# XVII explained — The Cosmic Computer

> Chapter companion for The Cosmic Computer by H. Beam Piper.

## What happens

Conn and his father return to a volatile Storisende, where the Merlin hysteria has escalated into violence and paranoia. After surviving an assassination attempt at the spaceport, they join Wade Lucas, who has deduced their secret and become a reluctant partner. A tense meeting reveals the city is rife with corporate infighting, espionage, and the brutal mind-probing of Rodney's secretary. Conn learns of the ongoing conference to partition the Alpha Gartner System and the deepening schism between those searching for Merlin at Force Command. Amidst the chaos, Conn agrees to investigate the mysterious preacher Leibert, whom Tom Brangwyn suspects is a fraud.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Leadership

Conn and his father maintain the Merlin myth to control the economic boom, while Wade Lucas warns of the inevitable collapse. The chapter explores the moral cost of leading through lies.

### Faith and Credulity

The Merlin hysteria spawns violent sects and a fake preacher (Leibert), highlighting how blind faith can be exploited and manipulated.

### Economic Decline and Revival

The frantic corporate meetings and partitioning of the Alpha Gartner System reflect the chaotic economic revival driven by the Merlin myth.

## Character check-ins

### Conn Maxwell

Returns to Storisende, survives an assassination attempt, and learns of the escalating violence and corporate scheming. He agrees to investigate the mysterious preacher Leibert.

### Rodney Maxwell

Heavily armed and guarded, he reveals the dangerous state of affairs, including the disappearance and mind-probing of his secretary. He has admitted Wade Lucas into their secret.

### Wade Lucas

Now a reluctant partner who has deduced the truth about Merlin. He argues for stopping the deception, fearing the consequences.

### Colonel Klem Zareff

At Force Command, he has fortified the mesa with heavy armament and expresses suspicion about the preacher Leibert.

### Tom Brangwyn

Shares Zareff's suspicion of Leibert, having gathered audiovisual evidence that the preacher is a fake from Morven.

### Yves Jacquemont

Arrives at the spaceport and is briefed on the dangerous conditions; he coordinates the unloading of the Helen O'Loy.

## Key lines

> Tell them the truth? They'd lynch us, and then go on hunting for Merlin.

Conn argues that revealing the truth would lead to their deaths and wouldn't stop the people from searching for Merlin.

_Highlights the inescapable trap of the deception._

> Somebody who either didn't know how to use one or didn't care what happened had used a mind-probe on her. It's twenty to one she'll never recover.

Rodney describes how his secretary was brutally mind-probed, likely by someone inexperienced or ruthless, leaving her permanently damaged.

_Illustrates the brutal tactics used by unknown adversaries._

> He's a fake, I tell you.

Tom Brangwyn asserts that the preacher Leibert is an impostor, based on his investigation.

_Introduces suspicion about a key figure in the Merlin mania._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cosmic_computer_se/chapters/xvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cosmic_computer_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cosmic_computer_se/chapters