"Other conquerers (sic) had doubtless been as brutal as the Grand Catalan Company. When they had carved out their domain, if they did, one could expect them to settle down and rule justly. Or if not, well, this was a hard world. The maltreated would have their reward in Heaven. Would it not be presumptuous of Lucas Greco to ask more than that he and those he cared for should not be victims?" (p. 90)
Lucas rationalizes his own position in a conflictive society:
he might find his place in the Company which is no more brutal than any other set of conquerors;
the Company might rule justly;
in any case, this is a hard world;
and the maltreated will have their reward!;
for Lucas to take up the cause of the maltreated is not obligatory and might even be presumptuous!
Our hero is not a champion of the oppressed. Some will say that he should be. Others will ask, "Why should he be?" Readers make their own assessments.
As remarked recently, belief in a hereafter is built into this society.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Not in the least surprised, conquest is what happens with a race as violent and strife prone as ours. Something to be managed, not "solved." The best I can think might be reasonably possible for us in the in the next century would be something like Anderson's Solar Commonwealth or the United Commonwealths of the Hoka stories unifying Earth. It would be vastly worse if China, under its brutal current regime, did that unifying (as in Wingrove's CHUNG KUO series)!
Ad astra! Sean
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