The Brave Free Men Read Online Free PDF Page B

came the florid technist, he who had arisen first to ask questions. He wore a pale green cloak over his black and white; he joined a group of his friends at a table near where Etzwane sat; two men and two women, wearing rich robes of blue, green, purple, and white. They leaned forward as the stout man spoke in an animated voice. Etzwane listened:
    "…insane, insane! This is not our function; what do we know of such things? The Anome expects miracles; he wants bricks without furnishing straw! Let him provide the weapons; is he not the power of Shant?"
    One of his companions spoke a few words, to which the florid technist made an impatient retort: "It is all nonsense! I intend to draw up a petition of protest; the Anome will surely see reason."
    Etzwane listened in a rigidity of disbelief that dissolved into fury. Only minutes before he had enjoined selfless exertion upon this fat, stupid man. Already he spread defeatism I Etzwane brought out the pulse-emitter; he punched the studs to the man's code. . . . He stopped short of touching yellow; instead he went to glare down into the man's suddenly blank face. "I heard your remarks," said Etzwane. "Do you know how close you came to losing your head? One eighth of an inch, the press of a button."
    "I spoke idly, no more," cried the man in a plaintive rush of words. "Must you take everything at face value?"
    "How else? It is how I intend my words. Say goodbye to your friends; you have suddenly become a member of the Garwiy militia. I hope you fight as well as you talk."
    "The militia! Impossible! My work…"
    "'Impossible'?" Etzwane ostentatiously made a note of the man's color code. "I will explain circumstances to the Anome; you had best set your affairs in order."
    Stunned, white-faced, the man slumped back in his chair.
    Etzwane rode a diligence to Sershan Palace. He found Sajarano in the rooftop garden, playing with a prismatic toy. Etzwane stood watching a moment.
    Sajarano moved colored spots of light along a white bar, small mouth pursed, eyes studiously averted from Etzwane.
    Under that poet's forehead what occurred? What impulses actuated those small hands, once so quick and powerful? Etzwane, already in a grim mood, found the bafflement intolerable. He brought forth the newspaper and placed it in front of Sajarano, who put aside the toy to read. He glanced up at Etzwane. "Events rush together. History occurs."
    Etzwane pointed to the brown and yellow. "What do you make of this?"
    "Tragedy."
    "You agree that the Roguskhoi are our enemies?"
    "It cannot be denied."
    "How would you deal with them, had you power once again?"
    Sajarano started to speak, then looked down at his toy. "The avenues of action all lead into dark mist."
    Sajarano might well be the victim of mental affliction, thought Etzwane; in fact, this almost certainly was the case. He asked, "How did you become Anome?"
    "My father was Anome before me. When he grew old he passed on the power." Looking off into the sky, Sajarano smiled in sad recollection. "The transfer was in this case simple; it is not always so."
    "Who was to have been Anome after you?"
    Sajarano's smile faded; he frowned in concentration. "At one time I inclined toward Arnold of Cham, whom I considered qualified by birth, intellect, and integrity. I reconsidered. The Anome must be clever and harsh; he can afford no qualms." Sajarano's fingers gave a convulsive twitch. "The terrible deeds I have done! In Haviosq to alarm the sacred birds is a crime. In Fordume the apprentice jade carver must die if his masterwork cracks. Arnold of Cham, a reasonable man, could not enforce laws so grotesque. I considered a man more flexible: Aun Sharah, the Chief Discriminator. He is cool, clever, capable of detachment. . . . I rejected Aun Sharah for reason of style, and settled upon Garstang, now dead. . . . The whole subject is irrelevant."
    Etzwane pondered a moment. "Did Aun Sharah know that he was under consideration?"
    Sajarano shrugged and picked up the