Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America by Robert Charles Wilson

Author:Robert Charles Wilson [Wilson, Robert Charles]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: SteamPunk, Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Political
ISBN: 9780765359230
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction
Published: 2010-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

4

In the days before the Fourth of July I wrote up a special Introduction to the revised edition of The Adventures of Captain Commongold (Now Revealed asJulian Comstock), the Youthful Hero of the Saguenay, and replaced all the commas Mr. Theodore Dornwood had deleted or misplaced. In the matter of the Introduction I accepted the tutelage of Sam Godwin, who said it was very important that I should not insult the reigning President, but rather say something to praise him.

I didn't like to do this. After everything Julian had said about his uncle, it felt like hypocrisy. I told Sam so.

"It is hypocrisy. A lie, frankly. But it's for Julian's sake. It may save his life, or at least prolong it."

I could hardly refuse, then, for this was the same document that had imperiled Julian in the first place, and I was not sorry if it could be made to serve the opposite purpose. So I wrote down that Julian had joined the Army of the Laurentians under an assumed name "so that he would not receive any special treatment that might otherwise accrue to a President's nephew, but would be treated as an ordinary soldier of the line." Not that Deklan Comstock would ever stoop to influencing the military to obtain a better position for Julian:

"The President no doubt believes, as Julian does, that a man must distinguish himself on his own hook, and for his own behavior, and no one else's. It was Julian's fear that some commissioned officer might attempt to curry favor through favoritism; and his pride and patriotism would not allow him to accept any such unearned privilege." Julian, I wrote, wanted to achieve the condition of heroism, if he achieved it at all, "as Deklan Conqueror had: on his own behalf, and without any softening help."

Julian winced when he read this, and told me I ought to work for the Dominion, since I was so facile with a flattering lie; but Sam rebuked him and explained that I had included the passage at his insistence.

"I've been spending time with Army officers on leave from the Laurentians," Sam said. "In the high ranks, particularly the men around General Galligasken, there is considerable discontent with Deklan Comstock. The President attempts to rule the Army like a tyrant, and orders peculiar attacks and strategies of his own contriving; and when these fail—as they almost inevitably do—he punishes some hapless Major General, or appoints a more servile one in his place. Unfortunately our success at Chicoutimi isn't typical of the general progress of the War. The Army of the Laurentians can't continue to sustain losses at the current rate—the President will have to recall veterans, or whip up a new draft, if he wants to prevent a complete collapse. I tell you this in utmost confidence: if we can placate Deklan Conqueror, even temporarily, we may also outlast him."

That was unsettling news, even if it had a bright side, but there was nothing I could do about it. Julian accepted it with a nod and a frown.

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