Read Online The Last Castle by Jack Holbrook Vance - Free Book Online
Authors: Jack Holbrook Vance
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brought forth and assembled, you shall perform the toil. What do you say to that?”
“I say yes, gladly, if it will be of real utility. However, I can hardly perform the labor for a dozen different theoreticians. Will any others serve beside myself?”
No one responded. Silence was absolute, as if every gentleman present held his breath.
Hagedorn started to speak, but Claghorn interrupted. “Pardon, Hagedorn, but here, finally, we are stuck upon a basic principle, and it must be settled now.”
Hagedorn looked desperately around the council. “Has anyone relevant comment?”
“Claghorn must do as his innate nature compels,” declared 0. Z. Garr in the silkiest of voices. “I cannot dictate to him. As for myself, I can never demean my status as a gentleman of Hagedorn. This creed is as natural to me as drawing breath; if ever it is compromised I become a travesty of a gentleman, a grotesque mask of myself. This is Castle Hagedorn, and we represent the culmination of human civilization. Any compromise therefore becomes degradation; any expedient diminution of our standards becomes dishonor. I have heard the word ‘emergency’ used. What a deplorable sentiment! To dignify the rat-like snappings and gnashings of such as the Meks with the word ‘emergency’ is to my mind unworthy of a gentleman of Hagedorn!”
A murmur of approval went around the council table.
Claghorn leaned far back in his seat, chin on his chest, as if in relaxation. His clear blue eyes went from face to face, then returned to 0. Z. Garr whom he studied with dispassionate interest. “Obviously you direct your words to me,” he said. “I appreciate their malice. But this is a small matter.” He looked away from 0. Z. Garr, to stare up at the massive diamond and emerald chandelier. “More important is the fact that the council as a whole, in spite of my earnest persuasion, seems to endorse your viewpoint. I can urge, expostulate, insinuate no longer, and I will now leave Castle Hagedorn. I find the atmosphere stifling. I trust that you survive the attack of the Meks, though I doubt that you will. They are a clever resourceful race, untroubled by qualms or preconceptions, and we have long underestimated their quality.”
Claghorn rose from his seat, inserted the ivory tablet into its socket “I bid you all farewell.” Hagedorn hastily jumped to his feet, held forth his arms imploringly. “Do not depart in anger, Claghorn! Reconsider! We need your wisdom, your expertise.”
“Assuredly you do,” said Claghorn. “But even more you need to act upon the advice I have already extended. Until then we have no common ground, and any further interchange is futile and tiresome.” He made a brief all-inclusive salute and departed the chamber.
Hagedorn slowly resumed his seat. The others made uneasy motions, coughed, looked up at the chandelier, studied their ivory tablets. 0. Z. Garr muttered something to B. F. Wyas who sat beside him, who nodded solemnly. Hagedorn spoke in a subdued voice: “We will miss the presence of Claghorn, his penetrating if unorthodox insights … We have accomplished little Uegus, perhaps you will give thought to the projector under discussion. Xanten, you were to question the captive Mek. 0. Z. Garr, you undoubtedly will see to the repair of the energy cannon ... Aside from these small matters, it appears that we have evolved no general plan of action, to help either ourselves or Janeil.”
Marune spoke. “What of the other castles? Are they still extant? We have had no news. I suggest that we send Birds to each castle, to learn their condition.”
Hagedorn nodded. “Yes, this is a wise motion. Perhaps you will see to this, Marune?”
“I will do so.”
“Good. We will now adjourn for a time.”
The Birds were dispatched by Marune of Aure and one by one returned. Their reports were similar:
“Sea Island is deserted. Marble columns are tumbled along the beach. Pearl Dome is collapsed. Corpses float in
“I say yes, gladly, if it will be of real utility. However, I can hardly perform the labor for a dozen different theoreticians. Will any others serve beside myself?”
No one responded. Silence was absolute, as if every gentleman present held his breath.
Hagedorn started to speak, but Claghorn interrupted. “Pardon, Hagedorn, but here, finally, we are stuck upon a basic principle, and it must be settled now.”
Hagedorn looked desperately around the council. “Has anyone relevant comment?”
“Claghorn must do as his innate nature compels,” declared 0. Z. Garr in the silkiest of voices. “I cannot dictate to him. As for myself, I can never demean my status as a gentleman of Hagedorn. This creed is as natural to me as drawing breath; if ever it is compromised I become a travesty of a gentleman, a grotesque mask of myself. This is Castle Hagedorn, and we represent the culmination of human civilization. Any compromise therefore becomes degradation; any expedient diminution of our standards becomes dishonor. I have heard the word ‘emergency’ used. What a deplorable sentiment! To dignify the rat-like snappings and gnashings of such as the Meks with the word ‘emergency’ is to my mind unworthy of a gentleman of Hagedorn!”
A murmur of approval went around the council table.
Claghorn leaned far back in his seat, chin on his chest, as if in relaxation. His clear blue eyes went from face to face, then returned to 0. Z. Garr whom he studied with dispassionate interest. “Obviously you direct your words to me,” he said. “I appreciate their malice. But this is a small matter.” He looked away from 0. Z. Garr, to stare up at the massive diamond and emerald chandelier. “More important is the fact that the council as a whole, in spite of my earnest persuasion, seems to endorse your viewpoint. I can urge, expostulate, insinuate no longer, and I will now leave Castle Hagedorn. I find the atmosphere stifling. I trust that you survive the attack of the Meks, though I doubt that you will. They are a clever resourceful race, untroubled by qualms or preconceptions, and we have long underestimated their quality.”
Claghorn rose from his seat, inserted the ivory tablet into its socket “I bid you all farewell.” Hagedorn hastily jumped to his feet, held forth his arms imploringly. “Do not depart in anger, Claghorn! Reconsider! We need your wisdom, your expertise.”
“Assuredly you do,” said Claghorn. “But even more you need to act upon the advice I have already extended. Until then we have no common ground, and any further interchange is futile and tiresome.” He made a brief all-inclusive salute and departed the chamber.
Hagedorn slowly resumed his seat. The others made uneasy motions, coughed, looked up at the chandelier, studied their ivory tablets. 0. Z. Garr muttered something to B. F. Wyas who sat beside him, who nodded solemnly. Hagedorn spoke in a subdued voice: “We will miss the presence of Claghorn, his penetrating if unorthodox insights … We have accomplished little Uegus, perhaps you will give thought to the projector under discussion. Xanten, you were to question the captive Mek. 0. Z. Garr, you undoubtedly will see to the repair of the energy cannon ... Aside from these small matters, it appears that we have evolved no general plan of action, to help either ourselves or Janeil.”
Marune spoke. “What of the other castles? Are they still extant? We have had no news. I suggest that we send Birds to each castle, to learn their condition.”
Hagedorn nodded. “Yes, this is a wise motion. Perhaps you will see to this, Marune?”
“I will do so.”
“Good. We will now adjourn for a time.”
The Birds were dispatched by Marune of Aure and one by one returned. Their reports were similar:
“Sea Island is deserted. Marble columns are tumbled along the beach. Pearl Dome is collapsed. Corpses float in
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