Part 2

"No," he said abruptly, swinging about. "I am merely going to insist that you fulfill the terms of the agreement by remaining at my court. I want you near me from now on."

She blinked at that.

"But, surely ... you must realize ... it is only an illusion!" she protested.

"As am I," said Vyrtl. "A figurehead imprisoned in a maze of formalities and so-called pleasures."

* * * * *

He saw that she could not understand what could be wrong with his position.

"Once, when I was very young," he said, "I thought I would rule. But fourteen planets require a whole _council_ of co-ordinators! I gave up that idea and tried to enjoy myself."

She stared at him uncertainly. He waved a hand at the artificial forest.

"It has been like that ever since. They fall all over themselves to devise new ways of getting my attention and to present pleasures and entertainment I am incapable of enjoying. I have more wealth than I can estimate, I sometimes forget which palace I am in, even my wives look alike by now."

"I must sympathize with Your Illustrious Sublimity."

He flung her a hard stare.

"Perhaps you ought! Even my generals and their soldiers have their dreams--of conquest or loot. The engineer who built this dome pictures himself famous and admired. Wilkins is proud of his influence, and other courtiers have visions of doing away with Wilkins and replacing him."

He stood up restlessly.

"You will laugh at me, I know--but there is little enjoyment in life when every whim is catered to at a snap of one's fingers. What have I to _desire_?"

"I see." She nodded slowly. "The old saying about the pleasure of anticipation outweighing that of attainment."

"You should know. You Jursans and your scientific renaissance, your goal of contacting Terra again."

He beckoned to Wilkins and the two guards. They ran eagerly across the grass.

"You see?" he snorted. "Sometimes I almost wish they would ignore me!"

He looked at her and saw the blue eyes achieve their knowing, amused smile once more.

"That's right," he said, smiling back. "Now I shall have something to keep my thoughts from becoming dull and bored. A man needs some impossible dream for moments when he wants to relax."

Wilkins panted up, trying to look alert and willing.

"The unattainable Lady Daphne will accompany us to our capital," said Vyrtl. "Make the necessary arrangements."

He enjoyed the way his aide covered up a momentary bewilderment.

_No one else will ever, ever understand this_, he thought with an unaccustomed thrill of pleasure and amusement.

* * * * *