The ancient city in which Rolla found herself had
been, only a generation before, a flourishing metropolis, the capital of
a powerful nation. There had been two such nations on that side of the
planet, and the most violent rivalry had existed between them.
"However," Somat told Rolla, "'twas not this rivalry which wrought their
downfall, except indirectly. The last great war between them was
terrible, but not disastrous. Either could have survived that.
"But know you that the ruler of one of the nations, in order to carry on
this war--which was a war of commerce (never mind what that means)--in
order to carry it on was obliged to make great concessions to his
people. In the other nation, the ruler oppressed the workers, instead,
and drove them mad with his cruelty. So that, not long after the end of
the war, there was a great rebellion among the people who had been so
long oppressed, and their government was overthrown."
Back on the earth the four investigators reflected on this in amazement.
The case was wonderfully like that of Russia after the great war.
Perhaps--
"Immediately the other nation forced its soldiers to fight the
victorious rebels. But at home the workers had tasted of power. Many
refused to work at all; and one day, behold, there were two rebellions
instead of one! And within a very short time the whole world was
governed by--the working class!"
So this was what the Venusians had meant when they wrote that Sanus was
ruled by the workers!
"What became of these rebellions?" Rolla asked, little understanding
what it meant, but curious anyhow.
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