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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c9b0cb --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63944 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63944) diff --git a/old/63944-h.zip b/old/63944-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 41bd039..0000000 --- a/old/63944-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63944-h/63944-h.htm b/old/63944-h/63944-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 60238e4..0000000 --- a/old/63944-h/63944-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1872 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tiger by the Tail, by Poul Anderson. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.caption p -{ - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; - margin: 0.25em 0; -} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.ph1 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } -.ph1 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } - -.poetry .stanza -{ - margin: 1em auto; -} - -.poetry .verse -{ - padding-left: 3em; -} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tiger By the Tail, by Poul Anderson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Tiger By the Tail - -Author: Poul Anderson - -Release Date: December 2, 2020 [EBook #63944] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIGER BY THE TAIL *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>TIGER by the TAIL</h1> - -<h2>by Poul Anderson</h2> - -<p>The haughty, horned aliens from the planet<br /> -Scotha had very well organized intentions<br /> -of conquering the Terran Empire—and Captain<br /> -Dominic Flandry, Terra's ace saboteur, suddenly<br /> -found himself in a strategic position to louse<br /> -up the works. How? Well, Achilles had a heel ...<br /> -and what else could you call a Scothani?</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories January 1951.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Captain Flandry opened his eyes and saw a metal ceiling. -Simultaneously, he grew aware of the thrum and quiver which meant he -was aboard a spaceship running on ultra-drive.</p> - -<p>He sat up with a violence that sent the dregs of alcohol swirling -through his head. He'd gone to sleep in a room somewhere in the stews -of Catawrayannis, with no prospect or intention of leaving the city -for an indefinite time—let alone the planet! Now—</p> - -<p>The chilling realization came that he was not aboard a human ship. -Humanoid, yes, from the size and design of things, but no vessel ever -built within the borders of the Empire, and no foreign make that he -knew of.</p> - -<p>Even from looking at this one small cabin, he could tell. There were -bunks, into one of which he had fitted pretty well, but the sheets -and blankets weren't of plastic weave. They seemed—he looked more -closely—the sheets seemed to be of some vegetable fiber, the blankets -of long bluish-gray hair. There were a couple of chairs and a table in -the middle of the room, wooden, and they must have seen better days -for they were elaborately hand-carved, and in an intricate interwoven -design new to Flandry—and planetary art-forms were a hobby of his. The -way and manner in which the metal plating had been laid was another -indication, and—</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He sat down again, buried his whirling head in his hands, and tried to -think. There was a thumping in his head and a vile taste in his mouth -which liquor didn't ordinarily leave—at least not the stuff he'd been -drinking—and now that he remembered, he'd gotten sleepy much earlier -than one would have expected when the girl was so good-looking—</p> - -<p>Drugged—oh, no! <i>Tell me I'm not as stupid as a stereofilm hero! -Anything but that!</i></p> - -<p>But who'd have thought it, who'd have looked for it? Certainly the -people and beings on whom he'd been trying to get a lead would never -try anything like that. Besides, none of them had been around, he -was sure of it. He'd simply been out building part of the elaborate -structure of demimonde acquaintances and information which would -eventually, by exceedingly indirect routes, lead him to those he was -seeking. He'd simply been out having a good time—<i>quite</i> a good time, -in fact—and—</p> - -<p>And now someone from outside the Empire had him. And <i>now</i> what?</p> - -<p>He got up, a little unsteadily, and looked around for his clothes. -No sign of them. And he'd paid three hundred credits for that outfit, -too. He stamped savagely over to the door. It didn't have a photocell -attachment; he jerked it open and found himself looking down the muzzle -of a blaster.</p> - -<p>It was of different design from any he knew, but it was quite -unmistakable. Captain Flandry sighed, relaxed his taut muscles, and -looked more closely at the guard who held it.</p> - -<p>He was humanoid to a high degree, perhaps somewhat stockier than -Terrestrial average—and come to think of it, the artificial gravity -was a little higher than one gee—and with very white skin, long tawny -hair and beard, and oblique violet eyes. His ears were pointed and two -small horns grew above his heavy eyebrow ridges, but otherwise he was -manlike enough. With civilized clothes and a hooded cloak he could -easily pass himself off for human.</p> - -<p>Not in the getup he wore, of course, which consisted of a kilt and -tunic, shining beryllium-copper cuirass and helmet, buskins over bare -legs, and a murderous-looking dirk. As well as a couple of scalps -hanging at his belt.</p> - -<p>He gestured the prisoner back, and blew a long hollow blast on a horn -slung at his side. The wild echoes chased each other down the long -corridor, hooting and howling with a primitive clamor that tingled -faintly along Captain Flandry's spine.</p> - -<p>He thought slowly, while he waited: No intercom, apparently not even -speaking tubes laid the whole length of the ship. And household -articles of wood and animal and vegetable fibres, and that archaic -costume there—They were barbarians, all right. But no tribe that he -knew about.</p> - -<p>That wasn't too surprising, since the Terrestrial Empire and the -half-dozen other civilized states in the known Galaxy ruled over -several thousands of intelligent races and had some contact with nobody -knew how many thousands more. Many of the others were, of course, still -planet-bound, but quite a few tribes along the Imperial borders had -mastered a lot of human technology without changing their fundamental -outlook on things. Which is what comes of hiring barbarian mercenaries.</p> - -<p>The peripheral tribes were still raiders, menaces to the border planets -and merely nuisances to the Empire as a whole. Periodically they were -bought off, or played off against each other—or the Empire might even -send a punitive expedition out. But if one day a strong barbarian race -under a strong leader should form a reliable coalition—then <i>vae -victis</i>!</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A party of Flandry's captors, apparently officers, guardsmen, and a few -slaves, came down the corridor. Their leader was tall and powerfully -built, with a cold arrogance in his pale-blue eyes that did not hide a -calculating intelligence. There was a golden coronet about his head, -and the robes that swirled around his big body were rainbow-gorgeous. -Flandry recognized some items as having been manufactured within the -Empire. Looted, probably.</p> - -<p>They came to a halt before him and the leader looked him up and -down with a deliberately insulting gaze. To be thus surveyed in the -nude could have been badly disconcerting, but Flandry was immune to -embarrassment and his answering stare was bland.</p> - -<p>The leader spoke at last, in strongly accented but fluent Anglic: "You -may as well accept the fact that you are a prisoner, Captain Flandry."</p> - -<p>They'd have gone through his pockets, of course. He asked levelly, -"Just to satisfy my own curiosity, was that girl in your pay?"</p> - -<p>"Of course. I assure you that the Scothani are not the brainless -barbarians of popular Terrestrial superstition, though—" a bleak -smile—"it is useful to be thought so."</p> - -<p>"The Scothani? I don't believe I've had the pleasure—"</p> - -<p>"You have probably not heard of us, though we have had some contact -with the Empire. We have found it convenient to remain in obscurity, -as far as Terra is concerned, until the time is ripe. But—what do you -think caused the Alarri to invade you, fifteen years ago?"</p> - -<p>Flandry thought back. He had been a boy then, but he had, of course, -avidly followed the news accounts of the terrible fleets that swept in -over the marches and attacked Vega itself. Only the hardest fighting -at the Battle of Mirzan had broken the Alarri. Yet it turned out that -they'd been fleeing still another tribe, a wild and mighty race who had -invaded their own system with fire and ruin. It was a common enough -occurrence in the turbulent barbarian stars; this one incident had -come to the Empire's notice only because the refugees had tried to -conquer it in turn. A political upheaval within the Terrestrial domain -had prevented closer investigation before the matter had been all but -forgotten.</p> - -<p>"So you were driving the Alarri before you?" asked Flandry with as -close an approximation to the right note of polite interest as he could -manage in his present condition.</p> - -<p>"Aye. And others. The Scothani have quite a little empire now, out -there in the wilderness of the Galaxy. But, since we were never -originally contacted by Terrestrials, we have, as I say, remained -little known to them."</p> - -<p>So—the Scothani had learned their technology from some other race, -possibly other barbarians. It was a familiar pattern, Flandry could -trace it out in his mind. Spaceships landed on the primitive world, -the initial awe of the natives gave way to the realization that the -skymen weren't so very different after all—they could be killed like -anyone else; traders, students, laborers, mercenary warriors visited -the more advanced worlds, brought back knowledge of their science and -technology; factories were built, machines produced, and some tribal -king used the new power to impose his rule on all his planet; and then, -to unite his restless subjects, he had to turn their faces outward, -promise plunder and glory if they followed him out to the stars—</p> - -<p>Only the Scothani had carried it farther than most. And lying as far -from the Imperial border as they did, they could build up a terrible -power without the complacent, politics-ridden Empire being more than -dimly aware of the fact—until the day when—</p> - -<p><i>Vae victis!</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">II</p> - -<p>"Let us have a clear understanding," said the barbarian chief. "You are -a prisoner on a warship already light-years from Llynathawr, well into -the Imperial marches and bound for Scotha itself. You have no chance -of rescue, and mercy depends entirely on your own conduct. Adjust it -accordingly."</p> - -<p>"May I ask why you picked me up?" Flandry's tone was mild.</p> - -<p>"You are of noble blood, and a high-ranking officer in the Imperial -intelligence service. You may be worth something as a hostage. But -primarily we want information."</p> - -<p>"But I—"</p> - -<p>"I know." The reply was disgusted. "You're very typical of your -miserable kind. I've studied the Empire and its decadence long enough -to know that. You're just another worthless younger son, given a -high-paying sinecure so you can wear a fancy uniform and play soldier. -You don't amount to anything."</p> - -<p>Flandry let an angry flush go up his cheek. "Look here—"</p> - -<p>"It's perfectly obvious," said the barbarian. "You come to Llynathawr -to track down certain dangerous conspirators. So you register yourself -in the biggest hotel in Catawrayannis as Captain Dominic Flandry of -the Imperial Intelligence Service, you strut around in your expensive -uniform dropping dark hints about your leads and your activities—and -these consist of drinking and gambling and wenching the whole night and -sleeping the whole day!" A cold humor gleamed in the blue eyes. "Unless -it is your intention that the Empire's enemies shall laugh themselves -to death at the spectacle."</p> - -<p>"If that's so," began Flandry thinly, "then why—"</p> - -<p>"You will know something. You can't help picking up a lot of -miscellaneous information in your circles, no matter how hard you try -not to. Certainly you know specific things about the organization and -activities of your own corps which we would find useful information. -We'll squeeze all you know out of you! Then there will be other -services you can perform, people within the Empire you can contact, -documents you can translate for us, perhaps various liaisons you can -make—eventually, you may even earn your freedom." The barbarian lifted -one big fist. "And in case you wish to hold anything back, remember -that the torturers of Scotha know their trade."</p> - -<p>"You needn't make melodramatic threats," said Flandry sullenly.</p> - -<p>The fist shot out, and Flandry fell to the floor with darkness whirling -and roaring through his head. He crawled to hands and knees, blood -dripping from his face, and vaguely he heard the voice: "From here on, -little man, you are to address me as befits a slave speaking to a crown -prince of Scotha."</p> - -<p>The Terrestrial staggered to his feet. For a moment his fists clenched. -The prince smiled grimly and knocked him down again. Looking up, -Flandry saw brawny hands resting on blaster butts—not a chance, not a -chance.</p> - -<p>Besides, the prince was hardly a sadist. Such brutality was the normal -order among the barbarians—and come to think of it, slaves within the -Empire could be treated similarly.</p> - -<p>And there was the problem of staying alive—</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," he mumbled.</p> - -<p>The prince turned on his heel and walked away.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They gave him back his clothes, though someone had stripped the gold -braid and the medals away. Flandry looked at the soiled, ripped -garments and sighed. Tailor-made—!</p> - -<p>He surveyed himself in the mirror as he washed and shaved. The face -that looked back was wide across the cheek-bones, straight-nosed and -square-jawed, with carefully waved reddish-brown hair and a mustache -trimmed with equal attention. Probably too handsome, he reflected, -wiping the blood from under his nose, but he'd been young when he had -the plasticosmetician work on him. Maybe when he got out of this mess -he should have the face made over to a slightly more rugged pattern to -fit his years. He was in his thirties now, after all—getting to be a -big boy, Dominic.</p> - -<p>The fundamental bone structure of head and face was his own, however, -and so were the eyes—large and bright, with a hint of obliquity, the -iris of that curious gray which can seem any color, blue or green or -black or gold. And the trim, medium-tall body was genuine too. He hated -exercises, but went through a dutiful daily ritual since he needed -sinews and coordination for his work—and, too, a man in condition was -something to look at among the usually flabby nobles of Terra; he'd -found his figure no end of help in making his home leaves pleasant.</p> - -<p><i>Well, can't stand here admiring yourself all day, old fellow.</i> He -slipped blouse, pants, and jacket over his silkite under-garments, -pulled on the sheening boots, tilted his officer's cap at an angle of -well-gauged rakishness, and walked out to meet his new owners.</p> - -<p>The Scothani weren't such bad fellows, he soon learned. They were big -brawling lusty barbarians, out for adventure and loot and fame as -warriors; they had courage and loyalty and a wild streak of sentiment -that he liked. But they could also fly into deadly rages, they were -casually cruel to anyone that stood in their way, and Flandry acquired -a not too high respect for their brains. It would have helped if they'd -washed oftener, too.</p> - -<p>This warship was one of a dozen which Cerdic, the crown prince, had -taken out on a plundering cruise. They'd sacked a good many towns, even -some on nominally Imperial planets, and on the way back had sent down -a man in a lifeboat to contact Cerdic's agents on Llynathawr, which -was notoriously the listening post of this sector of the Empire. In -learning that there was something going on which a special agent from -Terra had been investigating, Cerdic had ordered him picked up. And -that was that.</p> - -<p>Now they were homeward bound, their holds stuffed with loot and their -heads stuffed with plans for further inroads. It might not have meant -much, but—well—Cerdic and his father Penda didn't seem to be just -ordinary barbarian chiefs, nor Scothania an ordinary barbarian nation.</p> - -<p>Could it be that somewhere out there among the many stars someone had -finally organized a might that could break the Empire? Could the Long -Night really be at hand?</p> - -<p>Flandry shoved the thought aside. He had too much to do right now. Even -his own job at Llynathawr, important as it was, could and would be -handled by someone else—though not, he thought a little sadly, with -the Flandry touch—and his own immediate worry was here and now. He had -to find out the extent of power and ambition of the Scothani; he had to -learn their plans and get the information to Terra, and somehow spike -them even a little. After that there might be time to save his own hide.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Cerdic had him brought to the captain's cabin. The place was a typical -barbarian chief's den, with the heads of wild beasts on the walls and -their hides on the floors, old shields and swords hung up in places of -honor, a magnificent golden vase stolen from some planet of artists -shining in a corner. But there were incongruous modern touches, a -microprint reader and many bookrolls from the Empire, astrographic -tables and computer, a vodograph. The prince sat in a massive carven -chair, a silkite robe flung carelessly over his broad shoulders. He -nodded with a certain affability.</p> - -<p>"Your first task will be to learn Scothanian," he said without -preliminary. "As yet almost none of our people, even nobles, speak -Anglic, and there are many who will want to talk to you."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," said Flandry. It was what he would most have desired.</p> - -<p>"You had better also start organizing all you know so you can present -it coherently," said the prince. "And I, who have lived in the Empire, -will be able to check enough of your statements to tell whether you are -likely speaking the truth." He smiled mirthlessly. "If there is reason -to suspect you are lying, you will be put to the torture. And one of -our Sensitives will then get at the truth."</p> - -<p>So they had Sensitives, too. Telepaths who could tell whether a being -was lying when pain had sufficiently disorganized his mind were as bad -as the Empire's hypnoprobes.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell the truth, sir," he said.</p> - -<p>"I suppose so. If you cooperate, you'll find us not an ungrateful -people. There will be more wealth than was ever dreamed of when we go -into the Empire. There will also be considerable power for such humans -as are our liaison with their race."</p> - -<p>"Sir," began Flandry, in a tone of weak self-righteousness, "I couldn't -think of—"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, you could," said Cerdic glumly. "I know you humans. I -traveled incognito throughout your whole Empire, I was on Terra -itself. I posed as one of you, or when convenient as just another -of the subject races. I <i>know</i> the Empire—its utter decadence, its -self-seeking politicians and pleasure-loving mobs, corruption and -intrigue everywhere you go, collapse of morals and duty-sense, decline -of art into craft and science into stagnancy—you were a great race -once, you humans, you were the first to aspire to the stars and we owe -you something for that, I suppose. But you're not the race you once -were."</p> - -<p>The viewpoint was biased, but enough truth lay in it to make Flandry -wince. Cerdic went on, his voice rising: "There is a new power growing -out beyond your borders, young peoples with the strength and courage -and hopefulness of youth, and they'll sweep the rotten fragments of the -Empire before them and build something new and better."</p> - -<p><i>Only</i>, thought Flandry, <i>only first comes the Long Night, darkness and -death and the end of civilization, the howling peoples in the ruins of -our temples and a myriad petty tyrants holding their dreary courts in -the shards of the Empire. To say nothing of the decline of good music -and good cuisine, taste in clothes and taste in women and conversation -as a fine art</i>.</p> - -<p>"We've one thing you've lost," said Cerdic, "and I think ultimately -that will be the deciding factor. Honestly. Flandry, the Scothani are a -race of honest warriors."</p> - -<p>"No doubt, sir," said Flandry.</p> - -<p>"Oh, we have our evil characters, but they are few and the custom of -private challenges soon eliminates them," said Cerdic. "And even their -evil is an open and clean thing, greed or lawlessness or something like -that; it isn't the bribery and conspiracy and betrayal of your rotten -politicians. And most of us live by our code. It wouldn't occur to a -true Scothani to do a dishonorable thing, to break an oath or desert -a comrade or lie on his word of honor. Our women aren't running loose -making eyes at every man they come across; they're kept properly at -home till time for marriage and then they know their place as mothers -and houseguiders. Our boys are raised to respect the gods and the king, -to fight, and to speak truth. Death is a little thing, Flandry, it -comes to everyone in his time and he cannot stay it, but honor lives -forever.</p> - -<p>"We don't corrupt ourselves. We keep honor at home and root out -disgrace with death and torture. We live our code. And that is really -why we will win."</p> - -<p><i>Battleships help</i>, thought Flandry. And then, looking into the cold -bright eyes: <i>He's a fanatic. But a hell of a smart one. And that kind -makes the most dangerous enemy.</i></p> - -<p>Aloud he asked, humbly: "Isn't any stratagem a lie, sir? Your own -disguised travels within the Empire—"</p> - -<p>"Naturally, certain maneuvers are necessary," said the prince stiffly. -"Nor does it matter what one does with regard to alien races. -Especially when they have as little honor as Terrestrials."</p> - -<p><i>The good old race-superiority complex, too. Oh, well.</i></p> - -<p>"I tell you this," said Cerdic earnestly, "in the hope that you may -think it over and see our cause is just and be with us. We will need -many foreigners, especially humans, for liaison and intelligence and -other services. You may still accomplish something in a hitherto wasted -life."</p> - -<p>"I'll think about it, sir," said Flandry.</p> - -<p>"Then go."</p> - -<p>Flandry got.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The ship was a good three weeks en route to Scotha. It took Flandry -about two of them to acquire an excellent working knowledge of the -language, but he preferred to simulate difficulty and complained that -he got lost when talk was too rapid. It was surprising how much odd -information you picked up when you were thought not to understand -what was being said. Not anything of great military significance, -of course, but general background, stray bits of personal history, -attitudes and beliefs—it all went into the neat filing system which -was Flandry's memory, to be correlated with whatever else he knew or -learned into an astonishingly complete picture.</p> - -<p>The Scothani themselves were quite friendly, eager to hear about the -fabulous Imperial civilization and to brag of their own wonderful past -and future exploits. Since there was obviously nothing he could do, -Flandry was under the loosest guard and had virtually the freedom of -the ship. He slept and messed with the warriors, swapped bawdy songs -and dirty jokes, joined their rough-and-tumble wrestling matches to win -surprised respect for his skill, and even became the close friend and -confidant of some of the younger males.</p> - -<p>The race was addicted to gambling. Flandry learned their games, taught -them some of the Empire's, and before the trip's end had won back his -stolen finery plus several other outfits and a pleasantly jingling -purse. It was—well—he almost hated to take his winnings from these -overgrown babies. It just never occurred to them that dice and cards -could be made to do tricks.</p> - -<p>The picture grew. The barbarian tribes of Scotha were firmly united -under the leadership of the Frithian kings, had been for several -generations. Theoretically it was an absolute monarchy, though actually -all classes except the slaves were free. They had conquered at least a -hundred systems outright, contenting themselves with exacting tribute -and levies from most of these, and dominated all others within reach. -Under Penda's leadership, a dozen similar, smaller barbarian states -had already formed a coalition with the avowed purpose of invading -the Empire, capturing Terra, destroying the Imperial military forces, -and making themselves masters. Few of them thought beyond the plunder -to be had, though apparently some of them, like Cerdic, dreamed of -maintaining and extending the Imperial domain under their own rule.</p> - -<p>They had a formidable fleet—Flandry couldn't find out its exact -size—and its organization and technology seemed far superior to -that of most barbarian forces. They had a great industry, mostly -slave-manned with the Scothan overlords supervising. They had shrewd -leaders, who would wait till one of the Empire's recurring political -crises had reduced its fighting strength, and who were extremely well -informed about their enemy. It looked—bad!</p> - -<p>Especially since they couldn't wait too long. Despite the unequalled -prosperity created by industry, tribute, and piracy, all Scotha was -straining at the leash, nobles and warriors in the whole coalition -foaming to be at the Empire's throat; a whole Galactic sector had been -seized by the same savage dream. When they came roaring in—well, -you never could tell. The Empire's fighting strength was undoubtedly -greater, but could it be mobilized in time? Wouldn't Penda get gleeful -help from two or three rival imperia? Couldn't a gang of utterly -fearless fanatics plow through the mass of self-seeking officers and -indifferent mercenaries that made up most of the Imperial power today?</p> - -<p>Might not the Long Night really be at hand?</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">III</p> - -<p>Scotha was not unlike Terra—a little larger, a little farther from -its sun, the seas made turbulent by three small close moons. Flandry -had a chance to observe it telescopically—the ship didn't have -magniscreens—and as they swept in, he saw the mighty disc roll grandly -against the Galactic star-blaze and studied the continents with more -care than he showed.</p> - -<p>The planet was still relatively thinly populated, with great forests -and plains standing empty, archaic cities and villages huddling about -the steep-walled castles of the nobles. Most of its industry was on -other worlds, though the huge military bases were all on Scotha and -its moons. There couldn't be more than a billion Scothani all told, -estimated Flandry, probably less, and many of them would live elsewhere -as overlords of the interstellar domain. Which didn't make them less -formidable. The witless hordes of humankind were more hindrance than -help to the Empire.</p> - -<p>Cerdic's fleet broke up, the captains bound for their estates. He took -his own vessel to the capital, Iuthagaar, and brought it down in the -great yards. After the usual pomp and ceremony of homecoming, he sent -for Flandry.</p> - -<p>"What is your attitude toward us now?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"You are a very likeable people, sir," said the Terrestrial, "and it is -as you say—you are a strong and honest race."</p> - -<p>"Then you have decided to help us actively?" The voice was cold.</p> - -<p>"I really have little choice, sir," shrugged Flandry. "I'll be a -prisoner in any case, unless I get to the point of being trusted. The -only way to achieve that is to give you my willing assistance."</p> - -<p>"And what of your own nation?"</p> - -<p>"A man must stay alive, sir. These are turbulent times."</p> - -<p>Contempt curled Cerdic's lip. "Somehow I thought better of you," he -said. "But you're a human. You could only be expected to betray your -oaths for your own gain."</p> - -<p>Surprise shook Flandry's voice. "Wasn't this what you wanted, sir?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, I suppose so. Now come along. But not too close—you make me -feel a little sick."</p> - -<p>They went up to the great gray castle which lifted its windy spires -over the city, and presently Flandry found himself granted an audience -with the King of Scothania.</p> - -<p>It was a huge and dimlit hall, hung with the banners and shields of old -wars and chill despite the fires that blazed along its length. Penda -sat at one end, wrapped in furs against the cold, his big body dwarfed -by the dragon-carved throne. He had his eldest son's stern manner -and bleak eyes, without the prince's bitter intensity—a strong man, -thought Flandry, hard and ruthless and able—but perhaps not too bright.</p> - -<p>Cerdic had mounted to a seat on his father's right. The queen stood on -his left, shivering a little in the damp draft, and down either wall -reached a row of guardsmen. The fire shimmered on their breastplates -and helmets and halberds; they seemed figures of legend, but Flandry -noticed that each warrior carried a blaster too.</p> - -<p>There were others in evidence, several of the younger sons of Penda, -grizzled generals and councillors, nobles come for a visit. A few of -the latter were of non-Scothan race and did not seem to be meeting -exceptional politeness. Then there were the hangers-on, bards and -dancers and the rest, and slaves scurrying about. Except for its -size—and its menace—it was a typical barbarian court.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Flandry bowed the knee as required, but thereafter stood erect and -met the king's eye. His position was anomalous, officially Cerdic's -captured slave, actually—well, what was he? Or what could he become in -time?</p> - -<p>Penda asked a few of the more obvious questions, then said slowly: -"You will confer with General Nartheof here, head of our intelligence -section, and tell him what you know. You may also make suggestions if -you like, but remember that false intentions will soon be discovered -and punished."</p> - -<p>"I will be honest, your majesty."</p> - -<p>"Is any Terrestrial honest?" snapped Cerdic.</p> - -<p>"I am," said Flandry cheerfully. "As long as I'm paid, I serve -faithfully. Since I'm no longer in the Empire's pay, I must perforce -look about for a new master."</p> - -<p>"I doubt you can be much use," said Penda.</p> - -<p>"I think I can, your majesty," answered Flandry boldly. "Even in little -things. For instance, this admirably decorated hall is so cold one must -wear furs within it, and still the hands are numb. I could easily show -a few technicians how to install a radiant heating unit that would make -it like summer in here."</p> - -<p>Penda lifted his bushy brows. Cerdic fairly snarled: "A Terrestrial -trick, that. Shall we become as soft and luxurious as the Imperials, we -who hunt vorgari on ski?"</p> - -<p>Flandry's eyes, flitting around the room, caught dissatisfied -expressions on many faces. Inside, he grinned. The prince's austere -ideals weren't very popular with these noble savages. If they only had -the nerve to—</p> - -<p>It was the queen who spoke. Her soft voice was timid: "Sire, is there -any harm in being warm? I—I am always cold these days."</p> - -<p>Flandry gave her an appreciative look. He'd already picked up the -background of Queen Gunli. She was young, Penda's third wife, and she -came from more southerly Scothan lands than Iuthagaar; her folk were -somewhat more civilized than the dominant Frithians. She was certainly -a knockout, with that dark rippling hair and those huge violet eyes in -her pert face. And that figure too—there was a suppressed liveliness -in her; he wondered if she had ever cursed the fate that gave her noble -blood and thus a political marriage.</p> - -<p>For just an instant their eyes crossed.</p> - -<p>"Be still," said Cerdic.</p> - -<p>Gunli's hand fell lightly on Penda's. The king flushed. "Speak not to -your queen thus, Cerdic," he said. "In truth this Imperial trick is -but a better form of fire, which no one calls unmanly. We will let the -Terrestrial make one."</p> - -<p>Flandry bowed his most ironical bow. Cocking an eye up at the queen, he -caught a twinkle. She knew.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Nartheof made a great show of blustering honesty, but there was a -shrewd brain behind the hard little eyes that glittered in his hairy -face. He leaned back and folded his hands behind his head and gave -Flandry a quizzical stare.</p> - -<p>"If it is as you say—" he began.</p> - -<p>"It is," said the Terrestrial.</p> - -<p>"Quite probably. Your statements so far check with what we already -know, and we can soon verify much of the rest. If, then, you speak -truth, the Imperial organization is fantastically good." He smiled. -"As it should be—it conquered the stars, in the old days. But it's no -better than the beings who man it, and everyone knows how venial and -cowardly the Imperials are today."</p> - -<p>Flandry said nothing, but he remembered the gallantry of the Sirian -units at Garrapoli and the <i>dogged courage</i> of the Valatian Legion -and—well, why go on? The haughty Scothani just didn't seem able to -realize that a state as absolutely decadent as they imagined the Empire -to be wouldn't have endured long enough to be their own enemy.</p> - -<p>"We'll have to reorganize everything," said Nartheof. "I don't care -whether what you say is true or not, it makes good sense. Our whole -setup is outmoded. It's ridiculous, for instance, to give commands -according to nobility and blind courage instead of proven intelligence."</p> - -<p>"And you assume that the best enlisted man will make the best officer," -said Flandry. "It doesn't necessarily follow. A strong and hardy -warrior may expect more of his men than they can give. You can't all be -supermen."</p> - -<p>"Another good point. And we should eliminate swordplay as a -requirement; swords are useless today. And we have to train -mathematicians to compute trajectories and everything else." Nartheof -grimaced. "I hate to think what would have happened if we'd invaded -three years ago, as many hotheads wanted to do. We would have inflicted -great damage, but that's all."</p> - -<p>"You should wait at least another ten or twenty years and really get -prepared."</p> - -<p>"Can't. The great nobles wouldn't stand for it. Who wants to be duke -of a planet when he could be viceroy of a sector? But we have a year -or two yet." Nartheof scowled. "I can get my own service whipped into -shape, with your help and advice. I have most of the bright lads. But -as for some of the other forces—gods, the dunderheads they have in -command! I've argued myself hoarse with Nornagast, to no use. The fool -just isn't able to see that a space fleet the size of ours must have -a special coordinating division equipped with semantic calculators -and—The worst of it is, he's a cousin to the king, he ranks me. Not -much I can do."</p> - -<p>"An accident could happen to Nornagast," murmured Flandry.</p> - -<p>"Eh?" Nartheof gasped. "What do you mean?"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Nothing," said Flandry lightly. "But just for argument's sake, -suppose—well, suppose some good swordsman should pick a quarrel -with Nornagast. I don't doubt he has many enemies. If he should -unfortunately be killed in the duel, you might be able to get to his -majesty immediately after, before anyone else, and persuade him to -appoint a more reasonable successor. Of course, you'd have to know in -advance that there'd be a duel."</p> - -<p>"Of all the treacherous, underhanded—!"</p> - -<p>"I haven't done anything but speculate," said Flandry mildly. "However, -I might remind you of your own remarks. It's hardly fair that a fool -should have command and honor and riches instead of better men who -simply happen to be of lower degree. Nor, as you yourself said, is it -good for Scothania as a whole."</p> - -<p>"I won't hear of any such Terrestrial vileness."</p> - -<p>"Of course not. I was just—well, speculating. I can't help it. All -Terrestrials have dirty minds. But we did conquer the stars once."</p> - -<p>"A man might go far, if only—no!" Nartheof shook himself. "A warrior -doesn't bury his hands in muck."</p> - -<p>"No. But he might use a pitchfork. Tools don't mind dirt. The man who -wields them doesn't even have to know the details—But let's get back -to business." Flandry relaxed even more lazily. "Here's a nice little -bit of information which only highly placed Imperials know. The Empire -has a lot of arsenals and munitions dumps which are guarded by nothing -but secrecy. The Emperor doesn't dare trust certain units to guard such -sources of power, and he can't spare enough reliable legions to watch -them all. So obscure, uninhabited planets are used." Nartheof's eyes -were utterly intent now. "I know of only one, but it's a good prospect. -An uninhabited, barren system not many parsecs inside the border, the -second planet honeycombed with underground works that are crammed with -spaceships, atomic bombs, fuel—power enough to wreck a world. A small, -swift fleet could get there, take most of the stores, and destroy the -rest before the nearest garrison could ever arrive in defense."</p> - -<p>"Is that—<i>true</i>?"</p> - -<p>"You can easily find out. If I'm lying, it'll cost you that small unit, -that's all—and I assure you I've no desire to be tortured to death."</p> - -<p>"Holy gods!" Nartheof quivered. "I've got to tell Cerdic now, right -away—"</p> - -<p>"You could. Or you might simply go there yourself without telling -anyone. If Cerdic knows, he'll be the one to lead the raid. If you -went, you'd get the honor—and the power—"</p> - -<p>"Cerdic would—not like it."</p> - -<p>"Too late then. He could hardly challenge you for so bold and -successful a stroke."</p> - -<p>"And he is getting too proud of himself—he could stand a little taking -down." Nartheof chuckled, a deep vibration in his shaggy breast. "Aye, -by Valtam's beard, I'll do it! Give me the figures now—"</p> - -<p>Presently the general looked up from the papers and gave Flandry a -puzzled stare. "If this is the case, and I believe it is," he said -slowly, "it'll be a first-rate catastrophe for the Empire. Why are you -with us, human?"</p> - -<p>"Maybe I've decided I like your cause a little better," shrugged -Flandry. "Maybe I simply want to make the best of my own situation. We -Terrestrials are adaptable beasts. But I have enemies here, Nartheof, -and I expect to make a few more. I'll need a powerful friend."</p> - -<p>"You have one," promised the barbarian. "You're much too useful to me -to be killed. And—and—damn it, human, somehow I can't help liking -you."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">IV</p> - -<p>The dice rattled down onto the table and came to a halt. Prince Torric -swore good-naturedly and shoved the pile of coins toward Flandry. "I -just can't win," he laughed. "You have the gods with you, human."</p> - -<p><i>For a slave, I'm not doing so badly</i>, thought Flandry. <i>In fact, I'm -getting rich</i>. "Fortune favors the weak, highness," he smiled. "The -strong don't need luck."</p> - -<p>"To Theudagaar with titles," said the young warrior. He was drunk; -wine flushed his open face and spread in puddles on the table before -him. "We're too good friends by now, Dominic. Ever since you got my -affairs in order—"</p> - -<p>"I have a head for figures, and of course Terrestrial education -helps—Torric. But you need money."</p> - -<p>"There'll be enough for all when we hold the Empire. I'll have a whole -system to rule, you know."</p> - -<p>Flandry pretended surprise. "Only a system? After all, a son of King -Penda—"</p> - -<p>"Cerdic's doing," Torric scowled blackly. "The dirty avagar persuaded -Father that only one—himself, of course—should succeed to the throne. -He said no kingdom ever lasted when the sons divided power equally."</p> - -<p>"It seems very unfair. And how does he know he's the best?"</p> - -<p>"He's the oldest. That's what counts. And he's conceited enough to be -sure of it." Torric gulped another beakerful.</p> - -<p>"The Empire has a better arrangement. Succession is by ability alone, -among many in a whole group of families."</p> - -<p>"Well—the old ways—what can I do?"</p> - -<p>"That's hardly warrior's talk, Torric. Admitting defeat so soon—I -thought better of you!"</p> - -<p>"But what to <i>do</i>—?"</p> - -<p>"There are ways. Cerdic's power, like that of all chiefs, rests on his -many supporters and his own household troops. He isn't well liked. -It wouldn't be hard to get many of his friends to give allegiance -elsewhere."</p> - -<p>"But—treachery—would you make a brotherslayer of me?"</p> - -<p>"Who said anything about killing? Just—dislodging, let us say. He -could always have a system or two to rule, just as he meant to give -you."</p> - -<p>"But—look, I don't know anything about your sneaking Terrestrial ways. -I suppose you mean to dish—disaffect his allies, promise them more -than he gives.... What's that word—bribery?—I don't know a thing -about it, Dominic. I couldn't do it."</p> - -<p>"You wouldn't have to do it," murmured Flandry. "I could help. What's -a man for, if not to help his friends?"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Earl Morgaar, who held the conquered Zanthudian planets in fief, -was a noble of power and influence beyond his station. He was also -notoriously greedy.</p> - -<p>He said to Captain Flandry: "Terrestrial, your suggestions about -farming out tax-gathering have more than doubled my income. But now the -natives are rising in revolt against me, murdering my troops wherever -they get a chance and burning their farms rather than pay the levies. -What do they do about that in the Empire?"</p> - -<p>"Surely, sir, you could crush the rebels with little effort," said -Flandry.</p> - -<p>"Oh, aye, but dead men don't pay tribute either. Isn't there a better -way? My whole domain is falling into chaos."</p> - -<p>"Several ways, sir." Flandry sketched a few of them—puppet native -committees, propaganda shifting the blame onto some scapegoat, and the -rest of it. He did not add that these methods work only when skillfully -administered.</p> - -<p>"It is well," rumbled the earl at last. His hard gaze searched -Flandry's impassively smiling face. "You've made yourself useful to -many a Scothanian leader since coming here, haven't you? There's that -matter of Nartheof—he's a great man now because he captured that -Imperial arsenal. And there are others. But it seems much of this gain -is at the expense of other Scothani, rather than of the Empire. I still -wonder about Nornagast's death—"</p> - -<p>"History shows that the prospect of great gain always stirs up internal -strife, sir," said Flandry. "It behooves the strong warrior to seize a -dominant share of power for himself and so reunite his people against -their common enemy. Thus did the early Terrestrial emperors end the -civil wars and become the rulers of the then accessible universe."</p> - -<p>"Ummm—yes. Gain—power—wealth—aye, some <i>good</i> warrior—"</p> - -<p>"Since we are alone, sir," said Flandry, "perhaps I may remark that -Scotha itself has seen many changes of dynasty."</p> - -<p>"Yes—of course, I took an oath to the king. But suppose, just suppose -the best interests of Scothania were served by a newer and stronger -family—"</p> - -<p>They were into details of the matter within an hour. Flandry suggested -that Prince Kortan would be a valuable ally—but beware of Torric, who -had ambitions of his own—</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There was a great feast given at the winter solstice. The town and the -palace blazed with light and shouted with music and drunken laughter. -Warriors and nobles swirled their finest robes about them and boasted -of the ruin they would wreak in the Empire. It was to be noted that the -number of alcoholic quarrels leading to bloodshed was unusually high -this year, especially among the upper classes.</p> - -<p>There were enough dark corners, though. Flandry stood in one, a niche -leading to a great open window, and looked over the glittering town -lights to the huge white hills that lay silent beyond, under the -hurtling moons. Above were the stars, bright with the frosty twinkle of -winter; they seemed so near that one could reach a hand up and pluck -them from the sky. A cold breeze wandered in from outside. Flandry -wrapped his cloak more tightly about him.</p> - -<p>A light footfall sounded on the floor. He looked about and saw Gunli -the queen. Her tall young form was vague in the shadow, but a shaft of -moonlight lit her face with an unearthly radiance. She might have been -a lovely girl of Terra, save for the little horns and—well—</p> - -<p><i>These people aren't really human. They look human, but no people of -Terra were ever so—simple-minded!</i> Then with an inward grin: <i>But you -don't expect a talent for intrigue in women, Terrestrial or Scothan. -So the females of this particular species are quite human enough for -anyone's taste.</i></p> - -<p>The cynical mirth faded into an indefinable sadness. He—damn it, he -liked Gunli. They had laughed together often in the last few months, -and she was honest and warm-hearted and—well, no matter, no matter.</p> - -<p>"Why are you here all alone, Dominic?" she asked. Her voice was very -quiet, and her eyes seemed huge in the cold pale moonlight.</p> - -<p>"It would hardly be prudent for me to join the party," he answered -wryly. "I'd cause too many fights. Half of them out there hate my -insides."</p> - -<p>"And the other half can't do without you," she smiled. "Well, I'm as -glad not to be there myself. These Frithians are savages. At home—" -She looked out the window and there were suddenly tears glittering in -her eyes.</p> - -<p>"Don't weep, Gunli," said Flandry softly. "Not tonight. This is the -night the sun turns, remember. There is always new hope in a new year."</p> - -<p>"I can't forget the old years," she said with a bitterness that shocked -him.</p> - -<p>Understanding came. He asked quietly: "There was someone else, wasn't -there?"</p> - -<p>"Aye. A young knight. But he was of low degree, so they married me -off to Penda, who is old and chill. And Jomana was killed in one of -Cerdic's raids—" She turned her head to look at him, and a pathetic -attempt at a smile quivered on her lips. "It isn't Jomana, Dominic. He -was very dear to me, but even the deepest wounds heal with time. But I -think of all the other young men, and their sweethearts—"</p> - -<p>"It's what the men want themselves."</p> - -<p>"But not what the women want. Not to wait and wait and wait till the -ships come back, never knowing whether there will only be his shield -aboard. Not to rock her baby in her arms and know that in a few years -he will be a stiffened corpse on the shores of some unknown planet. -Not—well—" She straightened her slim shoulders. "Little I can do -about it."</p> - -<p>"You are a very brave and lovely woman, Gunli," said Flandry. "Your -kind has changed history ere this." And he sang softly a verse he had -made in the Scothan bardic form:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">"<i>So I see you standing,</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>sorrowful in darkness.</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>But the moonlight's broken</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>by your eyes tear-shining—</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>moonlight in the maiden's</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>magic net of tresses.</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>Gods gave many gifts, but,</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>Gunli, yours was greatest.</i>"</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>Suddenly she was in his arms....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Sviffash of Sithafar was angry. He paced up and down the secret -chamber, his tail lashing about his bowed legs, his fanged jaws -snapping on the accented Scothanian words that poured out.</p> - -<p>"Like a craieex they treat me!" he hissed. "I, king of a planet and an -intelligent species, must bow before the dirty barbarian Penda. Our -ships have the worst positions in the fighting line and the last chance -at loot. The swaggering Scothani on Sithafar treat my people as if they -were conquered peasants, not warrior allies. It is not to be endured!"</p> - -<p>Flandry remained respectfully silent. He had carefully nursed the -reptile king's smoldering resentment along ever since the being had -come to Iuthagaar for conference, but he wanted Sviffash to think it -was all his own idea.</p> - -<p>"By the Dark God, if I had a chance I think I'd go over to the Terran -side!" exploded Sviffash. "You say they treat their subjects decently?"</p> - -<p>"Aye, we've learned it doesn't pay to be prejudiced about race, your -majesty. In fact, many nonhumans hold Terrestrial citizenship. And -of course a vassal of the Empire remains free within his own domain, -except in certain matters of trade and military force where we must -have uniformity. And he has the immeasurable power and wealth of the -Empire behind and with him."</p> - -<p>"My own nobles would follow gladly enough," said Sviffash. "They'd -sooner loot Scothanian than Terrestrial planets, if they didn't fear -Penda's revenge."</p> - -<p>"Many other of Scotha's allies feel likewise, your majesty. And still -more would join an uprising just for the sake of the readily available -plunder, if only they were sure the revolt would succeed. It is a -matter of getting them all together and agreeing—"</p> - -<p>"And you have contacts everywhere, Terrestrial. You're like a spinner -weaving its web. Of course, if you're caught I shall certainly insist I -never had anything to do with you."</p> - -<p>"Of course, your majesty."</p> - -<p>"But if it works—hah!" The lidless black eyes glittered and a forked -tongue flickered out between the horny lips. "Hah, the sack of Scotha!"</p> - -<p>"No, your majesty. It is necessary that Scotha be spared. There will be -enough wealth to be had on her province planets."</p> - -<p>"Why?" The question was cold, emotionless.</p> - -<p>"Because you see, your majesty, we will have Scothan allies who -will cooperate only on that condition. Some of the power-seeking -nobles ... and then there is a southern nationalist movement which -wishes separation from the Frithian north ... and I may say that it has -the secret leadership of the queen herself...."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Flandry's eyes were as chill as his voice: "It will do you no good to -kill me, Duke Asdagaar. I have left all the evidence with a reliable -person who, if I do not return alive, or if I am killed later, will -take it directly to the king and the people."</p> - -<p>The Scothan's hands clenched white about the arms of his chair. -Impotent rage shivered in his voice: "You devil! You crawling worm!"</p> - -<p>"Name-calling is rather silly coming from one of your history," said -Flandry. "A parricide, a betrayer of comrades, a breaker of oaths, a -mocker of the gods—I have all the evidence, Duke Asdagaar. Some of -it is on paper, some is nothing but the names of scattered witnesses -and accomplices each of whom knows a little of your career. And a man -without honor, on Scotha, is better dead. In fact, he soon will be."</p> - -<p>"But how did you learn—?" Hopelessness was coming into the duke's -tone; he was beginning to tremble a little.</p> - -<p>"I have my ways. For instance, I learned quite a bit by cultivating the -acquaintance of your slaves and servants. You highborn forget that the -lower classes have eyes and ears, and that they talk among themselves."</p> - -<p>"Well—" The words were almost strangled. "What do you want?"</p> - -<p>"Help for certain others. You have powerful forces at your disposal—"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Spring winds blew softly through the garden and stirred the trees to -rustling. There was a deep smell of green life about them; a bird was -singing somewhere in the twilight, and the ancient promise of summer -stirred in the blood.</p> - -<p>Flandry tried to relax in the fragrant evening, but he was too -tense—his nerves were drawn into quivering wires and he had grown thin -and hollow-eyed. So too had Gunli, but it seemed only to heighten her -loveliness; it had more than a hint of the utterly alien and remote now.</p> - -<p>"Well, the spaceship is off," said the man. His voice was weary. -"Aethagir shouldn't have any trouble getting to Ifri, and he's a clever -lad—he'll find a way to deliver my letter to Admiral Walton." He -scowled, and a nervous tic began over his left eye. "But the timing is -so desperately close. If our forces strike too soon, or too late, it -can be ruinous."</p> - -<p>"I don't worry about that, Dominic," said Gunli. "You know how to -arrange these things."</p> - -<p>"I've never handled an empire before, my beautiful. The next several -days will be touch and go. And that's why I want you to leave Scotha -now. Take a ship and some trusty guards and go to Alagan or Gimli or -some other out-of-the-way planet." He smiled with one corner of his -mouth. "It would be a bitter victory if you died in it, Gunli."</p> - -<p>Her voice was haunted. "I should die. I've betrayed my lord—I am -dishonored—"</p> - -<p>"You've saved your people—your own southerners, and ultimately all -Scotha."</p> - -<p>"But the broken oaths—" She began to weep, quietly and hopelessly.</p> - -<p>"An oath is only a means to an end. Don't let the means override the -end."</p> - -<p>"An oath is an oath. But Dominic—it was a choice of standing by Penda -or by—you—"</p> - -<p>He comforted her as well as he could. And he reflected grimly that he -had never before felt himself so thoroughly a skunk.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">V</p> - -<p>The battle in space was, to the naked eye, hardly visible—brief -flashes of radiation among the swarming stars, occasionally the dark -form of a ship slipping by and occulting a wisp of the Milky Way. -But Admiral Walton smiled with cold satisfaction at the totality of -reports given him by the semantic integrator.</p> - -<p>"We're mopping them up," he said. "Our task force has twice their -strength, and they're disorganized and demoralized anyway."</p> - -<p>"Whom are we fighting?" wondered Chang, the executive officer.</p> - -<p>"Don't know for sure. They've split into so many factions you can -never tell who it is. But from Flandry's report, I'd say it was—what -was that outlandish name now?—Duke Markagrav's fleet. He holds -this sector, and is a royalist. But it might be Kelry, who's also -anti-Terrestrial—but at war with Markagrav and in revolt against the -king."</p> - -<p>"Suns and comets and little green asteroids!" breathed Chang. "This -Scothanian hegemony seems just to have disintegrated. Chaos! Everybody -at war with everybody else, and hell take the hindmost! How'd he do it?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know." Walton grinned. "But Flandry's the Empire's ace secret -service officer. He works miracles before breakfast. Why, before -these barbarians snatched him he was handling the Llynathawr trouble -all by himself. And you know how he was doing it? He went there -with everything but a big brass band, did a perfect imitation of a -political appointee using the case as an excuse to do some high-powered -roistering, and worked his way up toward the conspirators through the -underworld characters he met in the course of it. They never dreamed he -was any kind of danger—as we found out after a whole squad of men had -worked for six months to crack the case of his disappearance."</p> - -<p>"Then the Scothanians have been holding the equivalent of a whole -army—and didn't know it!"</p> - -<p>"That's right," nodded Walton. "The biggest mistake they ever made was -to kidnap Captain Flandry. They should have played safe and kept some -nice harmless cobras for pets!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Iuthagaar was burning. Mobs rioted in the streets and howled with fear -and rage and the madness of catastrophe. The remnants of Penda's army -had abandoned the town and were fleeing northward before the advancing -southern rebels. They would be harried by Torric's guerrillas, who -in turn were the fragments of a force smashed by Earl Morgaar after -Penda was slain by Kortan's assassins. Morgaar himself was dead and -his rebels broken by Nartheof—the earl's own band had been riddled -by corruption and greed and had fallen apart before the royalists' -counterblow.</p> - -<p>But Nartheof was dead too, at the hands of Nornagast's vengeful -relatives. His own seizure of supreme power and attempt at -reorganization had created little but confusion, which grew worse when -he was gone. Now the royalists were a beaten force somewhere out in -space, savagely attacked by their erstwhile allies, driven off the -revolting conquered planets, and swept away before the remorselessly -advancing Terrestrial fleet.</p> - -<p>The Scothanian empire had fallen into a hundred shards, snapping -at each other and trying desperately to retrieve their own with no -thought for the whole. Lost in an incomprehensibly complex network of -intrigue and betrayal, the great leaders fell, or pulled out of the -mess and made hasty peace with Terra. War and anarchy flamed between -the stars—but limited war, a petty struggle really. The resources and -organization for real war and its attendant destruction just weren't -there any more.</p> - -<p>A few guards still held the almost-deserted palace, waiting for the -Terrestrials to come and end the strife. There was nothing they could -do but wait.</p> - -<p>Captain Flandry stood at a window and looked over the city. He felt no -great elation. Nor was he safe yet. Cerdic was loose somewhere on the -planet, and Cerdic had undoubtedly guessed who was responsible.</p> - -<p>Gunli came to the human. She was very pale. She hadn't expected Penda's -death and it had hurt her. But there was nothing to do now but go -through with the business.</p> - -<p>"Who would have thought it?" she whispered. "Who would have dreamed -we would ever come to this? That mighty Scotha would lie at the -conqueror's feet?"</p> - -<p>"I would," said Flandry tonelessly. "Such jerry-built empires as yours -never last. Barbarians just don't have the talent and the knowledge to -run them. Being only out for plunder, they don't really build.</p> - -<p>"Of course, Scotha was especially susceptible to this kind of sabotage. -Your much-vaunted honesty was your own undoing. By carefully avoiding -any hint of dishonorable actions, you became completely ignorant of -the techniques and the preventive measures. Your honor was never more -than a latent ability for dishonor. All I had to do, essentially, was -to point out to your key men the rewards of betrayal. If they'd been -really honest, I'd have died at the first suggestion. Instead—they -grabbed at the chance. So it was easy to set them against each other -until no one knew whom he could trust—" He smiled humorlessly. "Not -many Scothani objected to bribery or murder or treachery when it was -shown to be to their advantage. I assure you, most Terrestrials would -have thought further, been able to see beyond their own noses and -realized the ultimate disaster it would bring."</p> - -<p>"Still—honor is honor, and I have lost mine and so have all my -people." Gunli looked at him with a strange light in her eyes. -"Dominic, disgrace can only be wiped out in blood."</p> - -<p>He felt a sudden tightening of his nerves and muscles, an awareness of -something deadly rising before him. "What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>She had lifted the blaster from his holster and skipped out of reach -before he could move. "No—stay there!" Her voice was shrill. "Dominic, -you are a cunning man. But are you a brave one?"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He stood still before the menace of the weapon. "I think—" He groped -for words. No, she wasn't crazy. But she wasn't really human, and she -had the barbarian's fanatical code in her as well. Easy, easy—or death -would spit at him—"I think I took a few chances, Gunli."</p> - -<p>"Aye. But you never fought. You haven't stood up man to man and battled -as a warrior should." Pain racked her thin lovely face. She was -breathing hard now. "It's for you as well as him, Dominic. He has to -have his chance to avenge his father—himself—fallen Scotha—and you -have to have a chance too. If you can win, then you are the stronger -and have the right—"</p> - -<p>Might makes right. It was, after all, the one unbreakable law of -Scotha. The old trial by combat, here on a foreign planet many -light-years from green Terra—</p> - -<p>Cerdic came in. He had a sword in either hand, and there was a savage -glee in his bloodshot eyes.</p> - -<p>"I let him in, Dominic," said Gunli. She was crying now. "I had to. -Penda was my lord—but kill him, kill him!"</p> - -<p>With a convulsive movement, she threw the blaster out of the window. -Cerdic gave her an inquiring look. Her voice was almost inaudible: "I -might not be able to stand it. I might shoot you, Cerdic."</p> - -<p>"Thanks!" He ripped the word out, savagely. "I'll deal with you -later, traitress. Meanwhile—" A terrible laughter bubbled in his -throat—"I'll carve your—friend—into many small pieces. Because who, -among the so-civilized Terrestrials, can handle a sword?"</p> - -<p>Gunli seemed to collapse. "O gods, O almighty gods—I didn't think of -that—"</p> - -<p>Suddenly she flung herself on Cerdic, tooth and nail and horns, -snatching at his dagger. "Get him, Dominic!" she screamed. "<i>Get him!</i>"</p> - -<p>The prince swept one brawny arm out. There was a dull smack and Gunli -fell heavily to the floor.</p> - -<p>"Now," grinned Cerdic, "choose your weapon!"</p> - -<p>Flandry came forward and took one of the slender broadswords. Oddly, he -was thinking mostly about the queen, huddled there on the floor. Poor -kid, poor kid, she'd been under a greater strain than flesh and nerves -were meant to bear. But give her a chance and she'd be all right.</p> - -<p>Cerdic's eyes were almost dreamy now. He smiled as he crossed blades. -"This will make up for a lot," he said. "Before you die, Terrestrial, -you will no longer be a man—"</p> - -<p>Steel rang in the great hall. Flandry parried the murderous slash and -raked the prince's cheek. Cerdic roared and plunged at him, his blade -weaving a net of death before him. Flandry skipped back, sword ringing -on sword, shoulders against the wall.</p> - -<p>They stood for an instant, straining blade against blade, sweat -rivering off them, and bit by bit the Scothan's greater strength bent -Flandry's arm aside. Suddenly the Terrestrial let go, striking out -almost in the same moment, and the prince's steel hissed by his face.</p> - -<p>He ran back and Cerdic rushed him again. The Scothan was wide open for -the simplest stop thrust, but Flandry didn't want to kill him. They -closed once more, blades clashing, and the human waited for his chance.</p> - -<p>It came, an awkward move, and then one supremely skillful -twist—Cerdic's sword went spinning out of his hand and across the room -and the prince stood disarmed with Flandry's point at his throat.</p> - -<p>For a moment he gaped in utter stupefaction. Flandry laughed harshly -and said: "My dear friend, you forget that deliberate archaism is one -characteristic of a decadent society. There's hardly a noble in the -Empire who hasn't studied <i>scientific</i> fencing."</p> - -<p>Defeat was heavy in the prince's defiant voice: "Kill me, then. Be done -with it."</p> - -<p>"There's been too much killing, and you can be too useful." Flandry -threw his own weapon aside and cocked his fists. "But there's one thing -I've wanted to do for a long, long time."</p> - -<p>Despite the Scothan's powerful but clumsy defense, Flandry proceeded to -beat the living hell out of him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> - <div class="caption"> - <p><i>"There's one thing I've wanted to do for a long, long time," said Flandry ... and did it....</i></p> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"We've saved scotha, all Scotha," said Flandry. "Think, girl. What -would have happened if you'd gone on into the Empire? Even if you'd -won—and that was always doubtful, for Terra is mightier than you -thought—you'd only have fallen into civil war. You just didn't have -the capacity to run an empire—as witness the fact that your own -allies and conquests turned on you the first chance they got. You'd -have fought each other over the spoils, greater powers would have moved -in, Scotha would have been ripe for sacking—eventually you'd have gone -down into Galactic oblivion. The present conflict was really quite -small—it took far fewer lives than even a successful invasion of the -Empire would have done. And now Terra will bring the peace you longed -for, Gunli."</p> - -<p>"Aye," she whispered. "Aye, we deserve to be conquered."</p> - -<p>"But you aren't," he said. "The southerners hold Scotha now, and Terra -will recognize them as the legal government—with you the queen, Gunli. -You'll be another vassal state of the Empire, yes, but with all your -freedoms except the liberty to rob and kill other races. And trade -with the rest of the Empire will bring you a greater and more enduring -prosperity than war ever would.</p> - -<p>"I suppose that the Empire is decadent. But there's no reason why it -can't someday have a renaissance. When the vigorous new peoples such as -yours are guided by the ancient wisdom of Terra, the Galaxy may see its -greatest glory."</p> - -<p>She smiled at him. It was still a wan smile, but something of her old -spirit was returning to her. "I don't think the Empire is so far gone, -Dominic," she said. "Not when it has men like you." She took his hands. -"And what will you be doing now?"</p> - -<p>He met her eyes, and there was a sudden loneliness within him. She—was -very beautiful—</p> - -<p>But it could never work out. Best to leave now, before a bright memory -grew tarnished with the day-to-day clashing of personalities utterly -foreign to each other. She would forget him in time, find someone else, -and he—well—"I have my work," he said.</p> - -<p>They looked up to the bright sky. Far above them, the first of the -descending Imperial ships glittered in the sunlight like a falling star.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tiger By the Tail, by Poul Anderson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIGER BY THE TAIL *** - -***** This file should be named 63944-h.htm or 63944-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/9/4/63944/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/63944-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/63944-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7878fa7..0000000 --- a/old/63944-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63944-h/images/illus.jpg b/old/63944-h/images/illus.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 93dcef0..0000000 --- a/old/63944-h/images/illus.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63944.txt b/old/63944.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5fb1ec6..0000000 --- a/old/63944.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1746 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tiger By the Tail, by Poul Anderson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Tiger By the Tail - -Author: Poul Anderson - -Release Date: December 2, 2020 [EBook #63944] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIGER BY THE TAIL *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - TIGER by the TAIL - - by Poul Anderson - - The haughty, horned aliens from the planet - Scotha had very well organized intentions - of conquering the Terran Empire--and Captain - Dominic Flandry, Terra's ace saboteur, suddenly - found himself in a strategic position to louse - up the works. How? Well, Achilles had a heel ... - and what else could you call a Scothani? - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories January 1951. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Captain Flandry opened his eyes and saw a metal ceiling. -Simultaneously, he grew aware of the thrum and quiver which meant he -was aboard a spaceship running on ultra-drive. - -He sat up with a violence that sent the dregs of alcohol swirling -through his head. He'd gone to sleep in a room somewhere in the stews -of Catawrayannis, with no prospect or intention of leaving the city -for an indefinite time--let alone the planet! Now-- - -The chilling realization came that he was not aboard a human ship. -Humanoid, yes, from the size and design of things, but no vessel ever -built within the borders of the Empire, and no foreign make that he -knew of. - -Even from looking at this one small cabin, he could tell. There were -bunks, into one of which he had fitted pretty well, but the sheets -and blankets weren't of plastic weave. They seemed--he looked more -closely--the sheets seemed to be of some vegetable fiber, the blankets -of long bluish-gray hair. There were a couple of chairs and a table in -the middle of the room, wooden, and they must have seen better days -for they were elaborately hand-carved, and in an intricate interwoven -design new to Flandry--and planetary art-forms were a hobby of his. The -way and manner in which the metal plating had been laid was another -indication, and-- - - * * * * * - -He sat down again, buried his whirling head in his hands, and tried to -think. There was a thumping in his head and a vile taste in his mouth -which liquor didn't ordinarily leave--at least not the stuff he'd been -drinking--and now that he remembered, he'd gotten sleepy much earlier -than one would have expected when the girl was so good-looking-- - -Drugged--oh, no! _Tell me I'm not as stupid as a stereofilm hero! -Anything but that!_ - -But who'd have thought it, who'd have looked for it? Certainly the -people and beings on whom he'd been trying to get a lead would never -try anything like that. Besides, none of them had been around, he -was sure of it. He'd simply been out building part of the elaborate -structure of demimonde acquaintances and information which would -eventually, by exceedingly indirect routes, lead him to those he was -seeking. He'd simply been out having a good time--_quite_ a good time, -in fact--and-- - -And now someone from outside the Empire had him. And _now_ what? - -He got up, a little unsteadily, and looked around for his clothes. -No sign of them. And he'd paid three hundred credits for that outfit, -too. He stamped savagely over to the door. It didn't have a photocell -attachment; he jerked it open and found himself looking down the muzzle -of a blaster. - -It was of different design from any he knew, but it was quite -unmistakable. Captain Flandry sighed, relaxed his taut muscles, and -looked more closely at the guard who held it. - -He was humanoid to a high degree, perhaps somewhat stockier than -Terrestrial average--and come to think of it, the artificial gravity -was a little higher than one gee--and with very white skin, long tawny -hair and beard, and oblique violet eyes. His ears were pointed and two -small horns grew above his heavy eyebrow ridges, but otherwise he was -manlike enough. With civilized clothes and a hooded cloak he could -easily pass himself off for human. - -Not in the getup he wore, of course, which consisted of a kilt and -tunic, shining beryllium-copper cuirass and helmet, buskins over bare -legs, and a murderous-looking dirk. As well as a couple of scalps -hanging at his belt. - -He gestured the prisoner back, and blew a long hollow blast on a horn -slung at his side. The wild echoes chased each other down the long -corridor, hooting and howling with a primitive clamor that tingled -faintly along Captain Flandry's spine. - -He thought slowly, while he waited: No intercom, apparently not even -speaking tubes laid the whole length of the ship. And household -articles of wood and animal and vegetable fibres, and that archaic -costume there--They were barbarians, all right. But no tribe that he -knew about. - -That wasn't too surprising, since the Terrestrial Empire and the -half-dozen other civilized states in the known Galaxy ruled over -several thousands of intelligent races and had some contact with nobody -knew how many thousands more. Many of the others were, of course, still -planet-bound, but quite a few tribes along the Imperial borders had -mastered a lot of human technology without changing their fundamental -outlook on things. Which is what comes of hiring barbarian mercenaries. - -The peripheral tribes were still raiders, menaces to the border planets -and merely nuisances to the Empire as a whole. Periodically they were -bought off, or played off against each other--or the Empire might even -send a punitive expedition out. But if one day a strong barbarian race -under a strong leader should form a reliable coalition--then _vae -victis_! - - * * * * * - -A party of Flandry's captors, apparently officers, guardsmen, and a few -slaves, came down the corridor. Their leader was tall and powerfully -built, with a cold arrogance in his pale-blue eyes that did not hide a -calculating intelligence. There was a golden coronet about his head, -and the robes that swirled around his big body were rainbow-gorgeous. -Flandry recognized some items as having been manufactured within the -Empire. Looted, probably. - -They came to a halt before him and the leader looked him up and -down with a deliberately insulting gaze. To be thus surveyed in the -nude could have been badly disconcerting, but Flandry was immune to -embarrassment and his answering stare was bland. - -The leader spoke at last, in strongly accented but fluent Anglic: "You -may as well accept the fact that you are a prisoner, Captain Flandry." - -They'd have gone through his pockets, of course. He asked levelly, -"Just to satisfy my own curiosity, was that girl in your pay?" - -"Of course. I assure you that the Scothani are not the brainless -barbarians of popular Terrestrial superstition, though--" a bleak -smile--"it is useful to be thought so." - -"The Scothani? I don't believe I've had the pleasure--" - -"You have probably not heard of us, though we have had some contact -with the Empire. We have found it convenient to remain in obscurity, -as far as Terra is concerned, until the time is ripe. But--what do you -think caused the Alarri to invade you, fifteen years ago?" - -Flandry thought back. He had been a boy then, but he had, of course, -avidly followed the news accounts of the terrible fleets that swept in -over the marches and attacked Vega itself. Only the hardest fighting -at the Battle of Mirzan had broken the Alarri. Yet it turned out that -they'd been fleeing still another tribe, a wild and mighty race who had -invaded their own system with fire and ruin. It was a common enough -occurrence in the turbulent barbarian stars; this one incident had -come to the Empire's notice only because the refugees had tried to -conquer it in turn. A political upheaval within the Terrestrial domain -had prevented closer investigation before the matter had been all but -forgotten. - -"So you were driving the Alarri before you?" asked Flandry with as -close an approximation to the right note of polite interest as he could -manage in his present condition. - -"Aye. And others. The Scothani have quite a little empire now, out -there in the wilderness of the Galaxy. But, since we were never -originally contacted by Terrestrials, we have, as I say, remained -little known to them." - -So--the Scothani had learned their technology from some other race, -possibly other barbarians. It was a familiar pattern, Flandry could -trace it out in his mind. Spaceships landed on the primitive world, -the initial awe of the natives gave way to the realization that the -skymen weren't so very different after all--they could be killed like -anyone else; traders, students, laborers, mercenary warriors visited -the more advanced worlds, brought back knowledge of their science and -technology; factories were built, machines produced, and some tribal -king used the new power to impose his rule on all his planet; and then, -to unite his restless subjects, he had to turn their faces outward, -promise plunder and glory if they followed him out to the stars-- - -Only the Scothani had carried it farther than most. And lying as far -from the Imperial border as they did, they could build up a terrible -power without the complacent, politics-ridden Empire being more than -dimly aware of the fact--until the day when-- - -_Vae victis!_ - - - II - -"Let us have a clear understanding," said the barbarian chief. "You are -a prisoner on a warship already light-years from Llynathawr, well into -the Imperial marches and bound for Scotha itself. You have no chance -of rescue, and mercy depends entirely on your own conduct. Adjust it -accordingly." - -"May I ask why you picked me up?" Flandry's tone was mild. - -"You are of noble blood, and a high-ranking officer in the Imperial -intelligence service. You may be worth something as a hostage. But -primarily we want information." - -"But I--" - -"I know." The reply was disgusted. "You're very typical of your -miserable kind. I've studied the Empire and its decadence long enough -to know that. You're just another worthless younger son, given a -high-paying sinecure so you can wear a fancy uniform and play soldier. -You don't amount to anything." - -Flandry let an angry flush go up his cheek. "Look here--" - -"It's perfectly obvious," said the barbarian. "You come to Llynathawr -to track down certain dangerous conspirators. So you register yourself -in the biggest hotel in Catawrayannis as Captain Dominic Flandry of -the Imperial Intelligence Service, you strut around in your expensive -uniform dropping dark hints about your leads and your activities--and -these consist of drinking and gambling and wenching the whole night and -sleeping the whole day!" A cold humor gleamed in the blue eyes. "Unless -it is your intention that the Empire's enemies shall laugh themselves -to death at the spectacle." - -"If that's so," began Flandry thinly, "then why--" - -"You will know something. You can't help picking up a lot of -miscellaneous information in your circles, no matter how hard you try -not to. Certainly you know specific things about the organization and -activities of your own corps which we would find useful information. -We'll squeeze all you know out of you! Then there will be other -services you can perform, people within the Empire you can contact, -documents you can translate for us, perhaps various liaisons you can -make--eventually, you may even earn your freedom." The barbarian lifted -one big fist. "And in case you wish to hold anything back, remember -that the torturers of Scotha know their trade." - -"You needn't make melodramatic threats," said Flandry sullenly. - -The fist shot out, and Flandry fell to the floor with darkness whirling -and roaring through his head. He crawled to hands and knees, blood -dripping from his face, and vaguely he heard the voice: "From here on, -little man, you are to address me as befits a slave speaking to a crown -prince of Scotha." - -The Terrestrial staggered to his feet. For a moment his fists clenched. -The prince smiled grimly and knocked him down again. Looking up, -Flandry saw brawny hands resting on blaster butts--not a chance, not a -chance. - -Besides, the prince was hardly a sadist. Such brutality was the normal -order among the barbarians--and come to think of it, slaves within the -Empire could be treated similarly. - -And there was the problem of staying alive-- - -"Yes, sir," he mumbled. - -The prince turned on his heel and walked away. - - * * * * * - -They gave him back his clothes, though someone had stripped the gold -braid and the medals away. Flandry looked at the soiled, ripped -garments and sighed. Tailor-made--! - -He surveyed himself in the mirror as he washed and shaved. The face -that looked back was wide across the cheek-bones, straight-nosed and -square-jawed, with carefully waved reddish-brown hair and a mustache -trimmed with equal attention. Probably too handsome, he reflected, -wiping the blood from under his nose, but he'd been young when he had -the plasticosmetician work on him. Maybe when he got out of this mess -he should have the face made over to a slightly more rugged pattern to -fit his years. He was in his thirties now, after all--getting to be a -big boy, Dominic. - -The fundamental bone structure of head and face was his own, however, -and so were the eyes--large and bright, with a hint of obliquity, the -iris of that curious gray which can seem any color, blue or green or -black or gold. And the trim, medium-tall body was genuine too. He hated -exercises, but went through a dutiful daily ritual since he needed -sinews and coordination for his work--and, too, a man in condition was -something to look at among the usually flabby nobles of Terra; he'd -found his figure no end of help in making his home leaves pleasant. - -_Well, can't stand here admiring yourself all day, old fellow._ He -slipped blouse, pants, and jacket over his silkite under-garments, -pulled on the sheening boots, tilted his officer's cap at an angle of -well-gauged rakishness, and walked out to meet his new owners. - -The Scothani weren't such bad fellows, he soon learned. They were big -brawling lusty barbarians, out for adventure and loot and fame as -warriors; they had courage and loyalty and a wild streak of sentiment -that he liked. But they could also fly into deadly rages, they were -casually cruel to anyone that stood in their way, and Flandry acquired -a not too high respect for their brains. It would have helped if they'd -washed oftener, too. - -This warship was one of a dozen which Cerdic, the crown prince, had -taken out on a plundering cruise. They'd sacked a good many towns, even -some on nominally Imperial planets, and on the way back had sent down -a man in a lifeboat to contact Cerdic's agents on Llynathawr, which -was notoriously the listening post of this sector of the Empire. In -learning that there was something going on which a special agent from -Terra had been investigating, Cerdic had ordered him picked up. And -that was that. - -Now they were homeward bound, their holds stuffed with loot and their -heads stuffed with plans for further inroads. It might not have meant -much, but--well--Cerdic and his father Penda didn't seem to be just -ordinary barbarian chiefs, nor Scothania an ordinary barbarian nation. - -Could it be that somewhere out there among the many stars someone had -finally organized a might that could break the Empire? Could the Long -Night really be at hand? - -Flandry shoved the thought aside. He had too much to do right now. Even -his own job at Llynathawr, important as it was, could and would be -handled by someone else--though not, he thought a little sadly, with -the Flandry touch--and his own immediate worry was here and now. He had -to find out the extent of power and ambition of the Scothani; he had to -learn their plans and get the information to Terra, and somehow spike -them even a little. After that there might be time to save his own hide. - - * * * * * - -Cerdic had him brought to the captain's cabin. The place was a typical -barbarian chief's den, with the heads of wild beasts on the walls and -their hides on the floors, old shields and swords hung up in places of -honor, a magnificent golden vase stolen from some planet of artists -shining in a corner. But there were incongruous modern touches, a -microprint reader and many bookrolls from the Empire, astrographic -tables and computer, a vodograph. The prince sat in a massive carven -chair, a silkite robe flung carelessly over his broad shoulders. He -nodded with a certain affability. - -"Your first task will be to learn Scothanian," he said without -preliminary. "As yet almost none of our people, even nobles, speak -Anglic, and there are many who will want to talk to you." - -"Yes, sir," said Flandry. It was what he would most have desired. - -"You had better also start organizing all you know so you can present -it coherently," said the prince. "And I, who have lived in the Empire, -will be able to check enough of your statements to tell whether you are -likely speaking the truth." He smiled mirthlessly. "If there is reason -to suspect you are lying, you will be put to the torture. And one of -our Sensitives will then get at the truth." - -So they had Sensitives, too. Telepaths who could tell whether a being -was lying when pain had sufficiently disorganized his mind were as bad -as the Empire's hypnoprobes. - -"I'll tell the truth, sir," he said. - -"I suppose so. If you cooperate, you'll find us not an ungrateful -people. There will be more wealth than was ever dreamed of when we go -into the Empire. There will also be considerable power for such humans -as are our liaison with their race." - -"Sir," began Flandry, in a tone of weak self-righteousness, "I couldn't -think of--" - -"Oh, yes, you could," said Cerdic glumly. "I know you humans. I -traveled incognito throughout your whole Empire, I was on Terra -itself. I posed as one of you, or when convenient as just another -of the subject races. I _know_ the Empire--its utter decadence, its -self-seeking politicians and pleasure-loving mobs, corruption and -intrigue everywhere you go, collapse of morals and duty-sense, decline -of art into craft and science into stagnancy--you were a great race -once, you humans, you were the first to aspire to the stars and we owe -you something for that, I suppose. But you're not the race you once -were." - -The viewpoint was biased, but enough truth lay in it to make Flandry -wince. Cerdic went on, his voice rising: "There is a new power growing -out beyond your borders, young peoples with the strength and courage -and hopefulness of youth, and they'll sweep the rotten fragments of the -Empire before them and build something new and better." - -_Only_, thought Flandry, _only first comes the Long Night, darkness and -death and the end of civilization, the howling peoples in the ruins of -our temples and a myriad petty tyrants holding their dreary courts in -the shards of the Empire. To say nothing of the decline of good music -and good cuisine, taste in clothes and taste in women and conversation -as a fine art_. - -"We've one thing you've lost," said Cerdic, "and I think ultimately -that will be the deciding factor. Honestly. Flandry, the Scothani are a -race of honest warriors." - -"No doubt, sir," said Flandry. - -"Oh, we have our evil characters, but they are few and the custom of -private challenges soon eliminates them," said Cerdic. "And even their -evil is an open and clean thing, greed or lawlessness or something like -that; it isn't the bribery and conspiracy and betrayal of your rotten -politicians. And most of us live by our code. It wouldn't occur to a -true Scothani to do a dishonorable thing, to break an oath or desert -a comrade or lie on his word of honor. Our women aren't running loose -making eyes at every man they come across; they're kept properly at -home till time for marriage and then they know their place as mothers -and houseguiders. Our boys are raised to respect the gods and the king, -to fight, and to speak truth. Death is a little thing, Flandry, it -comes to everyone in his time and he cannot stay it, but honor lives -forever. - -"We don't corrupt ourselves. We keep honor at home and root out -disgrace with death and torture. We live our code. And that is really -why we will win." - -_Battleships help_, thought Flandry. And then, looking into the cold -bright eyes: _He's a fanatic. But a hell of a smart one. And that kind -makes the most dangerous enemy._ - -Aloud he asked, humbly: "Isn't any stratagem a lie, sir? Your own -disguised travels within the Empire--" - -"Naturally, certain maneuvers are necessary," said the prince stiffly. -"Nor does it matter what one does with regard to alien races. -Especially when they have as little honor as Terrestrials." - -_The good old race-superiority complex, too. Oh, well._ - -"I tell you this," said Cerdic earnestly, "in the hope that you may -think it over and see our cause is just and be with us. We will need -many foreigners, especially humans, for liaison and intelligence and -other services. You may still accomplish something in a hitherto wasted -life." - -"I'll think about it, sir," said Flandry. - -"Then go." - -Flandry got. - - * * * * * - -The ship was a good three weeks en route to Scotha. It took Flandry -about two of them to acquire an excellent working knowledge of the -language, but he preferred to simulate difficulty and complained that -he got lost when talk was too rapid. It was surprising how much odd -information you picked up when you were thought not to understand -what was being said. Not anything of great military significance, -of course, but general background, stray bits of personal history, -attitudes and beliefs--it all went into the neat filing system which -was Flandry's memory, to be correlated with whatever else he knew or -learned into an astonishingly complete picture. - -The Scothani themselves were quite friendly, eager to hear about the -fabulous Imperial civilization and to brag of their own wonderful past -and future exploits. Since there was obviously nothing he could do, -Flandry was under the loosest guard and had virtually the freedom of -the ship. He slept and messed with the warriors, swapped bawdy songs -and dirty jokes, joined their rough-and-tumble wrestling matches to win -surprised respect for his skill, and even became the close friend and -confidant of some of the younger males. - -The race was addicted to gambling. Flandry learned their games, taught -them some of the Empire's, and before the trip's end had won back his -stolen finery plus several other outfits and a pleasantly jingling -purse. It was--well--he almost hated to take his winnings from these -overgrown babies. It just never occurred to them that dice and cards -could be made to do tricks. - -The picture grew. The barbarian tribes of Scotha were firmly united -under the leadership of the Frithian kings, had been for several -generations. Theoretically it was an absolute monarchy, though actually -all classes except the slaves were free. They had conquered at least a -hundred systems outright, contenting themselves with exacting tribute -and levies from most of these, and dominated all others within reach. -Under Penda's leadership, a dozen similar, smaller barbarian states -had already formed a coalition with the avowed purpose of invading -the Empire, capturing Terra, destroying the Imperial military forces, -and making themselves masters. Few of them thought beyond the plunder -to be had, though apparently some of them, like Cerdic, dreamed of -maintaining and extending the Imperial domain under their own rule. - -They had a formidable fleet--Flandry couldn't find out its exact -size--and its organization and technology seemed far superior to -that of most barbarian forces. They had a great industry, mostly -slave-manned with the Scothan overlords supervising. They had shrewd -leaders, who would wait till one of the Empire's recurring political -crises had reduced its fighting strength, and who were extremely well -informed about their enemy. It looked--bad! - -Especially since they couldn't wait too long. Despite the unequalled -prosperity created by industry, tribute, and piracy, all Scotha was -straining at the leash, nobles and warriors in the whole coalition -foaming to be at the Empire's throat; a whole Galactic sector had been -seized by the same savage dream. When they came roaring in--well, -you never could tell. The Empire's fighting strength was undoubtedly -greater, but could it be mobilized in time? Wouldn't Penda get gleeful -help from two or three rival imperia? Couldn't a gang of utterly -fearless fanatics plow through the mass of self-seeking officers and -indifferent mercenaries that made up most of the Imperial power today? - -Might not the Long Night really be at hand? - - - III - -Scotha was not unlike Terra--a little larger, a little farther from -its sun, the seas made turbulent by three small close moons. Flandry -had a chance to observe it telescopically--the ship didn't have -magniscreens--and as they swept in, he saw the mighty disc roll grandly -against the Galactic star-blaze and studied the continents with more -care than he showed. - -The planet was still relatively thinly populated, with great forests -and plains standing empty, archaic cities and villages huddling about -the steep-walled castles of the nobles. Most of its industry was on -other worlds, though the huge military bases were all on Scotha and -its moons. There couldn't be more than a billion Scothani all told, -estimated Flandry, probably less, and many of them would live elsewhere -as overlords of the interstellar domain. Which didn't make them less -formidable. The witless hordes of humankind were more hindrance than -help to the Empire. - -Cerdic's fleet broke up, the captains bound for their estates. He took -his own vessel to the capital, Iuthagaar, and brought it down in the -great yards. After the usual pomp and ceremony of homecoming, he sent -for Flandry. - -"What is your attitude toward us now?" he asked. - -"You are a very likeable people, sir," said the Terrestrial, "and it is -as you say--you are a strong and honest race." - -"Then you have decided to help us actively?" The voice was cold. - -"I really have little choice, sir," shrugged Flandry. "I'll be a -prisoner in any case, unless I get to the point of being trusted. The -only way to achieve that is to give you my willing assistance." - -"And what of your own nation?" - -"A man must stay alive, sir. These are turbulent times." - -Contempt curled Cerdic's lip. "Somehow I thought better of you," he -said. "But you're a human. You could only be expected to betray your -oaths for your own gain." - -Surprise shook Flandry's voice. "Wasn't this what you wanted, sir?" - -"Oh, yes, I suppose so. Now come along. But not too close--you make me -feel a little sick." - -They went up to the great gray castle which lifted its windy spires -over the city, and presently Flandry found himself granted an audience -with the King of Scothania. - -It was a huge and dimlit hall, hung with the banners and shields of old -wars and chill despite the fires that blazed along its length. Penda -sat at one end, wrapped in furs against the cold, his big body dwarfed -by the dragon-carved throne. He had his eldest son's stern manner -and bleak eyes, without the prince's bitter intensity--a strong man, -thought Flandry, hard and ruthless and able--but perhaps not too bright. - -Cerdic had mounted to a seat on his father's right. The queen stood on -his left, shivering a little in the damp draft, and down either wall -reached a row of guardsmen. The fire shimmered on their breastplates -and helmets and halberds; they seemed figures of legend, but Flandry -noticed that each warrior carried a blaster too. - -There were others in evidence, several of the younger sons of Penda, -grizzled generals and councillors, nobles come for a visit. A few of -the latter were of non-Scothan race and did not seem to be meeting -exceptional politeness. Then there were the hangers-on, bards and -dancers and the rest, and slaves scurrying about. Except for its -size--and its menace--it was a typical barbarian court. - - * * * * * - -Flandry bowed the knee as required, but thereafter stood erect and -met the king's eye. His position was anomalous, officially Cerdic's -captured slave, actually--well, what was he? Or what could he become in -time? - -Penda asked a few of the more obvious questions, then said slowly: -"You will confer with General Nartheof here, head of our intelligence -section, and tell him what you know. You may also make suggestions if -you like, but remember that false intentions will soon be discovered -and punished." - -"I will be honest, your majesty." - -"Is any Terrestrial honest?" snapped Cerdic. - -"I am," said Flandry cheerfully. "As long as I'm paid, I serve -faithfully. Since I'm no longer in the Empire's pay, I must perforce -look about for a new master." - -"I doubt you can be much use," said Penda. - -"I think I can, your majesty," answered Flandry boldly. "Even in little -things. For instance, this admirably decorated hall is so cold one must -wear furs within it, and still the hands are numb. I could easily show -a few technicians how to install a radiant heating unit that would make -it like summer in here." - -Penda lifted his bushy brows. Cerdic fairly snarled: "A Terrestrial -trick, that. Shall we become as soft and luxurious as the Imperials, we -who hunt vorgari on ski?" - -Flandry's eyes, flitting around the room, caught dissatisfied -expressions on many faces. Inside, he grinned. The prince's austere -ideals weren't very popular with these noble savages. If they only had -the nerve to-- - -It was the queen who spoke. Her soft voice was timid: "Sire, is there -any harm in being warm? I--I am always cold these days." - -Flandry gave her an appreciative look. He'd already picked up the -background of Queen Gunli. She was young, Penda's third wife, and she -came from more southerly Scothan lands than Iuthagaar; her folk were -somewhat more civilized than the dominant Frithians. She was certainly -a knockout, with that dark rippling hair and those huge violet eyes in -her pert face. And that figure too--there was a suppressed liveliness -in her; he wondered if she had ever cursed the fate that gave her noble -blood and thus a political marriage. - -For just an instant their eyes crossed. - -"Be still," said Cerdic. - -Gunli's hand fell lightly on Penda's. The king flushed. "Speak not to -your queen thus, Cerdic," he said. "In truth this Imperial trick is -but a better form of fire, which no one calls unmanly. We will let the -Terrestrial make one." - -Flandry bowed his most ironical bow. Cocking an eye up at the queen, he -caught a twinkle. She knew. - - * * * * * - -Nartheof made a great show of blustering honesty, but there was a -shrewd brain behind the hard little eyes that glittered in his hairy -face. He leaned back and folded his hands behind his head and gave -Flandry a quizzical stare. - -"If it is as you say--" he began. - -"It is," said the Terrestrial. - -"Quite probably. Your statements so far check with what we already -know, and we can soon verify much of the rest. If, then, you speak -truth, the Imperial organization is fantastically good." He smiled. -"As it should be--it conquered the stars, in the old days. But it's no -better than the beings who man it, and everyone knows how venial and -cowardly the Imperials are today." - -Flandry said nothing, but he remembered the gallantry of the Sirian -units at Garrapoli and the _dogged courage_ of the Valatian Legion -and--well, why go on? The haughty Scothani just didn't seem able to -realize that a state as absolutely decadent as they imagined the Empire -to be wouldn't have endured long enough to be their own enemy. - -"We'll have to reorganize everything," said Nartheof. "I don't care -whether what you say is true or not, it makes good sense. Our whole -setup is outmoded. It's ridiculous, for instance, to give commands -according to nobility and blind courage instead of proven intelligence." - -"And you assume that the best enlisted man will make the best officer," -said Flandry. "It doesn't necessarily follow. A strong and hardy -warrior may expect more of his men than they can give. You can't all be -supermen." - -"Another good point. And we should eliminate swordplay as a -requirement; swords are useless today. And we have to train -mathematicians to compute trajectories and everything else." Nartheof -grimaced. "I hate to think what would have happened if we'd invaded -three years ago, as many hotheads wanted to do. We would have inflicted -great damage, but that's all." - -"You should wait at least another ten or twenty years and really get -prepared." - -"Can't. The great nobles wouldn't stand for it. Who wants to be duke -of a planet when he could be viceroy of a sector? But we have a year -or two yet." Nartheof scowled. "I can get my own service whipped into -shape, with your help and advice. I have most of the bright lads. But -as for some of the other forces--gods, the dunderheads they have in -command! I've argued myself hoarse with Nornagast, to no use. The fool -just isn't able to see that a space fleet the size of ours must have -a special coordinating division equipped with semantic calculators -and--The worst of it is, he's a cousin to the king, he ranks me. Not -much I can do." - -"An accident could happen to Nornagast," murmured Flandry. - -"Eh?" Nartheof gasped. "What do you mean?" - - * * * * * - -"Nothing," said Flandry lightly. "But just for argument's sake, -suppose--well, suppose some good swordsman should pick a quarrel -with Nornagast. I don't doubt he has many enemies. If he should -unfortunately be killed in the duel, you might be able to get to his -majesty immediately after, before anyone else, and persuade him to -appoint a more reasonable successor. Of course, you'd have to know in -advance that there'd be a duel." - -"Of all the treacherous, underhanded--!" - -"I haven't done anything but speculate," said Flandry mildly. "However, -I might remind you of your own remarks. It's hardly fair that a fool -should have command and honor and riches instead of better men who -simply happen to be of lower degree. Nor, as you yourself said, is it -good for Scothania as a whole." - -"I won't hear of any such Terrestrial vileness." - -"Of course not. I was just--well, speculating. I can't help it. All -Terrestrials have dirty minds. But we did conquer the stars once." - -"A man might go far, if only--no!" Nartheof shook himself. "A warrior -doesn't bury his hands in muck." - -"No. But he might use a pitchfork. Tools don't mind dirt. The man who -wields them doesn't even have to know the details--But let's get back -to business." Flandry relaxed even more lazily. "Here's a nice little -bit of information which only highly placed Imperials know. The Empire -has a lot of arsenals and munitions dumps which are guarded by nothing -but secrecy. The Emperor doesn't dare trust certain units to guard such -sources of power, and he can't spare enough reliable legions to watch -them all. So obscure, uninhabited planets are used." Nartheof's eyes -were utterly intent now. "I know of only one, but it's a good prospect. -An uninhabited, barren system not many parsecs inside the border, the -second planet honeycombed with underground works that are crammed with -spaceships, atomic bombs, fuel--power enough to wreck a world. A small, -swift fleet could get there, take most of the stores, and destroy the -rest before the nearest garrison could ever arrive in defense." - -"Is that--_true_?" - -"You can easily find out. If I'm lying, it'll cost you that small unit, -that's all--and I assure you I've no desire to be tortured to death." - -"Holy gods!" Nartheof quivered. "I've got to tell Cerdic now, right -away--" - -"You could. Or you might simply go there yourself without telling -anyone. If Cerdic knows, he'll be the one to lead the raid. If you -went, you'd get the honor--and the power--" - -"Cerdic would--not like it." - -"Too late then. He could hardly challenge you for so bold and -successful a stroke." - -"And he is getting too proud of himself--he could stand a little taking -down." Nartheof chuckled, a deep vibration in his shaggy breast. "Aye, -by Valtam's beard, I'll do it! Give me the figures now--" - -Presently the general looked up from the papers and gave Flandry a -puzzled stare. "If this is the case, and I believe it is," he said -slowly, "it'll be a first-rate catastrophe for the Empire. Why are you -with us, human?" - -"Maybe I've decided I like your cause a little better," shrugged -Flandry. "Maybe I simply want to make the best of my own situation. We -Terrestrials are adaptable beasts. But I have enemies here, Nartheof, -and I expect to make a few more. I'll need a powerful friend." - -"You have one," promised the barbarian. "You're much too useful to me -to be killed. And--and--damn it, human, somehow I can't help liking -you." - - - IV - -The dice rattled down onto the table and came to a halt. Prince Torric -swore good-naturedly and shoved the pile of coins toward Flandry. "I -just can't win," he laughed. "You have the gods with you, human." - -_For a slave, I'm not doing so badly_, thought Flandry. _In fact, I'm -getting rich_. "Fortune favors the weak, highness," he smiled. "The -strong don't need luck." - -"To Theudagaar with titles," said the young warrior. He was drunk; -wine flushed his open face and spread in puddles on the table before -him. "We're too good friends by now, Dominic. Ever since you got my -affairs in order--" - -"I have a head for figures, and of course Terrestrial education -helps--Torric. But you need money." - -"There'll be enough for all when we hold the Empire. I'll have a whole -system to rule, you know." - -Flandry pretended surprise. "Only a system? After all, a son of King -Penda--" - -"Cerdic's doing," Torric scowled blackly. "The dirty avagar persuaded -Father that only one--himself, of course--should succeed to the throne. -He said no kingdom ever lasted when the sons divided power equally." - -"It seems very unfair. And how does he know he's the best?" - -"He's the oldest. That's what counts. And he's conceited enough to be -sure of it." Torric gulped another beakerful. - -"The Empire has a better arrangement. Succession is by ability alone, -among many in a whole group of families." - -"Well--the old ways--what can I do?" - -"That's hardly warrior's talk, Torric. Admitting defeat so soon--I -thought better of you!" - -"But what to _do_--?" - -"There are ways. Cerdic's power, like that of all chiefs, rests on his -many supporters and his own household troops. He isn't well liked. -It wouldn't be hard to get many of his friends to give allegiance -elsewhere." - -"But--treachery--would you make a brotherslayer of me?" - -"Who said anything about killing? Just--dislodging, let us say. He -could always have a system or two to rule, just as he meant to give -you." - -"But--look, I don't know anything about your sneaking Terrestrial ways. -I suppose you mean to dish--disaffect his allies, promise them more -than he gives.... What's that word--bribery?--I don't know a thing -about it, Dominic. I couldn't do it." - -"You wouldn't have to do it," murmured Flandry. "I could help. What's -a man for, if not to help his friends?" - - * * * * * - -Earl Morgaar, who held the conquered Zanthudian planets in fief, -was a noble of power and influence beyond his station. He was also -notoriously greedy. - -He said to Captain Flandry: "Terrestrial, your suggestions about -farming out tax-gathering have more than doubled my income. But now the -natives are rising in revolt against me, murdering my troops wherever -they get a chance and burning their farms rather than pay the levies. -What do they do about that in the Empire?" - -"Surely, sir, you could crush the rebels with little effort," said -Flandry. - -"Oh, aye, but dead men don't pay tribute either. Isn't there a better -way? My whole domain is falling into chaos." - -"Several ways, sir." Flandry sketched a few of them--puppet native -committees, propaganda shifting the blame onto some scapegoat, and the -rest of it. He did not add that these methods work only when skillfully -administered. - -"It is well," rumbled the earl at last. His hard gaze searched -Flandry's impassively smiling face. "You've made yourself useful to -many a Scothanian leader since coming here, haven't you? There's that -matter of Nartheof--he's a great man now because he captured that -Imperial arsenal. And there are others. But it seems much of this gain -is at the expense of other Scothani, rather than of the Empire. I still -wonder about Nornagast's death--" - -"History shows that the prospect of great gain always stirs up internal -strife, sir," said Flandry. "It behooves the strong warrior to seize a -dominant share of power for himself and so reunite his people against -their common enemy. Thus did the early Terrestrial emperors end the -civil wars and become the rulers of the then accessible universe." - -"Ummm--yes. Gain--power--wealth--aye, some _good_ warrior--" - -"Since we are alone, sir," said Flandry, "perhaps I may remark that -Scotha itself has seen many changes of dynasty." - -"Yes--of course, I took an oath to the king. But suppose, just suppose -the best interests of Scothania were served by a newer and stronger -family--" - -They were into details of the matter within an hour. Flandry suggested -that Prince Kortan would be a valuable ally--but beware of Torric, who -had ambitions of his own-- - - * * * * * - -There was a great feast given at the winter solstice. The town and the -palace blazed with light and shouted with music and drunken laughter. -Warriors and nobles swirled their finest robes about them and boasted -of the ruin they would wreak in the Empire. It was to be noted that the -number of alcoholic quarrels leading to bloodshed was unusually high -this year, especially among the upper classes. - -There were enough dark corners, though. Flandry stood in one, a niche -leading to a great open window, and looked over the glittering town -lights to the huge white hills that lay silent beyond, under the -hurtling moons. Above were the stars, bright with the frosty twinkle of -winter; they seemed so near that one could reach a hand up and pluck -them from the sky. A cold breeze wandered in from outside. Flandry -wrapped his cloak more tightly about him. - -A light footfall sounded on the floor. He looked about and saw Gunli -the queen. Her tall young form was vague in the shadow, but a shaft of -moonlight lit her face with an unearthly radiance. She might have been -a lovely girl of Terra, save for the little horns and--well-- - -_These people aren't really human. They look human, but no people of -Terra were ever so--simple-minded!_ Then with an inward grin: _But you -don't expect a talent for intrigue in women, Terrestrial or Scothan. -So the females of this particular species are quite human enough for -anyone's taste._ - -The cynical mirth faded into an indefinable sadness. He--damn it, he -liked Gunli. They had laughed together often in the last few months, -and she was honest and warm-hearted and--well, no matter, no matter. - -"Why are you here all alone, Dominic?" she asked. Her voice was very -quiet, and her eyes seemed huge in the cold pale moonlight. - -"It would hardly be prudent for me to join the party," he answered -wryly. "I'd cause too many fights. Half of them out there hate my -insides." - -"And the other half can't do without you," she smiled. "Well, I'm as -glad not to be there myself. These Frithians are savages. At home--" -She looked out the window and there were suddenly tears glittering in -her eyes. - -"Don't weep, Gunli," said Flandry softly. "Not tonight. This is the -night the sun turns, remember. There is always new hope in a new year." - -"I can't forget the old years," she said with a bitterness that shocked -him. - -Understanding came. He asked quietly: "There was someone else, wasn't -there?" - -"Aye. A young knight. But he was of low degree, so they married me -off to Penda, who is old and chill. And Jomana was killed in one of -Cerdic's raids--" She turned her head to look at him, and a pathetic -attempt at a smile quivered on her lips. "It isn't Jomana, Dominic. He -was very dear to me, but even the deepest wounds heal with time. But I -think of all the other young men, and their sweethearts--" - -"It's what the men want themselves." - -"But not what the women want. Not to wait and wait and wait till the -ships come back, never knowing whether there will only be his shield -aboard. Not to rock her baby in her arms and know that in a few years -he will be a stiffened corpse on the shores of some unknown planet. -Not--well--" She straightened her slim shoulders. "Little I can do -about it." - -"You are a very brave and lovely woman, Gunli," said Flandry. "Your -kind has changed history ere this." And he sang softly a verse he had -made in the Scothan bardic form: - - "_So I see you standing,_ - _sorrowful in darkness._ - _But the moonlight's broken_ - _by your eyes tear-shining--_ - _moonlight in the maiden's_ - _magic net of tresses._ - _Gods gave many gifts, but,_ - _Gunli, yours was greatest._" - -Suddenly she was in his arms.... - - * * * * * - -Sviffash of Sithafar was angry. He paced up and down the secret -chamber, his tail lashing about his bowed legs, his fanged jaws -snapping on the accented Scothanian words that poured out. - -"Like a craieex they treat me!" he hissed. "I, king of a planet and an -intelligent species, must bow before the dirty barbarian Penda. Our -ships have the worst positions in the fighting line and the last chance -at loot. The swaggering Scothani on Sithafar treat my people as if they -were conquered peasants, not warrior allies. It is not to be endured!" - -Flandry remained respectfully silent. He had carefully nursed the -reptile king's smoldering resentment along ever since the being had -come to Iuthagaar for conference, but he wanted Sviffash to think it -was all his own idea. - -"By the Dark God, if I had a chance I think I'd go over to the Terran -side!" exploded Sviffash. "You say they treat their subjects decently?" - -"Aye, we've learned it doesn't pay to be prejudiced about race, your -majesty. In fact, many nonhumans hold Terrestrial citizenship. And -of course a vassal of the Empire remains free within his own domain, -except in certain matters of trade and military force where we must -have uniformity. And he has the immeasurable power and wealth of the -Empire behind and with him." - -"My own nobles would follow gladly enough," said Sviffash. "They'd -sooner loot Scothanian than Terrestrial planets, if they didn't fear -Penda's revenge." - -"Many other of Scotha's allies feel likewise, your majesty. And still -more would join an uprising just for the sake of the readily available -plunder, if only they were sure the revolt would succeed. It is a -matter of getting them all together and agreeing--" - -"And you have contacts everywhere, Terrestrial. You're like a spinner -weaving its web. Of course, if you're caught I shall certainly insist I -never had anything to do with you." - -"Of course, your majesty." - -"But if it works--hah!" The lidless black eyes glittered and a forked -tongue flickered out between the horny lips. "Hah, the sack of Scotha!" - -"No, your majesty. It is necessary that Scotha be spared. There will be -enough wealth to be had on her province planets." - -"Why?" The question was cold, emotionless. - -"Because you see, your majesty, we will have Scothan allies who -will cooperate only on that condition. Some of the power-seeking -nobles ... and then there is a southern nationalist movement which -wishes separation from the Frithian north ... and I may say that it has -the secret leadership of the queen herself...." - - * * * * * - -Flandry's eyes were as chill as his voice: "It will do you no good to -kill me, Duke Asdagaar. I have left all the evidence with a reliable -person who, if I do not return alive, or if I am killed later, will -take it directly to the king and the people." - -The Scothan's hands clenched white about the arms of his chair. -Impotent rage shivered in his voice: "You devil! You crawling worm!" - -"Name-calling is rather silly coming from one of your history," said -Flandry. "A parricide, a betrayer of comrades, a breaker of oaths, a -mocker of the gods--I have all the evidence, Duke Asdagaar. Some of -it is on paper, some is nothing but the names of scattered witnesses -and accomplices each of whom knows a little of your career. And a man -without honor, on Scotha, is better dead. In fact, he soon will be." - -"But how did you learn--?" Hopelessness was coming into the duke's -tone; he was beginning to tremble a little. - -"I have my ways. For instance, I learned quite a bit by cultivating the -acquaintance of your slaves and servants. You highborn forget that the -lower classes have eyes and ears, and that they talk among themselves." - -"Well--" The words were almost strangled. "What do you want?" - -"Help for certain others. You have powerful forces at your disposal--" - - * * * * * - -Spring winds blew softly through the garden and stirred the trees to -rustling. There was a deep smell of green life about them; a bird was -singing somewhere in the twilight, and the ancient promise of summer -stirred in the blood. - -Flandry tried to relax in the fragrant evening, but he was too -tense--his nerves were drawn into quivering wires and he had grown thin -and hollow-eyed. So too had Gunli, but it seemed only to heighten her -loveliness; it had more than a hint of the utterly alien and remote now. - -"Well, the spaceship is off," said the man. His voice was weary. -"Aethagir shouldn't have any trouble getting to Ifri, and he's a clever -lad--he'll find a way to deliver my letter to Admiral Walton." He -scowled, and a nervous tic began over his left eye. "But the timing is -so desperately close. If our forces strike too soon, or too late, it -can be ruinous." - -"I don't worry about that, Dominic," said Gunli. "You know how to -arrange these things." - -"I've never handled an empire before, my beautiful. The next several -days will be touch and go. And that's why I want you to leave Scotha -now. Take a ship and some trusty guards and go to Alagan or Gimli or -some other out-of-the-way planet." He smiled with one corner of his -mouth. "It would be a bitter victory if you died in it, Gunli." - -Her voice was haunted. "I should die. I've betrayed my lord--I am -dishonored--" - -"You've saved your people--your own southerners, and ultimately all -Scotha." - -"But the broken oaths--" She began to weep, quietly and hopelessly. - -"An oath is only a means to an end. Don't let the means override the -end." - -"An oath is an oath. But Dominic--it was a choice of standing by Penda -or by--you--" - -He comforted her as well as he could. And he reflected grimly that he -had never before felt himself so thoroughly a skunk. - - - V - -The battle in space was, to the naked eye, hardly visible--brief -flashes of radiation among the swarming stars, occasionally the dark -form of a ship slipping by and occulting a wisp of the Milky Way. -But Admiral Walton smiled with cold satisfaction at the totality of -reports given him by the semantic integrator. - -"We're mopping them up," he said. "Our task force has twice their -strength, and they're disorganized and demoralized anyway." - -"Whom are we fighting?" wondered Chang, the executive officer. - -"Don't know for sure. They've split into so many factions you can -never tell who it is. But from Flandry's report, I'd say it was--what -was that outlandish name now?--Duke Markagrav's fleet. He holds -this sector, and is a royalist. But it might be Kelry, who's also -anti-Terrestrial--but at war with Markagrav and in revolt against the -king." - -"Suns and comets and little green asteroids!" breathed Chang. "This -Scothanian hegemony seems just to have disintegrated. Chaos! Everybody -at war with everybody else, and hell take the hindmost! How'd he do it?" - -"I don't know." Walton grinned. "But Flandry's the Empire's ace secret -service officer. He works miracles before breakfast. Why, before -these barbarians snatched him he was handling the Llynathawr trouble -all by himself. And you know how he was doing it? He went there -with everything but a big brass band, did a perfect imitation of a -political appointee using the case as an excuse to do some high-powered -roistering, and worked his way up toward the conspirators through the -underworld characters he met in the course of it. They never dreamed he -was any kind of danger--as we found out after a whole squad of men had -worked for six months to crack the case of his disappearance." - -"Then the Scothanians have been holding the equivalent of a whole -army--and didn't know it!" - -"That's right," nodded Walton. "The biggest mistake they ever made was -to kidnap Captain Flandry. They should have played safe and kept some -nice harmless cobras for pets!" - - * * * * * - -Iuthagaar was burning. Mobs rioted in the streets and howled with fear -and rage and the madness of catastrophe. The remnants of Penda's army -had abandoned the town and were fleeing northward before the advancing -southern rebels. They would be harried by Torric's guerrillas, who -in turn were the fragments of a force smashed by Earl Morgaar after -Penda was slain by Kortan's assassins. Morgaar himself was dead and -his rebels broken by Nartheof--the earl's own band had been riddled -by corruption and greed and had fallen apart before the royalists' -counterblow. - -But Nartheof was dead too, at the hands of Nornagast's vengeful -relatives. His own seizure of supreme power and attempt at -reorganization had created little but confusion, which grew worse when -he was gone. Now the royalists were a beaten force somewhere out in -space, savagely attacked by their erstwhile allies, driven off the -revolting conquered planets, and swept away before the remorselessly -advancing Terrestrial fleet. - -The Scothanian empire had fallen into a hundred shards, snapping -at each other and trying desperately to retrieve their own with no -thought for the whole. Lost in an incomprehensibly complex network of -intrigue and betrayal, the great leaders fell, or pulled out of the -mess and made hasty peace with Terra. War and anarchy flamed between -the stars--but limited war, a petty struggle really. The resources and -organization for real war and its attendant destruction just weren't -there any more. - -A few guards still held the almost-deserted palace, waiting for the -Terrestrials to come and end the strife. There was nothing they could -do but wait. - -Captain Flandry stood at a window and looked over the city. He felt no -great elation. Nor was he safe yet. Cerdic was loose somewhere on the -planet, and Cerdic had undoubtedly guessed who was responsible. - -Gunli came to the human. She was very pale. She hadn't expected Penda's -death and it had hurt her. But there was nothing to do now but go -through with the business. - -"Who would have thought it?" she whispered. "Who would have dreamed -we would ever come to this? That mighty Scotha would lie at the -conqueror's feet?" - -"I would," said Flandry tonelessly. "Such jerry-built empires as yours -never last. Barbarians just don't have the talent and the knowledge to -run them. Being only out for plunder, they don't really build. - -"Of course, Scotha was especially susceptible to this kind of sabotage. -Your much-vaunted honesty was your own undoing. By carefully avoiding -any hint of dishonorable actions, you became completely ignorant of -the techniques and the preventive measures. Your honor was never more -than a latent ability for dishonor. All I had to do, essentially, was -to point out to your key men the rewards of betrayal. If they'd been -really honest, I'd have died at the first suggestion. Instead--they -grabbed at the chance. So it was easy to set them against each other -until no one knew whom he could trust--" He smiled humorlessly. "Not -many Scothani objected to bribery or murder or treachery when it was -shown to be to their advantage. I assure you, most Terrestrials would -have thought further, been able to see beyond their own noses and -realized the ultimate disaster it would bring." - -"Still--honor is honor, and I have lost mine and so have all my -people." Gunli looked at him with a strange light in her eyes. -"Dominic, disgrace can only be wiped out in blood." - -He felt a sudden tightening of his nerves and muscles, an awareness of -something deadly rising before him. "What do you mean?" - -She had lifted the blaster from his holster and skipped out of reach -before he could move. "No--stay there!" Her voice was shrill. "Dominic, -you are a cunning man. But are you a brave one?" - - * * * * * - -He stood still before the menace of the weapon. "I think--" He groped -for words. No, she wasn't crazy. But she wasn't really human, and she -had the barbarian's fanatical code in her as well. Easy, easy--or death -would spit at him--"I think I took a few chances, Gunli." - -"Aye. But you never fought. You haven't stood up man to man and battled -as a warrior should." Pain racked her thin lovely face. She was -breathing hard now. "It's for you as well as him, Dominic. He has to -have his chance to avenge his father--himself--fallen Scotha--and you -have to have a chance too. If you can win, then you are the stronger -and have the right--" - -Might makes right. It was, after all, the one unbreakable law of -Scotha. The old trial by combat, here on a foreign planet many -light-years from green Terra-- - -Cerdic came in. He had a sword in either hand, and there was a savage -glee in his bloodshot eyes. - -"I let him in, Dominic," said Gunli. She was crying now. "I had to. -Penda was my lord--but kill him, kill him!" - -With a convulsive movement, she threw the blaster out of the window. -Cerdic gave her an inquiring look. Her voice was almost inaudible: "I -might not be able to stand it. I might shoot you, Cerdic." - -"Thanks!" He ripped the word out, savagely. "I'll deal with you -later, traitress. Meanwhile--" A terrible laughter bubbled in his -throat--"I'll carve your--friend--into many small pieces. Because who, -among the so-civilized Terrestrials, can handle a sword?" - -Gunli seemed to collapse. "O gods, O almighty gods--I didn't think of -that--" - -Suddenly she flung herself on Cerdic, tooth and nail and horns, -snatching at his dagger. "Get him, Dominic!" she screamed. "_Get him!_" - -The prince swept one brawny arm out. There was a dull smack and Gunli -fell heavily to the floor. - -"Now," grinned Cerdic, "choose your weapon!" - -Flandry came forward and took one of the slender broadswords. Oddly, he -was thinking mostly about the queen, huddled there on the floor. Poor -kid, poor kid, she'd been under a greater strain than flesh and nerves -were meant to bear. But give her a chance and she'd be all right. - -Cerdic's eyes were almost dreamy now. He smiled as he crossed blades. -"This will make up for a lot," he said. "Before you die, Terrestrial, -you will no longer be a man--" - -Steel rang in the great hall. Flandry parried the murderous slash and -raked the prince's cheek. Cerdic roared and plunged at him, his blade -weaving a net of death before him. Flandry skipped back, sword ringing -on sword, shoulders against the wall. - -They stood for an instant, straining blade against blade, sweat -rivering off them, and bit by bit the Scothan's greater strength bent -Flandry's arm aside. Suddenly the Terrestrial let go, striking out -almost in the same moment, and the prince's steel hissed by his face. - -He ran back and Cerdic rushed him again. The Scothan was wide open for -the simplest stop thrust, but Flandry didn't want to kill him. They -closed once more, blades clashing, and the human waited for his chance. - -It came, an awkward move, and then one supremely skillful -twist--Cerdic's sword went spinning out of his hand and across the room -and the prince stood disarmed with Flandry's point at his throat. - -For a moment he gaped in utter stupefaction. Flandry laughed harshly -and said: "My dear friend, you forget that deliberate archaism is one -characteristic of a decadent society. There's hardly a noble in the -Empire who hasn't studied _scientific_ fencing." - -Defeat was heavy in the prince's defiant voice: "Kill me, then. Be done -with it." - -"There's been too much killing, and you can be too useful." Flandry -threw his own weapon aside and cocked his fists. "But there's one thing -I've wanted to do for a long, long time." - -Despite the Scothan's powerful but clumsy defense, Flandry proceeded to -beat the living hell out of him. - -[Illustration: _"There's one thing I've wanted to do for a long, long -time," said Flandry ... and did it...._] - - * * * * * - -"We've saved scotha, all Scotha," said Flandry. "Think, girl. What -would have happened if you'd gone on into the Empire? Even if you'd -won--and that was always doubtful, for Terra is mightier than you -thought--you'd only have fallen into civil war. You just didn't have -the capacity to run an empire--as witness the fact that your own -allies and conquests turned on you the first chance they got. You'd -have fought each other over the spoils, greater powers would have moved -in, Scotha would have been ripe for sacking--eventually you'd have gone -down into Galactic oblivion. The present conflict was really quite -small--it took far fewer lives than even a successful invasion of the -Empire would have done. And now Terra will bring the peace you longed -for, Gunli." - -"Aye," she whispered. "Aye, we deserve to be conquered." - -"But you aren't," he said. "The southerners hold Scotha now, and Terra -will recognize them as the legal government--with you the queen, Gunli. -You'll be another vassal state of the Empire, yes, but with all your -freedoms except the liberty to rob and kill other races. And trade -with the rest of the Empire will bring you a greater and more enduring -prosperity than war ever would. - -"I suppose that the Empire is decadent. But there's no reason why it -can't someday have a renaissance. When the vigorous new peoples such as -yours are guided by the ancient wisdom of Terra, the Galaxy may see its -greatest glory." - -She smiled at him. It was still a wan smile, but something of her old -spirit was returning to her. "I don't think the Empire is so far gone, -Dominic," she said. "Not when it has men like you." She took his hands. -"And what will you be doing now?" - -He met her eyes, and there was a sudden loneliness within him. She--was -very beautiful-- - -But it could never work out. Best to leave now, before a bright memory -grew tarnished with the day-to-day clashing of personalities utterly -foreign to each other. She would forget him in time, find someone else, -and he--well--"I have my work," he said. - -They looked up to the bright sky. Far above them, the first of the -descending Imperial ships glittered in the sunlight like a falling star. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tiger By the Tail, by Poul Anderson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIGER BY THE TAIL *** - -***** This file should be named 63944.txt or 63944.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/9/4/63944/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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