Mind Webs - Great Slow Kings- Earthmen Bearing Gifts

I'm Shannon Maldonado, a product-based artesan-to-com Now all the changes are in the mood. I have a lot of changes in the mood.

I have a lot of changes in the mood. But we are not changing anymore. I heard that you are changing in the mood. So you can see that you can see your home.

Oh, okay. So, it's a little bit of a package. So, you can see that. I don't care.

It's in the same way. It's in the same way. You can see the new ones in the same way. You can see your project or your project.

I'll see you next time. Transcription by CastingWords Mind webs. Welcome to a half hour of Mind webs.

short stories from the worlds of speculative fiction. This is Michael Hansen with two stories this half hour. We'll begin with something by Roger Zelazny. It comes from his book The Doors of His Face,

The Lamps of His Mouth, and Other Stories. The title is The Great Slow Kings. Drax and Dran sat in the great throne hall of Glan, discussing life. Monarchs, by virtue of superior intellect and physique,

and the fact that they were the last two survivors of the race of Glan, theirs was a divided rule over the planet and their one subject, Zendrome, the palace robot. Drax had been musing for the past four centuries,

theirs was a sluggish sort, over the possibility of life on other planets in the galaxy. Accordingly, Drax addressed Dran. Dran, I've been thinking.

There may be life on other planets in the galaxy. Dran considered his reply to this as the world wheeled several times about its sun, and he finally agreed.

True, there may be life on other planets in the galaxy. After several months, Drax shot back. If there is, we ought to find out. Why?

Asked Drann with equal promptness, which caused the other to suspect that he too had been thinking along these lines. So he measured his next statement out cautiously, first testing each word within the plated retort of his reptilian skull.

Our kingdom is rather underpopulated at present. It would be good to have many subjects once more. Dran regarded him askance, then slowly turned his head. He closed one eye and half closed the other,

taking full stock of his co-ruler, whose appearance, as he suspected, was unchanged since the last time he had looked. That also is true.

What do you... what do you suggest we do? This time, Drax turned, reappraising him eye to eye. I think we ought to find out if there is life on other planets in the galaxy. Hmm.

Two quick roundings of the seasons went unnoticed, And then, Dran said, Let me think about it. After what he deemed a polite period of time, Drax coughed.

Have you thought sufficiently? No. Drax struggled to focus his eyes on the near subliminal streak of bluish light which traversed, re-traversed, and re-re-traversed the hall.

as he waited. And finally, he called out, Zendrome. The robot slowed his movements to a statue-like immobility

to accommodate his master. A feather duster protruded from his right limb. You called, great lord of Glenn? Yes, Zendrome, worthy subject.

Those old spaceships which we constructed in happier days and never got around to using, Are any of them still capable of operation? I'll check, Great Lord.

He seemed to change position slightly. There are 382, of which four are in functioning condition, Great Lord. I've checked all the operating circuits. Drax.

Drax, you are arrogating unauthorized powers to yourself once more. You should have conferred with me before issuing that order. I apologize. I simply wanted to expedite matters should your decision be that we conduct a survey.

You have anticipated my decision correctly, but your eagerness seems to bespeak a hidden purpose. No purpose but the good of the realm. That may be, but the last time you spoke of the good of the realm, the civil strife which ensued cost us our other robot.

I have learned my lesson and profited thereby. I shall be more judicious in the future. I hope so. Now, about this expedition, which part of the galaxy do you intend to investigate first? Attention-filled pause ensued.

I had assumed that you would conduct the expedition. Being the more mature monarch, yours should be a more adequate decision as to whether or not a particular species is worthy of our enlightened rule. Yes, but your youth tends to make you more active than I. The journey should be more expeditiously conducted by you.

We could both go in separate ships. That would be truly expeditious. Their heated debating was cut short by a metallic cough equivalent. Masters, the half-life of radioactive materials being as ephemeral as it is,

I regret to report that only one spaceship is now in operational condition. That settles it, Rand. You go. It will require a steadier Rand to manage an underpowered ship.

And leave you to foment civil strife and usurp unfranchised powers? No, you go. I suppose we could both go. Fine.

Leave the kingdom leaderless. That is the kind of muddle-headed thinking which brought about our present political embarrassment. Masters, if someone doesn't go soon, the ship will be useless. They both studied their servant approving the rapid chain of logic forged by his simple statement.

Very well, you go. Zindrome bowed quite obsequiously and departed from the great throne hall of Glenn. Perhaps we should authorize Zindrome to construct facsimiles of himself. If we had more subjects, we could accomplish more.

Are you forgetting our most recent agreement? A superfluity of robots tended to stimulate factionalism last time, and certain people grew ambitious.