Ministry of Disturbance | Page 6

it seems
that other mediums are saying the same thing. Father, do you remember

when the Haval Valley reactor blew up? All over Odin, the mediums
had been talking about a terrible accident, for a month before that
happened."
"I remember that." Harv Dorflay believed that somebody had been
falsely informed that the emperor would visit the plant that day. "These
great and frightening changes will probably turn out to be a new fad in
abstract sculpture. Any change frightens most people."
They talked more about mediums, and then about aircars and aircar
racing, and about the Emperor's Cup race that was to be flown in a
month. The communications screen began flashing and buzzing, and
after he had silenced it with the busy-button for the third time, Rodrik
said that it was time for him to go, came around to gather up Snooks,
and went out, saying that he'd be home in time for the banquet. The
screen began to flash again as he went out.
* * * * *
It was Prince Ganzay, the Prime Minister. He looked as though he had
a persistent low-level toothache, but that was his ordinary expression.
"Sorry to bother Your Majesty. It's about these chiefs-of-state. Count
Gadvan, the Chamberlain, appealed to me, and I feel I should ask your
advice. It's the matter of precedence."
"Well, we have a fixed rule on that. Which one arrived first?"
"Why, the Adityan, but it seems King Ranulf insists that he's entitled to
precedence, or, rather, his Lord Marshal does. This Lord Koreff insists
that his king is not going to yield precedence to a commoner."
[Illustration]
"Then he can go home to Durendal!" He felt himself growing angry--all
the little angers of the morning were focusing on one spot. He forced
the harshness out of his voice. "At a court function, somebody has to go
first, and our rule is order of arrival at the Palace. That rule was

established to avoid violating the principle of equality to all civilized
peoples and all planetary governments. We're not going to set it aside
for the King of Durendal, or anybody else."
Prince Ganzay nodded. Some of the toothache expression had gone out
of his face, now that he had been relieved of the decision.
"Of course, Your Majesty." He brightened a little. "Do you think we
might compromise? Alternate the precedence, I mean?"
"Only if this First Citizen Yaggo consents. If he does, it would be a
good idea."
"I'll talk to him, sir." The toothache expression came back. "Another
thing, Your Majesty. They've both been invited to attend the Plenary
Session, this afternoon."
"Well, no trouble there; they can enter by different doors and sit in
visitors' boxes at opposite ends of the hall."
"Well, sir, I wasn't thinking of precedence. But this is to be an Elective
Session--new Ministers to replace Prince Havaly, of Defense, deceased,
and Count Frask, of Science and Technology, elevated to the Bench.
There seems to be some difference of opinion among some of the
Ministers and Counselors. It's very possible that the Session may
degenerate into an outright controversy."
"Horrible," Paul said seriously. "I think, though, that our distinguished
guests will see that the Empire can survive difference of opinion, and
even outright controversy. But if you think it might have a bad effect,
why not postpone the election?"
"Well--It's been postponed three times, already, sir."
"Postpone it permanently. Advertise for bids on two robot Ministers,
Defense, and Science and Technology. If they're a success, we can set
up a project to design a robot emperor."

The Prime Minister's face actually twitched and blanched at the
blasphemy. "Your Majesty is joking," he said, as though he wanted to
be reassured on the point.
"Unfortunately, I am. If my job could be robotized, maybe I could take
my wife and my son and our little dog and go fishing for a while."
But, of course, he couldn't. There were only two alternatives: the
Empire or Galactic anarchy. The galaxy was too big to hold general
elections, and there had to be a supreme ruler, and a positive and
automatic--which meant hereditary--means of succession.
"Whose opinion seems to differ from whose, and about what?" he
asked.
"Well, Count Duklass and Count Tammsan want to have the Ministry
of Science and Technology abolished, and its functions and personnel
distributed. Count Duklass means to take over the technological
sections under Economics, and Count Tammsan will take over the
science part under Education. The proposal is going to be introduced at
this Session by Count Guilfred, the Minister of Health and Sanity. He
hopes to get some of the bio-and psycho-science sections for his own
Ministry."
"That's right. Duklass gets the hide, Tammsan gets the head and horns,
and everybody who hunts with them gets