The Best Made Plans | Page 9

window. A

blanket of dark clouds obscured the sky. Light rain filtered coldly down,
to diffuse the greenery of the school grounds, turning the scene outside
into a textured pattern of greens, dotted here and there with a reddish
blur. To the west, the mist completely hid the distant mountains.
It would be cold outside--probably down around sixteen degrees or so.
It had dropped to fifteen this morning, and unless the weather cleared
up, there'd be no point in going up to the hills this weekend. The
Korental and his clan would be huddled in their huts, waiting for
warmer weather. A wild Ghar hunt would be the last thing they'd be
interested in. Besides, the Gharu would be----
He jerked his attention back to the classroom. A student was reciting.
"... And ... uh, that way, everything was all mixed up with the taxes and
the government couldn't get enough money. So King Weronar knew
he'd have to get someone to help un ... straighten the taxes out, so he ...
uh, well, Daniel Stern had been in the country for a couple of years, and
he had ... well, sort of advised. So the king----"
Don looked out the window again.
With this weather, the ranch would be quiet. Hands would be all in the
bunkhouses, crowding around the stoves. Oh, well, he and Dad could
fool around down in the range. Since Mom had---- He jerked his head
around to face the instructor.
Mr. Barnes was looking at him.
"Um-m-m, yes. That's good, Mara," he said. "Michaels, suppose you go
on from there."
Don glanced across at the student who had just finished her recitation,
but she merely gave him a blankly unfriendly stare. He looked back at
the instructor.
"I lost the last few sentences," he admitted. "Sorry."

Barnes smiled sardonically. "Well, there's an honest admission," he
said. "What's the last you picked up?"
Don shrugged resignedly.
"The appointment of Daniel Stern as Minister of Finance," he said.
"That would be in eight twelve."
"You didn't miss too much." Barnes nodded. "You just got a little ahead.
Take it from there."
"After a few months, the financial affairs of the kingdom began to
improve," Don commenced.
"By the middle of eight thirteen, the tax reforms were in full effect.
There was strong opposition to the elimination of the old system--both
from the old nobility, who had profited by it, and from some of the
colonists. But an Enforcement Corps was formed to see that the new
taxes were properly administered and promptly paid. And the kingdom
became financially stable." He paused.
Actually, he realized with a start, it had been Stern who had founded
and trained the Enforcement Corps--first to enforce the revenue taxes,
and later as a sort of national police force. And it had always been Stern
who had controlled the Enforcement Corps. It was almost a private
army, in fact. Maybe Pete---- He continued his recitation.
"Then Prime Minister Delon died rather ... rather suddenly, and the
king appointed Mr. Stern to the vacancy. And when King Weronar
himself died a little more than four years ago, Prime Minister Stern was
acclaimed as prince regent." Don paused thoughtfully.
* * * * *
Delon's death had been sudden--and a little suspicious. But no one had
questioned Stern or any of his people about it. And the death of the
king and queen themselves--now there was.... Again, he got back to his
recitation.

"There was opposition to Mr. Stern's confirmation as Regent, of course,
since he was a galactic and not native to the planet. But he was the
prime minister, and therefore the logical person to take the reins." He
frowned.
"The claims to the throne were--and still are--pretty muddled. No one
of the claimants supported by the major tribes is clearly first in line for
the throne, and no compromise has been reached." The frown
deepened.
"Traditionally," he went on, "the Star Throne should never be vacant
for more than five years. So we can expect to see a full conclave of the
tribes within a few months, to choose among the claimants and select
one to be either head of the clan Onar, or the founder of a new royal
line."
Barnes nodded. "Yes, that's fairly clear. But we must remember, of
course, that the tradition you mention is no truly binding law or custom.
It's merely a superstitious belief, held to by some of the older people,
and based on ... well----" He smiled faintly.
"Actually, under the present circumstances, with no claimant clearly in
line, and with the heraldic branch still sifting records, it is far more
practical and sensible to recognize the need for a continued regency."
He took a step back and propped himself against his desk.
"In any event,