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Retief: The Governor of Glave
Keith Laumer
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- 45 pages
- English
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eBook - ePub
Retief: The Governor of Glave
Keith Laumer
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About This Book
Retief had just one job on Northroyalāto save the galaxy from madness and war. So with a frayed cloak and an old horse and a packet in his saddlebagsānot to mention blood, guts, and brains he set out.
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The revolution was over and peace restoredānaturally Retief expected the worst!
I
Retief turned back the gold-encrusted scarlet cuff of the mess jacket of a First Secretary and Consul, gathered in the three eight-sided black dice, shook them by his right ear and sent them rattling across the floor to rebound from the bulk-head.
āThirteenās the point,ā the Power Section Chief called. āTen he makes it!ā
āOh ...Mr. Retief,ā a strained voice called. Retief looked up. A tall thin youth in the black-trimmed gray of a Third Secretary flapped a sheet of paper from the edge of the circle surrounding the game. āThe Ambassadorās compliments, sir, and will you join him and the staff in the conference room at once?ā
Retief rose and dusted his knees. āThatās all for now, boys,ā he said. āIāll take the rest of your money later.ā He followed the junior diplomat from the ward room, along the bare corridors of the crew level, past the glare panel reading NOTICEāFIRST CLASS ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT, through the chandeliered and draped ballroom and along a stretch of soundless carpet to a heavy door bearing a placard with the legend CONFERENCE IN SESSION.
āAmbassador Sternwheeler seemed quite upset, Mr. Retief,ā the messenger said.
āHe usually is, Pete.ā Retief took a cigar from his breast pocket. āGot a light?ā
The Third Secretary produced a permatch. āI donāt know why you smoke those things instead of dope sticks, Mr. Retief,ā he said. āThe Ambassador hates the smell.ā
Retief nodded. āI only smoke this kind at conferences. It makes for shorter sessions.ā He stepped into the room. Ambassador Sternwheeler eyed him down the length of the conference table.
āAh, Mr. Retief honors us with his presence. Do be seated, Retief.ā He fingered a yellow Departmental despatch. Retief took a chair, puffing out a dense cloud of smoke.
āAs I have been explaining to the remainder of my staff for the past quarter-hour,ā Sternwheeler rumbled, āIāve been the recipient of important intelligence.ā He blinked at Retief expectantly. Retief raised his eyebrows in polite inquiry.
āIt seems,ā Sternwheeler went on, āthat there has been a change in regime on Glave. A week ago, the government which invited the dispatch of this missionāand to which weāre accreditedāwas overthrown. The former ruling class has fled into exile. A popular workersā and peasantsā junta has taken over.ā
āMr. Ambassador,ā Counsellor Magnan broke in, rising. āIād like to be the firstāā he glanced around the tableāāor one of the first, anyway, to welcome the new government of Glave into the family of planetary ruling bodiesāā
*
āSit down, Magnan!ā Sternwheeler snapped. āOf course the Corps always recognizes de facto sovereignty. The problem is merely one of acquainting ourselves with the policies of this new groupāa sort of blue-collar coalition, it seems. In what position that leaves this Embassy I donāt yet know.ā
āI suppose this means weāll spend the next month in a parking orbit,ā Counsellor Magnan sighed.
āUnfortunately,ā Sternwheeler went on, āthe entire affair has apparently been carried off without recourse to violence, leaving the Corps no excuse to move ināthat is, it appears our assistance in restoring order will not be required.ā
āGlave was one of the old Contract Worlds,ā Retief said. āWhatās become of the Planetary Manager General and the technical staff? And how do the peasants and workers plan to operate the atmospheric purification system, the Weather Control station, the tide regulation complexes?ā
āIām more concerned at present with the status of the Mission! Will we be welcomed by these peasants or peppered with buckshot?ā
āYou say that this is a popular junta, and that the former leaders have fled into exile,ā Retief said. āMay I ask the source?ā
āThe despatch cites a āreliable Glavian sourceā.ā
āThatās officialese for something cribbed from a broadcast news tape. Presumably the Glavian news services are in the hands of the revolution. In that caseāā
āYes, yes, there is the possibility that the issue is yet in doubt. Of course weāll have to exercise caution in making our approach. It wouldnāt do to make overtures to the wrong side.ā
āOh, I think we need have no fear on that score,ā the Chief of the Political Section spoke up. āI know these entrenched cliques. Once challenged by an aroused populace, they scuttle for safetyāwith large balances safely tucked away in neutral banks.ā
āIād like to go on record,ā Magnan piped, āas registering my deep gratification at this fulfillment of popular aspirationsāā
āThe most popular aspiration I know of is to live high off someone elseās effort,ā Retief said. āI donāt know of anyone outside the Corps whoās managed it.ā
*
āGentlemen!ā Sternwheeler bellowed. āIām awaiting your constructive suggestionsānot an exchange of political views. Weāll arrive off Glave in less than six hours. I should like before that time to have developed some notion regarding to whom I shall expect to offer my credentials!ā
There was a discreet tap at the door; it opened and the young Third Secretary poked his head in.
āMr. Ambassador, I have a reply to your messageājust received from Glave. Itās signed by the Steward of the GFE, and I thought youād want to see it at once....ā
āYes, of course; let me have it.ā
āWhatās the GFE?ā someone asked.
āItās the revolutionary group,ā the messenger said, passing the message over.
āGFE? GFE? What do the letters SIGNIFY?ā
āGlorious Fun Eternally,ā Retief suggested. āOr possibly Goodies For Everybody.ā
āI believe thatās āGlavian Free Electorateā,ā the Third Secretary said.
Sternwheeler stared at the paper, lips pursed. His face grew pink. He slammed the paper on the table.
āWell, gentlemen! It appears our worst fears have been realized! This is nothing less than a warning! A threat! Weāre advised to divert course and bypass Glave entirely. It s...
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- The Governor of Glave