THE DESERT AND THE STARS
BY KEITH LAUMER
The Aga Kaga wanted peace—a
piece of everything in sight!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Worlds of If Science Fiction, November 1962.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"I'm not at all sure," Under-Secretary Sternwheeler said, "that I fullyunderstand the necessity for your ... ah ... absenting yourself fromyour post of duty, Mr. Retief. Surely this matter could have been dealtwith in the usual way—assuming any action is necessary."
"I had a sharp attack of writer's cramp, Mr. Secretary," Retief said."So I thought I'd better come along in person—just to be sure I waspositive of making my point."
"Eh?"
"Why, ah, there were a number of dispatches," Deputy Under-SecretaryMagnan put in. "Unfortunately, this being end-of-the-fiscal-year time,we found ourselves quite inundated with reports. Reports, reports,reports—"
"Not criticizing the reporting system, are you, Mr. Magnan?" theUnder-Secretary barked.
"Gracious, no," Magnan said. "I love reports."
"It seems nobody's told the Aga Kagans about fiscal years," Retiefsaid. "They're going right ahead with their program of land-grabbing onFlamme. So far, I've persuaded the Boyars that this is a matter for theCorps, and not to take matters into their own hands."
The Under-Secretary nodded. "Quite right. Carry on along the samelines. Now, if there's nothing further—"
"Thank you, Mr. Secretary," Magnan said, rising. "We certainlyappreciate your guidance."
"There is a little something further," said Retief, sitting solidly inhis chair. "What's the Corps going to do about the Aga Kagans?"
The Under-Secretary turned a liverish eye on Retief. "As Ministerto Flamme, you should know that the function of a diplomaticrepresentative is merely to ... what shall I say...?"
"String them along?" Magnan suggested.
"An unfortunate choice of phrase," the Under-Secretary said. "However,it embodies certain realities of Galactic politics. The Corps mustconcern itself with matters of broad policy."
"Sixty years ago the Corps was encouraging the Boyars to settleFlamme," Retief said. "They were assured of Corps support."
"I don't believe you'll find that in writing," said the Under-Secretaryblandly. "In any event, that was sixty years ago. At that time afoothold against Neo-Concordiatist elements was deemed desirable. Nowthe situation has changed."
"The Boyars have spent sixty years terraforming Flamme," Retief said."They've cleared jungle, descummed the seas, irrigated deserts, set outforests. They've just about reached the point where they can begin toenjoy it. The Aga Kagans have picked this as a good time to move in.They've landed thirty detachments of 'fishermen'—complete with armoredtrawlers mounting 40 mm infinite repeaters—and another two dozenparties of 'homesteaders'—all male and toting rocket launchers."
"Surely there's land enough on the world to afford space to bothgroups," the Under-Secretary said. "A spirit of co-operation—"
"The Boyars needed some co-operation sixty years ago," Retief said."They tried to get the Aga Kagans to join in and help them beatback some of the saurian wild life that liked to graze on people.The Corps didn't like the idea. They wanted to see an undisputedanti-Concordiatist enclave. The Aga Kagans didn't want to play, either.But now that the world is tamed, they're moving in."
"The exig