# Chapter XII: The Reckoning at Rigel explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Mack Reynolds.

## What happens

Fifty years after the Pedagogue first orbited Rigel, the Earth teams from Texcoco and Genoa meet with the local leaders, only to be confronted by a united underground that has secretly advanced their own civilization. The Earthmen's plans to extend their control are thwarted as they are ordered to return to Earth, their power stripped away. The chapter culminates in the revelation that the supposedly executed Earthmen—Joe Chessman, Amschel Mayer, and others—are alive and have been aiding the Rigellians, who now demand equality with Earth.

## Themes in this chapter

### Power and Corruption

The Earth teams' addiction to power and their corrupt administration are directly challenged by the Rigellians, who cite Lord Acton's maxim.

### Rebellion and Revolution

The Rigellian underground, formed independently on both planets, successfully revolts against Earth's control, demanding equality and self-determination.

## Character check-ins

### Barry Watson

Leader of the Texcocan team, confronts the Genoese and later faces the united Rigellian opposition.

### Joseph Chessman

Revealed to be alive after being condemned, he helped the Rigellians achieve space travel and returns to lead the Earth expedition home.

### Taller

Generalissimo of Texcoco, orchestrates the peaceful coup against the Earth teams and articulates the Rigellian demand for equality.

### Amschel Mayer

Former head of the expedition, returns from captivity to reclaim leadership and expresses bitterness at the Earth teams' failures.

### Peter MacDonald

Genoese team member who proposes extending Earth's control and exploiting Rigel's dynamism, only to be overruled.

## Key lines

> Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The Rigellian leader quotes this Earth saying to justify their rebellion against the Earth teams' corrupt rule.

_This line encapsulates the chapter's central critique of the Earth teams' abuse of authority._

> I am afraid that hard though it might be for you to give up the powers you have held so long, you Earthlings are going to have to return to Terra City, from whence you came.

Taller informs the Earth teams that they must leave Rigel, as their power is being revoked.

_This marks the climax of the Rigellian uprising and the end of Earth's dominance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_36_se/chapters/xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_36_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_36_se/chapters