"Just this: A State-supported scientific institution and part of the personal domain of his august majesty, the Emperor."
The sub-prefect seemed unimpressed.
He blew smoke rings.
"That's a nice theory, Dr. Pirenne.
I imagine you've got charters with the Imperial Seal upon it - but what's the actual situation?
How do you stand with respect to Smyrno?
You're not fifty parsecs from Smyrno's capital. you know.
And what about Konom and Daribow?"
Pirenne said: "We have nothing to do with any prefect. As part of the Emperor's-"
"They're not prefects," reminded Haut Rodric; "they're kingdoms now."
"Kingdoms then.
We have nothing to do with them.
As a scientific institution-"
"Science be damned!" swore the other.
"What the devil has that got to do with the fact that we're liable to see Terminus taken over by Smyrno at any time?"
"And the Emperor?
He would just sit by?"
Haut Rodric calmed down and said:
"Well, now, Dr. Pirenne, you respect the Emperor's property and so does Anacreon, but Smyrno might not.
Remember, we've just signed a treaty with the Emperor - I'll present a copy to that Board of yours tomorrow - which places upon us the responsibility of maintaining order within the borders of the old Prefect of Anacreon on behalf of the Emperor.
Our duty is clear, then, isn't it?"
"Certainly.
But Terminus is not part of the Prefect of Anacreon."
"And Smyrno-"
"Nor is it part of the Prefect of Smyrno. It's not part of any prefect."
"Does Smyrno know that?"
"I don't care what it knows." "We do. We've just finished a war with her and she still holds two stellar systems that are ours.
Terminus occupies an extremely strategic spot, between the two nations."
Hardin felt weary.
He broke in:
"What is your proposition, your eminence?"
The sub-prefect seemed quite ready to stop fencing in favor of more direct statements.
He said briskly:
"It seems perfectly obvious that, since Terminus cannot defend itself, Anacreon must take over the job for its own sake. You understand we have no desire to interfere with internal administration-"
"Uh-huh," grunted Hardin dryly.
"-but we believe that it would be best for all concerned to have Anacreon establish a military base upon the planet."
"And that is all you would want - a military base in some of the vast unoccupied territory - and let it go at that?"
"Well, of course, there would be the matter of supporting the protecting forces."
Hardin's chair came down on all four, and his elbows went forward on his knees.
"Now we're getting to the nub.
Let's put it into language.
Terminus is to be a protectorate and to pay tribute."
"Not tribute. Taxes.
We're protecting you. You pay for it."
Pirenne banged his hand on the chair with sudden violence.
"Let me speak, Hardin.
Your eminence, I don't care a rusty half-credit coin for Anacreon, Smyrno, or all your local politics and petty wars.
I tell you this is a State-supported tax-free institution."
"State-supported?
But we are the State, Dr. Pirenne, and we're not supporting."