The Star Kings

'Zarth, you must act for me. In this moment of crisis when the Cloud darkens across the galaxy, the Empire cannot be left without a leader.'

Zora, his wife, seconded the appeal to Gordon. 'You're of the royal house. You alone can command allegiance now.'

Gordon's mind whirled. What was he to do? Refuse and finally reveal to them the unguessed truth of his identity and his involuntary imposture?

He couldn't do that now! It would leave the Empire without a head, would leave all its people and its allies confused and bewildered, would make them imminent prey for the attack of the Cloud.

But on the other hand, how could he carry out the role when he was still so ignorant of this universe? And how then could he get away to Earth to contact the real Zarth Arn across time?

'You have been proclaimed regent to the Empire and it is impossible to retract that now,' said Jhal Arn, in a weak whisper.

Gordon's heart sank. It was impossible to retract that proclamation without throwing the Empire into even deeper confusion.

There was only one course open to him. He would have to occupy the regency until he could slip away to Earth as he'd planned. When they had re-exchanged bodies, the real Zarth could come back to be regent.

'I'll do my best, then,' Gordon faltered. 'But if I blunder-'

'You won't,' Jhal Arn whispered. 'I trust everything in your hands, Zarth.'

He sank back on his pillow, a spasm of pain crossing his white face. Hastily, Zora called the physicians.

The physicians waved them all from the room. 'The emperor must not exert himself further or we will not answer for the consequences.'

In the splendid outer rooms, Gordon found Lianna at his side. He looked at her shakenly.

'Lianna, how can I lead the Empire and hold the star kings' allegiance, as Jhal would have done?'

'Why can't you?' she flashed. 'Aren't you son of Arn Abbas, of the mightiest line of rulers in the galaxy?'

He wanted to cry to her that he was not, that he was only John Gordon of ancient Earth, utterly unfit for such vast responsibility.

He couldn't. He was still caught in the web that had bound him since first-how long ago it seemed!-he had for adventure's sake entered his pact across time with Zarth Arn. He still had to play out the role until he could regain his own identity.

Lianna imperiously waved aside the chamberlains and officials who already were swarming around him.

'Prince Zarth is exhausted! You will have to wait until morning.'

Gordon indeed felt drunk with exhaustion, his feet stumbling as he went with Lianna up through the palace to his own old apartment.

She left him there. 'Try to sleep, Zarth. You'll have the whole weight of the Empire on you tomorrow.'

Gordon had thought he could not possibly sleep, but he was no sooner in bed than drugged slumber overcame him.

He awoke the next morning to find Hull Burrel beside him. The big Antarian looked at him a little uncertainly.

'Princess Lianna suggested that I act as your aide, highness,'

Gordon felt relieved. He needed someone he could trust, and he had a strong liking for this big, bluff captain.

'Hull, that's the best idea yet. You know I've never been trained for rule. There's so much that I ought to know, and don't.'

The Antarian shook his head. 'I hate to tell you, but things are piling up fast for you to decide. The envoys of the southern star-kingdoms ask another audience. Vice-Commander Giron has called twice in the last hour from the fleet, to talk to you.'

Gordon tried to think, as he quickly dressed. 'Hull, is Giron a good officer?'

'One of the best,' the Antarian said promptly. 'A hard disciplinarian but a fine strategist.'

'Then,' Gordon said, 'we'll leave him in command of the fleet. I'll talk to him shortly.'

He had to nerve himself for the ordeal of walking down with his new aide through the palace, of replying to bows, of playing this part of regent-ruler.

He found Tu Shal and the other star-kingdom envoys awaiting him in the little study that was the nerve- center of Empire government.

'Prince Zarth, all our kingdoms regret the dastardly attack on your brother,' said the Polarian. 'But this will not prevent your demonstrating the Disrupter for us as your brother agreed?'

Gordon was appalled. In the whirl of the night's events, he had almost forgotten that promise.

He tried to evade the question. 'My brother is badly stricken, as you know. He is unable to carry out his promise.'

The Hercules envoy said quickly, 'But you know how to wield the Disrupter, Prince Zarth. You could carry out the demonstration.'

That was the devil of it, Gordon thought dismayedly. He didn't know the details of the Disruptor! He had learned something from Jhal Arn of how the apparatus was operated, but he still hadn't any idea of just what that mysterious, terrible force could do, 'I have heavy duties as regent of the Empire while my brother is helpless, and I may have to postpone that demonstration for a little while,' he told them.

Tu Shal's face grew grave. 'Highness, you must not! I tell you that failure to give us this reassurance would strengthen the arguments of those who claim the Disruptor is too dangerous to use. It would turn the wavering parties in our kingdoms toward deserting the Empire!'

Gordon felt trapped. He couldn't let the Empire's vital allies desert. Yet how could he wield the Disrupter?

He might be able to learn more from Jhal Arn about it, he thought desperately. Enough so that he could try to wield the Disruptor in at least this demonstration?

He made his voice stern, determined. 'The demonstration will be made at the first possible moment. This is all I can say.'

It did not satisfy the worried envoys, he could see. They looked furtively at each other.

'I will report that to the Barons,' said the chubby envoy of Hercules Cluster. The others bowed also, and left.

Hull Burrel gave him no time to reflect on the pressure that this new complication put upon him.

'Vice-Commander Giron on the stereo now, highness. Shall I put him through?'

When, a moment later, the image of the Empire naval commander appeared on the stereo-plate, Gordon saw that the towering Centaurian veteran was deeply perturbed.

'Prince Zarth, I wish first to know if I am to remain in command of the fleet or if a new commander is being sent out?'

'You're appointed full Commander, subject only to review by my brother when he resumes his duties,' Gordon said promptly.

Giron showed no elation. 'I thank you, highness. But if I am to command the fleet, the situation has reached the point where I must have political information on which to base my strategic plans.'

'What do you mean? What is the situation to which you refer?' Gordon asked.

'Our long-range radar has detected very heavy fleet-movements inside the Cloud!' was the sharp answer. 'At least four powerful armadas have left their bases in there and are cruising just inside the northern borders of the Cloud.'

Giron added, 'This suggests strongly that the League of Dark Worlds is planning a surprise attack on us in at least two different directions. In view of that possibility, it is imperative that I make my own fleet dispositions quickly.'

He flashed on the familiar stereo-map of the galaxy's great swarm of stars, with its zones of colored light that represented the Mid-Galactic Empire and the star-kingdoms.

'I've got my main forces strung in three divisions on a line here between Rigel and Orion Nebula, each division self-sufficient in battleships, cruisers, phantoms and so on. The Fomalhaut contingent is incorporated in our first division.

'This is our prearranged defense plan, but it counts on the Hercules Barons' and the Polaris Kingdom's fleets