Hard to Be a God (Es ist nicht leicht, ein Gott zu sein)

In the border area between Irukan and Arkanar,

numerous residents saw a bright point of light near the moon,

which was approaching fast and turning night into day.

The following night, the light had vanished.

Many believe this phenomenon to be a sign from God.

They persecute everyone who doubts this

and do not bear in mind that the imperfection of the eye

can make it impossible for us to understand the causes of natural phenomena.

In the year 812 of the old Gods

Budach Physician and Scholar

HARD TO BE A GOD

Stop! Who's there?

Excuse me, noble lord. I am the singer Suren.

What do you want?

Would you permit me to walk along next to your horse?

Why were you hiding, singer?

Because of the Greys. They're everywhere.

No one knows why.

It is said that they are the new soldiers of Arkanar.

They don't seem to like people like me very much.

How do you know that I like you, singer?

I might hang you by a strong Arkanarian rope on the next crag,

your head hanging down until your tongue bulges out.

So hang me, noble lord, if it pleases you.

What's a singer to somebody like you?

I was only joking, Suren.

You have a great sense of humor, noble lord!

- Do you know Arkanar well? - Like the back of my hand.

Then you will show me the way.

- What's wrong? - There they are again. A group of Greys.

- We shouldn't stop off here. - I must water my horse.

- Why are you so afraid, singer? - There are very many of them.

It would be boring to ride for so many miles without a single brawl.

Hey, you there, nobleman. I need to see your passport.

From now on, the common man must guard his tongue,

so it won't be cut off.

God didn't give it to him for speaking, but for licking his master's boots.

Your passport!

- But he shouldn't lick the wrong boots. - I'm telling you for the last time.

What do you want my passport for?

You can't read it anyway.

I am Rumata of Estoria. Whoever thwarts me, must die.

Come on, fight, you cowardly rabble.

Hey, singer!

Have you seen the man I arrived with?

Hey, stranger, where are you going?

You have entered Arkanarian territory. What do you want?

It's nice to see you with my own eyes.

The famous royal guard, whose bravery the whole world talks about.

- We are honored, noble lord. - The whole world talks about our bravery?

Tell people that you have seen us, will you?

Wait. What's your name, stranger?

- You must tell us your name. - Rumata of Estoria.

The king will be pleased to see you. We don't have many guests.

May I ask, noble lord, what brings you to our once-splendid town?

I like spending money. I see that there's much fun to be had here.

I'm happy to be of service any time. Reba, captain of the palace guard.

...of Estoria has come to pay his respects and offer his services to the king.

I think I knew your father. Sit down.

We bow to the king's robe.

Do you like stuffed dog ears?

They've been pickled in kapuki juice.

- Deliciously seasoned. - Indeed.

Your robe isn't buttoned right. The ladies must lower their gaze.

What's wrong with you? Let your breasts bulge out some.

The king would like to share your charms.

To the health of my followers.

- Would you like some fish blood? - I'd love some.

- It refreshes the senses. - It refreshes my senses to behold you.

To your beauty.

I don't like fish blood either.

We bow to the king's cloak.

Last night, some spies from Irukan were arrested.

They have made a confession in the Tower of Joy

and are now humbly awaiting their just punishment.

A flying dragon was...

I think your father had the privilege of putting on my grandfather's right shoe.

- Or was it the left shoe? - The right one, Your Majesty.

So it was the right one.

A portion of the Soanish merchant fleet was shipwrecked in the Large Swamp.

- May I look at your sword? - Shipwrecked! Excellent.

- Wonderful news. - Can you behead people with this?

- Rejoice with me. - We bow to the king's shoes.

My right shoe.

Rumata, I grant you the same privilege.

I am delighted that you are at my service, but be gentle. My knee aches.

To work, come on. Rumata of Estoria. There must be a file on him.

Hurry up, children. Get a move on.

The minister wants to know everything about him.

Rumata of Estoria. I have found it.

- You need a residence permit here. - A residence permit?

The security minister made this rule.

This Reba is a contrarious man. He can't even bow properly.

Just a formality. We have to register you.

You can't imagine the guile the king's enemies are capable of.

I'm responsible for his protection. What's your name again?

- Rumata of Estoria. - From a very old family.

- I'm sorry to bother you with such trifles. - Your seal, please.

Now tell me, what do you want? What brings you to Arkanar?

I heard that you are holding someone captive.

He's called Mita. He's a merchant.

He is here, but not as a prisoner.

We are merely keeping him in the castle for his own safety.

Can I see him?

How could I deny you this request? Of course you can see him.

I'll have you taken to him right away, but first, there's one more little thing.

According to our files, Rumata of Estoria is dead.

He is supposed to have died of a fever while on a hunt in the Swamps of Soan.

The fever died, not me.

I'm glad you're well. Our records are inaccurate sometimes.

- You will be escorted to him. - Thank you.

Greetings, Honorable Mita.

The ropes I ordered from you haven't arrived yet.

How am I supposed to hang the rabble without any ropes?

Cyril, what's the matter? Why did you let yourself get arrested?

Leave me alone. I am in no danger.

We couldn't contact you any more. Why did you pull out your transmitter-cell?

I don't want to watch them any more like rabbits or white rats.

They're like us, Anton, don't you understand?

- We must help them. - They are not like us, Cyril.

They're our brothers, and they're suffering. They need us.

So what? They are dull, superstitious, obsequious creatures.

You don't think you can change them, do you?

Big events, big changes lie ahead.

Give me some more time. Please, for the sake of our friendship.

I can't give up shortly before I reach my goal.

I've been ordered to find you and take you back.

If you're bent on taking me away from here, you'll have to use force.

And you'll have to fight them.

Excuse me.

Reba is sending you this sword for your safety.

You are free.

What's the deal with this Reba? Can you trust him?

He is the only one who can break the power of the corrupt council.

Anton, we must do something. Budach has disappeared.

He could help this planet progress by a thousand years.

Are these perhaps your "big events"?

There wasn't supposed to be any bloodshed.

- Help! - Reba isn't keeping to our arrangements.

Cyril, stop! That's an order!

Arrest this man. And that one. And him.

And these two.

Protect the king!

Out of the way! How dare you?

- Majesty! - What's going on?

- Help me, Majesty. - What's happening here?

Reba! Reba!

Where's Reba? Reba!

Your Majesty?

Why are you bothering me? What's going on?

Don't worry, Majesty. The conspiracy was discovered in time.

Conspiracy? Who was conspiring against me?

The conspirators are being arrested as we speak.

A conspiracy among my noblemen?

Is it true that you're conspiring against me?

But why? Why are you conspiring against me?

I've been carrying the burden of the crown for you.

I was wrong. You are supposed to herald freedom.

Stop, you can't be serious.

I would have abdicated, but you degenerate without me.

What does all this mean? Who are those grey figures over there?

Volunteers who are dedicated to the welfare of Arkanar.

- I myself selected them. - I don't want to see them in my palace.

If anyone dares to touch me, I'll slit her throat.

Please don't kill me!

Your Majesty, I am honored to point out to you that man is born free.

He should live in freedom.

Your security minister doesn't seem to understand that one needn't kill for that.

Cyril!

This alleged merchant was the head of the conspiracy.

- He was going to kill you. - Cyril.

Hang his body from the Tower of Joy for all to see.

His body is mine.

He owed me some money.

I shall make a bowl from his skull, so I can drink to Your Majesty's health.

Terrific. You can have him. Take him away from here.

You will take him with you, won't you?

Take him away immediately.

The sight of him gives me... gives me a headache.

I have a headache.

Greetings, highest judge and keeper of the seal of the merchant republic of Soan.

- May the sun of mercy always... - It's all right. We're alone.

- Depressed? - Yes.

I had to take the helicopter. One more legend about the flying dragon.

It really must be overhauled.

I know, Anton. The feeling of powerlessness is awful.

I have gone through all of that myself, but we are historians. We mustn't interfere.

How old were you when this planet was discovered?

Twelve.

I was 36. It was the most important event in the history of mankind.

I couldn't sleep for three weeks.

We had found our sister planet, the mirror of ourselves in a distant past.

We must never dim this mirror.

I could have thwarted Cyril's death, but I was poorly informed.

No one had told me about Reba.

And you gave me the identity of a dead man, Rumata of Estoria.

We had to hurry. Cyril had broken contact with us.

He wasn't undergoing the protective treatment any more, either.

He wasn't prepared for the intrigues of a medieval potentate.

- When are you taking me back up? - Not for now.