obliging Floonians were summarily exterminated, their worlds then effortlessly acquired by the scions of more businesslike nations and species.”

“I could conceive of Floonians welcoming invaders as liberators,” said Iaachus.

“I, as well,” said Otto.

“The empress mother has left the palace, to attend the obsequies of the Thousand Martyrs,” said Iaachus.

“She would prove a mighty ally to Sidonicus,” said Julian.

“But a more dangerous ally than he might think,” said Iaachus.

“How is that?” asked Julian.

“There is one thing in the Floonian phenomenon,” said Iaachus, “a subtle political flaw, which I hope will never be remedied, which gives me hope.”

“What is that?” asked Otto.

“It may be nothing,” said Iaachus. “We may speak of it later.”

“The empress mother, as I understand it,” said Julian, “is receiving instruction in Floonianism from the exarch himself.”

“That is true,” said Iaachus.

“Suppose she is converted, smudged with the holy oil,” said Julian. “Consider her influence over the emperor.”

“I fear it,” said Iaachus.

“I, too,” said Julian. “Very much.”

“As I understand it,” said Iaachus, “our friend and colleague, Captain Ottonius, has recently had an interview with the emperor.”

“Yes,” said Otto. “That is true.”

“It is unfortunate,” said Iaachus, “particularly in these perilous times, that the emperor is only a boy, a retarded simpleton who cares for little but toys, and can barely sign his own name.”

“Yes,” said Otto, smiling, “it is unfortunate.”

“Why do you smile, friend Ottonius?” asked the Arbiter of Protocol.

“We may speak of it later,” said Otto.