‘Then I am sure that the Commander of Sangrel would make it plain that, in the long run, all favours granted to the animals would be repaid tenfold by them to the Empire.’
The armless robot smiled as he spoke these words.
‘Of course,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. ‘But suppose, for example, that some robots found themselves driven from land that they and their family had occupied for many generations. Suppose that they found themselves in the grip of an unreasonable desire for reparations and found themselves, unjustly of course, in conflict with the Emperor’s appointed officials. What course would the Commander of Sangrel be wise to adopt in such a case?’
O smiled.
‘You are wise in the manners of court, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, despite your origin. You ask my advice, as is right in these circumstances. I would say that it would be appropriate, if not desirable, for the Commander to destroy all those robots, and their families, and their villages, as an expression of the sorrow of the Emperor, and his wish to demonstrate his authority.’
‘I understand,’ replied Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, and, true to his mother’s weave, his face betrayed no expression of the discomfort he felt at these words.
‘And let me say furthermore, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do,’ continued O, ‘that I’m sure the Emperor would wish the same attention to be paid to those who were to perpetuate the myth that our creators have returned to rule us. The idea is, of course, ridiculous.’
‘Of course.’
‘Now, silence. We are approaching the Emperor.’
The Emperor wore no metal panelling: his body was plated with sheets of nephrite jade, carved in exquisite shells that encased him in a creamy green that contrasted with the emerald of the sunlight glade in which he stood. Four members of the Imperial Guard stood to the north, south, east and west of him, their bodies thin and curved, built of katana metal. They looked like living blades, curved under tension, ready to spring out in one slicing movement.
None of them wore ears or eyes. At need, they would pull them from their bodies and push them into place.
‘Emperor, this is Wa-Ka-Mo-Do.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do was standing in the middle of the sunny glade just inches from his Emperor. He lowered his eyes and found himself gazing at the carvings on his jade feet, pale and exquisite.
The Emperor spoke.
‘Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, warrior of Ekrano. It pleases us to speak to you.’
‘Thank you, oh my Emperor.’
‘The High Spires are a long way from the Silent City, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do.’
‘Indeed,’ he replied, thinking on how O had told him not mention the world beyond the garden.
‘The land of the Sirens. Did you ever see those fortunate robots, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do?’
‘No man may see the Sirens and live, my Emperor.’
There was a long silence.
‘Do you mean to correct your Emperor? Are you suggesting that we were unaware of the nature of the Sirens?’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do looked at the Emperor, and, in a sudden moment of clarity, saw how ridiculous his armless body was. The thought was treachery. Unconsciously he shifted to a fighting position. Surely the guards would know what he was thinking? Surely even now they would be attacking?
But nothing happened. The Emperor was waiting for an answer.
‘My Emperor, not for a moment would I think such a thing. The wisdom of the Emperor is recognized by all his subjects.’
‘Our wisdom is respected, you would say? Yet you come before me still standing?’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do fell to his knees at this point. Nobody had mentioned this to him. He was under the impression that subjects remained standing in the presence of the Emperor, ready to serve him.
‘You kneel before us?’
Now Wa-Ka-Mo-Do fell forward, the grass all around his metal face.
He heard a thin keening above him. Gradually it occurred to him that the Emperor was laughing.
‘It would appear that ignorance is still the norm in Ekrano! No one kneels before the Emperor, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. We are not barbarians in Yukawa!’
He climbed to his feet.
‘Wa-Ka-Mo-Do,’ said the Emperor. ‘You will have heard of the Book of Robots?’
Again Wa-Ka-Mo-Do remembered the words of the aide who had led him here. ‘No, my master.’
‘We think you are lying. It is well known that the heresy of the Book of Robots is woven deep into the metal of those of the High Spires. We would expect that you, too, have this heresy woven into your mind.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do’s gaze was still, his current was calm, and yet the Emperor’s words were accurate. Wa-Ka-Mo-Do believed in the book. Of course he did.
The Emperor spoke.
‘Even so, it must be understood that there are conventions for the lesser subjects, and there are conventions for those who follow a higher calling. We know of the Book of Robots.’
‘Have you read the book, my Emperor?’
That same thin keening laughter.
‘Our subject is as lacking in guile as he is in intelligence, for not only does he forget that he has claimed not to have heard of the book, but he has also forgotten that no robot is known to have read it, if indeed the book ever existed.’
‘My Emperor is indeed wise to point this out to me,’ answered Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, and again the treacherous thoughts arose inside him. Did the Emperor, wise above all, think himself clever by employing tricks effective only against those that could not answer back?
‘Your Emperor is wise indeed. Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, in Sangrel you will meet the animals that have travelled to our world. And you will look at them and you will wonder how any robot could believe that creatures such as they could claim to have had us built. And yet some do. We trust that our subject will remember his duty, should he encounter such robots.’
‘You may be sure that he will, my Emperor.’
‘Good, good.’
The Emperor smiled. ‘We are pleased with our subject. Now, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, we do not need to mention that our people place great faith in the Empire. It has stood unchanging for centuries, built on the rule of the Emperor and its queens. It has met new ideas in the past, and woven them into the rich tapestry that is the Empire. Is my garden not eloquent testament to this?’
A golden butterfly fluttered by, as if to confirm this.
‘Indeed, my master,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do.
‘And yet some ideas are not to be contemplated. They throw the weave out of balance, and so they shall not be tolerated. Does our subject understand this?’