A. E. Van Vogt - The Barbarian

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A.E. Van Vogt

THE BARBARIAN

In his initial address to the Patronate, following his return from

Venus, Tews said among other things, "It is difficult for us to realze,

but Linn is now without formidable enemies anywhere. Our opponents on Mars

and Venus having been decisively defeated by our forces in the past two

decades, we are now in a unique historical position: the sole great power

in the world of man. A period of unlimted peace and creative

reconstruction seems inevitable."

He retrned to the palace with the cheers of the Patronate ringing in

his ears, his mood one of thoughtful jubilation. His spies had already

reported that the patrons gave him a great deal of the credit for the

victory on Venus. After all, the war had dragged on for a long time before

his arrival. And then, abruptly, almost overnight, it had ended. The

conclusion was that his brilliant leadership had made a decisive

contribution. It required no astuteness for Tews to realize that, under

such circumstances, he could generously bestow a triumph on Jerrin, and

lose nothing by the other's honors.

Despite his own words to the Patronate, he found himself, as the

peaceful weeks went by, progressively amazed at the reality of what he had

said: no enemies. Nothing to fear. Even yet, it seemed hard to believe

that the universe belonged to Linn; and that, as the Lord Adviser, he was

now in his own sphere in a position of power over more subjects than any

man had ever been. So it seemed to the dazzled Tews.

He would be a devoted leader, of course - he reassured himself

hastily, disowning the momentary pride. He visualized great works that

would reflect the glory of Linn and the golden age of Tews. The vision was

so noble and inspiring that for long he merely toyed with hazy,

magnificent plans and took no concrete action of any kind.

He was informed presently that Clane had returned from Venus. Shortly

thereafter he received a message from the mutation.

His Excellency,

Lord Adviser Tews

My most honored uncle: I should like to visit you and describe to you

the result of several conversations between my brother Jerrin and myself

concerning potential dangers for the empire. They do not seem severe, but

we are both concerned about the preponderance of slaves as aganst citizens

on Earth, and we are unhappy about our lack of knowledge of the present

situation among the peoples of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

Since these are the only dangers in sight, the sooner we examine

every aspect of the problem the more certain we can be that the destiny of

Linn will be under the control of intelligent action and not governed in

future by the necessary opportunism that has been for so many generations

the main element of government.

Your obedient nephew,

Clane

The letter irritated Tews. It seemed meddlesome, It reminded him that

his control of Linn and of the glorious future he envisaged for the empire

was not complete, that in fact these nephews might urge compromises that

would dim the beauty that only he, apparently, could see. Nevertheless,

his reply was diplomatic:

My dear Clane: It was a pleasure to hear from you, and as soon as I

return from the mountans, I shall be happy to receive you and discuss all

these matters in the most thoroughgoing fashion. I have instructed various

departments to gather data so that when we do get together, we can talk on

the basis of facts. Tews, Lord Adviser

He actually issued the instructions and actually listened to a brief

account from an official who was an "expert" concerning conditions on the

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moons of Jupiter and Saturn. They were all inhabited by tribes in various

stages of barbaric culture. Recent reports gleaned from questioning of

primitives who came from there and from the Linnan traders who visited

certain ports of entry indicated that the old game of intrigue and murder

ainong tribal chieftains seeking ascendancy was still going on.

Relieved in spite of his previous conviction that the situation was

exactly as it was now described, Tews departed on his mountain vacation

with a retinue of three hundred courtiers and five hundred slaves. He was

still there a month later when a second message arrived from Clane.

Most gracious Lord Adviser Tews: Your response to my message was a

great relief to me. I wonder if I could further impose upon your good

offices and have your department heads determine how many are still here

and where they are presently concentrated. The reason for this inquiry is

that I have discovered that several of my agents on Europa, the great moon

of Jupiter, were suddenly executed about a year ago and that actually my

own information from that territory is based upon reports, all of which

are not less than two years old, and those are extremely vague. It seems

that about five years ago a new leader began to unify Europa; and my

agents' reports - when I now examine the data they furnished - grew less

clear with each month after that. I suspect that I have been victimized by

carefully prepared propaganda. If this be so, the fact that somebody was

astute enough to seize my channels of information worries me.

These are only suspicions, of course but it would seem advisable to

have your people make inquiries with the possibility in mind that our

present information sources are unreliable.

Your faithful servant, and nephew,

Clane

The reference to the mutation's "agents" reminded Tews unpleasantly

that he lived in a world of spies. I suppose, he thought wearily,

propaganda is even now being circulated against me because I am on a

vacation. People cannot possibly realize what great plans my engineers and

I are making for the State on this so-called pleasure trip.

He wondered if, by releasing a series of public statements about the

grandiose future, he might successfully head off criticism.

That irritation lasted for a day, and then he read Clane's letter

again and decided that an unruffled and diplomatic approach was desirable.

He must ever be in a position to say that he invariably took the most

thorough precaution against any eventuality.

He gave the necessary instructions, advised Clone that he had done so

- and then began to consider seriously the situation that would exist when

Jerrin returued from Venus six or eight months hence to receive his

triumph. It no longer seemed quite the satisfactory prospect that it had

been when he himself had first returned from Venus. These nephews of his

tended to interfere in State affairs, and indeed both had the legal right

to be advisers of the government. Each, according to law, had a Council

vote in Linnan affairs, although neither could directly interfere with

administration.

I suppose, Tews grudgingly acknowledged to himself, Clane is within

his rights; but what was it mother once said: "It is an unwise man who

always exercises his rights." He laughed, grimacing.

That night, just before he went to sleep, Tews had a flash of

insight: I'in slipping back into suspicion - the same fears that disturbed

me when I was on Venus. I'in being influenced by this damnable palace

atmosphere.

He felt personally incapable of base thoughts, and accepted their

presence in others - he told himself - with the greatest reluctance, and

then only because of the possible effect on the State.

His sense of duty - that was the real pressure on him, he felt

convinced. It compelled him to be aware of, and actually to look for,

scheming and plotting, even though he was revolted by any indications of

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intrigue.

The realization of his own fundamental integrity reassured Tews.

After all, he thought, I may occasonally be misled, but I cannot be wrong

if I remain constantly on the alert for danger from all sources. And even

a mutation with scientific knowledge and weapons is a matter about which

I, as guardian of the State, must take cognizance.

He had already given considerable thought to the weapons he had seen

Clane use on Venus. And during the days that followed he came to the

conclusion that he must take action. He kept saying to himself how

reluctant he was to do so, but finally he advised Clane:

My dear nephew:

Although you have evidently not felt free to ask for the protection

to which your rank and the value of your work entitles you, I am sure you

will be happy to hear that the State is prepared to undertake protection

of the material that you have rescued from the pits of the gods and from

other ancient sources.

The safest place for all this material is at your residence in Linn.

Accordingly, I am authorizing funds to transport to the city any such

equipment that you have at your country estate. A guards unit will arrive

at the estate within the week with adequate transport, and another guards

unit is this day taking up guard duty at your town residence.

The captain of the guard, while of course responsible to me, will

naturally grant you every facility for carrying on your work.

It is with pleasure, my dear Clane, that I extend to you this costly

but earned protection.

At some time not too far in the future I should like to have the

privilege of a personally conducted tour so that I may see for myself what

treasures you have in your collection, with a view to finding further uses

for them for the general welfare.

With cordial best wishes

Tews, Lord Adviser

At least, thought Tews, after he had dispatched the message and given

the necessary orders to the military forces, that will for the present get

the material all in one place. Later, a further more stringent control is

always possible - not that it will ever be necessary, of course.

The wise leader simply planned for any contingency. Even the actions

of his most dearly beloved relatives must be examined objectively.

He learned presently that Clane had offered no resistance and that

the material had been transported to Linn without incident.

He was still at the mountain palace of the Linns when a third letter

arrived from Clane. Though briefly stated, it was a major social document.

The preamble read:

To our uncle, the Lord Adviser:

It being the considered opinion of Lords Jertin and Clane Linn that a

dangerous preponderance of slaves exists in Linn and that indeed the

condition of slavery is wholly undesirable in a healthy State, it is

herewith proposed that Lord Adviser Tews during his government lay down as

a guiding rule for future generations the following principles:

1. All law-abiding human beings are entitled to the free control of

their own persons.

2. Where free control does not now obtain, it shall be delivered to

the individual on a rising scale, the first two steps of which shall

become effective immediately.

3. The first step shall be that no slave shall in future be

physically punished except by the order of a court.

4. The second step shall be that the slave's work day shall not in

future exceed ten hours.

The other steps outlined a method of gradually freeing the slaves

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