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Valiants. Three new Institutes were established in the misty hills, and high
upon the most remote crag of all Pao, Palafox built a somber castle.
The Interpreter Corps was now largely derived from the Cogitants; in fact, the
Interpreters might be said to be the operative function of the
Cogitants. Like the other groups, the Interpreters had expanded both in
numbers and importance. In spite of the separation of the three neolinguistic
groups, from each other and from the Paonese population, there was a great
deal of interchange. When an Interpreter was not at hand, the business might
be transacted in Pastiche--which by virtue of its relative universality, was
understood by a large number of persons. But when communication of any
precision was necessary, an Interpreter was called for.
So the years passed, fulfilling all the changes conceived by Palafox,
initiated by Bustamonte, and reluctantly supported by Beran. The fourteenth
year of Beran's reign saw the high-tide of prosperity and well-
being.
Beran had long disapproved of the Breakness concubinage system, which had
taken unobtrusive but firm root at the various Cogitant Institutes.
Originally there had been no lack of girls to indenture themselves for
eventual financial advantage, and all the sons and grandsons of Palafox--
not to speak of Palafox himself--maintained large dormitories in the
neighborhood of Pon. But when prosperity came to Pao, the number of young
women available for indenture declined, and presently peculiar rumors began to
circulate. There was talk of drugs, hypnotism, black magic.
Beran ordered an investigation of the methods by which the Cogitants
unpleasant situation has arisen, concerning which you will wish to take
steps."
Beran nodded slowly. "What is this 'unpleasant situation'?"
"My privacy has been invaded. A clumsy gang of spies dogs my footsteps, annoys
the women in my dormitory with impertinent surveillance. I beg that you
discover who has ordered this persecution and punish the guilty party:"
Beran rose to his feet. "Lord Palafox, as you must know, I personally ordered
the investigation."
"Indeed? You; astonish me, Panarch Beran! What could you hope to learn?"
"I expected to learn nothing. I hoped you would interpret the act as a
warning, and make such changes in your conduct as the fact of the
investigation would suggest. Instead you have chosen to contend the issue,
which may make for difficulty."
"I am a Breakness Dominie. I act directly, not through devious hints."
Palafox's voice was like iron, but the statement had not advanced his attack.
Beran, a student of polemics, sought to maintain his advantage. "You have been
a valuable ally, Lord Palafox. In recompense, you have received what amounts
to control over the continent of Nonamand. But this control is conditional
upon the legality of your acts. The indenture of willing females, while
socially offensive, is not a crime. However, when these females are
unwilling..."
"What basis do you have for these remarks?"
"Popular rumor."
Palafox smiled thinly. "And if by chance you could verify these rumors, what
then?"
Beran forced himself to stare into the obsidian gaze. "Your question has no
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application. It refers to a situation already of the past."
"Your meaning is obscure."
trust neither of us will have cause for complaint. He took his departure.
Beran drew a deep breath, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes. He had
won a victory--to a certain degree. He had asserted the authority of the state
and had wrung tacit acknowledgement of this authority from Palafox.
Beran was clever enough not to gloat. He knew that Palafox, utterly secure in
his solipsism, probably felt nothing of the emotional umbra surrounding the
occurrence, considered the defeat no more than a momentary irritation. Indeed,
there were two highly significant points to consider: first, something in
Palafox's manner which suggested that, in spite of his anger, he had been
prepared to accept at least temporary compromise. 'Temporary' was the key
word. Palafox was a man biding his time. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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