Short Fiction · Chapter
VII explained
Ambassador Silk visits the Hickock ranch, where Colonel Hickock explains New Texas's unique political system based on armed citizenry and weak government.
What happens
Ambassador Silk visits the Hickock ranch, where Colonel Hickock explains New Texas's unique political system based on armed citizenry and weak government. Silk realizes the danger of the Bonney brothers being tried in the Court of Political Justice, which would set a precedent undermining diplomatic immunity. He devises a plan to prevent their conviction while still maintaining Solar League prestige.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Corruption
Colonel Hickock explains how the rancher oligarchy maintains power through military force, and how keeping the government weak prevents corruption.
Violence and Justice
The Bonney brothers' case highlights the conflict between local political justice and diplomatic immunity, with Silk seeking to avoid a precedent that would allow assassination of ambassadors.
Alienation and Otherness
Silk struggles to understand New Texas's unique political customs, feeling like an outsider trying to navigate a system that treats politicians as 'clay pigeons.'
Characters to notice
- Stephen Silk
Ambassador Silk visits Hickock ranch, learns about New Texas politics, and devises a plan to prevent the Bonney brothers' conviction in the Court of Political Justice.
- Andrew Jackson Hickock
Colonel Hickock hosts Silk at his ranch and explains the political philosophy of New Texas, including the right of armed intervention and the oligarchy of ranchers.
- Hoddy Ringo
Hoddy drives Silk to the ranch, later visits Bonneyville in disguise, and participates in the Embassy meeting about the Bonney brothers' case.
- Commander Lucius C. Stonehenge
Stonehenge returns from fleet positioning and joins the Embassy meeting, discussing the implications of the Bonney brothers' trial.
- Gilbert W. Thrombley
Thrombley is left in charge of routine Embassy work and later participates in the meeting about the Bonney brothers.
- Miss Claire
Gail Hickock, the Colonel's daughter, spends the day with Silk flying over the range and visiting herd camps.
Key passages
“Keep a government poor and weak and it's your servant; let it get rich and powerful and it's your master.”
A weak government serves the people, but a wealthy and powerful government becomes their master.
Colonel Hickock explains the New Texan philosophy of limiting government power.
“We'll have to do something!”
We must take action.
Hoddy Ringo reacts with alarm to the implications of the Bonney brothers' trial for diplomatic immunity.
“For the first time since my scrambled arrival, I was really Ambassador Stephen Silk.”
Silk finally feels fully in command of his role as Ambassador.
Silk experiences a moment of pride and confidence as he presents his plan to the Embassy staff.