Fossil Hunter by Robert J. Sawyer Page B

rock, and said, “ Hahat dan .” At his feet, the giant lizard stirred, opened an eye, looked at Dybo, and, apparently recognizing him, closed the lid and went back to sleep.
    Dybo found another rock to sit upon. The stone had warmed nicely in the sun. “It is peaceful here,” said Dybo at last, looking around at the grasses, the trees, and the great water visible beyond the cliff’s edge.
    “More peaceful than the palace, I’m sure,” Afsan said quietly.
    Dybo nodded, then, remembering Afsan’s condition, said, “Yes.”
    Afsan’s muzzle turned toward Dybo. “You’ve come about Rodlox’s challenge, haven’t you?”
    Dybo was quiet for a time. Afsan had known him so long; knew him so well. “Yes,” the Emperor said at last.
    “What do you intend to do?” asked Afsan.
    “I don’t know. My constitutional advisor tells me I need not respond at all.”
    Afsan’s head turned slowly to follow the sound of a wingfinger making its way across the sky. “What you must do legally and what is wise to do are often different things,” he said.
    Dybo sighed, long and loud. “Indeed. My authority is already diminished, they tell me, for the people know that my ancestor, Larsk, was not a divinely inspired prophet.” Dybo was surprised at the sudden bitterness he felt toward Afsan. After all, it was through Afsan’s efforts that Larsk had been reduced. But then, he thought, what Afsan did to me and The Family was done without malice. Can I honestly say the same about what I did to him? Dybo pressed on. “I am the first Emperor to not rule by divine right.”
    Afsan’s reply came quickly, perhaps too quickly. “You rule because the people respect your judgment.” A pat answer, soothing to hear.
    Dybo nodded. “Some of the people do. But there are dissenters.” And again he surprised himself with his anger, for it was Afsan who had burdened Dybo with the task of getting the Quintaglios off their world before it disintegrated. “There are many who feel I am pushing us in the wrong direction.”
    “You are pushing us in the only direction that will ensure the survival of our people. No other choice is possible.”
    “You know that. That is, you understand the reasoning. I accept that. That is, I trust your judgment. But there are others who neither understand nor accept the necessity of the exodus.”
    Afsan’s turn to sigh. “Yes, there are such people.”
    “Those against the exodus oppose not just it, but me personally. Those who believe The Family no longer has a right to rule also oppose me. And Rodlox, who apparently is my brother, he opposes me, too.” A pause. “You knew about my brothers and sisters?”
    “I suspected it,” said Afsan softly.
    “Why?”
    Afsan said nothing.
    “You suspected it because you could not see how one such as me could be the best of a clutch of hatchlings,” Dybo said flatly.
    In the light of day, there was nothing for Afsan to say.
    “I may not be physically strong, Afsan, but I try as best I can. I put the interests of the people before my own interests, and it’s not every leader who can say that when the sun is shining.”
    “That is true.”
    “But there was a time when even you wished for a different ruler?”
    “There was a time,” Afsan said softly, “when I had eyes.”
    Dybo was silent awhile. “I’m sorry.”
    “I know.” The silence between them protracted to an awkward length. Afsan pressed on. “You cannot rule under these conditions. We don’t have time for dissent.” He gestured expansively, taking in all of Rockscape and everything beyond. “The world is coming to an end. We must have unchallenged leadership. We must have an Emperor who can take us to the stars.”
    “But it’s not just me personally who’s being challenged,” said Dybo.
    “Oh?”
    “The newsriders and sailing ships are carrying Rodlox’s story to all points of Land.”
    “So I would imagine.”
    “Bloodpriests are being banished from their Packs. In some