Barrington Bayley SF Gateway Omnibus: The Soul of the Robot, The Knights of the Limits, The Fall of Chronopolis

At home events were proceeding in an alarming direction. The politics of the court had become corrosive and corrupt – the newspapers did not state this in so many words, naturally, but with his special knowledge Jasperodus was able to guess at it. Meanwhile social unrest grew. The slums had spread, sprawling beyond Subuh to encompass a good part of the city. For the moment everything was quiet, but Jasperodus could see that if a leader should arise there was a powder-keg waiting to be lit, unsuspected, perhaps, by the self-interested politicians surrounding Charrane.

Most disturbing was the military situation. The major divisions of the imperial armies were in the north, close to the borders of the revived and stronger Borgor Alliance. They were guarding a structure that was increasingly rotten and unable to back them up, that was overburdened with the costly outspace territories, and more than likely they were already outclassed by the enemy they faced. It angered Jasperodus to see so much of his work to make the Empire safe thrown away by the ineptness of others.

I could have averted all this, he thought. But as it’s here, Charrane, let’s see if I can use it against you …

He remembered those far-off days in Okrum. He recalled how easy it was to be a king. How much easier it would be then, here among the rabble and the robots

He fell to reflecting, considering this strategy and that.

At length he stirred. ‘We will have a debate after all,’ he boomed. ‘The subject of our debate will be – Freedom.’

He gazed around at them. ‘Let me be the first to speak …’

‘I can’t say I care for it, Jasperodus. I don’t like it at all.’

Cree Inwing stared grumpily out of the window of his room in a building near the enclave, where Jasperodus had installed him.

Jasperodus laughed lightly. ‘You are not alone. Those robots were not easy to persuade either. But once set on a new course they are totally committed to it. That is the nature of the machine.’

‘Well, I am not a machine,’ Cree snapped irritably. ‘And I am not set on new courses without good reason. In this case I see none. Why can’t you let things be?’

‘I understand your misgivings. You served the Empire faithfully for many years, and now you find yourself involved in treason. It goes against the grain. But you served the Empire no less faithfully than I.’ Jasperodus’ voice rose slightly. ‘How was my service repaid?’

‘It’s easier for you,’ Cree grumbled. ‘Being a robot you took no oath of loyalty, as I did.’

‘What difference if I had? Deeds, not words, are the proof of intentions. Besides, why castigate me for what is happening? This Empire will crumble without my help. I am merely kicking the shorings from under an edifice rotted within. Never mind the robots; my real source is human discontent. Ask the mob that one day soon will discover its strength.’

‘To go pillaging, burning, killing.’ Cree looked glum. ‘They are even more your dupes than those poor constructs.’

‘How so?’ Jasperodus suddenly displayed indignation. ‘The state is giving them bread. I promise them land! That is the lure that is bringing them forth ready to fight!’

This boast elicited only a scornful grunt from Inwing. ‘Most of them imagine they will be allotted some valuable property as a reward for their part in the rebellion and be able to live thereafter on the rent! You know very well that is not how you intend to arrange matters. You have preyed on their ignorance.’

Jasperodus laughed again, placatingly.

‘Nevertheless the affair may give the Empire the new start it needs,’ he suggested.

‘Don’t try to fool me with your dissembling arguments,’ Inwing retorted bluntly. ‘Your motives are entirely destructive – I am as well aware as you are of that. For one thing the rebellion can’t succeed. It will merely create havoc for a while, there being no armed presence strong enough to oppose it. Then the imperial forces will enter the city – and all who have been so foolish as to follow you will be annihilated, robots and people together. You and I both know this. But it doesn’t matter to you, does it? You only want to prove to the Emperor that he can’t treat you badly and get away with it. It’s a bad show.’

At this Jasperodus dropped the badinage with which he had been trying to cover his feelings, and allowed his true surliness to appear. ‘Perhaps you are wrong,’ he said sullenly, turning away. ‘I have done surprising things before.’

‘This time without my help. I’m leaving. Back to the west, perhaps.’ Inwing looked older than Jasperodus had ever seen him.

Jasperodus drifted to the door, his head lowered stubbornly, a baleful glow in his red eyes. ‘What of it all?’ he said curtly. ‘Am I not entitled to reassert myself? As for you, you are going nowhere. You are a wanted man; I have placed a guard upon this house and you will remain here until further notice. This is for your own protection.’