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Book: Inferno: A Chronicle of a Distant World (The Galactic Comedy) by Mike Resnick
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Authors: Mike Resnick
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sort out your differences," said Cartright. "I will be happy to act as a mediator if you feel one is necessary."
"I think not," said Barioke. He paused and turned his piercing eyes full upon Cartright's image in his vidscreen. "Let us understand one another, Mr. Cartright. You are the one who did not wish my planet to obtain self-rule for another quarter of a century. You are the one who has constantly favored the Enkoti in all things. You are the one who made that irresponsible, game-playing spendthrift the interim president. You are the one who urged your fellow Men to erect their buildings and start their businesses on Enkoti land. And now you are urging me to deal with an Enkoti who has publicly condemned my government. You are not my friend, Mr. Cartright. I am trying to unify this world, and you are hindering me every bit as much as the prime minister, perhaps more."
"That is a very one-sided statement of the facts," responded Cartright. "Robert August Tantram was elected prime minister by your people, not mine."
"In point of fact, he was defeated by my people, and appointed to a meaningless office by me ," said Barioke. "In retrospect, it was a mistake. He has opposed me at every turn."
"He has only requested that you not appropriate the private property of the Enkoti for governmental use."
"He does not request; he demands. And I should point out that the prime minister and his tribe possessed the property we have confiscated only because of the favored treatment his father and brother received at the hands of your race. You literally threw money at them, Mr. Cartright. They did nothing to earn it, except to give you a free hand to use our world as your Department's grand social experiment."
"I resent the implication!" said Cartright. "We have helped elevate all the jasons. Our medical clinics have been constructed in every tribal homeland, our teachers have gone into the most remote areas, our—"
"But always you have begun with the Enkoti," interrupted Barioke. "You make it sound as if I wish to enslave them, Mr. Cartright. All I wish to do is redress the inequities and unify all the inhabitants of Faligor. No Enkoti will suffer during my rule."
"What kind of impression do you think you're making on the Enkoti right now, with hundreds of soldiers surrounding the prime minister's residence?"
"A momentary disruption, nothing more," said Barioke. "If he will publicly apologize for attacking the government and swear fealty to it, all will be forgiven."
"And if not?"
"Then I shall have to charge him with treason."
"That's ridiculous!" snapped Cartright.
"I realize that you and I have honest disagreements, Mr. Cartright," said Barioke, "but I cannot permit you to address me like that."
"I apologize, Mr. President," said Cartright, struggling to control his temper. "But I helped draft your constitution. It guarantees freedom of speech, and all that the prime minister did last night was exercise that right."
"I have studied your laws, Mr. Cartright," said Barioke, still unperturbed, "and I think you and I both know that freedom of speech is not an absolute, that there are circumstances under which it can and indeed must be restricted."
"Voicing an honest opinion about the government is not one of them."
"And if it is his honest opinion that the government must be overthrown by force, or that the Enkoti must secede, is that protected by our constitution?"
"He did not urge anyone to secede or use force," said Cartright. "I was there."
"There were nuances and implications," answered Barioke.
"You don't charge someone with treason because of nuances."
"This is getting us nowhere, Mr. Cartright," said Barioke. "If you will give me your word that he will make no further public statements, the army will withdraw immediately and his freedom will be restored."
"Let me speak to him."
"Certainly," replied Barioke. A small smile cross his face. "He is not, after all, going anywhere."
Cartright broke the connection
"I think not," said Barioke. He paused and turned his piercing eyes full upon Cartright's image in his vidscreen. "Let us understand one another, Mr. Cartright. You are the one who did not wish my planet to obtain self-rule for another quarter of a century. You are the one who has constantly favored the Enkoti in all things. You are the one who made that irresponsible, game-playing spendthrift the interim president. You are the one who urged your fellow Men to erect their buildings and start their businesses on Enkoti land. And now you are urging me to deal with an Enkoti who has publicly condemned my government. You are not my friend, Mr. Cartright. I am trying to unify this world, and you are hindering me every bit as much as the prime minister, perhaps more."
"That is a very one-sided statement of the facts," responded Cartright. "Robert August Tantram was elected prime minister by your people, not mine."
"In point of fact, he was defeated by my people, and appointed to a meaningless office by me ," said Barioke. "In retrospect, it was a mistake. He has opposed me at every turn."
"He has only requested that you not appropriate the private property of the Enkoti for governmental use."
"He does not request; he demands. And I should point out that the prime minister and his tribe possessed the property we have confiscated only because of the favored treatment his father and brother received at the hands of your race. You literally threw money at them, Mr. Cartright. They did nothing to earn it, except to give you a free hand to use our world as your Department's grand social experiment."
"I resent the implication!" said Cartright. "We have helped elevate all the jasons. Our medical clinics have been constructed in every tribal homeland, our teachers have gone into the most remote areas, our—"
"But always you have begun with the Enkoti," interrupted Barioke. "You make it sound as if I wish to enslave them, Mr. Cartright. All I wish to do is redress the inequities and unify all the inhabitants of Faligor. No Enkoti will suffer during my rule."
"What kind of impression do you think you're making on the Enkoti right now, with hundreds of soldiers surrounding the prime minister's residence?"
"A momentary disruption, nothing more," said Barioke. "If he will publicly apologize for attacking the government and swear fealty to it, all will be forgiven."
"And if not?"
"Then I shall have to charge him with treason."
"That's ridiculous!" snapped Cartright.
"I realize that you and I have honest disagreements, Mr. Cartright," said Barioke, "but I cannot permit you to address me like that."
"I apologize, Mr. President," said Cartright, struggling to control his temper. "But I helped draft your constitution. It guarantees freedom of speech, and all that the prime minister did last night was exercise that right."
"I have studied your laws, Mr. Cartright," said Barioke, still unperturbed, "and I think you and I both know that freedom of speech is not an absolute, that there are circumstances under which it can and indeed must be restricted."
"Voicing an honest opinion about the government is not one of them."
"And if it is his honest opinion that the government must be overthrown by force, or that the Enkoti must secede, is that protected by our constitution?"
"He did not urge anyone to secede or use force," said Cartright. "I was there."
"There were nuances and implications," answered Barioke.
"You don't charge someone with treason because of nuances."
"This is getting us nowhere, Mr. Cartright," said Barioke. "If you will give me your word that he will make no further public statements, the army will withdraw immediately and his freedom will be restored."
"Let me speak to him."
"Certainly," replied Barioke. A small smile cross his face. "He is not, after all, going anywhere."
Cartright broke the connection
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