Chapter 19 Chapter Four

Louis Potter was very active in the opposition camp - second only to the dog Cirmak.He has been very active in tying up dissidents, which in turn contributed to the now-massive "Action Party".However, he was not part of the delegation that had gone to meet Seve Harding about six months earlier.This does not mean that his efforts were not recognized, in fact on the contrary, he could not participate because he had other important tasks, and he was on the capital world of Anacreon at the time. He went there in a private capacity that time, so he didn't call on any dignitaries, and he didn't do anything really important.He just went to observe the neglected dark corners of the busy planet, and tried to spy on all kinds of information through various channels.

It was already winter when he returned to Terminus, the short day beginning with dark clouds and ending with snow.Potter arrived in the evening, and less than an hour later he was sitting at the octagonal dining table in Sirmak's house. The thick snow in the twilight seemed to weigh on the hearts of everyone in the house, and the atmosphere was quite dignified.However, Potter didn't have any euphemistic opening remarks, and immediately said straight to the point: "I'm afraid, our current situation, to use a line of a drama, is 'waste busy'." "Do you really think so?" Cermak asked dejectedly.

"Of course, does it matter? Cermak, there is no other possibility." "About armaments..." Toka Otto broke in suddenly, but Potter stopped him immediately. "Don't say that, it's an old idea." Pot looked around at everyone, and then said: "Now I mean the people of Anacreon. I admit that I came up with the original idea, and we To finance a court revolution and install a pro-base man as king. It was a good idea, and it still is, but its only flaw is that it cannot be realized, as the great Cypher Harding expected Everything." Cermike said displeasedly: "Bot, can you tell us the details?"

"Details? Impossible! The matter is not so simple, it is not clear in a few words. The whole situation in Anacreon is fucking involved, it is the result of the religion established by the base there, it It really works!" "Oh?" "In short, unless you see it with your own eyes, you can't believe how good it is. All you can see here is that we have set up a large school for the training of priests, or in the city to open the eyes of pilgrims. An occasional special show in an obscure corner of the interior—that's all. The religion has little influence on us, but in Anacreon..."

Lamb Tuckey ran a finger over his queer short beard, cleared his throat, and said: "What kind of religion is that?" Harding kept emphasizing that it was to get them to accept our whole Science, but a cover for bluffing. Cermak, do you remember? He told us that day..." "Harding's interpretation," Cermak reminded the crowd, "often doesn't mean much on the surface. But what kind of religion is that, Potter?" Pot thought for a while before saying: "There is no problem in terms of ethics. It is not much different from the various philosophies of the Empire era. It is just a set of high moral standards. From that perspective, there is nothing wrong with it." It is worthy of criticism. Religion has always had a great softening power in history. From this point of view, it has indeed achieved..."

"We know this," Cermak interrupted impatiently, "you just need to get to the point." "The point is—" Bot felt a little embarrassed, but he didn't show it: "This religion founded and promoted by the Foundation, please note, is based on a system of absolute authority. The science we provide to Anacreon The equipment is completely controlled by the clergy, but the training they receive is all apprentice-style. They believe in this religion wholeheartedly and believe in... um... the metaphysical value of the power they manipulate. For example For example, two months ago, some idiot broke down the power plant in the Shrine of Dessarek - one of several large power plants, and of course the whole city was polluted. As a result, everyone Think it is the punishment of the gods, including those priests."

"I remember that there was a report in the newspaper at that time. But I still don't understand. What exactly are you trying to say?" "Listen, then," said Pot in a serious tone: "the priests form a special class, and the king is at the pinnacle of this class, and he is revered as a demigod. By the will of God, he becomes This kind of idea of ​​the divine right of kings is firmly believed in the hearts of the people, even the dead. So, this kind of king cannot be overthrown, do you understand now?" "Wait," said Otto, "what do you mean Harding arranged this? What has he to do with it?"

Pot looked at Otto with bitter eyes, and replied: "The base has tried everything possible to create this illusion, and hide all the scientific aid behind this cover. Every time the king presides over important celebrations, his whole body must be covered with radioactive radiation." If anyone touches the king at this time, he will be severely burned. At the critical moment of the ceremony, the king will also fly around in the air to show that he has died. A telepathy with the gods. Then he made a gesture, and the whole shrine shone like pearls. There are so many little tricks we devise for the king, and the priests take part in the actual work, but they themselves believe in it set."

"How can this work?" Cermak bit his lip angrily. Porter said earnestly: "Whenever I think of our missed opportunity, I really want to cry like the fountain in City Hall Park. Think of the situation thirty years ago, when Harding moved his base from Anaker At that time, the Anakrians did not know that the empire had begun to decline-they had been preoccupied with themselves since the rebellion of the Zeons, and even when the communication between the outer edge of the galaxy and the empire was cut off, the pirate-born Lep When De's grandfather made himself king, they still didn't know that the empire was falling apart.

"If the Emperor of that time had had the guts, he could easily have taken Anacreon with two star cruisers, in conjunction with the civil strife that was bound to break out in itself; and we were able to conquer them in the same way. But instead of doing that, Harding set up a monarchy for them, which I don't understand personally. Why? Why? Why?" At this moment, Jem Ossie suddenly asked: "What is Verisov doing now? He was once more radical than today's Action Party members. What is he doing now in Anacreon? Is he also blind?" ?” "I don't know about that." Bot said bluntly: "For the people of Anacreon, he is now the patriarch there. As far as I know, he is only serving as the priest's technical advisor. Do nothing. Puppet leader, damn it, puppet!"

Everyone present fell silent, and everyone stared at Cermak in unison.The young party leader bit his nails nervously for a moment before saying loudly: "Oops, there's a problem!" He looked around, and said more forcefully: "Could Harding be such a fool?" "It seems so." Potter shrugged. "Impossible, there's something wrong. Putting ourselves on the chopping block and being slaughtered at will, only a super stupid can do this kind of thing. Even if Harding is a stupid, he can't be so stupid, let alone I don't believe he is a fool at all. I don't believe he could be so stupid as he founded a religion and cleared them of all possibility of civil strife, and at the same time supplied all kinds of weapons to arm Anacreon." "Things are indeed a little strange, I admit that." Potter said: "But the fact is so, what else can we think?" Otto interrupted suddenly: "This is a blatant betrayal, and Harding was bought by them." But Cermak shook his head impatiently and said, "I don't believe that either. Everything seems impermanent and puzzling. Let me ask you, Potter, have you heard anything about that cruiser?" ? It’s the starship that the base repaired for the Anacreon Fleet.” "Cruise?" "An Empire-era cruiser." "No, I haven't heard of it. But it doesn't mean anything. The Fleet Base is a religious holy place that ordinary people are absolutely forbidden to enter. It is impossible for outsiders to know about the Star Fleet." "However, rumors have been circulating. Our comrades raised the matter in Parliament, and Harding never denied it, you know? His spokesman publicly denounced the people who spread the rumors, and there has been no further discussion. Acted, there seems to be something else hidden in it." "It's part of the whole thing," Potter said. "If it's true, it's insane. But it's no worse than the rest." Ossie said, "I don't think Harding has any other secret weapons, maybe..." "Yeah," Cermak said bitterly, "he won't have any magical lamp box hidden, and a monster can jump out at a critical moment and scare the shit out of that old guy in Winnis. If the base has to rely on any secret weapons, It would be better if we detonated Terminus ourselves and relieved from the pain of fear." "Well," Ossie quickly changed the subject: "The question now is, how much time do we have? Ah, Potter?" "That's it, that's the question, but don't look at me that way, I don't know the answer. All the media in Anacreon have never mentioned the base at all. Recently, except for the news that the celebration is about to start, other Nothing. Because Leppard is coming of age next week, you know?" "So, we still have a few months," Otto smiled for the first time that day: "This gives us some time..." "There's still time? What a joke!" Potter gritted his teeth and said impatiently, "I tell you, that king is a god. Do you think he has to use propaganda to arouse the fighting spirit of the people? Do you think he has to sue All emotions, accuse us of aggression, and then let the people hostile to the base for a while? No need, I tell you the truth, whenever they are ready to go to war, Lepped gives the order, and his people will mobilize immediately, it's that simple. That's the worst thing about that system, because you can't question the decisions that God makes. Who knows if He's going to give the order tomorrow and then the army is coming down the wall." At this time, all the people present rushed to speak, and when Cermak was knocking on the table to ask everyone to be quiet, the front door was suddenly pushed open, and Levi Norast strode in.Before he could take off his snow-covered overcoat, he jumped up the stairs. "Look at this!" He yelled, throwing the snow-stained newspaper onto the dining table, and said to everyone, "Everyone on the news screen is discussing this news." After the newspaper was opened, the five heads immediately leaned over to read it together. Then Cermak said in a hoarse voice: "My God, he's going to Anacreon! To--to--Anna-c-re-on--to--" "That was an act of treason," Taki screamed suddenly, excitedly. "If Otto is wrong, I'll give you my head. He's betrayed us to the enemy, and now he's going to collect his reward." Cirmak stood up and said: "We have no choice now. In Parliament tomorrow, I will propose the impeachment of Harding. If it fails..."