"Asimov, Isaac - Cleon the Emperor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asimov Isaac)

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5.

The Sector of Wye had a tradition of opposition to the Entun Dynasty of Cleon I that had been ruling the Empire for over two centuries. The opposition dated back to a time when the line of Mayors of Wye had contributed members who had served as Emperor. The Wyan dynasty had neither lasted long nor had it been conspicuously successful, but the people and rulers of Wye found it difficult to forget that they had once beenЧhowever imperfectly and temporarilyЧsupreme. The brief period when Rashelle, as Mayoress of Wye, had challenged the Empire, eighteen years earlier, had added both to Wye's pride and to its frustration.

All this made it reasonable that the small band of leading conspirators should feel as safe in Wye as they would feel anywhere on Trantor.

Five of them sat about a table in a room in a run-down portion of the sector. The room was poorly furnished but well-shielded.

In a chair which was marginally superior in quality to the others sat the man who might well be judged by this fact to be the leader. He had a thin face, a sallow complexion, a wide mouth with lips so pale as to be nearly invisible. There was a touch of gray in his hair, but his eyes burned with an inextinguishable anger.

He was staring at the man seated exactly opposite him; distinctly older and softer, hair almost white, with plump cheeks that tended to quiver when he spoke.

The leader said sharply, УWell? It is quite apparent you have done nothing. Explain that!Ф

The older man tried to bluster. He said, УI am an old Joranumite, Namarti. Why do I have to explain my actions?Ф

Gambol Deen Namarti, once the right hand man of Laskin УJoJoФ Joranum, said, УThere are many old Joranumites. Some are incompetent; some are soft; some have forgotten. Being an old Joranumite may mean no more than that one is an old fool.Ф

The older man sat back in his chair. УAre you calling me an old fool? Me? I am Kaspal KaspalovЧI was with JoJo when you had not yet joined the party, when you were a ragged nothing looking for a cause.Ф

УI am not calling you a fool,Ф said Namarti sharply. УI say simply that some old Joranumites are fools. You have a chance now to show me that you are not one of them.Ф

УMy association with JoJoЧФ

УForget that. He's dead!Ф

УI should think his spirit lives on.Ф

УIf that thought will help us in our fight then his spirit lives on. But to others; not to us. We know he made mistakes.Ф

УI deny that.Ф

УDon't insist on making a hero out of a mere man who made mistakes. He thought he could move the world by the strength of oratory alone, by wordsЧФ

УHistory shows that words have moved mountains in the past.Ф

УNot Joranum's words, obviously, because he made mistakes. He hid his Mycogenian origins and did it too clumsily. Worse, he let himself be tricked into accusing the old First Minister of being a robot. I warned him against that robot accusation, but he wouldn't listenЧand it destroyed him. Now let's start fresh, shall we? Whatever use we make of Joranum's memory for the outside world, let us not ourselves be transfixed by it.Ф

Kaspalov sat silent. The other three transferred their gaze from Namarti to Kaspalov and back, content to let Namarti carry the weight of the discussion.

УWith Joranum's exile to Nishaya, the Joranumite movement fell apart and seemed to vanish,Ф said Namarti, harshly. УIt would indeed have vanished but for me. Bit by bit and fragment by fragment, I rebuilt it into a network that extends over all of Trantor. You know this, I take it.Ф

УI know it, Chief,Ф mumbled Kaspalov. The use of the title made it plain he was seeking reconciliation now.

Namarti smiled tightly. He did not insist on the title but he always enjoyed hearing it used. He said, УYou're part of this network and you have your duties.Ф