CHAPTER V
Any collocation of persons, no matter how numerous, how scant, how even their homogeneity, how firmly they profess common doctrine, will presently reveal themselves to consist of smaller groups espousing variant versions of the common creed; and these sub-groups will manifest sub-sub-groups, and so to the final limit of the single individual, and even in this single person conflicting tendencies will express themselves.
-Adam Ostwald: Human Society.
THE PAONESE, in spite of their fifteen billion, comprised as undifferentiated a group as could be found in the human universe. Nevertheless, to the Paonese the traits in common were taken for granted and only the distinctions, minuscule though they were, attracted attention.
In this fashion the people of Minamand--and especially those in the capitol city of Eiljanre--were held to be urbane and frivolous. Hivand, flattest and most featureless of the continents, exemplified bucolic naiveté. The people of Nonamand, the bleak continent to the South, bore the reputation of dour thrift and fortitude; while the inhabitants of Vidamand, who grew grapes and fruits, and bottled almost all the wine of Pao, were considered large-hearted and expansive.
For many years, Bustamonte had maintained a staff of secret informants, Stationed through the eight continents. Early in the morning, walking the airy gallery of the Pergolai lodge, he was beset by worry. Events were not proceeding at their optimum. Only three of the eight continents seemed to be accepting him as de facto Panarch. These were Vidamand, Minamand and Dronomand. From Aimand, Shraimand, Nonaman, Hivand and Impland, his agents reported a growing tide of recalcitrance.
There was no suggestion of active rebellion, no parades or public meetings. Paonese dissatisfaction expressed itself in surliness, a work-slowdown throughout the public services, dwindling cooperation with civil service. It was a situation which in the past had led to a breakdown of the economy and a change of dynasty.
Bustamonte cracked his knuckles nervously as he considered his position. At the moment he was committed to a course of action. The Medallion must die, and likewise the Breakness Wizard.
Daylight had come; now they could properly be executed.
He descended to the main floor, signaled to one of the Mamarone. "Summon Captain Mornune."
Several minutes passed. The neutraloid returned.
"Where is Mornune?" demanded Bustamonte.
"Captain Mornune and two of the platoon have departed Pergolai."
Bustamonte wheeled around, dumbfounded. "Departed Pergolai?"
"This is my information."
Bustamonte glared at the guard, then looked toward the tower. "Come along!" He charged for the lift; the two were whisked high. Bustamonte marched down the corridor, to the confinement chamber. He peered through the spy-hole, looked all around the room. Then he furiously slid aside the door, crossed to the open window.
"It is all clear now," he ranted. "Beran is gone. The Dominie is gone. Both are fled to Eiljanre. There will be trouble."
He went to the window, stood looking out into the distance. Finally he turned. "Your name is Andrade?"
"Hessenden Andrade."
"You are now Captain Andrade, in the place of Mornune."
"Very well."
"We return to Eiljanre. Make the necessary arrangements."
Bustamonte descended to the terrace, seated himself with a glass of brandy. Palafox clearly intended Beran to become Panarch. The Paonese loved a young Panarch and demanded the smooth progression of the dynasty; anything else disturbed their need for timeless continuity. Beran need only appear at Eiljanre, to be led triumphantly to the Great Palace, and arrayed in Utter Black.
Bustamonte took a great gulp of brandy. Well then, he had failed. Aiello was dead. Bustamonte could never demonstrate that Beran's hand had placed the fatal sting. Indeed, had not three Mercantil traders been executed for the very crime?
What to do? Actually, he could only proceed to Eiljanre and hope to establish himself as Ayudor-Senior, regent for Beran. Unless guided too firmly by Palafox, Beran would probably overlook his imprisonment; and if Palafox were intransigent, there were ways of dealing with him.
Bustamonte rose to his feet. Back to Eiljanre, there to eat humble-pie; he had spent many years playing sycophant to Aiello, and the experience would stand him in good stead.
In the hours and days that followed, Bustamonte encountered three surprises of increasing magnitude.
The first was the discovery that neither Palafox nor Beran had arrived at Eiljanre, nor did they appear elsewhere on Pao. Bustamonte, at first cautious and tentative, began to breathe easier. Had the pair met with some unforeseen disaster? Had Palafox kidnapped the Medallion for reasons of his own?
The doubt was unsettling. Until he was assured of Beran's death he could not properly enjoy the perquisites of the Panarch's office. Likewise, the doubt had infected the vast Paonese masses. Daily their recalcitrance increased; Bustamonte's informers reported that everywhere he was known as Bustamonte Bereglo. "Bereglo" was a word typically Paonese, applied to an unskillful slaughter-house worker, or a creature which worries and gnaws its victim.
Bustamonte seethed inwardly, but comforted himself with outward rectitude, hoping either that the population would accept him as Panarch or that Beran would appear to give the lie to rumors, and submit to a more definite assassination.
Then came the second unsettling shock.
The Mercantil Ambassador delivered Bustamonte a statement which first excoriated the Paonese government for the summary execution of the three trade attaches, broke off all trade relations until indemnification was paid, and set forth the required indemnification--a sum which seemed ridiculously large to a Paonese ruler, who every day in the course of his duties might ordain death for a hundred thousand persons.
Bustamonte had been hoping to negotiate a new armament contract. As he had advised Aiello, he offered a premium for sole rights to the most advanced weapons. The note from the Mercantil Ambassador destroyed all hope of a new agreement.
The third shock was the most devastating of all, and indeed reduced the first two to the proportion of incidents.
The Brumbo Clan of Batmarsh, elevated to primacy over a score of restless competitors, needed a glory-earning coup to cement its position. Eban Buzbek, Hetman of the Brumbos, therefore gathered a hundred ships, loaded them with warriors and set forth against the great world of Pao.
Perhaps he had only intended a foray: a landing, a vast orgiastic assault, a quick garnering of booty, and departure--but passing the outer ring of monitors he met only token resistance, and landing on Vidamand, the most disaffected continent, none at all. This was success of the wildest description!
Eban Buzbek took his ten thousand men to Donaspara, first city of Shraimand; and there was no one to dispute him. Six days after he landed on Pao he entered Eiljanre. The populace watched him and his glory-flushed army with sullen eyes; none made any resistance, even when their property was taken and their women violated. Warfare--even hit-and-run guerilla tactics--was not in the Paonese character.
CHAPTER VI
BERAN, MEDALLION and son of Panarch Aiello, had lived his life under the most uneventful circumstances. With his diet carefully prescribed and scheduled, he never had known hunger and so had never enjoyed food. His play was supervised by a corps of trained gymnasts and was considered "exercise"; consequently he had no inclination for games. His person was tended and groomed; every obstacle and danger was whisked from his path; he had never faced a challenge, and had never known triumph.