The Master was literate, and he believedin literacy, yet he had not encouraged the women's classes in reading andfiguring. The Master knew the advantages of farming, too, yet he ignored thefarms. And he comprehended the dynamics of empire, for he, in other guise, hadfashioned this same empire and brought it from formless ambition to a mightyforce. Yet he now let it drift and stagnate and atrophy.

      This message was deferentially worded, butit constituted a clever challenge to his authority and policy. Tyl was anactivist, impatient to resume conquest. Tyl wanted either to goose the Masterinto action, or to ease him out of power so that new leadership might bring anew policy. Because Tyl himself was bonded to this regime, he could do nothingdirectly. He would not go against the man who had bested him in the circle.This was not cowardice but honor.

      If the Master declined to deal withthis mysterious menace to the local crops, he would be admitting eithertimidity or treason to the purpose of the empire. For farming was vital togrowth; the organized nomads could not afford to remain dependent on thelargesse of the crazies. If he did not support the farm program the resultantunrest would throw him into disrepute, and lead to solidification of resistancearound some othet figure. Hc could not afford that, for he would then soon bespending all his time defeating such weedlike pretenders in thc circle. No-hehad to rule the empire, and keep it quiescent.

      So there was nothing to do but tackle thisartfully, posed problem. He could be sure it was not an easy one, for this wildbeast had wounded Tyl himself and escaped. That suggested that no lesser manthan the Master could subdue it.

      Of course he could organize a largehunting party-but this would violate the precepts of single combat, and it wentagainst the grain, even when an animal was involved. In fact, it would beanother implication of cowardice.