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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32637-h.zip b/32637-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..27a2b5d --- /dev/null +++ b/32637-h.zip diff --git a/32637-h/32637-h.htm b/32637-h/32637-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e9a60c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/32637-h/32637-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1188 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Envoy, Her, by H. B. Fyfe + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; background-color: #FFFFFF; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + + +.tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} + +.img1 {border:solid 1px; } + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold; font-size:smaller;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Envoy, Her, by Horace Brown Fyfe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Envoy, Her + +Author: Horace Brown Fyfe + +Release Date: June 1, 2010 [EBook #32637] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ENVOY, HER *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from Planet Stories March 1951. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p></div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="581" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/image_001.jpg" width="500" height="483" alt="Vyrtl weighed a pebble in his hand. "You expect to be +executed," he stated flatly." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Vyrtl weighed a pebble in his hand. "You expect to be +executed," he stated flatly.</span> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<h1>the envoy, <i>Her</i></h1> +<p> </p> + +<h2>by H. B. Fyfe</h2> +<p> </p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The Emperor must be getting old, they thought, to deal so +mercifully with the upstart Jursan Rebels—which was quite +true. He was not too young to dream....</i></p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d1.jpg" alt="D" width="49" height="50" /></div> +<p>espite the concentrated patrol defenses, the Emperor's space yacht +slipped down to the surface of Klo, second moon of Jursa, without +incident. Only recently, such a show of force would have drawn a +flight of torpedo rockets from the rebellious planet; but the Jursan +agitators for a scientific renaissance had at last been beaten to +their knees.</p> + +<p>A landing tube was connected between the ship and the transparent dome +that had been constructed on this airless satellite for the +convenience of the lord of the system. Notables in military posts or +present on some other excuse gathered to greet their master.</p> + +<p>"By Pollux!" gasped one onlooker. "Those guards must all be seven feet +tall!"</p> + +<p>The file of magnificent soldiers, who gave the impression of being +almost entirely armor-plated, deployed on either side of the landing +tube exit. They were followed by a figure glittering enough to be an +emperor; but since he was attended by only four officials in bejeweled +scarlet the crowd recognized him for a chamberlain.</p> + +<p>"His Illustrious Sublimity the Lord Vyrtl, Viceroy for Terra, Emperor +of Pollux, and of all its fourteen planets, and of all their +thirty-seven satellites, and of all the nations thereon, Co-ordinator +of the planet Hebryxid—"</p> + +<p>It went on at some length, but the man who led the next little parade +out of the landing tube paid no heed. The part about Terra was a +vestige of centuries before communications had lapsed, and served no +purpose but to remind him that new contact with the original planet +was one of the Jursans' aims. The rest of his titles he could, by now, +recite backwards.</p> + +<p>The crowd of officialdom gaped at him as he stood there. He was a tall +man, which conveniently helped conceal a tendency toward obesity. +Under the excess tissue, his face had a massive strength, with broad +bones and jutting chin and nose; but the gray eyes were weary and +cynical.</p> + +<p>"Wilkins!" he ordered in a bored monotone. "Find which yokel is in +charge, and burn a jet under him!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p> resplendent aide hustled forward to where the official in charge of +the dome was wetting his lips over his rehearsed greeting. It was +quickly made plain that His Illustrious Sublimity desired +transportation and a look at the quarters he would have to put up with +until the jackals on Jursa came to their senses.</p> + +<p>The official had tried to provide for every known imperial fancy. He +smirked delightfully when Vyrtl caught sight of the lozards tethered +at one side.</p> + +<p>"By Pollux!" exclaimed the Emperor, his eye brightening. "We hadn't +expected the pleasure of riding till this was over."</p> + +<p>"He tells me they have built a forest, Sire," reported the aide. +"About half a mile square. At least, you will have some relaxation."</p> + +<p>"Good! It is all very well playing the soldier and roughing it +informally, but a man must have <i>something</i>!"</p> + +<p>He surveyed the reptilian mounts that were led forward and chose one +whose eight legs were a trifle longer than average. With reasonable +agility, considering his bulk, he hoisted himself into the saddle and +set off toward the miniature palace awaiting him. His guardsmen +trotted alongside while the rest of his retinue mounted and followed +as best they could.</p> + +<p>He drew rein once, to gaze up through the dome at the yellow-green +disk of Jursa. Wilkins overtook him.</p> + +<p>"Note the dark line in the southern hemisphere, Sire," he said. "The +result of Marshal Tzyfol's sweep—the one that broke through their +fleets and led to their plea for terms."</p> + +<p>"Excellent!" said the Emperor. He lowered his gaze and stretched his +neck uncomfortably. Vyrtl was unaccustomed to looking up at anything +or anybody. "They will bear our mark."</p> + +<p>"It will teach them the lesson they deserve," agreed Wilkins +dutifully. "Autonomy, indeed!"</p> + +<p>"Quite," said Vyrtl, urging his lozard forward. "Who are those fools +to think they can demand exemption from established imperial laws ... +they should be satisfied with the standard textbooks and forget their +puttering! Ha—what's this?"</p> + +<p>He pulled up before a small replica of the palace.</p> + +<p>"The dome engineer built it for your wives, Sire."</p> + +<p>"Our wives?"</p> + +<p>"Twenty of them volunteered to share the rigors of the campaign. Their +special transport arrived just before us."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" grunted Vyrtl, riding past.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_e.jpg" alt="E" width="34" height="40" /></div> +<p>arly the next morning, after the engineers had arranged a dawn for +his benefit, Vyrtl called a council of his commanders. Chief-of-Staff +Robert Tzyfol reported on the situation.</p> + +<p>The rebellious Jursans were sending a representative to ask for terms. +In the Marshal's strongly expressed opinion, no leniency was +necessary. The imperial fleets were slowly but surely stamping out all +resistance, making Jursa unlivable.</p> + +<p>"Abject submission is their only course," he declared.</p> + +<p>It was the sort of declaration with which Vyrtl might have agreed, had +he been able to voice it first.</p> + +<p>As it was, he announced that he would keep it in mind when judging the +fate of the rebels. He had no inclination to destroy a perfectly good, +tax-paying planet if he could whip its inhabitants into line by other +means.</p> + +<p>He ended the conference by stating his intention to ride in the +artificial forest. He enjoyed the glances of relief among the +generals—especially the older and more brittle ones—when he gave +them leave to resume their military duties instead of attending him.</p> + +<p>A few hours later, Wilkins found Vyrtl and a small retinue resting +beside a pool at the edge of the forest.</p> + +<p>"The rebel envoy has arrived, Sire," he reported.</p> + +<p>Vyrtl kicked a pebble into the pool and spat after it. "We shall see +him immediately," he announced. "No use wasting ceremony on the +villain."</p> + +<p>Returning to the palace, he strode into the audience chamber and +signaled for the envoy to be admitted. Still warm from his ride and +insultingly disheveled, he sat in the imitation of the great throne on +his capital planet, Hebryxid.</p> + +<p>"If he isn't brisk," he muttered to Wilkins, "we may teach him +promptness by hunting him through the forest tomorrow."</p> + +<p>Above the whispers of hastily assembled officers, courtiers, and a few +of Vyrtl's wives, a chamberlain announced, "The Jursan envoy, Daphne +Foster."</p> + +<p>"A woman?" murmured Vyrtl.</p> + +<p>"So it seems. She looks quite ... distinguished."</p> + +<p>"Ha! The witty Wilkins! A pretty choice of words."</p> + +<p>The woman approached the throne amid a low buzz from Vyrtl's +attendants, and bowed gracefully. Gracefully but not too abjectly, +considering the situation and his own position, Vyrtl thought. She +raised her head and endured his deliberate scrutiny.</p> + +<p>She <i>would</i> have to be a rebel, Vyrtl told himself. He supposed they +had scoured all Jursa for a real beauty to dazzle him; but they would +discover that it would not work.</p> + +<p>At first glance, she had seemed slim, but he saw now that, though +tall, she was very well proportioned. A net of tiny, glittering jewels +was woven into the black hair that hung to her shoulders. Her features +were regular, but expressively alive compared to the artificial +placidity of the court beauties.</p> + +<p>But what disturbed the Emperor of Pollux most was the way she looked +at him! He felt that it was stretching diplomacy a bit far.</p> + +<p>A smile in deep blue eyes was pleasant, when someone was sufficiently +accomplished to muster it in his presence; but this was a shade too +familiar. She seemed to put herself on a level with him—as if to +share an amusement beyond the others present.</p> + +<p>The next moment, he was trying to decide just what quality made hers +the most beautiful female voice he had ever heard. Consequently, he +missed most of the formula about "the gratitude of all Jursa" at his +receiving "his humble slave."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>hat smile lit the blue eyes again. It was hard to tell if a ghost of +it lingered at the corners of the full lips, but the total effect was +of anything but humility. He pulled himself together, aware that +Wilkins had noticed his hesitation.</p> + +<p>"So the Jursans seek to soften our just anger?" he said. "They send +their surrender by one who is obviously the loveliest jewel of their +misguided world."</p> + +<p>A few of the courtiers snickered dutifully. Vyrtl was annoyed; he had +not meant to be funny. He glanced swiftly at the half-dozen wives +present, but their expressions showed no jealousy. He decided that the +empty-headed creatures had at least learned not to embarrass him +publicly.</p> + +<p>"Your Illustrious Sublimity is too gracious," replied the envoy. "I +regret that my message is not unqualified surrender."</p> + +<p>Vyrtl frowned. "You dare ask terms?"</p> + +<p>"I must carry out the commands laid upon me by the Council."</p> + +<p>She smiled into his eyes and made a rueful little gesture with both +hands, which she allowed to fall gracefully to her sides. Vyrtl's gaze +was led up and down her figure again.</p> + +<p>He forced himself to meet her glance. Rather than expressing any +resentment of his appraisal, it suggested that her resistance to his +demands would be merely formal.</p> + +<p><i>They've sent me a clever one</i>, he thought, <i>but they will find I +cannot be bought off so cheaply. Still, it can do no harm to show that +Vyrtl can be the diplomat as well as a soldier.</i></p> + +<p>"We are unprepared for any discussion," he said aloud. "Since we are +not disposed, however, to be hasty in our judgement, you may wait upon +us in the council chamber in two hours."</p> + +<p>The envoy stepped lithely aside when he rose. With some difficulty, +Vyrtl kept his eyes front as he strode from the hall with Wilkins and +his personal guards at his heels. He hastened to his own chambers for +a bath and change of clothes.</p> + +<p>He allowed himself to be bathed, scented, and dressed in the most +imperial costume he had brought from Hebryxid. Blonde Xota, his +official favorite who had taken no chance of losing her place by +absence from his side, admired his dazzling jewels and scarlet silks +extravagantly. Vyrtl permitted her to serve him a light lunch, paying +little attention to her chatter.</p> + +<p>Once, when he had taken her from the Co-ordinator of his sixth planet, +he had fancied himself in love with her; now he merely amused himself +guessing from day to day to whom she sold her supposed influence. He +sometimes wondered if any wife he owned were innocent of spying.</p> + +<p>He rose, summoned Wilkins, and led a small procession to the council +chamber. They found the necessary quota of high officers waiting. +Daphne Foster was summoned.</p> + +<p>Vyrtl took his place on a dais at the head of the table, and his aide +arranged the gold-stiffened ceremonial robe. The generals made little +professional jokes, each striving to act as if the victory had been +mostly his own doing. Even the lean Chief of Staff, Tzyfol, looked +satiated.</p> + +<p>The Jursan envoy was announced.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_o.jpg" alt="O" width="38" height="40" /></div> +<p>nce again, Vyrtl was so fascinated by the girl that he paid scant +heed to the ceremonious greetings. He decided she was younger than he +had thought earlier.</p> + +<p>Finally, the conference got down to business.</p> + +<p>"My people," said Daphne Foster, "ask but a few minor concessions, +which we believe will benefit the remainder of the Empire as much as +Jursa."</p> + +<p>"We are disposed to believe your good intentions," said Vyrtl +encouragingly.</p> + +<p>He caught himself smiling, and immediately resumed the mask of +dignity.</p> + +<p>The Jursans, it developed, would give up demands for autonomy and +resume allegiance to the Empire. They pleaded, however, for freedom of +scientific research, promising that their discoveries would be placed +promptly at Vyrtl's disposal.</p> + +<p>In the matter of indemnities, they were willing, Daphne Foster said +with an intimate glance for Vyrtl alone, to rely upon his generosity. +They asked only that they be allowed a reasonable time to restore the +damage suffered in the fighting and that they be permitted to make +part of the payments in the technical equipment they were so skilled +at manufacturing.</p> + +<p>Some of the officers raised objections that Vyrtl thought well-put, +but he overruled them. The main point, he pronounced, was to restore a +valuable possession to productivity. There would be no looting and +destruction.</p> + +<p>He felt less sure of himself when old Tzyfol protested that free +research was one of the roots of the trouble. Consequently, perhaps, +the imperial glare that silenced the Marshal was the more withering.</p> + +<p>After that, Vyrtl sat back and allowed his cohorts to promulgate a +number of minor, harassing conditions. These would satisfy their egos +to some degree, keep the Jursans aware of the folly of questioning his +authority again, and show their envoy how things might have gone had +Vyrtl not been merciful.</p> + +<p>In the end, he added one condition of his own.</p> + +<p>"It will be necessary," he said, "to hold frequent conferences on +these affairs. If the Jursan Council should appoint their envoy as +permanent ambassador to our court, we should be inclined to approve."</p> + +<p>It was tantamount to a command, but the girl showed no resentment. Not +that Vyrtl expected anything so rash as outward reluctance—but a +lifetime of piercing the flattery of courtiers had made him a shrewd +reader of facial expressions.</p> + +<p>He granted permission for an immediate broadcasting of the treaty, +overriding Tzyfol's desire for deeper consideration in favor of Daphne +Foster's plea that delay would cost lives.</p> + +<p>After having copies of the rather simple document drawn up for the +facsimile broadcasters, Vyrtl gave her leave to depart. Without +seeming to watch, he admired her gait as she walked from the +conference chamber.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p>fterwards, he left the generals to their post-mortem and retired with +Wilkins to a private balcony for a bottle of wine.</p> + +<p>"How did it go?" he asked, leaning back more comfortably when his aide +had removed the heavy robe.</p> + +<p>"You were most generous, Sire, or so I thought."</p> + +<p>"It is a virtue that requires a public display now and then, to +strengthen the roots of the myth that grows from it. Too bad old +Tzyfol failed to see that. Why do you suppose he tried to be +obstinate?"</p> + +<p>"I expect, Sire, he disliked having an old woman seem to get the +better of him after he had won the military victory."</p> + +<p>Vyrtl laughed indulgently and sipped his wine.</p> + +<p>"Even Tzyfol," added Wilkins, "might have been generous had she been +young and pretty. Unfortunately, I suppose, it takes an old head to be +an envoy."</p> + +<p>The Emperor set his glass down very carefully.</p> + +<p>"What did you say?" he demanded evenly.</p> + +<p>Wilkins stared, with the expression of a man who fears he may suddenly +recall having used an obscene word in polite company, or having +bragged falsely and unwittingly of tax-evasion to an imperial +collector.</p> + +<p>Vyrtl repeated his question in a tone a note higher.</p> + +<p>"I-I-I said that if she were young and p-pretty—"</p> + +<p>"How old do you think she was?" rasped Vyrtl.</p> + +<p>"About s-s-seventy. Maybe seventy-five."</p> + +<p>"<i>What?</i>"</p> + +<p>He surged to his feet, overturning the table. Immediately the glass +doors opening on the balcony were flung back with a splintering crash.</p> + +<p>Four gleaming guardsmen charged out with drawn weapons, each obviously +aching to become a hero. Wilkins prudently stood rooted, peering at +them from the corner of his eye.</p> + +<p>Vyrtl recovered his poise with an effort.</p> + +<p>"As you were!" he ordered. "Help General Wilkins pick up the table I +knocked over. Clumsy thing!"</p> + +<p>It was done, and the guard captain apologized for the doors.</p> + +<p>"Relax, Wilkins," said Vyrtl when they were again alone. "It just +occurred to me that I ought to have another word with that woman. Have +someone get hold of her at once!"</p> + +<p>He left the disordered balcony and waited in a nearby library. The +books lining the walls were real, he noticed idly—another painstaking +point by the designer of the palace.</p> + +<p>There Wilkins found him presently, to report that the Jursan envoy was +already on her way back to that planet.</p> + +<p>"I called the landing field guard," he explained, "but she had already +taken off. His spotters swept space for them and got a curve on the +ship."</p> + +<p>"Of course," mused Vyrtl. "The treaty has been broadcast."</p> + +<p>"Shall I have the patrols close in on her rocket?"</p> + +<p>"No." The Emperor pondered a moment. "Have a telescreen set up in here +so we can speak directly."</p> + +<p>A frenzied bustle ensued as Wilkins directed a platoon of awed techs +through the process of bringing the mountain to Mohammed. In the end, +the Jursan ship was in communication. The aide called for Daphne +Foster, then stood aside.</p> + +<p>Vyrtl was glad, when she appeared, that Wilkins had placed a deep +armchair before the screen for him.</p> + +<p>Was <i>this</i> the woman with whom he had—?</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="26" height="40" /></div> +<p>he was still tall, but her white hair gave her the look of the +seventy years with which Wilkins had credited her. Deep laugh-wrinkles +bracketed the mouth, with more at the corners of the still bright +eyes. The delicate bones of her face were more prominent.</p> + +<p>There was nevertheless a clear resemblance to the Daphne Foster he had +received earlier.</p> + +<p><i>She looks ... she looked</i>, thought Vyrtl, <i>as this woman might have +looked when she was young ... or might have wanted to look.</i></p> + +<p>No, that was not quite it.</p> + +<p><i>As she knew a man would have liked her to look!</i></p> + +<p>The woman on the screen spoke, her eyes smiling into his in a manner +that was painfully familiar.</p> + +<p>"Your Illustrious Sublimity has become the first to share my little +secret."</p> + +<p>Vyrtl, with a concentration of will, prevented his eyes from peeping +sidelong at Wilkins' expression.</p> + +<p>"We are somewhat surprised," he said, knowing it for an asinine remark +but afraid to risk his dignity by being plainer.</p> + +<p>"Of course," she said, "I hardly expect it to make any difference in +the imperial announcement of peace, but if any clarification is +desired of me, I shall be happy to oblige."</p> + +<p>Vyrtl thought furiously. Had he actually <i>said</i> anything to Wilkins or +anyone else? He tried to remember every word spoken at the conference. +It seemed to him there had been one or two slips, but they had been +taken for imperial witticisms.</p> + +<p>No, he was safe enough. The Jursan Council and their technicians +naturally must know the "clarification" offered him, but they would +know better than to publicize it. He could afford to show no mercy if +they did. As things stood, it might be best to stand by his published +word.</p> + +<p>"We desire," he said slowly, "that you, as ambassador, return +immediately. You will have every facility to communicate with your +government, to repay the inconvenience."</p> + +<p>The old woman stared him in the eye, then bowed silently.</p> + +<p>Vyrtl saw that she realized what it might mean. He hoped she would not +arrange an "accident" before her ship returned.</p> + +<p>He had Wilkins take over and check with the captain of the rocket. It +was determined that the best effort would bring the ship back to the +dome on Klo about "mid-morning." Vyrtl left orders that the woman was +to be brought before him the moment she arrived, and retired for the +night.</p> + +<p>He found Xota sprawled confidently upon his bed, and kicked her off in +a temper. His groping had found no loose object to fling after her as +she slunk out the door, and that made his temper worse. He was a long +time getting to sleep....</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he next morning, he pecked at his breakfast and sneered at the +artificial dawn that had been delayed for his benefit.</p> + +<p>"Get me a lozard and a squad of guards!" he snarled to Wilkins. "I'll +have a run through the woods while I wait."</p> + +<p>He left the guards at the fringes of his engineers' forest and rode +the eight-legged reptile recklessly among the huge trunks. Since the +builder had artfully omitted all low branches, there was little chance +of his knocking his head off.</p> + +<p>Towards noon, he paused to rest at the little pool on the edge of the +woods. He waved to a group of guards he saw peering at him across an +open field of what looked very much like grass. One of the men ran +over.</p> + +<p>"The Jursan envoy is back, Your Illustrious Sublimity."</p> + +<p>Vyrtl sighed.</p> + +<p>"Tell General Wilkins to bring her here immediately."</p> + +<p>He turned away and sat upon a flat stone beside the pool.</p> + +<p>After a while, he noticed that the ground was liberally supplied with +pebbles for casting into the water. He was watching the spreading +ripples about fifteen minutes later when he heard approaching voices +behind him.</p> + +<p>A glance over his shoulder showed him Wilkins and two guards escorting +the old woman. He turned away, tossing another pebble into the pool +with a half-hearted motion of his arm.</p> + +<p>When Wilkins coughed discreetly behind him, he told the aide and the +guards to withdraw. He listened to the footsteps until he knew they +were beyond range of ordinary conversation.</p> + +<p>"You are the same Daphne Foster?" he asked, still facing the pool.</p> + +<p>"The same, Your Illustrious Sublimity."</p> + +<p>"Let us dispense with formality. Tell me how you did it."</p> + +<p>"It is simple ... in a way. But it requires the use of a not-so-simple +instrument."</p> + +<p>"Such as I?" he asked, apparently intent upon the water.</p> + +<p>"I did not mean Your Illustrious—I did not mean it that way. It is a +little triumph of our Jursan technicians, which will shortly be at +your disposal. I used it to force an illusion upon you."</p> + +<p>"And very cleverly, I admit. Do you have it with you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. It is compact. It merely operates upon the idea that other +forces can be used to produce hypnosis besides lights, drugs, and +soothing sounds."</p> + +<p>"Turn it on!" ordered Vyrtl.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="41" height="40" /></div> +<p>e waited a moment, then twisted around on the stone to face her. +There was no sign of the woman he had seen crossing the field. Before +him seemed to stand the black-haired, lithe girl.</p> + +<p>The only change was in her eyes, which no longer smiled into his so +provocatively.</p> + +<p><i>Funny</i>, thought Vyrtl. <i>When we actually were strangers, she seemed +so intimate. Only now does she look at me so coldly.</i></p> + +<p>"You see?" she said, and started to reach for some switch or button +concealed by the jewel at her breast.</p> + +<p>Vyrtl stopped her with a gesture.</p> + +<p>"You must also be skilled in the sciences of the mind," he remarked. +"What I mean is ... I suppose you never really looked like that?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head a trifle ruefully.</p> + +<p>"Not quite. Most of it is in your own imagination. We know a good deal +about you, Your—"</p> + +<p>"You deduced somehow what I would look for," interrupted Vyrtl, +nodding. "I can see how a study of the things I chose to have about +me—paintings, statues, furnishings, even people—might yield keys to +my preferences. You did remarkably well."</p> + +<p>He tossed another pebble and stared at the ripples.</p> + +<p>"I suppose every man has his ideal of a woman," he said. "I doubt that +any man has <i>seen</i> his absolute ideal—except me. I wonder if you know +what it does to one?"</p> + +<p>He chose a flat pebble and sent it skipping across the surface with a +vicious snap of his wrist. It bounced three ... four ... five times, +and sank.</p> + +<p>"I presume," said Daphne Foster, breaking a tight little silence, +"that you will grant me time to set my affairs in order?"</p> + +<p>Vyrtl weighed a pebble in his hand.</p> + +<p>"You expect to be executed," he stated flatly.</p> + +<p>"Naturally, we knew all along that someone would have to pay for +tricking you. The Emperor of Pollux must, after all, maintain his +dignity."</p> + +<p>Vyrtl wondered if he had detected a note of irony in the musical +voice. He marveled anew at the pleasure of listening to her. But of +course, he reminded himself, he heard his own imagined ideal of what a +lovely woman's voice should be.</p> + +<p>"No," he said abruptly, swinging about. "I am merely going to insist +that you fulfill the terms of the agreement by remaining at my court. +I want you near me from now on."</p> + +<p>She blinked at that.</p> + +<p>"But, surely ... you must realize ... it is only an illusion!" she +protested.</p> + +<p>"As am I," said Vyrtl. "A figurehead imprisoned in a maze of +formalities and so-called pleasures."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="41" height="40" /></div> +<p>e saw that she could not understand what could be wrong with his +position.</p> + +<p>"Once, when I was very young," he said, "I thought I would rule. But +fourteen planets require a whole <i>council</i> of co-ordinators! I gave up +that idea and tried to enjoy myself."</p> + +<p>She stared at him uncertainly. He waved a hand at the artificial +forest.</p> + +<p>"It has been like that ever since. They fall all over themselves to +devise new ways of getting my attention and to present pleasures and +entertainment I am incapable of enjoying. I have more wealth than I +can estimate, I sometimes forget which palace I am in, even my wives +look alike by now."</p> + +<p>"I must sympathize with Your Illustrious Sublimity."</p> + +<p>He flung her a hard stare.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you ought! Even my generals and their soldiers have their +dreams—of conquest or loot. The engineer who built this dome pictures +himself famous and admired. Wilkins is proud of his influence, and +other courtiers have visions of doing away with Wilkins and replacing +him."</p> + +<p>He stood up restlessly.</p> + +<p>"You will laugh at me, I know—but there is little enjoyment in life +when every whim is catered to at a snap of one's fingers. What have I +to <i>desire</i>?"</p> + +<p>"I see." She nodded slowly. "The old saying about the pleasure of +anticipation outweighing that of attainment."</p> + +<p>"You should know. You Jursans and your scientific renaissance, your +goal of contacting Terra again."</p> + +<p>He beckoned to Wilkins and the two guards. They ran eagerly across the +grass.</p> + +<p>"You see?" he snorted. "Sometimes I almost wish they would ignore me!"</p> + +<p>He looked at her and saw the blue eyes achieve their knowing, amused +smile once more.</p> + +<p>"That's right," he said, smiling back. "Now I shall have something to +keep my thoughts from becoming dull and bored. A man needs some +impossible dream for moments when he wants to relax."</p> + +<p>Wilkins panted up, trying to look alert and willing.</p> + +<p>"The unattainable Lady Daphne will accompany us to our capital," said +Vyrtl. "Make the necessary arrangements."</p> + +<p>He enjoyed the way his aide covered up a momentary bewilderment.</p> + +<p><i>No one else will ever, ever understand this</i>, he thought with an +unaccustomed thrill of pleasure and amusement.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Envoy, Her, by Horace Brown Fyfe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ENVOY, HER *** + +***** This file should be named 32637-h.htm or 32637-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/6/3/32637/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Envoy, Her + +Author: Horace Brown Fyfe + +Release Date: June 1, 2010 [EBook #32637] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ENVOY, HER *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from Planet Stories March 1951. Extensive + research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this + publication was renewed. + + + [Illustration: _Vyrtl weighed a pebble in his hand. "You expect to be + executed," he stated flatly._] + + + the envoy, _Her_ + + + by H. B. Fyfe + + + _The Emperor must be getting old, they thought, to deal so + mercifully with the upstart Jursan Rebels--which was quite + true. He was not too young to dream...._ + + * * * * * + + + + +Despite the concentrated patrol defenses, the Emperor's space yacht +slipped down to the surface of Klo, second moon of Jursa, without +incident. Only recently, such a show of force would have drawn a +flight of torpedo rockets from the rebellious planet; but the Jursan +agitators for a scientific renaissance had at last been beaten to +their knees. + +A landing tube was connected between the ship and the transparent dome +that had been constructed on this airless satellite for the +convenience of the lord of the system. Notables in military posts or +present on some other excuse gathered to greet their master. + +"By Pollux!" gasped one onlooker. "Those guards must all be seven feet +tall!" + +The file of magnificent soldiers, who gave the impression of being +almost entirely armor-plated, deployed on either side of the landing +tube exit. They were followed by a figure glittering enough to be an +emperor; but since he was attended by only four officials in bejeweled +scarlet the crowd recognized him for a chamberlain. + +"His Illustrious Sublimity the Lord Vyrtl, Viceroy for Terra, Emperor +of Pollux, and of all its fourteen planets, and of all their +thirty-seven satellites, and of all the nations thereon, Co-ordinator +of the planet Hebryxid--" + +It went on at some length, but the man who led the next little parade +out of the landing tube paid no heed. The part about Terra was a +vestige of centuries before communications had lapsed, and served no +purpose but to remind him that new contact with the original planet +was one of the Jursans' aims. The rest of his titles he could, by now, +recite backwards. + +The crowd of officialdom gaped at him as he stood there. He was a tall +man, which conveniently helped conceal a tendency toward obesity. +Under the excess tissue, his face had a massive strength, with broad +bones and jutting chin and nose; but the gray eyes were weary and +cynical. + +"Wilkins!" he ordered in a bored monotone. "Find which yokel is in +charge, and burn a jet under him!" + + * * * * * + +A resplendent aide hustled forward to where the official in charge of +the dome was wetting his lips over his rehearsed greeting. It was +quickly made plain that His Illustrious Sublimity desired +transportation and a look at the quarters he would have to put up with +until the jackals on Jursa came to their senses. + +The official had tried to provide for every known imperial fancy. He +smirked delightfully when Vyrtl caught sight of the lozards tethered +at one side. + +"By Pollux!" exclaimed the Emperor, his eye brightening. "We hadn't +expected the pleasure of riding till this was over." + +"He tells me they have built a forest, Sire," reported the aide. +"About half a mile square. At least, you will have some relaxation." + +"Good! It is all very well playing the soldier and roughing it +informally, but a man must have _something_!" + +He surveyed the reptilian mounts that were led forward and chose one +whose eight legs were a trifle longer than average. With reasonable +agility, considering his bulk, he hoisted himself into the saddle and +set off toward the miniature palace awaiting him. His guardsmen +trotted alongside while the rest of his retinue mounted and followed +as best they could. + +He drew rein once, to gaze up through the dome at the yellow-green +disk of Jursa. Wilkins overtook him. + +"Note the dark line in the southern hemisphere, Sire," he said. "The +result of Marshal Tzyfol's sweep--the one that broke through their +fleets and led to their plea for terms." + +"Excellent!" said the Emperor. He lowered his gaze and stretched his +neck uncomfortably. Vyrtl was unaccustomed to looking up at anything +or anybody. "They will bear our mark." + +"It will teach them the lesson they deserve," agreed Wilkins +dutifully. "Autonomy, indeed!" + +"Quite," said Vyrtl, urging his lozard forward. "Who are those fools +to think they can demand exemption from established imperial laws ... +they should be satisfied with the standard textbooks and forget their +puttering! Ha--what's this?" + +He pulled up before a small replica of the palace. + +"The dome engineer built it for your wives, Sire." + +"Our wives?" + +"Twenty of them volunteered to share the rigors of the campaign. Their +special transport arrived just before us." + +"Humph!" grunted Vyrtl, riding past. + + * * * * * + +Early the next morning, after the engineers had arranged a dawn for +his benefit, Vyrtl called a council of his commanders. Chief-of-Staff +Robert Tzyfol reported on the situation. + +The rebellious Jursans were sending a representative to ask for terms. +In the Marshal's strongly expressed opinion, no leniency was +necessary. The imperial fleets were slowly but surely stamping out all +resistance, making Jursa unlivable. + +"Abject submission is their only course," he declared. + +It was the sort of declaration with which Vyrtl might have agreed, had +he been able to voice it first. + +As it was, he announced that he would keep it in mind when judging the +fate of the rebels. He had no inclination to destroy a perfectly good, +tax-paying planet if he could whip its inhabitants into line by other +means. + +He ended the conference by stating his intention to ride in the +artificial forest. He enjoyed the glances of relief among the +generals--especially the older and more brittle ones--when he gave +them leave to resume their military duties instead of attending him. + +A few hours later, Wilkins found Vyrtl and a small retinue resting +beside a pool at the edge of the forest. + +"The rebel envoy has arrived, Sire," he reported. + +Vyrtl kicked a pebble into the pool and spat after it. "We shall see +him immediately," he announced. "No use wasting ceremony on the +villain." + +Returning to the palace, he strode into the audience chamber and +signaled for the envoy to be admitted. Still warm from his ride and +insultingly disheveled, he sat in the imitation of the great throne on +his capital planet, Hebryxid. + +"If he isn't brisk," he muttered to Wilkins, "we may teach him +promptness by hunting him through the forest tomorrow." + +Above the whispers of hastily assembled officers, courtiers, and a few +of Vyrtl's wives, a chamberlain announced, "The Jursan envoy, Daphne +Foster." + +"A woman?" murmured Vyrtl. + +"So it seems. She looks quite ... distinguished." + +"Ha! The witty Wilkins! A pretty choice of words." + +The woman approached the throne amid a low buzz from Vyrtl's +attendants, and bowed gracefully. Gracefully but not too abjectly, +considering the situation and his own position, Vyrtl thought. She +raised her head and endured his deliberate scrutiny. + +She _would_ have to be a rebel, Vyrtl told himself. He supposed they +had scoured all Jursa for a real beauty to dazzle him; but they would +discover that it would not work. + +At first glance, she had seemed slim, but he saw now that, though +tall, she was very well proportioned. A net of tiny, glittering jewels +was woven into the black hair that hung to her shoulders. Her features +were regular, but expressively alive compared to the artificial +placidity of the court beauties. + +But what disturbed the Emperor of Pollux most was the way she looked +at him! He felt that it was stretching diplomacy a bit far. + +A smile in deep blue eyes was pleasant, when someone was sufficiently +accomplished to muster it in his presence; but this was a shade too +familiar. She seemed to put herself on a level with him--as if to +share an amusement beyond the others present. + +The next moment, he was trying to decide just what quality made hers +the most beautiful female voice he had ever heard. Consequently, he +missed most of the formula about "the gratitude of all Jursa" at his +receiving "his humble slave." + + * * * * * + +That smile lit the blue eyes again. It was hard to tell if a ghost of +it lingered at the corners of the full lips, but the total effect was +of anything but humility. He pulled himself together, aware that +Wilkins had noticed his hesitation. + +"So the Jursans seek to soften our just anger?" he said. "They send +their surrender by one who is obviously the loveliest jewel of their +misguided world." + +A few of the courtiers snickered dutifully. Vyrtl was annoyed; he had +not meant to be funny. He glanced swiftly at the half-dozen wives +present, but their expressions showed no jealousy. He decided that the +empty-headed creatures had at least learned not to embarrass him +publicly. + +"Your Illustrious Sublimity is too gracious," replied the envoy. "I +regret that my message is not unqualified surrender." + +Vyrtl frowned. "You dare ask terms?" + +"I must carry out the commands laid upon me by the Council." + +She smiled into his eyes and made a rueful little gesture with both +hands, which she allowed to fall gracefully to her sides. Vyrtl's gaze +was led up and down her figure again. + +He forced himself to meet her glance. Rather than expressing any +resentment of his appraisal, it suggested that her resistance to his +demands would be merely formal. + +_They've sent me a clever one_, he thought, _but they will find I +cannot be bought off so cheaply. Still, it can do no harm to show that +Vyrtl can be the diplomat as well as a soldier._ + +"We are unprepared for any discussion," he said aloud. "Since we are +not disposed, however, to be hasty in our judgement, you may wait upon +us in the council chamber in two hours." + +The envoy stepped lithely aside when he rose. With some difficulty, +Vyrtl kept his eyes front as he strode from the hall with Wilkins and +his personal guards at his heels. He hastened to his own chambers for +a bath and change of clothes. + +He allowed himself to be bathed, scented, and dressed in the most +imperial costume he had brought from Hebryxid. Blonde Xota, his +official favorite who had taken no chance of losing her place by +absence from his side, admired his dazzling jewels and scarlet silks +extravagantly. Vyrtl permitted her to serve him a light lunch, paying +little attention to her chatter. + +Once, when he had taken her from the Co-ordinator of his sixth planet, +he had fancied himself in love with her; now he merely amused himself +guessing from day to day to whom she sold her supposed influence. He +sometimes wondered if any wife he owned were innocent of spying. + +He rose, summoned Wilkins, and led a small procession to the council +chamber. They found the necessary quota of high officers waiting. +Daphne Foster was summoned. + +Vyrtl took his place on a dais at the head of the table, and his aide +arranged the gold-stiffened ceremonial robe. The generals made little +professional jokes, each striving to act as if the victory had been +mostly his own doing. Even the lean Chief of Staff, Tzyfol, looked +satiated. + +The Jursan envoy was announced. + + * * * * * + +Once again, Vyrtl was so fascinated by the girl that he paid scant +heed to the ceremonious greetings. He decided she was younger than he +had thought earlier. + +Finally, the conference got down to business. + +"My people," said Daphne Foster, "ask but a few minor concessions, +which we believe will benefit the remainder of the Empire as much as +Jursa." + +"We are disposed to believe your good intentions," said Vyrtl +encouragingly. + +He caught himself smiling, and immediately resumed the mask of +dignity. + +The Jursans, it developed, would give up demands for autonomy and +resume allegiance to the Empire. They pleaded, however, for freedom of +scientific research, promising that their discoveries would be placed +promptly at Vyrtl's disposal. + +In the matter of indemnities, they were willing, Daphne Foster said +with an intimate glance for Vyrtl alone, to rely upon his generosity. +They asked only that they be allowed a reasonable time to restore the +damage suffered in the fighting and that they be permitted to make +part of the payments in the technical equipment they were so skilled +at manufacturing. + +Some of the officers raised objections that Vyrtl thought well-put, +but he overruled them. The main point, he pronounced, was to restore a +valuable possession to productivity. There would be no looting and +destruction. + +He felt less sure of himself when old Tzyfol protested that free +research was one of the roots of the trouble. Consequently, perhaps, +the imperial glare that silenced the Marshal was the more withering. + +After that, Vyrtl sat back and allowed his cohorts to promulgate a +number of minor, harassing conditions. These would satisfy their egos +to some degree, keep the Jursans aware of the folly of questioning his +authority again, and show their envoy how things might have gone had +Vyrtl not been merciful. + +In the end, he added one condition of his own. + +"It will be necessary," he said, "to hold frequent conferences on +these affairs. If the Jursan Council should appoint their envoy as +permanent ambassador to our court, we should be inclined to approve." + +It was tantamount to a command, but the girl showed no resentment. Not +that Vyrtl expected anything so rash as outward reluctance--but a +lifetime of piercing the flattery of courtiers had made him a shrewd +reader of facial expressions. + +He granted permission for an immediate broadcasting of the treaty, +overriding Tzyfol's desire for deeper consideration in favor of Daphne +Foster's plea that delay would cost lives. + +After having copies of the rather simple document drawn up for the +facsimile broadcasters, Vyrtl gave her leave to depart. Without +seeming to watch, he admired her gait as she walked from the +conference chamber. + + * * * * * + +Afterwards, he left the generals to their post-mortem and retired with +Wilkins to a private balcony for a bottle of wine. + +"How did it go?" he asked, leaning back more comfortably when his aide +had removed the heavy robe. + +"You were most generous, Sire, or so I thought." + +"It is a virtue that requires a public display now and then, to +strengthen the roots of the myth that grows from it. Too bad old +Tzyfol failed to see that. Why do you suppose he tried to be +obstinate?" + +"I expect, Sire, he disliked having an old woman seem to get the +better of him after he had won the military victory." + +Vyrtl laughed indulgently and sipped his wine. + +"Even Tzyfol," added Wilkins, "might have been generous had she been +young and pretty. Unfortunately, I suppose, it takes an old head to be +an envoy." + +The Emperor set his glass down very carefully. + +"What did you say?" he demanded evenly. + +Wilkins stared, with the expression of a man who fears he may suddenly +recall having used an obscene word in polite company, or having +bragged falsely and unwittingly of tax-evasion to an imperial +collector. + +Vyrtl repeated his question in a tone a note higher. + +"I-I-I said that if she were young and p-pretty--" + +"How old do you think she was?" rasped Vyrtl. + +"About s-s-seventy. Maybe seventy-five." + +"_What?_" + +He surged to his feet, overturning the table. Immediately the glass +doors opening on the balcony were flung back with a splintering crash. + +Four gleaming guardsmen charged out with drawn weapons, each obviously +aching to become a hero. Wilkins prudently stood rooted, peering at +them from the corner of his eye. + +Vyrtl recovered his poise with an effort. + +"As you were!" he ordered. "Help General Wilkins pick up the table I +knocked over. Clumsy thing!" + +It was done, and the guard captain apologized for the doors. + +"Relax, Wilkins," said Vyrtl when they were again alone. "It just +occurred to me that I ought to have another word with that woman. Have +someone get hold of her at once!" + +He left the disordered balcony and waited in a nearby library. The +books lining the walls were real, he noticed idly--another painstaking +point by the designer of the palace. + +There Wilkins found him presently, to report that the Jursan envoy was +already on her way back to that planet. + +"I called the landing field guard," he explained, "but she had already +taken off. His spotters swept space for them and got a curve on the +ship." + +"Of course," mused Vyrtl. "The treaty has been broadcast." + +"Shall I have the patrols close in on her rocket?" + +"No." The Emperor pondered a moment. "Have a telescreen set up in here +so we can speak directly." + +A frenzied bustle ensued as Wilkins directed a platoon of awed techs +through the process of bringing the mountain to Mohammed. In the end, +the Jursan ship was in communication. The aide called for Daphne +Foster, then stood aside. + +Vyrtl was glad, when she appeared, that Wilkins had placed a deep +armchair before the screen for him. + +Was _this_ the woman with whom he had--? + + * * * * * + +She was still tall, but her white hair gave her the look of the +seventy years with which Wilkins had credited her. Deep laugh-wrinkles +bracketed the mouth, with more at the corners of the still bright +eyes. The delicate bones of her face were more prominent. + +There was nevertheless a clear resemblance to the Daphne Foster he had +received earlier. + +_She looks ... she looked_, thought Vyrtl, _as this woman might have +looked when she was young ... or might have wanted to look._ + +No, that was not quite it. + +_As she knew a man would have liked her to look!_ + +The woman on the screen spoke, her eyes smiling into his in a manner +that was painfully familiar. + +"Your Illustrious Sublimity has become the first to share my little +secret." + +Vyrtl, with a concentration of will, prevented his eyes from peeping +sidelong at Wilkins' expression. + +"We are somewhat surprised," he said, knowing it for an asinine remark +but afraid to risk his dignity by being plainer. + +"Of course," she said, "I hardly expect it to make any difference in +the imperial announcement of peace, but if any clarification is +desired of me, I shall be happy to oblige." + +Vyrtl thought furiously. Had he actually _said_ anything to Wilkins or +anyone else? He tried to remember every word spoken at the conference. +It seemed to him there had been one or two slips, but they had been +taken for imperial witticisms. + +No, he was safe enough. The Jursan Council and their technicians +naturally must know the "clarification" offered him, but they would +know better than to publicize it. He could afford to show no mercy if +they did. As things stood, it might be best to stand by his published +word. + +"We desire," he said slowly, "that you, as ambassador, return +immediately. You will have every facility to communicate with your +government, to repay the inconvenience." + +The old woman stared him in the eye, then bowed silently. + +Vyrtl saw that she realized what it might mean. He hoped she would not +arrange an "accident" before her ship returned. + +He had Wilkins take over and check with the captain of the rocket. It +was determined that the best effort would bring the ship back to the +dome on Klo about "mid-morning." Vyrtl left orders that the woman was +to be brought before him the moment she arrived, and retired for the +night. + +He found Xota sprawled confidently upon his bed, and kicked her off in +a temper. His groping had found no loose object to fling after her as +she slunk out the door, and that made his temper worse. He was a long +time getting to sleep.... + + * * * * * + +The next morning, he pecked at his breakfast and sneered at the +artificial dawn that had been delayed for his benefit. + +"Get me a lozard and a squad of guards!" he snarled to Wilkins. "I'll +have a run through the woods while I wait." + +He left the guards at the fringes of his engineers' forest and rode +the eight-legged reptile recklessly among the huge trunks. Since the +builder had artfully omitted all low branches, there was little chance +of his knocking his head off. + +Towards noon, he paused to rest at the little pool on the edge of the +woods. He waved to a group of guards he saw peering at him across an +open field of what looked very much like grass. One of the men ran +over. + +"The Jursan envoy is back, Your Illustrious Sublimity." + +Vyrtl sighed. + +"Tell General Wilkins to bring her here immediately." + +He turned away and sat upon a flat stone beside the pool. + +After a while, he noticed that the ground was liberally supplied with +pebbles for casting into the water. He was watching the spreading +ripples about fifteen minutes later when he heard approaching voices +behind him. + +A glance over his shoulder showed him Wilkins and two guards escorting +the old woman. He turned away, tossing another pebble into the pool +with a half-hearted motion of his arm. + +When Wilkins coughed discreetly behind him, he told the aide and the +guards to withdraw. He listened to the footsteps until he knew they +were beyond range of ordinary conversation. + +"You are the same Daphne Foster?" he asked, still facing the pool. + +"The same, Your Illustrious Sublimity." + +"Let us dispense with formality. Tell me how you did it." + +"It is simple ... in a way. But it requires the use of a not-so-simple +instrument." + +"Such as I?" he asked, apparently intent upon the water. + +"I did not mean Your Illustrious--I did not mean it that way. It is a +little triumph of our Jursan technicians, which will shortly be at +your disposal. I used it to force an illusion upon you." + +"And very cleverly, I admit. Do you have it with you?" + +"Yes. It is compact. It merely operates upon the idea that other +forces can be used to produce hypnosis besides lights, drugs, and +soothing sounds." + +"Turn it on!" ordered Vyrtl. + + * * * * * + +He waited a moment, then twisted around on the stone to face her. +There was no sign of the woman he had seen crossing the field. Before +him seemed to stand the black-haired, lithe girl. + +The only change was in her eyes, which no longer smiled into his so +provocatively. + +_Funny_, thought Vyrtl. _When we actually were strangers, she seemed +so intimate. Only now does she look at me so coldly._ + +"You see?" she said, and started to reach for some switch or button +concealed by the jewel at her breast. + +Vyrtl stopped her with a gesture. + +"You must also be skilled in the sciences of the mind," he remarked. +"What I mean is ... I suppose you never really looked like that?" + +She shook her head a trifle ruefully. + +"Not quite. Most of it is in your own imagination. We know a good deal +about you, Your--" + +"You deduced somehow what I would look for," interrupted Vyrtl, +nodding. "I can see how a study of the things I chose to have about +me--paintings, statues, furnishings, even people--might yield keys to +my preferences. You did remarkably well." + +He tossed another pebble and stared at the ripples. + +"I suppose every man has his ideal of a woman," he said. "I doubt that +any man has _seen_ his absolute ideal--except me. I wonder if you know +what it does to one?" + +He chose a flat pebble and sent it skipping across the surface with a +vicious snap of his wrist. It bounced three ... four ... five times, +and sank. + +"I presume," said Daphne Foster, breaking a tight little silence, +"that you will grant me time to set my affairs in order?" + +Vyrtl weighed a pebble in his hand. + +"You expect to be executed," he stated flatly. + +"Naturally, we knew all along that someone would have to pay for +tricking you. The Emperor of Pollux must, after all, maintain his +dignity." + +Vyrtl wondered if he had detected a note of irony in the musical +voice. He marveled anew at the pleasure of listening to her. But of +course, he reminded himself, he heard his own imagined ideal of what a +lovely woman's voice should be. + +"No," he said abruptly, swinging about. "I am merely going to insist +that you fulfill the terms of the agreement by remaining at my court. +I want you near me from now on." + +She blinked at that. + +"But, surely ... you must realize ... it is only an illusion!" she +protested. + +"As am I," said Vyrtl. "A figurehead imprisoned in a maze of +formalities and so-called pleasures." + + * * * * * + +He saw that she could not understand what could be wrong with his +position. + +"Once, when I was very young," he said, "I thought I would rule. But +fourteen planets require a whole _council_ of co-ordinators! I gave up +that idea and tried to enjoy myself." + +She stared at him uncertainly. He waved a hand at the artificial +forest. + +"It has been like that ever since. They fall all over themselves to +devise new ways of getting my attention and to present pleasures and +entertainment I am incapable of enjoying. I have more wealth than I +can estimate, I sometimes forget which palace I am in, even my wives +look alike by now." + +"I must sympathize with Your Illustrious Sublimity." + +He flung her a hard stare. + +"Perhaps you ought! Even my generals and their soldiers have their +dreams--of conquest or loot. The engineer who built this dome pictures +himself famous and admired. Wilkins is proud of his influence, and +other courtiers have visions of doing away with Wilkins and replacing +him." + +He stood up restlessly. + +"You will laugh at me, I know--but there is little enjoyment in life +when every whim is catered to at a snap of one's fingers. What have I +to _desire_?" + +"I see." She nodded slowly. "The old saying about the pleasure of +anticipation outweighing that of attainment." + +"You should know. You Jursans and your scientific renaissance, your +goal of contacting Terra again." + +He beckoned to Wilkins and the two guards. They ran eagerly across the +grass. + +"You see?" he snorted. "Sometimes I almost wish they would ignore me!" + +He looked at her and saw the blue eyes achieve their knowing, amused +smile once more. + +"That's right," he said, smiling back. "Now I shall have something to +keep my thoughts from becoming dull and bored. A man needs some +impossible dream for moments when he wants to relax." + +Wilkins panted up, trying to look alert and willing. + +"The unattainable Lady Daphne will accompany us to our capital," said +Vyrtl. "Make the necessary arrangements." + +He enjoyed the way his aide covered up a momentary bewilderment. + +_No one else will ever, ever understand this_, he thought with an +unaccustomed thrill of pleasure and amusement. + + * * * * * + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Envoy, Her, by Horace Brown Fyfe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ENVOY, HER *** + +***** This file should be named 32637.txt or 32637.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/6/3/32637/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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