Free Antagonist - Childe Cycle 11 by Gordon R. Dickson, David W Wixon Page B

of his mind sensed something approaching from beyond the horizon.
    "The task we face is huge," Bleys continued, "and Dahno and I don't pretend to have a schematic to show you exactly how to do it. Ceta, as a large world comprised of a large number of independent states, presents a very different problem than did the monolithic planetary governments we dealt with on New Earth, Newton, Cassida—yes, and on Harmony and Association, too." He paused to sweep their faces with his eyes, one of his oldest attention-getting techniques.
    "We are far too few to have any hope of really controlling the Worlds in detail," he went on. "Even after the recruiting efforts we've all been making for the past five years, our numbers remain minuscule in comparison to the populations of the Younger Worlds. And you know as well as I that many of the newly recruited Others will never receive the training some of you have gotten from Dahno and our organization—yes," he said, "if you haven't noticed, we're joined by some of your senior staff, who of course haven't had that training."
    He paused for a moment, looking about the room.
    "Our numbers long ago overran our ability to train people," he said. "While we will continue to train suitable candidates, more of the responsibility for training new recruits is going to have to fall on you people in the field—but Dahno will speak of that in more detail later."
    Beside him, his brother nodded, now looking serious.
    "You must never forget," Bleys went on, "that going through Dahno's training program is not what makes one an Other. You who are here from the staff are Others—you always have been—and neither you nor the trained Others who are your leaders can ever forget that."
    There was a small stir in the room.
    "There's hope," Bleys said. "I know you're all aware that one of the major keys to the success of our organization has been our unique ability to influence other people, to persuade them to trust us and follow our lead. But I tell you now, if you haven't realized it already: not all who get chosen for training displtiy the persuasive abilities that have allowed us to get this far."
    There were troubled frowns among his audience now.
    "That doesn't mean those people aren't Others," he said. "Never think that. Just as in the remainder of the human race, some have higher levels of talent than do others."
    He paused, trying to refocus them by his brief silence.
    "Dahno and I," he continued after a moment, "have been working to develop techniques that may help us multiply the effects of our powers; and before too long we'll all be talking about that. But none of you must ever forget those Others who haven't been able to receive our training—like the members of your senior staff; they've been loyal, and they, too, will share in our future."
    Smiles broke out, not only on the faces of the staff people, but on those of some of the top Others.
    "Now to the more specific matter of Ceta," Bleys said. Faces sobered.
    "Dahno and I have been working among the Worlds," he continued. "We face different challenges out there than you do, here on your target world. But don't ever think we're unaware of your work. Your work is vital to our work; we know that ... and our work /s your work, in the long run."
    He paused, looking at them seriously; then leaned forward, bending over the table with his extended arms supporting his bowed shoulders while he tilted his head to look into their faces.
    "At the same time, you must never forget," he said, his voice lower, more serious, less comradely, "that you were set up here for the purpose of carrying out the organization's mission. And that mission is not limited only to Ceta. The organization—the Others— we —" He raised himself from the table as he raised his voice again, sweeping his arms in great circles to include them all in his words. "—we have a larger mission, among all the Younger Worlds."
    He could see them reacting positively to that message,