Here it came, young Su-Hyeon’s moment. Not so long ago, barely a heartbeat by the Earth’s long reckoning, a young Julius Caesar stood like this, a young Mark Antony, a young Octavian not-yet-Augustus, receiving the Senate’s ear as crisis looms. “Take me,” Power whispers. “The Senate is a flock of sheep, that may bleat and graze at leisure in summer’s peace, but in winter’s extremes it needs a shepherd. It could be you. In this self-hobbled government that has no real executive, no head, no swift hand to catch it as it falls, there is a shepherd’s crook, a scepter waiting with the name of Dictator upon it, which this Senate will hand to he who can best charm the terrified. Speak your piece, young statesman. The temporary kingly crown they are about to lend you could be yours to keep, if you seem leaderly enough in this audition. Make them love you. Make them yours.”

Young Su-Hyeon frowned. “Former Censor Ancelet would not have left such a critical position in unready hands. I have no more to say.”

I have never felt prouder to call anyone colleague; Fortune had offered Su-Hyeon her finest bribe, and the youth declined.

Jin Im-Jin’s smile approved as much as mine, and he said something warm in Korean to young Su-Hyeon, the old Brillist and young Graylaw sharing an honest moment in their native tongue before protocol made them revert to stock phrases and common English: “Thank you, Acting Censor. I hereby call the confirmation vote. All in favor?”

None opposed. The secretary entered the confirmation as Senatorial Order 2454–173, and Censor Su-Hyeon bolted for the exit like a man on fire.

Back on the Speaker’s dais, Grandpa’s smile was all condescension as he watched the others watch the departing Censor: See, kids? Accomplishing things! It’s what we’re here for! He turned to the next impatient face. “Deputy Commissioner Chowdhury, you also have a motion?”

“Yes, Member Speaker.” The trusty deputy whom Papadelias made his primary ambassador to the Zoo (as Papa calls the Senate) was born to a Graylaw bash’ in Bangladesh, proud runner-up in the 2411 Youth World English Spelling Bee, and had been first a Humanist, then, leaning Greenpeace, tried the Mitsubishi, and was now a Whitelaw Hiveless. “This is already on the agenda for today,” Chowdhury began, “but should be decided before some of the honorable Senators’ urgent motions: I have here from the Universal Free Court an urgent request for a Senatorial Order telling the Court whether to accept or reject Ockham Saneer’s petition for a solo trial with the plea of terra ignota.”

“Terra ignota? For O.S.?”

“That’s insane!”

“You can’t argue for one minute that O.S. was legal!”