CHAPTER 1
Rudmetkyn was a mysterious man in a land of mysterious men. Few had ever heard of him but among those who had he was known by only the one name in a country where everyone was commonly known by three.
He lived twenty miles outside Moscow in a small villa when he could afford the most luxurious apartment in the center of the city. He had no military rank or government title when almost any could be his for the asking.
Although he had no official position, he wielded as much power in the government as any man in Russia. It was said that the President himself owed his position to Rudmetkyn’s support. This was also said, with as much basis in truth, about the previous president and the one before that, going all the way back to a few premiers in the time of the Soviet Union.
As a result, Rudmetkyn had become greatly feared as the ultimate power in the Russian Federation. That was mostly undeserved. The truth was he was less a maker of leaders than he was a picker of winners. It was part of his genius.
Rudmetkyn was a genius. His particular genius was in an area that might have left him undiscovered in a different culture in a different time. But he lived in the Russian Federation at this time and he thrived. In a land of suspicion and mistrust, it was the schemer and conspirator who ruled. That was the area of Rudmetkyn’s genius.
Over the years Rudmetkyn had built a reputation of absolute trustworthiness among the people with whom he worked. Every co-conspirator knew that he would do exactly what he said he would do.
He also had a reputation for ruthlessness toward people who crossed him. Several men had lost their lives or mysteriously disappeared after failing to fulfill a promise made to him.
It was interesting how these last events would occur. Word would be circulated that a certain prominent individual had hone back on his word to Rudmetkyn. For many that this rumor reached it would be the first they had ever heard his name. The prominent individual would suddenly die or disappear. Rudmetkyn’s name would be etched in the minds of all who had heard the initial rumor.
The power of these events went beyond reality and worked on men’s imaginations, sometimes creating rumors of rumors. Once, when a premier died after a short term in office, men would as themselves, “Had I not heard that the Comrade Premier had failed to live up to a promise made to Rudmetkyn?” Men would very discreetly ask the same question of each other. Thus was created a rumor of a rumor.
Very few people failed to fulfill a promise made to Rudmetkyn.
He lived twenty miles outside Moscow in a small villa when he could afford the most luxurious apartment in the center of the city. He had no military rank or government title when almost any could be his for the asking.
Although he had no official position, he wielded as much power in the government as any man in Russia. It was said that the President himself owed his position to Rudmetkyn’s support. This was also said, with as much basis in truth, about the previous president and the one before that, going all the way back to a few premiers in the time of the Soviet Union.
As a result, Rudmetkyn had become greatly feared as the ultimate power in the Russian Federation. That was mostly undeserved. The truth was he was less a maker of leaders than he was a picker of winners. It was part of his genius.
Rudmetkyn was a genius. His particular genius was in an area that might have left him undiscovered in a different culture in a different time. But he lived in the Russian Federation at this time and he thrived. In a land of suspicion and mistrust, it was the schemer and conspirator who ruled. That was the area of Rudmetkyn’s genius.
Over the years Rudmetkyn had built a reputation of absolute trustworthiness among the people with whom he worked. Every co-conspirator knew that he would do exactly what he said he would do.
He also had a reputation for ruthlessness toward people who crossed him. Several men had lost their lives or mysteriously disappeared after failing to fulfill a promise made to him.
It was interesting how these last events would occur. Word would be circulated that a certain prominent individual had hone back on his word to Rudmetkyn. For many that this rumor reached it would be the first they had ever heard his name. The prominent individual would suddenly die or disappear. Rudmetkyn’s name would be etched in the minds of all who had heard the initial rumor.
The power of these events went beyond reality and worked on men’s imaginations, sometimes creating rumors of rumors. Once, when a premier died after a short term in office, men would as themselves, “Had I not heard that the Comrade Premier had failed to live up to a promise made to Rudmetkyn?” Men would very discreetly ask the same question of each other. Thus was created a rumor of a rumor.
Very few people failed to fulfill a promise made to Rudmetkyn.
posted by Walter Guest at 3:48 PM
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