“You make it sound like Sittas’ dreams of heaven.”
Vorgens laughed. “No, it won’t be heaven. While the Empire is ruled by law, it is still governed by men. There’ll always be differences of opinion, problems, arguments. But you’d have as much of a chance to get your own way as anyone else would.”
They had reached the top of the knoll, and stood in knee-deep scrubgrass. A soft breeze moderated the heat of the sun. The deep blue, nearly violet, sky stood sparkling and cloudless all around them.
Vorgens stretched an arm toward the horizon. “This is a good world, MerdonA green world, filled with people who deserve a chance to live in peace.”
“They deserve freedom!” Merdon insisted. “And they’re willing to fight for it.”
Vorgens stepped over to the slightly taller Shinarian and grabbed him by the shoulders. “Don’t you understand, you hothead? I want them to be free! I want them to live their lives the way they want; to reach in any direction they choose; to be free from all outside domination.”
Merdon took a step backward, and Vorgens let his hands drop to his sides. Then he went on, “They can do this under the Empire. It won’t happen overnight, but they can achieve this freedom. Peacefully! What alternative to the Empire do you have? The Komani? Nonsense. Complete independence? You’d be swallowed up by more powerful neighbors within a year. Fine words and brave sentiments are perfectly good in their place, Merdon, but it takes more than that to achieve freedom. You must look at the real world, as it actually exists—not the world you would like to see, not your own dreams. In this real world, you must work for solutions that can be achieved.