The Wizard of Anharitte (25 page)

Dion-daizan sat back in his chair and interleaved his fingers. Clad in a simple white gown, he might have been the high-priest of a half-hundred religions. But the quiet certainty in his eyes belonged to no fanatic.

‘You’re a man both of perception and principle,’ said Dion. ‘I like that.’ He leaned over to a communicator on the desk. ‘Ask Director Vestevaal to join us.’

‘The director is here?’

‘Certainly he’s. here. He and I have been working while you’ve been sleeping these several weeks. We’ve been hammering out a formula to solve our mutual problems.’

Magno Vestevaal was in fine form. He greeted Ren jubilantly, inquired about his injuries, then turned back to Dion-daizan.

‘Well, Dion, what do you think of him?’

‘Much as before,’ said Dion. ‘After all, our dossier on him was pretty complete from the moment he was assigned to Roget, The only thing we missed was his profound talent for destruction. Since his coming Anharitte has never been quite the same.’

‘What’s going on?’ demanded Ren, looking from the director to the
Imaiz
and back again.

The director eased himself on to a comer of the
Imaiz
’s desk and turned to Ren confidentially.

‘It was the ancient problem, Tito. The irresistible force versus the immovable object: Dion’s irresistible climate of social change versus our intractable need for a free port in this sector of the galaxy.’

‘I’m familiar with the problem,’ said Ren guardedly. ‘But it doesn’t have a solution.’

‘It does, Tito—and I’ve found it. A stroke of commercial genius even if I say it myself. I’d like you to meet a new director of the Company—Dion-daizan.’

‘A director?’

‘Dion’s now a major shareholder in the Company and he has been appointed director of sector operations. Don’t you see the beauty of it. What he does with his social revolution is no longer our concern. Dion himself is now committed to the principle of maintaining free trade in Anharitte.’

Ren felt suddenly bitter. ‘I can see where the Company stands to gain, but I never thought Dion would sell out the
Ahhn
for money—’ He turned to the
Imaiz
accusingly.

‘Peace, Tito!’ Dion-daizan held up a cautioning hand. ‘Your emotions do you credit, but there’s been no sell-out. Freedom and Free Trade are merely different aspects of the same idea of liberty. To assume that they’re opposed is a political artifice. It’s a fallacy adopted’ by inept governments to secure an income to which they have no moral title. I always intended the free trade principle to apply to Anharitte. As I recall, it was you who invented the schism.’

‘I?’

‘And think—if I had been genuinely opposed to free trade, do you suppose I would not have removed you as expeditiously as I dispatched the Butcher of Turais?’

‘So you think you can integrate the two?’ asked Ren. Here were new possibilities for his mind to explore. ‘On many levels I can see how it would work—but there could be a few fundamental obstacles. For a start I don’t see where the societies would fit into the pattern.’

‘The societies will have to adapt—but then, they’re very good at adaptation. They already provide a nucleus of social services, which happily can be expanded. And insurance is an untapped field on Roget. I could almost envy the societies their future.’ Dion’s air of authority was pervasive. He spoke as if the future were under his control.

‘Who are you?’ asked Ren suddenly.

Dion-daizan grinned broadly. ‘The wizard of Anharitte, of course.’

‘He’s pulling your leg,’ said Vestevaal. ‘He’s a Terran sociological engineer provided by the Galactic Federation at the request of the planetary government of Roget. His job is to nurse an essentially feudal society through five hundred years of technological backlog—without its blowing apart or losing its identity.’

Ren considered this in silence for a long time, then: ‘When did you find this out, Director?’

‘Unfortunately not till I’d returned from Terra with the
Imaiz
’s contract already signed in my pocket. Dion actually let me conclude the deal before he admitted that what I was buying would have been given freely anyway. In short, he’s an even bigger rogue than I. It’s a good thing he’s now on our side. We didn’t do so well with him in opposition.’

‘And where does this place me?’ asked Ren finally. ‘With Dion in this theater, the Company scarcely needs an agent here.’

‘My thoughts entirely,’ said Vestevaal. ‘In fact I welcomed the chance to take you to Free Trade Central. I wanted to initiate you into the intrigues necessary to maintain a seat on the council. However, Dion has another proposition. He wants you to remain in Anharitte as his personal assistant.’

‘On Company affairs?’

‘Only partially. He also wants you to assist with his program of technical and social reforms. It seems the reputation you have built as Agent Ren, coupled with your deep understanding of the
Ahhn
, gives you the unique ability to serve as a bridge between the two cultures. Both sides know and trust you—and that’s a valuable asset indeed. Take a day or two to think it over.’

‘I don’t need a day or two,’ said Ren. ‘I had already decided to stay in Anharitte. If Dion will have me, I’m his man. I’m sorry about your plans for me, Director—but I think you understand how I feel.’

‘No apology necessary, Tito. A few years younger and faced with the same choice, I might even have made the same decision. Anharitte is a place that grows on you. But as it is, I’ve chosen to take something of Anharitte with me instead.’

‘Something?’

‘I should say “someone.” It’s a sign of the changing times. Dion’s manumission bill is going through and he’s releasing Zinder from her bond. She and I are to be married on Terra. Then she’ll work with me at Free Trade Central. What do you think of that?’

‘With a combination of the two of you manipulating the Free Trade Council,’ said Ren, ‘I don’t think even the merchant worlds will stand a chance.’