The Birth of People's Republic of Antartica, стр. 96

me as it receded into history. And to have to watch Robby’s fantasies was hard test. There were no lessons in it; more of the nothing of endings. Germanicus, Lazarus, and I drew apart. When they marched us out that raw November morning, we condemned were divided by anger and fear. Still, our enemies had underestimated what men might do when up against the darkness with scores to settle. I did not expect a better world after death, nor Longfaeroe’s “sublime father.” I did expect Peregrine and Grandfather, and Abigail, and I would have some high dreams to report, how their Grim had trampled on the wisdom pronounced by his grandfather at his birth: “My son, fear Lord God and grow rich in spirit, but have nothing to do with men of rank!”

The president of the Gaunttown Assembly stood across the yard from the governor-general of South Georgia. The Hospidar was broad, blue-eyed, gray-maned, a short boulder with carnivorous eyes and a sharp tongue. I towered over him; he stared me down. Robby was taken to the wall of the courtyard. Saul Rose, now colonel commanding the Volunteers, read the charges and sentence of the court-martial. I turned away. I could hear Longfaeroe’s prayers, the orders to set, the blast. I thought then, what had Germanicus and Samson, and I, saved Robby for at 2 de Diciembre? For this, another blast, this time from his own people? I thought then, what a terrible dare it is to intervene in another’s fate, how twisted the results could be. I think now, curious penitent, that decency is always worth a dare, no matter the results.

Saul Rose approached me, offered me his pistol, handle first, ordered me to administer the coup de grace. I did not respond. He asked Germanicus.

“No’ for Rob I’d shoot,” said Germanicus.

“And who’ll offer a gun to shoot you in the head when it comes to that?” said Lazarus. Saul Rose smiled, offered the pistol to Motherwell, Otter Ransom, and Wild Drumrul, none of whom responded. Burl Lindfir did the job.

“Ye men are guilty of insubordination in time of war,” said Saul Rose, and then he turned to look at Germanicus and said with viciousness, “and also of cowardice,” to the man whose father he had harpooned. The Hospidar had finally managed to avoid the tradition of a trial; we could now be shot on the spot. Saul Rose continued, “I commend yerr fate to my governor-general.”

The Hospidar came to us, surveying our faces, I studied him as well, as he walked before us, small steps. He did not seem resolute. It came to me that he might not have known what he was going to do with us. I saw the weight of his office, the strain of his long-pursued ambition, and that it was as wearying to him as our fracturing was to us. I took that as a lesson; as Lazarus preached, it was not possible, or desirable, to rule innocently. In the month since our arrest, and his elevation to despot, the Hospidar had tired, wavered. I know this might seem simple, but I saw then and still do believe that we were more fearsome to him than he to us. And for all Lazarus’s conviction that there was no law or justice on South Georgia other than the Hospidar’s, I declare now that there was a truth to what had happened, to what Germanicus and Lazarus and I represented, and that it slowed the Hospidar’s hand: truth can be smeared, can be interred, yet perhaps it cannot be erased.

“Think me the famous serpent, so laddies?” he began. “Ask away, what could be done? That daft boy took the risk, took the penalty. This island be damned if I let him free, Lena’s killer not named. I take the risk now, me and mine, and aye, schoolmaster, we’ll take the penalty if it comes. Who can say what comes now the ice be gone? Say ye, Germanicus Frazer? Did yerr dad? Aye, he were a bold one. I’m not scratchin’ that. Mark him now! Left us, forgot us, took to feud as man and not governor-general. I don’t say I would’ve done different. Happened to him. I must be bolder, and must judge the weak, as Frazer did not. I must hear my charges, as Frazer did not. So with ye, laddies. Would ye be free, ye would kill me, or perish for tryin’. Ye, Germanicus Frazer, now first of yerr clan, would cut out my innards, and Saul Rose’s afore me. Ye, schoolmaster, would spread yerr lies at the womenfolk again, taking man from wife, son from lassie. Where on this island could ye be free? At Shagrock with the nigs, or at the Cape? Nay, for them don’t want ye there. In the beastie’s stew? Nay, for them don’t want ye as we don’t want them. And ye, Grim Fiddle, the hardest man I ever sawd in a fight, no ten of my men could match ye. How could we turn our backs on ye, the more with yerr lot at yerr side? Begod, Grim Fiddle, ye’re the one I mark most, for ye have claim to my post. Are ye able to it, then? Did ye give right when they called for Lena’s ravisher? Did ye give right when ye were ordered to finish the daft boy? That he was, daft and a killer. Ye would not! Ye thought of yerr own ways, and not of this island’s. Ye’re not man for this office. I’m keener than ye, for I’m for what has to be done to keep here, give right when they ask for right. I say, I’m right for bein’ bold, and ye’re wrong for ye’ve not been bold.”

I tried to talk, a hesitant contrition, for I took his words hard, not truth, but then again, not lies.

“Keep yerr tongue,” he shouted. “I’d dun ye for no less than ye dare to judge me. I won’t do it now. It’d