Free Tactics of Mistake by Gordon R. Dickson

but like most of the people of his tune, he was reacting against the fact that his environment had suddenly been enlarged from the surface of one world to the surfaces of any number of worlds spread out through light-years of interstellar space. You probably know the history of that period as well as I do—how that first, instinctive, racial fear of space beyond the solar system built up and erupted in a series of bloody social eruptions. It spawned any number of societies and cults for people attempting to adjust psychologically to feelings of vulnerability and insignificance, deep down on the unconscious level. Blunt was a fighter, an anarchist. His answer was revolution—”
    â€œRevolution?” asked Cletus.
    â€œYes. Literally—revolution,” Mondar answered. “Blunt wanted to destroy part of actual, objective physical reality as well—by using primitive psychic leverage. He called what he wanted to do ‘creative destruction.’ He called on people to ‘ Destruct! ‘ But he couldn’t quite push even the intense neurotics of his time all the way over the emotional brink. And then he was deposed as head of the Guild by a young mining engineer who’d lost an arm in a mine accident—”
    â€œLost an arm?” said Cletus sharply. “Which arm?”
    â€œThe left—yes, I think it was the left that was gone,” said Mondar.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œNothing,” said Cletus. “Go on.”
    â€œHis name was Paul Formain—”
    â€œFort-Mayne?” Cletus interrupted a second time.
    â€œNo t ,” answered Mondar, “F-o-r-m-a-i-n.” He spelled it out, looking curiously at Cletus. “Something about this interests you particularly, Cletus?”
    â€œOnly the coincidences,” said Cletus. “You said he had only one arm, so the right arm he had left would have been overmuscled from compensation development. And his name sounds almost like jort-mayne, which are the words used by the Norman French to describe their policy to the conquered English after they took over England in the eleventh century. Fort-mayne —literally, ‘strong-hand.’ It described a policy of using whatever force was necessary to keep the native English under control. And you say he took over the Chantry Guild, deposing this Blunt?”
    â€œYes.” Mondar frowned. “I see the coincidences, Cletus, but I don’t see why they’re important.”
    â€œMaybe they aren’t,” said Cletus. “Go on. Formain took over the Chantry Guild and started your Exotic Association?”
    â€œHe almost had to wreck the Chantry Guild to do it,” said Mondar. “But he did. He changed its aim from revolution to evolution. The evolution of man, Cletus.”
    â€œEvolution.” Cletus repeated the word thoughtfully. “So, you don’t think the human race is through evolving? What comes next, then?”
    â€œWe don’t know, of course,” said Mondar, folding his hands in his lap. “Can an ape imagine a man? But we’re convinced the seeds of further evolution are alive in man, still—even if they aren’t already germinating. We Exotics are dedicated to searching for those seeds, and protecting them once we’ve found them, so that they can flourish and grow until evolved man is part of our community.”
    â€œSorry.” Cletus shook his head. “I’d make a poor Exotic, Mondar. I’ve got my own job to do.”
    â€œBut this is part of your job—and your job is part of it!” Mondar leaned forward, and his hands slid apart. “There’s no compulsion on our members. Each one searches and works for the future the way he thinks best. All we ask is that when the skills of anyone are needed by the community, he makes them available to it. In return the community offers him its skills to improve him , physically and mentally, so he can be that much