The Sword and the Plough by Carl Hubrick

averted his gaze.
    Elizabeth V looked thoughtful for a moment
and then floated a few steps closer. Cecil was always astonished at
the fluid grace of his queen.
    “A spy, you say?” she queried softly, her
look intent.
    “Yes, Your Majesty. Mata Hari… that is…the
computer…”
    “ Go on!” the queen instructed gently. “Call
it – call her –
by that name if you wish.”
    Cecil felt encouraged. “Well, Mata Hari
believes she could act as Your Majesty’s spy by probing into the
data banks of government computers on the other planets.” He
glanced up, hoping to have won some royal approval. “Ah, that is
without anyone’s knowledge, of course…” he explained hastily, so as
not to affront the queen’s honour.
    “ Cecil!” the queen interjected coldly. She
was now definitely in a state of displeasure. “May we remind you
that the governors of our planets are our representatives, our
faithful servants. Would you have us demean ourselves by prying
into our subjects’ affairs?”
    The queen’s voice had been increasing in
volume all the while and now reached a peak of indignation.
    “ Would you have us, the mother of our
people, seek to snoop upon our children?”
    The queen, by this time, was standing taller
than Cecil had ever witnessed before. The hazel eyes flashed and
rained their burning brilliance down upon him. His blood froze…
    “Hmm, on the other hand,” the queen murmured
softly, the fire in her eyes fading. “The idea has merit… You say
our computer, this Mata Hari, can do this without arousing
suspicion?”
    “She assures me she can, Your Majesty.”
    The queen nodded thoughtfully, a faint smile
arising on her royal red lips.
    “ Good! Then so instruct her. But remember this,
Cecil.” The queen’s ire was back. “This duplicitous act does not
have our blessing. Therefore, be aware, should anything – anything at all – go
amiss, it falls on your head.”
    Cecil bowed deep. “As always, Your Majesty,
as always,” he murmured.
    The queen turned to go.
    “Was there something else you wanted, Your
Majesty?” Cecil enquired. “Some reason you wanted to see me?”
    The queen smiled. To Cecil, it burst on him
like heaven’s doors opening.
    “Yes Cecil, indeed there was,” the queen
responded. “We came here to ask if there might be some way by which
we could obtain more information about our peoples throughout the
Commonwealth.
    “ Our spies have returned little intel of late. Things
have been quiet, Cecil, much too quiet.” She smiled her beatific
smile again. “But we have changed our mind. We see now there is no
need. You have all in hand.”

Chapter 15
     
    Planet TRION – the new fields outside Vegar
Town
     
     
    “Freeze the stars! Will you look at those two
crazy suns?”
    Lars woke with a start. He must have dozed.
The ploughs were shining pink in the early morning light.
    “One giant sun, one dwarf,” the same gravelly
male voice continued. “It’s a wonder we don’t burn to a crisp. This
is a weird planet and no mistake.”
    Lars levered himself up to peer cautiously
over the rim of the plough’s cockpit. Trion’s suns, like bright red
balls, sat low on the horizon, their heat beginning to chase away
the cool of the night.
    “Getting homesick already, are we?”A second
similarly gruff male voice uttered.
    Someone else laughed. A baritone broke into
song. Several more voices joined in. Lars heard the scrape of a
dozen pairs of boots step out in time to the marching song.
     
    Sons of Megran ride on high
    Hold your banners to the sky
    Forever march to vic-tor-y
    Fulfil your planet’s des-tin-y.
     
    Lars did not recognise the Megran battle
hymn, but he did recognise the green uniform of the Megran
troopers. The men appeared to be heading towards Vegar. They had
the swagger of conquerors.
    Lars kept his head down until he was sure
they were well gone. Then he dropped over the side of the plough
and began to follow in the direction the troopers had taken,