The Brave Free Men Read Online Free PDF

have no experience in creative work, and if I may say so, the Faceless Man seems in this case indecisive."
    "How so?" asked Etzwane in a neutral voice.
    "Ordinarily he would request dossiers and evaluations of each man; he would then appoint a chairman and give precise orders. The technists are now puzzled and uncertain; they lack a sure initiative."
    Etzwane gave a disinterested shrug. "The Anome has many calculations to make. It is essential that other men share the load."
    "Of course, if they are capable, and given a program."
    "They must develop their own program."
    "It is an interesting idea," admitted Aun Sharah. "I hope that it will work."
    "It must work, if we are to survive. The Anome cannot fight the Roguskhoi with his own hands. I presume that you have examined my background?"
    Aun Sharah assented without embarrassment. "You are, or were, a musician with the well-considered troupe of Master Frolitz."
    "I am a musician. I know other musicians in a way you could not know them, if you prepared a hundred dossiers."
    Aun Sharah rubbed his chin. "So then?"
    "Suppose the Anome wished to organize a troupe of Shant's best musicians. No doubt you would compile dossiers and he would make a selection; would these musicians play well; would they complement each other? I suspect otherwise. My point is this: no outsider can effectively organize a group of experts; they must organize themselves. Such is the Anome's present conviction."
    "I will be interested in the progress made by the group," said Aun Sharah. "What weapons do you expect from them?"
    Etzwane turned Aun Sharah a cold side-glance. "What do I know of weapons? I have no expectations, any more than the Anome."
    "Natural enough. Well then, I must return to my office to reorganize my staff." Aun Sharah went his way.
    Etzwane crossed the plaza and stepped down into the Rosewalk. At a secluded table he sipped a cup of tea and considered his progress to date. It was, he thought, significant; important forces had been set into motion. Women were moving to relative safety in the maritime cantons; at best there would be no more breeding of new Roguskhoi, at worst the Roguskhoi would raid further afield. The militia had been ordained; the technists had been instructed to produce weapons. Sajarano was guarded by Frolitz; Aun Sharah, an uncertain quantity, must be dealt with gingerly.
    For the moment he had done all in his power. . .. Someone had left a copy of Aernid Koromatik [4] on a nearby chair; Etzwane picked it up and scanned the colored patterns. Pale blue and green characters informed of social events and trivial gossip, with pink and old rose titillations; these columns Etzwane ignored. He read the lavender proclamation of the Anome. In various shades of indigo and green [5] opinions of well-known persons were set forth; all evinced approval. "At last the Anome turns his vast power against the savage hordes," declared the Aesthete Santangelo of Ferathilen, in ultramarine symbols. "The folk of Shant can now relax."
    Etzwane's lip curled; he gave the journal a shake.

    At the bottom of the page a border of brown enclosed an ochre-yellow message: news of morbid and dreadful nature. The Roguskhoi had moved in a strength estimated at over five hundred into the Farwan Valley of Canton LorAsphen, killing many men and enslaving a large number of women. "They have established a camp; they show no signs of retreating into the Hwan. Do they then regard the valley as conquered territory?
    "The women of LorAsphen are now being evacuated into Cantons Morningshore and Esterland as rapidly as possible. Unfortunately, the Anome has not yet mustered sufficient strength to deal a counterblow. It is hoped that there will be no more such terrible acts."
    Etzwane laid the paper aside, then on second thought folded it into the pocket of his cape. For a space he sat watching the folk at nearby tables. They chatted; they were charming; their sensibilities were subtle. . .. Into the garden now