had hardened the nomads into the most brutally efficient warriors of the medieval world. Genghis Khan had been arguably the greatest warlord of history. The combination had proven too much for the Chin, for the Sung, the Turks, Arabs, Russians, Poles and Hungarians. The Mongols had swept the medieval world in a relentless tide of conquest. Their march hadn’t been merely measured in miles, but in degrees of latitude and longitude across the globe.
The Highborn were the Mongols of today. Few in number compared to Earth’s masses, they outfought and outgeneraled Social Unity’s armies.
A ping sounded at the door. Hawthorne turned in surprise. He’d left orders that no one disturb him. Because of what had occurred two days ago, he now became queasy. Had someone corrupted his bodyguards? Three strides brought him behind his desk. He opened a drawer and placed a hand on his gun, the same gun he’d used down in Level Fifty-Three.
“Enter,” he said.
The door opened and Captain Mune’s wheelchair rolled in.
“What are you doing up?” Hawthorne asked.
“Reporting for duty, sir,” Mune said. He had a bandage on his cheek and a crease on his forehead that quickheal hadn’t been able to erase yet.
Hawthorne released his gun and closed the drawer. “You should still be in the hospital.”
It was a heavily-built wheelchair, made to take Mune’s weight. His chest looked bulkier than normal, making the fabric of his uniform strain against his buttons. Bandages likely caused that. His gyroc was slung in a holster, dangling from his right armrest.
“The bullets caused a lot of bleeding, but little internal damage, sir.”
“I’ve read the report, Captain. You’re belittling your injuries.”
“I’m supposed to keep off my feet. I can do that sitting here, sir. In case of another emergency, I’m quite capable of standing and doing what’s necessary.”
“Your health is necessary to me.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m sure—”
“Now listen here, Captain Mune. You’ve saved my life on more occasions than I care to count. You’re…. Damnit, man, you’re making this harder that it should be.”
“I’m sorry, sir. And thank you for what you did.”
“What are you thanking me for?” asked Hawthorne.
“You saved my life, sir.”
Hawthorne shook his head. “That was a terrible experience. Every time I close my eyes, I see those poor souls falling to the cement. I killed them. I shot down the very people I’m supposed to be protecting. I don’t know, Captain. This war….”
“If you can’t win it, sir, no one can.”
“That’s propagandist crap.”
“No, sir, it’s the truth. It’s one of the reasons….” Mune looked away, appearing uncomfortable.
Hawthorne also looked troubled as he cleared his throat. After a moment, he pulled out his chair, plopping into it. He turned on his desk-screen. The truth was that Captain Mune had become his best friend. The thought of Mune dying—
Hawthorne cleared his throat again. He brought up a map of Earth. The red parts were Highborn-controlled. Now that meant all the islands of Earth, which included Antarctica Sector, Australian Sector and even Old Britain Sector. The Highborn had taken South America, driven through Central America and now fought a continent-wide campaign in North America. Projections indicated a total defeat there in another five months.
Hawthorne had debated with a warlord policy in North American Sector. The Highborn controlled everything above the stratosphere, making shipping impossible. Even quick jet flights were questionable. North American Sector was on its own. It wasn’t really a question of stopping the Highborn there, but a matter of how long it would take the Highborn to pacify the continent to their satisfaction. If he gave independent authority to hard-bitten, ambitious people—warlords—might they hang on longer than if they were mere Social Unity functionaries?
There was no way he could convince the other members of the Politburo.
Mune’s chair made noise as the captain wheeled himself into a corner. “With your permission, sir?”
Hawthorne nodded absently. It was good to see Mune, good to have him around again. The captain was the one man he knew he could trust. Hawthorne turned back to the large desk-screen.
Social Unity on Earth was Eurasia, Africa and parts of North America. It was the last battlefleet orbiting Mars, with a friendless understanding between them and the Planetary Union there. Neither side on Mars shot at the other. Neither side completely trusted the other.
Hawthorne stared at the green-colored areas of Earth, Social Unity territory. The algae tanks could only feed so many people. Highborn laser platforms had destroyed the many fishing fleets and the oceanic fisheries. That left traditional agriculture. Even with strict rationing….
“We’re starving to death,” Hawthorne said.
Mune looked up.
Even as he said that, Hawthorne knew he hadn’t stated the problem accurately. If he was going to start lying to himself, it was time to step down. The rationing system was rational, at least in terms of fighting the Highborn. Soldiers, production workers, PHC personnel, block leaders and the like received the highest calorie count. People who lived in the lower levels—those who served no warfare-useful purpose—they received much less.
“If I may be so bold, sir,” Mune said, as he tucked away a cell phone.
“Eh?” said Hawthorne, looking up.
“Have you discovered how rifles managed to appear in Level Fifty-Three?”
Hawthorne frowned.
“I didn’t think so, sir. I therefore request permission to begin an internal investigation.”
“You’d better explain that,” Hawthorne said.
“The lift security people fled their posts.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“They’ve been discovered, sir. Each of them has been shot in the back of the head.”
“Why wasn’t I informed before this?” Hawthorne asked.
“Yes, sir, that’s what I’d like to know.”
The cold feeling Hawthorne had felt as the food rioters had charged him returned. “My own people have been corrupted?” he whispered.
“Chief Yezhov is a cunning opponent, sir.”
“What evidence compels you to suspect him?” Hawthorne asked.
“I don’t consciously think about it as I shoot my gyroc, sir. I simply fire, relying on hundreds of hours of practice to guide me.”
“And your point?” asked Hawthorne.
“I’m a bodyguard, sir. I suspect those my instincts tells me are guilty. What happened down in the lower level —it smacks to me of the Chief of Political Harmony Corps.”
“Maybe we should give him a visit.”
“Let me visit him, sir. Meanwhile, perhaps you could turn your military insights into uncovering the moles in your organization.”
Hawthorne frowned at his desk-screen. The green areas of Earth versus the red areas—he needed to do something to change the course of the war. If he couldn’t, maybe it was time to let someone else try. Was Chief Yezhov the candidate for the job? Hmm. He doubted that. The Chief had strengths. They were shadowy powers like intrigue, sabotage, assassination and double-dealing. They were useful, certainly, but unlikely to win a war against the Highborn.
Looking up, Hawthorne said, “I’m a military man, Captain. I wield the sword better than anyone else does in Social Unity. But there’s an ancient saying about swords. You can do many things with them, but you can’t sit on them.”
“Sir?” asked Mune.
“Swords make a poor throne.”
“I’m not sure I follow you, sir.”
