Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
Hismessagesprangthepalacerevolution.Iwasnotduetoreturnuntilmidnight,andbymidnightallwasover.AtnineintheeveningtheconspiratorssecuredpossessionoftheEmperorinhisownapartments.Theycompelledhimtoordertheimmediateattendanceoftheheadsofalldepartments,andastheypresentedthemselves,onebyone,beforehiseyes,theywerecutdown.MeantimetheTigerHunterswereupandoutofhand.YunsanandHendrikHamelwerebadlybeatenwiththeflatsofswordsandmadeprisoners.ThesevenothercuniesescapedfromthepalacealongwiththeLadyOm.TheywereenabledtodothisbyKim,whoheldtheway,swordinhand,againsthisownTigerHunters.Theycuthimdownandtrodoverhim.Unfortunatelyhedidnotdieofhiswounds.
Likeaflawofwindonasummernighttherevolution,apalacerevolutionofcourse,blewandwaspast.ChongMong-juwasinthesaddle.TheEmperorratifiedwhateverChongMong-juwilled.Beyondgaspingatthesacrilegeoftheking’stombsandapplaudingChongMong-ju,Cho-Senwasunperturbed.Headsofofficialsfelleverywhere,beingreplacedbyChongMong-ju’sappointees;buttherewerenorisingsagainstthedynasty.
Andnowtowhatbefellus.JohannesMaartensandhisthreecunies,afterbeingexhibitedtobespatuponbytherabbleofhalfthevillagesandwalledcitiesofCho-Sen,wereburiedtotheirnecksinthegroundoftheopenspacebeforethepalacegate.
