everything. A man must build as well. But where was there a place for us in the world? Our lands run over by the Line, those bastard black Stations rising over the hills. Or falling into banditry and chaos, seduced by the Gun. The Republic was built on certain principles, Mrs. Alverhuysen. I don’t know if those principles are widely understood all the way back in the northeast, in, ah . . .”
“Koenigswald.”
“That’s right. There in the old North, the world is long since made and ordered, and perhaps you may take it for granted.”
He scowled, as if to show what he thought of that. “But here we must treasure our principles. Ours are principles that flourish in peace, where men are strong and wise and free, but falter in war, and chaos, when men are frightened and corrupt. But there was no such place left in the world. So we came out here. Far out beyond even the Line’s reach. To build. Those of us who kept the faith. Those of us who had read the Charter, and seen its wisdom. Children like myself, of course, I take no credit for my father’s wisdom in leading us out here. My mother and me, that is. I was only a child when we came here. But I remember the dangers we faced. How we found each other; the signals by which we knew each other, back when we were in the old world, when we had to hide. My father was a Secretary of the Preliminary Society that met in secret to plan this exodus. To purchase our store of goods. To plan our way. To plan how we would live. They were soldiers, you understand; they had to find those who could build a town. A community. To find those who shared their vision. How do you lead a whole chosen people into the wilderness, in secret? And I remember the dangers along the way. . . . No doubt you have stories, too, Mrs. Alverhuysen.”
“Yes. Not like yours. I was brought here by an Agent of the Gun. He made it seem comparatively easy.
“Mr. Hobart . . .”
“President, please, or Mayor.”
“President Hobart . . .”
“Mr. President will do.”
“You are no longer secret here. The Gun will be on you soon. I warned your Captain Morton. Mr. Creedmoor will come for us. The General is very valuable to his masters. I believe the General knows something very important to them. And somewhere behind him are the men of the Line.”
“We’re ready for one Agent of the Gun, Mrs. Alverhuysen. Don’t worry. Do you think we’ve built nothing in our years here?”
“You are only men; he is something more. Mr. President—”
Hobart stood, leaning forward, knuckles on the desk, eyes flashing. “Men can do great things, madam. We’ve built great things. And there are those among us who think we’ve been hidden here too long. There are those here who’d say, build in peace, but build for strength, for war if you must. Those who’d say, we are the last bearers of the Charter. The last of the Republic. We were not made to dwindle in obscurity. We were made to be a beacon for the world. I am among those men, madam. And now you’ve brought our General back to us. What is that, if not a sign?”
Hobart sat again and smiled slyly, and drummed his fingers on the desk. “We’re ready for one little lackey of the Gun. We’ll deal with him. Then we’ll see. Then we’ll see, indeed.”
“His masters no longer speak to him, Mr. President. Their voices cannot reach out here. He is no less dangerous for that—but perhaps he can be reasoned with. He is not loyal to his masters, and he does not wish to reenter their service. Perhaps we can offer him a deal, appeal to his vanity. . . .”
Hobart’s face had gone so dark with fury that she was quite taken aback, and lost the train of her argument.
“We do not make deals with the Gun.”
“Not with the Gun, but with John Creedmoor, Mr. President, who—”
“We do not make deals. That way lies corruption. If he comes here, we will kill him.”
“But—”
“The matter is closed.”
She studied his expression. His mind was quite clearly made up; he was seconds away from banishing her from his office. And perhaps he was right, after all.
“Very well. Where is the General? Can I see him?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“The decision has been made.”
“Mr. President, I believe I was making