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Updated: June 20, 2025
There was a kind of Roman splendor in what they saw, and there was a crude Roman pride in the Markovian who was their host. The arrogance, that was not far from cruelty, could take such pride in the sweep of spaceships embarking on missions of murder and plunder. And yet all this barbarism had been put aside.
Marthasa and Sal Karone were with them in the lounge watching the screens as the ship changed drives. The Markovian squinted a moment and pointed to a minor dot near the corner of the view. "That's our destination. Another six hours and you can set foot on the best planet in the whole Universe!" If it had been mere enthusiasm, Cameron could have taken it with tolerant understanding.
"Who on Earth would believe what you have told me that a handful of meek, subservient Ids had conquered the mighty Markovian Nucleus?" He paused, looking at Joyce who returned his intense gaze. "Is that all?" said Venor finally. "No that is not all. After taking us to the heights and showing us everything that lies beyond, are you simply going to turn us away empty-handed?"
"Why will the people in the Nucleus be made unhappy by our coming?" "Because you'll go there trying to track down the basis for the rumors that defame the Markovian character. You'll bring forcibly to their attention the fact that the rest of the Universe believes the Markovians are basically a bunch of pirates." "And the Markovians don't like to hear these things?" "Definitely not."
It was apparent in his gestures and in the negligence with which he leaned back and surveyed his companions. "You'll be surprised when you see the Nucleus," he said. "We sometimes hear of rumors circulated among Council worlds that Markovian culture is rather backward." "I've never heard anything of that kind," said Cameron. "In fact we've heard almost nothing at all of the Nucleus.
He knew he was straining to believe things he wanted to believe, yet it seemed as if this were almost the very thing Venor had tried to convey the day before but had left unspoken. There was only one possibility of establishing contact, however, and that was through Sal Karone. A remote chance indeed, Cameron thought, in view of the relationship between the Markovian and his sargh.
After an hour he was in the middle of that critical period when the Council despaired of its inability to cope with the Markovian menace. But the stories of commerce and invention and far-flung exchange with other peoples continued. Nowhere was there any reference to the violence of the period.
But for my money I'd just as soon tackle the question of the Ids. Sal Karone is twice the man Marthasa is, yet he acts like he has no will of his own when the Markovian is around." "The Roman-slave relationship," said Joyce. "The Markovians probably conquered a large community of the Ids in their pirate days and brought them here as slaves.
Somehow I have the feeling that the Markovians are even deceiving themselves!" They left the building and took the car back to the house of Marthasa without seeing Zlenon again. Their Markovian host was waiting. Cameron thought he sensed a trace of tension in Marthasa that wasn't there before as he led them to seats in the garden.
He glanced up with warm friendliness and invited Cameron to join him. Cameron hesitated, undecided for a moment whether to return to his suite for the portable semantic translator used in his profession at times like this. He always felt there was something decidedly unprofessional about resorting to their use and had spent many hours trying to master Markovian before leaving.
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