# VII: Bismillah! How Dumb Can We Get? explained — Uller Uprising

> Chapter companion for Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper.

## What happens

Governor Harrington is poisoned by a servant loyal to Rev. Keeluk, who had been testing poisons on terrestrial animals. A mutiny by the Tenth North Uller Native Infantry and Fifth Cavalry erupts, but loyal Kragan troops under von Schlichten suppress the uprising. Von Schlichten coordinates defenses and learns of Harrington's death via visiscreen from General M'zangwe.

## Themes in this chapter

### Resistance and Rebellion

The mutiny of the Tenth North Uller Native Infantry and Fifth Cavalry, along with the poisoning of Governor Harrington, exemplifies organized resistance against colonial authority.

### Racism and Dehumanization

Terrans refer to native servants as 'geeks' and dehumanize them, while the Kragan troops summarily execute wounded enemies, reflecting racial hierarchies and brutality.

### Power and Corruption

The Company's authority is undermined by the revolt of native troops and the assassination of its governor, revealing the fragility of colonial power.

## Character check-ins

### General Carlos von Schlichten

Leads the defense of Company House, sets up command post at telecast station, and learns of Harrington's poisoning.

### Sidney Harrington

Found dead in his room, poisoned by a servant loyal to Rev. Keeluk.

### General Themistocles M'zangwe

Reports Harrington's death and connects the poisoning to Keeluk's experiments with terrestrial animals.

### Colonel Hideyoshi O'Leary

Seen commanding Terrans and Kragans inside Company House during the attack.

### Brigadier-General Barney Mordkovitz

Reports to von Schlichten about the defense inside Company House.

### Rev. Keeluk Von Schlichten

Implied to have orchestrated Harrington's poisoning by testing poisons on terrestrial animals.

## Key lines

> Bismillah! How dumb can we get?

An exclamation of self-reproach for failing to foresee the obvious.

_Said by General M'zangwe upon realizing that Keeluk used terrestrial animals to test poisons on Terrans._

> Znidd suddabit!

A battle cry of the mutineers, meaning 'Death to the geek!'

_Shouted by the rebellious native troops as they attack Terrans and loyal Kragans._

> Znidd geek!

A counter-cry by loyal Kragan troops, meaning 'Death to the geek!'

_Used by Kragans as they charge and bayonet the mutineers._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/uller_uprising_se/chapters/vii-bismillah-how-dumb-can-we-get
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/uller_uprising_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/uller_uprising_se/chapters