Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings

"Sonya," I exclaimed vehemently, "stay beside me! Don't leave me!"

How I cursed my inability to speak this language during those crowded hours following the king's death! At every turn, with every move I was handicapped, the force of my words lost since I had only a girl for mouthpiece.

Yet Sonya did well. The crowd in the garden had dispersed; Sonya had led the girls into cheering me. I had made a speech promising them justice in their cause, and sent them away, not to the Virgins' Island, but peacefully back to the homes they had left. They were glad to go; there was no government now to force them into a distasteful marriage.

The guards had come before me, at first with an indecision, a sullenness, but the old men counsellors had swiftly abdicated.

"Tell them, Sonya, I want all their advice; whatever they think should be done, I will listen. " I strode up and down the huge audience chamber of the castle, while the old men watched me with whispered, frightened words among themselves.

There was so much to do! I had made a speech to the men in the garden before they dispersed. Our prince must be rescued. They had a man of power and action leading them now.

My words, and perhaps my aspect as I stood up there in the moonlight, aroused them to enthusiasm. They were men. Courageous. Patriotic. They had never yet had a real leader. But they had one now.

It stirred me, as I had stirred them, when I heard them cheering.

I summoned the chief of the guards before me, a slim, straight young fellow with flashing eyes. When I demanded his allegiance-he and all his fellows'-he swung on his heel to the old men who were ranged along the side of the room. They nodded timorously, and he turned back and bowed before me.

"Tell him, Sonya, that I want ten of his men always patrolling the castle grounds. And others, he can use his judgment as to numbers, patrolling the city. If there is any sign of disturbance, notify me at once. I want the people all to go to their homes and stay there."

There was so much that I did not know! "Sonya, are there any cities beside Kalima?"

"No," she said. "Only small villages. And there is the village on the Virgins' Island."

I nodded. "I want messengers sent out, to tell everyone of the change of government and a warning to beware of the Nameless Horror. It is abroad; it may appear anywhere. Have the people in the rural districts gather food and bar their homes, stay indoors. Sonya, who has been in charge of organizing the army?"

She named him, but it transpired that there had been nothing at all done, as yet, except a manufacturing of the weapons of war.

"Send him to me," I ordered. "And the leader of the scientists-he has been in charge of the manufacturing? I want to see him also."

Crowded hours! And I could not leave those girls on the Virgins' Island; a few of them had remained there with the old women and children. I ordered them all brought in; ordered such of them as could to return to their former homes; the others were to be quartered in the castle.

Hours of swift, decisive commands followed. And there was no one in that busy castle, save possibly Sonya, who realized how I was groping. The government I had seized-_I_ was the king now-a simple, primative organization, but to me, so ignorant of its workings, it seemed complex indeed.

But I was learning. One by one, I had the leaders of its various departments brought before me, and from each, though they did not realize it, I learned a little more.

They were all very human. None were very hostile to the virgins; many now hoped they would be given their way.

All were afraid of the Nameless Horror, but all loved their prince very dearly. It seemed that I would have no trouble with internal conditions.