Half a Savage - Part 6

Fourteen months.

Fourteen months, it had taken, for that promised promotion and posting to come through, despite all their assurances. Despite all their congratulations on his work with Ro.

"...'to the position of Commissar on the world of Edelmas in the Third Sector with immediate effect from 50/04'..."

And about time too. But that, of course, could not be said in a report to one's superiors. The newly-appointed Commissar sighed, ran a hand through hair that had begun to look more silver than grizzled in the course of these last months, and bent himself once more to the task of constructing a suitably fulsome reply.

It was not difficult, fortunately. Not even the harshest critic could claim that he had blundered with this one. The monopasium-239 ores on Horizon would be worked for the Federation for the foreseeable future. Ro's rule was ensuring a steady supply rate of Primitives to replace the workers, despite the high death toll -- given the new ruler's initial squeamishness, the Commissar was particularly proud of that -- and Ro himself could be relied upon to follow the Federation's best interests on all accounts.

That hadn't taken him fourteen months to achieve, either. He'd demanded the supervisory posting to Horizon simply in order to establish, once and for all, his success where Ro's training was concerned. Movo's son had been firmly under the thumb of the Federation more or less from the day he'd arrived. His mentor should have been off the colony and back on his own career path a few weeks after they'd landed, by special courier if necessary -- his achievement had rated that much courtesy at least -- but in any case off Horizon and back into more civilized territories. The Commissar, jotting down congratulatory observations on Ro's docility, surveyed his private quarters in the palace with dislike.

No sense of architecture, these savages. Take them out of caves, and they built themselves great gloomy edifices like this one, underlit and over- high, and all but impossible to heat. What modern conveniences existed were hidden away, as if they might somehow spoil the cavern aesthetic. He would infinitely have preferred a small cubicle in a proper Federation block. It was unfortunate that one had to make sacrifices for one's position. He sighed again, permitted himself a few moments' contemplation of his promotion order by way of compensation, and began upon the notes for the guidance of his successor.

Ro was really giving very little trouble these days... unless you counted that ridiculous question of his marriage. Why these natives had to put such an absurd status on perfectly normal pair-bonding activity he really didn't know; but given that they did set such store by it, permitting Ro to elevate the woman Selma was clearly out of the question. She was a known malcontent, of a family favoured by Movo, and while she'd taken care so far never to put a foot wrong in public on her homeworld, she hadn't been so cautious back in the days when she'd had the chance to attend the Central Educational Complex itself.

There was no doubt about it. She'd betrayed herself as being completely unsuitable, and the worst of potential influences on Ro. The possibility would have to be removed... and before Ro took the step of making his intentions public. Scarcely an insurmountable problem.

A 'training course' of indefinite length had served, some months ago, to remove the trouble-maker Porah from any chance of achieving Ro's vicinity. It would be easy enough for the Federation to advise that Ro's future consort should receive some training for her role; and if the Commissar's own convictions about that young woman were correct, Selma could be relied upon to damn herself quite effectively thereafter without any further prompting. It would be a nice touch if Ro were eventually to send her to the mines himself -- no doubt she would provide ample excuse -- but simply getting her out of the way for a year or two ought to be quite sufficient where a young man in his twenties was concerned.

The Commissar smiled, remembering his own youth, finished his recommendations with a final advisory note, and rose a little stiffly from his seat. This confounded planet was beginning to take its toll. He'd be more than glad to get to Edelmas, with its grassy plains and its groves of wild fruit...

"Yes? What is it?" The sound of the proximity buzzer in the arch beyond -- hadn't these people ever heard of doors? -- wrenched him abruptly back to the present with an exclamation of unguarded impatience.

"Oh -- Ro..." With perfect timing. As always. Somehow, he managed to summon his most avuncular smile, smoothing over the moment. "So you've heard the news?"

"That we're to lose you? Yes. It will be quite a change here, I suppose." Ro sounded a little rueful, but if he felt regret he had learned to conceal it well. He was finally growing up, the Commissar noticed -- he was no longer so easy to read as he had been.

"I'm sure you'll make my successor most welcome." Another smile. Ro returned it, this time with less reserve.

"I should congratulate you, Commissar -- but it is hard for a frontier world like Horizon to compete with what Edelmas has to offer. You must allow us to feel a little injury to our pride." He held out a hand. "I hope at least you will remember that you are always welcome here, whenever you choose to return."

To a barren mining colony on the outskirts of the Federation? You over- estimate your attractions, my half-civilised friend. Project Horizon can manage without any further assistance on my part, I believe. I was young and eager once. I have a far better idea now of where my own interest lies -- in the heart of the galaxy, I fancy -- not to mention my own comfort....

He accepted Ro's proffered grasp gravely, nodding in agreement. "Naturally I shall be delighted. And of course I shall enjoy your hospitality for a few days more until the courier arrives."

"Of course." Ro released him. "If there is any small memento of your stay you would care to have packed with your luggage--?"

"Thank you, but no. The old Colonial Service maxim, as we both know -- always travel light."

He laughed, and the other man followed suit. "I shall miss you, you know. " Ro was still smiling, but the sentiment behind the words was genuine enough.

An awkward situation, but one undeniably flattering to the professional pride. The Commissar made all the right noises by habit, observing Ro with a detached eye.

Yes. This one was definitely a success. Movo had been quite impossible, after all. But fortunately, Ro would never be anything near the man his father was.

Still half a savage, of course. It didn't matter how much you educated them -- old loyalties would out, and at the most inconvenient times. But there would be no more trouble from Horizon now with Ro in charge. The ore quotas were safe. And as far as the rest went -- for all its assurances, the Commissar thought calmly, as far as the rest went, the Federation had no real interest whatsoever.

He smiled once more. Yes, Ro was ridiculously easy to manage...

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(END)