It was at that point that Savage was shocked to find that the anger
seething inside him was not that of Terran toward Trygonian, but of one
Trygonian toward another, or one Terran toward another. He found too
that, in spite of the uncertainty he felt about Loong, he was actually
beginning to like him. He wondered then if Doctor Phillip's tests were
accurate.
"That's better," Loong smiled when Savage sat down. "Here, have a drink
and I'll tell you what I think the shooting is about."
Savage took the proffered glass and waited expectantly.
"As you know," Loong began, "Kalnor was Emperor until Hlar, then
High Commissioner, staged a coup d'etat. Kalnor and his family were
murdered and Hlar proclaimed himself Emperor. Czako, our present High
Commissioner, was Captain of the household Guard and was elevated to
his present lofty position as a reward for his part in the conspiracy.
"During the years you have been in space our esteemed High Commissioner
has secretly been laying the groundwork for a coup of his own. The
situation is really quite simple; the Emperor wants to remain Emperor,
while Czako wants to become Emperor. Fortunately, at the moment neither
seems powerful enough to dispose of the other.
"Now consider the situation as it applies to you. A formerly unknown
and unnoticed Fleet captain has suddenly been decorated and promoted on
the orders of Hlar himself, and this after records concerning him were
altered. He has been invited to the private chambers of the Empress,
where few men are invited. The High Commissioner fears the Emperor and
Hlar is jealous of his wife. So...."
Loong spread his hands expressively to finish the sentence, but Savage
needed no more.
"That's clear enough," he said, "but how do you fit in?"
"I am the faithful servant of the Emperor and his representative, the
High Commissioner."
"You said that before," Savage said.
Loong just spread his hands again. Then he asked abruptly:
"What do you think of our planetary policies?"
The question took Savage aback. "What do you mean?" he stalled.
"I mean our policy of immediate conquest and subjugation of any
inhabited planet we discover," Loong replied.
"That depends," said Savage carefully. He drank slowly, watching Loong
over the edge of the glass.
"On what I think?" smiled Loong. "I know what I think. I want your
opinion."
Savage decided to take a chance. "I believe a friendly, diplomatic
approach would be a far better method," he said. "For example, in the
case of Terra...."
"Exactly," Loong interrupted heatedly. "Nothing permanent is gained by
force. A conquered people will not remain so forever."
Savage's glass suddenly slipped from his hand. As though from a great
distance he watched the liquid splash on the rug and then the room
seemed to be receding in the distance. He tried to rise, urgently
aware of his dangers, but instead he felt himself collapse. Then all
sensation ceased.
He had no idea how much later it was when he awakened in his own
bedroom. Other than a slight headache he felt no effects of the drug.
He saw that the Trygonian day had come again, but that meant nothing;
he could have been unconscious for several days. Then he rolled over
and found that Loong was sitting beside the bed.
"I'm sorry I had to do that," Loong said calmly, "but I had to be sure."
"Sure of what?" Savage said, checking an impulse to say more violent
things.
"Your sympathies."
"And?"
Loong reached inside his tunic and brought out a needle gun. "Your
scientists did an excellent piece of work."
"What do you mean?" Savage asked, and at the same time knew there was
no escape.
"I mean that you are a Terran. You betrayed yourself under hypnosis."
Savage knew the bitter feeling of utter defeat. He had accomplished
nothing and now this was the end. But Loong wasn't wearing the look of
triumph that was to have been expected. Instead he was smiling and he
put the gun away as he said:
"I should hate to see you executed. I wasn't just talking last night
when I disagreed with our policies. I think a friendly and mutually
beneficial relationship can and should be established between our
planets."
"That's fine," said Savage, "but what can you do about it?"
"That remains to be seen," answered Loong. "I propose that we join
forces. The fact that you have been able to come this far makes you a
worthy ally. And without me you can do nothing. Is it agreed?"
"Yes," said Savage.
"Excellent. I have several matters to attend to, but I will return at
six. As a recently returned space officer it will be expected that you
enter social life to a certain extent and I think it best that you
begin tonight."
* * * * *
After Loong had gone Savage cursed himself for a fool, yet he thanked
the gods that he was still alive. Something could still be made of
this. A vague, uncrystallized thought was gnawing at his mind. He
jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. He was not surprised to find
that Loong had left him the needle gun. Without bothering with food he
went to the State Library.
His rank carried him into the innermost recesses of the great library,
to the guarded tape banks where the most accurate information was to be
found. After a quick search of the index he selected two tapes and then
took one of the many unoccupied reading booths.
He slipped the first tape, an ancient history of Trygon II to fill the
blanks in Choon's education, into the projector, and all thought of
time left him as he slumped down in the soft chair before the screen.
It wasn't long before he realized that a rough parallel could be drawn
between the early histories of Trygon and Terra.
There had been wars and famines and great empires, but Trygon had
progressed more rapidly, without the great recessions Terra had known.
Three-quarters of a century before the beginning of Atomics on Terra,
Trygonian scientists had already harnessed solar energy. At that point
the parallel ended.
It was already late when he turned to the history of the Kalnor family.
He found that they had ruled for almost a century--first Czur, then
Trygon II and finally the System and the Empire. There had been periods
when usurpers had gained control, but always the Kalnors had returned,
until finally Klar, determined to put an end to the family, had
destroyed them. The tape hinted vaguely that there had been a survivor
and then immediately discredited the thought.
Then the tape came to an end and Savage put them both away. Things were
somewhat cleared now.
Loong, in a full dress uniform hung heavily with decorations, was again
waiting when Savage returned to the hotel.
"What were you doing at the State Library?" Loong asked after they had
exchanged guardedly friendly salutations.
"Doing a little checking," Savage said calmly. "I have a theory that
I'm working on. By the way, I haven't eaten all day. Will you order
something for me while I change?"
"I have already done so. You'll find a fresh full dress in the bedroom.
You can tell me about your theory when you're finished."
Savage went to the bedroom and found beside the fresh uniform a belted
holster containing a larger version of the needle gun he still wore.
As he hefted it the reason for his presence on Trygon II came to him
again, and he thought about Loong.
By training and instinct he should have hated him and all Trygonians
for what they had done to his people, but he found it a hard struggle
to achieve that feeling. He liked and somehow trusted Loong and at
the same time he still wanted freedom for Terra. Still pondering the
problem he dressed quickly, not neglecting to buckle on the gun, and
returned to the living room.
A food laden table awaited him. Loong poured drinks as he entered and
gave him one.
"What is your theory?" Loong asked.
"It's not definite yet. I'll tell you when it is."
"Very well," replied Loong. "I want to apologize again for last night."
"I'd have done the same thing," Savage said.
They ate quickly and in silence. When they were through, Loong declared:
"You're in for a treat tonight. I have reservations at the Club Galaxy."
"Oh?" said Savage with polite interest. He had seen or heard the name
somewhere, but it meant nothing to him.
"We'll have to hurry or we'll miss the first show," Loong said, and
pushed back his chair. "I have a car waiting outside."
"Armored?" Savage asked.
"Completely."
* * * * *
The existence of the Club Galaxy was discreetly proclaimed by a small,
lighted sign and inside the theme of smallness was continued. Packed
into its narrow confines was the highest strata of Trygonian society,
uniforms predominating. They were guided to a microscopic ringside
table just as the already dim lights dimmed still further.
From somewhere came soft, gentle music and a spotlight went on to
reveal a male trio. They sang a song, barely heard over the buzz of
conversation, and then bowed themselves out to the accompaniment of a
light spattering of applause. Then the lights faded out completely and
the spotlight cut off. All conversation ceased and an air of expectancy
filled the room.
With an unexpectedness that made Savage catch his breath, the music
crashed out in a wild, driving rhythm. The spotlight cut suddenly
through the dark and caught a whirling figure in the center of the
floor. The audience gave a gasp of appreciation in which Savage shared.
The dancer spun on her toes, a tall, long-legged girl in the briefest
of costumes, her long hair flashing in a golden circle. She broke the
spin abruptly and danced with flashing feet and writhing body to the
wild rhythms. She moved with the precision of a fine machine, yet with
the graceful beauty of a wild cat.
She gave a magnificent performance and when the spotlight suddenly cut
out, her audience shouted its approval. But when the lights went on
again she had disappeared and, in spite of the ovation, she did not
return to the floor.
"She never takes a bow," Loong explained, "but you will meet her
shortly."
A waiter suddenly loomed large over them and Loong spoke to him briefly
and he went away again. They made small talk and presently the waiter
returned, bearing three glasses and a decanter of purple liquor. Savage
questioned the third glass with the raise of an eyebrow.
"Larhana is to join us," Loong explained. "It is a great honor to be
favored with her presence at one's table."
Almost as if summoned by Loong's words she appeared on the opposite
side of the floor. She crossed it with the same easy grace she had
shown in her dance, her hair flowing gently down over her bare
shoulders as she moved. Although she had typically Trygonian features,
Savage thought her the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He
wondered if it was Choon's influence again.
They stood to receive her and Savage found that she was as tall as he.
"May I present Commodore Jarlon Choon," Loong said and Savage bowed.
"Delighted, Commodore. I have heard a great deal about you." Her green
eyes sparkled at him mischievously.
"I am honored ..." Savage began, but a harsh voice behind him
interrupted:
"Choon, the Empress' lover, is trying to make another conquest."
Savage spun around, his fists clenched, but Loong grabbed his arm.
"Careful," he whispered urgently, "that's Satish, the High
Commissioner's right hand man."
Savage shrugged him off and, remembering the formula, said:
"You have affronted my honor, sir. Who is your friend?"
Attention had been drawn to them at the arrival of Larhana, but this
exchange brought all eyes on them. Satish stood up, towering over
Savage, and said thickly:
"Captain Droga will act for me."
"Let it pass," interjected Loong. "He is drunk."
"Not too drunk to teach this whelp to respect his superiors," Satish
bellowed. "Captain Droga, make the arrangements."
His distaste for the affair evident, Loong reluctantly conferred with
Captain Droga, while the two principals stood aloofly silent. In the
end it was decided that the duel was to take place immediately on the
grounds of the Palace of the Stars. The choice of weapons was Savage's
and he decided on needle guns.
Satish and his two companions stamped out and Savage turned to Larhana,
who had stood silently by.
"I deeply apologize for causing you this embarrassment," he said.
She looked at him soberly for a moment. Then she smiled and gave him
her hand.
"Until we meet again," she said.
"Thank you," he said and turned away, reluctant to leave her. A lane
opened through the hostile faces surrounding them. They walked out
quickly and found their car waiting.
"Now you've done it," Loong said as they entered the car. "Satish is
deadly with the needle gun. If you lose, the High Commissioner will
have my head for being your second."
"And if I should win?" Savage asked.
"I don't know. We may be able to salvage something if I can get to
the Commissioner first. But we're not ready yet. The 'Agreet' is just
beginning her trials in the morning, and I've had word that you are to
be her captain. We must have her if we are to do anything at all."
"And as her captain, you must have me," Savage said.
"Not exactly, but it would be a help."
"We'll have to see what happens," Savage said and relaxed against the
cushions.