The same processes shaped business and politics as produced people who were fit to rule others and build empires. The weak and the inept were consumed to make room for the strong and the skillful. Dominance and survival were the rewards of excellence. The rules might be harsh, but it wasn’t he who had made them. They were the same rules that had directed life’s upward struggle from its emergence out of primeval ooze, and through ruthless competition and selection eventually produced minds capable of comprehending them. They were the rules of the real world. The world of the Kronians was a dreamland based on a naive ideology that could never survive outside the artificial protectorate they had created. That was why they rejected things that science had known for two hundred years and invented fanciful, supernatural purposes to account for inconvenient facts and contradictions they were unable otherwise to explain. Ironically, the “primitives” who had survived understood reality better than the sophisticates who would presume to teach them.
But then again, was it so ironic? They were both products of their respective worlds, after all. The Kronians brought airy ideals from the starry, uncontaminated halls of Kronia. The survivors had already qualified by every test Earth had to offer.
Accompanied by Leisha and two guards, Zeigler walked out with Rakki, Yobu, and Enka, to where the flyer was waiting inside the OpCom perimeter fence. He had had red shoulder tabs sewn on his tunic as a mark of his rank. It was just after dark. Lieutenant Jorff and the two troopers who would also be going to Joburg to commence the weapons training were standing outside, silhouetted against the lights—a small enough number, but as much as could be spared. Rakki turned as they got to the machine, and raised a hand toward Zeigler in salutation in the way he had learned. Zeigler returned it. He had declined to introduce the custom of shaking hands.
“When we meet next, your guards will carry weapons like these too,” Zeigler said.
The reply came back as, “He will make sure they are worthy. . . . I think he means worthy to be sent here to help out.”
“I’m sure he will perform the task well.”
“And then we will make him ruler of the caves?”
“And then he will rule the caves.”
Leisha joined the departing party as they climbed aboard. Zeigler watched with his guards while the flyer taxied away a short distance before opening to full power and climbing steeply to clear the fence. Then he turned and led the way back to the OpComs Dome.
These natives were material that definitely had potential, he reflected. And yes, he could use the additional manpower. But beyond that, the existence of such a force, armed, trained, and loyal to him, could prove a factor very much to his advantage when the Party leadership arrived, and the internecine disputes and clashes of interest that reality said were inevitable sooner or later began breaking out. And now there was news from the Varuna of more survivors, numbering possibly several hundred, spotted on the eastern coast of the Raphta peninsula, trekking northward toward the warmer zone. He didn’t have the time or the resources to create a trained army. But if he moved fast enough to at least get them aligned with him in the way he had done with Rakki, it would go a long way to making him a formidable force to reckon with indeed.
* * *
On arriving back in his office, Zeigler was informed by Kelm that Naarmegen and a group of others were planning to desert either tonight or tomorrow. Their plan was to use a Scout vehicle that would be left for the purpose among the constructions in progress on the far side of the pad area. How did Zeigler want to deal with it?
“Do we know who they are?” Zeigler asked.
“A dozen in all. I have six of the names other than Naarmegen so far. All from the scientific and clerical staff.”
“Where do they think they’re going?
“There doesn’t seem to be any clear idea. It’s mainly a demonstration—to get away.”
Zeigler turned it over for a while. “And how far are they likely to get?” he said finally. “There was enough trouble getting to Joburg overland.” He tilted his jaw. “We do nothing at this stage. Let them proceed. Just follow their progress for the time being. If they get into trouble, it will serve as a warning to the rest.”